As Drysi got to the ground floor she saw a handful of elders from the town relaxing by some open windows. The smell of coffee and baked pastries wafted through the room accenting the comfortable morning atmosphere. To the side of the stairs near the unlit hearth Drysi saw Maeve and Miss Saoirse sitting in some comfortable looking easy chairs. They both sipped at some coffee while chatting, and Maeve had a newspaper on her lap as she idly perused world events. The mysterious familiar shifted her head slightly to shift her bright eyes towards Drysi.
“Guid mornin', boffin. Slept weel?”
[The Keep] Walking to Skye
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
It was difficult to tell how effective Ms. Marve’s disguise was, considering how radiant her gaze was. Drysi had an inscription tattooed on her forehead to hide her eye from the mundies. Maeve only looked more like an owl the longer you stared at her. Even though anyone accusing her of being a monster mommy owl girl would probably get run out of town themselves.
“Like the dead,” Drysi stretched, emphasizing how good she felt. Even though she was already quite light for her size, Drysi felt lighter. Getting adequate rest in a warm bed seemed to do a lot for her. She’d need to take a note to stop sleeping at her desk, or on the floor, “I woke up this mornin’ wantin’ to be ready to go, but I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.”
Her fingers fiddled with the straps of her bag, “Where’s Mr. Flynn off to, and is there a way I could get some coffee?”
Drysi felt the snake in her shirt shift.
”What? Drysi, you don’t drink coffee.”
”Everybody is usin’ it here. I’m the only one not drinking coffee!”
“Like the dead,” Drysi stretched, emphasizing how good she felt. Even though she was already quite light for her size, Drysi felt lighter. Getting adequate rest in a warm bed seemed to do a lot for her. She’d need to take a note to stop sleeping at her desk, or on the floor, “I woke up this mornin’ wantin’ to be ready to go, but I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.”
Her fingers fiddled with the straps of her bag, “Where’s Mr. Flynn off to, and is there a way I could get some coffee?”
Drysi felt the snake in her shirt shift.
”What? Drysi, you don’t drink coffee.”
”Everybody is usin’ it here. I’m the only one not drinking coffee!”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Both Maeve and Saoirse cocked their heads a bit as Drysi requested coffee. The looks were subtly different, but expressed the same sentiment; pleasant surprise at Drysi for pushing her personal boundaries. Following this, the matron of the inn turned in her seat and waved to an older man standing beside the bar who stepped behind it and poured a mug of coffee. Brew in hand, he brought it over as Saoirse motioned towards Drysi.
“Now, will ya be wantin' that straight? Or Irish Brunch style, eh?” The man asked with a thick Irish accent, a kind smile suggesting a joke as he handed off the mug.
“Away with ya now, Bernie. Drysi here has mighty work to be doin' today. Sh'he has no time t'be wastin' with us, so she hasn’t,” Saoirse shooed the man away with a laugh. The man grinned and nodded before turning and returning to his seat at the bar. The coffee in Drysi’s mug smelled robust, but with hints of nutmeg married into the bouquet.
“As fer Ruarc, he’s oot back in the courtyard gettin' a wee bit o' exercise,” Maeve spoke up, gesturing with her own mug towards the back hall. “Hang a right an ye'll find the door tae the back.”
“Now, will ya be wantin' that straight? Or Irish Brunch style, eh?” The man asked with a thick Irish accent, a kind smile suggesting a joke as he handed off the mug.
“Away with ya now, Bernie. Drysi here has mighty work to be doin' today. Sh'he has no time t'be wastin' with us, so she hasn’t,” Saoirse shooed the man away with a laugh. The man grinned and nodded before turning and returning to his seat at the bar. The coffee in Drysi’s mug smelled robust, but with hints of nutmeg married into the bouquet.
“As fer Ruarc, he’s oot back in the courtyard gettin' a wee bit o' exercise,” Maeve spoke up, gesturing with her own mug towards the back hall. “Hang a right an ye'll find the door tae the back.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
”Gid, what am I looking at here?”
”It’s coffee, Drysi.”
”It smells like pumpkin pie and burning.”
