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| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | Ben and Sil hang out with Elrissadel, Nunuzac, Samarith, and Dane. Nunuzac has been promised a human baby. Sam explains fetishes and her box to a new audience. |
| Rating: | M for Mature 17+ |
Ben jogs up the stairs carrying a book under his arm. He halts and grins when he sees Sil.
[Ben]: Heyyy, you beat me.
[Sil]: Hey, Ben! Yeah, I got here early. *He salutes Ben with a beer* Edris should be bringing up more.
[Ben]: Nice, thanks. Should've tried sneakin' up on you for a change.
Ben sets his book on the table's edge and drops heavily into his usual chair.
[Sil]: What book you got there?
[Ben]: Uh, s' a thing about Medivh. Last Guardian.
[Sil]: Oh nice. Main character's kind of an asshole though.
Ben absently rubs his thumb across the fuzz of his newly-regrowing eyebrow. He laughs.
[Ben]: Ain't I know it. How you been?
[Sil]: Been alright. I mean, I been safe here in Azeroth. How about you? All healed up?
[Ben]: Apart from my dignity, yeah. Reckon you got to have two eyebrows for dignity. Mizz fixed my hair, though. *He drags a hand across his hair, which is more uniform and less cowlicky now. It is still… very short.*
Sil shrugs: hair grows. "Maybe dignity’s a small price to pay for takin' out all the blood elves in Tempest Keep."
[Ben]: I mean, yeah. I am jokin'.
Ben peers at Sil, a little disconcerted. He settles back and drapes an arm over the back of his chair. "How is Nate?"
[Sil]: Nah, I mean, I wasn't meaning to make light of it… And Nate's good as any little fella could be.
Elrissadel comes up the stairs, looking around.
Ben blinks and sits up. He surveys Elrissadel and then gives Sil a significant look. "Hey, Rissa. Ain't seen you in a minute."
[Elrissadel]: Oh! Hi guys!
[Sil]: Hi Rissa!
Elrissadel squeezes Sil’s shoulder as she moves behind him to a chair
Nunuzac darts up the stairs and waves. "Hello!"
Ben glances over at Nunuzac and grins. He inclines his head at the empty chair.
Nunuzac hops into the seat and fwaps her folded newsletter on the table, beaming proudly.
Elrissadel waves at Nunuzac while addressing Ben. "I've been busy, me and Florande have headed out to Outland!
[Sil]: Oh nice! And I just come back from there not long ago. Maybe that's how come we missed each other for a while.
[Ben]: Oh, yeah? How's Flora?
[Elrissadel]: She's great. And Sil we were wondering if we would find you out there, but you're back for now?
Nunuzac looks to Elrissadel curiously, listening politely for a moment.
Edris comes up with a full tray of beers, and deposits them on the table.
Ben leans toward Nunuzac. "We should order some peanuts?"
[Nunuzac]: "Oh yes, how did you know?"
[Ben]: The first two times I met you I think peanuts is like sixty percent what we talked about.
[Nunuzac]: Food is good to talk about, every body likes food. Most of the time.
Sil smiles apologetically at Rissa. “Yeah… takin' some time off from squad, for family stuff. I guess I got family stuff now, which is kind of a surprise.”
Elrissadel 's ears perk up as she turns to Sil "family stuff?"
Ben grins at Nunuzac and flags Edris over. He leans back to address her. "Can we get a bowl of peanuts an' one of pretzels? Thank you, ma'am."
[Sil]: Yeah, I got a nephew now. Little baby called Nate. An' me and my sister-in-law are gettin' on pretty well.
[Elrissadel]: A baby!
Ben leans forward again to listen, propping his elbows on the table. He smiles at Rissa.
[Sil]: Yeah! Oh man, you want to meet him? I bet Patty would go with it, right? Everybody loves Kaldorei.
[Nunuzac]: Oh, a baby human?
Nunuzac brightens.
Sil nods eagerly at Nunuzac. "And draenei, them too!"
