Uncomfortable Situations

[Tirdisar]

Lord Tirdisar Hawkbrand sat huddled over a table, pondering over various documents and books on incantations and spells. Despite having risen to lordship in his grandfather's place, Tir couldn't neglect his magical studies, and all the work was starting to pile up on him. He tapped his quill against a document detailing the distribution of blood gems throughout Eversong and the attacks by the Wretched on the deliveries. Varuka, his arcane hawk familiar, sat on a roost nearby, preeening its feathers. He could feel himself nodding off, not interested at all in reading or signing anymore, but a knock at the study door snapped him to full consciousness.

"Brother? There is a visitor for you here." Visena stepped into the room to notify him.

Tir rubbed his eyes and smiled at his sister. "Who is it?"

"A magister from the council, Halruux." The smile disappeared Tir's face and he rubbed his forehead in disappointment. Magus Halruux was a rat-like man, whose shrewd nature had landed him among the council of nobles, but as little more than a messenger. Tir couldn't stand to be around him, as if he gave off a certain stench that absolutely repelled him.

He shook his head, having no choice. "Send him in."

Visena nodded and stepped out of the room. It was only a short time later before Halruux came in without even bothering to knock. He was dressed in brown, flowing robes, with runic markings in gold along the edges of the cloth. His nose was long, and pointed downwards, and his long, dark hair fell across his back. Tir stood up and bowed to him, as was custom, but Halruux didn't return the gesture.

"Lord Hawkbrand! How pleasant it is to see you well in place in taking care of your holdings now that your grandfather has passed."

"Magus Halruux. What have you come to my estate for today?" Tir wanted this conversation to end quickly.

"All business, Lord Hawkbrand? How unusual..." Halruux smirked. How he hated that look. "Oh, alright, then. The council has been discussing your succession lately."

"Why should they be? My inheritance is undisputable." Tir was already losing his patience.

"That is true, but that is not the issue. They are unsure of your... ability, being so young. They feel that you are not taking the right responsibilty in managing your holdings into the future." Halruux twirled a finger in his hair.

Tir frowned. "What kind of nonsense is that? We've suffered no losses since I've taken control, hardly the same can be said about yourself."

"Ah, my lord, again, you do not see the problem. You may have control now, but what if something were to... happen so that you become incapable of maintaining control? If I were to be incapacitated in anyway, I have my son to look forward to, to manage things in my place. You have no guarantee like that."

"So what is it they want exactly?"

"You need to be wed and produce an heir." Halruux looked away, feeling his mission to be complete, and chuckled.

Tir's jaw hung open, no matter how dignified he had wanted to appear. "You've got to be kidding me..."

Halruux could see the disbelief in Tir, and smirked again. "You don't have to worry about it for too long. Just until you are... no longer able, and then your estate will be placed in more capable hands."

"You mean yours..." Tir grumbled inaudibly. "Visena!"

Visena entered the room again at her brother's call. "Yes?"

"Please show Master Halruux the way out. We're done here." Visena nodded and motioned to Halruux to lead him out. Mockingly, he bowed to Tir and left with her, with Varuka hissing at him in response to Tir's emotions.

Once they were both gone, Tir was finally able to show his anger by tossing the papers on his desk all about the floor. "What the fel do they think they're doing?! Trying to take advantage of me because of my age... Damnit!"

He collapsed into his chair and clutched his head in his hands. His thoughts turned to a face he had tried to forget, one that he felt had abandoned him long ago. "Ninorra..."

"Tir?" Visena came back to the study, seeing her brother in distress. She walked up beside him, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. In her state, she was incapable of understanding what was going on, and Tir envied her for it. To live life simply and happily, yet he was constantly being denied that.

"It's... it's alright, I'm fine." Tir sat up straight in the chair and clenched his fists. "I'll just have to give them what they want."

[Ninorra]

((Open?))

[Fallacy]

((Go ahead.))

[Ninorra]

Perhaps her recent employment opportunity might have been recieved better had she not hypnotized half of the reception. Ninorra walked away from the Wine Garden with Kupmet bouncing behind her, sighing dissapointedly.

She had been singing there twice a week for the past few months. Ever since she married Vicalde, she was determined not to take advantage of her new status. She would earn her keep, as either a warlock or a musician. It wasn't hard for her to find a job as a songstress in Silvermoon's budy entertainment industry, but it was harder than she ever imagined to convince them that no, she would not strip, nor would she be interested in making more money without using her singing talent.

