akanisxingrid

[akanisxingrid]

Riz Ahmed in Fingernails (2023). Feel free to use them in CS or other edit, but please reblog.

[akanisxingrid]

Ingrid knew what this was, she had been doing it the entire day, savouring one last moment with the woman she cared for. She could have allowed Guli this one last moment but she knew them, both would ignore that this moment happened if it meant they could stay in the bubble of bliss. But after that reaction she knew that this had to hurt not just her but Guli, Ingrid would have to pray on what she believed would hurt the most.

“It's not the gift you know that. I have to put myself first and stop wasting my time on someone like you. You're not worth it.” at least there was one truth there. Ingrid hated this, hated that she had to do this, but she had to get her stone cold bitch face on to see this though.Time to cut close to the bone. “You call yourself nobility but your just a disappointment, i can’t be with a disappointed. i'm a queensgurad there is a reputation i need to protect.” She really hoped she didn’t have to dig deeper then that, Ingrid pleaded internally that, that was enough.

Gulizar didn't need magic to sense the sudden shift in the air between them. One moment, she was hypnotized by the radiance of Ingrid's smile, and the next, there was what felt like a mountain and several feet of space between them. Her attentive eyes caught the tears threatening to escape onto Ingrid's cheeks, just before she willed them away. Deep down, she knew what was happening, but the suddenness of it all had her clamoring for an excuse, any reason to spend a few more moments with Ingrid before she lost her for good.

"It's alright, darling. If you aren't feeling the gold, we can try silver. Maybe platinum?" Guli turned away suddenly, ignoring the stares of the nosy market dwellers and busying herself with browsing the nearest stall. She was too nervous to process anything in front of her, but she could at least look busy. Maybe if she pretended everything was okay, it would be, in the end.

[akanisxingrid]

Akanis smiled as the other gave his name, “Akanis Agrat, I guess I do Kuno.” Akanis didn’t miss a beat in shaking the others hand, it gave him hope that one day he would find the person he could trust above all. “I hope it does also.” even if he had the suspicion that it won’t. “Perhaps you will, though I might not always look like this. I suppose just like me you have a duty to return to. It has been a pleasure making your acquaintance Kuno.” Akanis excused himself from the others' presence to return to guarding the Queen.

"Well, my name's Kuno. Now ya know." he extended a hand and a warm smile. "The next time we see each other, I'll be a familiar face. Always easier to open up to one of those, though I hope whatever is troubling you gets better before then." Kuno rose to his feet and brushed off his pants. "I'll see you around...?" he ended his statement with a raised eyebrow. He'd shared his name, but still didn't know who he was speaking too.

[akanisxingrid]

The other was imposing, had that air about him that he knew what he was doing. Reassuring for sure, and Akanis doubted that the other even needed him there. Though he knew a safety net was always the best thing to have.

“I’ve heard about them, but I have had the luxury of never facing a goblin. Heard to not get surrounded by them.” Though he wasn’t to worries about them, he was sure they died to fire. It was more their home, he was hoping if it was a cave it had more then one entry way so he didn’t burn up all the air when they were in there. “So what does their hovel look like? Cave? Abandoned homestead?”

The Warrior's Guild seemed to be running rather thin on members as ranks were pulled to Aventia or off to other borders to bolster defenses. It didn't change the internal problems they were meant to hunt down and Lothar tried not to groan at the idea of their outsourcing for aid; a prideful sense within Lothar liked to believe he could handle this group of rogue goblins himself, but the guild was not without protecting themselves. If bringing another along, an outsider of the guild at that, wrought the agency comfort, then so be it.

With his axe swung readily over his back, Lothar had the missive mapped out in his head; he'd finish up here and likely return back towards the outskirts of Eterna before the sun crested behind the horizon. "Ever seen one up close before?" So, this was Akanis, and in typical combative and reclusive Iskaran fashion, Lothar was judging him.

