#muse: Nuriel Flame

[adeadlysong]

The sound of violin playing with be disrupted by Nuriel putting down his violin and wincing at the soreness of his left hand's fingers.

"Dang..." He stretched his hand a bit, still glancing down at it. "I need to get back into more regular practice." If he didn't, well...he'd have more aches and pains in the future.

[adeadlysong]

Tahirah nodded in understanding at the mention of how Lena and Nadine specially worked. "I see..."

However, a little giggle left her after as soon as Saiph fell asleep. "Aww..." That's so cute! Her eyes sparkled with delight, before she looked up at Lena.

"Well, until they arrive...if you feel the need to sleep in a guest room, feel free to do so. Nuriel can lead you to some rooms right away."

"That I can." Nuriel beamed. A little yawn left him and he covered his mouth. "Oh geez...how late is it anyway?"

Tahirah took out a little pocketwatch. "Late. Very late."

"Seriously?" Nuriel checked the pocketwatch, staring. "Oh yeah. Everyone else is probably snoozing by now...now I kinda feel bad for our Luxendarc friends if they show up ready to battle and it's the middle of the night. They won't have anything to do..."

[ Lena Patches Up Sukumara ]

[summersunsetball]

Mun name: Myst Pronouns: she/her URL(s): countarganan, adeadlysong, and bravelywego Participating muse(s): Tahirah Zakiyaa, Rafaele Baptiste, Arlyn Icia, Nuriel Flame, and the Starling (adeadlysong), Lucius Arganan, Sir Therius, Calista Arganan, and General Asthar (countarganan), Geist Grace and Nobutsuna Kamiizumi (bravelywego). Are you comfortable with non-mutual interactions during this event?: Yes!

Welcome, lovely! We're excited to have you!

~Mod Taea

[bravelywego]

@ribbedxgloves gets a visit to the tavern!

“WAITTTT!!!! Stop, stop the ship! We can rest over at that port’s tavern! I’ve been there before, I know it’s good!”

And so Nuriel led everyone to the tavern after they docked the ship. They were on the way back to Azami’s palace so they would be there in time for the engagement ball celebrating Azami and Sean’s engagement, but it was getting pretty dark and needed a place to land for now. They would finish the journey and get back tomorrow.

Nuriel was the one that opened the doors, before his voice boomed throughout the tavern. And that was saying something, given that the tavern was pretty busy with patrons drinking and chatting with each other.

“Loreley!? Hope you don’t mind me and my companions coming through!”

A woman looked to them, dressed in a long, green skirt, long-sleeved white blouse with a brown bodice. Her blonde hair was tied back, though there were a few bangs tucked behind her ear, out of the way of her face.

“Nuriel? It’s been so long!” She came forwards to greet them, smiling. “I hope you’ve been well?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I see you’re doing well, too—Do you have any rooms? We need a place to stay for the night.”

“You’re in luck. We have four rooms left this evening.”

“Perfect. We’ll take all four, split the rooms amongst ourselves. Oh, and we’ll need meals for tonight and for tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll have my ladies prepare the rooms for you. In the meantime, do feel free to sit, order some drinks and your evening’s meals. Enjoy yourselves, all of you!”

As she went to go inform her workers, Nuriel looked to the others, grinning. “I know her—she owns the place. Came through here and stayed for a bit, once, while she was also working here at the time, and now she’s the tavernkeeper!”

“Really?” Nobutsuna blinked. He’d never really been to a tavern before, so this was new. “That’s interesting. How long ago was this when you knew her?”

“We go pretty far back. Over..twelve years, now? Please, excuse me.” Nuriel quickly went towards the back of the main floor, and Nobutsuna noticed that the ladies (and men) back there were more scantily dressed. Probably the prostitutes, he guessed.

“I knew he was gonna buy them drinks.” Tahirah managed, chuckling. “Nuriel does that every time we stop at a tavern for the night. He buys them all one round of whatever drink they want…”

[theimperiumchronicles]

WRITING CHALLENGE FROM 11/2017

**Since I'm still dealing with some persnickety muses, I thought I'd share a piece from the past to give you a glimpse of what came before. This was a picture challenge from when I was RP'ing Abriella on Facebook as well as writing a solo story for her. I hope you enjoy.**

As Brie moved through the woods her footfalls were nie on silent.  The soft leather soles of her boots conformed to the terrain below her feet as they also cushioned the impact of her strides.  Her brother had returned that morning from his trip to the Conclave for a meeting on the current state of affairs with the worldwide demon uprising that they had all been facing.  While he hadn’t said it, she could tell that something was weighing heavily upon his mind and that troubled her.  