So, she sang only for those who cared not for naked entertainment, which was a much smaller crowd that one might have guessed. They were mostly nobility, although sometimes a new ally, such as a troll or a tauren, would find their way into the Wine Garden. Ninorra sat on a grand paino, singing allong with the pianist while wearing a strapless red gown. Her long curly black hair and red eyes made her for an exotic thing to look at, which was why many found it dissapointing when she stepped off of the stage at the end of the night completely dressed.

Tonight was no different, but she had unfortunately, gotten carried away. There were few who noticed the faces that appeared in the fireplace and candles, when Ninorra sang. When someone finally did notice, their shock was consumed by a hypnotic urge to stay calm. Ninorra sang sweetly, as if imitating songbirds, but eventually her voice managed to consume her listeners. Those who had connections to fell energies would call upon them, summoning demons. When the Wine Garden was suddenly full to bursting with voidwalkers and succubi, the owner decided that Ninorra's time here was at an end.

"Maybe we could use you as a dancer?" he asked casually.

Ninorra frowned and left without another word. "I am nobody's 'plaything', Kupmat," she said to the imp. "They should know that by now."

[Tirdisar]

((Bah, something messed up, and my post didn't go through or something.

Anyway, reposting.

AND WARNING!!!! This gets sexually explicit.))

Tir let himself levitate down off of the balcony. The sun had just set, so it was dark enough for him not to be noticed, not that he had anyone to hide that he went out at night anymore. Visena was well aware of his leaving, but she didn't know why, and didn't ask. Tir quickly looked from side to side, and pulled his hood over his head. As silently as he could, he took off running into the deeper parts of the city.

The tavern was already brimming with patrons. Tir made regulated visits to different ones, so the frequent customers had come to expect when he would arrive. He tossed off the hood, the warm lantern light surrounding his face, and the people gave a cheer as they recognized him, and the tavern owner walked up to him and patted him on the back.

"Tir, my boy! We've been waiting for you, even getting a little impatient."

"Yes, Tir! Play for us!"

"We want to hear that lute of yours!"

Tir held up his hands, as if surrendering. "Alright! Alright!"

He took a seat and pulled it next to the fireplace. He let his cloak fall over it, and sat down with his lute in hand. He plucked a few strings and tuned it until he was satisfied. He swiftly ran his fingers of the courses, erupting fully into song.

"Yep!"

"Yup yep!"

"Heyo!"

And thus Tir began to sing.

"Where they sit around
And get a round in while the getting's good
They'll make the most until the money's gone
They're coming out to celebrate, to sing and dance and to escape
A crazy world where everything seems wrong
Drinking to forget and to remember all the glory days
The days we stood apart and we stood strong
Though the beer befuddles sense
It can't provide them recompense
They settle for anotherdrinkingsong

Where the 'busy man finds recreation'
the 'idle man finds business'
The 'melancholy man finds sanctuary'
The 'stranger may have welcome'
and still within these self-same walls
The 'citizen may find some courtesy'
From 'rose and crown' to 'cock and bull'
all history is written there
To folklore, myth and legend we belong
Come Masons, Plumbers, Carpenters,
Come Cricketers and huntsmen
All join in anotherdrinkingsong

Falalala-lalah! Falalala-lalah! Falalala-lalalala-lalala-lah!" The patrons echoed after him, until he began the next verse.

"Well you can keep your 'long-hours culture'
you're lusting for adventure
There's life aplenty down 'The tap 'n' Spile'
Forget your occupation, down 'The Salutation'
This tragi-comedy will make you smile
From quaint barstoll philosophy to subtle innuendo
It's funny how the tribes all get along
Curse abstinence and temperance, come celebrate insouciance
And join us in anotherdrinkingsong."

With a flourish, and a few sparks of arcane energy and the rumbling of tankards clashing, Tir finished the song. Cheers once again sprung out from the crowd. One of the barmaids placed a mug next to him, and winked at him as she went off to attend to the others.

The night went on, along with many more songs, and the tavern began to clear out, but Tir didn't touch the mug at all. He held it in his hand, and watched the liquid ripple inside.

"Ah, Tir, lad, that was one of your best performances yet!" Tir braced himself, knowing that the bartender would pat him on the back roughly. He waved a small brown sack in front of Tir's face. "Please, take this gold for once."

