"Before. Heidi looked after me when it happened, actually. It's...kind of what led to us getting more serious, then having to get married when her dad found out." Adam idly traced a finger down from his face now, over his jaw and neck, just a little into the covered area under his shirt. He supposed if he were anyone else he'd be fascinated by such prominent marks too. A D A M
Do you wanna dance?
Do you wanna fight? Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night? |
the wine of friendship
|
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Smuggler's Liaison
Age: 36 | Height: 6'3" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 5 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 19 - Endr: 17 - Luck: 12 - Int:
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12-10-2019, 08:26 PM
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers ✓ Soul Shepherd ✓
Portal Guardian Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int: ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
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12-10-2019, 09:02 PM
"Ah, a swordpoint wedding?" he asked with a knowing grin. It wasn't hard to imagine Adam despoiling maidens fair... but then, Heidi sounded like she might have done some despoiling of her own, when it came to the rogue. "Are they from an animal's claws?" A line of five like that could have come from clawed fingers, too, though he didn't know what sort of beasts - two-legged or otherwise - walked Adam's world. He snorted at Adam's sly question, taking a moment to savor his cider as thoughts clashed and swirled in his head. He was glad he had when Adam spoke again, and Jigano nodded soberly. "She's Queen of the Ascended," he said with a shrug. "She'll help out everyone else as a side-effect of that... but her loyalties are to her goddess first, her race a close second, and everyone else? A very distant third, I'd say. And she's shit at any attempt at actual diplomacy or negotiations." He held back the lingering anger with help from the booze warming and relaxing him from within, and the shift to talking about lost loved ones quenched it before it could ruin an otherwise-enjoyable evening. "Mmm. My parents died several years back, and I didn't have any other blood family that I knew of. But... yes. Some close friends who I walked away from in an attempt to punish myself, without realizing how much I was punishing them as well." He sighed, swirling the liquid in his bottle before taking a longer drink. "Isuma is named after one of them. Hiraku was another. Val. Casandalee..." He trailed off with a sigh, raising another toast to them before turning his attention back to Adam. "What of you? Any good friends or companions on the roads you traveled? Brothers in arms, or in trouble?"
Smuggler's Liaison
Age: 36 | Height: 6'3" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 5 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 19 - Endr: 17 - Luck: 12 - Int:
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12-11-2019, 06:43 PM
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers ✓ Soul Shepherd ✓
Portal Guardian Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int: ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
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12-11-2019, 09:25 PM
Jigano listened to the tale of Adam's marriage curiously, tilting his head to the side in foxlike confusion at why the highwayman's being with men would cause issues, but keeping quiet. Remi had mentioned something similar on his world before, so perhaps it was just an oddity of other realms on occasion. "It's a shame they couldn't just accept you for who you are... but if wishes were fishes, there'd be no more room in the sea," he finished with a wry smile. Which didn't stop him from trying to coax out a little more information about the scars that marked Adam so visibly and uniquely. The hard line about 'not telling' though was enough to get him to leave the subject well enough alone, and he grinned at the other man. "Ah well, it was worth a try." Talk of the Ascended tended to make Jigano unhappy these days, but he shrugged at Adam's question about Wessex. "Spun things so that people weren't upset at the Ascended for invading the Greatwood against the Fae's direct ban on them so they could desecrate their sacred site and kill its defenders, getting everyone banned from the Greatwood in turn so it wasn't just the Ascended who were singled out, and killing Rae's servant in the Spire to allow the Ascended to pass through that portal, when the other races could do so without harm. The sort of thing that would have gotten people pretty riled up in the past," Jigano said with a sigh. "But while she was Queen she used her position and power to make it so that the Ascended involved faced no real consequences of their actions." Any other ruler would have called out the invasion of the Greatwood and tried to imprison or punish those involved, both to maintain order within the Grounds and to try and rebuild goodwill with the Fae, but Wessex had been imperious and haughty about ensuring that if the Ascended were to be punished, then everyone would be, and that their friends among the Fae would be barred from the barrierlands. He smiled wistfully at the question about Isuma, turning to look at her namesake and coffee near the fire. "She was the only one of her kind on my world. Unique... and alone. She was also the first to stand by my side when I realized that my friends were slipping into shadow... becoming like the very thing we were fighting to overcome. She was my right hand, my confidante, my conscience... but she never abandoned me." No, he had been the one to walk away from her, taking the blame onto his own shoulders and unable to face her in the end, even though she had agreed that what they had to do was necessary for the sake of their land and their world. His lips curved up in a returning smile as Adam spoke of his own friendship, however unorthodox it was. "Ah, yes. 'Friends may betray you, but you always know where you stand with an old enemy,'" he quoted wryly. "I hope you can find another friend like that here... or even some better ones. You seem to get on well with Amalia?" It was a question as much as a comment, his tone urging Adam to fill in some of the blanks there.