Elrissadel glances over at Nunuzac with a smile. "I haven't met a human baby yet either, not up close."
[Sil]: Ben's got one too. *Hastily, he adds* His little brother.
Elrissadel looks at Ben, "More babies? You have one?"
[Ben]: I have got three. But none of 'em mine.
Ben smiles ruefully.
[Nunuzac]: This is how Elohadference gets me to Ironforge. Says come see the baby, then what do I find? No baby. Only dragons.
[Nunuzac]: I will not fall for this one again.
Elrissadel laughs when she processes what Nunuzac said. "Were they at least baby dragons?"
Nunuzac makes a bit of a face that she quickly clears back into a pleasant smile. "Oh, some of them."
[Sil]: There are zero dragons at my sister's place in Stormwind. *He winces, thinking back over the words.* Sister-in-law’s.
[Ben]: … baby dragons and baby humans is not — are not really on the same spectrum.
Elrissadel shrugs
[Elrissadel]: well no, but then maybe Sir Ference lied a little bit less?
[Ben]: Aw, he didn't lie. Reckon it just slipped his mind. Havin' a baby around'll do that to you.
Elrissadel nods. Sure, that makes sense. (She has no idea if this makes sense.)
[Sil]: The baby's still there. Waiting.
[Nunuzac]: Maybe not a lie, maybe just… timing. But I still want to see a little human.
[Ben]: Well, you can take your pick. Sil's nephew, baby Dane, or a couple've twin ones in Shattrath.
[Sil]: One in Stormwind, one in Ironforge and two in Shattrath.
[Nunuzac]: Good to hear no dragon-in-laws, though. If you are sure. Maybe it is only the advisors in Stormwind that are secret dragons.
Ben grimaces into his beer.
Sil grins. “Yeah, that would be one hell of a surprise if Patty were a dragon.”
Ben mutters something about his mother-in-law.
Edris returns to sling a bowl of peanuts and one of pretzels onto the table. Ben flashes her a smile and slides the peanuts toward Nunuzac. He reaches for a beer while he's at it.
Nunuzac raises both hands and wiggles her long fingers at the peanut bowl, as if planning something dastardly for them. She is. The plan is eating.
Elrissadel reaches out for one of the beers and looks over at Sil while he speaks.
[Elrissadel]: You're happy? Good?
[Sil]: Yeah. I am now, I think.
Elrissadel smiles and leans over to give his arm a quick sqeeze. "Good."
Nunuzac glances to Sil with an encouraging smile. "Time with family, what can be better?"
Sil reaches over to touch Rissa's hand as she gives him a squeeze, and nods to Nunuzac.
[Samarith]: Coooobaaaalt Companyyyy! Where's my free drinks?
Samarith grins.
Nunuzac blinks over her shoulder.
Ben rises automatically at Sam's appearance.
[Sil]: On the table!
[Ben]: Have a seat, ma'am, Sil's got 'em lined up.
[Samarith]: Aww, sit your butt down, Hazan. I'm no lady.
Ben swipes his book over to this side of the table and then leans against the wall with his beer. "That ain't how it looks from here, m' afraid."
[Sil]: You do kinda look like a lady, Sam.
[Nunuzac]: Oh hello. The trap maker. Wow! So nice your clothes today.
Nunuzac seems to like the bright colors.
[Ben]: I like your blouse.
Sil sems to also like her blouse, respectfully.
[Samarith]: Thanks! I stole it off some dead Defias woman.
Nunuzac blink-blinks.
Elrissadel keeps her hand on Sil's arm and looks over towards Ben. "Is there going to be another seating argument? They seem to happen often for you."
Sil turns to Rissa. "Oh yeah, should we share?"
[Sil]: Then there's room for all.
[Ben]: Seatin' arguments is my specia– well damn, good for you. I will get you an extra beer for that.
(The usual effect of Ben's boyish grin is somewhat spoiled by the distinct mismatch between his eyebrow and his… not so much eyebrow.)
Ben raises his drink in a salute to Sam.