”Coffee is normally sipped,” Gideon advised, curling away from the cup as Drysi seemed to be offering it to him, ”Just drink little bits at a time, and no one will really know if you like it or not. In fact, I’ve seen people leave coffee out after a couple of sips.”
Drysi nodded her head and offered a mild thanks as she looked off to the door. As her gaze drifted, she brought the cup to her lip. Carefully she balanced the amount of liquid to her mouth, before finally tipping back enough to drink.
”Ugh, it’s so bitter,” soured Drysi.
”Some people take it with milk and sugar.”
The apprentice’s brow furrowed, before trying more of the dark brew. Nuances of spice and flavor were lost on her for now, so she dismissed herself, claiming to look for her master. Perhaps somewhere along the way, she’d find a spot to set her coffee down to forget about like Gideon had mentioned.
She followed the directions out the back, unconsciously walking faster as her mind began to speed up.
”It’s coffee, Drysi.”
”It smells like pumpkin pie and burning.”
”Coffee is normally sipped,” Gideon advised, curling away from the cup as Drysi seemed to be offering it to him, ”Just drink little bits at a time, and no one will really know if you like it or not. In fact, I’ve seen people leave coffee out after a couple of sips.”
Drysi nodded her head and offered a mild thanks as she looked off to the door. As her gaze drifted, she brought the cup to her lip. Carefully she balanced the amount of liquid to her mouth, before finally tipping back enough to drink.
”Ugh, it’s so bitter,” soured Drysi.
”Some people take it with milk and sugar.”
The apprentice’s brow furrowed, before trying more of the dark brew. Nuances of spice and flavor were lost on her for now, so she dismissed herself, claiming to look for her master. Perhaps somewhere along the way, she’d find a spot to set her coffee down to forget about like Gideon had mentioned.
She followed the directions out the back, unconsciously walking faster as her mind began to speed up.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
As Drysi drew closer to the door leading to the courtyard she once again started to hear the swishing sound of something flying through the air, accompanied by occasional loud clacks. The door to the back was solid oak with a stylized glass window through which she could see a couple of figures moving around. Opening the sturdy door, the teen was greeted by a cool summer day of the Isles and the sight of Ruarc training with his staff alongside his long standing familiar; Laoise. The two of them sparred with staves, transitioning between motions and strikes. Their motions were crisp on precise, but Ruarc became momentarily distracted by the opening of the door, at which point Laoise swept the Irishman’s legs and unceremoniously knocked him on his tuchus.
“Distracted,” Laoise said pointedly as the tip of her staff settled against Ruarc’s chest like a spear.
“Yeah yeah yeah, I took notice of my apprentice,” Ruarc said defensively.
“And died,” Laoise huffed, but flipped her staff against her shoulder and held her hand out to help her druid up to his feet. Then, with a decompressing huff, Laoise turned towards Drysi and shifted completely to a cordial smile. “Pleasant morning to you, Drysi. Looks like you slept well.”
Ruarc brushed himself off and greeted Drysi with a wave and smile of his own.
“Distracted,” Laoise said pointedly as the tip of her staff settled against Ruarc’s chest like a spear.
“Yeah yeah yeah, I took notice of my apprentice,” Ruarc said defensively.
“And died,” Laoise huffed, but flipped her staff against her shoulder and held her hand out to help her druid up to his feet. Then, with a decompressing huff, Laoise turned towards Drysi and shifted completely to a cordial smile. “Pleasant morning to you, Drysi. Looks like you slept well.”
Ruarc brushed himself off and greeted Drysi with a wave and smile of his own.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
The three eyes looking back up at Laoise were wide, bright, and dilated. Drysi was beginning to jitter, her body not quite accommodating of the caffeine. Yet, despite it all, she took another sip of coffee. She gave them both a semi-lucid wave.
"Yes," Drysi answered, focusing more on Laoise's long hair, "slept quite like the dead."
"Mr. Flynn can never really catch a break, can he?" commented Gideon.
Ms. Laoise's hair is always so perfect. "Mr. Flynn would probably get a big head if Ms. Laoise didn't check him all the time."
If Mr. Flynn was taken down because he was aware of his surroundings, could Ms. Laoise be assumed to be unaware of her surroundings?
