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GreydonQiVo
Twisted Beyond Belief
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Damita de San Ramon
Here will be posted the logs for the Castillian Street Urchin Slave turned Archeology Student..
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"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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11/Aug/05, 4:20 pm
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Damita meets the Professor...
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Jack drives his wagon back into his camp slash dig site and stops, hopping down and moving towards the back to check his supplies. The camp site is relatively small, it has a single small tent, a fire pit, and several tables, which are filled with various types of old things, most of which look like they had been underground for decades.
<Damita> ::feels the wagon stop and stays silent, chewing the inside of her cheek as she holds her injured shoulder, even more painful after the bouncy ride::
<Professor_Jack> :: climbs up into the small wagon and starts tossing bags of supplies out of it::
<Damita> ::waits, terrified, and not knowing what to do now::
<Professor_Jack> :: slides a somewhat heavy crate aside and spots Damita:: Hello, what have we here? :: spoke in Avalon of course::
<Damita> ::tries to make herself invisible, pressing back against the corner of the wagon and shaking like a leaf, repeating in Castillian:: Por favor, no me vuelva
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow and takes a step back, switching to near perfect Castillian:: Damita: Don't worry, wherever it is you came from I won't take you back there. And it is likely rather far away from here. :: starts moving the rest of his supplies out of the wagon::
<Damita> ::stays in her corner of the wagon, holding her left arm as she watches him unload, still not making a sound though the pain shows easily on her face::
<Professor_Jack> :: finishes moving his supplies and turns back to her, not making a move towards her though, frowning slightly when he sees the pain on her face and notices her shoulder at an odd angle:: Damita: Looks like you've dislocated that arm. Does it hurt?
<Damita> ::looks at him for a moment, fear in her eyes, but nods::
<Professor_Jack> :: holds his hands up so that she can see them and moves to retrieve a small bottle from his medical supplies before climbing back into the wagon and moving towards her slowly, on his knees so he can reach her::
<Damita> ::stares at the vial, and stays in her corner:: Jack: Tu es un doctor?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, I am, among other things. :: smiles warmly and hands her the small bottle:: Drink a little of that, it will dull the pain so I can pop your arm back into place.
<Damita> ::hesitates, but the pain is really too much, so she takes the bottle and swallows a little of the contents, making a face at the taste, then hands it back::
<Professor_Jack> :: takes the bottle and pockets it, taking a firm grip on her shoulder:: Damita: Even with that this might hurt a little, but it must be done. Ready?
<Damita> ::her eyes go wide when he touches her, and she looks about ready to bolt, but with no choice and nowhere to go, she relaxes a little bit and nods::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods once and jerks his hands, producing a loud crack/pop and afterwards her shoulder feels better:: Damita: There, it will be a tad sore for a while, but you can move it.
<Damita> ::looks a bit surprised, and rubs her shoulder:: Jack: It feels better.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and smiles again:: Damita: Good. :: let's go of her and slides back, stepping out of the wagon once more, taking off his coat and tossing it to her:: Take that, you look cold. The weather up here is a bit severe at times. :: nods and moves around to his supplies, starting to move and organize them with the little bit he had left at the camp::
<Damita> ::catches the coat with her good arm and drapes it around her shoulders, watching Jack over the edge of the wagon:: Jack: Gracias..
<Professor_Jack> :: looks back and nods again, smiling warmly once more::
<Damita> ::keeps watching Jack for a while, relaxing some as she realizes he isn't going to bother her, and scooting slowly toward edge of the wagon, badly needing a drink:: Jack: Tengo sed. Tiene aqua?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Oh, yes. :: digs around in his new supplies for a few moments and produces a canteen, tossing it to her:: Drink all you like, there is plenty.
<Damita> ::catches the canteen and drinks a few large mouthfuls, putting the lid back on it and realizing she has another problem...a bit too sore for jumping out of wagons she frowns, then takes the plunge and asks Jack for help yet again:: Jack: Can you help me down please?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and moves back to the wagon, bowing slightly and offering her a hand to help her down::
<Damita> ::slowly reaches her good hand out to him, still reluctant but not seeing much choice, managing with his help to get out of the wagon without much pain:: Gracias otra vez. ::looks around at the surrounding woods:: Umm...I'll be right back.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and moves back to his supplies:: Damita: Be careful.
<Damita> ::nods and walks slowly into the woods, not going far before taking care of her needs and coming back, a bit wobbly from the pain killer::
<Professor_Jack> :: finishes arranging his supplies and moves to the fire pit in the center of the camp, pulling a flint from his pocket and starting a small fire, tossing some firewood on it from a pile nearby:: Damita: There, that's better. :: smiles once again and moves to one of the three tables full of old things, picking up a small brush and getting back to his work::
<Damita> ::sits on a rock by the fire, staring into the flames for a while before getting up the nerve to speak to him again:: Jack: Where am I?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns after finishing clean a bowl to find that it is only a hundred years old or so, putting it in a "clean but not what I'm looking for" pile and turns to look at her:: Damita: Here? This is my dig site. We are in northeastern Ussura.
<Damita> Jack: Far from the village where you buy your supplies?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, and from whoever you likely escaped from. :: smiles again and turns back to his work, selecting another item at random and brushing it off::
<Damita> ::frowns, looking afraid again, and staying silent for a few minutes more:: Jack: You will not take me back there?
<Professor_Jack> :: not bothering to look back as he presses hard to scrape a tough bit of dirt of of an item:: Damita: Certainly not. You obviously ran away for good reason. Aha! :: gets rid of the dirt and brushes the rest of the item off, frowning again and groaning slightly as he puts it in the pile of clean items::
<Damita> ::stares into the flames again for a while, the drug making her a little lethargic:: Jack: I was expensive. He will search for me.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Well then he will end up wasting a great deal of his time. One of the reasons I chose this location was because it was a good distance from the nearest Kosar village, as well as being in an as yet unmapped section of Ussura. :: picks up yet another item::
<Damita> Jack: You do not like Kosars?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Well there are always exceptions to the rule, as it true in any culture, but as a whole in my experience they are more like to rob or kill you than help you. Besides, my work requires an undisturbed location.
<Damita> ::thinks about that answer for a few minutes:: Jack: I do not like them either, but I have only known one. What is your work that it needs to be done so far away?
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: I am an Archeologist.
<Damita> ::frowns and keeps looking into the fire:: Jack: What?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I study the past.
<Damita> Jack: Whose past?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Anyone's past, Ussura's past, Theah's past, anything.
<Damita> ::sits on the rock, staring into the fire for a long time, not asking Jack anymore questions. The medicine, the injury, and her long imprisonment and escape all coming together to make her body scream for rest. Her eyes start to droop and she yawns::
<Professor_Jack> :: notices her yawn:: Damita: Tired? You can use the tent if you like. I will be working for some time, and I have an extra bedroll out here that I can use later.
<Damita> ::jerks her head up as he speaks, breaking the long silence. Too tired to argue, she nods and stands up stiffly from her rock, walking toward the tent:: Jack: Gracias. Buenas noches. ::crawls carefully into the tent and falls fast asleep::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: As Damita drifts off to sleep, two days pass before she awakens as the noon sun creeps into the tent.
<Damita> ::slowly opens her eyes, then scrambles out from under the blankets and out of the tent, not remembering right away where she is, or why she is so sore::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Upon exiting the tent Damita sees the camp exactly the same as it was two days ago, except that the wagon has been moved and the pile of cleaned items on the table is larger. There is no sign of Jack though.
<Damita> ::looks around the camp, terrified for a few minutes, then slowly starts to remember her escape. Not seeing Jack, she takes a brief trip to the woods, then returns, wondering why in Theus she is so hungry and thirsty::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A few minutes later Damita hears cheerful whistling and spots Jack approaching the camp, walking along a small trail, a bit dirty and carrying a sack over his shoulder.
<Damita> ::backs away as he nears camp, tripping over a rock behind her and almost falling, but never taking her eyes off of him, some of her lethargy and trust having worn off with the drugs::
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns and stops when he sees her reaction and looks down at himself, sniffing:: Damita: What? Do I smell? :: smiling slightly at his own joke, trying to lighten the mood::
<Damita> ::doesn't laugh, but relaxes some, and shakes her head::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Good. :: smiles warmly again and enters the camp, setting the sack down on one of the tables:: Damita: Did you sleep well? You have been out for almost two full days.
<Damita> Jack: Two days? ::looks up at the sun:: I am hungry.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, moving to a covered skillet sticking out of the coals of the fire and pulling it carefully out, opening it to reveal several strips of bacon::
<Damita> ::smells the bacon and walks over to the fire, hesitating only a little bit, and sits down near the skillet, closer to Jack than she's been since he helped her from the wagon::
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and produces a clean cloth from his pocket, shaking the bacon from the skillet onto it and handing it to Damita, covering the skillet again and putting it back down:: Damita: There you go. :: smiles and moves back to the table, opening the sack and taking out the new items he'd dug up that morning::
<Damita> Jack: Gracias. ::wolfs the bacon down, in hungry gulps, then looks around again:: Water?
<Professor_Jack> :: picks up a canteen from the table and tosses it over his shoulder to her with surprising accuracy as he continues to unload the sack::
<Damita> ::catches the canteen and drinks water from it almost as ravenously as she ate the bacon, then sets it down nearby::
<Professor_Jack> :: finishes unloading the sack and tosses it aside somewhere, away from the fire of course:: Damita: I am Jonathan Freeman by the way. But you can call me Jack.
<Damita> ::nods, staring into the fire like she had two days ago:: Jack: I am Damita.
<Professor_Jack> :: turns on his heel and bows gracefully and respectfully, still wearing his warm smile:: Damita: A pleasure to meet you M'lady.
<Damita> ::shrugs with her good shoulder:: Jack: I am simply Damita. No one important enough to be called anything more.
<Professor_Jack> :: comes out of the bow, still smiling:: Damita: I beg to differ. :: spins back around and gets back to his work::
<Damita> :: picks up a stick and pokes it around in the fire:: Jack: I have nothing, not even decent clothing. A stranger cares for me. I am no one's lady.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: It is not possessions or social status that determines a person's importance. :: starts categorizing his recent findings, throwing out the stuff that is complete junk::
<Damita> ::tosses her stick into the fire and brushes off her hands on the remains of her skirt:: Jack: Lucky for me you think so. I have never had much of either.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods as he finishes sorting everything and turns, tossing something to small to her::
<Damita> ::catches it and looks at it, a little puzzled::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The item seems to be a dusty gemstone of what type Damita cannot determine.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Now you have something. :: smiles and turns back to his work::
<Damita> ::smiles a little, despite herself, and stands up, walking toward him. Without the incentive of food though, she stops a few feet away:: Jack: What is it?
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: I don't know. I just thought you'd like it. It's probably worthless for all I know, but you never know. :: smiles back over his shoulder::
<Damita> ::frowns thoughtfully:: Jack: I already owe you more than I can ever repay. What if this stone is enough to make you a rich man?
<Professor_Jack> :: grins:: Damita: If I was interested in becoming rich I would not be in the middle of nowhere in the coldest nation in Theah digging in the ground.
<Damita> ::shrugs her good shoulder again and checks that the pocket of her skirt has no holes in it before slipping the small stone inside:: Jack: Good point I suppose. So why then?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Because I am looking for something. Something I hope will prove my theories correct.
<Damita> ::nods and walks away again, looking around the small camp sight a bit, but not daring to go far from Jack. She may not trust him, but she knows he offers some protection. Soon enough though, she is sitting on her rock again, staring into the flames::
<Professor_Jack> <<<<Fin>>>>
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"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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11/Aug/05, 6:31 pm
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Damita learns a new trade..
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A week has passed since Damita found herself in Jack's camp in northern Ussura. It has been rather quiet in the camp and Jack has been going about his work like nothing had changed.
<Professor_Jack> Until one night when he was up late working while Damita was sleeping in the tent.
<Damita> ::tosses in her sleep, nightmares finally penetrating the numb denial she's been living in for so long. Still half asleep she sits up, screaming and crying::
<Professor_Jack> :: hears the scream and looks up from his work, scanning the dark forest surround the camp looking for who might have screamed::
<Damita> ::hugs her knees to her chest, sobbing and rocking back and forth as she trembles::
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't see anything and then notices the sobbing, turning to look at the small tent and frowning, moving towards it but pausing just outside of it:: Damita: Are you alright in there Miss?
<Damita> ::doesn't even notice the question as the images from her dream still float in her mind's eye as she cries::
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns again, unsure what to do for several moments:: Damita: I'm coming in, don't be alarmed. :: crouches down to his knees and enters the tent, looking around and spotting Damita:: Damita: What's wrong Miss? :: slides a bit closer to her on his knees, keeping his hands held up::
<Damita> ::scrambles backwards as far as she can, not even realizing at first that it's Jack::
<Professor_Jack> :: stops moving forward:: Damita: Are you alright Miss? Is there something I can do?
<Damita> ::looks over at Jack, the safety she's begun to associate with him finally penetrating the remains of her dream:: Jack: Corsairs...my home...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Is that how you ended up in Ussura?
<Damita> ::nods, still hugging her knees and sitting curled up in a ball:: Jack: Everything gone...in one afternoon
<Professor_Jack> :: nods once more:: Damita: Well you are very far from there, and no one will come for you here. And I am quite handy with a sword just in case someone does. :: smiles warmly::
<Damita> ::sniffs and rubs at her eyes:: Jack: Knives. I used to have knives. Juan taught me. ::starts to cry again, but not as hysterically as before::
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns again, still unsure what to do:: Damita: Everything will be alright, trust me. :: smiles again::
<Damita> ::looks at him for a long moment, then actually scoots a little bit closer to him:: Jack: I have not felt safe in seven months.. But here... ::shrugs::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: I assure you, you are very safe within this camp. I will guarantee it. :: smiles again, trying very hard to be comforting::
<Damita> ::doesn't smile back, but looks more relaxed than before by far:: Jack: Did I wake you?
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head and, realizing he still has them up, lowers his hands:: Damita: I was working. I think I may be on the right track with this new section of land.
<Damita> ::nods and picks at the loose threads around one of the many holes in her skirt:: Jack: If you find what you are looking for, then what?
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: That is quite a large "if". But I suppose I would head back to the Society's chapter here in Ussura and present my findings to them. If I had actual proof, then they'd have to believe my theories. And hopefully enough to grant my request for an expedition.
<Damita> Jack: You would leave here?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Well, yes. That is if they listen to me and I can get an expedition team together. :: nods as he speaks, as if he were thinking it over while he said it::
<Damita> ::frowns, wondering what in Theus will become of her then, but doesn't feel up to asking at the moment:: Jack: I should try to sleep again, but I'm afraid of the dreams. Will you stay with me until I fall asleep? I know it's odd, but please?
<Professor_Jack> :: half-frowns as he thinks about the idea:: Damita: Well I don't know... :: remembers her state from a few minutes ago and then nods:: Alright. :: moves to a corner of the tent and sits down::
<Damita> ::curls back up on her side of the tent and closes her eyes:: Jack: Thank you.
<Professor_Jack> :: sits quietly in the tent for a little over a half hour, until Damita finally falls asleep and he is able to slip silently out of the small tent, deciding to leave the work for morning, laying down on his bedroll near the fire::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Damita wakes as the sun shines into the tent the next morning.
<Damita> ::rolls over and winces against the bright light before leaving the tent and looking around for Jack::
<Professor_Jack> :: Damita spots him standing near one of the table, working, as usual::
<Damita> ::walks over to the table and looks over the assortment of odd items:: Jack: And you said you thought you were getting close?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, I believe so. You see this bowl here? :: shows her an old looking bowl:: If I am dating it right, and I think I am, this bowl is around a thousand years old, give or take a hundred years.
<Damita> ::looks at the bowl:: Jack: If you say so. ::shrugs:: Thank you again Jack...for staying last night...
<Professor_Jack> :: looks up from the bowl:: Damita: Oh, you're welcome. I trust you slept well for the rest of the night?
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I did. No more dreams.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Good. Perhaps that was the last of them. :: smiles and turns back to his bowl, finishing up cleaning off all of the dirt and dust::
<Damita> ::frowns and shakes her head, staring down at the edge of the table:: Jack: I doubt it.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: You never know. Perhaps simply believing that it was will make it so? :: looks back and smiles again::
<Damita> ::shrugs and shakes her head again::
<Professor_Jack> :: smirks and finishes up his bowl:: Damita: You have been stuck in this camp for a week now. Would you like a change of scenery for the morning?
<Damita> ::looks up at him, suddenly afraid:: Jack: Not to a village?
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head:: Damita: No, of course not. I was just wondering if you would like to come to the dig site with me this morning. :: smiles::
<Damita> Jack: Oh... ::looks around and thinks for a moment, then nods:: All right.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles again and sets the bowl down, offering his arm to her:: Damita: Smashing, it is a short walk, not too far from here.
<Damita> ::hesitates only a few seconds before nodding again and taking Jack's arm::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods once and starts off towards the dig site::
<Damita> ::walks along with Jack, looking around on the trail::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: After several minutes of walking down a narrow trail, the two end up at the edge of a large hole of sorts, it isn't a true hole, but the land has been dug up to varying depths in different sections on a grid pattern.
<Damita> Jack: You dug all this?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, stepping down into the hole:: Damita: Yes, I have been here searching for close to two years now. :: offers her his hand to help her down::
<Damita> :: puts her hand in Jack's, stepping into the hole with him:: Jack: Alone?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, helping her down and then turning, sweeping his arm out to show off the site:: Damita: Yes, unfortunately my theories are widely considered in the Society to be a bit mad.
<Damita> Jack: I'm surprised you aren't mad yourself after all that time alone here
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: Perhaps I am. But I have no other choice in the matter. I cannot convince the others without proof, so I must search for it alone.
<Damita> ::looks around, thinking for a while:: Jack: Do you need some help? You feed me, keep me safe, and even watch me as I sleep. Maybe in this small way I can do something for you in return.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: I could use the help. But I must warn you, it is long tedious work.
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: Maybe it will keep my mind off of...well...things.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Perhaps it will. Well then. :: looks around for a moment and grabs a medium sized pick as well as a brush and hands them to her:: Welcome aboard. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::takes the tools and looks at them, of course having not used such things in her old life:: Jack: How? We have to be careful right?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Come here, I'll show you how. :: moves off to the newest/lowest section::
<Damita> ::follows him over to watch::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: After Jack showed her how, the two of them spent the rest of the morning digging in the dirt, searching for Jack's elusive proof. And that is how things continued for another week. Until one morning at the dig site when Damita found something new in the dirt, open air.
<Damita> ::stops digging and stares at the crack in surprise, brushing her hair out of her face and leaving a streak of dirt behind:: Jack: Jack! Come see this!
<Professor_Jack> :: was digging in another section of grid and almost trips over the ropes that form it as he rushes over to see what she found:: Damita: What is it?
<Damita> Jack: A hole I think. It looks like there is more space on the other side of this rock.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Really? :: crouches down to look closely at the crack with his good eye:: By George I think you've found a cave of some kind!
<Damita> ::shrugs at his excitement:: Jack: It may be nothing you know...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: True very true, but it could also be something. :: smiles and moves up to another level, looking for his large pick::
<Damita> ::frowns, knowing she should be excited, but feels worried instead:: Jack: And if it is, you will want to show someone...
<Professor_Jack> :: finally finds the pick:: At last! :: hears her and looks down at her, frowning:: Damita: Well.. Yes..
<Damita> ::nods and chews on her lip for a minute, finally asking the question that's been nagging at her for a week:: Jack: What about me?
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: You are free to do as you like. You have always been. If you wish to go back to Castille I can try and get you passage on a ship headed there. :: thinks:: Or I suppose you could stay with me and join my expedition.
<Damita> ::hangs her head, staring at the small crack in the rock that may well disrupt her newly stabilized life:: Jack: There is nothing left for me in Castille. I have been an orphan since I was seven, and my fiance is dead.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns and steps down into the lowest level, setting his pick down:: Damita: Juan?
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: Si. Juan. He cared for me after my father died. For eleven years we were almost inseparable.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: I'm sorry.
<Damita> ::keeps staring at the crack as her vision clouds with tears:: Jack: When the Corsairs landed, he sent me away from the docks. I never saw him again... I do not have anything to go home to.
<Professor_Jack> :: produces a clean handkerchief from his jacket pocket and hands it to her, stepping forward to put an arm around her::
<Damita> ::takes the handkerchief and wipes her eyes, leaning her head against Jack's shoulder::
<Professor_Jack> :: stands there quietly until she feels better::
<Damita> ::hands Jack back his handkerchief after a few minutes:: Jack: Should we look in the cave?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes. :: picks up the large pick once more:: Move up to the next level, I don't know how stable this rock is.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: All right. But please be careful. ::steps up to the next level to watch::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, waiting until she is far enough away before swinging the pick up and bringing it down hard at the point of the crack in the rock::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The crack gets bigger, but not big enough yet.
<Professor_Jack> :: tests the ground and shrugs:: Damita: So far so good.
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: Good. Just don't fall in.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, smirking jokingly:: Damita: My dear Damita, which one of us has been doing this for almost a decade now? :: grins and brings the pick up once again, bringing it down swiftly to strike the rock again::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: There is a loud crack and the hole opens up a little wider.
<Damita> ::shrugs and grins:: Jack: You're showing your age you know.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: True. :: brings the pick up and back down one more time, producing yet another loud crack as the rock separates, unfortunately after the strike, it continues to separate, breaking and falling into the chasm at a rapid speed:: Damita: It seems I spoke too soo... :: his sentence is cut off as the ground underneath him falls::
<Damita> ::jumps down to the level of the cave and kneels down to look into the hole:: Jack: Jack! Are you all right?
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Damita cannot see Jack but she can hear that he is still falling, and the cavern sounds like it is very large. A moment later an emerald green, three fingered claw comes shooting up out of the darkness to grab onto a nearby tree, it appears to be attached to a cord of some kind, which becomes taut a second later.
<Professor_Jack> :: his voice echoes in the cavern but Damita can hear him:: Agh! I hate it when that happens.
