Allowing herself to be led wasnʼt nearly as difficult as she imagined it to be, not wanting to admit that having Harper to lean on (or practically be carried by) was the only way she was moving more than a couple feet before sheʼd have sat herself right back down. Embarrassed, to be sure, at how helpless it made her feel, but still grateful to be putting some distance between herself and the mess sheʼd made, even if she did continue to leave an admittedly small trail of blood to the bathroom in her wake. No one seemed concerned by it though, watching the dock activity pass by around them as she hobbled along in Harperʼs arms, not so much as garnering a look. Which made Harperʼs behaviour all the more odd, in comparison to the rest of the cityʼs apparent apathy. Not that Valdrá was about to complain, preferring not to have any more attention on her than necessary. Still, it made her uneasy.
Standing awkwardly outside, blinking at Harperʼs back as the officer went about inspecting the restroom, she felt even more uncertain, wrestling with her own indecision as she waited. Wasnʼt making sure everything was safe part of a guards job? It would have been more strange if she hadnʼt at least done a minimal search, right? But what if Harper wasnʼt making sure it was safe, but instead making sure that it was empty, so she could go about harvesting her body parts without anyone being the wiser? Hadnʼt Valdrá said she wasnʼt from there? No one would know if she simply disappeared, would they? How did she even know Harper was an officer at all? Or if Harper was her real name? Spiraling in a sea of doubt, she walked into the bathroom as sheʼd been bidden. What else could she do? She certainly couldnʼt run, she could barely walk.
Hearing the lock click she nearly screamed, though managed to keep silent as she snapped her attention toward Harper, eyes wide. Apparently the look she wore was enough because the lock was quickly undone without her having to speak. Probably for the best, uncertain just what she would have sounded like if sheʼd had to have asked outright. With Harper stepping away from the door, she breathed easier, moving her attention to the mirror instead, pushing her hood off her head.
It was surreal, seeing herself for the first time, and she wondered, before immediately shoving the thought away, if this was how her brother had felt when heʼd seen himself in his other form. Moving to touch her ears she blinked at herself. Deciding on a Veil was a very intentional act, done in consultation with the needs of the Hoarde, as well as the temperament of the person. There was study about the culture and how best to blend in with that chosen Veil, and over time, it became a part of that person, whatever the Veilʼs race, just like their different brands of magic were part of them. Sheʼd not been meant to have one, and had never considered what form sheʼd have chosen for herself if she were. Yet here she stood, so far away from where she was meant to be, in a drow body she had all of four days, not knowing a damn thing, about being a drow, or being a dragon for that matter, on the Outside. Touching the lines of the tattoo on her face, she half expected them to burn her fingertips, but for now, they felt normal. The irritation on either side of her mouth she ignored entirely.
Drawing her attention back where it belonged, Valdrá hopped up onto the counter, reminded that there was someone else besides herself looking her over, and she had better at least try and act like she knew what she was doing. She kept her gaze on Harperʼs hands, not her eyes, intentionally so, not knowing what manner of being Harper happened to be, but instead out of her own cultural protocol. Better to keep her own white eyes averted than accidentally start an incident she was not prepared to finish.
Offering her wrists to Harperʼs paper towel dabbing, it was immediately obvious to them both that while her wrists might be weeping blood from friction, that was certainly not where the blood she was tracking about was truly coming from. Nor was the true source of the problem coming from her ankles with similar blood abrasions, or even the bottoms of her feet, with their missing layer of skin. With nothing else to offer her, there was no more stalling to be had, and Valdrá sighed, sticking her feet into the sink, speaking to answer Harperʼs questions as she unzipped her hoodie.
“I would prefer not to say,” she said in reference to her place of origin, not even certain what the city itself had been called, and not about to tell this stranger what her true home was named, even if the likelihood sheʼd have heard of it was basically zero. “Iʼm looking for a librarian, or maybe just a library itself, do you have those here?” Also not at all what Harper had likely been looking for, answer wise, but so far both had been true. After the Valdreeam fiasco, she was thinking lying was not for her. The next question was harder, and she frowned and winced in unison, as she pulled the hoodie off her bloody back, considering. “A human said I would be safe here, so I started walking in this direction, and when I felt magic, I followed that, and now Iʼm here.” The first two days had been hard, walking based on a humanʼs rumor and blind panic. But again, her simple answer was also honest.
She kept her very many thoughts about the existence of humans in the city, and their fates to herself, instead falling silent as Harper attempted to tackle the mess that had become of her back. It was an odd thing, how her wounds had manifested in this form. Much of her back was scarred over, but two of the newest gashes had torn open and had refused to close, much to her dismay. As a drow, her entire back was a wreck. In her true form…again she shoved that thought away as well. That was a box better left shut.
She had to pause though, at the offer of food, and a place to stay, even for just one night. Immediately she was suspicious again, but what were her alternatives? Wouldnʼt her own guard have done the same if one of their kind had come injured? Why would Harper, whatever kind of being she was, be any different? Perhaps it was only the humans that were monsters, and while she did not know what Harper was, she knew she was no human.
“That is very kind of you, Harper Fairfax. I was planning on staying the night here, but I am thinking you do not think that is a good idea.” If her previous comments about finding her and others being interested in the bloody mess she was were any indication. And honestly, she didnʼt exactly find it the most brilliant of plans either, it was just the only one she had. Being indebted to a stranger wasnʼt the best of plans either, but it had to be better than the ground.
“I eat meat,” she continued, blinking back as Harper smiled. “Cooked, preferably, but I am not picky.” That was not entirely true, about being picky that was, but after three years of what could only be considered garbage, anything would do.
Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:39 am by Game Master
» The Beach near the Harbor ~ Dragons coming.
Fri Mar 29, 2019 9:04 pm by Shogeki Tekina
» Normal Grading Thread
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» Svala Svingrior
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» Fenrir (Fenrir Hróðvitnir)
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» Shogeki Tekina
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» Gola Jaci "s Character
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» Repeat offender, Shop lifter in the market [Mission Level 1]
Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:21 am by Game Master