Take a Number. (Closed)

[Eladis]

"Can you get it? Please?"

Eladis gave a quiet grunt in response. The cries and screams didn't stop, but that would be expected from three newly born infants. Every given hour of the day, one of the three cried for nothing. There were no odd wounds, no bumps, no hunger, no abnormalities at all. It's simple, babies cry. Of course, the wife would always swear there was something. She had never raised children before, every little tiny detail somehow meant she was a bad parent.

Just as Eladis got to his feet and tied his robes, the crying stopped. With a relieved sigh, he climbed back into bed only to be elbowed in the gut.

"Don't be lazy, go check!"

"Fine."

[Bir]

Bir paced back in forth in the room, holding one of his three children. It was the one who inherited his nose, he liked movement. He didn't even know their numbers, or two of their names. He didn't ask. They only came to mind when Aquizit suggested he give Malorii's red dress to his daughter. Surely he meant something else by it, should have outright told him. It was stupid to not come by to visit his own children over a glare, even more stupid to go visit when everything was such a blur. It didn't matter, he would leave before anyone noticed. At least that was the plan.

It was easy enough to pick the lock on their door and let himself in. Hell, they kept a key under the flower pot on the front steps. It wouldn't be Gold who did that, it would be the woman. What number did she get? Two. Gold and Two. There seemed to be a lot of Two around but this one made the most sense. She was always Two, wasn't she. Two to Aurlon, Two to 'Vae, Two to someone nameless. She will never be One no matter how hard she tries. At the time, the thought brought a smile to Bir's lips.

Bir decided to have a walk around the house, having not really had a look around by himself in quite some time. Needless to say it wasn't so much a walk as it was a quiet little march. He held his son close in one arm, tiny bright green eyes peering up at him. Using his other arm, he strode past every cupboard in the kitchen to whip it open, careless of who he might awaken. Had the noise scared the child rather than amused, he would have stopped doing it. The more things he slammed closed and open, the more the child giggled.

"I could use a snack. Are you hungry too?" Speaking lightly, Bir held the child up to question him.

"Gwaaa!" The baby gave a weak little kick, wiggling his arms and smiling down at his father.

"What do you think I should eat? Show me." In his state of mind, Bir decided it would be best to let the child who knew absolutely nothing pick what his snack would be. Of course, the baby would have milk or some sort of mush if he could find it. He held the baby up and slowly brought him around every cupboard, giving him time to make his choice.

Being true to his odd lineage, the infant did what was expected and grabbed at anything he could see. Unfortunately he wasn't strong enough to actually grasp and hold anything. Whoever it was who prepared the meals in the house would surely regret how lazy they were when putting things away, nothing was rightly closed. Pouches of spice, flower, nuts, pretty much anything not closed spilt across the counter tops. Finally, he decided on a tiny bottle which held an unknown substance. The vial was light and thin enough for him to keep his fingers about.

"What's this here? Is this for me? Thank you~" Bir turned the child around in his arms and brought him close against his leather clad chest once again. He tilted his head with a smile and attempted to take the vial from his son's hand.

[Eladis]

Eladis stood in the doorway to his kitchen, watching. The scene was almost eerie, the only light sources in the room being the bright moonlight from the window and three dimly glowing sets of eyes. Judging from how long it took the rogue to notice him, he was high. Unintentionally, he felt his auras shift as he approached the dark haired elf.

"Vanilla extract doesn't make the best snack, Bir. Why don't you go sleep your thistle off and come back in the morning. Some of us need to sleep." He spoke calmly, clearly, just as he always did with the boy. No matter how he presented himself there would always be an underlying fear, even in front of the child.

"I know, I wasn't going to eat it really.. We were just having fun me and..?" Bir smiled wide, he couldn't help it.

"His name is Euj and he needs to sleep at this hour, not 'have fun' with you." Without any hesitations, Eladis stepped forward and took the child from the smiling fool. He pried the little hand open and took the vial from it. However, that was a short lived victory as the baby screamed and wriggled.

