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| Details |
| Author: | Athena |
| Summary: | On a routine filing mission for paperwork, Mordecai and Lieutenant Colson encounter Ael in the Cobalt Company Ironforge Headquarters. |
| Rating: | M for Mature 17+ |
Just outside the Cobalt Company Headquarters, Tuesday afternoon.
Colson, as he always does, knocks in a polite, perfunctorily sort of way before he opens the door to HQ to stride inside. As it's a usual day for CC, the Open sign is there, and it's unlocked.
Mordecai trails after Colson like a lost puppy, except with hand-holding.
Colson strides confidently into HQ, holding onto Mordecai's hand in a loose grip, as he makes his way gracefully down the stairs as though he has every reason to be there.
Ael blinks and looks up from a small, leather notebook at the noise, then shrugs slightly and goes back to his notes, taking a swig from his flask with a sucking of his teeth.
"Is Captain Jo not here?" Mordecai glances around the room.
Ael looks up again, staring vacantly in slow recognition. "Erm… no, just me here." He sees Colson and rises abruptly, and gives a quick salute.
"No, I do not expect her. Oranna may be, however…" Colson does a sweeping glance through HQ, and halts at the sound of Ael's voice.
"Oh, Sir Leighton. Good afternoon." Colson inclines his head politely to Ael.
Mordecai turns, blinks, and peers at Aelladric. "Sir Leighton?"
"Greetings, erm, Lieutenant." Ael seems to be barely paying attention to Colson, instead squinting at Mordecai.
"Are you, um, you're the new paladin recruit?" Mordecai asks.
Colson moves closer, and makes an affirmative sound.
"Yes… Do I know…" Ael straightens in surprise. "Chaplain Harbrooke? That you?"
Colson's brows raise slightly, as he glances from Mordecai to Ael, and back.
Mordecai ducks his head and smiles a little. "Hello. Um. It's Aspenwood now. Mordecai Aspenwood. I, ah, I got married."
Ael moves around the table with an awkward grin, bumping into a chair along the way. Ael sticks his hand out to Mordecai, looking strangely embarrassed. "Erm, a pleasure to see you again, Chaplain. Congratulations on the nuptials."
Colson is still holding onto Mordecai's hand, but he lets go when Ael offers a hand.
Mordecai lets go of Colson's hand briefly to shake Aelladric's hand. "Thank you, um. You can just call me Mordecai. If, if you want. Sir. I've been with Cobalt Company for… a couple months now?" Mordecai looks at Colson to confirm the time estimate.
"Certainly, erm. Mordecai. You sure as sh – " Ael glances at Colson " – oot don't have to call me 'Sir.'"
Colson nods to Mordecai. His face is a bland sort of neutral.
"Which, ah, what would you. Prefer?" Mordecai holds a hand out to Colson.
Colson retakes it easily, squeezing gently once.
"Ael is just fine, Mordecai. Aelladric is a mouthful, I know. Have my mother to thank for that." He notices the two holding hands finally. "Ah, of course! Lieutenant Colson Aspenwood." Ael bows slightly. "Congratulations to you as well, then, erm, Sir."
Colson inclines his head. "Thank you. I had not realized you were acquainted with my husband. From time in Kalimdor?" Colson's voice is mild, and polite.
Ael's mouth tightens slightly for a moment, then he smiles. "Yep. Erm, yes, Sir. We were on the same front, for a spell."
"Theramore," Mordecai says, nodding. "Um." He looks between Colson and Aelladric.
"I see. I was stationed there during my time in the Alliance Army. I left the army around a year ago,” Colson says.
"The Chaplain was a damned fine healer, if memory serves. He did a lot to ease the wounds of the men and women over there, both physical and… mental." Ael swallows and clamps his mouth shut again. He flushes and looks away briefly.
Mordecai immediately gets flustered at the compliment and looks at his shoes like they're very interesting.
Colson smiles gently, his eyes going soft, as his right hand lifts briefly to touch his left shoulder, as he looks at Mordecai. "Yes. I had cause to learn that as well, in Theramore. Mordecai is a remarkable healer," Colson says. To someone who knows him well, they can hear the warmth, but to another, Colson might sound simply mild as ever.
Mordecai shuffles his feet and mumbles, "I do my best."
Ael continues to look away for a few long moments, eyes unfocused as if his thoughts are elsewhere. He suddenly blinks and looks back at the pair. "Absolutely. I'm glad to see you're doing well. Makes the news of the wedding more inspirin', considerin'."