<Damita> ::looks at the cord curiously, then back into the hole:: Jack: Are you all right?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I'm alright. :: a moment later there is a quiet swooshing sound and after another moment Jack appears from the darkness of the cavern, held up by the cord attached to the emerald colored bracer on his right arm::
<Damita> ::smiles down at him in relief:: Jack: So that's what that thing is for
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, smiling:: Damita: I don't like admitting this but this thing has saved my life a few times in situations like this one. Not to mention being the perfect climbing tool, as well as other uses.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I'm glad you have it then. Without you, I do not know what I would do. ::frowns at the thought:: You going to hang there all day?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: No, I need to see how big the cavern is. You coming?
<Damita> ::looks at the cord:: Jack: It will hold us both?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: It should. Just make sure to hold on tight.
<Damita> ::nods and grabs the cord, slipping carefully over the edge of the hole, then linking her arms around the back of his neck, holding onto him tightly::
<Professor_Jack> :: holds onto her with his left arm and with a flex of his right wrist, the bracer starts lowering them slowly into the dark cavern::
<Damita> ::holds onto him as she watches the section of light above them get smaller:: Jack: Does that thing have a light on it too?
<Professor_Jack> :: grins:: Damita: As a matter of fact it does. :: flexes his wrist a different way and the bracer begins to glow with a green light, shining for a ten foot circle around them::
<Damita> Jack: Very useful. Where did you find it?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I made it. Well, sort of.
<Damita> Jack: Really?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: I combined parts from two different artifacts as well as making some cosmetic changes. The original bracer had the grappling function and was white, we at the Society call it a Grinning Armband, due to the fact that the original looks like bone and has a skeletal face on it. The second item is a belt that produces light when activated, we call it a Shining Belt.
<Damita> Jack: Well I am glad it doesn't grin anymore
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs and nods:: Damita: Yes, I wasn't very fond of the original look either. Which is one reason why I changed it. I also changed the claw that comes out of it. The original looks like a skeletal human hand.
<Damita> ::shudders a bit:: Jack: I think I like your version much better.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, looking around as the bracer continues to lower them down slowly:: Damita: Oh, look in my left jacket pocket. I almost forgot.
<Damita> ::reaches into his pocket, curious::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Inside the pocket Damita finds two six inch daggers in separate sheaths but tied together loosely with a leather band.
<Professor_Jack> :: grins:: Damita: I didn't have any throwing knives, I hope you meant that kind back when you mentioned it.
<Damita> ::smiles as she pulls the daggers from his pocket:: Jack: Where did you get these? They are perfect
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I had the knives laying around with my supplies. I sharpened them, made new grips, and modified the sheaths slightly.
<Damita> ::smiles and kisses his cheek on impulse, then pulls her head back, blushing:: Jack: Thank you
<Professor_Jack> :: raises his eyebrows, surprised:: Damita: Uhh.. You're welcome. :: a moment later the ground appears in the sphere of light that surrounds them::
<Damita> ::looks down, glad to see the ground:: Jack: It's about time. I was starting to think the hole was endless. If you'd fallen all this way... ::shudders::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods as his feet touch the ground, he flexes his wrist to stop the cord from extending, testing the ground before setting Damita down:: Damita: It feels solid enough.
<Damita> ::lets go of Jack slowly, for the first time in her life distrusting even the ground::
<Professor_Jack> :: flexes his wrist once more and the swooshing sound returns as the claw retracts quickly back into the bracer, within sixty seconds it's entire length is gone, vanishing back into the bracer::
<Damita> ::looks around the cave:: Jack: So now what?
<Professor_Jack> :: stretches out his right arm, shining the light from the bracer in different directions:: Damita: I'm not sure. I suppose we could just pick a direction and move until we hit a wall, but that is a good way to get lost.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: Can we attach that claw to something and follow the cord back?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, but what? We don't even know what part of the cavern we are in.
<Damita> ::looks down at the floor of the cave:: Jack: Would it hold if you dug it into the ground here?
<Professor_Jack> :: crouches down and shines the light on the floor, shaking his head:: Damita: No, this floor is solid rock. We would have to chisel an edge into it. Perhaps we should go back up and get better equipment, and some torches perhaps. It will take forever to figure out the size of this cavern with only one light source.
<Damita> ::nods and looks back up:: Jack: It's a long way up, but you're probably right
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, extending his arm upwards again and flexing it::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: There is a rush of air and the claw fires out of the bracer, shooting upwards and out of the cavern, obviously attaching to something since the cord goes taut a second later.
<Damita> Jack: Well, here we go again.. ::wraps her arms around his neck again, holding on::
<Professor_Jack> :: holds onto her with his free arm and flexes his wrist again::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A moment later the bracer starts pulling them upwards at a surprising speed and within a few minutes they are back at the top.
<Professor_Jack> :: winces at the brightness of the sun as they reach the edge of the hole::
<Damita> ::hides her face in Jack's shoulder, squinching her eyes shut::
<Professor_Jack> :: helps Damita up out of the hole and then pulls himself up as well, retracting the claw once again before looking around, noting the position of the sun:: Damita: Perhaps we should get something to eat before we explore the cavern any further.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: And maybe we should bring some food and drink back down with us. We have no idea how big it is.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, climbing up onto the next level and offering a hand to Damita:: Damita: Good thinking.
<Damita> ::takes his hand and climbs up with him::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: After a short walk back to camp and a few minutes gathering supplies and equipment to explore the cavern, Jack starts a fire and makes them some lunch.
<Damita> ::sits by the fire as Jack cooks, on her favorite rock of course::
<Professor_Jack> :: finishes lunch, which is some kind of soup and dips some into a bowl for Damita and handing it to her:: Damita: There you go.
<Damita> ::smiles and takes the bowl:: Jack: Thank you. ::sips the soup::
<Professor_Jack> :: dips himself a bowl and sits back, sighing:: Damita: I'm sorry.
<Damita> Jack: For what?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: Damita: I've been out here digging for close to two years now without finding anything close to the proof I need. And now, only two weeks after you arrived here, I may have found it. :: frowns again::
<Damita> Jack: So what is there to be sorry about?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Well it is obvious that you are distressed over the situation.
<Damita> ::sighs and swirls her soup around in her bowl:: Jack: This may be what you have spent your life searching for. I'm sorry as well. Sorry that I'm ruining the happiness for you. It just... I'm afraid.
<Professor_Jack> :: sips his soup:: Damita: Afraid of what?
<Damita> Jack: This is going to sound stupid...
<Professor_Jack> :: takes another sip, listening closely::
<Damita> ::sighs:: Jack: I used to be a... a performer. I can dance so well. And for you, I still might be willing. I am used to you Jack...used to being alone with you, and hearing you breathe at night. But other people? Other people are who I am afraid of...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: That is an understandable reaction. But the truth of the matter is, you can't hide in the wilderness for the rest of your life. Sooner or later you will have to face your fear or you will hide in the woods forever. And that would be a shame. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::sighs:: Jack: But why? What would be the shame?
<Professor_Jack> :: pauses for a few moments before answering, collecting his thoughts:: Damita: Well you would likely miss out on many wonderful things by hiding forever. But besides that, I have grown used to your presence as well. :: smiles:: I never realized how much I missed having a partner to work with, someone to talk to.
<Damita> ::blushes a little, staring at her feet:: Jack: So you really do want me to come with you?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, finishing his soup:: Damita: I would not have suggested it if I didn't. :: smiles again:: And just think, you would be one of the first Theans to visit a completely new place.
<Damita> ::shrugs and finishes her lunch as well, putting the bowl down on the ground:: Jack: A ship you said... The last time I was on a ship... ::sighs:: The place doesn't matter Jack. I want to stay with you.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: Thank you. :: sets his bowl down as well and stands:: Alright then, now that that is settled, we have a cavern to explore. :: offers her his hand::
<Damita> ::nods and takes his hand, standing up next to him:: Jack: The ship... I know there will be other people. I... I don't know if I can like them much...
<Professor_Jack> Damita: You won't have to worry about them. I am rather selective in my choice of expedition members. :: grins:: And I'll be there if you need me.
<Damita> ::nods and smiles at him:: Jack: All right... I'll try. Though I am perfectly happy alone with you. ::shrugs:: Let's go see if we have a reason for an expedition.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and starts towards the supplies they set aside before lunch:: Damita: Yes, this could all have been a moot point. :: laughs::
<Damita> ::follows him to the supplies, her hand still in his:: Jack: I could happily stay here with you for years I think, but I know this means a lot to you. I hope my cave holds what you need...
<Professor_Jack> Damita: We'll see. :: starts picking up the supplies to take them to the dig site::
<Professor_Jack> <<<<Fin>>>>
---
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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11/Aug/05, 6:34 pm
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Why are important places always cursed?...
<Professor_Jack> PRELUDE: It has been three days since Jack and Damita started exploring the cavern, they have hit three walls so far and have mapped out what they think to be most of the cavern. It is around noon and they are back in the cavern, still exploring, leaving markers to tell where they have been. The cavern is mostly lit up now, due to the numerous small fires they set around.
<Professor_Jack> :: moves slowly in the latest chosen direction, holding his arm out in front of him so that he can see, using the light from his bracer::
<Damita> ::stays close to Jack, looking around the cavern::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: After moving for several minutes, the two hear the sound of dripping water ahead of them.
<Damita> Jack: Well that's different anyway
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, it could be an underground lake or stream. :: continues forward::
<Damita> ::follows closely, not wanting to get lost in here::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The dripping gets louder as they continue onward, and after a few more minutes the two of them come to another wall.
<Damita> ::frowns and touches the wall to see if it's wet::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The wall isn't wet.
<Damita> Jack: So where's the water?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns also:: Damita: There has to be an opening somewhere. Maybe we should each take a direction and follow the wall? It can't be too far from here.
<Damita> ::nods and checks her torch to make sure it's not burned down too far:: Jack: All right. That should work
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Call out if you find something. :: smiles and starts off to the right, running his left hand against the wall to stay with it::
<Damita> ::nods and heads to the left, also running a hand along the wall::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: As Damita moves along the wall to the left, she notices the dripping getting louder.
<Damita> ::keeps going, not yelling for Jack yet, since she hasn't found anything yet::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Several minutes pass before Damita spots an opening in the wall ahead of her. It looks like a crack in the rock. It's three feet tall and two feet across at the widest point near the floor of the cavern.
<Damita> ::heads over to the opening and holds her torch into it for a better look::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Inside the crack Damita sees that it continues on for quite a ways, past the distance her torch shines, the dripping sound is definitely coming from inside there though.
<Damita> ::turns around in the direction Jack went and calls for him, not too loud, knowing it will echo::
<Professor_Jack> :: was already heading back towards her and she can see him a short walk away:: Damita: You found something? :: calling back and quickening his pace to reach her::
<Damita> Jack: Yes. A tunnel of some kind.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles excitedly:: Damita: Really? :: reaches her and moves to the opening:: This looks promising. I would normally say ladies first, but..
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: I'll forgive you if you want to go first
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, somewhat glad she didn't guess the real reason he mentioned that and crouches, looking inside the tunnel::
<Damita> Jack: It goes back a long way, but that's where the water is.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, it certainly sounds to be coming from in there. Well, I suppose there is little reason to wait. :: starts in then pauses, looking to Damita's torch and grinning:: Just try not to set my jacket on fire with that.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: I won't.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Gracias. :: enters the tunnel and starts crawling down it, holding his right arm ahead of him to light the way::
<Damita> ::follows a few feet behind, keeping the torch a safe distance from his jacket::
<Professor_Jack> :: leads the way for what seems like close to an hour before finally calling back excitedly:: Damita: It widens up ahead.
<Damita> Jack: That's nice. Does it get taller too?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I think so. :: continues on several more meters and then comes to another opening, exiting the tunnel and standing up, Damita can see him do this ahead of her of course::
<Damita> ::smiles and hurries behind Jack, anxious to stand up and stretch::
<Professor_Jack> :: steps away from the opening to give Damita room to stand up::
<Damita> ::stands up and stretches before looking around::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The two exit the tunnel and find themselves in what appears to be another dark cavern.
<Professor_Jack> :: can't help but laugh a little:: Damita: Well this is an improvement.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Quite
<Professor_Jack> :: listens to the echo of their voices and frowns in thought for a moment before calling out:: Echo! :: listening closely to the echo::
<Damita> ::looks at Jack a little oddly:: Jack: Yes...it's a big room apparently. Any other reason to listen to yourself? ::laughs::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: I think this space is smaller than the other one, I would guess close to a fourth the size.
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: Easier to explore then
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, reaching into a small sack on his back and pulls out a few pieces of wood, laying them down near the tunnel opening and lighting them with his flint, producing a nice fire that lights up the area around them for several feet::
<Damita> Jack: Good thought, but if we light more, how will we know which is the one by the tunnel? ::giggles::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: If I'm right about the size of the room then we should be close enough to make out the opening.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: Well then, which way do you want to go?
<Professor_Jack> :: thinks for a moment and listens again, pointing in a direction a moment later:: Damita: That way, we might as well continue following the drip. :: shrugs and heads in that direction::
<Damita> ::shrugs and follows the drip::
<Professor_Jack> :: leads the way for several meters and then stops dead in his tracks::
<Damita> ::bumps into Jack...thankfully the torch was held out to her side::
<Professor_Jack> :: stays where he is:: Well this is interesting...
<Damita> ::looks around Jack:: Jack: What?
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Jack steps to the side so that Damita can see what he saw. Which looks like a human skeleton in tattered clothing, sitting against a wall just at the edge of the sphere of light surrounding them.
<Damita> ::takes a step back:: Jack: You find dead people interesting?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Well it means someone was in this cavern before us. :: moves forward, shining the light from his bracer on the skeleton:: It looks like he has been here for quite some time.
<Damita> Jack: Yes...I see that.
<Professor_Jack> :: moves to the skeleton, bending down to take a closer look, as he does however, Damita notices something carved into the wall that he was previously covering before he bent down::
<Damita> ::moves her torch closer to the wall:: Jack: Umm...Jack. Look.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks up:: Damita: What? :: follows her gaze and steps back so he can see the wall:: What is that... :: looks closer at what is carved into the wall, it looks like words but Damita doesn't recognize the language::
<Damita> Jack: Can you read it?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods slowly:: Damita: I believe so, it looks like an old form of Ussuran. :: narrows his eye and starts to read it:: "...dripping...poison.... Curse...can feel it..." :: frowns:: That's all I can make out, it is rather worn.
<Damita> ::looks around the cave, eyes wide:: Jack: I think we should stop following the drip.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: You may be right. But I wonder what he meant by curse. :: frowns in thought, reading the carving a few more times before bending down once more to check the skeleton::
<Damita> Jack: Careful.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: Don't worry. :: carefully opens the flap on a satchel hanging around the neck of the skeleton, pulling a small leather bound book out of it:: What have we here? :: opens the book, flipping through the pages and looking them over, a smile coming to his face::
<Damita> Jack: What is it?
<Professor_Jack> :: answers quickly, sounding excited:: Damita: It is his exploration journal. He came here looking for the same thing I am. Unbelievable.
<Damita> Jack: Well...did he find it?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I don't know. :: flips to the last page with writing on it and reads it, frowning:: No.. It says here that he found a small pool of water that seemed to have collected from a slow drip in the ceiling of this room, he had run out of water and drank some of it. It seems it was some kind of poison..
<Damita> Jack: I wonder why he scratched a message into the wall if he also wrote it in the book..
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head slowly:: Damita: I don't know, but there is no mention of a curse in here. :: closes the book and puts it in his jacket pocket, standing once again:: We should continue exploring this chamber, but perhaps we should stay away from any water. :: grins a bit sadly::
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I think you're right. And let's hope we don't run into the curse...
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Whatever it is. :: takes out a few more pieces of wood and starts another small fire near the skeleton, the light from it shining far enough to keep the skeleton visible:: Damita: Alright, let's head to the right. :: starts that way::
<Damita> ::nods and follows Jack::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Jack leads the way once again for several minutes, but while he is still walking Damita hears a sound behind them a bit.
<Damita> ::speaks quietly:: Jack: Wait. ::stops and turns around::
<Professor_Jack> :: stops::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: When Damita looks back she doesn't see any movement or anything out of place in the dark cavern, well, except for the fact that the skeleton near the second fire is gone.
<Damita> ::gasps and moves closer to Jack:: Jack: Jack...it's gone...
<Professor_Jack> Damita: What's gone? :: still looking around ahead of them::
<Damita> Jack: The skeleton..
<Professor_Jack> Damita: The what? That's not poss.. :: cuts of his sentence as he turns and notices what she's talking about:: Well that's strange..
<Damita> Jack: More than strange.. ::she looks like she's about to jump into his arms::
<Professor_Jack> :: notices her mood and puts a protective arm around her, moving his right arm around to shine the bracer's light around some::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: There is a splash and the small fire near the tunnel goes out.
<Damita> ::jumps and shivers::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: This is not good.... :: draws his rapier::
<Damita> Jack: Must you always understate everything?
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: I am an Archeologist, it is my job to analyze things. :: continues to move the light around, keeping an eye out for any movement::
<Damita> :: pulls her new daggers from their scabbards:: Jack: I think I would analyze this as a little bit more than "not good"
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: You may be right. :: there is a second splash and the other fire goes out:: Whatever it is, it wants us in the dark. :: raises his voice slightly:: I say you out there! That is perfectly good firewood you are pouring water on! Show yourself!
<Damita> ::laughs despite the situation::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A moment later they hear a voice, it sounds like a horse whisper, but with the echo they cannot determine where exactly it is coming from.
<Professor_Jack><Voice> Alright....
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Alright, this officially turned from not good to very very bad.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: Quite...
<Professor_Jack> :: hears the swish of a blade and steps sideways, spinning Damita with him, the blade of a saber passing right where they were just standing::
<Damita> Jack: Who swung that?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I assume whatever that thing is did. :: brings his rapier up, backing them to the wall so that they cannot be snuck up on, stepping forward a few steps, in front of Damita::
<Damita> Jack: Thing? You can't mean the skeleton...? :: presses against the wall, for the moment not even thinking of her knives::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: There was a saber hanging on it's belt when I checked it. What else could it be? :: listens closely, closing his eye::
<Damita> Jack: Maybe that's the curse...
<Professor_Jack> :: continues to listen and doesn't answer her, not moving for several moments until there is another swish to his right, moving past him, towards Damita::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Damita suddenly spots the skeleton appear from the darkness, saber thrusting towards her.
<Damita> ::hears the swish and ducks, rolling toward the left::
<Damita> Jack: So how does one injure a skeleton?
<Professor_Jack> :: spins around and rushes the skeleton, slamming it against the wall:: Damita: I'm not sure. :: grabs the skull of the thing and pulls it back, slamming it back against the wall hard while he has it's body pinned with his own:: But I'm going to try!
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The skull shatters when he slams it against the wall and the skeleton falls to the floor, it's saber clanking on the floor.
<Damita> Jack: Well...apparently that's how...
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Apparently. :: steps back, looking down at it::
<Damita> Jack: If he was cursed, maybe we set his soul free
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Perhaps. :: leans down to take the saber:: Better take this, just in ca.... :: his sentence is cut off as the skeleton's arm suddenly lurches upwards, stabbing Jack in the side with it's saber:: Bugger.... :: falls backwards::
<Damita> ::rushes toward the skeleton and jumps, aiming to land on its arm::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Damita lands where she intended to, producing a satisfying crunch as the skeleton's arm snaps in half, causing it to drop the saber, which hits the floor and slides off several feet.
<Damita> ::steps over and picks up the saber before kneeling down next to Jack:: Jack: Are you all right?
<Professor_Jack> :: is holding his side, which is bleeding and coughs a bit:: Damita: I should be. You may want to separate the rest of that thing's pieces, it seems capable of functioning as long as it is somewhat whole.
<Damita> ::looks at Jack, very worried, but nods and goes over to the skeleton, kicking and stomping at it::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: After a couple of minutes Damita manages to separate almost ever part of the skeleton, and it doesn't show any sign of movement.
<Damita> ::watches the skeleton for a moment more, than kneels next to Jack again:: Jack: What can I do? I don't know how to help.
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Damita hears the sound of indistinct whispering and sees an eerie white smoke drift up from the skeleton, the odd part is that after drifting up for two feet, it turns ninety degrees and heads off horizontally into the darkness.
<Damita> Jack: Did you see that?
<Professor_Jack> :: was focusing on his wound, having taken a thick cloth and pressed it on the wound:: Damita: No, what was it?
<Damita> Jack: White smoke...it came up from the skeleton then flew off in that direction. :: points::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks into the darkness, but of course can't see anything since it's dark:: Damita: Smoke? Powder or dust from the bones?
<Damita> ::shakes her head:: Jack: No. Definitely not. That would just float around. This was a thin stream, and it looked like it had purpose. ::shrugs and looks down at Jack:: That's not important now. Is there anything I can do for you?
<Professor_Jack> :: winces a bit:: Damita: I think I'll be alright, the bleeding looks like it's slowing.
<Damita> ::looks down at the cloth he's holding to his side:: Jack: Let me see.
<Professor_Jack> :: lifts the blood soaked cloth slightly, wincing as the dusty air touches the wound, it does appear to be slowing, but it has bled quite a bit already::
<Damita> ::frowns:: Jack: You've lost a lot of blood. How are we going to get you out of here?
<Professor_Jack> :: lifts his arm and points:: Damita: The tunnel is that way. :: sounding a little dizzy from blood loss::
<Damita> Jack: I'm not lost. That isn't what I meant. Can you walk?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I think so. :: winces as he puts his rapier away and presses the cloth to his wound once more, before attempting to stand::
<Damita> ::takes ahold of Jack's arm on the good side and tries to help as best she can::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: With Damita's help Jack manages to stand and start walking towards the tunnel opening. However, just as they spot the opening ahead at the edge of the bracer's light, they hear the whispering again.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks around:: Damita: What is that?
<Damita> Jack: I don't know... ::looks around the dark room, sounding close to panic::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: As the two continue towards the opening and Damita looks around, she spots the stream of smoke behind then, staying just at the edge of their light, but obviously following them. She also notices that it is the source of the whispering.
<Damita> Jack: It's the smoke...it's following us.