Tir shoved it away. "I told you, I have no need of it. It's enough you allow me to play here."

"Well, at least, take a room upstairs for the night. You look more worn than a magic-weaned Wretched!" Tir didn't want to show it, but he was exhausted. The whole mess recently had worked him to the bone. Visena wouldn't notice he had been gone if he got home early enough.

"I suppose I can take one night's rest here. Thank you."

The room was cozy enough. Tir knew the room was reserved for the high-paying customers. He wrapped his lute in his cloak, and placed it beside the bed. He undressed to only wearing shorts, and collapsed onto the bed. However, he couldn't get to sleep, as his mind raced with the thoughts of the events of the past few days.

He heard the door open and close quickly, and his hand became engulfed in flame, ready to throw the fire at the intruder. As the room lit up, he recognized the face of the barmaid who had served him before. He let the fire dissipate, seeing he had scared her.

"What do you want?" Tir had no real need to ask. He knew the reason a girl like that would sneak into his room at that time of night.

"I thought you might want some company..." Tir closed his eyes and sighed, but showed no sign of disapproval. He felt the girl slide into the bed next to him, and begin running her hand over his bare chest. He didn't open his eyes, but he was aware of all her movements as she removed her clothes, and then reached for his own shorts.

Tir didn't want to wait any longer and rolled on top of her. She smiled at him, and twisted until she was comfortable. He didn't waste any time, and began thrusting.

It was pointless. Tir couldn't help but let his mind stray, ignoring the pants and moans of the girl below him. The thought of Halruuk, the council of nobles, and the situation they had forced him into just drove his anger. Finally, he thought of her.

"Tir... Tir, you're sort of going too fast, it's starting to hurt..." Tir growled and jumped out of the bed, not caring for his indecency.

"Get out..."

"Wha-what? Is something wrong?" The girl curled the blanket around her.

"I said get out!" His hand lit up in fire again, and the girl quickly grabbed her clothes and ran out of the room in fear of her life.

Tir slipped his shorts back on and stood at the window. "I can't run from it, no matter what I do." He punched the wall. "DAMNIT! I can't do anything!"

Suddenly, his eyes flashed down to the street, as if he recognized someone walking below him. "It can't be... Ninorra?"

He didn't want to waste the opportunity, even if it wasn't her. As fast as he could, he put on all of his clothes and raced to catch up. When he got out to the street, he found he was too late, and she was nowhere in sight.

"Ninorra! Are you there?"

[Ninorra]

Ninorra hadn't been paying much attention to her surroundings. She was a bit overdressed to be taking a simple stroll, so there were a few curious glancers from passers by as her red dress fluttered behind her. Kupmat bounced, trying his best to stay near her.

"Wait, master!" He called in demonic. "I can't run as fast as you can walk!"

Ninorra slowed her pace. Turning to face the tiny demon, she smiled affectionately and crouched over a bit to face him. "Oh, Kupmat.. I am sorry. Thank you for coming with me, all those times. I suppose this will be the last, yes?"

"They're stupid, master," Kupmat grumbled, but his tone lightened as Ninorra ran her palm over his head. "They don't know what they're missing.."

The Sin'dorei smiled, her red eyes glowing in the night's darkness. "Perhaps.Or perhaps I really do have some sort of proble--"

"Ninorra! Are you there?"

One of her ears twitched at the sound of her name. Ninorra stood, looking towards the source of the sound. Kupmat frowned deeply. He knew that voice.. someone else who looked at his master the way only he should. Someone else besides Vicailde to eventually get rid of. Actually..

"Tirdisar?" She called out, cupping a hand to her mouth. Ninorraprojected her voice, as she had done so often during performances. "Tirdisar, is that you?"

[Tirdisar]

Tir couldn't believe his ears. He would have recognized her voice even if it was only a faint whisper. To his left, he pinpointed the source, and dashed off in that direction.

"It really is you..." He slowly came to a stop as he came across Ninorra, panting slightly. He wanted to laugh, to take her in his arms, but his upbringing maintained his composure, so he simply smiled and formally bowed. No matter how he might have felt about her, she was already married, and it would not appear right for him to greet her in any other way. "There's no need to call me by my full name. I'm still Tir, the simple lutist. It's been far too long, Ninorra, since we last saw each other. I hope all has been well with you and Sir Bloodstone." He didn't want to call Vilcailde by his first name; he was not someone that Tir well trusted.