[akanisxingrid]

A mace? A different approach was needed, the weapon wasn’t like a sword where you could cut deep and potentially slow there movement. “No ones the best at anything so don’t worry. What I’d recommend is treating it differently. Aim for more joints, they are weaker and easier to collapse when you hit them with a mace.” Ingrid got closer to the other so she could give some helpful tips. “It’s also tempting to hold it high as you’d have more control but the lower you hold it you can get more leverage to bring it down. Move your hand like here, it’s going to feel unnatural but hit will hit harder I promise.”

Zeliha's eyes seemed to shine at the idea that this person was Queensguard. She approached, fully trusting and intrigued. "I'm a healer, and I'm also pretty good at running around the woods. However, I'm not so good at-" she made vague sword-swinging motions. Zeliha hummed thoughtfully and unclipped her new mace from her side to show Akanis.

Zeliha lifted it up and then brought it down on the wood before clumsily pretending that she was fighting an enemy, swinging it a few times in the air. Then she stopped, looking over sheepishly. "... I know it's not the best."

[akanisxingrid]

He knew that she was only checking for his plus that the interaction was innocent but how he felt didn’t just go away. But he knew he couldn’t allow himself to hurt not just her but anyone like that again. He had a hand print of his own now and while he didn’t understand it, he could now understand how unseemly it is to have. Part of him wanted to dismiss that she wanted to help him, that she should hate him not want to help. But he knew better than to argue especially about this. “If you are sure…” why did she have to say please? When it came to those Akanis cared for he was a push over, could be convinced by a simple batting of their eyelashes.

Once she has been reassured to the near steadiness of his pulse, she drops the contact gently. She can only figure out so much at a glance, but she is relieved by what she finds. Prolonged combat does little good on the body and mind, especially after weeks of constant attacks and counterattacks, but there is little she can do against that. What she can do, instead, is ensure that the people she gets her hands on are well, for the brief time she can do that. 

“I don’t have to do many things, but I want to,” she replies pointedly at the quick dismissal. She understands the unbearable awkwardness that comes from their previous relationship and how it ended, but if Akanis thinks she would be willing to retract her help just because of that, he would be wrong. She wants to sigh, then, at both his clear lie and the knowledge that they are no longer close enough to call him out on it. “At the very least let me do this for you, please.”

[akanisxingrid]

Every other Elvhen power didn’t hurt like this, even the other changelings didn’t so what was so wrong with his that it eat away at him? Was Ingrid right? was he what was wrong? This wasn’t natural but didn’t he deserve this after what he used this ability for? He’d taken life, rendered it ashes, wasn’t this just karmic resolution that he will one day be ashes. Had he done something in a pervious life to deserve this? There were to many questions and no answers, it was useless to fight the inevitable, he was doomed.

He didn’t deserve this strangers kindness, their help. But he remembered what Ingrid had said in that dream, just before he got this red hand on his chest. He had taken them here, and he couldn’t shy away like a coward now that times were hard, he wanted this, he volunteered them not her. Fuck Ingrid being right. “Yes…” it wasn’t exactly fast as the heat of burns radiated from him, pain thrumming through his body. “I’ll take anything you have, no matter how little.” He’d go where ever the other needed him to be.

Steady hands trembled when they met air, finally freed from the sweat-chafed gloves. They were raw and stinging, as was the acrid alcohol burn that lingered in Neven’s nostrils. Everywhere he turned there was pain in need of remedying. The ward tents for the sick and injured nearly outnumbered the rest. It was a taste of the wastelands’ carnage all over again, only this time, they were privileged enough to have aid. People got better, rather than slowly wasting to the blight or infection. Many slept the night through without waking from hunger. Clean water was a luxury he’d never take for granted again. 

The alchemist tossed his dirty gloves in with the others and lifted the basket of bloodied cloth and dressings. Clean linen would be needed soon. With the basket on his hip, he was reminded of a moment hundreds of years buried, of picking blackberries in the summer with his daughter, her little hands defiantly wiping the red juices into her smock. The berries were never as ripe as war dressings, though. Pulling from memory, instinct directed him toward the stranger limping through camp, winging from unseen injury. A group of soldiers shuffled by and obscured the doubled shape. Neven was relieved to see the man was still there after they passed. “You’re hurt.” Said the alchemist, redundantly. The green collar he wore was clear identification of his role in camp. “I’ve time now, and we must see to that before it gets any worse. Can you walk?” He nudged his head in the direction of the medical tent.