"That's an astute and... cold assessment, Drysi."
Does she just wake up like that? I'd fuckin' kill someone for that hair. That's a rune idea. Rune hair clip, where the magic makes perfect hair. Rune clip. "They're Irish, Gideon. Taking the piss out of someone is an expected behavior in the culture."
It's probably been a few days since Mr. Flynn actually took a rest day, he's really risking personal injury if he goes on like this without physical therapy.
"That's not exactly what you said," Gideon rose, looking as serious as a snake could at Drysi, "you presumed Mr. Flynn needed it personally, not because he was Irish."
Gideon is likely struggling with a burgeoning sense of self and responsibility. He thinks I'll probably say something callous if I verbalize thoughts internally. "Mr. Flynn may not be a regular participant of his own culture, but he's still a product of it."
God I just want to run my hands through her hair, was the last thought Drysi had before a realization hit her.
"Ms. Laoise! You're here!" sputtered Drysi, as if someone had flipped the on switch on the back of her head. "When did you get in? I didn't see you last night."
"Yes," Drysi answered, focusing more on Laoise's long hair, "slept quite like the dead."
"Mr. Flynn can never really catch a break, can he?" commented Gideon.
Ms. Laoise's hair is always so perfect. "Mr. Flynn would probably get a big head if Ms. Laoise didn't check him all the time."
If Mr. Flynn was taken down because he was aware of his surroundings, could Ms. Laoise be assumed to be unaware of her surroundings?
"That's an astute and... cold assessment, Drysi."
Does she just wake up like that? I'd fuckin' kill someone for that hair. That's a rune idea. Rune hair clip, where the magic makes perfect hair. Rune clip. "They're Irish, Gideon. Taking the piss out of someone is an expected behavior in the culture."
It's probably been a few days since Mr. Flynn actually took a rest day, he's really risking personal injury if he goes on like this without physical therapy.
"That's not exactly what you said," Gideon rose, looking as serious as a snake could at Drysi, "you presumed Mr. Flynn needed it personally, not because he was Irish."
Gideon is likely struggling with a burgeoning sense of self and responsibility. He thinks I'll probably say something callous if I verbalize thoughts internally. "Mr. Flynn may not be a regular participant of his own culture, but he's still a product of it."
God I just want to run my hands through her hair, was the last thought Drysi had before a realization hit her.
"Ms. Laoise! You're here!" sputtered Drysi, as if someone had flipped the on switch on the back of her head. "When did you get in? I didn't see you last night."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Just popped in this morning, kiddo. Heard you were going to be taking on a warlock, and figured I’d take some time off from my second job to make sure Ruarc doesn’t get in over his head,” Laoise stepped closer to Drysi as she focused on the young druid. The human-form familiar’s stance relaxed as she let her staff rest on her shoulder and her other hand came to her hip. She was dressed comfortably in old tennis shoes, jeans, and a flannel shirt tied together at her midriff over top of a faded burgundy undershirt. Her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and Drysi could see over Laoise’s shoulder as her master got back on his feet. The man looked to be moving slowly, but deliberately as though trying to be stealthy.
Sure enough, once he regained his footing, Ruarc quickly swung his own staff at Laoise’s feet; and in a seeming answer to Drysi’s wondering about the familiar’s awareness, Laoise’s staff spun as she arced it behind her back. A sharp crack sounded as she deflected Ruarc’s surprise attack, and then she spun gracefully as her staff returned to her front and she swept it downward before gently bonking Ruarc’s forehead.
“Dead,” Laoise said with a cheeky grin before turning back to Drysi; leaving Ruarc to rub his forehead and grumble. “Ready for your first official mission?”
Sure enough, once he regained his footing, Ruarc quickly swung his own staff at Laoise’s feet; and in a seeming answer to Drysi’s wondering about the familiar’s awareness, Laoise’s staff spun as she arced it behind her back. A sharp crack sounded as she deflected Ruarc’s surprise attack, and then she spun gracefully as her staff returned to her front and she swept it downward before gently bonking Ruarc’s forehead.