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow:: Damita: Smoke? How can smoke follow us? :: looks back over Damita's shoulder and spots the stream:: Well that's interesting. :: sounds like he's a little less than coherent at the moment, just as they reach the tunnel::
<Damita> ::looks more carefully at his face, concerned at the sound of his voice:: Jack: Don't leave me Jack. Stay with me.
<Damita> ::frowns at the tunnel opening, wondering how in Theah she's going to get him through the small and long passage::
<Professor_Jack> :: blinks several times and shakes his head, focusing better now:: Damita: Right. You first.
<Damita> Jack: I'm not sure which way is better, so I'll go first. But keep talking. Stay with me. ::bends over and starts down the tunnel::
<Professor_Jack> :: crawls in behind Damita, following her as fast as he can, unfortunately, the whispering continues as they crawl and a few moments later he calls out ahead to Damita:: Damita: The smoke is still following us. :: his voice drifting off into lala land again:: I wonder how it manages that? I've never seen such a fine stream of smoke, especially not one that chases people...
<Damita> ::looks back behind her, trying to catch his eye:: Jack: Come on...focus. We have to get out of here, and I can't carry you. Just keep crawling.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and continues to follow her:: Damita: I wonder what would happen if it caught us, because it looks like it's catching up.
<Damita> Jack: I don't know. Just keep going.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and does so, and after a few more minutes Damita spots the other opening up ahead::
<Damita> Jack: Almost there...hang in there.
<Professor_Jack> :: has slowed down some but continues to follow her:: Damita: Good, because that stupid whispering is getting old. I wonder if the smoke knows any classic Avalon songs...
<Damita> Jack: If it does, I wouldn't understand them anyway.. ::keeps crawling::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: True. :: sounding on the edge of delirium and looks back:: Huh. The smoke is retreating. The whispering is going also. Good riddance to bad rubbish! :: spits back down the tunnel and continues on::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Damita finally reaches the end of the tunnel.
<Damita> Jack: I'm not so sure...it didn't try to hurt us. We may want to look into it later. ::stands up and bends down to help Jack out of the tunnel::
<Professor_Jack> :: exits the tunnel with Damita's help and stands again, walking towards the fire they set to mark the location of the hole that leads back to the surface::
<Damita> ::takes Jack's arm and loops it over her shoulders, supporting him as much as she can::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Fortunately the two make good time back to the spot where they first entered the cavern and can see the spot of light above them, it looks like the sun is fading though.
<Damita> Jack: Can you manage to fire that thing up there?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Oops, we missed lunch. :: hears Damita and nods, trying to lift his arm up but not managing it very well::
<Damita> ::frowns and helps Jack to lift his arm::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Gracias. :: flexes his wrist when his arm is in position, firing the claw up and through the hole, a moment later the cord becomes taut:: Damita: Did I ever tell you where I got this thing? :: sounding almost completely out of it now::
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: You made it. Hang on. We're almost in the clear. ::holds onto Jack, hoping she won't hurt him too badly::
<Professor_Jack> :: flexes his wrist again and the two are pulled quickly upwards by the bracer, within a minute they are at the top:: Damita: Whoa, this thing is really useful... :: drifting off and without him stopping it the bracer continues to lift them, pulling them out of the hole and dragging them across the ground to a nearby tree a few feet from the hole::
<Damita> ::lets go of Jack and sits up, looking down at him and shaking him gently:: Jack: Jack? Come on Jack. Don't do this to me. I don't know how to help you.
<Professor_Jack> :: opens his eye and blinks a few times, having a hard time focusing:: Damita: Stopped bleeding... Clean the wound.. Alcohol... Bandages... Clean... :: drifts
off again::
<Damita> ::frowns and looks at his mostly empty pack, then stands up:: Jack: I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can, I'll be right back. I have to get those things. ::runs down the path to the camp::
<Damita> ::gets into the clearing and looks around, heading for the supplies and searching for bandages and alcohol::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It takes her several moments but she manages to find the items.
<Damita> ::grabs the stuff and runs back to the dig site, first checking to see if Jack is still breathing::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: As Damita reenters the dig site she spots an old woman kneeling down next to Jack, her hand on his side.
<Damita> ::stops short, staring at the woman:: Woman: Quien es usted?
<Professor_Jack><Woman> :: looks back at Damita, grinning slightly and saying something in a language Damita can't translate and stands, heading into the forest::
<Damita> ::watches her leave and rushes over to Jack, kneeling next to him::
<Professor_Jack> :: coughs and looks up, focusing on Damita:: Damita: What happened? :: looking around, there is no sign of the old woman::
<Damita> ::shakes her head:: Jack: I don't know. I got back from the camp and there was an old woman here. She didn't speak Castillian, and left into the woods.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: Damita: An old woman? Did she say anything?
<Damita> Jack: Well yes, but I don't know what..
<Professor_Jack> Damita: What did she say? Exactly.
<Damita> ::thinks for a moment, then repeats the words::
<Professor_Jack> :: thinks for a moment, mouthing the words slowly then his eyebrows rise:: Damita: Why would she do that? :: looks down at his side, lifting the cloth away, mysteriously his wound is gone, only the drying blood around it remains::
<Damita> Jack: Who? ::her eyes go wide as she sees the wound is gone::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Grandmother Winter. Matushka.
<Damita> ::looks into the woods where the old lady went:: Jack: Who?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Matushka, the one who protects Ussura and watches over it's people.
<Damita> Jack: But you are not Ussuran...
<Professor_Jack> :: thinks about the words again:: No, her words.. Why would she say that? :: asking himself mostly since he knows Damita doesn't know the answer::
<Damita> Jack: What did she say?
<Professor_Jack> :: continues to think it over but hears Damita and looks up:: Damita: Oh, she said. "Your friend is healed, daughter of Castille. I am Matushka. Son of the Sidhe but spirit of Ussura, hunter of Rokugan, homeland of the Unicorn." :: shakes his head:: It doesn't make sense.
<Damita> ::thinks for a moment:: Jack: No, it doesn't
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head again:: Damita: Son of the Sidhe could be me. But what is Rokugan? Homeland of the Unicorn?... Wait.. :: his eyes flash with excitement:: Hunter of Rokugan, maybe Rokugan is the name of the other place I've been looking for proof of! This is amazing! Do you know what this means?!
<Damita> ::shakes her head:: Jack: No...
<Professor_Jack> :: sits up and grabs her, smiling excitedly:: Damita: It means it exists! The place I'm looking for! It's really there! :: gets caught up in the moment and kisses her::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Ok... It does?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Yes! And that also means there must be proof here somewhere! We just have to find it. :: starts to get up on his feet:: We need to keep looking, we need to... :: starts to get a bit wobbly and passes out::
<Damita> ::tries to catch Jack, and eases his head to the ground::
<Professor_Jack><<<<End>>>>
---
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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18/Aug/05, 11:05 pm
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GreydonQiVo
Twisted Beyond Belief
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The great discovery....
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It has been a few minutes since Jack was healed by a mysterious old woman and then started yelling about a place called Rokugan. He is still unconscious and hasn't moved. On the up side, he appears to be breathing normally and his wound is completely gone, thanks to Matushka.
<Damita> ::sits back after easing Jack to the ground, holding her fingers to her lips, still trying to process the fact that he kissed her, as well as trying to figure out what to do now::
<Damita> ::looks around the dig sight, wondering if any of the gear there could be used to drag him back to camp::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The only things at the dig site are digging tools, empty sacks, and rope.
<Damita> ::stands up and wanders over to look at the sacks, thinking that maybe one of them is big enough to use for some kind of litter::
<Damita> :: picks three sacks that look as if they are still in very good shape and uses one of her knives to cut them, then pokes holes in the sides. She threads ropes through the holes and around two large branches, then looks from Jack to the stretcher, wondering how heavy he is::
<Damita> ::drags the stretcher over to Jack, then rolls him onto his side and slips it under before gently laying him back down onto it and stopping to catch her breath::
<Damita> :: picks up the ends of the sticks by Jack's head and drags him back toward camp::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It is a slow process, but after twenty minutes Damita manages to drag Jack back to the camp and lay him down near the dying fire.
<Damita> ::frowns at the state of the fire and works to build it back up again, wondering what in Theus to do now::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: With more wood on the fire the flame grows back to a suitable size.
<Damita> ::stares at Jack for a few minutes, trying to fight back panic at being left alone...after all, Matushka said he would be all right::
<Damita> ::wets a cloth and drips water into Jack's mouth, thinking he must be thirsty after the long trek out of the cavern::
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't move for several moments then suddenly licks his lips and swallows the water, groaning slightly as he slips back into consciousness::
<Damita> ::smiles a bit and brushes Jack's hair back from his forehead:: Jack: Jack? Are you all right?
<Professor_Jack> :: rolls his eyes as he wakes up and looks around before focusing on Damita:: Damita: Yes, thank you. :: smiles a bit then winces, bringing his hand up to hold his head::
<Damita> Jack: A headache? Do you have something I can give you? You shouldn't move. You've lost a lot of blood.
<Professor_Jack> :: rubs his forehead for a moment and nods:: Damita: Violet, in my medical supplies there is a small vial of purple liquid, that's it. :: leans back some and closes his eyes, resting::
<Damita> ::nods and lays the cool cloth over his forehead before digging through the medical box and finding the vial, walking back over to hand it to him:: Jack: Is this the right one?
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at the vial and nods::
<Damita> Jack: Good. Now if there were a way to replace your blood we'd be doing even better. ::smiles::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and takes the vial, downing some of it:: Damita: That shouldn't be necessary. With a bit of rest my body will make more. Hopefully that won't take too long, because we've got to get back down in that cavern.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I know we do, but you're not going anywhere for at least some time. ::gives him a stern look::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at her and grins:: Damita: Oh, is that so?
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: Yes it is. It took me twenty minutes to get you where you are, so stay there.
<Professor_Jack> :: smirks and nods:: Damita: Yes mam. :: leans back and rubs his head again::
<Damita> ::stands up again after looking worriedly at him for a few more moments, then digs around in the supplies some more, starting to cook dinner::
<Damita> ::a few minutes later the soup is hot and she pours some into a bowl for Jack, taking it over to him and helping him to sit up, holding his head and shoulders on her arm:: Jack: I thought I should keep it simple at first.
<Professor_Jack> :: sits up and looks at Damita:: Damita: Thank you. :: takes the bowl and sips some of it:: It's good. Better than the slop I've been making. :: grins and takes another sip::
<Damita> ::shrugs and blushes:: Jack: Your soup is fine, really. I am happy to be able to take care of you for once though rather than the other way around.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and smiles, taking another sip, before frowning when he remembers what happens just before he passed out:: Damita: I'm sorry about before.
<Damita> Jack: Sorry? For what?
<Professor_Jack> :: takes another sip and tries to hide his face with the bowl, speaking quietly:: Damita: For kissing you. I was excited about what Matushka said.. I wasn't thinking.
<Damita> Jack: Oh... ::blushes, without the benefit of a bowl to hide her face:: It's all right, really. Nothing to be sorry about.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: But I shouldn't have. Especially given your... :: cuts off his sentence and takes another sip of soup:: Sorry.
<Damita> ::shrugs and shakes her head:: Jack: You are not the Kosar. I am not afraid of you. Not anymore at least. I meant it Jack...there is nothing to be sorry for.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and sips his soup again::
<Damita> Jack: Do you think you can sit up without help? If you'll be all right I'll get some dinner myself. ::smiles::
<Professor_Jack> :: notices their position and sits up straighter, sliding away from her a bit:: Damita: Oh yes of course. I'm sorry. :: a bit embarrassed that he had stayed in that position so long::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Once again, there is nothing to be sorry for. After all, I would not want you to collapse again. ::smiles and leans forward to drop a small kiss of her own on his forehead before turning to the pot to pour her own bowl of soup::
<Professor_Jack> :: blinks several times and stares at her, surprised, and stumbles on his words a bit:: Damita: O.. Of course..
<Damita> ::sits back down next to him, smiling:: Jack: How is your head? My father always used to kiss my wounds to make them better.
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head and smiles:: Damita: Perfectly fine now.
<Damita> ::laughs and sips at her soup:: Jack: See? It works.
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't mention that it was likely the Violet that helped his head and nods:: Damita: They didn't teach that type of medicine in the books I learned from. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: I doubt they would. And even if it doesn't work, it is fun. ::grins and winks at him before hiding her own face with a bowl::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks surprised again at her suddenly playful mood and pours himself some more soup::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It is a full two days before Jack is rested enough to get back to work, he of course spent the entire time complaining about animated skeletons disrupting his research.
<Professor_Jack> :: stands and stretches his arms and legs, looking up at the mid-day sun and smiling::
<Damita> ::smiles and shakes her head, knowing these last two days have been hard for him:: Jack: What are you smiling about?
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at her, still smiling:: Damita: I feel lucky today. :: winks and turns towards the trail to the dig site:: Come on, time's wasting.
<Damita> ::frowns, hurrying after him:: Jack: Are you certain you're ready?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and takes a step back, picking her up and twirling her around before setting her back down again, still smiling:: Damita: I feel fine. :: continues on down the trail::
<Damita> ::laughs as Jack twirls her through the air:: Jack: All right. I can see that you seem to be all right, but be careful all right? I almost lost you once...
<Professor_Jack> :: looks back over his shoulder:: Damita: You have been alone in this world for long enough, don't you think? :: winks again and continues on::
<Damita> ::laughs again and nods, catching up to him and linking her arm with his:: Jack: A few weeks ago all I wanted in the world was to be alone. Now, I do not know what I would do without you.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and nods:: Damita: Well as long as I have anything to say about it you won't have to find that out.
<Damita> ::smiles up at him:: Jack: I'm glad. Though I am still uncertain about the idea of a ship full of sailors. ::shrugs it off, not wanting to ruin the mood:: As long as you are with me though, I'm sure it will be all right. ::leans her head on his shoulder::
<Professor_Jack> :: is surprised by her actions yet again but his current mood overpowers that:: Damita: I won't let anything happen to you. :: grins and spots the dig site up ahead::
<Damita> Jack: I know you won't. Not if you can help it. Well, here we are again... ::smiles::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and lowers her down to the next to lowest level of the site::
<Damita> Jack: Do you plan to go back into the other room again?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Of course, I want to check out that pool.
<Damita> ::frowns, but nods:: Jack: I agree, but carefully.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and grins again:: Damita: I am glad that I have your permission Lady. :: bows and moves to the lowest level of the site, looking at the hole in the ground::
<Damita> ::laughs and follows him:: Jack: More like my agreement that the pool is a good place to start looking.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, giving her a hand down:: Damita: Of course. :: extends his arm and fires his grapple at the nearest strong tree before stepping towards her and wrapping his free arm around her waist:: Here we go again.
<Damita> ::nods and wraps her arms behind his neck:: Jack Ready as I'll ever be.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and steps backwards into the hole, pulling her down with him, the bracer lowers them down at a fair speed::
<Damita> ::looks down, watching for the floor::
<Professor_Jack> :: flexes his wrist and the bracer slows them quickly before setting them down on the cavern floor:: Damita: I never get tired of that. :: grins and lets the grapple retract but continues to hold her for a moment as he looks around at the dark cavern, spotting several dying torches that they left in there::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Well I'm glad your little toys keep you so happy. ::does not move, not objecting at all to him holding her longer than needed::
<Professor_Jack> :: notices that he is still holding her and lets go, moving in the direction of the small tunnel::
<Damita> ::follows Jack, staying close to be within the light thrown by his bracer::
<Professor_Jack> :: reaches the small tunnel and crouches to enter it before pausing, frowning for a moment:: Damita: Perhaps you should wait here. We never discovered what that smoke was capable of.
<Damita> Jack: No way. I'm not letting you go back in there alone after what happened the last time.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns for another minute before nodding:: Damita: Alright, but if something happens I want you to get out of here as fast as possible, alright?
<Damita> ::nods, frowning:: Jack: All right. ::mentally adds "but not without you"::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods once and crouches again, entering the small tunnel and moving down it slowly, holding his right arm ahead of him to light the way::
<Damita> ::crouches down and follows Jack::
<Professor_Jack> :: exits the tunnel after several minutes of crawling and stands, stepping away from the tunnel and drawing his rapier, looking around at the dark cavern::
<Damita> ::climbs out behind Jack, pulling her knives from their sheaths::
<Professor_Jack> :: whispers:: Damita: Keep an eye out. :: looks down at the now dry pile of wood that was once a small fire and tosses another log on it, setting it on fire before moving off in the direction he thinks the pool is in, following the dripping sound::
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: Most definitely. ::follows him across the room toward the
sound::
<Professor_Jack> :: keeps a wary eye and ear out for any trouble as he moves slowly and carefully across the cavern, hearing no sign of the whispering smoke from two days ago::
<Damita> ::looks around the cavern, listening closely for any sound::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A few minutes later the two arrive at the far side of the cavern, finding a pool of water in one corner, fed by a dripping hole somewhere in the ceiling. The pool appears to be eight feet by eight feet and without getting closer the depth is unknown. The only other thing about the pool is that the water gives off a faint white glow.
<Damita> ::shudders slightly:: Jack: I don't know if I like this or not...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and stops, looking at the pool:: Damita: I am not sure how we should proceed.
<Damita> ::steps up next to the pool and bends down, poking the tip of one of her knives into the water::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The water does not react when Damita sticks her knife into it, however when she pulls it back it clings to the blade, not pulling against her, simply being pulled along, like honey.
<Damita> :: pulls the blade out farther, watching the water stick to it:: Jack: Well that's odd.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at the water and frowns::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: When Damita pulls the knife far enough away the stream of water breaks from the pool and falls back into it, leaving a bit of it clinging to her blade however.
<Damita> ::stands up, looking at the water on the blade curiously:: Jack: Umm...now what?
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at the blade and frowns, using the blade of his rapier to scrape the "water" off and looks closely at it, taking a sniff and wrinkling his nose, swinging his rapier at the pool, shaking the "water" back into it:: Damita: It smells horrible. :: notices what it smells like and frowns:: It smells like... Death..
<Damita> ::frowns, then gets a thought and her eyes get big:: Jack: The smoke?
<Professor_Jack> :: looks to her and frowns as well, nodding:: Damita: Possibly.. I think we should... :: his sentence is cut off as the whispering returns::
<Damita> ::listens hard, trying to make out words::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The whispering cannot be made out but the glow increases and Damita spots the trail of smoke rise out of the pool and float above it, as if it is looking at the two.
<Damita> Jack: You think we should what...?
<Professor_Jack> :: stares wide eyed at the smoke:: Damita: I forgot what I was going to say... :: lowers his rapier slightly as he watches the glowing white smoke::
<Damita> ::stares at the smoke, not quite certain what to do next::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The whispering suddenly gets louder, almost to a shout and the smoke lurches forward with amazing speed, hitting Jack square in the chest and throwing him backwards, leaving Damita near the pool, oddly, the smoke is gone now.
<Damita> ::yells and steps back from the pool, dropping on her knees beside Jack in an unsettling moment of deja vu::
<Professor_Jack> :: opens his eyes and looks up at Damita, his eyes a milky white, he opens his mouth to speak but the only thing that comes out is the indistinct whispering::
<Damita> ::stuffs her knuckle into her mouth trying not to scream and mutters:: Oh Grandmother Matushka, what now?
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't get up, simply stares at her, c0cking his head slightly::
<Damita> Jack: Jack? Can you hear me?
<Professor_Jack> :: continues to stare blankly at her for a moment before moving to get to his feet::
<Damita> ::stands back, for the first time in weeks afraid of him, not sure now who he even is::
<Professor_Jack> :: spins to face her, his posture and body language completely different, he then brings his rapier up and grins evilly::
<Damita> ::takes another step back, holding her knives in front of her and knowing she can never defend against his longer reach even if she had any desire to fight him::
<Professor_Jack> :: continues to grin and steps towards her, swinging his rapier around to strike at her right side::
<Damita> ::drops and rolls, coming up outside his reach:: Jack: Please Jack, if you can hear me...please fight this. I do not want to hurt you.
<Professor_Jack> :: tilts his head at an odd angle and grins again, speaking in whispers again and rushing towards her with a lunge::
<Damita> ::steps to the side, spinning to face him again as he passes her, fighting tears that threaten to blur her vision::
<Professor_Jack> :: spins as he passes her, the blade of his rapier slicing a superficial cut across her stomach::
<Damita> ::grunts at the pain, crouching defensively again, her entire being rebelling at the idea of hurting the only person in her life::
<Professor_Jack> :: grins and rushes at her again, however his strike is a tad off and he misses slightly, leaving his left side open::
<Damita> ::squinches her eyes almost shut, wincing at even the thought, and slashes at Jack's side::
<Professor_Jack> :: lets out a whispery cry as Damita's knife cuts a long slash across his side, backing away several steps, oddly, a trail of the white smoke drifts from the wound and returns quickly to the pool::
<Damita> ::drops the knife bearing Jack's blood, appalled at what she did, and rushes over to him as the smoke covers the pool again:: Jack: Are you all right?
<Damita> Jack: I am so so sorry!
<Professor_Jack> :: the whiteness in his eyes remains and he continues to grin before bringing his free hand around to smack her solidly across the face, knocking her back::
<Damita> ::yells in surprise and steps back, scooping up her knife as much as she still hates the blood clinging to it. She looks over at the pool, then back at Jack, confused::
<Professor_Jack> :: some of his blood drips from the cut on his side and when it hits the floor more smoke drifts from it and returns to the pool::
<Damita> ::shudders as she realizes what may well need to be done to completely expel the smoke::
<Damita> ::tilts her head up toward the cavern roof, sighing:: Grandmother Matushka please help us. I do not wish to do this...
