Not even Etaf could've seen this coming.|Neo'Anar

[Darastrix]

It was well into the afternoon when Schuldig finally stirred from sleep in the Soahcian wing. Even as he lifted his head to look blearily around the room, his mind was buzzing as he thought over the previous night's events

Still never figured out the deal with Locket and...I like him, but what did Teddy mean about his "style?" If he's pissed at Nail and Nail was harassing Locket before, what the hell is the...I know what goes on between priests is supposed to stay between priests--at least that's what Nagi sai...waitaminute. I'm a priest now. Acolyte? Whatever, So--holy fuck, how did that...bet I could use it to get some ans...me, a prie--wait, what? Do I wanna take it ba--no. I...actually don't. I feel good, itdoes feel like home...they're like me...to think they all used to terrify...still don't think I'm every going to be big on hanging around the temple, but who cares? I'll stick my priesthood wherever I wa--into whoever I want. Ha.

He sat up, smirking, Wolf's robes hanging loosely about his lean frame; he'd never bothered tying them shut.

~Hey Looooooockeeeeeeeet.....~

[Kender Bard]

Locket groaned from where she was, quietly. She'd managed to get out of bed, late. Even a hangover couldn't confine her to one spot for too long, but she'd tread lightly and spoken softly since waking. For the most part, she wanted to do something, but nothing that involved too much strain to her battered senses. She'd retreated after Nagi into the royal study and curled up in there, feigning reading when mostly she was just looking at things. It was a restful place and there were enough interesting details to hold her wandering attention.

What? she thought bleakly back at Schuldig. You're far too chipper. You clearly didn't drink as much as I did.

[Darastrix]

~I was too busy last night to do much drinking,~ Schuldig said. And you must have had a lot if you're still feeling down for it.~ He'd never seen a hangover really bother her much the morning after. He wrapped his mind around hers in an affectionate gesture. ~Want me to bring you something for your hangover?~

[Kender Bard]

That would be good, she thought, sending warm affection back to him. It wouldn't be so bad except I didn't know what I was drinking. I think someone told me, after the fact, that it had Khelekian icewater in it. All I could taste was vanilla and ginger - delicious. But brutal.

[Darastrix]

Schuldig chuckled at that. ~Talk about getting homesick,~ he quipped, and stood to stretch. ~I'll see you in a few minutes. Are you in your room?~

He reached out with his mind in another direction and poked Wolf, though lightly enough not to bother the man if he were still asleep. ~I gotta do my healer-duty and take care of a hangover. It okay if I bring your robes back later after I find some actual clothes?~

[Kender Bard]

No, I'm in the royal study with Nagi, she thought back. "Schuldig's heading over," she warned him. "To bring me something to make me feel better, hopefully."

S'okay, Wolf thought drowsily. Half the temple's got a hangover, ha. But then again, almost all of them would sleep it off, having earned the day off after a hard night's celebration.

[Darastrix]

Schuldig gave Wolf a mental nod and teleported back to his room to gather up the herbs he'd need to make a tea for Locket.


"Good," Nagi said, looking up from his book to lean over and kiss Locket's temple. "I never thought those drinks might have icewater in them. I thought they might be stronger than they looked, but not that strong."

[Kender Bard]

Locket smiled and turned her head so she could kiss his cheek quickly in return. "If I'd known, I'd have not had so much, honest to goodness," she replied ruefully but with a small grin. A Soahcian never regretted excess in hindsight if they could help it.

Waiting, like a gift to him in his room, was the Swan cloak - changed, touched, warped.

Blazed large in the middle and overlaying the body of the swan was Soahc's holy symbol. The rest of the cloak looked as though someone had spilled black ink over the cloth, though artistically, for the lines did not run straight up and down but twisted and looped fancifully. A ribbon of black lay over the 'eyes' of the swan and twirled downward, gently, along the neck. Nonsensical patterns and designs dominated the cloak, brought a riot of design to an otherwise conservative white plane.

[Darastrix]

Nagi just shook his head. "And that was a small Sinfest?"


When Schuldig caught sight of his cloak, he stopped short and stalked to the chair he'd left it draped over. If some servant's brat had come in his room and ruined his cloak....

"The fuck?" He stared at the symbol on the swan and looked upward. "I liked it the way it was to begin with!"

Some people had no taste. Besides, it was his cloak, even if he hadn't wanted it at first. Efil had given it to him.

[Kender Bard]

If Soahc was watching, he didn't deign to answer Schuldig anymore. Silence was the only reply.


"Yeah," Locket laughed weakly. "That was about on par with a few days at Khelek. I still would love to see what it's like in Flux. I can only imagine."

[Darastrix]

"Hmph." Schuldig grumped to himself over the state of his cloak as he made do with the basin in the room and got dressed.

Couldn't just leave a set of robes or something, noooooo. He has to get creative with something I already have. Fuck it. When I do have robes, I can get a white swan put on it and have the pattern copied in white. Nya.


I don't even want to imagine, Nagi thought. Aloud, he said, "If Schuldig enjoyed last night, he'd probably like it there, too."


Several minutes later, Schuldig came into the study with a cup of tea for Locket. He'd left the cloak in his room. HE wanted to be the one to tell Locket, not have her guess because of such an obvious symbol on the swan.

[Kender Bard]

Locket made of coo of joy at seeing Schuldig and reached her hands out for the tea. "Oh, thank you, savior," she sighed in relief. "We were just talking about you; how'd you enjoy yourself at the party?"

[Darastrix]

"Best party I can remember going to," he said, and handed Locket the tea. "I helped myself to every willing person I can across, showed a Wrath his place, picked up some info here and there that has me confused for the time being, and lost to your friend Teddy in an arm-wrestling match in a big way."

[Kender Bard]

Locket laughed in delight at that. "Oh, Teddy," she crooned to herself before taking a deep sip of the tea, wincing as it scalded her mouth a little but swallowing it all down quickly anyway. "I'm really glad you enjoyed yourself, Schu. Maybe next time you and I can go dabbling in things together."

[Darastrix]

"We'll need to dabble in something soon enough," Schuldig said with a smirk. "I seem to recall you wanting to find a mentor for me if I joined the priesthood."

Nagi gawked at him.