Colson tilts his head slightly, and looks at Mordecai.
Mordecai says to his feet, still blushing, "Work with Cobalt Company has been… less structured? Differently structured? It took me a little while to get used to. Are you staying here?"
Ael clears his throat and looks around. "I'm… I'm afraid so. It's just temporary, though. I'm shoppin' around for a place." Ael says this very earnestly. Too earnestly, probably.
Colson makes a 'hm' sound. "There is no limit to how long you may remain. I know that Ben and Lady Ismene stayed here for quite some time."
"Lady Ismene is Ben's… Huh." Ael looks surprised, then collects himself. "No, Sir, I don't want to impose for longer'n I have to. Thank ya, though."
Colson shakes his head. "It is not an imposition, Sir Leighton. You are part of the Company. That is the purpose of those cots here in Headquarters. But, I do understand. And, Lady Ismene is Ben's wife, yes," Colson adds, as he glances around to the filing cabinets.
"Never took him for nobility, I s'pose." With Colson's attention elsewhere, he begins eyeing Colson's tattoos with a vacant frown.
"He was adopted. Right?" Mordecai glances at Colson for confirmation.
"Ben is the adopted son of Lord Elohad Ference, yes," Colson agrees, his voice as mild as ever, as though he were talking of the weather and not, you know, lordy stuff.
Ael rubs his own arm absently, then looks away from Colson's tattoos. "Maybe that's why he still seems so… down-to-earth," Ael says politely.
Colson's face goes more neutral, but he inclines his head.
"Didn't know there were so many nobles in Cobalt. Hope I don't embarrass m'self."
"Um. I… have some advice, if you'd like?" Mordecai offers.
Ael nods. "O'course."
Mordecai squeezes Colson's hand once and moves over to the chairs to sit down, pulling Colson along. Mordecai doesn't release Colson's hand. He scoots his chair a little closer to facilitate easier hand-holding.
Colson comes along easily, sitting gracefully when Mordecai does.
Ael looks unsure of which chair to choose, then finally decides on one a bit away to give the two some space, and to better see them both.
Colson's expression is very neutral, and very difficult to read.
"It was… a bit of an adjustment for me to make myself, too, going from the formality of the army to Cobalt Company," Mordecai says. His voice is very gentle. "But I haven't met a single member of Cobalt Company who's expected me to stand on ceremony like that. If anything, it feels like the opposite. None of the leaders I'm familiar with - Jo, Colson, Ben - enjoy being set apart because of their rank. I imagine it's the same for many of the nobles in the company as well."
Ael nods thoughtfully. "S'pose it is strange, comin' from the army to somethin' like this. Even other companies I've served with here and there were… pretty big on rank and formality."
"I know I'd… prefer not to stand out. Personally." Mordecai shrugs.
"We are not the army, it is true," Colson says, in a way that sounds like a well-worn phrase, as though the paladin has said it often. "The ranks of Cobalt Company are intended for structure, but they are not enforced. There is, obviously, nothing to forbid fraternization among the ranks." There's a dry sort of edge to Colson's voice, as he gently shifts his hand linked with Mordecai's, a very faint hint of a smile on his face.
Mordecai exhales in a way that sounds very much like the start of a laugh that gets cut off.
Ael blinks as he processes something. "Wait, Chaplain Har – , um, Aspenwood, are you a noble as well? Are you both…?"
Mordecai nods.
"Huh. I never woulda guessed. In the Army, you never seemed… An’ Lieutenant Colson, I could see…” Ael looks at Colson. "No offense, Sir. Not that it's offensive to be… Um…" Ael shuts up.
Colson's smile disappears behind a Neutral expression, as he looks down at his hands briefly, before up at Ael. "No, I understand, of course."
"You can call him Colson. Please."
Ael hazards a grin. "Colson, then." He leans forward and extends his hand. "Pleasure to meet ya, Colson."
Colson blinks, because Ael is far for a handshake, and Colson's arms are long but not comically stretchy, but it doesn't take long for the paladin to take this in stride as he rises elegantly to cross the distance to shake his hand. Colson does, of course, let go of Mordecai's hand to not drag him through the room.
Ael chuckles and rises as well to meet Colson's grip.
Mordecai relaxes visibly in his chair, smiling.
"Good to finally meet ya, Colson." He grins again.