Since the Demonic Pixie incident in Chicago, Cruz had been more open with her regarding his concerns, thoughts, and plans.  For him now to be silent was troublesome and made her worry that there was more going on that she would like to believe.  What is it that could trouble him so that he would not share his ruminations with her?  Even if she did not know, she was sure that whatever it was that did so occupy his thoughts, it could not be good.

The longer she lived within the confines of Sanctuary, the more she learned of her elder brother.  She, like many who first encountered him, had thought him cold and distant when first they met.  Now, she had discovered that through the years of loss, betrayal, and struggle he had learned to keep much to himself since the enemy took every opportunity to exploit even the slightest weakness that one would give indication of.  As they had grown to know one another, then learned of their shared destiny, she had learned there was much more behind his hard set eyes and abrasive demeanor than one could ever guess.

As she neared a placid lake, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up and a vibration of raw Divine power rolled over her skin.  Divine as it may be, Brie was immediately on her guard.  There was no reason that any Angel should be visiting her at this time, let alone while she was in the woods without accompaniment.  Her hand on the hilt of the dagger that was sheathed at her hip, she tensed as she turned a slow circle.  All of her senses were on high alert for detection of from which direction the angel would approach and if it were alone.  As a normal course of action, Angels other than Deacon’s father did not often visit them. 

From the woods stepped Nuriel, the flame-keeper of the Eternal Flame in Heaven and Olly’s father.  Brie’s motion stilled as she watched the tall, powerful Angel walk towards her.  Her head tilted and a look of slight confusion and wariness overtook the fine features of her face.  “To what do I owe the honor of your presence Nuriel?  My cousin is back with the rest of the Clave at Sanctuary, this is one of my rare moments alone.”  Her tone held the reservation she felt as the male drew nearer, her hand still resting on the hilt of her dagger.  She would not back down, nor would she bow to the Angel, she did not fear him as others did.  Was it bravery or stupidity?  Sometimes she could not say herself.

“I did not come to see my son, Gabrielle.  I came to talk to she who has the confidence of War.  For there are none others he will listen to, nor that he would confide in.”  At the mention of her brother Brie tensed more, her fingers actually curling around the dagger’s hilt.  It was known by all that the Angels did not trust her brother; but as to why, no one was sure.  There had been rumors and stories, but she had never asked her brother the veracity of such.

“Fear not my child; I do not come to do you or him harm.  Walk with me and I shall tell you what it is that weighs so heavily on your brother and why it is that you must keep him true.”  Nuriel motioned along the path towards a stone bridge that lay at the other end of the lake and the path to it as he drew even nearer to the Nephilim.  “I swear unto you that you shall not need that dagger that you now grip.  For if harm were to befall you, I would face a fate far worse than being attacked by you.”  His head inclined towards the path now and Brie turned to regard it further.

“As you wish, Nuriel.  I will listen to what it is you have to say, but I cannot guarantee there is a thing I can do about anything to do with my brother.  As you have known him longer than I, I am sure that you are aware that he is of his own mind and changing it even in the slightest is a monumental task.  Not even his sister holds that kind of sway over him.”  Her posture relaxed, however her hand remained on the dagger even as he came alongside her and they began to walk together along the dirt path that had been worn down over years of Nephilim feet treading over it.

As they walked, Nuriel began to recount the incident that had happened at the Conclave House while Cruz was there.  While he did not know it, the Angelic parents of all the Horsemen had been watching.  Forbidden from interfering they had only been allowed to observe what had transpired and bear witness to it into the future for others who doubted the events.  As she listened, Brie still did not grasp the implications of the visitation since many times they had been relentlessly taunted by demons since they had been made Riders.