[akanisxingrid]

Ingrid had worked hard put up with so much of her other half’s shit that this high class, almost snooty establishment was where she would drink the night away. And besides if anyone saw a queensgaurd and a new noble anywhere else there would be talk. “That’s big talk cause I can rack up quite a tab. I was trained by a very drunk man so I know how to drink.” Everyone else was kinda of drab, nobles and merchants took themselves so seriously, couldn’t be her. “Names Ingrid, you might as well know the name of the woman you’ll be buying drink for the whole night, no?”

He's more than a little bored which actually made him feel guilty on account of how kind Lucilius had been to him. It's not the owner's fault for patron's being....Well, patrons of a high class establishment. While it's fun, the atmosphere is buzzing, he actually prefers a hole in the wall or the Cisterns. Here he's not looking for fun, he feels like he's posturing a bit, he can see several client's hanging around on plush sofas and chatting about taxes or something. Nero's done a round or two of the room already to express the usual niceties before retiring to a nice corner to watch everyone....He really hopes they aren't talking about taxes. A young woman approaches with a drink in hand though and he perks up, sits a little straighter. "I'll pay your entire tab as long as you're not as drab as everyone else I've talked to this evening."

[akanisxingrid]

Akanis had some strong beliefs and they could definitely run people the wrong way, they run Ingrid the wrong way because she couldn’t understand puttying yourself in harms way. “Not a place anyone wants to be stuck.” Especially not Akanis he’d be put in the mines immediately so he could understand why someone would want to avoid that situation. “Well here’s to hoping. I’m going to try and do something about it just like everyone else going so we shall see what all of us can do together.”

Jamie keeps the encounter casual and tries his best not to show his annoyance for being chastised show on his face. They're in the middle of the street, there's people everywhere, he wasn't about to get into some kind of argument. "Jus' a jest. Last time I went tae help anyone I wound up stuck in Iskaldrik so this time around my happy arse is staying here." Though he can't say it's not appealing to go simply because it's something to do. But Adrian's at the Tower, he has a tentative thing going in town, he's picking up little contracts here and there to keep himself busy. "If it comes further this way, I'll do something. Hopefully it doesnae come tae that."

[akanisxingrid]

[akanisxingrid]

[akanisxingrid]

R I Z A H M E D => 1/50

[akanisxingrid]

Where: Dragons Draught

Who: M

Ingrid loved a good drink or nine, she could put them back like the best of them. And while the Dragons Draught was more high class didn’t mean the drinks were like water, they had a kick to them. Ingrid was already four deep when she had enough courage to go speak to some strangers. Without the drink she would probably keep her own company all night but now she was inflicting her presence upon the poor soul. With a cocktail for herself and what she will be calling her new friend for the night. Without asking for permission Ingrid sat down at the others table “ What brings you here? I have a free drink for you if you share.”

[akanisxingrid]

Where: Noble quarter

Who: @lilyliux

Even the queensgaurd got breaks, it wasn’t like Ingrid could venture too far as she would have to come back and take up guard again, after all it is what she was paid to do. So she stayed in the noble quarter, finding a bench that she could perch upon. Opening what looked like a dairy she started to write down her feelings. The only problem was it wasn’t private, a few minutes of feeling like she was being watched, her eyes flicked over to a puddle of water. In the reflection she could see Akanis looking over her shoulder to read what she had written. Suddenly she slammed the book close “ Why don’t you give me some privacy huh? Honestly you're obsessed with me.” she huffed allowed to the reflection. But no one else could see him like she could, she must have seemed crazy talking to herself. Then her eyes locked with the woman who looked like she was going to sit next to her “I don’t mean you…” oh now this was awkward.

[akanisxingrid]

Where: The estate of Akanis and Ingrid

Who: @napoleonxfalon

Despite all that Ingrid presented she was just a woman, just a women trying to compete, keep her head above water as Akanis ploughed them into deeper depths. She was no witch, no blademaster, just a human who rode on the coattails of the queensguard that turned to flames. Ingrid knew Akanis was more well known, revered. That inferiority she felt presented itself as hatred, pettiness, selfishness. Not many could understand what it felt like being a changeling, thanks to Akanis they were one of the most visible changelings to the public eye.