Elrissadel also raises her beer to Sam's boobs… er, face.
Sil follows suit, since we're all saluting!
Samarith picks up a beer and lifts it in toast to her hosts, and takes a heavy swallow.
[Ben]: Go on an' sit, for serious. I been sittin' most the day over to Hall of Explorers.
[Samarith]: Fine, fine. But only because I like you.
Samarith winks at Ben.
[Sil]: We ought to have another salute for the Tempest Keep? That was in the newsletter!
Sil raises his beer.
Ben winks back at Sam, and then smiles at Sil and lifts his drink again.
Elrissadel raises hers as well and leans over to look through her bag and the small stack of newsletters she's just collected from the mailbox all of 10 minutes ago.
Nunuzac lifts the newsletter she brought with her in a light wave. "Oh yes! I meant to say, very good job!"
[Samarith]: What's a Tempest Keep?
[Ben]: Tempest Keep is where Kael'thas Sunstrider was holed up in Netherstorm. I say was.
[Samarith]: Oh…oh? You mean…really?
Ben grins. "Yes'm."
[Nunuzac]: I saw all that was there and was a little sad I was not, but I was in rest from other fights.
[Sil]: Me too, sorta. You can't be in every fight!
[Nunuzac]: I must give congratulations to Erixa and Paluuva.
Ben glances to Nunu and sobers again. "I am sorry you missed it. But there'll be more fights too, I am pretty sure."
[Samarith]: Wait, you sayin' you folks were there?
[Sil]: We still got to take out Illidan, so more fights for sure.
[Ben]: Some Cobalts, yeah.
[Ben]: Erixa and Paluuva and Periclena, the Aspenwoods, Mr Atley.
[Sil]: Not like, official-Cobalt-like. But some folks pitched in.
Elrissadel shoves the pile of letters back in her bag without looking at them. "My mail got all screwed up in Outland and I'm behind. This is wonderful news!"
[Ben]: … Sir Atley.
Samarith laughs joyfully! "Get the fuck outta here! That's fantastic!" She picks up her mug. "To Cobalt Company, yeah?"
[Ben]: To Cobalt Company.
Ben drinks to that.
Sil drinks to that, too.
Samarith drinks to Cobalt Company.
[Nunuzac]: Well, I was sad I did not help so much, but not well, eager for fight. Big army things, it is not my training.
[Sil]: Yeah, I'm a lot better with a small group. *Sil nods at Nunuzac*
[Elrissadel]: Same.
[Ben]: Each to their own. Everyone's work helps, yeah?
[Sil]: Sure does.
[Ben]: Could not have done it without squad work outside before hand, an' all.
Atley marches inside and up the stairs.
[Sil]: Sir Atley!
[Samarith]: Oh hey! One of the big damn heroes!
Atley raises a hand and launches a broadcasted grunt in greeting before growling. "Mm, hullo', you lot. Looks to be another full party."
[Sil]: You can have my seat, sir. *Sil shifts over toward Rissa hopefully*
Elrissadel scoots over and makes room for Sil to share her chair.
Nunuzac glances back and beams with a little wave.
Atley lofts a bushy brow at Sil before he nods and steps forward to claim the seat. "I'm grateful for it. Dane or Atley will do in this setting, Sil."
Sil slides in next to Rissa.
Elrissadel shifts so she and Sil fit seamlessly in the chair
[Sil]: Alright, Dane.
Ben grins at Dane and lifts his own eyebrows (eyebrow) in welcome. He salutes Dane with what's left of his beer.
Sil salutes him with his remaining beer as well.
Atley reaches for his own mug to return it before he takes a sip and asks, "Now, wot' sort of trouble's being plotted tonight?"
[Sil]: No trouble yet, but Sam's here, *Sil says helpfully.*
Samarith laughs.
[Ben]: We was just talkin' about the heroes of Tempest Keep, sir.
[Samarith]: So, uh… I finally caved. Hazan, I'm guessing you already know this… but in a couple days I've got a meeting with your big brass.