Colson has a (perhaps) surprisingly firm handshake. His hands are smooth, except for several small but well kept sword calluses. "Ael," Colson says, his voice mild. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Again." There's a hint of dry amusement there.
Ael eyes Colson's tattoos. "Couldn't help but notice yer ink. there."
Colson releases Ael's hand after an appropriate period of time, and looks down at his arm. "Ah. Yes." He looks back to Ael, his brows raised ever so slightly.
"Were we, uh… all supposed to do that?"
"We?" Colson asks.
Mordecai stays in his chair, but he's watching the two paladins interact now with a very warm smile.
"Paladins, I mean. I'm not sure I've learned, or at least not observed, all the… proper formalities." Ael looks down guiltily.
Colson blinks once or twice. "No, I am rather certain that there was never any standard for tattoos among the Silver Hand. However, I confess, I had only two years of formal instruction, before we were…disbanded, as you likely recall. I spent the next five years in self-study, in the army."
Ael looks slightly mollified at this. He looks over to Mordecai. "And you, Mordecai? Do you have any of these?"
Colson turns to look at Mordecai, and returns to his seat to take it once more.
"I don't." Mordecai runs a hand through his hair, which gets even more messy.
Ael sits as well. "We could get matching Theramore ones!" His grin returns.
Colson offers his hand back out to Mordecai, his face mild.
Mordecai takes Colson's hand. "I've seen enough tattoos inked to know I don't want any for myself, personally." He smiles back at Ael.
"If you are looking for a place to get one, however, I can attest to the professionalism of a place here, in Ironforge. It is where Ben and I went for ours."
Ael shrugs, then looks at Colson with interest. "No shi-shoot? I'd like that. Maybe some o'yours! They're kinda… badass, if I'm bein' honest." Ael gauges Colson's reaction.
Colson's lips move in a faint smile, and there's a small hint of color to his cheeks. "Thank you. I am rather fond of it."
Mordecai nods in the direction of Colson's arm. "That was a twelve-hour sitting. I have no idea how he managed it, and I was there."
Colson's smile grows more visible as he looks over at Mordecai, raising Mordecai's hand slightly, as though he was going to kiss it and halts the motion. "You were there, is how I could manage it so easily."
Ael whistles. "Twelve hours?? Didn't ya get… bored? Wanna pass out from pain? Anythin'?"
Mordecai looks at Colson with just the absolute mushiest obviously in love smile on his face. "I read him a book. I don't have a clue if he heard any of it."
Colson's smile turns into a grin, visible even to Ael at this point. "I do remember you reading. Please do not ask me what it was about."
"That's what I thought."
Ael smiles at Mordecai. "That's dedication." He looks at them both with a new, possibly-pained expression, then it is gone and the grin is back.
Colson chuckles, low and deep, as he turns to Ael, the grin fading slowly. "As for the pain, it was bearable. What was far more difficult was not healing myself automatically at it. Most of my experience is in healing. I do it without thinking now."
Ael looks thoughtful. "Never thought about that. Same would apply to piercings, I reckon."
Colson inclines his head. "Indeed. You must deliberately let the wound set, or you simply return it to the same state again and again."
Mordecai nods. "It does. It's very easy to heal recently-pierced ears….Or pierced anything else, I suppose, but I've only had experience with…" Mordecai shrugs.
"The same reflex that allows me to heal myself mid air after an ogre has crushed my ribcage to puncture my lung is a strange disadvantage in a tattoo parlor chair, but that was the greater challenge all the same," Colson says, in the Weather Voice.
Ael grins. "Strange how that works, huh? Guess we're fortunate to have the option, all things considered."
Mordecai smiles. "I was ready to heal a letter's worth if the tattoo artist made a spelling error."
Ael looks thoughtful and distracted. "Always wanted to pierce my ba – , er, bottom of my ear."
Colson nods solemnly at Mordecai, and then looks at Ael, his expression looking Particularly Neutral, except his lips are twitching. "Your…bottom of your ear. Well."
Mordecai succeeds in keeping a straight face.
Ael grins slightly and reaches for the pocket he had put the flask into earlier, then pulls his hands away. "So, y'both in town long?"
Colson shakes his head slightly. "No. I came to file the latest reports, which," he holds Mordecai's hand up to his heart briefly before releasing it to stand. "I should do, lest I forget."
Mordecai smiles. "Go on."
"Haven't seen either of ya around the Plaguelands. Outland?"