<Professor_Jack> :: thrusts towards her once again, his moves a bit clumsy and repetitive for some reason::
<Damita> ::drops and rolls again, slashing another bloody line across his calf::
<Professor_Jack> :: cries out again and more smoke drifts from the second wound, spinning around to slash another superficial line across Damita's back before she can turn to defend::
<Damita> ::turns to face Jack again, looking into his eyes::
<Professor_Jack> :: the whiteness remains, as does his evil grin and his messed up posture::
<Damita> ::grits her teeth, chewing her bottom lip in distress as she lunges left, then quickly right, raising a knife to slash at Jack's shoulder::
<Professor_Jack> :: Damita's slash causes him to cry out yet again, as well as producing more of the white smoke, it also causes him to drop his sword and fall to the ground, eyes closed, completely still::
<Damita> ::screams, the sound echoing in the chamber, and drops next to Jack, holding a knife in one hand and reaching out the other to gently lift one of his eyelids::
<Professor_Jack> :: his eyes shoot open and he grabs her with both arms, the whiteness still in his eyes, his grip is strong though, and she cannot move her arm enough to use her knife, or escape::
<Damita> :: prays that he will one day forgive her and slams her head down, trying to make contact with his nose and bloody it::
<Professor_Jack> :: takes the hit to the nose and his head bounces back smacking into the stone floor hard, he does not release his grip however and grins again, his forehead bleeding and producing more smoke, he then leans up and kisses her deeply, holding her so that she cannot break it::
<Damita> ::looks into his eyes as he kisses her::
<Professor_Jack> :: the whiteness drains from his eyes as Damita looks into them, he then breaks the kiss and falls back, coughing::
<Damita> ::reaches out as quickly as she can once he is back to himself again, catching his head before it hits the floor:: Jack: Is that you Jack? For real?
<Professor_Jack> :: winces and nods:: Damita: I think so. :: reaches up and rubs his forehead, then the back of his head, finding blood on both sides:: What happened?
<Damita> Jack: The smoke was in you. The only way I could get it out was to hurt you. I tried so hard not to and I am so sorry...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, smiling:: Damita: That's ok. It... :: his words are cut off and his eyes go wide as Damita's hand holding the knife stabs downwards into his shoulder without warning, and without control from Damita::
<Damita> ::yells in horror and lets go of the knife, scrambling back away from Jack::
<Professor_Jack> :: coughs and takes the knife from his shoulder, dropping it and looking at her, looking a bit afraid of whatever he sees in her eyes::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Without realizing it Damita grabbed her second knife as she moved back. It is now in her hand.
<Damita> Jack: They're white aren't they? My eyes are white... You have to hurt me Jack.
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head, not understanding her words::
<Damita> ::opens her hand to drop the knife::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Her hand stays closed around the knife and she takes several steps towards Jack, clenching the knife, all uncontrollably.
<Damita> ::fights against the movements, not wanting to hurt him any more than she already has::
<Professor_Jack> :: sets his jaw and reaches his hand behind his back, grabbing something but not pulling it out to show what it is as he rushes towards her and grabs her::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Damita's arm plunges her second knife into Jack's other shoulder as he rushes her, but once he has a grip on her she cannot do further damage.
<Damita> ::fights to keep her body still in his arms, not knowing what he has planned::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks determined and kisses her yet again, pulling his head back a second later, leaving a trail of the white smoke between their mouths and brings his arm up, holding a glass jar over the stream as it leaves Damita's mouth quickly::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: With nowhere to go but out, the smoke quickly drains out of Damita and into the jar, which Jack quickly closes tight as soon as it is all in.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles as he sees the whiteness drain from Damita's eyes and steps back, setting the jar carefully down on the ground, not noticing the knife still sticking in his shoulder::
<Damita> Jack: Wow... ::looks at the jar, then notices the knife and winces:: Hold still... :: pulls the knife from his shoulder quickly::
<Professor_Jack> :: winces as well and looks down at himself before smiling painedly at Damita:: Damita: It seems today was not such a lucky day after all. :: wobbles a bit on his feet and moves to retrieve his rapier, sheathing it::
<Damita> ::frowns and fights tears again:: Jack: I am so sorry. I would harm myself before you, but I had no choice...
<Professor_Jack> :: holds up a hand and smiles:: Damita: Neither of us had any choice in the matter, it was that blasted thing, whatever it is. :: motions to the jar:: Well it can stay down here trapped in that jar for the rest of whatever kind of life it has. :: spits at the jar and moves towards the pool, ignoring his bleeding wounds for the moment::
<Damita> ::follows Jack slowly, wary about getting too close to the pool again::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks down at the pool, noticing the lack of white glow and frowns in thought:: Damita: I wonder how deep it is... :: his sentence trails off as he spots something glint below the surface of the water, now visible since the glow is gone::
<Damita> Jack: Can you swim? Just in case... ::follows his gaze and looks at the shine in the water::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Yes, but I don't think we should enter the water. Just in case. :: crouches down and looks closer at the water, spotting something and smiling, pointing to it::
<Damita> ::looks where he is pointing, wondering how they will get whatever it is out of there without touching the water::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Laying on the bottom of the deep pool is a five by one foot wooden box, the glint is coming from the metal lock, which for having likely been underwater for a great deal of time still has a fine polished finish on it.
<Damita> Jack: We'll never get that out of there without going in...
<Professor_Jack> :: grins and lifts his right arm, showing the bracer:: Damita: We can with this. :: winces and his arm falls, not being able to lift it with the pain from the shoulder wound::
<Damita> ::frowns:: Jack: My fault...I'm sorry. ::sighs and helps Jack to lift his arm, deja vu yet again, aiming it at the box::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Thank you. :: flexes his wrist and the grapple fires into the water, latching onto the box and pulling it up and out of the pool to drop it gently on the stone floor near the pair::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Now that it is out of the water the pair can see that the box is in surprisingly good condition, like it had just recently been tossed down there, but given it's location, and the state of things, it has likely been down there for quite some time. It is in fact made of wood, but looks like it was water tight, and it also has some very odd markings carved into it.
<Damita> ::looks at the markings:: Jack: Can you read that?
<Professor_Jack> :: crouches and looks closely at the writing, frowning:: Damita: No. But we should get out of here. :: picks up the box and starts back towards the tunnel::
<Damita> ::nods and stares at the jar for a moment before quickly following Jack::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It takes the two almost a half hour to get out of the cavern this time, with their collective wounds and the increased burden of the wooden box, but they manage it and end up laying on the ground outside, near the hole they leads to the cave.
<Professor_Jack> :: drops the box on the ground and lies next to Damita, catching his breath and wincing again::
<Damita> Jack: Maybe Matushka will come again. ::laughs a little and reaches out to gently touch his face::
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: I doubt it, stuff like that rarely happens once, especially for someone who isn't Ussuran. I'm surprised she came that time.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I think this time we will be all right anyway. Neither of us is near to death, thank Theus. And I even got a couple of good kisses out of it. ::grins, trying to make light of the events of the day::
<Professor_Jack> :: can't help but laugh, his fatigue and the oddness of the situation overpowering his manners for the moment:: Damita: True, although I think I prefer kissing you when I'm not possessed by an evil spirit.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Oh really? The last time you did that you passed out, and apologized when you woke.
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs and smiles:: Damita: I passed out because of the blood loss, and I apologized because I'm a manner driven fool... :: whatever cloud that was suppressing said manners lifts and he frowns, realizing what he had been saying:: Ummm... What I mean is...
<Damita> ::shrugs and smiles:: Jack: Stop being such a manner driven fool. In case you haven't noticed I am no longer afraid of you.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: Damita: I noticed. But... :: cuts himself off and frowns again, looking at the box::
<Damita> ::rolls her eyes:: Jack: So serious all the time. So what do you think we should do with the box?
<Professor_Jack> :: lets out a relieved sigh, glad that Damita didn't press about that 'but' and smiles, looking the box over:: Damita: I'm not sure, but I intend to open it.
<Damita> ::frowns:: Jack: Carefully I hope...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and examines the lock, frowning:: Damita: I won't be able to open this here, we need to get back to camp. :: tries to get to his feet and falls back down next to her, groaning:: Well, maybe in a little while. :: laughs a bit::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: You know, it really isn't funny
<Professor_Jack> :: looks to her:: Damita: What isn't?
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: This entire situation. Here we are, this time both injured, and at the hands of each other...sort of...and laughing about it.
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs and winces at the motion, smiling despite the situation:: Damita: Nothing to be done about it. We are still alive, so I call it a victory. :: pats her arm, wincing again but doing it anyway::
<Damita> ::nods and smiles:: Jack: Very true.
<Professor_Jack> :: sighs again and stares up at the sky::
<Damita> Jack: Feeling any better, or do I have to get the stretcher out again? ::smiles::
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head and continues to look up at the sky:: Damita: It's getting there. I was just thinking about that unconventional medical treatment your father invented. :: grins but doesn't look at her, obviously the fatigue has managed to suppress his manners again::
<Damita> ::laughs and looks over at his bloody shoulder, wrinkling her nose:: Jack: I do not think I will try the direct approach this time. ::smiles and kisses him on the lips instead::
<Professor_Jack> :: even though it was his idea he is still surprised by it and simply lays there for several moment before returning the kiss::
<Damita> ::lifts her head just a bit, but does not move away from him:: Jack: Better?
<Professor_Jack> :: looks up at her and nods:: Damita: Completely. :: smiles and kisses her once more before moving to his feet::
<Damita> ::laughs and stands as well, wincing a little:: Jack: I told you it works.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, picking up the box and extending his arm for her despite the pain:: Damita: Like a miracle. :: grins and starts off with her back to camp::
<Damita> ::walks back to camp with Jack, careful not to hurt his sore arm::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The pair get back to camp and after patching each other up, have a nice dinner and turn in early since they are both exhausted. The next morning they both sleep in till around noon before Jack wakes up and moves to see about opening the box they found, deciding to let Damita sleep a little longer.
<Damita> ::sleeps blissfully, not even guessing that Jack is trying to open that box alone::
<Professor_Jack> :: has a small pick and is trying desperately to pick the lock on the strange box, with no luck::
<Damita> ::squinches her eyes against the sun, mumbling in her sleep::
<Professor_Jack> :: slams the pick down and hits the box, producing a loud thump:: To Legion with whoever designed this blasted lock!!
<Damita> ::jumps, instantly awake, and blinks in the light:: Jack: Is everything all right out there?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns and calls back:: Damita: Yes, sorry, didn't mean to wake you.
<Damita> ::leaves the tent and walks over to him:: Jack: It's all right, the sun was in my eyes anyway.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, still frowning at the box and smacks it again, cursing at it in about eight different languages:: Damita: I can't get this bloody thing open.
<Damita> ::laughs and shakes her head:: Jack: Have you got any long thin pieces of metal by any chance?
<Professor_Jack> :: picks up the pick he was using and hands it to her:: Damita: Just this.
<Damita> ::takes the pick from him and looks over the lock carefully, inserting it into the hole and turning it::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It takes her a few moments but her less savory training comes back to her easily and soon there is a click as the lock opens.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles widely:: Damita: You did it! :: hugs her::
<Damita> ::laughs and hugs him back:: Jack: Perhaps I should not be quite so proud of my criminal skills though.
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: They came in handy today. :: smiles:: Now, lets see what's inside. :: reaches down and takes the open lock off of the box, lifting the lid slightly::
<Damita> ::takes a step back from the box, not sure what to expect after the events of the day before::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: As Jack lifts the lid the pair can see inside the large box, inside they find a very interesting looks sword with symbols like those carved into the box itself etched into the blade, as well as a book.
<Damita> Jack: Wow...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods to Damita, taking the book from the box and looking it over, opening it up::
<Damita> Jack: Can you read it?
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head:: Damita: No, this is unlike any language I have ever heard o.... :: a wide grin comes to his face:: This must be the language of Rokugan.
<Damita> ::looks over his shoulder at the book:: Jack: So is this the proof you need?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and looks at her, smiling:: Damita: Yes, I think it might just be.
<Damita> ::thinks for a moment, trying to be happy but not quite pulling it off:: Jack: So now we leave...
<Professor_Jack> :: notices her mood and frowns:: Damita: Well, not yet. I will have to see if I can translate this language before I present it to the Society. For all I know it could be a Rokugan cookbook. :: laughs::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Which would be nice as well. Some new things to taste would spice things up around here.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Unless all of the recipes required foods we do not have here in Theah. :: sets the book down and picks up the sword, looking it over::
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: They just might.
<Professor_Jack> :: stands and swings the sword a bit, feeling it's weight and heft:: Damita: This is an amazing sword. I have never seen the like in Theah.
<Damita> Jack: More proof then, maybe good enough even if you cannot translate the book.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and puts the sword back in the box and closing it, keeping the book out though:: Damita: Perhaps.
<Damita> ::sits on her rock by the fire:: Jack: I may be able to pick locks, but that book would be well beyond me.
<Professor_Jack> :: sits down on the ground next to her:: Damita: It doesn't have to be. :: grins:: What level of education did you receive?
<Damita> ::blushes and shakes her head, looking at the ground:: Jack: My education was the streets Jack. I can pick a lock and a pocket. I can knife someone. I can dance. But more than that? ::shrugs:: I cannot read.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and nods:: Damita: I understand. But we can remedy that. I have taught several classes in my time with the Society. I could teach you, if you like.
<Damita> ::tucks her hair behind her ears and stares into the fire:: Jack: I never thought anyone would teach someone like me such things.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Everyone has the right to learn. Without knowledge, the world would be chaos.
<Damita> ::smiles at him:: Jack: Will you teach me your language as well? Outside of these woods, I don't think mine will do me much good. ::sighs::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, still smiling:: Damita: Of course. Your skills have helped me. Well.. Besides the dancing that is.. :: coughs once:: So I will use mine to help you. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::smiles and hugs him tightly:: Jack: Thank you. If I am to help you after we leave here I will need to know something other than how to pick a lock.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: And dance. :: nods and hugs her back::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Maybe some day, I will show you.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: I would like that. I have always been fascinated by the Castillian Flamenco.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I can do that of course, though the effect will be better if I have new clothing. ::shrugs::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, then raises an eyebrow, a bit curious:: Damita: What other types of dancing do you know? If you don't mind me asking.
<Damita> Jack: Salsa dancing.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: See, you have skills, just in a different field from mine. Me, I can't even dance a jig.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: My skills are much less useful.
<Professor_Jack> :: holds up a finger:: Damita: That depends entirely on the situation. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack I suppose. So now what do we do?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Now, we have some lunch. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: All right.
<Professor_Jack> <<<<End>>>>
---
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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Arriving in Pavtlow....
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Several days have passed since Jack and Damita battled the cursed smoke and retrieved the sword and book that Jack believes to be from Rokugan. Things at the camp have been rather quiet since then, seeing as how Jack has spent almost every waking moment trying to decipher the language in the book, and when he wasn't doing that he was teaching Damita various things.
<Professor_Jack> But today is different. It is early morning, a bit before dawn, Jack stayed up late as usual while Damita slept, but she is soon awoken to a celebratory shout from somewhere outside her tent.
<Professor_Jack> That's it!! :: dances around the campfire, the Rokugan book held high::
<Damita> ::sits up straight, looking around in terror, before realizing it's just Jack and crawling out of the tent:: Jack: What is it?
<Professor_Jack> :: turns and looks at Damita, frowning:: Damita: Oh, I'm sorry. I did not mean to wake you. But :: smiles and rushes to her, picking her up and twirling her around before setting her down again:: I did it! I figured out the language!
<Damita> ::laughs and hugs him:: Jack: That is wonderful! I do not mind one bit being shouted out of bed for such good news. How did you figure it out?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Well, it turns out that it isn't really Rokugan, or I suspect it's not, it is actually a modified form of Ussuran. Took me forever to figure that out, and the whole time it was staring me right in the face. :: laughs and hugs her::
<Damita> ::smiles and shakes her head:: Jack: I can not imagine knowing as much as you do
<Professor_Jack> :: sets her down and smiles:: Damita: That's just because *you* :: pokes her gently on the nose when he says "you":: have never had the luxury of a scholar's education. But I'm going to fix that. :: smiles again::
<Damita> ::blushes and giggles as he pokes her nose, but when he mentions her education he can tell something is bothering her:: Jack: I still do not think I am anyone special enough to deserve your kindness.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns and looks as if this is the look he has used in the past when talking to students:: Damita: Everyone deserves kindness. No matter who they are or where they are from. :: smiles again::
<Damita> ::shakes her head and looks at the ground between them:: Jack: Before we met I had not laughed in seven months. You have given me more than I ever deserved, and without even knowing who I am.
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: I know all that matters about you. You are a kind and caring person who was scared by a terrible event. :: smiles:: What more is there?
<Damita> Jack: I will tell you, though you may not like it. You are the only person left in my life though, and I care a great deal for you, so you deserve to know. ::sits on her rock, staring into the fire::
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow but nods, sitting down next to her::
<Damita> Jack: I was orphaned at the age of seven and took to the streets. For a time, Juan cared for me, but as I grew older I also grew prettier. ::looks up at him and shrugs:: I imagine you noticed that..
<Professor_Jack> :: almost says the first thing that comes to his mind but his manners keep him from doing so and he simply nods::
<Damita> ::stares back into the fire:: Jack: You are a scholar, but I am certain you are not an idiot in the ways of the streets Jack. There are ways for beautiful girls to support themselves.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Well of course, they could dance, or sing, or..... :: cuts off his own sentence and looks at her::
<Damita> ::nods, but does not meet his eye:: Jack: Or...right. I started dancing and singing. I did it for the men while they waited their turn. Until I got older...
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't respond as he simply listens and looks at her::
<Damita> Jack: Juan turned his back on me, though I cannot blame him. It was months before he would even look at me again. I thought you deserved to know before you started to like me too much...while there is still time for you to be rid of me if you can no longer stand the sight of me. ::bites her lower lip to stop it from quivering as she keeps staring at the flames::
<Professor_Jack> :: continues to silently watch her for several minutes before sliding closer to her and hugging her::
<Damita> ::leans against him and cries:: Jack: You do not hate me?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Why would I hate you? :: lifts her face with a finger under her chin and wipes the tears from it::
<Damita> Jack: You are an educated man...the kind who does not always understand how difficult choices for someone like me can be.
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: Educated men have more difficult choices than you know. :: frowns at a memory those words bring up and lowers his voice:: Especially me.
<Damita> Jack: Not only choices though. Educated men usually choose to be with women like themselves...not women from the brothels. I was afraid I would lose you.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles warmly:: Damita: My dear Damita, where you come from is not who you are. ::leans down, kissing her::
<Damita> ::doesn't know quite how to react at first, very surprised, but quickly recovers from that and kisses him back::
<Professor_Jack> :: let's the kiss linger for several minutes before breaking it, smiling down at her once again::
<Damita> ::smiles at him, though it's still a little wobbly:: Jack: It seems I do not need to worry about losing you
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head:: Damita: No, I'm afraid you are stuck with me until you get bored. :: grins::
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: For a woman from my former profession, boredom is a wish and a dream. Besides, I could not get bored of you Jack. There are many mysteries left to discover...even whole new lands.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and smiles:: Damita: Quite right. :: opens the book once more and starts scribbling some strange characters on a spare piece of paper he added to it, reaching up to scratch under his eye patch, as he has done several times since Damita has met him, she may have spotted a blue sparkle a few times he did it in her presence::
<Damita> ::leans against his arm, the one not holding the pencil, and watches him draw the characters:: Jack: What happened to your eye anyway? If you do not mind me asking...
<Professor_Jack> :: pauses in the middle of writing a character, his hand shaking slightly before he speaks again, sounding like he is trying to hide something:: Damita: Oh, it happened a long time ago, an accident on a dig in Cathay.
<Damita> ::frowns, noticing his mood:: Jack: It's all right. If you do not want to talk about it I mean.
<Professor_Jack> :: drops his act and frowns, setting his jaw:: Damita: No, you told me your past, it is only fair I tell you mine. :: uses up the last of his good mood before getting into the story to gently poke her on the nose again:: But you have to promise that you won't hate me. :: grins::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: I do not hate you...very far from it. I doubt that I ever could.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and takes a deep breath, reaching up to slowly remove his eye patch, revealing a brilliant blue eye, which is an offset from his normal green one, he makes sure not to look directly at her though::
<Damita> ::looks up at him, curious:: Jack: It's beautiful, though I must admit I prefer the green one since it is your own and suits you. ::smiles:: The other...is it like your bracer? An artifact?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, putting his patch back on quickly:: Damita: Yes, it is made from pieces of two different artifacts that I found during my travels. Normally it would allow me to see, as if I had my real eye back, as well as being able to see in the dark. But the one I built is, different..
<Damita> ::frowns:: Jack: You did not want to build it to allow you to see again?
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head:: Damita: The normal eye artifact I used to make this one can do that already. But being the fool of a scientist I am I decided to see what I could come up with.
<Damita> Jack: Oh? ::looks into the fire again and listens::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at the fire as well and sighs:: Damita: You probably won't believe this next part.
<Damita> Jack: I have seen a lot in this last month I would never have believed before. Try me.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, taking a breath before speaking:: Damita: This eye allows me to see the future. Or more accurately, someone's future.
<Damita> ::thinks for a few minutes, staring at the flames:: Jack: That's why you did not look at me when you took off your patch?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: I was excited when I discovered what I had created, but that excitement quickly turned to awe, then fear, and then finally shame.
<Damita> ::frowns:: Jack: Why shame?
<Professor_Jack> :: is silent for another moment:: Damita: I tried to use it for selfish reasons. And ended up causing the death of someone very dear to me.
<Damita> Jack: I do not understand how seeing someone's future can cause their death.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Neither did I, at the time. But when I looked at my Fiance through it, the eye showed me that she was going to be shot and killed by a man I couldn't make out. So I made it my mission to keep her from that fate. I tried everything, I even bought a pistol, even though I had never owned one before. I kept an eye on her at all times, determined to keep her safe.
<Damita> ::her eyes go wide as she gets an idea where this story might be going::
<Professor_Jack> :: takes another breath and continues on:: Damita: After two weeks of this we were sleeping in my apartment in Avalon when a thief broke in. I immediately grabbed the pistol and went to check on the sound. My Fiance followed several steps behind. Upon finding the man, I attacked him, thinking he could be the man from the vision.
<Damita> Jack: Of course. That would be logical...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: After a long struggle he ran, I chased him through the apartment, wanting to be sure he didn't get a chance to get close to her. I rounded a corner and saw a dark figure holding something that looked like a weapon and fired...
<Damita> ::swallows hard:: Jack: It was your fiance wasn't it?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, a single tear rolling down his cheek from his good eye:: Damita: If it weren't for this. :: points to his patch covered eye:: It never would have happened.
