After braving the desert, it's strange creatures, and strange foods, the group is back in familiar woods.
It feels nice to set up camp at night to sleep and then move during the day. As the food cooks and people get settled, Eliandir sits down and does what he always does, fuss over his arrows. He catches a glimpse of Ashlyn and Thandwen from the corner of his eye and scoots over a bit so all he sees are trees and darkness.
Thandwen lounges near the fire, curling the end of her braid around her fingers. I'm bored. I wonder what Bragle is doing? I hope he's well. Shooting a look at Ashlyn, she grins. What's she thinking, and why haven't I pushed that envelope yet? It's not like me to wait...
ReplyDeleteGetting up, she wanders over to find Eli. "Cousin, we should get you a woman," she decides. "Or a man. Whatever."
"Hmm? What for?" he mumbles, not looking up from an incredibly small carving he is working on. "I don't really need any help. Or maybe...yes...having someone to carry arrows around for me might be nice..." Eliandir nods at the thought.
ReplyDelete"That's not what I mean..." Thandwen smirks and walks behind him, blowing gently on his ear and trailing her nails over the nape of his neck, laughing softlt. "You need someone to rub away all the newness on you. A lover, cousin."
ReplyDeleteEliandir grits his teeth to try and push past the chills from her touch but then loses it when she speaks. He almost jumps and drops what he was working on. "What?!" he says the loudest he has spoken before. "I uh...I'm fine...newness? What? No...I..." He fumbles over words as he leans forward and tries to pick up the tool and his project.
ReplyDeleteWith a sultry chuckle, she leans close to whisper in his ear. "Oh, Eliander...you just need a taste of pleasure. Loosen you up a little," she adds, brushing a finger over the tip of his ear. "Ashlyn may not be interested, but I'm sure we could find another man or woman to whet your appetite."
ReplyDeleteHe hunches over and covers his red face with both his hands. "I mean, I wouldn't say I'm hungry," he manages to mumble. "And I wasn't even thinking about that with Ashlyn. Maybe more...never mind! I can't believe we're even having this conversation right now!"
ReplyDeleteThandwen cackles and sits at his feet. "Maybe more...?" she presses with an evil grin. "More what, cousin?"
ReplyDeleteAshlyn hums to herself, feeding her horse an apple. She unbuckled her belt, and slid he backpack and quiver off her back, hanging them off of Waffles' saddle. Her stomach growls loudly, she hadn't eaten a real meal since the stop at the oasis. "Mmm, I wonder if Rainbow made any stew." Her stomach growls again. "Hush, you. Fine." She reaches into her bag bringing out a pineapple and a few other things in a bag, and begins walking towards the center of camp.
ReplyDeleteReaching the fire she finds Thandwen and Eli talking, Eli carving something. It looked like he had set something to cook after all, fortunately. She bounced the pineapple in her hand and greeted the elves, "hey, what's up?"
"More like cuddly stuff, I don't know!" He pulls his hood up and practically disappears into the darkness of it.
ReplyDeleteEli gasps when he hears Ashlyn speak and he hopes she wasn't close enough to hear any of his conversation with Thandwen.
Ashlyn catches a glimpse of Eli's red face before he sinks into his hood. Her cheeks flush slightly and she chuckles to herself. "Anyone want a bite of this while we wait for the food to cook?" She says, waving the pineapple in her hand. She sits down, drawing her dagger from its sheath, and begins carving a piece out for herself.
ReplyDeleteAs much as he would like some of the juicy yellow pine cone, Eliandir thinks it may be best for him to huddle here until his face is no longer red and Thandwen forgets this even happened. "No thanks," he almost whispers, putting the materials and tools away. He doesn't want to lose anything in the growing darkness.
ReplyDeleteThandwen leans back on her hands and smirks. "Ashlyn, we should find a companion for Eli, here. Someone for him to cuddle and experiment with."
ReplyDelete"Oh you're funny cousin," he says, trying to laugh. "Don't listen to her Ashlyn. Plus if I need something to cuddle I have...um...the wolf! Yes! Radion! Come here!"
ReplyDeleteThe wolf looks up from chewing on a bone, wags his tail, then goes back to his meal.
"Yes...um..." Eliandir clears his throat and sighs. "Maybe later."
Ashlyn pauses for a moment, the slice of pineapple stopped just inches from her mouth. "Uhm, sure." She puts the slice in her mouth, wiping her blade in the grass before sheathing it. "Mm, you know. I think it's a good idea actually. You're really cute Eli I'm sure you can get a nice girl."
ReplyDelete"You...you think I'm..." he begins to speak quietly and then raises his voice. "WAIT! Why would you agree with her?!" he asks in confusion.
ReplyDeleteLeaning back on her hands, her legs crossed, she looks at him with a smile. Blushing a little herself she shrugs, "Well, I mean, you can't say you don't want to. Cause I know you do."
ReplyDeleteHe crosses his arms. "I mean...yes and no but...I live for a long time. I'll find someone maybe...eventually...on my own..."