Colson takes out several pages of paper from a bright orange bag with a Jack-o-Lantern face on it that does not look like it should have fit papers that size in it, and he opens the filing cabinet with practiced ease.
Mordecai turns to Ael. "Colson's on Blue Squad, so he's been in Outland, and I've been… yes."
"Ran into… Boopsie? Out in the Plaguelands. She seems like a fun time. Haven't seen anyone else from Cobalt out there, though it's a big, nasty place, so." Ael shrugs
"Yes, Cobalt's two forward squads remain in Outland for the time being, however," he says as he files his papers with precision. "We are looking to offer more aid North." Colson shuts the filing cabinet, and returns to his seat, sitting gracefully as he holds out his hand for Mordecai's. "Ah, Boopsie…Sparkfly, I believe. Gnome warrior, if I recall correctly?"
Mordecai takes Colson's hand automatically. He barely needs to look.
Ael nods. "Aye, and an aggressive one."
"Hm. We had one of our Draenei paladins — vindicators — out there for a time, but she has requested to follow her path to Outland. We have another of ours who intends to work there, a Ralaea Westwind. The Captain is hoping for more volunteers,” Colson says.
"Been havin' a bit of a dilemma about the whole thing myself. Been fightin' in the Plaguelands just cuz of… the damage I know they can cause, but… Lately I been thinkin' that maybe the Legion is more to blame for- well. That maybe the Legion is the bigger threat."
Colson nods slowly. "I…understand that, very well." He looks up at Ael. "I have felt myself called to aid in the North, by what felt like the Light itself. Guided there. And yet, I know that where I have followed my path to Outland, to the Legion, is where I am meant to be. We cannot be everywhere at once. Yet, it is also true that a paladin is invaluable in the Plaguelands."
"It's hard, wanting to be everywhere at once," Mordecai says with a little shrug.
Ael looks at them both in turn with a thoughtful frown. One gets the sense that their words only added to his confusion. He pulls his notebook free. "Been takin' notes on the Plaguelands. Tryin' to help formulate some sort of strategy. But, if the Legion gets through… I mean, look at Outland."
Colson nods sharply. "Yes. It is why we have both squads in Outland at the moment. And yet, with the necropolis that has appeared over the Plaguelands, we stand on the precipice of yet another war with The Scourge here, to fight once more a war on two fronts. The Argent Dawn and even what remains of the Scarlet Crusade are all that hold that line. Cobalt is large, but not all could bear that front. And the Captain will not send those who are not willing to fight that brewing war."
Ael sighs. "It scares me, honestly. Thinkin' about the Plaguelands. Felwood. Those bug critters swarmin' over southern Kalimdor. We're losin' ground that'll take generations to reclaim, and losin' it faster than we can reclaim it."
Colson nods solemnly. "Yes." Colson leans forward with interest at the notebook. "May I ask what you have noted?"
"Makes ya wonder if one day we'll have nowhere to live at all." Ael shakes himself out of his Dour Musings. "Oh, of course Sir, er, Colson." He passes it over. It is largely simple sketches of various beasts and undead, tracking of movements, marking of Scourge structures, etc.
Mordecai, who is closer, passes the notebook from Ael to Colson so that Colson doesn't have to get up again.
Colson's brows raise slightly in surprise, but he moves to take the notebook to look through the notes. He nods, as he reads through it. "This is excellent work. The Dawn could use this information. I know from my time working with them that they are spread thin enough that entire sections of the Plaguelands go unmonitored, and they are at present attempting to mount a unified defense and attack on the greater threat."
Ael shifts in slight embarrassment. "Ah, I ain't much of an artist, but… Figured it could help, catchin' some stuff that they missed. Watchin' the routes they can't. Maybe. I'm just one fella, after all."
Colson looks up, his eyes serious. "Not only one fellow. One paladin. And there, one paladin can hold a line steady when that aid is desperately needed. It would, indeed, be of great help, to ensure we close those gaps."
Mordecai nods. He's just quietly reading over Colson's shoulder.
Ael straightens, looking at turns proud, inspired, flattered, and uncomfortable. "Ah I guess I'll do for now. There's finer paladin's than an old merc like me out there. I reckon it'll be they who save the day in the end. I just hope to live to see it."