It was taking all the willpower he could muster to hold himself back. I really am such a child... he thought to himself. Letting myself get carried away by these feelings is pathetic.

[Ninorra]

Ninorra smiled at Tir. He was one of the first people who had ever treated her as a person. Where Vicailde was sullen and cold, and Tirralys was haughty and unpreditable, Tirdisar greeted her sweetly. Tirralys joked that he had feelings for her, and Ninorra never took his jests seriously. After all, Tirdisar completely denied it, and who was she to believe otherwise?

He only told her the truth, after she became engaged to Vicailde. It seemed rather cruel to have had this information withheld. She never even had the chance to wonder if she felt the same way.

"Oh yes, we have been quite well, although it is painfully had to find a place that will hire me to sing without stripping," she said with a chuckle. "How have you been? You look worn thin. I bet you've been playing, haven't yo?"

She smiled warmly.

"Probably in a nice little place, hm? With pretty little girls fawning over you? I can still smell a bit of perfume. Awful stuff," she added playfully. "Too much patchouli."

[Tirdisar]

Tir smiled back at her, but he felt torn inside. She knew him all too well, ever since the time they spent together, with her singing and his lute. "I suppose, an eligible young man like myself, it can't be helped sometimes."

He hated himself for what he had done with the barmaid. Even though there was nothing really morally wrong with it, he still felt guilty, especially now that he was discussing it with Ninorra. He just did what he always did, however, by putting on a face to hide how he truly felt. It just drove him further away, as it had been the reason he never revealed his true feelings until it was far too late, a horrible cycle. He was too afraid of what people might think of him otherwise.

"Life has been hard, since my grandfather passed. Sometimes, I don't know if I can handle all of my duties anymore."

[Ninorra]

Ninorra nodded, understanding how he felt. Expectations were something she'd grown up with.

"I am sure you're handling it admirably. Perhaps you should just try to relax? You must be worn, from all of your duties."

Kupmat stared at the two of them, from his vantage point on the ground. Ninorra had become accustomed to her companion being at her side, and never noticed if he was listening in or simply daydreaming. He was an imp, after all.. what in the world could he do? What would he do? Kupmat, however, smiled inwardly. Tirdisar was obviously in love with his master. So was Vicailde, who Kupmat hated more than anything.

It would be easy to use one to drive the other away. Then, the guilt would rid him of the second, and he'd have his master all to himself.

Forgive me, master, Kupmat thought, as he melted the stone beneath Ninorra's heel. It broke almost instantly, causing her to fall into Tirdisar.

[Tirdisar]

Tir wasn't one for strenuous physical activity, but he did keep himself well in shape, being a mage and at a suitable age to serve in war. Lately, he had even taken the chance to set out from Silvermoon every once in a while to further his lethal skill. Nevertheless, he was able to react in time to catch Ninorra. He could feel his heart race, despite that she had ended up in his arms accidentally.

"Watch it! You don't want to hurt yourself."

Another part of his mage training was the sensing of magic use. He knew it had been used nearby, but it was fleeting, and he had not been able to pinpoint it.

Tir set her upright, keeping his hands over her waist for a few moments, before realizing what he was doing. He quickly pulled away, blushing.

[Ninorra]

Ninorra looked down at her foot, balancing on the other. The one who's heel had broken had once been the source of much discomfort. In fact, it was crippled almost beyond repair, the first time she'd ever met Tir. A relic of the first time her master was displeased.

"Goodness, what terrible luck.." she said sadly, looking at the shoe. It was a very high black heel, or at least it had been before it broke. "Oh well. I guess I won't be needing these anymore, anyway."

The warlock smiled again at Tirdisar, and put pressure on her foot. It was then that a searing pain shot up from her ankle, and she realized that her old injury was coming back to haunt her.

"Sss.." She hissed, frowning distastefully. "How inconvenient. I am sorry, Tir. I am usually not this clumsy."

Kupmat stood to one side, watching. "Master is hurt! Master should sit down and rest!" He chanted. I'm so sorry, master, he kept repeating in his mind, every so often glancing at Tirdisar.

[Tirdisar]

Tir knelt down to look at the injured foot. "I thought that it had been healed. We can't have you walking around on this."

