Legend of Ransera

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۞ The touches amongst his back were ever so soothing as Aurelio calmed down. It was almost as if he would roll over for Aurin like a playfully lost puppy. He looked over at Aurin as he frowned, wondering if they could help him. He wondered if the other cultists would come to get him; however, he still blamed himself for dragging him into his mess. It was his battle, yet somehow Aurin was there to fight it. He frowned at for a moment as he wanted to process everything "Are you gonna be alright?" He asked with a certain glimmer of worry as he didn't want him to go down there alone. He was in a bit of a predicament; as much as he wanted to help Aurin he couldn't.

"Just don't do anything I would do..." He teased, almost berating himself for his lack of experience in life.

However, the more time Aurelio wasted the more that things got worse around the city. He nodded as he took a moment to sink in all the information he had to. He was to go across to the Sky Guard and report the wing hunters; in addition, he was to keep a low profile. How difficult could that be when Aurelio was a golden glowing homing beacon just waiting to be found. He had the rarest wing colour of all Avialae, it would be a easy find for the cultists. They were as easy to find as a Cathenian lighthouse on sea. ۞

"Good boy," he said to what amounted to tacit agreement to follow Aurin's lead. He continued to work on the Avialae's tense muscles, though, as it seemed to be keeping Aurelio present in the moment and open to listen rather than to act rashly as was the wont of young adventurers. Aurin didn't give a shit about glory; he wanted to survive and to protect the people that mattered to him.

"Don't worry about me; I've made it my life's goal to survive. I know just the person to take down into the Midden with me to watch my back, and I'm a master at blending in."

His hands worked up Aurelio's neck to massage his scalp, ruffling his hair in the process. The world seemed to send him younger versions of himself, those who needed care that didn't get it. He didn't want to care; rather, he wanted to be selfish because that was better for survival, but letting one in made it more difficult not to let the others in. Aurelio seemed to be largely alone in life, and while Aurin had made it work for him, Aurelio was still young enough to take a better path.

"I'll want to hear what the Sky Guard says to you, of course. You can always send word to me by way of my office at the Golden Peacock Theater around the way. Just send it to Aurin Kavafis, managing director. If you mark it private, my secretary won't open it. If you need to meet me, you can send me word there, as well. We'll figure out somewhere else to meet, though. Best not to be seen together if we're being observed. But here, the Theater, your place, and High Hopes ought to be off limits for us to be seen together, you see? Once you make your report to the Sky Guard, just go about your business as though they are going to take care of it. With luck, they'll think you've taken yourself off the game board, and so long as you stay topside where you can fly away, you ought to be fine."

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۞ He purred into the massages even more as he looked over at him; he began to feel a caring presence from the other man as he looked over at him "I'll go to the Sky Guard then" He said. He looked up at Aurin with pleading eyes, the kind that would inhibit caution as he placed his hand on Aurin's shoulder "Please, be careful..." He said as he got up upon his seat as he towarded over the smaller, ginger male once more "I'm not wanting to be responsible for any losses caused by me..." He said with a firm nod.

He imagined how guilty he would've felt if he had discovered that something had happened to him. He still wondered about his offer of sparring he made back at the High Hopes Tavern as he made eye contact once again with his golden orbs "If you don't who else will I have to spar with?" He asked with a shrug, knowing that he had promised him such an offer. He opened the door and looked back at Aurin.

"Promise me you'll be in one piece hmm?" He asked as he readied his wings; as if he was going to take flight towards the Keep. ۞

Well pleased, Aurin's smile softened a touch. If Aurelio was easily swayed, it could be both a boon and a bother. But even his strong hands and strong plan weren't enough to soothe the Avialae's nerves entirely. The young man stood up so he towered over Aurin and put a hand on his shoulder. The man couldn't help but smile and feel touched by the concern. Aurelio hardly knew him and he cared; most likely, he was just a good person. The world hadn't gotten to him yet.

"I will be careful," he assured him. "We are going to be careful." His plan, after all, would help keep Aurelio alive and wearing his wings. And he did want this kid to keep his wings. The world might get to him, but Aurin would be uncomfortable to find that Aurelio had survived something avoidable only to lose his wings and his will to live. There were worse things than death, but most of them involved lingering death.

"I'll always be around to knock you around." He smirked, winked, and then as Aurelio turned toward the door, Aurin's eyes fell shut. He channeled power through his masquerade trick and cast his Web over the alley. He knew how it looked in this light, how the smell of laundry was emanating from the doors opening up into the back of the Velvet Cabaret. He could hear the sounds outside and how they should be.

Taking all those sense memories, wove them into the illusion.

His head came up again to answer the same question for the third time in different words.

"I'll be in one piece."

As Aurelio walked out the door, he walked into the alley just as it had been when he had arrived. Anyone who watched, however, would see only the alley as it had been. To other eyes, Aurin was not standing there watching Aurelio fly away. But he was, only hidden under the Web.

Lore:
Aurelio:
Negation:
Creating a Quadrilateral shaped shield
Reflecting projectiles away

Storytelling:
Getting to the point
Telling information chronologically

Detection:
Recognizing weapon type
Spotting a threat
Spotting the dangerous enemy

Medicine:
Hydration cures hangovers

Caregiving:
Ensuring everyone is ok
Worrying for a friend

Rhetoric:
"Don't do anything I would do"

Aurin:
Interrogation:
Watching for Tells
Recognizing Honesty
Using Semblance

Intimidation:
Leave Them Feeling Exposed

Medicine:
Recognizing a Hangover
Tending a Hangover
Avialae Physiology

Persuasion:
This Will Help
Bribery
Remember Me Fondly

Storytelling:
Reminding of Real Events
What Happened Last Night

Points: 8 Each, may be used for Negation by Aurelio

Injuries/Ailments: Hangovers!

Loot: None

Notes: A fun read, I'm surprised Aurelio didn't get shanked for trapping Aurin in an unlocked house tho =P