Colson drops his eyes to his hands for a moment, as he gently closes the notebook. "Perhaps there are finer paladins than we are, but no matter how fine a paladin they may be, they are not there. We do what we can, and we pray that it is enough. 'To strive to be divine for one of our kind does not mean we strive for god hood — we strive to be good in all actions.'" Colson quotes from the Tome easily. "We do not need be Great Paladins, Ael. We need only be good paladins." Colson moves to hand the notebook to Mordecai, to pass it back to Ael.
Mordecai shuts the notebook and hands it over.
Ael looks suddenly and intensely sad? Guilty? Tears rim his eyes briefly and he huskily clears his throat as he leans over to take the book back from Mordecai.
Colson's eyes are gentle as he looks at Ael.
"Aye, I reckon you're right. You sure you haven't been getting extra paladin lessons from some mentor? That's some fine wisdom for a man of your years."
Mordecai smiles, proud. He seems perfectly content to sit here and listen.
Colson looks down at his hands for a long moment. "I found solace and guidance in the Tomes of Light, and the rest I learned through the mentor of experience. It was not…easy, and it was often painful," Colson says, as his right hand reaches to his left shoulder. "But we were never meant to walk our paths alone. We are Brothers in the Light."
Ael looks down at the floor. "Been alone for a long time, Colson. Never considered I wasn't as alone as I felt." Ael catches Mordecai's proud smile and grins. "Not sure what you're smilin' about, Chaplain. You're as fine a healer as he is a paladin. You two're good for each other. Great, I reckon."
Colson's expression goes soft, as he looks at Mordecai. "Yes," he agrees simply.
"Hm?" Mordecai looks at Ael like he has just tuned back into the conversation, and it takes him a moment to process what he heard. "Oh. Well." Mordecai runs a hand through his hair. "What time is it?" he asks Colson, suddenly. "I was going to meet Estel…"
Ael eyes the two, looking a bit sad again, and nods. "Reckon I need to head out as well. Got a big day of skull-smashin' tomorrow."
Colson makes a 'hm' sound and takes out an absolutely adorable pocket watch. It looks like something a gnome would make. He reads off the time.
Mordecai relaxes. "I'm not late yet," he mumbles, and gets to his feet. "Those were good notes, Ael." He gestures in the vague direction of the notebook.
Colson stands gracefully. He smiles gently at Ael. "There are several of our order within the Company, many of whom walked alone for a time. If you wish to speak to a Brother, I hope you will call upon me. We are none of us as alone as we have been walking," Colson says gently, as he holds out a hand filled with Light in offer of a Blessing.
Ael rises with a nod. "Actually. I'd appreciate it if you two held on to this, looked it over. I've got others, and could use some feedback." He hands the book to Mordecai, before processing Colson's words.
Mordecai accepts it from him and nods.
Colson doesn't seem to be in any hurry, or impatient as he holds the hand up in offer. He looks like he could stand there forever possibly.
"I'd like that, umm, Colson." Ael accepts the blessing with a slight bow. "And, Mordecai, I'd also like to… bend your ear someday. Like back in Theramore." His eyes are glistening again slightly, and he swallows.
Colson passes a Blessing of Light over Ael. "Light be with you," Colson says, in a voice that makes the rote phrase sound sincere.
Mordecai smiles. "I'd be happy to listen any time."
Ael smiles gratefully at Mordecai, then turns to Colson to offer his own Blessing. "For what it's worth," he says sheepishly, as he extends a similarly-glowing hand.
Colson smiles faintly. "Please, by all means."
Ael's movements are a lot more stiff, his "Light be with you" has a slight stutter, but Light washes over Colson just the same.
Colson inclines his head to it, and nods to Ael. He doesn't seem to have any judgment over the blessing. "Thank you, Ael." He turns to Mordecai with a gentle smile. "To Miss Herald, then?"
Mordecai nods. He puts Ael's notebook away in one of his bags with care.
Colson begins making his way out of HQ with his usual long strides.
Mordecai gives Ael a little wave and trails after Colson.
Ael nods at both of them as they pass. "It's been a pleasure, Aspenwoods."
Mordecai mumbles a goodbye.
Once the two are gone, as he's certain he's got the downstairs to himself, Ael strips off his armor and blade, and packs them carefully next to his cot. He climbs onto the bunk, and pulls out his flask, eyeing it for some time. Finally he scowls at it, and with an angry heave and a yell, throws it across the room. It clatters loudly on the stone floor. Ael rolls to his back, staring at the ceiling. His face shifts almost constantly between sadness, guilt, pride, contentment, and confusion. It is many hours before he falls asleep.