Finally Nuriel pulled her to a stop as they neared the bridge.  He could sense she did not realize the peril that her brother’s soul and mind was in.  “He has not spoken of his past, has he?” The Angel asked looking down at Brie.  A slight shake of the head and a once again perplexed look were his only answer. “I see, I was hoping that one day he would confide in another so the burden could be lifted from him carrying it alone.  Many centuries ago, your brother stumbled.  He was aware of the darkness that flowed within his veins and had resisted it for almost 1,000 years by that time.  The death of another that he felt responsible for him caused him to act out in rage and wrath.  He called upon your Grandfather, the demons who served him, and the very Source of all Darkness to bring about retribution on his soul.  It put a stain on his soul, on his aura, that no amount of servitude to the light can ever erase.  Brie, he killed innocents in his quest for vengeance and the magic he used to do it damned their souls to Hell for all eternity, even if they were just and righteous people.  He was lost in his pain, in his rage, and in his quest for ultimate retribution.  He did accomplish it, but it changed him profoundly.  Now evil has a greater chance of being able to take hold and pull him once again into the darkness of his mine and bloodline.  The call of your Grandfather is no longer just a whisper in the background, but a loud and booming voice that often masquerades as his own.  While he was able to reject the call of evil and the taunts of demons this time, it is the fear of those that serve the Divine that if continues to feel isolated from all his brethren that he shall eventually fall to the darkness.”  

Nuriel gestured towards the bridge, “Do you see how the bridge reflects in the water to form a perfect circle?  It is simply a reflection, not an actual circle.  It is much how your brother is seeing things presently.  The actual bridge is the past, but your brother is seeing the present and future like you see the reflection.  It is his fear that he shall continue through similar happenings to what brought him to the darkness before and he shall again fall.  It would be a complete circle, a complete failure, if he were to return again to calling upon the darkness for power and revenge.  He does not see your current battle as different than that which he has always done and must be made to see reality instead of a reflection.  His vision must be made right lest he fall into the trap that your Grandfather has set for him.”

Brie remained silent as she studied the bridge and listened to the Angel’s words.  They were deep and profound.  Now that she knew what her brother had done, what had happened to him to lead him down that path, she worried for his very soul.  She now understood why he closed himself off, fearing rebuke, condemnation, and further alienation from his brethren whom she knew he would die to protect and save.  It now weighed upon her own heart that he had been carrying the guilt and burden of what had happened for so long.  Regardless of their partial divinity, they were no more perfect than any other being.  She could not believe it was anything other than extreme pain that would have led him down the path to calling upon the Source of Darkness for help.

Turning to face Nuriel with a somber face she nodded slowly.  “I shall speak to him; I will not allow him to fall into the darkness, Nuriel.  He is who saved me, even when I tried to run from what I am.  No matter what I have put him through, he has never given up on me, and I refuse to even consider giving up on him.  While you may all be worried and concerned, I am not.  For while he may have done that in the past, he is no longer that Nephilim and I will ensure that he never again will be.”   Her voice and her face spoke of her resolution to ensure that Cruz would not fall.  She’d face down her Grandfather himself, go into the very bowels of Hell, do whatever it took to ensure that he never felt alone with his burden again and to keep him safe from the evil she now knew stalked him.  That’s what family does.

Tag list - @writingpotato07 @ceph-the-ghost-writer @saltysupercomputer @careful-pyromancer @kjscottwrites

let me know if you would like to be added or removed

[bravelywego]

Mona was fast asleep, and the moment Yew decided to wrap a free arm around her, she just kinda clutched onto him while still holding her teddy. Tahirah had to suppress an "aww" at the sight.

Janne noticed Lena's marks on her body glow and then shift to a diferent colour. "What exactly did that spell do...?"

The others bid Ariadne goodnight before she left, and then Janne sighed at he mention of Oddette wearing her...attire. "Yeah, I know, her dress gave me a complete whiplash compared to her usual outfit." He yawned. "Geez, I need to sleep..."

"Geist, want to share a room?" Kamiizumi asked. Geist shrugged and nodded.

"Knowing me, I probably won't sleep much as is...you can take the bed."

"No worries!" Tahirah stated as she looked toward Lena and Dotie with a smile. "Feel free to room together if you'd like."

"Besides, the beds are big enough to fit two to three people depending on the guest room." Nuriel shrugged, before shooting a grin at Kamiizumi and Geist. Geist's face flushed and he bid a quick 'goodnight' before he half-dragged Kamiizumi into one of the empty guest rooms and shut the door behind them.

Janne bid goodnight and took himself to a guest room to himself. And so, the night would go on as everyone got settled down to sleep - and eventually morning would come for everyone.

[ Yew Finds a Wild Janne and Geist! ]

[countarganan]

“I HEARD RUMORS! ...do you like my best friend? In the romantic kinda way?”

“...I have no idea what on earth you’re talking about.”

[thedesignatedvillainesses]

“So, Loreley, Ingrid—why? Why hide yourself from me all this time?”

“Because I wasn’t sure. I was scared, back then...and you and I had just met at the time. I wasn’t sure if I could trust you, but...hiding who I was from you...wasn’t right, either. I’m sorry.”