Ben leans against the wall again and grins at Sam. "I do know it, on account of I am medium-size brass. I will prob'ly be there."
[Elrissadel]: Oh! You'll be joining Cobalt! Or applying. Congratulations!
Atley grunts inquisitively and raises a mug to Samarith. "It'll do you well."
[Samarith]: Heh, yeah we'll see if they like me.
[Ben]: Why wouldn't they?
[Sil]: She's a warlock, *Sil says quietly to Rissa.* But she puts demons in her nether box.
Elrissadel cocks an ear towards Sil as he speaks.
Samarith clears her throat. "Witch. Not a warlock."
[Sil]: Oh, right, sorry. Witch with a demon nether box.
Ben studies the dregs of his beer, his forehead furrowed. He is trying so, SO hard not to say things about nether boxes.
[Sil]: I just misspoke. On account of she does stuff with demons.
[Sil]: But like, bad stuff.
[Sil]: For the demons.
Atley frowns faintly and slowly shakes his head before inclining it. "I thought you hunted demons."
Samarith nods to Dane. "I do. I hunt them and trap them."
[Elrissadel]: A… nether box? *She looks towards Ben.* Is that a… what is it… euphemism? *She turns to Sam.* Or an actual box?
Atley grimaces faintly, warily. "Wot' do you do with 'em, once you've got them?"
[Nunuzac]: Puts them in the box that goes on forever. Which sounds a bit scary, but, maybe demons are used to that.
[Ben]: I think when you are huntin' and eliminatin' demons, you do not mind so much whether it is scary for 'em.
Samarith smirks and nods to Ben.
[Sil]: She can fit a lot of demons in her nether box, *Sil says earnestly.* But she's working on makin a stronger one for bigger demons.
[Samarith]: I have to bind them, in a manner similar to what a warlock would do. But I don't bind them to myself. That's foolhardy. I have talismans for that. When I'm done with them, I put them in my box, as your friends have said.
Atley briefly shifts in his seat, the chair sqeaking underneath him as he glances between Nunuzac and Samarith. "So it's somming' of a prison."
[Samarith]: It is exactly a prison.
Elrissadel nods. "Got it. An actual box."
Atley hums deeply. "Where's one learn to do that?"
[Sil]: It's your thing isn't it? You developed it? *Sil looks at Sam*
Samarith nods to Sil.
Samarith holds up the box like pendant hanging around her neck with the maze patterns on its sides. "One invents it. Took a lot of learning. I admit, I did study with warlocks. Had to learn how to handle demons. But I adapted."
Elrissadel peers at the box. "That is fascinating."
[Ben]: So the difference between a witch an' a warlock is you do not use the demons, you just put 'em away?
[Samarith]: Witch is a very broad term. People like the Kirin Tor like to us it to describe most anything that doesn't fit into their prescribed notion of magic. Warlocks would probably be witches if they didn't have a word for it.
[Samarith]: The witchcraft I practice is mostly rooted in working with talismans and fetishes.
Ben nods thoughtfully. "Fetishes. Gotcha." He rubs the bridge of his nose with his thumb and studies his beer again.
[Samarith]: That's what my nether box is, really. A fetish.
Ben nods gravely at Sam. "It does sound like."
Elrissadel scrunches her nose briefly. "What is a fetish exactly? I don't think I know this word in Common.”
[Ben]: I expect Sam could explain.
Nunuzac perks up as if a thought springs to mind. "Oh! This reminds, I asked Sandy but I think he is busy with studies."
Atley peers for a long moment at Samarith, visibly mulling things over, before he shifts his gaze to Nunuzac and takes another long pull from his tankard.
[Sil]: What were you going to ask Sandy?
[Nunuzac]: If there is someone in Cobalt who is, ehm, in charge of warlocks? I think? I want to ask about how Alliance works with warlocks, Sandy says, ‘I am not the best example.’
[Ben]: In charge of warlocks — well, there used to be Cal Bennett, but he is kind of… out, for a time. Reckon you could talk to Lena Coit?