Bir gently wrapped his arms about the crying baby and took him back, cradling and cooing. "Sssh shh, it's ok. We can have fun later.." Pausing, he raised his voice slightly above a whisper, "Is he the youngest? He has my nose.. 'Gold', I'm hungry. Can I have some food?"

"Gold..? I don't know. I wasn't there when they were born.. I'm not going to cook you anything, I'm tired." Eladis took the loss and started to clean the mess in his kitchen, sweeping the spice and flower and closing the cupboards quietly.

"Yeah, Gold.. I'm hungry." Bir stared down at his son as he slowly rocked him in his arms.

"You aren't feeding yourself? Do you need gold?" A slight bit of concern broke through Eladis' normally passive expression as he glanced over his shoulder. No offers would be made, there would be no idiot staying in this home. Throwing gold at him would be the most efficient option to get him out without losing any sanity.

"Huh? No, Aquizit feeds me.. I don't need your gold, Gold. I'm just hungry right now and I don't wanna.." The words trailed off as he became distracted at how easily the child in his arms slipped into a dream.

Eladis bent over to begin to sweep the floor, quickly snapping up as he realized who he was speaking with. At the risk of seeming afraid or something equally unbecoming, he cleared his throat and did his best to act casual. "You don't want to what, Bir?"

"I don't want to trouble Aquizit. I trouble him an awful lot these days. He's really wonderful, you know."

"Is that why you decided to break into my house stoned and make a huge mess? Because you didn't want to wake up the flavor of the month? You'd rather wake up the those who are taking care of the children you re--" Eladis stopped himself, raking his hair back with a slow breath. Waking the baby would be no good and getting upset would bring him nowhere with this idiot. He wordlessly took the child from the boy, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end as he turned his back to leave the kitchen.

[Szordrin]

(( LOL. Bir. <3 ))

[Bir]

Bir followed, not at all looking quite as pissed off as he wanted to be. It was those damned rumors and things getting around again, or something. On second thought, the man probably passed his own judgments. It wasn't his fault, he was usually right. Not this time though, any other time he could be right, but this time things were different. He silently watched the blonde, staring holes into his eyes as if awaiting an apology. This man knew better than most what he was capable of, not that there was any intention of physically fighting.. at the time.

"Gold, I'm hungry, get me something to eat." Bir spoke finally he followed the blonde out of the nursery and back into the kitchen.

Eladis stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder, "You want gold? Fine."

Bir bumped into the man's back, blinking dumbly as he failed to make sense of the question. "What? No, I want food."

"What is this about gold then?" The less than casual looking blood knight continued into the kitchen, grabbing the bowl which usually held some sort of fruit in it.

"That's what I call you." Bir stood up on his tippy toes to peer over the shoulder and into the empty bowl. He checked there earlier, there was nothing.

"Why would you call me that?" Eladis slid the bowl across the counter, turning to face the boy.

"Because that's what you are, you're Golden." Bir spoke as if it were common knowledge, because it all made sense to him. Besides, this was a better nickname than 'Kovan Lookalike', or 'Old Bastard'. 'Piggly Wiggly' was his favorite but something told him it really wasn't the time to bring that up.

"What makes me 'Golden'?" Eladis was quick to question, he always was when the boy sounded this strange. Oddly enough it wasn't hard to get him to explain himself if you just asked, hopefully this time he didn't steal anything.

"You're slightly more than one, by just a tiny bit.. It's too long of a number to call you all the time, so Gold will have to do. I'm hungry."

[Eladis]

Eladis was hardly curious about what the last statement meant, he was more concerned about what actual gold the rogue might have taken from him. There wouldn't be much in the house, if a few pieces of silver the help left laying around after coming home from a day at the market. It wasn't anything for him to fret about, but getting Bir out of the house definitely was.

"Slightly more than one? What does that mean?"

"It means you're a little more than one and nobody can stand it. You can't even stand it, but you can't help it." Bir hopped up on the counter, dangling his feet off the edge in a childish motion.

Eladis forced himself to seem more interested, no matter tired he was. "That doesn't make any sense, elaborate."