“Dead,” Laoise said with a cheeky grin before turning back to Drysi; leaving Ruarc to rub his forehead and grumble. “Ready for your first official mission?”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi golf clapped the best she could with a coffee cup in hand. Watching Keepers work was always worth the wait, especially considering Ruarc was in the unique position of having a familiar that could shift to a human form. Laoise was no push-over.
"Your stength has always been the mid-range, Master," assessed Drysi, punctuating another sip of coffee with a contented sigh, finding the taste growing on her. She walked up to Laoise, eying up her down-home, country style.
Probably something she keeps here at the inn, no way Ms. Laoise travels with something like this in her bags.
"Don't stare, Drysi," warned Gideon in her mind, also feeling strangely alert.
"As excited as I am, we're not quite sure it's a warlock just yet, just a strong supposition," corrected Drysi, fishing out her notes. "The thing I'm really excited about is if Mr. Flynn is ready to live-test my prototypes."
"Your stength has always been the mid-range, Master," assessed Drysi, punctuating another sip of coffee with a contented sigh, finding the taste growing on her. She walked up to Laoise, eying up her down-home, country style.
Probably something she keeps here at the inn, no way Ms. Laoise travels with something like this in her bags.
"Don't stare, Drysi," warned Gideon in her mind, also feeling strangely alert.
"As excited as I am, we're not quite sure it's a warlock just yet, just a strong supposition," corrected Drysi, fishing out her notes. "The thing I'm really excited about is if Mr. Flynn is ready to live-test my prototypes."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Ruarc looked to be about to object to the statement about his strength. Back in the early days of the Menagerie he had been the physically strongest of his peers. Hell, in the dark days of his early twenties he had committed himself to tending the grounds of Safeholme as well as handling a lot of the new construction personally; as a result he had been in fantastic shape. Now though, he had hit a bit of a plateau. Miyuki was Miyuki, Percy was a demi-god and wickedly good with his physical conditioning, and Riley had the whole dragon thing. Even some of the ancillaries passed him. Skarnir could deadlift a jötunn, Laoise was quickly becoming a powerhouse in her own right thanks to her bond to the Elementia, and Ruarc was pretty sure he would lose an arm wrestling match with Willow if she were burning Pewter. So the Irishman bit his tongue and patted his stomach self-consciously as his apprentice chatted with his familiar.
“Ooooh~ Prototypes~ Do tell,” Laoise sounded eager to hear more about Drysi’s plans for practical application of her ideas.
“Ooooh~ Prototypes~ Do tell,” Laoise sounded eager to hear more about Drysi’s plans for practical application of her ideas.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
"Oh, I will~ I'm really proud of this'un," chittered Drysi, finding a small, clear space by the building to set her coffee down, "I finished up the final touches the night before we left for Carneath."
Excitedly, a gauntlet was produced, one that Laoise would recognize as the design of the same gauntlet worn by Doubt. Fit for the opposite hand of its sister, it was a repurposed leather glove that ran halfway up the arm. Layered plating was grafted to the outside, running from the knuckles to the hem. Four micro-runes of shielding were driven as bolts into a channeling rune at the forearm, embedded into the plating.
At the back of the palm was an indentation that looked meant to hold a rune. The center of the indentation had a pressed sigil of a snake with three eyes. From underneath the plate, silver-dusted ink of inscription spells funneled complex instructions to each of the fingers.
"This is the MA-1," proclaimed the apprentice, before also pulling out a tiny, ten-rung ladder, no larger than the palm of her hand, "And this is the ME-6."
Excitedly, a gauntlet was produced, one that Laoise would recognize as the design of the same gauntlet worn by Doubt. Fit for the opposite hand of its sister, it was a repurposed leather glove that ran halfway up the arm. Layered plating was grafted to the outside, running from the knuckles to the hem. Four micro-runes of shielding were driven as bolts into a channeling rune at the forearm, embedded into the plating.
At the back of the palm was an indentation that looked meant to hold a rune. The center of the indentation had a pressed sigil of a snake with three eyes. From underneath the plate, silver-dusted ink of inscription spells funneled complex instructions to each of the fingers.
"This is the MA-1," proclaimed the apprentice, before also pulling out a tiny, ten-rung ladder, no larger than the palm of her hand, "And this is the ME-6."