Atley nods and tips his mug towards Ben. "That's who I'd say."
Nunuzac mouths the name to commit it to memory. "Okay, thank you. I will think on my question and ask."
[Samarith]: A fetish is an object imbued with magical power. Sort of like enchanted items you're probably more accustomed to. But this is subtler. Fetishes and talismans tend to have very specific uses.
[Atley]: I've come across troll fetishes. They look like dolls, little men. I've never been too bloody certain as to wot' they were for.
Elrissadel nods "Ah, I see."
[Ben]: I always kind of reckoned they was like corn dollies.
[Ben]: Except trolls take 'em more serious.
[Ben]: … maybe those is just a country thing.
[Samarith]: Ahh, yes. Trolls have some powerful witchcraft.
[Atley]: Mm, properly.
[Sil]: There are uh. Other meanings. But not really important for this conversation.
Elrissadel turns towards Sil, who is directly next to her so she is staring at the side of his face. "Other meanings?"
Sil blushes at Rissa, and says, "I should not have mentioned. What Sam said, yeah."
Elrissadel squints at Sil. "Hmm. I will ask you again later, then."
[Samarith]: Those dolls can do many things. Be careful if a troll ever tries to get hold of a piece of you, like your hair.
Nunuzac blinks at Samarith. "Why does a troll grab my hair?" She palms her static-splayed fuzz protectively.
[Samarith]: They'll work it into one of those dolls. Then they can do things to you by doing things to the doll. Sort of like cursing you from afar.
[Atley]: Dark magic, that. Foul.
[Samarith]: Nothing dark about it. Just magic. But used in a nasty way in that case.
[Atley]: I've only ever seen troll magic conjure horrors.
[Samarith]: The same magic can be used to cure diseases or soothe stress.
Atley takes another slow drink from his mug.
Elrissadel turns back to Sam. "Did you learn to use these Fetishes from the trolls or somewhere else? Do human mages use fetishes?"
Samarith nods to Elrissadel. "Some humans do, but human witches." She winks.
Nunuzac knits her brows as she absorbs all this new food for thought about trolls and dolls. Azerothian toy shops are probably hazardous.
[Ben]: Ambie Rennar claimed she broke Lin Molson's ankle with a corn dolly.
[Atley]: Who are they, then? *Atley asks, turning to Ben with interest.*
[Ben]: Girls back home. Use to make dollies out of corn husk an' such an' pretend they was hexin' people, or fortune-tellin', or whatever? I mean, maybe they was.
[Ben]: I always figured it was mostly spite an' showin' off.
[Ben]: I am pretty sure Ambie was about as witch as a doornail.
Atley squints faintly and nods. "I've heard of that. Up near Gilneas, in the old days. Called it 'harvest' magic or some such."
[Samarith]: Sorry to talk witchcraft and run, but my time was short today. I've got to get going.
Elrissadel smiles at Sam
[Atley]: Travel well there, Sam.
[Samarith]: Will do.
Ben sketches a salute absently at Sam with his free hand.
[Samarith]: Guess I'll be seeing you in a couple days, Hazan!
[Ben]: Guess you will.
[Elrissadel]: Good luck!
[Nunuzac]: Be safe Trapper Sam.
Samarith waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!
Sil waves goodbye to Sam.
Ben reclaims his seat comfortably, and sets down his empty tankard to reach for another beer.
Nunuzac drops both palms on the table. "Dane! Is marriage life happy?" She asks hopefully, swerving off of hexes.
Atley scoffs quietly with amusement, and his gaze softens. He looks to the candelabra for a moment before he grunts. "'Tis. Wot' that woman's done for me…" He just cuts himself off and clears his throat.
Elrissadel nudges a beer towards Ben and gets a good look at his face. "Uh, what happened?" She gestures vaguely at his eyebrows.