"Well, you just can't keep it to yourself. You gotta run around all over in secret and do bad things. Nobody can stay with you either because they know, but you can't help it because nobody wants you deep down.. I'm still hungry too, by the way." Bir smiled sweetly, knowing full well he still didn't make much sense.

"Say it in Thalassian, Bir. I don't understand what you mean." Eladis leaned back against the wall, thankful he was on the opposite side of the room.

The rogue sighed with a nod, making note to speak as nicely as possible. "Ok.. Aurlon wanted to be with you, you pushed him away. 'Vae has always wanted you, you pushed her away until she died over you. You married a random weird woman and you come home late anyways. You fuss too much over things that don't matter. You have absolutely no right to judge me and call Aquizit my flavor of the month. Now I know I'm not always the best, but at least I didn't kill anyone."

Eladis blinked softly. Certainly there was a very, very good retort somewhere in his half asleep mind. Finding nothing to defend himself from the unexpected verbal assault, he turned and walked away. "I didn't kill her. Help yourself, clean up after. Lock the door when you leave."

[Bir]

Bir slid off the counter and grabbed the man's sleeve. "Hey! No! I didn't mean to-"

Eladis cut the sentence short, "Don't you touch me you worthless little rat. My personal life has nothing to do with you, stop following me, or whatever the hell you're doing to watch me and concentrate on making yourself less pathetic."

"I don't watch you.. It's just obvious. Maybe you should hide it better." With a quiet protest, Bir recoiled and took two steps back. It was that look again, the very same one. It was twisted, cut and packaged in his mind's eye. The look that said he wasn't welcome and never was.

"I am saving you countless nights of worry and I'm raising children that aren't mine. I do so much for my people and for you and what do I get in return, Bir? You've never thanked me, all I get is idiotic thistle head rants about shit you have nothing to do with. You think you're so mature and you think you have it together? You think you have everyone all figured out? If that's what helps you sleep at night, fine. Just don't come around here making messes and acting all high and mighty when you're not. Come back when you want to be useful." With that, the blood knight turned away for the last time.

Bir stood frozen. He hardly heard the door close. Everywhere he turned, doors closed. That man was always right. The grumbling of his stomach shook him back into a somewhat normal train of thought. It was time to find something to eat.

[Sci]

((best story evar XD))

[Kovan]

(( inorite? Bir, is so full of amazing goodness when it comes to words and storytelling))

[Bir]

(( *points* Can you spot the foreshadowing? ;P ))

[Eladis]

Eladis hummed to himself as he worked. He sat at a very wide desk covered with gems, elegantly carved stone statues and boxes filled with tools. Glancing to either side to be sure the door was closed and nobody was around, his humming became louder. Eventually he started singing, it being a beautiful day, why not? Things were looking up, he had his wife, his children, his more than successful profession, a mistress or two and he hadn't seen a battle field in weeks.

Aside from the unwanted visitor a few days ago, everything was as it should be. The wife and help would be looking after the children, he would cut gems most of the day and send them to the market until he helped too. Gold would roll in, they would have anything they liked and everything would be just the way it should have always been.

He continued to sing, actually finding a smile on his face as he sanded a raw gem. There had been no letters from the Aldor and very few from the Blood Knights. Gold did a lot of the talking for him, what better excuse to not be at war than 'mental instability'? There was one elf to thank for that, ironically enough.

The doorknob turned slowly and a familiar silver haired figure entered the room, with a delightfully familiar large box. Til let out a long groan as he heaved the box up onto the table, the weight of it making the statues and gems shiver on the fine wood surface. He pulled his long pallid hair from his face and tossed four or five letters into his employers lap.

Eladis remained singing, crossing his legs and casually letting the mail fall off his lap onto the ground as if he didn't see it at all. He replaced the words in his song, awkwardly speaking to his errand boy. "What~! Doyou think, yooou're dooing~ Giving~me~this~shit? Write'em baaack, I~don't~have~time~!"

"You should read those ones first. Or would you like me to write back anyway? Your opinion may differ from mine, sir." Til started digging around in the box as he normally did, pulling bag after bag stuffed with gold from within it and carelessly letting them drop on the table with heavy thuds.