He stared down the street, back towards the tavern. It was a little farther than he would have Ninorra walk with her injury. He stood up, and reached about in his pockets, and pulled out what he was looking for. It was a small stone, marked with a yellow rune. "I'll take you somewhere more comfortable."

Tir chanted a few words, something of a non-mortal tongue. A blue light of arcane energy encircled them. He executed the last of the spell, and the world twisted around them, coiling and reforming until they were in another place altogether. They had ended up in his own manor. He took a step back, holding out his arms to show it off.

"Welcome to my home."

[Ninorra]

The blinding light was distracting. As soon as it had come, it was gone again, and Kupmat was alone in the street. The imp stuttered, frightened of what had just happened. "M-master? Master! Oh master, no! Where has he taken you??"

He bagan to panic. Where had she gone? Obviously that other man had taken her somewhere.. but where?? How would he get her back? Kupmat thought long and hard, and with a frown, realized what he had to do. He stomped back to Bloodstone Manor, and went to look for Vicailde.


Ninorra, on the other hand, marveled at the sights around her. A smile slowly crept to her lips as she looked around, studying Tirdisar's home. For a moment, she forgot the pain in her old injury. "Oh Tir," she said quietly. "It is beautiful. I never would have imagined. You were always so humble about where you came from."

She chuckled a bit, and winked.

"Just a simple lutist, hm?"

[Tirdisar]

Tir just lightly smiled in return. "This is all my mother's doing. She took joy in humbly decorating our home, despite that we rarely had visitors. I've tried to maintain the grounds as well as I can, since she is... no longer with us."

He grabbed a chair and positioned it behind her. "Please, sit. I'll get set to tending to your foot."

At that moment, he heard footsteps coming from the stairs. "Tir? Is that you down here?"

Visena! He knew that she usually payed no attention to his visitors, but he also made out another pair of steps. They had awakened Diandro'ei as well. Visena could not have been happy. She stopped at the end of the stairs once she realized he was not alone, with little Dian clutching her leg.

"Uncle Tir!" Dian ran up to Tir, jumping up to hug him.

"What are you doing up so late, Dian? I'm sorry, did we wake you?"

Visena sleepily eyed Ninorra. "Brother, who is this?"

Tir stood silently, holding Dian. He didn't want to immediately answer his sister.

[Ninorra]

Ninorra attempted to bow to the other Sin'dorei, her smile forced through the pain of her newly shattered ankle. "Ninorra Gitana-Bloodstone, my lady."

Placing a hand behind her, she slowly lowered herself into the providd chair and continued to give Visena a nervous smile. While now a lady a of some standing, she never forgot the way she'd been raised.

"Tirdisar happened upon me in the city. I had a bit of an accident," she motioned towards her foot, which was beginning to turn purple at the joint. "And he was gracious enough to offer me assistance."

My, she does not look pleased, Ninorra thought to herself.

"I should be able to leave shortly. I am sure that Vicailde is missing me, or at the very least, poor Kupmat. I do not want him to worry, especially. The poor dear is so protective of me."

[Tirdisar]

Visena continued to stare. She motioned for Dian, who hopped out of Tir's arms and back to his mother. "Please, be considerate of the little one. He needs his sleep." She pulled Dian back up the stairs, and the boy waved at them as they disappeared.

Tir sighed in relief that his sister did nothing more. She was very protective of his nephew, and cared for little more. He bowed apologitically to Nina. "I'm sorry for my sister's behavior. She has not been well since her accident."

He turned his attention to her foot. It looked worse than he first thought it to be. He found a long piece of cloth (he often kept bandages on him) and wrapped Nina's ankle with it.

"I don't think you will be able to make it to your own home, tonight. It's far too late to send for a carriage. If you'd like, I can prepare a room for you, and we can handle this much more easily in the morning. It's best for you to rest, for now."

[Ninorra]

"I-I.. well.. you see.."

Stammering a bit, Ninorra tried to come up with an excuse not to stay. The fact was, he was probably right. They were far from her home, and travelling alone at this hour would only be inviting trouble. She considered calling upon Vicailde, but knew he would be asleep by now and did not want to disturb him.

"I-I suppose that would be ideal," she said finally. "Thank you for your help, Tirdisar. You have been very kind. If there is anything I can do to return the favor, please tell me. You and I have not seen much of eachother, since.."

She paused.

"..since I stopped visiting the tavern. I am sorry, for that. I have missed your company."