Ben grins ruefully at Rissa and rubs his absent brow again. Low-voiced, so as not to interrupt Nunu and Dane, he says, "Sacrificed my hair an' one eyebrow on the field've honor at Tempest Keep."
Elrissadel raises one of her two matching and very long eyebrows. "Oh my. A worthy sacrifice, I'm sure," she grins at him.
Nunuzac giggles delightedly at Dane. "No need to say it all. But happy! That is the important part. You got so many blessings and good wishes at the little human temple."
Atley nods once and raises his mug to Nunuzac. "From you, yourself. I appreciate you attending. Ought to have you meet Mrs. Atley properly sooner rather than later."
[Nunuzac]: Oh yes, I would like to meet her very much.
[Ben]: I mean, was almost my fucken eye, so I will trade in hair an' eyebrow a while in exchange.
[Sil]: Glad it wasn't your eye. Can they grow those back?
[Ben]: … maybe? I dunno. But I will be glad not to find out personally.
[Elrissadel]: Sometimes, if it was recent enough. *She looks at Ben’s forehead.*
[Atley]: I've not seen any human eyes grow back in my time.
Elrissadel reaches over to Ben’s face slowly to give him time to back off if he wants.
[Ben]: Pretty sure whoever the priest was got a shield on just in time. Quicker'n I even knew I needed one, so. Bless, as Aunt Nir would say.
[Atley]: T'was a mean fight, that. Great deal of elven sorcery.
Ben slips a silver pocketwatch from his trousers and glances at it. He mutters something and begins to chug his second beer.
[Nunuzac]: It hurts any? I hope not?
[Sil]: Where'd you get the pocketwatch? *Sil glances over the table at Ben.*
[Ben]: It don't hurt a bit since the fight. Hurt like a wild fucker at the time but I was kind of in my head about the fight so I did not really– oh, uh. From Mizzy. Anniversary.
Ben leans forward to hold it out to Sil in case he wants to see it. Which I guess he'd better or that's awkward.
Nunuzac looks relieved that this present-time condition is not painful.
Atley sits up in his seat to peer at the watch, lifting a brow. "Sharp, that."
Elrissadel leans back to let Sil see the pocketwatch more easily.
Sil makes an appreciative sound. "She's got good taste. But then, we knew that."
Ben grins at Sil.
Sil grins back.
[Ben]: I was wantin' one for a dog's age, but never got around to checkin' with, like, Miz Lucy.
[Ben]: This one's a hell of a lot nicer'n one I'd've got myself.
Ben flips it open proudly to show Sil the little portrait of Mizzy tucked inside the case.
[Atley]: Have you got to wind it up each morning?
[Ben]: Every few days. It runs pretty good. Gnomish, yeah?
[Sil]: Oh wow, that's pretty. And you can carry her with you everywhere.
Ben grins again at Sil. "I could probably, yeah. But the watch is easier to get in my pocket."
Sil chuckles.
[Nunuzac]: And Rissa, is that the name I hear right? A good meeting here.
Elrissadel looks over at Nunuzac "Yes! Hi! I am Elrissadel Shadowbloom, it has been lovely to meet you."
Nunuzac palms her own collar. "Nunuzac. And you! Very good to know more Cobalt." She glances over Ben.
Ben tucks the watch back into his pocket.
[Ben]: Anyhow, I got to get goin'.
Elrissadel jumps a bit at the horn as it blows simultaneously with Ben's statement.
[Atley]: I'll see you about, Ben.
Atley raises his mug.
Ben nods respectfully to Atley and gets to his feet, tucking the book under his arm again.
[Ben]: Evenin', all. Nice to see you.
[Elrissadel]: Nice to see you, Ben.
[Sil]: Yeah, I guess I better get going soon too. You all let me know if you want to see a human baby, though, I bet they'd be game for it.
[Atley]: Travel well there, Sil.
Nunuzac gathers up her paper and an overflowing hadful of peanuts that she stuffs in her pouch. "And me! I have letter to write. Then baby."
Sil waves goodbye to Elrissadel. Farewell!
Sil waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!