<Damita> ::slips her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly:: Jack: I do not hate you. I know it doesn't help much for me to say this, but you were only trying to help. Without the eye, it may have been the thief who was meant to kill her. Jack, I doubt it is possible to change the future, even if you can see it coming.
<Professor_Jack> :: hugs her back:: Damita: I have never told that story to anyone. Everyone I knew back in Avalon think I simply made an error in judgment while chasing the thief.
<Damita> ::looks up at him and wipes the tear from his cheek:: Jack: I really think that for some reason it was meant to be, though I am sorry you went through more pain than you would have otherwise. ::thinks:: There are things I understand better now...
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at her:: Damita: Oh? Like what things?
<Damita> ::smiles and kisses him gently before answering:: Jack: Why you are so intent on keeping me from harm.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles a bit:: Damita: You noticed huh?
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I did. It's hard to miss.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and looks at her, noticing that he is still holding her and lets go, sliding back to where he was earlier::
<Damita> ::reaches out to take his hand as he slides away:: Jack: Why do you always do that? You slide away, when I know you don't want to. The last person you were so intent on keeping from harm was your fiance. Now you protect me, so I think you must care for me in some way, but you hide it.
<Professor_Jack> :: sighs:: Damita: Am I that easy to read?
<Damita> ::laughs and shakes her head:: Jack: I doubt many others would notice. As much as I may be ashamed of my past, one thing I know well is men.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and frowns again:: Damita: I'm sorry. It's just that the only other woman I let close to me ended up... Well, you know..
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I know. I cannot promise to live forever, but you cannot live your life in fear either. Well you could I suppose, but you may not be very happy.
<Professor_Jack> :: a grin suddenly comes to his face and he laughs:: Damita: Well this is a switch.
<Damita> ::looks at him curiously, but smiles:: Jack: What is?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I seem to remember telling you something very similar all those weeks ago. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::laughs and nods:: Jack: Come to think of it, you did. Maybe you ought to take your own advice.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Perhaps I should. I don't like to think of how many women I might have offended because of my belief in this curse.
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: If you did, I don't mind. ::shrugs:: After all, maybe if you had not offended them you would have married by now, and your wagon would not have been in the village that day.
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: Perhaps not. Though I doubt there is a woman alive who could keep me from my research. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::grins and winks at him:: Jack: Then perhaps it is a good thing I do not want to.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks a bit surprised at her words but grins anyway, his manners fading slightly:: Damita: Quite.
<Damita> ::scoots over next to him again and leans against him, looking into the fire:: Jack: So it looks like we're stuck with each other then?
<Professor_Jack> :: wraps an arm around her:: Damita: So it would seem.
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: Not all that long ago, I never thought the idea of being stuck with someone would make me so happy.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: And until recently I thought I did not need anyone. I suppose we have made more than one important discovery out here?
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I suppose we have. Speaking of which, though I love sitting by the fire with you, perhaps you should see what the book says.
<Professor_Jack> :: continues to gaze at her for several moments before her words get through:: Damita: Oh! Right, the book! :: retrieves the book from where he set it down earlier and opens it, starting to read it::
<Damita> ::looks at the book as he reads, even though she can't understand a word of it::
<Professor_Jack> :: reads the book silently since there is a lot there, but after several minutes a wide grin starts to form on his face:: Damita: This is a record of the events that took place here several hundred years ago. A journal if you will. It tells of a group of travelers from a distant land who came to Ussura and became trapped.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Bloody cold place to be trapped...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Quite. Anyway, they were trapped in some kind of side realm to Ussura, and there they remained for several generations before Matushka came and freed them.
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: She gets around apparently.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Apparently. It says that once she freed them they remained here with her for several years, trading stories and customs until one day when the travelers decided to return to where they came from, taking with them a new name, as well as great war horses and riches that Matushka had given them for their trouble.
<Damita> Jack: Are these the people you were looking for evidence of?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: I believe so. The book speaks of how their ways and customs were completely foreign to this land, and that Matushka even seemed surprised by their stories. They can't have been from anywhere in Theah.
<Damita> ::looks at the book, not sure whether to be happy or not:: Jack: So you can take this book to the Society.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, with this they can't ignore my theories any longer.
<Damita> ::takes a deep breath and looks around the camp:: Jack: Oh! The sword. Can you read the writing on it too?
<Professor_Jack> :: had forgotten about the sword and pulls it from the sheath he had made for it, looking at the writing on it:: Damita: I believe it says. "Sword of the Soul" Or Soulblade. :: raises an eyebrow:: That is an odd name to give to a sword.
<Damita> ::shudders:: Jack: Put it away! The smoke...a soul.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at the sword closely:: Damita: I do not think this sword is the cause of that strange smoke, I have had it and taken it out for days now without any ill effects.
<Damita> Jack: A soul cannot be released to float around unless the person it belongs to is dead. Perhaps that sword was used to kill the skeleton...
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow:: Damita: You mean you think that this sword, which was locked in a box at the bottom of that pool was used by an unknown enemy to kill that Ussuran explorer who's body we found? I find that highly unlikely, especially since that explorer couldn't have gone down there more than a hundred years ago.
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: I just don't like it. How do you know he didn't have a friend who found it, killed him with it, and was so horrified he locked it up and threw it in? Think of the name for the thing.. ::shudders again::
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and sheathes the sword again:: Damita: I doubt it means anything, it is likely just a clever name one of the travelers decided to give to their sword. :: hugs her after seeing her shudder::
<Damita> ::hugs him back, staying in his arms as she looks around again:: Jack: So...when do we leave?
<Professor_Jack> :: is quiet for a moment and sighs:: Damita: As soon as you are ready. :: kissing her on the head::
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I did tell you I would not want to get in the way of your search. Waiting longer will make it harder, not easier. As long as I am with you, I am ready.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: Damita: Are you sure?
<Damita> ::holds onto him tighter and nods again, though she is shaking a little bit:: Jack: I am sure.
<Professor_Jack> :: squeezes her tightly to comfort her before letting go, smiling again:: Damita: Alright then, we have some packing to do.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I guess we do. And some shopping, as soon as we get somewhere that's possible.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and reflexively looks more closely at her attire, not having really done so before, coughing once upon noticing several revealing holes:: Damita: Quite.
<Damita> ::blushes:: Jack: I could have stolen the clothing the Kosar provided, but though you may not believe this, it was more revealing than these rags.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: Damita: I believe it.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I suppose you would, having been in Ussura for so long.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Having to deal with the Kosars has been the only down side to digging in this area. :: spits into the fire to show his disgust::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I had to keep myself from spending every scrap of money I had with me buying slaves to free them.
<Damita> Jack: You freed me, though you didn't know it at the time. The Kosars would only have bought more you know. And we will soon be free of them.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods sadly before standing and moving to start packing::
<Damita> ::follows him to help, laying a hand on his arm:: Jack: You cannot change the world Jack. No one can.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, but we can learn more about it. :: grins::
<Damita> ::smiles and nods:: Jack: As soon as we can get packed. :: picks up a small box of supplies to load on the wagon::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: And with that they start their long trip to the city of Pavtlow, for Jack to present his findings to the Explorer's Society chapter there. The trip took two and a half weeks, which was spent with lessons for Damita in various scholarly things. But soon they arrive in the city in early morning.
<Damita> ::holds onto Jack's arm tightly as they drive into the city, looking around at everything as she shakes::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Fortunately there aren't too many people on the streets at this time of morning. But there are some, most of them looking friendly and waving at the pair as Jack drives the wagon through the town.
<Damita> Jack: It is so big...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, putting an arm around her shoulders:: Damita: Yes it is. :: looks around for an Inn::
<Damita> ::hides her face against him, not really wanting to see::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It is several minutes before Jack spots a comfy looking Inn with a large stable and takes the wagon there, driving it into the stable before climbing down, offering a hand to Damita to help her down::
<Damita> ::takes his hand, climbing down from the wagon, then not letting go::
<Professor_Jack> :: finds a stable hand and tosses him several coins, telling him to keep an eye on the wagon and tend to the horses before turning and heading into the Inn proper::
<Damita> ::follows Jack, almost stepping on his heels to stay close::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Inside the Inn are several tables and chairs, the first floor being set up like a tavern of sorts. Most of the tables are empty but some have people sitting at them, drinking, eating, and talking. The bartender nods to the pair as they approach the bar.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods to the bartender:: Bartender: We need two rooms please, next to each other if possible.
<Professor_Jack> <Bartender> :: nods and gives a price, reaching under the bar to pick up two room keys, sliding them across to Jack::
<Professor_Jack> :: pays the man and takes the keys, turning to head upstairs but pausing:: Bartender: Oh, and is there a ladies clothing shop near here?
<Professor_Jack> <Bartender> :: nods:: Jack: Six blocks east, it's on your right. :: gets back to his work::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, thanking the bartender and heading upstairs::
<Damita> ::follows Jack up the steps::
<Professor_Jack> :: moves to the correct room numbers and unlocks one, entering it and looking around at the comfy room:: Damita: This isn't too bad.
<Damita> ::stares at the room, her face showing something other than fear for the first time since they entered town:: Jack: I have never seen anything like it.
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow:: Damita: Never? I find that hard to believe.
<Damita> ::shrugs and blushes:: Jack: Well, similar... I lived in a room similar to this of course. But not as big.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Well this one is all yours. :: smiles and hands her the key::
<Damita> ::frowns at the key and looks up at Jack:: Jack: Alone?
<Professor_Jack> :: has an odd look:: Damita: Of course.
<Damita> Jack: You will be right next door?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: And I will leave my door unlocked. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::swallows hard and looks around the room:: Jack: You promise?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods again, hugging her:: Damita: Now, we should get some rest, it will be a few hours before dawn so we have time before things get busy in town.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I'll try...
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and hugs her once more:: Damita: Sleep well. :: turns and exits, heading to his own room and closing the door, leaving it unlocked of course::
<Damita> ::looks around again, putting the key on a small table by the bed before lying down and staring at the ceiling, the silence seeming oppressive::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It takes nearly an hour but Damita eventually loses to fatigue and slips into unconsciousness, sleeping for close to three hours.
<Damita> ::thrashes around in her sleep, terrible images playing in her mind, until she finally wakes, sitting bolt upright in bed and biting back a scream as she trembles, listening for Jack and of course not hearing him::
<Damita> ::gets out of bed and goes next door to Jack's room, climbing into his bed and curling up next to him, sobbing::
<Professor_Jack> :: reaches over in his sleep to hug Damita, feeling her warmth, but soon her crying wakes him and he jumps in surprise, almost falling out of the bed::
<Damita> ::stays curled up where she was, crying::
<Professor_Jack> :: regains his wits from waking up to Damita in his arms and sits up, reaching over to place a hand on her shoulder:: Damita: What's wrong?
<Damita> ::shakes and sobs:: Jack: I could not sleep. It's too quiet, and I could not hear you breathe. Then when I finally did sleep...the dreams came again. I woke, and it was too quiet there.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns, nodding slowly::
<Damita> Jack: I am sorry. I did not want to wake you. I tried...
<Professor_Jack> :: holds up a hand to stop her:: Damita: There is no need to apologize. :: grabs a pillow and moves to the floor:: I'll take the floor. :: smiles tiredly::
<Damita> ::frowns and shakes her head:: Jack: You are tired and the floor is hard...
<Professor_Jack> :: slides a chair out of the way to clear a large enough space for him to sleep on next to the bed:: Damita: Well there is nowhere else.
<Damita> ::scoots to one side of the bed:: Jack: It is a big bed...maybe we can share?
<Professor_Jack> :: once again has to stop himself from saying what he was thinking and shakes his head:: Damita: I don't think that would be proper. I'll be fine. I've spent the last two years sleeping on the ground in northern Ussura remember? :: smiles::
<Damita> ::frowns:: Jack: Are you sure? We both know I am hardly a proper lady.
<Professor_Jack> :: coughs once as a war rages inside his mind but shakes his head again:: Damita: I will be fine. :: smiles again, laying down on the floor::
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: All right... ::lays in his bed, listening to him breathe::
<Professor_Jack> :: faces the far wall with his back to the bed, sighing quietly, still getting over the shock of waking up to what he was dreaming::
<Damita> ::drifts off to sleep again, easily this time::
<Professor_Jack> :: falls asleep also, a section of his mind yelling at him for turning down a warm bed and an even warmer body for a cold hard floor::
<Professor_Jack> <<<<End>>>>
---
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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25/Aug/05, 1:29 am
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GreydonQiVo
Twisted Beyond Belief
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Why are thugs always so stupid?....
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: After running into Jack's room, both Damita and Jack slept fairly soundly, it is now close to noon, and the light filtering in through the window soon wakes Damita.
<Damita> ::sits up in bed and looks around, looking down to see if Jack is awake yet::
<Professor_Jack> :: is in a corner of the room, stretching his sore muscles, his back yelling at him for sleeping on the floor::
<Damita> ::watches Jack stretching and frowns:: Jack: You shouldn't have slept on the floor... I'm sorry
<Professor_Jack> :: looks up, standing straighter, but wincing slightly:: Damita: Nonsense, I slept just fine. :: twists his back a bit to prove his point and winces again::
<Damita> ::gives him a look that says she knows otherwise:: Jack: You may have gotten some sleep, but you're hurting now.
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: Couldn't have been helped. I'll be fine in a little while.
<Damita> ::sighs:: Jack: It could have been helped, but nevermind. ::shrugs:: You're right, it will pass.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, smiling, glad she let the issue drop:: Damita: So, what is on the agenda for today? :: sort of half asking her, half asking himself:: I suppose lunch would be a good idea.. :: pauses, looking her over:: Or perhaps new clothes first. No offense, of course. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: None taken. New clothes would be a very nice idea...only... You take care of me enough Jack, and I have no money. We can maybe take that stone you found to someone. It might be worth something, to pay for clothes...
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head:: Damita: No need. What's mine is yours. :: smiles:: Besides, the Ussurans aren't very big on gemstones anyway.
<Damita> ::frowns:: Jack: I am not used to owing so much to anyone...
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head and smiles again:: Damita: You do not owe me a thing. And I don't want you feeling like you do, understand? :: nods once and looks at her::
<Damita> ::sighs, but nods:: Jack: All right... It isn't as if I've had much choice.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Quite so. And besides, you saved my life back in the cavern, so I'd say you're paid up for quite a while anyway. :: grins::
<Damita> ::smiles and shrugs:: Jack: And you did say you always wanted to save the slaves from the Kosars. ::laughs:: Still, the stone does little good in my pocket. Maybe we can have something done with it while we're here.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Now 'that' is a good idea. :: tilts his head sideways, looking at her neck:: Perhaps a pendant would be best.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: All right then. Let's start with clothes though. I'm tired of being dressed in rags.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, tossing her his long coat:: Damita: Might want to wear that until we get to the clothing shop. I may be too much of a gentleman to take advantage of the holes in your attire, but others may not be. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::blushes and nods, slipping the coat on::
<Professor_Jack> :: moves to the bed, offering her a hand out of it::
<Damita> ::takes his hand and slips out of bed, the coat hanging down well far enough to be modest:: Jack: Well, I guess we're ready... ::stares at the door, looking a little pale::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, offering her his arm and starting towards the door::
<Damita> ::takes his arm, swallows hard, and walks with him::
<Professor_Jack> :: stops out in the hall, looking at the door to Damita's room:: Damita: Perhaps we should just let the innkeeper have that room back. :: looks to her:: Wouldn't you say?
<Damita> ::looks at the door to her room and shrugs:: Jack: But you can not sleep on the floor every night...
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns, but can't quite get rid of his grin:: Damita: Is that an ultimatum?
<Damita> ::sighs:: Jack: I don't know. I certainly don't want to see you on the floor all the time, but I don't think I can sleep alone either... So I suppose you're right. We should talk to the innkeeper.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and starts off again, leading the way down the stairs and into the tavern, which is full of people eating lunch::
<Damita> ::holds tightly to Jack's arm as they enter the room full of people...he can feel her shaking::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks down at her, smiling warmly, trying to be comforting::
<Damita> ::tries to smile back, though it comes out a bit weak::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The conversation in the tavern is spoken almost entirely in Ussuran, so Damita has no clue what anyone is saying. If she cared anyway.
<Professor_Jack> :: moves to the bar, waving to the innkeeper:: Innkeeper: Hey! :: trying to make himself heard over the crowd, speaking Ussuran:: We won't be needing that second room afterall. :: tosses him the key::
<Damita> ::follows Jack to the bar, staring down at it as he speaks to the inn keeper::
<Professor_Jack> <Innkeeper> :: catches the key and looks to Jack, before looking at Damita hanging on his arm and smiling widely:: Jack: I understand completely. :: laughs a bit and elbows Jack:: She's a nice one. :: all spoken is Ussuran of course::
<Damita> ::looks up as the innkeeper laughs, and frowns at the look on his face. She knows that look, in any language::
<Professor_Jack> :: shifts his weight, a bit uncomfortable all of a sudden and simply nods, his face a little red as he moves away from the bar and exits the tavern::
<Damita> ::follows Jack into the street:: Jack: He did not think any different of me than what I am. ::shrugs uneasily::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks down at her:: Damita: Actually he likely did. Because were that the case, I wouldn't have asked for two rooms to start with. :: smiles::
<Damita> Jack: Then what would he have been thinking? ::looks back up at Jack, trying fiercely to ignore the activities of the street around her::
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs, well, as well as he can with her attached to his arm:: Damita: He likely thought that we simply didn't want two rooms anymore. Probably assuming something had changed overnight. :: shrugs again:: But in any case, your past is just that, the past, it is no longer. You have a fresh start now, the old Damita died in slavery, you are free now to start over. :: smiles::
<Damita> Jack: Something changed? ::she thinks for a moment, then blushes:: Oh...
<Damita> Jack: What if I do not know how to start over?
<Professor_Jack> :: coughs once at her assessment of the Innkeeper's thoughts, then moves on to her question, thankful for the change of topic:: Damita: Then I will help you. :: smiles:: Only you and I know of your past, you can do whatever you want from here on out. :: motions outward with his free arm:: Be anything, do anything, you are completely free now. :: smiles down at her again::
<Damita> ::frowns, watching the ground in front of her feet:: Jack: Do anything but stay alone for more then an hour...
<Professor_Jack> :: reaches over with his free hand to lift her face up, looking at her:: Damita: It won't be that way forever, you just need time. :: smiles warmly:: And besides, I'm not sure I want you to get over that too quickly, then I'd be useless. :: grins, trying to cheer her up::
<Damita> ::stops walking and turns to hug him:: Jack: You will never be useless to me.
<Professor_Jack> :: hugs her back, still grinning: Damita: Oh, you say that now, wait until I've taught you all I can and you've gotten used to the world again, then you won't need me anymore. :: still joking of course::
<Damita> ::shakes her head and smiles:: Jack: I'll always need you. ::steps back and turns to walk again, finally getting a good look at the busy street, and freezes::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The street is full of people, going to and from their jobs or homes, mostly walking, but there are a few carriages and riders. The majority of people simply give a friendly nod to the two as they continue on their way.
<Damita> ::holds tightly to Jack's arm, shaking and staring wide-eyed at everything::
<Professor_Jack> :: leads the way to the clothing shop down the street at a quick pace, reaching it and hurrying inside::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The small shop is mostly empty, aside from the owner behind a counter, and one customer, browsing the racks of clothes.
<Damita> ::looks around the shop, still not comfortable, but a bit more relaxed than she was on the busy street::
<Professor_Jack> :: walks up to the counter to address the woman standing behind it:: Woman: Dobry den. I was hoping to find some decent clothing for my assistant here. :: motions to Damita:: Do you think you have something that would fit her?
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: looks Damita over and nods:: Jack: She's a mite smaller than the girls around here, but I think I've got something. :: motions for them to follow her into the back, passing through a door, a young man exiting it to watch the shop for her::
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles to Damita before following the woman into the back::
<Damita> ::follows Jack::
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: once they are in the back she motions towards a small raised platform in the middle of the back room:: Damita: Stand there.
<Damita> ::looks at the platform, and back at Jack, knowing what the woman wants. She takes a slow step away from Jack, not looking happy about it at all::
<Professor_Jack> :: switches to Castillian and motions to the platform:: Damita: It's alright, I'll be right here. :: smiles again before turning to the woman:: Woman: She doesn't understand Ussuran.
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: nods to Jack and waits::
<Damita> ::nods at Jack and steps up onto the platform, turning to look at him::
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: motions to Jack's coat:: Jack: She needs to take off the coat.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: She says you need to take off the coat, she can't get an accurate measurement with it on.
<Damita> ::nods and takes off Jack's coat, holding it out to him::
<Professor_Jack> :: takes his coat back, making a noticeable effort not to look at any of the more revealing holes in her current attire::
<Damita> ::stands on the platform, shaking a little as she chews her bottom lip and doesn't take her eyes off of Jack::
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: raises an eyebrow when she sees Damita's clothing and looks to Jack suspiciously:: Jack: You said she is your 'assistant'? :: saying the last word with a suspicious tone::
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns, slightly offended by her veiled accusation:: Woman: She is.
<Damita> ::looks at the woman, and back to Jack:: Jack: What's wrong?
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head:: Damita: Nevermind. :: switches back to Ussuran:: Woman: Just get her measurements.
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: eyes Jack for another moment before nodding, taking out a length of rope and moving to take Damita's measurements::
<Damita> ::frowns:: Jack: Who does she think I am? If she speaks Avalon I will try to tell her...
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head again:: Damita: I don't know if she does or not, but it doesn't matter anyway. Let's just keep quiet and get out of here.
<Damita> ::nods, holding still for the woman::
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: finishes her work quickly, nodding once she is done:: Jack: Ahh, she 'is' smaller than the girls I'm used to fitting. That's for sure. But I should have something in this size, or close to it. Wait here. :: exits through a side door, leaving them alone in the fitting room::
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles up at her:: Damita: Pretty soon you won't have to deal with situations like that one anymore.
<Damita> Jack: I think it is you that she dislikes more than me.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: You're probably right. But I was partially expecting a reaction like that. The Kosars are the ones who do the slave trading, the Ussurans don't stop it because they don't want a civil war on their hands, but they don't really like it.
<Damita> Jack: She thinks I am your slave? ::laughs:: If only she knew. You can tell her if you wish... I don't mind.