Smuggler's Liaison
Age: 36 | Height: 6'3" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 5 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 19 - Endr: 17 - Luck: 12 - Int:
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12-13-2019, 08:09 PM
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers ✓ Soul Shepherd ✓
Portal Guardian Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int: ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
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12-15-2019, 05:40 PM
"Fuck 'em," Jigano said succinctly to Adam's previous rich and snotty former-peers, raising his bottle and then frowning slightly at how light it was. He finished it off and reached for the next bottle in Adam's little gift basket, popping the cork with a deft twist and pull. The past had its shadows, both recent and distant, but for the moment there was decent drinks, good company, and no looming catastrophe (if you didn't count all the preparations for Fiat Lux that needed to be done in the next few days - but no one would die if they weren't quite finished in time, unlike LongNight). Jigano was content to relax and not press with uncomfortable questions after the source of those scars, especially since they didn't come from a threat that could hurt anyone on Caido now. The turn to Wessex and the Ascended soured the bard's mood somewhat, and he raised a brow at the question. "Well, they primarily hurt the Fae, so I'd say they should face Fae justive. Since the Fae seem content with banning them from the Greatwood I am... perhaps not content with their judgment, but I can respect it," he said slowly. "For killing Rae's guardian - a thinking, intelligent creature capable of communicating - I would argue imprisonment for a time," he added, thoughtful. "But... again, the creature's spirit called to us shortly after and offered forgiveness for what had been done to it." He shrugged. "And imprisoning Wessex is likely impossible at this point anyways, since she pulled that little teleporting stunt at the meeting." That didn't mean there weren't other possibilities, but it did make it significantly more difficult to punish her even temporarily for any past or future transgression. It would likely be all or nothing, now... and if he knew the Grounders, that meant 'nothing.' Isuma was a more welcome memory, the Kasathan woman holding a place of fond affection and respect in Jigano's thoughts. He nodded simply at Adam's opinion of a tough time, but let the subject lapse for many of the same reasons. Besides, Amalia was just as good a topic, and one they could both share as he steered the conversation in that direction, and he grinned back at the dark-haired man. "She is great," he agreed happily. "And I suppose the same could be said for us?" His teasing was light as he toasted Adam once more, sipping more slowly now that he was on his second cider.
Smuggler's Liaison
Age: 36 | Height: 6'3" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 5 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 19 - Endr: 17 - Luck: 12 - Int:
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12-16-2019, 12:56 PM
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers ✓ Soul Shepherd ✓
Portal Guardian Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int: ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
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12-16-2019, 08:51 PM
Jigano had to admit - he enjoyed overturning expectations from time to time. Though he often presented himself as cultured and refined, and that was how he wanted to be seen, he was still the son of a smith in a land ruled by barbarian tribes. As a bard it was his livelihood to blend in with the seediest of taverns and the table at a king's court, and when he had traveled across Numeria he had presented himself accordingly depending on where he wished to spend the night. With the barrier and then the divine storms there had been little opportunity to continue his nomadic ways, and he had settled into one way of presenting himself. His desire to explore was still strong, but now that Rory was in his life his wandering was behind him. "Just Wessex," Jigano agreed wryly. "Though I felt bad as well, for not being able to save the creature from her." A strange and uncomfortable situation, considering it had thanked her for freeing it from its duty. He didn't expect Adam to pause quite as long as he did, but the other man quickly recovered before the silence could get too awkward. "Two of my traveling companions when I was younger were illiterate," he explained wryly. "Rizz later did learn to read, but Yohgel never did. Written language was anethema to their people; they passed everything down in an oral tradition. Rizz was one of the smartest people I knew, even before he learned to read," Jigano added with a shrug. "So it doesn't matter much to me. Though... even in a brothel learning to keep the books would be a good skill." He chuckled, considering how tight the account books could be in such a place.