“But now that you’ve told me—I’m glad you did. And I understand your situation. Is there...any way I can help you?”

“The two of us talking this out is...it’s helping. And thank you, for this.”

[adeadlysong]

Double bubble disco queen Headed to the guillotine Skin as cool as Steve McQueen Let me be your killer king It hurts until it stops We will love until it's not I'm a killing spree in white Eyes like broken Christmas lights...!

[adeadlysong]

Tahirah hummed a little bit, smiling eagerly as Cullen took a cookie and took a bite of it. He sounded pleased, for sure, so that was definitely good news!

"You like it?" She asked, smiling. "I'm glad! I find it important that everyone enjoys good food."

And it was hard not to enjoy food when you knew it was homemade and made with lots of love and care, too! She paused, recalling why the other was here - ah, yes, he wanted her to ally with the Inquisition.

"So you're here to request of me to be an ally to you? In what way are you thinking, exactly? Also - how will this benefit us?" She looked toward her two advisors/practically her parental figures, Nuriel and Arlyn. "Will this benefit us?"

"Depends on how it goes. If the Inquisition loses to Coral -Cody? Cola?" Nuriel paused, then glanced toward Arlyn, pushing a few dark strands of hair behind his ear, "What's his name again, Arlyn?"

"Corypheus, darling." Arlyn stated to Nuriel, sighing. The blond was tempted to facepalm himself. "His name is Corypheus."

"That dude! If the Inquisition loses to that dude, that could easily mean that he'll rampage across the land, eventually reach Melodia knowing that we allied with the Inquisition, and then we'll have total destruction to deal with. Which would really suck." Nuriel stared at Cullen hard. "So what's in it for us, and how do we guarantee succeeding in beating the crap out of him?"

Tahirah nodded, looking toward Cullen again as she set her tray of cookies aside on her desk. "Nuriel has a good point. How do we benefit from the allyship and how do we guarantee success?"

@adeadlysong continue from xx

He couldn't help but chuckle softly, for she had a point. In fact, he was sure that Leliana had said the very same at some point before. He wondered for a moment how they were faring back home; it was difficult not to be concerned over his own duties he left behind for his deployment here to draw in the countess as a potential ally to the Inquisition. Of course, he had every ounce of faith that his allies could uphold his position in his absence (he was sure Cassandra was having a ball training their men in his stead) but it didn't sate his worries nonetheless. He kept his work close to his heart, yet he couldn't help but agree with his allies that he was the best choice for this mission.

As put together as he was, Cullen failed to stifle an awkward chuckle as he reached over for a cookie, not being used to this kind of offering (in fact, when was the last time he even had a cookie?) "Uh, thank you. They do look very good." And indeed they were, so much so that he moaned as soon as he took a bite, the flavors almost bursting in his mouth. As soon as the sound left him though, his hand instinctually flew to cover his mouth, cheeks beginning to feel warm and flush with color. Oh Maker's sake, did he really just do that?

[adeadlysong]

"Halloween is coming! Halloween is coming~!"

Cue Nuriel gleefully helping to decorate the halls of Melodia Castle while Arlyn watches, an amused grin on his face.

"Honestly, Nuriel's enthusiasm for Halloween amuses me more than Halloween itself..."

[adeadlysong]

"Spooky season's soon." Nuriel's eyes widened.

Arlyn sighed. "I know, my love, but - "

"IT'S SPOOKY SEASON! BRING ON THE SPOOKY MUSIC!"

Cue Nuriel blasting Spooky Scary Skeletons while Arlyn groaned in the background.

"It's not even October yet!"

[adeadlysong]

"Happy Fathers Day to me and Arlyn because we're both technically Tahirah's dads!"

"Technically because her biological parents are dead and her godfather was absent for ten years so we had no choice but to take over, but yes. We count."

"If it helps, I do personally think that it counts..."

[adeadlysong]

Nuriel raised a hand.

"Does anyone have any interesting gossip they've heard recently? Anyone? Anyone?"

[adeadlysong]

"You know what I did, while working at taverns and so on before working for Countess Tahirah?" A grin came across his face. "Giving romantic advice. And I was damn good at it too!"

[adeadlysong]

"HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!!!"

Nuriel's already grinning ear to ear. Arlyn just stares at him.

"What are you scheming this time?"

"Ehhh...a whole list of activities to do for this month because it's our month?"

"Nuriel, love, it's many people's months."

"Right."