ReplyDeleteAshlyn giggles a little to herself, further teasing the elf, "Fair enough. You don't wana wait til you're old though do you?" She leans in just a little bit closer towards him, perching her chin on her shoulder, "you should have fun while you're still young. Especially in our line of work."
ReplyDelete"Well then," he says flustered. "Maybe it's best this way. I'm sure all the bad luck will catch up," he eyes the tieflings, "a dragon will eat me and there will be no one to miss me. All settled! That was easy! How about that stew!"
ReplyDeleteThandwen chuckled. "That's not what she means. She means you should grab what pleasure you can, while you can."
ReplyDeleteHe checks the stew and frowns. Eli was hoping it would be ready and everyone could have food in their mouths instead of words. He sits with Thandwen and Ashlyn again. There is probably no escape from them unless he runs off into the dark woods. "Hunting, making arrows, exploring...those are pleasurable enough things I can do. I guess I'm set," he nods.
ReplyDeleteLaughing, she tugs Ashlyn close. "I've half a mind to teach you myself, cousin." Dropping a kiss on Ashlyn's shoulder, she laughs. "How does that sound?"
ReplyDeleteAshlyn straightens her back reflexively, and her face gains a bit more color. "I think it sounds kinda fun," she teases, damn I could use a drink. She turns to face Thandwen, raising a hand to her cheek, and tries her best not to blush even more. She plants a kiss right on her lips, staying there for a few seconds, before bringing her hand back down and turning back to Eli. "See, not that hard."
ReplyDeleteEli catches himself staring for a second too long and quickly looks away. My face will be red forever at this rate. "I-I know that's not hard. It's just a kiss..."
ReplyDeleteThandwen manages not to gape at Ashlyn's kiss, and quells the urge to move for more. "See, cousin? It's nothing. No need to build it up."
ReplyDeleteThe bright red in Ashlyn's cheeks starts to dissipate somewhat, these two really do like me huh? I don't really have anything to be nervous about. She brings her knee up to her chin and tilts her head sideways, resting it on top, still facing Eli. "If it's not so hard, why don't you kiss me?"
ReplyDeleteI could probably still use a drink..
Eliandir inhales so sharply and quickly, he chokes on his own breath and coughs. "No no no! It's fine! I mean, unless you....NO!" He starts to laugh, embarrassed by his inability to form a sentence. "I mean it's not like I've never kissed anyone before! PFT!" He finally stops laughing but he can't seem to sit still or get comfortable where he is sitting.
ReplyDeleteThandwen roars with laughter. "You haven't!"
ReplyDelete"I have!" he says a bit defensively.
ReplyDelete"Have not!"
ReplyDeleteAshlyn moves closer towards Eli while the two are arguing, putting her hand on his as she leans in to kiss him. She's surprised for a moment at how soft his lips are, though she wouldn't think to say anything about it and risk embarrassing him even more. If that's even possible at this point.
ReplyDeleteEli holds his breath and opens his eyes wide for a moment before he closes them. He doesn't pull away but he doesn't lean forward either. Eventually, he sinks into his seat and covers his incredibly red face with his bandaged hands. He makes a sort of muffled squeak sound. The girls can't tell if he was trying to say something or if he's possibly broken.
ReplyDeleteErath strides out of the forest edge holding a large tome protectively to his chest. "What's all the yelling about, you sound like ten year..." he pauses seeing Eli's condition.
ReplyDeleteTurning to Thandwen and Ashlyn, he arcs and eyebrow. "What did you do to him and is he stuck like that?"
"He'll be fine," I hope. She leans back from Eli, crossing her legs as she turns to face Erath, "We were teaching him how to kiss."
ReplyDeleteThe three can hear a muffled voice. "But I know how to kiss..." he explains.
ReplyDeleteThandwen scoots to sit right in front of him and grabs him by the shoulders. "Prove it," she dares.
ReplyDeleteEliandir shakes his head, quickly gives Thandwen a peck on the forehead and slips below her arms, escaping toward the pot of stew. "If this is ruined, you two are completely responsible for it! Torturing me..." he pouts.
ReplyDelete"Kissing? Really?!" Erath begins to laugh. "Though if its torture, one of you is doing it wrong."
ReplyDelete"It's not the kissing that's torture!" he groans, stirring the food in the pot. "It's...stuff. Don't worry about it."
ReplyDeleteFinishing his laughter with a sigh, Erath smiles at Eli. "I forget sometimes you are still really young, for an elf that is. I won't pry, but if you need any advice let me know...
ReplyDelete"So what delightful stew have you made tonight?"
Eliandir sighs, relieved. "It's mostly vegetables. There wasn't much fresh meat left from the desert and I couldn't find a rabbit before it got too dark. Maybe I should have added bugs for protein..." He shrugs. "Maybe next time."
ReplyDeleteErath flashes a smile at the elf. "I think I'd pass on the bug version. This I would gladly enjoy."
ReplyDelete