However Ingrid was able to find other changelings, this was somewhat of a refuge as she could learn that some of their circumstances weren’t unique. Ingrid had invited Falon to the estate they were given within the city. Thumbing through the accounts on the balcony so she could see his approach. Ingrid had set a maid by the door for his arrival but that didn’t stop her from noticing his approach and setting aside the estate finacles she had been working on to go to greet Falon. The Maid opened the grand stone door slowly as it had a whole lot of weight to it. Ingrid was waiting on the other side, as soon as she saw her friend a wide smile was upon her face. “Falon, come in. We are in the dining room… oh if you see what looks like a footstool don’t put your feet on it, that's Edmund.” It was responsibility that Ingrid didn’t mind being around as Edmund was adorable.

[akanisxingrid]

To bet on who’s coming back! How morbid, how vile that someone would bet on the life of another. Akanis didn’t find it remotely amusing “you shouldn’t bet on lives, those leaving should deserve more respect than that.” This city was home to all types and not matter how some turned his stomach he was a knight and had a duty to protect its civilians. “I’m going to fight, try and push back the dark. This belongs to my other half.” And Ingrid wouldn’t let him forget it if he had lost some of her armour. It would go along the line of ‘you brought us here and you can’t even be prepared’ maybe a curse word or two thrown in there. “Are you not going?” Maybe the other was capable of helping, any aid would be helpful.

"I'm here tae bet on who is comin' back." He's teasing, but he can't say it's not entirely true. That last night at Nornwatch had been a complete bloodbath and normally he flourished in such an environment but considering it was blood he couldn't actually consume, it'd been probably the most horrifying thing he'd seen in his entire life. And he'd spent decades at Dracula's castle in Veilcrest. Giving the man a once over as he took the gauntlet back from him, Jamie wondered who the hell he'd packed for. Could be some kind of medic just afraid of leaving anything behind, but the gauntlet seemed too small for his forearms. "Ye goin tae support someone or are ye charging intae battle yerself?"

[akanisxingrid]

He wasn’t entirely sure what came over him it maybe have been the hand on his shoulder but for the first time in this battle he talked the Leander informally “like you wouldn’t believe. Though if you asked me what is harder to understand I’d go with Ingrid.” The words were lighter, like he was talking to a friend not his commander, not royalty that he was sworn to protect. “So no sweet treats for a while then” if he was going to save gold he was going to have to hide it from Ingrid as well.

Looking back over it all, the wasteland it was becoming, it was sobering to think that if this wasn’t stop this could be their home. The ground burnt not just by him but Leander, the Olympians, was this the destruction the left behind them, left in their wake? No wonder people thought magic was too dangerous to be wielded. “Thank you for the advice Commander.” He was going to take the advice to heart. Giving Leander the proper deference he excused himself as he was sure the Prince would want a more familiar company for his rest.

With respect, Leander clasped Akanis on the shoulder as the weave he'd meticulously crafted dissipated into the air. "Magic's a fickle bitch, isn't it?" He was a man who could conjure a thousand ways to end a life, but when it came to preserving one, his expertise was sorely lacking. His advice on the matter was as straightforward as it was limited - consult the elvhen. The intricacies of weaves flowed differently through elvhen veins, and while Leander could learn through keen observation, Akanis would need to navigate his abilities through a different path. "Bring your gold," Leander smirked, his voice laced with a rough edge. "The drow don't train anyone for free."

For a brief moment, Leander's typically prickly demeanor softened as he cast a glance back toward the smoldering city of Aventia. The siege was unyielding, a relentless force that seemed to know no end. For now, there was a lull in the chaos, a fleeting opportunity to catch their breath before the next wave of violence crashed upon them tonight. "Back inside!" Leander commanded the troops, his voice carrying the weight of his authority and the promise of respite. "We've earned a break before the next wave of cock-sucking bastards shows up."