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head:: Damita: She doesn't need to know. I told her you were my assistant.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: My new life, right? ::smiles, a little nervously::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, smiling:: Damita: If you want it to be. But seriously, you do not have to stay with me if you would rather start your life another way. :: looks serious::
<Damita> ::shakes her head:: Jack: No. I know you mean it when you say that, but I don't want to leave you.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: I can't say I'm not relieved.
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: I'm glad. I would not want to be with you if you wanted me gone... ::shrugs::
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: If I'd wanted you gone, I would have said so before now. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::giggles:: Jack: I am very happy that you don't. How would I ever sleep again?
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: returns to the room, her arms full of several different pieces of clothing, which she lays neatly on a table::
<Professor_Jack> :: is about to reply to that when the woman returns:: Woman: Ah, perfect. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::stops giggling as the woman returns, quietly looking at the stack of clothes::
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: sorts through the clothes, showing them off, there is a light blue dress, a few different skirts and blouses, as well as a brown jacket::
<Damita> ::looks at the clothes as the woman holds them up, nodding, but staying quiet::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods as well:: Woman: Those should do nicely.
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: nods:: Jack: Would she like to try them on before you buy them?
<Professor_Jack> :: turns to Damita and switches to Castillian, repeating the woman's question::
<Damita> Jack: Will you stay?
<Professor_Jack> :: turns a slight red:: Damita: Uhh, I suppose so, if you need me to.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: You don't need to watch. I just don't want to be alone...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, shaking his head, slightly ashamed of his own thoughts:: Damita: Of course, forgive me. :: turns to the woman and nods:: Woman: Yes she will. I will let you know when we have made a decision.
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: nods and leaves the clothes there:: Jack: I will be up front. :: exits the room through the door they all came in, leaving them alone::
<Damita> ::steps off the platform and walks over to the table, picking up the blue dress:: Jack: Umm... You can turn around if you want. ::shrugs and blushes::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods quickly:: Damita: Of course. :: spins on his heel and, spotting a mirror, promptly closes his eye::
<Damita> ::laughs and pulls her old clothes off, slipping into the blue dress and looking down at it:: Jack: Do you want to see?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Uhhh.. I trust you mean the new clothes? :: realizes what he just said and frowns, ashamed of himself again and shaking his head:: Sorry, of course I would like to see them. :: turns, opening his eye to see her in the dress::
<Damita> ::giggles:: Jack: Oh? Was there something else you wanted to see? ::grins at him::
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't speak for a moment, trying not to say anything else that would be ungentlemanly, and shakes his head:: Damita: No, of course not. :: realizes how that could be taken and frowns:: Uhh, what I mean is, I'm sure it's nice but.. :: shakes his head to shut himself up::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: I apologize. It was just a joke too good to pass up. ::grins and turns around in front of him:: Do you like it?
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles, as he looks at her in the dress, his awkwardness gone for the moment:: Damita: Yes. It's perfect.
<Damita> ::nods and smiles:: Jack: I like it. Turn around and I'll try something else.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, not turning for a moment more as he continues to look at her, but quickly catches himself and turns on his heel again, closing his eye when he remembers about the mirror on the wall:: Damita: It will start getting cold here soon though, perhaps you should wear that coat with that dress. It may even look better. :: shrugs::
<Damita> ::nods, and slips out of the dress, reaching for a blouse and skirt:: Jack: I don't think I'll ever get used to this weather...
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: After several minutes Damita has tried on all of the clothes, they all fit fairly well, and Jack approves of all of them, to the point where it seems like the clothes don't matter. But he didn't say anything of the sort of course.
<Damita> ::looks down at the rags on the floor, still wearing the last skirt and blouse she tried on:: Jack: Do you think she would mind if I wear this outfit out of the shop? My old things aren't worth putting back on...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: She likely wouldn't mind, although, I would suggest the dress instead. It looked the best I think. That's not to say you didn't look great in all of them.. I..err.. what I mean is, it's your choice of course. :: smiles, trying to cover his awkwardness::
<Damita> ::smiles and nods:: Jack: You're right I think, and thank you. ::she blushes some and reaches for the blue dress again, waiting for him to turn around::
<Professor_Jack> :: spins around again closing his eyes once more, though he has been tempted not to::
<Damita> :: pulls off the skirt and blouse and slips the blue dress back over her head, doing up the laces and walking over to the mirror to comb out her hair with her fingers:: Jack: You can look again.
<Professor_Jack> :: opens his eyes once again, looking at her from behind, not 'at' her behind of course:: Damita: Yes, that is much better. :: smiles:: How does it feel? Comfortable?
<Damita> ::smiles and nods:: Jack: It does. It's so nice to have something that looks pretty again.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, still smiling::
<Damita> ::turns to smile up at him:: Jack: We better tell her we're ready, or she'll think even worse things of you
<Professor_Jack> :: it takes a second for her words to sink in and when they do he looks up, a bit red once again:: Damita: Right. :: takes the remaining clothes, handing the jacket to Damita and hurrying to the door::
<Damita> ::laughs and takes the jacket, following Jack to the door::
<Professor_Jack> :: exits the fitting room and returns to the shop's front room, nodding to the woman behind the counter:: Woman: We'll take them. How much? :: nods at the fee the woman says and pays her, before turning to leave:: Spasibo.
<Damita> ::nods to the woman politely before taking Jack's arm again and looking toward the door::
<Professor_Jack> <Woman> :: nods to him:: Both: Do svidanya, come back any time!
<Professor_Jack> :: leads the way out of the shop, looking for a cobbler shop::
<Damita> ::walks along with him, keeping her eyes on the ground::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Once back out on the street the pair receives at least double the friendly nods that they got before going into the clothing shop.
<Professor_Jack> :: continues on for several blocks before spotting what he was looking for and heading inside the small cobbler shop, looking around:: Damita: Hmm. I'm thinking boots would be the best choice, Ussura can be a bit rough.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: You know more about it than I do. I always wore sandals before...at home...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, looking around for several moments before picking out a pair of brown, calf high boots and handing them to her:: Damita: Those should fit.
<Damita> ::takes the boots from Jack and sits on a nearby stool, trying them on and smiling:: Jack: They're perfect. ::stands up to walk a few steps in them::
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: Quite. :: turns and spots a rack of belts as well, picking out a sturdy looking brown leather one and handing it to her as well:: For your knives.
<Damita> ::smiles at him and takes her knives from her coat pocket, fastening the scabbards to the belt::
<Professor_Jack> :: steps back and looks her over from head to toe, nodding:: Damita: Perfect.
<Damita> ::blushes and shrugs:: Jack: If you say so.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: I do. :: turns to the shop owner and pays for the belt and boots, before turning back to her:: Now where to? Lunch?
<Damita> ::frowns, but nods:: Jack: We should I suppose...
<Professor_Jack> :: catches her look and smiles, offering his arm once more:: Damita: Perhaps we should just eat back in the room. I'm sure the innkeeper would send something up if I paid him a little extra.
<Damita> ::nods again:: Jack: That would be nice.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, leading the way out of the shop and down a side street that leads back to the inn::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The side street has fewer people on it, in fact, after a few blocks it narrows and has no one on it.
<Damita> ::walks along with Jack, smiling up at him:: Jack: I don't know what to say Jack... You are too kind to me...
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles back:: Damita: Everyone deserves kindness, you just hadn't met anyone who knew that. :: winks::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: At least not recently. It's amazing what a short time it takes to forget simple kindness exists.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: This world of ours is sometimes cruel. :: smiles down at her again:: Let's just hope Rokugan turns out different, when we find it.
<Damita> ::nods and smiles:: Jack: I hope so. I think I have had my share of cruelty.
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: speaks up, in Avalon, as he comes out of an alleyway, followed by three friends:: Well look what we have here. A couple of tourists. :: switches to Ussuran, stupidly assuming neither of them will be able to understand him and addresses his buddies:: Buddies: Have we hit the jackpot.
<Professor_Jack> <Buddies> :: nod, smiling as they eye the pair::
<Damita> ::grips Jack's arm harder, huddling against him::
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns, speaking in quiet Castillian:: Damita: Don't panic, but if I tell you to, run to the inn and don't look back, you'll be safe there. Got it?
<Damita> ::shakes her head, eyes wide:: Jack: Not alone
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns and turns to face the men, his hand moving to the hilt of Soulblade::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: eyes the pair:: Both: What're you two whispering about? We just wanted to ask you a question. :: sounds a bit drunk and turns to laugh with his buddies::
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow, his hand not moving from where it is:: Man: Then ask and be gone.
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: narrows his eyes:: Jack: Who're you to give me orders? Huh?! :: switches to Ussuran again:: Buddies: I think we should teach this guy a lesson.
<Professor_Jack> :: before the thugs can react he draws Soulblade and extends his arm, letting the claw from his brace fly to grab one of the men by the throat::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The thug that the claw latches onto starts grasping at the claw that's gripping his throat, choking and gasping for air.
<Damita> ::takes a deep breath and steps away from Jack to give him room, drawing her knives::
<Professor_Jack> <Main Thug> :: looks a bit shocked at the effects of Jack's bracer but draws a rapier and charges anyway, his two remaining buddies following close behind::
<Damita> ::throws one of her knives at the main thug, and the second at one of his buddies::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The main thug knocks one of Damita's knives away, but the second hits home and downs one of his buddies.
<Professor_Jack> :: retracts his brace once the thug it was gripping passes out, and steps to face the thugs, striking at the other buddy with a quick thrust as soon as Damita's knife
downs the other, dropping him quickly, before turning to face the main one::
<Damita> ::rushes toward the fight, running low to retrieve her knives, then slashing out with one of them in an attempt to hamstring the remaining thug::
<Professor_Jack> <Main Thug> :: stops in his tracks, very surprised that all of his backup is now gone in such a short amount of time, but keeps his rapier up, glaring at the pair, before knocking Damita's low strike away with his blade and turning to face Jack again::
<Professor_Jack> :: brings his own blade up, shifting his posture and body language quickly until his stance is identical to that of the thug's, except reversed::
<Professor_Jack> <Main Thug> :: looks at Jack, confused:: Jack: What are you doing?
<Damita> ::spins around as soon as she is out of the way, debating throwing a knife at his back, but worried that if he moves it will hit Jack::
<Professor_Jack> :: changes his expression to match the thug, not repeating his words, but copying his body language and look::
<Professor_Jack> <Main Thug> :: frowns:: Jack: What are you doing? Stop that! :: steps forward and slashes with his rapier::
<Professor_Jack> :: steps back and deflects the attack easily, all the while mimicking the man's fighting style, even adding a slight swagger from the man's drunken state::
<Professor_Jack> <Main Thug> :: looks dumbfounded now and retreats slightly::
<Professor_Jack> :: advances as soon as the man retreats, striking quickly and disarming him, placing his blade to the man's neck, his posture and stance returning to his own::
<Damita> ::smiles as she watches, keeping an eye on the downed ones as well::
<Professor_Jack> <Main Thug> :: doesn't move, wide eyed:: Jack: What kind of fighting is that?! I've never seen anything like it!
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Man: That is Faileas, and if you do not wish to see how lethal it can be I suggest you take what's left of your friends and leave, quickly. :: pulls his blade back::
<Professor_Jack> <Thug> :: nods quickly, forgetting his friends and almost stumbling over himself to get away, passing out of sight into an alleyway::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks down at the dead and unconscious men and shakes his head, sheathing Soulblade:: Damita: Fools.
<Damita> ::nods and cleans her knives, slipping them back into their sheaths before completely coming apart at the seams, shaking all over::
<Professor_Jack> :: moves quickly to her, wrapping an arm around her:: Damita: It's alright. Let's get back to the inn. :: leads her back there::
<Damita> ::walks with Jack, not looking back::
<Professor_Jack> :: leads her back inside the inn, ordering some lunch and paying the innkeeper before taking her upstairs and to the room, closing the door and locking it:: Damita: There now, safe and sound again. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::sits down on the bed, still shaking:: Jack: Sorry... I... ::shakes her head::
<Professor_Jack> :: sits down next to her, wrapping an arm around her again:: Damita: It's alright. I know. :: smiles again::
<Damita> ::leans against him, shivering:: Jack: You meant it... You can keep me safe...
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and hugs her:: Damita: You weren't too bad yourself.
<Damita> ::shakes her head:: Jack: I froze. I used to never need help. I am so glad you were there.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles reassuringly:: Damita: As I said, you'll get over this in time. And until then I'll always be there to help out.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: What did they want? Did they want me?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: They didn't say. They probably just saw us foreigners as easy marks. They were even stupid enough to assume I didn't understand Ussuran, they told me exactly when to engage them. :: laughs::
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: Not many Avalon men do I'm sure.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Not many Avalon men have spent close to two years in Ussura, learning the country, inside and out. :: laughs:: Fools.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: Luckily for us.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: I'm just glad you're safe.
<Damita> ::smiles and kisses him:: Jack: Thanks to you.
<Professor_Jack> :: taken by surprise by the kiss but doesn't move away::
<Damita> ::hugs him tightly, leaning against him:: Jack: Aren't you glad you never rescued any other slaves? We're a lot of work.
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: If I'd freed as many slaves as I'd wanted to over these past two years, this room would have been VERY crowded at night.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: In that case, I am very glad you did not.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, hearing a knock at the door:: Damita: Lunch. :: stands and moves to the door, opening it and taking the tray of food from the innkeeper, who looks past Jack to Damita before winking at Jack and laughing, telling him to have fun before leaving::
<Professor_Jack> :: smirks, taking the tray over to set it on a small table before moving to close and lock the door once more::
<Damita> Jack: He enjoys laughing at what he thinks we're doing, doesn't he? ::gets up and walks over to the table::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: It would seem so.
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The tray holds two bowls of soup, two mugs of ale, and a small loaf of bread.
<Damita> ::grins and winks:: Perhaps he is jealous.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: I wouldn't not be surprised if he was.
<Damita> ::blushes and sits on one of the stools, sipping at her soup::
<Professor_Jack> :: sits down as well, trying his own soup before reaching for his mug of ale, hesitating though::
<Damita> Jack: What is it?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: Damita: I have never been much of a drinker. I.. I'm afraid it might get to me and I might say something inappropriate. :: takes another sip of his soup, not touching the mug::
<Damita> ::grins:: Jack: Like what?
<Professor_Jack> :: takes another sip of his soup before answering:: Damita: Oh.. I don't know.. Something..
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: If you would like to drink your ale, I promise to forgive you for anything you might say. ::smiles::
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles but shakes his head:: Damita: You might, but I wouldn't be able to.
<Damita> Jack: That's because you're too much of a gentleman at times for your own good. ::grins::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at her:: Damita: What do you mean?
<Damita> ::shrugs and blushes:: Jack: Nothing... ::buries her face in her mug of ale::
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow, but shrugs it off and decides to risk it, since the
bread is rather dry and the soup is a bit salty, he finally picks up his mug and drinks his ale::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The rest of lunch is somewhat quiet, but after a half hour the pair is done eating, the soup and bread mostly gone, and the ale completely gone.
<Professor_Jack> :: blinks a few times, though not drunk, he is feeling the effects of the ale, sort of like when he was wounded at the cavern and was woozy from the blood loss::
<Damita> ::giggles at the look on his face:: Jack: You weren't kidding about not being much of a drinker were you?
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head and smiles:: Damita: Nope. I rarely drink alcohol, and even then it was usually wine.
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: I used to drink sangria with my...umm...customers. But all things considered I haven't had alcohol in a while...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, remembering something she had said and asking about it before his manners can stop him, the ale's effects slowing them down:: Damita: You said something about being a dancer before? Your previous attire wasn't really suited for dancing, but I'll bet that dress would work fairly well. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::looks down at the dress:: Jack: Well, the skirt isn't as full as what I'm used to, but it would work. Why? Do you want to see?
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: If you don't mind. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: All right. ::she gets up and walks to the middle of the room, thinking back to her old life and remembering the melody, smiling at him as she dances the Flamenco::
<Professor_Jack> :: watches closely, tapping his fingers on the table to the rhythm::
<Damita> ::dances for several minutes, skirts flying as she spins and twirls, eventually twirling over to Jack and finishing by spinning into his lap::
<Professor_Jack> :: catches her and holds her there, smiling at her:: Damita: That was incredible, I had heard about it but, having only been to Castille for a short time, I'd never seen it before.
<Damita> ::blushes and shrugs:: Jack: I'm a bit rusty actually. It has been a long time.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: It doesn't show. :: smiles again, his manners not kicking in, thanks to the ale, so he doesn't try to move::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Well if you've never seen it before, then how would you know?
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: Damita: It looked amazing to me. But that might not have been the dance itself. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::blushes:: Jack: Oh? ::raises an eyebrow::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, finally letting go of her, but not making her move::
<Damita> ::doesn't move, smiling at him:: Jack: So what would it be then?
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: Do I have to say it? :: blinks a few more times and shakes his head, but his smile returns afterwards::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: You haven't had quite that much ale yet then? ::winks::
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: Apparently not, although what I meant by that was that it shouldn't be hard to guess. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::grins:: Jack: It isn't... ::shrugs::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Good, then I don't have to repeat myself. :: smiles, looking up at her:: Am I really too much of a gentleman?
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Sometimes. I know there's things you want to say or do that you don't. ::shrugs::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, answering before he can stop himself:: Damita: You're right... :: leans forward and kisses her::
<Damita> ::is surprised at his actions, but recovers fast and kisses him back:: Jack: Like that for example... You should drink ale more often. ::grins::
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles but shakes his head:: Damita: No I shouldn't. I don't want to end up doing 'everything' I think.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: But some things are definitely all right, and you're only depriving yourself if you don't try. ::grins::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: But how do I know where to draw the line? If my old line was too low. :: looks like he's seriously thinking about it, as if it were an important matter::
<Damita> ::shakes her head and giggles at him:: Jack: If you cross it, I'll tell you. ::smiles::
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: Or you'll slap me.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: No. I'm not that mean. I'd tell you long before slapping you.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, blinking again:: Damita: As much as my current state allows me to enjoy you sitting there, I think I need to lie down for a bit.
<Damita> ::smiles and gets up from his lap:: Jack: I wouldn't mind a siesta either... ::looks at the bed::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, standing and moving over to where his pillow is on the floor::
<Damita> ::watches him and shakes her head:: Jack: Really, there's no reason for you to sleep on the floor again...the bed is more than big enough.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns, the ale not silencing his manners enough for him to agree right away, but after looking at the hard floor, and remembering his back pain from earlier his manners give up:: Damita: Alright. :: sits down on one side of the bed::
<Damita> ::smiles and slips under the blanket on the other side of the bed:: Jack: I don't bite you know.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, laying down on top of the blanket and smiling at her:: Damita: I know, it's not you I'm worried about. :: lets out a laugh and points to the empty mugs on the tray::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: You don't bite either...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: I don't think I do anyway. :: looks woozy again and closes his eyes, drifting off::
<Damita> ::smiles and curls up on her side of the bed, falling asleep as she listens to him breathe::
<Professor_Jack> <<<<Fin>>>>
---
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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The presentation.....
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It is the next morning after Jack and Damita's little shopping trip. After only a mug of ale each they were a bit tired, ok so it was probably the battle they fought before that, so they decided to turn in early. Damita convinced Jack to sleep on the bed so he wouldn't develop chronic back problems, but he remained on top of the covers.
<Professor_Jack> It is late morning and not quite noon, the sun is shining in through the open windows and hits Damita, waking her. When she wakes she feels a warmth that wasn't there the night before, and upon looking around, notices Jack next to her, under the covers, his arms wrapped around her, he is of course still asleep.
<Damita> ::smiles and doesn't move, laying still to enjoy the comforting feeling of being held. Also, she doesn't want to wake Jack::
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't stir, his embrace seems more protective than comforting, or at least the intent behind it::
<Professor_Jack> :: remains asleep for several minutes until finally opening his eyes and looking at her sleepily:: Damita: Damita? :: realizes his position and jumps back, falling out of the bed and dragging the covers with him, once again surprised to wake up to his dream incarnate:::
<Damita> ::also tangled in the covers she gets dragged across the bed and falls on top of Jack, laughing::
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head as he hits the floor and then ends up with Damita on top of him, scurrying to try and extricate himself from the mess of covers and hot assistant::
<Damita> ::rolls off of Jack and sits up, still giggling::
<Damita> Jack: Good morning.
<Professor_Jack> :: finally gets himself untangled and stands, regaining his composure and smiling:: Damita: Good morning.
<Damita> ::looks out the window at the level of the sun and smiles:: Jack: Looks as if we slept in.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks back and nods, before wincing slightly and turning back:: Damita: Well it seems sleeping in the bed over the floor hasn't helped my back any, but then again, it's probably more from the fall.
<Damita> ::laughs again:: Jack: I'm sure it is. You should be more careful.
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs also, speaking before thinking:: Damita: Let's see how careful you are when you wake up to find the thing your dreaming turned re... :: finally catches himself and puts on his mask of manners once more:: Umm, what I mean is.. :: tries to think of the right way to fix his words::
<Damita> ::looks surprised for a moment, then blushes:: You were dreaming about me?
<Professor_Jack> :: gets a deer in lantern lights look on his face:: Damita: Umm... :: nods slowly, his voice trailing off a bit:: Well..yes.. I was..
<Damita> ::gets a little redder, then turns around to put the blankets back on the bed::
<Professor_Jack> :: turns as well, looking out the window, not mentioning the fact that the night before, when he almost fell out of bed, he was having the same dream::
<Damita> Jack: If you dream that every night you will be one big bruise within days.
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't move at her words and continues to look out the window, answering quietly:: Damita: Quite.. :: stays that way for another moment before spinning on his heel and smiling once again:: So, what should we do today? Look for whatever passes for a jeweler in Pavtlow?
<Damita> ::nods and smiles:: Jack: Sure. Umm...it's all right you know. I don't mind...
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow:: Damita: What is alright?
<Damita> ::blushes again:: Jack: Sleeping like that... It makes me feel safe, and keeps the dreams away...
<Professor_Jack> :: gets a slightly embarrassed look and reaches his hand up to his neck, tugging on his collar a little:: Damita: Oh.. I see...