Smuggler's Liaison
Age: 36 | Height: 6'3" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 5 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 19 - Endr: 17 - Luck: 12 - Int:
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12-17-2019, 08:10 PM
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers ✓ Soul Shepherd ✓
Portal Guardian Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int: ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago
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12-18-2019, 06:39 PM
Given that Adam had seemed entirely willing and eager to shoot the snake, Jigano waved off the apology with a chuckle. "I understand the desire to explore. I would have been through the portal as well if I hadn't been concerned about Wessex trying to kill the snake as soon as we left. Then again, running into a Launceleyn first-thing on the other side... that would put a giant damper on things," he agreed with feeling, wrinkling his nose at mention of the family. "Loren's managed to rise above them, but I wish the landshark had gotten Zariah instead of Edy. Gods least fortunate, that would have solved a lot of problems." And saved his friend as well, no small consideration. Adam was right that Jigano's skill with brothels was limited, to say the least. He knew about them more in the abstract than from practical experience, so when the other man explained the reasoning behind keeping the staff in the dark the bard wrinkled his nose in distaste at the trickery of it, but nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. Terrible sense. But it does explain things." About brothels in general, and Adam in particular - or at least, why he had never learned to read. "How are you with sums?" he asked after a moment's pause to let the information percolate through the cider. "Do you want lessons in maths, too?" Nothing excessively complicated, but it seemed like the sort of thing that could come in handy in Adam's line of... not-work. If he did such things. Which he definitely didn't. "You were a whore?" The question wasn't really surprised, not given Adam's fashion sense and the history he had just shared. Still, he could have been a stableboy for the brothel, or a servant of wine and drinks, or even one who cleaned rooms, rather than one who served between the sheets. "How long did you stay there?"
Smuggler's Liaison
Age: 36 | Height: 6'3" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 5 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 19 - Endr: 17 - Luck: 12 - Int:
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12-20-2019, 07:02 PM
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers ✓ Soul Shepherd ✓
Portal Guardian Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int: ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
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12-21-2019, 02:38 AM
"With something rusty," Jigano added to Adam's 'toast,' with equal feeling. It hurt even more to think that Edy would have taken the 'curse' as a friendly suggestion - and likely asked for company in the bargain. She had been a far better Launceleyn than Zariah could dream of being. Gods least fortunate, but he missed his friend most when he was drinking. He regretted never giving her the chance to get him drunk now, almost as much as he regretted not apologizing to her over the whole kingship mess. "We can add in some number practice if you want," Jigano offered after another long drink. "Getting them down in the right order. I think that's fairly common - mixing them up when they're written down," he clarified. It would be fairly easy to add it into their writing lessons alongside the reading ones, just a few minutes at the end to work on getting the numbers down in the order Adam wanted, instead of swapping them around. "Questions about the scars and the new work, yes," Jigano agreed, smirking right back as Adam leaned forward. "How long after that did you meet Heidi?"
Smuggler's Liaison
Age: 36 | Height: 6'3" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 5 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 19 - Endr: 17 - Luck: 12 - Int:
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the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers ✓ Soul Shepherd ✓
Portal Guardian Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int: ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago
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12-21-2019, 05:28 PM
Jigano listened to Adam’s affliction with growing understanding as some of the other man’s difficulty with his reading lessons suddenly made a lot more sense. ”Ah! I’ve heard of such a thing before. It has nothing to do with smarts,” he was quick to reassure the other man. ”But it does give me an idea for something to try with our next lesson. If we space the letters apart and make them a little thicker it might make it easier to see them in the right positions.“ He was hopeful that it would be enough to ease some of Adam’s struggle until he became more comfortable with reading and writing, at least, even if he didn’t know of any specific longterm cure for the issue. Jigano snorted as he leaned back to savor his cider, grinning at Adam’s correction. ”I know what you meant,” he teased. ”But since I don’t know any of your clients it’s not much good for gossip here.” Not that he’d ever misuse information against anyone who wasn’t doing harm. But even just salacious gossip could be amusing (and educational) in the right circumstances. He arched a brow at Adam’s description of his work, relaxed with the drink and amused at the use of the word ‘chat’ for highway robbery. ”A gentleman thief, sir? A noble highwayman? Alas, I’ve yet to see a carriage here, and horses are far more dear than Outlander coin. Have you considered a life of sheep-herding and making alcohol, by chance, as an alternative?” He was grinning, his joking comparatively gentle. ”Think of the wool fashions you could set!” | ||||||
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