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: I just...well... You are always so worried about offending me. I just wanted you to know that you didn't.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and nods:: Damita: Thank you. But it wasn't that.. Well, it wasn't entirely that. :: laughs a bit::
<Damita> ::raises an eyebrow:: Jack: What was the rest?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Well.. :: coughs once:: My.. dream..
<Damita> ::blushes, getting the idea maybe the dream was about more than holding her:: Jack: Oh... A jeweler then?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, glad at the shift in topic:: Damita: Yes. :: moves to a chair in the corner, retrieving his coat and belt, before putting them on and tossing Damita her knives::
<Damita> ::catches the knives and hooks them into her belt, shaking the wrinkles out of her blue dress, which thankfully doesn't look too bad considering::
<Professor_Jack> :: can't help but look Damita over as she stands, and would say 'doesn't look too bad' is an understatement, were his manners to allow it, and if he had heard it::
<Damita> ::looks up, catching Jack watching her, and smiles:: Jack: Ready?
<Professor_Jack> :: looks out the window quickly as she looks up, but not quickly enough and then looks back, as if he'd been looking out the window the entire time, smiling:: Damita: Yes. :: moves to her, offering her his arm once more:: I assume you have the gem?
<Damita> ::nods and grabs her jacket in case it gets chilly later, then takes his arm:: Jack: It's in my coat pocket.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and starts towards the door, opening it, pausing just long enough to lock it behind them, and heading downstairs::
<Damita> ::follows Jack down the stairs::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The tavern part of the inn looks much like it did the day before. People, bartender, food, drink, more people.
<Damita> ::tries very hard to completely ignore the people and more people::
<Professor_Jack> :: leads the way quickly outside, having remembered spotting a small jewelry shop the day before::
<Damita> ::walks along beside Jack, keeping her eyes on the ground in front of them::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Minutes later, the two enter the small jewelry shop. Inside they find several shelves full of various types of jewelry, fairly high class for Ussura, barely average to the rest of Theah. A short old man stands behind the counter, smiling at them.
<Damita> :: pulls the stone from her coat pocket and hands it to Jack::
<Professor_Jack> :: takes the stone and returns the man's smile, moving to the counter:: Man: I say fine jeweler, you have an excellent shop here. We ne.. :: his sentence is cut off by the man::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> Jack: Wait, don't tell me. Wedding bands. I have just the thing. :: turns around and starts digging around in the counter for something::
<Damita> ::blushes and stares at her feet, trying not to laugh::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks down at Damita and then back up to the man, holding up his hands:: Man: Oh..no.. That's not.. :: is cut off once more::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: produces a small box and opens it, displaying several different types of fancy wedding rings:: Jack: Here they are. The best around. :: takes one and holds it up:: I suggest this one, the finest cut I've made, plus it goes with her eyes. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::looks at the rings despite herself, and smiles. They are pretty, even if she doesn't need one::
<Professor_Jack> :: still has his hands raised, unsure what to do:: I..uhh... :: looks from Damita to the man and back:: Damita: He has a point. :: realizes what he just said and pulls up his hand, slapping himself across the face, before turning back to the man:: Man: No thank you, while they are perfect rings, we came for something else. :: his composure returned, finally::
<Damita> ::giggles as Jack smacks himself:: Jack: It does match my eyes yes. He does have a point.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and nods once to Damita before looking back at the man and showing him the stone:: Man: We were hoping you could shape this and set it into a pendant. For her. Something she could wear often, something comfortable.
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: sighs and puts the rings away, before nodding and taking the
stone, looking it over with his experienced eye:: Damita: So what shape would you like? :: addressing her, since it's going to be her pendant::
<Damita> ::doesn't look up, but surprisingly does answer:: Man: What shapes you make?
<Professor_Jack> :: corrects her, more out of teacher's instinct:: Damita: What shapes *do* you make. :: nods and smiles::
<Damita> ::nods at Jack::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: nods, still looking at the stone:: Damita: Well I dare say I am one of the finest jewelers in Ussura at the moment, I could make roughly any shape you like. Perhaps a flower of some sort?
<Damita> ::nods:: Man: A flower would be nice. What kind of stone is it?
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: looks up:: Damita: This? :: shrugs:: I'm not quite sure actually. It is unlike any gem I have seen before, at first I believed it to be a type of emerald, being green, but if you look closely there are streaks of blue in there. :: shows it to her:: Which you will be able to see better once I've cleaned and polished it.
<Damita> ::looks at the stone and nods:: Man: I noticed the blue parts.
<Damita> Man: Jack gave to me, so it is special whatever it is. I was only... what is the word? ::turns to Jack and changes to Castillian:: Jack: What is the word for curious?
<Professor_Jack> :: speaks Avalon:: Damita: Curious.
<Damita> ::nods:: Man: I was curious.
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: nods:: Damita: So a flower you said? Something simple or should I get detailed with it? And it does not have to be a flower you know, I can do any shape, but once it's done, it's done.
<Damita> ::thinks for a moment, then smiles at Jack, blushing a little:: Man: Can you make a heart?
<Professor_Jack> :: starts tugging at his collar again::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: nods, smiling:: Damita: I can. Is that what you would like?
<Damita> ::nods:: Man: Yes please.
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: nods again:: Damita: Alright, then please feel free to look around while I see what I can do. It shouldn't take too long, perhaps you may find something you would like to purchase. :: nudges the ring box slightly towards them and moves away from the counter, moving to a long worktable covered with tools::
<Damita> ::smiles at Jack and changes to Castillian:: Jack: I think he thinks we make a good couple.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks down at the box of rings as if it were an incriminating picture of him running naked through Queen Elaine's court, obviously slightly embarrassed:: Damita: It would seem so.
<Damita> ::shrugs and looks at some of the other things in the case:: Jack: He is a nice man.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Yes, very helpful. :: smiles and looks around as well::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: close to fifteen minutes pass before the pair hears anything from the jeweler:: Ah, much better, all clean. :: they then hear several soft banging sounds, followed by a groan and harder banging, then the sound of metal snapping:: What?!
<Professor_Jack> :: looks up, frowning slightly:: Man: What's wrong? :: switching to Avalon, his voice sounding as if he already knows the answer to the question he just asked::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: groans again, ignoring Jack for the moment and picks up another set of tools, producing more loud banging and then another snap of metal:: What is this stuff?! :: turns back, frustrated:: I'm very sorry, but I can't cut this.
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow:: Man: What? Don't you have the right tools? :: again, his voice carrying a hint that he knows more than he is letting on::
<Damita> ::gives Jack an odd look. She's caught the tone of his voice::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: frowns and shakes his head:: Jack: Apparently not. :: sighs:: But on the bright side, after cleaning away all of the dirt and excess rock, it is actually a very well formed crystal shape. :: holds the cleaned stone up and it catches the light, shimmering in green and blue, it is an almost perfect diamond shape::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at the stone and smiles::
<Damita> ::looks a little surprised at the sight of the stone and her eyes go wide:: Man: Can you just set it like that?
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: nods, smiling:: Damita: I can. :: turns back around and more banging can be heard, but without the sound of metal snapping this time::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: looks back over his shoulder:: Damita: Would you like a chain or a cord?
<Damita> Man: A chain please.
<Damita> ::switches to Castillian and gives Jack a look:: Jack: You know what that is.
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: nods, turning back, producing more banging::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks down at her, switching to Castillian as well, trying very hard to hide his smile, but she probably noticed anyway:: Damita: I don't know what you're talking about.
<Damita> ::shakes her head:: Jack: I don't believe you.
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs, his smile breaking through:: Damita: Believe what you will. :: turns back to watch the jeweler::
<Damita> ::drops the subject for now, watching the jeweler as well, knowing he must have a reason for not telling her::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: finishes and turns around, smiling:: Damita: I believe this is the most beautiful piece I have worked on in years. :: holds up the newly finished necklace, it is a simple, but strong and comfortable chain, with the crystal hanging on it, secured firmly in a metal pendant, cut and shaped with intricate designs and patterns:: Try it on. :: hands it to her, showing her how the clasp works::
<Damita> ::smiles and takes the necklace from him, putting it on:: Man: It is beautiful.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks at her wearing it, tilting his head and smiling:: Damita: Very.. You are a perfect match. :: laughs, turning to the jeweler:: Man: And you are as advertised. :: reaches into a pocket of his coat and retrieves his money pouch::
<Damita> ::blushes at Jack's comment::
<Professor_Jack> Man: So how much do we owe you? :: takes out several coins when the jeweler responds, enough to cover the man's price, and then some:: I added a little extra, for your broken tools. I would suggest you buy better ones next time. :: smiles, shaking the man's hand::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: nods, taking the money and smiling:: Jack: Thank you, you're probably right. I think I'll buy from someone different next time. :: laughs::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, still smiling:: Man: It was a pleasure doing business with you. :: turns to leave, offering Damita his arm once more::
<Damita> ::says goodbye to the jeweler and takes Jack's arm::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: speaks up before they get to the door:: Both: Are you sure you don't want a set of rings? :: smiles, opening the ring box once more::
<Professor_Jack> :: stops in his tracks, but doesn't answer him, just sort of standing there for a moment::
<Damita> ::blushes and laughs, not answering::
<Professor_Jack> :: slips his hand into an inner pocket of his coat, and when he pulls it out there is a wedding ring on his finger, which he shows the man:: Man: No need. But thank you. :: hurries out::
<Damita> ::looks at the ring in surprise, even though she knows where it had to have come from, then leaves the store with Jack::
<Professor_Jack> <Man> :: watches them leave and smiles, getting back to his work::
<Professor_Jack> :: gets outside and sighs heavily, returning the ring to its pocket::
<Damita> Jack: I didn't know you still had that...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods slowly:: Damita: I've thrown it away several times, even while I was exploring pitch black caverns, but I always tend to find it again.
<Damita> ::looks at Jack oddly:: Jack: What do you mean?
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs:: I'd toss it into the darkness, and a few days or weeks of exploring later I'd practically trip over the blasted thing.
<Damita> Jack: That's odd...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: So recently I've kept it here. :: pats the inner pocket, near his heart:: I got tired of throwing it away only to stumble upon it again. :: laughs::
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: My necklace. Jack, you know what it is.
<Professor_Jack> :: his smile slowly creeps back onto his face:: Damita: I suppose I can't hide that fact any longer.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: No, you can't. What is it?
<Professor_Jack> :: sighs and looks around, walking them to a side street that is currently devoid of townspeople:: Damita: It is a Domae Diamond.
<Damita> ::shakes her head, looking puzzled:: Jack: A what?
<Professor_Jack> :: looks around once more:: Damita: A Domae Diamond. A very rare, practically unbreakable gemstone. To the society's knowledge it is the hardest substance found on Theah.
<Damita> ::stops walking and pulls on his arm to stop him as well, then turns to face him, looking up at him:: Jack: Such a thing must be priceless...
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs and smiles:: Damita: There are many things in Theah that would be considered priceless. And besides, price depends entirely on where you are and what you value.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: I suppose you have a point. I doubt that jeweler would have given us much for it, having no idea what it is.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Still, I'm glad he bought my suggestion about faulty tools.
<Damita> Jack: So he'd not ask too many questions? ::frowns:: I should yell at you, for giving me something so valuable, but I won't. It is beautiful. Thank you. ::reaches up to hug him::
<Professor_Jack> :: hugs her back:: Damita: You are more than welcome. I am sorry I didn't tell you before, but I was afraid you wouldn't accept it.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: I might not have, but now it makes me think of you, so despite it's value to others, it will always be priceless to me. ::she blushes and turns back toward the inn:: How long is it until the Society meeting?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns and reaches into another pocket of his coat, pulling out a small metal disk with two dime sized gems set into it on opposite ends:: Damita: We don't need an appointment, but we should probably head over there before it gets too late. :: nods and puts the disk away::
<Damita> ::watches as he looks at the disk:: Jack: I assume that thing tells you what time it is?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, smiling and taking the disk out once more, showing it to her:: Damita: That gem is called a moonstone, and that one, a sunstone. They each get brighter depending on the time of day or night, the moonstone obviously gets brighter the deeper into night it is, burning the brightest, and coldest at exactly midnight, and the same for the sunstone, except it peaks at noon.
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: Very useful then. And I suppose you are right. We should go... ::sighs::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and starts off in the direction of the chapter house, but pauses when he catches her sigh:: Damita: Something wrong?
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: How many people will be there?
<Professor_Jack> :: thinks:: Damita: Well, the local review panel will be there, there are six of them, and then whatever society members decide to attend the presentation to watch.
<Damita> ::frowns, but nods:: Jack: I suppose we have to go.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, smiling:: Damita: It'll be alright. :: starts off once more::
<Damita> ::walks with Jack, watching the ground in front of them again::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It takes them close to a half hour to reach the chapter house, and when they arrive they are directed to a large auditorium of sorts, complete with a slightly raised platform and podium, facing several rows of chairs. On the way in, Jack requested that the review panel be called there.
<Professor_Jack> :: enters the currently empty room and moves to the platform::
<Damita> ::walks with Jack, looking out at the room, glad to see it empty for now::
<Professor_Jack> :: moves to the podium and then looks around at the room, feeling at home there, before turning to Damita:: Damita: You can sit there during the presentation. :: points to three chairs lined up behind and slightly to the right of him and the podium, against the back wall of the room::
<Damita> ::nods and sits in one of the chairs::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A few moments later one of the doors to the room opens, and several society members enter, moving to take various seats around the room, waiting for the presentation to start.
<Damita> ::clasps her hands together in her lap and stares at them::
<Henrik> ::enters the auditorium with several of his fellows, his cane tapping quietly against the floor as he strides into the room and finds a seat a row or two back from the first::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A few of the members smile or nod at Damita and Jack as they take their seats. And after a few more minutes, four men and two women enter together, moving to take the six forward most seats, nearest the podium and platform.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods to the six panel members and clears his throat:: All: Thank you all for coming. I believe you all know me, but for those who don't. I am Professor Jonathan Freeman. I have been spending the past two years here in Ussura, at various dig sites. And now, I believe I may have finally found what I was searching for.
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Two of the six panel members scoff, smirking.
<Professor_Jack> :: ignores them and continues:: All: At my most recent dig site, my assistant located a large underground cavern, which we then explored thoroughly.
<Professor_Jack> <Male Panel Member> :: holds up his hand to stop Jack:: Jack: Wait, go back, who is this assistant? I do not remember you being assigned an assistant.
<Damita> ::bites her lip, still staring at her hands::
<Professor_Jack> :: sighs:: MPM: She was not assigned by the society. I assigned her myself.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: raises an eyebrow:: Jack: Would I be correct in assuming she is not a member of the society?
<Henrik> ::rolls his eyes at the MPM and leans back in his seat, twisting his cane slowly between his palm and the floor::
<Professor_Jack> :: narrows his eyes slightly:: MPM: That's right.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: frowns:: Jack: I see. :: leans sideways so that he can see past the podium to Damita:: Damita: You there. Approach the podium.
<Damita> ::jerks her head up and stares at Jack, her eyes wide::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks to Damita and then back to the panel:: MPM: That will not be necessary sir. I.. :: he is cut off by the man::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: holds up a hand to stop Jack once more:: Damita: I said approach the podium assistant.
<Damita> ::stands up slowly and steps up next to Jack, shaking visibly::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: nods:: Damita: There, now that wasn't so hard. Name?
<Professor_Jack> :: starts to answer but is cut off once more::
<Damita> ::looks over at Jack, but quietly answers the man:: MPM: Damita.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> Damita: That's it? Just Damita?
<Damita> ::nods::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: raises an eyebrow:: Damita: So you have no family name? You just dropped out of the sky?
<Damita> ::stares down at the podium:: MPM: I am... ::doesn't know the word:: no parents...
<Professor_Jack> :: speaks up once more, switching to Castillian to show her that the panel understands it:: MPM: I am currently teaching her to speak Avalon.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: nods, switching to Castillian as well:: Damita: What was that?
<Damita> ::answers in Castillian, flawless obviously, but still quiet:: MPM: I am an orphan.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: nods:: Damita: I see. So how did a Castillian orphan end up here?
<Damita> ::looks up at Jack again, trying very hard not to panic and bolt:: MPM: Kosars...
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: nods:: Damita: I see. :: his nod of understanding is shared by most of the people in the room::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> Damita: So, Damita, how did you end up as Professor Freeman's assistant? And why did you take the job? You understand we have to be sure you are here for the right reasons.
<Professor_Jack> <Female Panel Member> :: leans over to the MPM:: MPM: Wouldn't this little meeting be better held at a later time, perhaps in private?
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: shrugs:: FPM: He brought it on himself by not informing us before assigning an assistant. :: turns back to Damita:: Well?
<Professor_Jack> <FPM> :: sighs and sits back::
<Damita> ::swallows hard, staring back down at the podium, answering only because she wants to get this over with and be left alone:: MPM: He could not inform you before now. I escaped and hid in his wagon. He saved my life, and taught me to help him so I could have a new life.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> Damita: I see. Thank you, you may return to your seat now.
<Damita> ::nods and sits back down in a hurry::
<Professor_Jack> :: smirks a bit:: MPM: Satisfied?
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: frowns and waves his hand for Jack to continue, sitting back and folding his arms::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: MPM: Thank you. :: reaches into his coat and retrieves the book they found, holding it up to show off the strange symbols on its cover. All: Inside the cave Damita and myself found this book, locked inside a very old box.
<Henrik> :: places his cane against the floor and leans forward to get a clearer look at the symbols::
<Professor_Jack> All: I have yet to decipher the symbols on the cover, they are written in a language I have never seen before, however, the inside of the book. :: flips through some pages:: Is written in a strange modified Ussuran. And it details the events of a meeting, a centuries old meeting, in northern Ussura.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: frowns::
<Professor_Jack> All: It talks of a group of travelers from a far off land, who journeyed here, in hopes of exploring new lands and meeting new people. However, it seems that once they arrived they became ensnared inside some kind of.. Something, the book is not overly specific about it, but whatever it was, some kind of side realm, held them there for several generations. Until Matushka freed them.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: scoffs:: Jack: So you're saying that a group of explorers from this 'other continent' that you've been so intent on finding, actually traveled here and met Matushka?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: MPM: It's all written of in this book. Once Matushka freed the travelers she spent several years trading stories with them, and even gave them war horses and riches for their trouble.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: scoffs again:: Jack: Then why haven't we found any evidence of them up till now? You aren't the only archeologist digging in Ussura you know.
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: MPM: I am aware of that. And I suspect that either Matushka hid any evidence of the travelers, or there simply wasn't much for us to find, since they were trapped in some sort of side realm for most of their stay here.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: rolls his eyes:: Jack: You assume.
<Damita> ::frowns at the man's attitude::
<Professor_Jack> :: starts to get a bit angry:: MPM: I don't have to assume it. It's all right in this book. :: holds it up once more:: You can read it yourself if you don't believe me.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> Jack: Oh, I believe it says what you claim. But you said that it is written in modified Ussuran, not some unknown language from a far off land. So might it be possible that it is simply a fictional tale, written by some crazy Ussuran hundreds of years ago?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns again, not mentioning the fact that Matushka practically told them Rokugan existed and instead draws Soulblade, holding it up:: All: We found this sword with the book, has anyone seen another like it?
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Several people look closely at the sword and shake their heads.
<Henrik> ::raises an eyebrow at the sword, and sits back again, crossing his arms and frowning in thought::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and looks back to the panel:: MPM: Well?
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: waves a hand dismissively:: Jack: That doesn't prove anything. People have designed unique weapons before. There is nothing to tie it to another continent.
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head, putting the sword away again:: ALL: I believe this story to be genuine, and if it is. Imagine what we could discover. New cultures, new languages, new people, art, weapons, food, anything! :: raising his hands to emphasize his point, and to play to the crowd a bit::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Several members of the audience cheer, others simply nod quietly.
<Professor_Jack> <FPM> :: stands and raises her hands, calling the room to quiet once more, before returning to her seat::
<Henrik> ::smiles slightly at 'anything' and strokes his beard in thought, otherwise remaining quiet::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: claps his hands in mock applause:: Jack: A very moving speech. But what exactly are you asking of this review panel by making this presentation?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: MPM: I wish to request that an expedition be sent, to find and explore this other continent, I suspect it is called Rokugan.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: raises an eyebrow:: Jack: You would have us devote valuable resources and man power based solely on your theories? I think perhaps you have spent too much time alone in the woods Professor. :: smirks::
<Henrik> ::taps his cane against the floor rather loudly to get the panel's attention and then raises it to show that he's the one begging for attention:: MPM: Now there's no call for that, good sir. Clearly Professor Freeman hasn't been alone too much recently, as indicated by his little friend over there. ::he points at Damita with his cane:: Of course, the girl seems so quiet he may as well have been alone anyway...
<Professor_Jack> :: looks up at Henrik, surprised by his words::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: looks back at Henrik:: Henrik: And you are?
<Henrik> ::stands up, smiling:: MPM: Henrik Thorsen, at your service. ::he bows to Freeman, but not to MPM:: I'm just a humble member of the audience who is growing tired of listening to you, when it is Professor Freeman we all came here for. ::he looks around at the gathered Society members around him:: Does anyone else agree?
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A couple of people nod, but most don't, most likely because they don't want to get in trouble with the panel, not that they disagree.
<Professor_Jack> :: is a bit dumbstruck, not used to someone sticking up for him, especially against the panel::
<Henrik> ::shrugs at the audience and turns back to Jack:: Jack: I guess the rest of your colleagues are too afraid of this pompous old windbag, Professor, but know that at least I support your proposal. ::nods and sits back down, a confident smile on his face::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods idly, making note of the man's name and turning back to the panel:: All: Well, do you accept my proposal?
<Damita> ::looks up at Henrik, also surprised that he would stand against the tide of opinion, but looks quickly down again::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: glares at Henrik before turning back to Jack:: Jack: I don't. But the panel will recess to take a vote. :: stands, leaving the room via a side door with the rest of the panel::
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns as he watches the panel leave, letting out a breath as soon as the door closes behind them::
<Henrik> ::after the panel has left the room, he heaves a sigh of relief:: All: Whew. You can actually feel the weight of his ego leaving the room. It feels nice to be able to breathe again, does it not?
<Damita> Jack: He does not like you.
<Professor_Jack> :: a grin comes to his face and he can't help but nod at Henrik, before turning to Damita:: Damita: He never has.
<Damita> ::nods::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A few members leave the room, or get up and move around, talking quietly amongst themselves about the presentation.
<Damita> ::stays in her seat, nervously playing with her necklace, sliding the gem back and forth on the chain::
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I'm sorry you had to explain yourself, I wasn't expecting him to do that.
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: I have seen his kind before. He did it to me because of his opinion of you.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Jack: That doesn't make it any less my fault.
<Damita> ::shakes her head:: Jack: It was not your fault...really.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, smiling::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: A few moments later the panel returns, not bothering to sit this time.
<Professor_Jack> :: straightens up, facing the panel::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: wears a passive look on his face:: Jack: Professor Freeman, the panel has reviewed your proposal for an expedition, and has voted. By a majority vote of four to two, your proposal is rejected by this panel. :: smirks smugly::
<Professor_Jack> :: steps forward, past the podium:: What?!
<Henrik> ::shakes his head, unsurprised::
<Damita> ::look at the man, not at all surprised::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: continues to smirk:: Jack: We reject your proposal, it is unfounded and unwise. We will not commit the resources and man power to search for something that most likely does not exist.
<Professor_Jack> :: wasn't as unsurprised as Damita and Henrik and steps forward again:: All: But this could be important! It wouldn't need a full expedition, simply grant me the funding and I will take care of the rest.
<Damita> MPM: Matushka told me that it does.
<Professor_Jack> :: looks to Damita as she speaks, having not expected her to::
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: breaks out laughing, a few members of the audience joining him:: Damita: Matushka told you this place exists? Prey tell, what else did she say?
<Professor_Jack> :: his frown deepens:: MPM: Careful what you say...
<Damita> ::bites her lip and looks back down at her hands, but will not give up on Jack's dream so easily:: MPM: She healed Jack. She told me it exists, and that Jack would live.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: smirks again:: Damita: Right, and did she also say that she was late for tea with Der Schattenmann? :: laughs again::
<Professor_Jack> :: steps forward once more:: MPM: I ask that you do not speak that way to my assistant.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: glares at Jack:: Jack: Or what?
<Professor_Jack> :: moves the last few feet to the panel, standing face to face with the man:: MPM: Or I may forget the rule about respecting senior members of the society. :: grins, obviously giving a veiled threat::
<Damita> ::hears the tone of Jack's voice and stands, hurrying to his side and putting a hand on his arm:: Jack: Don't. We will find a way. Do not give him reason to make this harder.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: continues to smirk:: Jack: Oh, is that all? Well in that case. I suggest you take your little plaything and leave, before I think of something else to say that might anger you. :: knowing full well that would do it::
<Professor_Jack> :: clenches his fists:: MPM: Take it back.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: fakes a confused look:: Jack: Take what back?
<Professor_Jack> MPM: All of it. You are out of line. Now take it back!
<Damita> Jack: I do not care what he calls me. Please just let's go.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: nods:: Jack: You should listen to her. Maybe she's not as dumb as she seems.
<Professor_Jack> :: that of course was the last straw, and he quickly tackles the man::
<Damita> ::jumps back out of the way, looking like she is trying to hide behind the podium::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The remaining panel members react quickly, moving to try and separate the two men.
<Henrik> ::Henrik watches with amusement. This is much better than most of the Society's gatherings.::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The scuffle continues for a few minutes until the panel members finally manage to separate them, Jack looking better off than the MPM, but he's still pretty beat up.
<Professor_Jack> :: wipes blood from his lip:: MPM: I told you to take it back.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: spits, glaring at Jack as two other panel members hold him back:: Jack: That's it Freeman, you're in big trouble this time! I'll see to it that you are banned from this chapter of the society, and that you won't receive funding from any of the chapters for your worthless expedition!
<Professor_Jack> :: wipes his lip again:: MPM: Fine.. I'll do it myself. :: smirks:: You'll see when I return from Rokugan how right I was. :: turns:: Damita: Let's go.
<Damita> ::nods and walks over to Jack, not looking at the other man::
<Professor_Jack> :: leads the way out of the room and out of the chapter house, before stopping and leaning against the outer wall, wincing slightly:: Damita: Ouch.
<Professor_Jack> <MPM> :: shrugs off the other panel members and storms off::
<Damita> Jack: Why did you have to do that? You've only made things worse. ::sighs:: We need to get back to the inn and get you cleaned up.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: He shouldn't have talked to you like that. I gave him fair warning. More than fair even.
<Henrik> ::he watches the two of them leave, and then watches the MPM storm off, and he laughs:: All: Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but that was the most entertaining show I've seen in a while. And the best part is, it was free! ::he puts his top hat on and then smoothly makes his way back outside, humming thoughtfully::
<Damita> ::nods and shrugs:: Jack: I know, but I would have preferred that you not get injured on my behalf.
<Professor_Jack> :: smirks:: Damita: He had it coming. :: pushes off of the wall and starts back towards the inn::
<Damita> ::walks with him up the street:: Jack: I must admit you have a point.
<Professor_Jack> :: sighs:: Damita: Why does everyone assume you are more than an assistant. :: thinks:: Well, you are... But I mean.. In a bad way.. Wait.. :: stops himself and continues heading towards the inn::
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: Perhaps they see something we can not.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: I would hope not. If the tailor's and his assumptions are any indication.
<Damita> Jack: The tailor saw me in rags, and the man on the panel twisted what he saw because he does not like you. ::shrugs:: I do not know what they see, but that does not matter now. What matters is what we are going to do next.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, spotting the inn up ahead:: Damita: Well I for one could use a dr... :: cuts off his own sentence and frowns:: Well, laying down will have to do I guess.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: You need your cuts cleaned most of all, but I meant what do we do about Rokugan?
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns:: Damita: We'll figure something out, we have to. :: reaches
the inn and enters, heading for the stairs::
<Professor_Jack> <Bartender> :: spots Jack:: Jack: Hey, what happened to you? You look like you just took on three ticked off Eisen.
<Professor_Jack> :: doesn't look at the man as he moves to the stairs:: Bartender: Shut up, and send up some food and drink later. :: heads upstairs::
<Professor_Jack> <Bartender> :: laughs and nods, making a note::
<Damita> ::follows Jack upstairs:: Jack: If we need to, we can sell the necklace. Maybe it will be enough to fund the search...
<Professor_Jack> :: shakes his head:: Damita: No. :: that's all he says as he heads across the hall and enters their room::
<Damita> ::walks into the room and sits on the bed:: Jack: Not everyone was on his side you know...there are some who believe you.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, taking off his coat and tossing it on the chair in the corner, before moving to sit on the other side of the bed, laying back and wincing again:: Damita: Maybe, but no one that could help convince the society to help.
<Damita> ::smirks:: Jack: Your friend...I know his type. Most people are afraid to stand up to him even if they think you are right. He will never be convinced. Where are your medical supplies?
<Professor_Jack> :: motions to his coat::
<Damita> ::walks over to the chair, getting the supplies from Jack's coat and wetting a clean strip of cloth. She walks back over to sit next to Jack and gently washes the cut on his lip::
<Professor_Jack> :: frowns, looking over his collection of cuts and bruises, but staying still so she can clean them:: Damita: I think there are too many for your brand of medicine to work. :: remembers back at camp and laughs:: You'd be at it for hours.
<Damita> ::laughs and washes the blood from a cut on his eyebrow:: Jack: They would be pleasant hours. I know I asked you not to fight him, but thank you. Not many people have ever cared what someone says about me.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: How many times do I have to tell you that you needn't thank me.
<Damita> ::smiles:: Jack: Apparently very often. ::leans over to kiss the cuts on his lip and eyebrow, then cleans up a very nasty looking one on his temple, relieved to find that it’s not actually as bad as it looked::
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: You actually mean to do that on all of them?
<Damita> ::shrugs and kisses his temple:: Jack: Not all of them, but the worst ones could use the extra help I think. ::gently lifts one of his hands and washes a couple of split knuckles::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: It's your turn to get injured next time. :: smiles::
<Damita> ::laughs and cleans the bloody knuckles on his other hand:: Jack: I would prefer there not be a next time.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: As would I. But unfortunately that is rarely the case.
<Professor_Jack> :: winces slightly as she cleans his knuckles::
<Damita> ::finishes and lays his hand down:: Jack: I don't suppose you'd tell me if there was something else that hurt?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Nothing treatable. Well. By my brand of medicine anyway.
<Damita> ::blushes and laughs:: Jack: By mine then?
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and starts to open his mouth to reply, but closes it again, looking unsure::
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: I wish I could fix everything that way. ::sighs:: I am sorry we could not convince them Jack...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: As I said, we will find a way. :: just then there is a knock at the door::
<Damita> Jack: Sounds like dinner has arrived.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Do you want me to get it?
<Damita> ::frowns, but shakes her head:: Jack: No. Stay in bed. ::gets up and answers the door::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: The barmaid from downstairs is at the door, carrying a tray of food and two mugs of ale, which she sets down on the small table, before winking at Jack and leaving.
<Professor_Jack> :: is too sore to respond to the barmaid and just lays there::
<Professor_Jack> :: tries to sit up but gives up and lays back down:: Damita: Go ahead and eat, I'm going to stay here for a bit.
<Damita> Jack: You need to eat. Let me help. ::gently helps him to sit up in bed, propping a couple of pillows behind him::
<Professor_Jack> :: sits up and smiles:: Damita: Thank you.
<Damita> ::smiles and brings him a plate of food:: Jack: You are very welcome.
<Professor_Jack> :: slowly eats some of the food but isn't really hungry, but almost chokes on it nonetheless, since he isn't touching the mug of ale that was sent up::
<Damita> ::watches him and shakes her head:: Jack: Nothing overly bad happened when you drank your ale last night. Drink this before you choke. ::hands him the mug::
<Professor_Jack> :: hesitates for a moment but nods, his throat being rather dry after the presentation and the fight and drinks the ale:: Damita: Much better. Now you should eat something. Before it gets cold.
<Damita> ::nods and moves a chair next to the bed, sitting next to him as she eats::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: Several minutes pass and the two of them finish their dinner, and their ale, Jack is laying back once more, and Damita has moved all of the empty dishes back to the small table.
<Damita> ::removes the pillows from behind Jack and helps him to lie back down again::
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: Thank you. :: looks up at her, the ale dulling his manners once more:: I remembered another injury by the way.
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: Really? Where?
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Well I remember taking several punches to the gut and ribs.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: I'm sure you did. Your chest is likely a rainbow of bruises. Would you like me to look?
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles:: Damita: Do what you feel is best madam doctor. :: grins::
<Damita> ::grins and pulls up his shirt, wincing in sympathy at the bruises all over his stomach and ribs:: Jack: No wonder you're so sore...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: But I'll bet he's much worse off. :: grins::
<Damita> ::laughs:: Jack: I hope so. And I also hope he has a cruel old hag caring for his injuries. ::gently kisses the worst of the bruises one at a time::
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs:: Damita: He likely does, probably the only type of woman who could stomach being around him. :: sighs, enjoying the treatment:: I'll make a doctor out of you yet. :: smiles:: I'm already starting to feel better.
<Damita> ::laughs as she finishes her 'treatment' and tugs his shirt back down to cover him:: Jack: I'm glad. You should rest now though.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods but grins, a random thought popping into his ale blurred and battle scarred head:: Damita: But before I do. You didn't acquire any injuries yourself when you jumped out of the way did you?
<Damita> ::shakes her head, still laughing:: Jack: No, though I almost wish I had.
<Professor_Jack> :: laying his head back and closing his eyes:: Damita: That makes two of us.
<Damita> ::smiles and gently brushes his hair back from his forehead before curling up next to him and pulling up the blankets::
<Professor_Jack> :: starts to drift off:: Damita: Goodnight, madam doctor...
<Damita> Jack: Goodnight.
<Professor_Jack> <<<<Fin>>>>
---
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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5/Sep/05, 3:52 am
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Katellan
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An Engagement... Sort of
It is after dark on the small snow covered island, everyone is a bit fatigued from the events earlier in the day, when they were attacked by a strange wolf-like creature. But now things have quieted some, the fire is going strong again, and most everyone has settled down for their second night's sleep on the island.
Jack grabs a heavy blanket and moves over to Damita, whispering, "Would you mind if we talked for a moment?"
Damita nods and smiles at Jack, grabbing her own blanket and wrapping it around her.
Jack smiles and turns to lead the way towards the boat, deciding it would be more private to talk there, flicking his wrist to make his bracer glow.
Damita follows Jack and his light. "How are you feeling?"
Jack smiles back at her. "Better than ever actually, I must remember to ask our Vendel friend exactly what it was he gave me."
Damita nods. "There are many mysteries about him."
Jack nods as he reaches the boat, climbing inside and sitting down, making room for Damita to sit across from him.
Damita climbs into the boat and sits. "What is so important that you have to talk to me in a cold boat in the middle of the night?"
Jack holds up a hand. "I will tell you. But first you must promise to hear me out completely... Please.."
Damita frowns. "That doesn't sound good..."
Jack looks at her. "Do you promise?"
Damita sighs and nods. "All right, I promise."
Jack smiles. "Thank you." He takes a breath, collecting his thoughts. "Last night Henrik came to me looking for assistance. He wanted me to translate for him so that he could speak with Saphryn and tell her that he did not wish to hurt her, but he could not stay married to her."
Damita nods. "I am not surprised."
Jack nods. "Quite. Anyway, Saphryn understood his position and said that she did not wish to be a burden on him, however without a husband among us, she was duty bound by her culture to return to her island alone, which I don't have to tell you would be near impossible for her, and she very much wanted to continue traveling with us."
Damita nods. "Tell me Henrik did not give her to Ian..."
Jack laughs and shakes his head. "No, I wouldn't have let him." He smiles. "The two of them talked it over for a moment and Henrik came up with a solution... Giving her to someone else, besides Ian.."
Damita raises an eyebrow. "Gerhard?"
Jack shakes his head.
Damita looks shocked as the truth dawns. "But there is no one... No..."
Jack holds up a hand again. "Hear me out.."
"But Jack... I..." Damita shakes her head and looks down at her lap.
Jack puts a hand on her shoulder. "Just listen. Please."
Damita nods, but does not look up from her hands, clenched tightly together in her lap.
Jack sighs and continues. "Anyway, as you have already guessed, Henrik's idea was to give her to me. I was shocked at first, and in the grip of this state I went ahead and translated his suggestion to her, which she agreed to rather happily.. I couldn't believe what had happened, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense."
Damita asks, "Makes sense? How does it make sense? What about me Jack?"
Jack holds up his hand again, looking more stern than usual. "Wait."
Damita nods again, sighing.
Jack nods as well. "Now, as I said, the more I thought about it the more it made sense, she wants to go with us, and she could never make it back to her people alone, not alive anyway. But to stay with us she needs a husband, I am capable of looking after her, and I am the only one among us who speaks her language. Now, all of that aside, I had a talk with her afterwards about all this."
Damita sits quietly, silent tears dripping into her lap. "And what did you talk about? How many children you want?"
Jack shakes his head, sighing. "Of course not, will you just let me finish?"
Damita nods.
Jack takes another breath. "Thank you. Now, we talked it over and I told her that while I would be more than happy to look after her, and hence stay married to her, during the course of this expedition, I could not offer her my heart."
Damita looks up at him. "You... why?"
Jack gets all embarrassed for a moment. "Umm... Well... You see.."
Damita raises an eyebrow. "Why Jack?"
Jack tugs at his collar, shivering a bit as doing so lets cold air into his shirt. "Well.. It's just that I find myself very... Comfortable with you. I have been happier with you around than I ever have been, since Sarah..." He frowns.
Damita shrugs. "But you are married now, whether you give her your heart or not."
Jack regains his resolve. "I wasn't finished yet." He continues. "After telling her this, she told me that she understood, and even saw it in my face before I mentioned it." He laughs a bit. "So we talked it over and came to an agreement. We would stay married for the course of this expedition, during which time I will look after her.."
Damita asks, "And then?"
Jack continues. "But since it is a marriage in name only, we will not engage in the other typical aspects of a marriage..." He coughs a bit. "And once the expedition is over, I will either drop her off on her island, or take her to Theah and set her up to start her life there, without me."
Damita says, "We may never make it home Jack, and what then? You would be unable to do either of those two things."
Jack shrugs. "Maybe, but I like to think we will make it back. But what I am getting at is the agreement we settled on keeps her safe, allows her to continue the expedition with us, but does not ruin, other, friendships..." He smiles a bit, looking hopeful, and a bit worried at the same time.
Damita sighs and stares at her hands again. "Friendship Jack? If this is only friendship, then why can you not give her your heart?"
Jack is caught a little off guard by the question and tugs at his collar once more, shivering again as the cold air snakes back into his shirt. "Perhaps that was a bad choice of words..."
Damita sighs again and nods. "Perhaps it was, and perhaps you should go back to your wife."
Jack groans and shakes his head, moving forward and grabbing her shoulders gently, kissing her.
Damita opens her eyes wide in surprise, then closes them and returns his kiss.
Jack kisses her for a moment then pulls back, his manners kicking in again as he sits back. "I... uhh... I'm sorry.."
Damita blushes. "Sorry for what?"
Jack looks embarrassed again. "For kissing you.. I was trying to come up with the words I wanted to say and it just happened.. I'm sorry."
Damita shrugs and smiles a little. "Sometimes actions speak louder than words."
Jack tugs at his collar again. "Heh, sometimes.." He moves to sit next to her, leaving a gap, as he usually does if he has a choice. "I just don't want you to be upset, or think that this closes certain doors.."
Damita closes the gap and leans against him. "It's cold.." She sighs. "Which doors Jack? Exactly what are you saying? Saphyrn can see it, everyone can, but please let me hear it..."
Jack freezes for a moment, but wraps an arm around her shoulders, draping the blanket over her. "I.." He pauses and shakes his head, trying to break through the cloud of shyness and manners that fogs up his mind. "I care about you Damita.." He looks surprised he got that out.
Damita laughs. "I suppose if I want to hear more than that I will have to get you drunk again."
Jack raises an eyebrow and coughs again. "Well, I.. It's just that..." He sighs. "I suppose you will, heh."
Damita sighs as well. "So until we get home I can spend my days knowing that you love me, but that you are married to another... Even if she does not have your heart."
Jack sighs. "You don't have to do that.. I mean, I can't marry you of course.." He looks surprised again. "Not that I would until we got back to Theah anyway.. Err.. I mean, not to imply that I wouldn't want to earlier, it's just..." He pauses and slaps himself. "Nevermind."
Damita laughs. "Don't hurt yourself." She grins at him a little wickedly. "So... if we were back in Theah with the benefit of a proper priest?"
Jack coughs. "I... uhh..."
Damita grins. "Yes?"
Jack tugs at his collar again, unsure what to say.
Damita laughs and nudges him. "Come on Jack. After tonight's conversation I think I deserve some extra kindness."
Jack sighs and nods. "You're right.." He tries to suppress the cloud once more. "Once we are back in Theah, and my agreement with Saphryn is finished.. I might like very much if you were something more than my assistant." He pauses before adding, "Officially."
Damita raises an eyebrow. "Might?"
Jack groans in frustration. "Would, I meant, would.."
Damita laughs again. "Honestly Jack, remind me to get you good and drunk before finding the priest. But if that was a question, the answer is yes. When we get home, I would be happy to be much more than your assistant."
Jack looks surprised and embarrassed again. "I.. what... Did we just...?"
Damita smiles and blushes. "Only if that is what you want Jack. I know you well enough by now to know how unlikely you are to come right out and ask it... sober..." She grins.
Jack looks stunned for a moment then thinks. "Wow.." He looks surprised at something inside his own head. "It really is what I want.."
Damita turns a darker shade of red and kisses him. "Until then? You are certain Saphryn does not mind us being together?"
Jack tries kissing her back, his slightly stunned state making him a little late and he ends up kissing air after she moves back to speak. "She made it clear that she understood our arrangement, that it was merely a convenience to protect her and allow her to stay with us.."
Damita nods, trying not to laugh at the look on his face. "You are a good man Jack. I should have suspected from the start you would protect her whatever it took. After all, if that was not your way, I would be dead now."
Jack smiles a bit. "You give me too much credit.."
Damita shakes her head. "No Jack, I do not. I know a lot about men remember. Most of them would not have wanted any part of my trouble, or Saphryn's."
Jack tugs at his collar again, smiling. "Heh.. It is the only honorable thing to do, assisting a lady in distress.."
Damita laughs. "And your honor is one of the things about you that I love."
Jack smiles. "We should probably get back and get some sleep, we need to get going again tomorrow."
Damita nods. "Good idea. In case whatever that thing was has friends..." She shivers at the thought.
Jack nods and stands, helping her up and out of the boat.
Damita takes his hand as she steps out of the boat, and keeps holding it on the way back to camp.
Jack smiles as he leads the way back, returning to the warmth of the fire and getting ready to sleep.
Damita stands near the fire for a moment to warm up, then moves her bedroll closer to Jack's, leaving a gap like he always does when he sits, not really sure what he'll think of the idea.
Jack turns back around, spotting the bedrolls, looking unsure for a moment, then look at her, as if asking if she is sure.
Damita smiles at him and nods. "I know you are afraid of my past and its effect on me Jack, but I am sure." She lays down and wraps herself in her blankets.
Jack looks surprised that she read him so easily once again, but shrugs it off for the night and lies down on his own roll, pulling the blankets up over him.
The two drift off to sleep, along with the others. However a few hours later, still well before dawn, Damita wakes up, not startled, just wakes up for some reason. And when she opens her eyes she finds a gold ring sitting on a handkerchief in front of her face, on the snow. The handkerchief is marked with the initials "J.F."...
Damita stares at the ring for a moment, knowing it was Sarah's, and knowing he must have put it there for her to find... Surprised, she wipes a tear from her eye and reaches out to take it, slipping it onto her finger before turning over to kiss him gently, careful not to wake him.
Jack sleeps on, unaware of the kiss, smiling at something in a dream...
---
Kat
"I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell."
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25/Dec/05, 8:18 pm
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