"Fine~! Fiiii~ne.. Fine." The singing died back down to a cheerful hum as he unfolded one already opened letter. As expected, it was another friendly 'donation' reminder. The humming died completely as he moved on to the next three.

"When did these arrive..?" Eladis asked quietly, moving onto the next. They were letters from his favorite little idiot, of course. As soon as everything seemed to be looking up. That's always how it went.

"A few days ago, when I see his name I don't exactly put it as my top priority." Til huffed, picking up his box.

"So it's safe for me to assume he's on his--" Eladis was cut off.

"Downstairs, as we speak." Til finished.

"Right then. Would have been good to know about this yesterday." Eladis growled as he pushed his chair back from his desk.

[Bir]

Bir sat hidden on the couch, watching the three of his children play on the rug in front of him. Well, play as much as babies that young could possibly play. They chewed colorful little toys, flailed their little arms and rolled around happily. He spoke to the woman tending to them as soon as he came in the door, recalling her from a horrible night that seemed years away. She hadn't said a word to him and neither did the errand boy, Eladis must have read them the letters or warned them in advance right after the 'Piggly' incident.

Not for one second did the woman take her serpent like eyes from where the rogue had flickered. Needless to say, she could see him there, he wasn't far away enough. He stared right back at the blonde through half lidded eyes, panting uneasily from his mouth under his mask. They both sat, listening to the man upstairs sing. Eladis only sang when he was in a good mood, not that it lightened the one in the room any.

The look she gave him formed a worried crease in his own brow, what was she thinking about to give him such an unearthly stare? What had he ever done to her? Had he said anything funny since the first night they met? Was that all? Was it Eladis? Was it the children? No. He knew what those looks meant, even when he wasn't feeling so sick the women gave him those looks. Even worse, his three children were there in the very same room. She was probably thinking, Did you rape her or something? Who would ever want you? An endless pool of dark thoughts took over the rogue's mind until he recalled the hilarious yet insulting words he said to the woman when they very first met. Group job? Sounds like fun.

There hadn't been a group job, but boy was she ever offended.

Saliva dripped down the bottom of his mask, trailing down his neck. Hand in hand with the dopey look in his eyes and combined with his mask anyone would swear he was gawking at the woman the way a psycho who just got out of prison might. The truth couldn't have been further from that.

Ok, maybe she had every single right to look at him that way. From between how he looked and the impression he gave when they first met.. He couldn't stop himself from letting out a hoarse laugh, the sound making him seem years older.

"What's so funny?" The woman asked in an unusually neutral and light tone, as if she really was interested.

Think fast.. Faster..

"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering what you two decided to name the boys.. I met Euj the other night, but I hadn't asked about him." Bir smiled down at his nameless son, forgetting he wouldn't be able to see it anyways but hoping it would at least show through his muddled eyes.

"Eladis named them, he decided on Euj and Qet. You named Karen, of course. Why didn't you name all three? I wanted to name them less exotic sounding names, but he insisted they would fit." She used her same careful tone, standing to scoop up the little one who had rolled perhaps too close to where his mostly invisible father was.

"I wasn't sure I should have even named Karen, they're your children now, not mine.." Bir trailed off, sadly hoping little Karen would have rolled right over.

It was depressing to think he wouldn't allow himself to be around when they took their first steps, even more depressing when Eladis stopped singing just at that very moment. That man ran down the stairs so fast it sounded like he fell down them.

[Eladis]

"You, follow me. Outside. Now." Eladis spotted the boy as soon as he entered the room. Judging from his wife's unsettling stare, the letters weren't just a pathetic cry for attention. He mindlessly slapped the parchments against his thigh while he made his way back upstairs and out onto his balcony, assuming the rogue followed. It was obvious now why Til didn't inform him earlier.

"Qet? That's a funny name.. Why Qet?" Bir did follow, only becoming visible when he was sure his children wouldn't see him.

"You didn't tell me Aquizit was forsaken, Bir. You know you shouldn't sleep with things that are well past their expiry date. I'm not sure I can make it all better." Eladis was quick to cut straight to the point, tossing one of the letters at the boy.

"Wh-what? Aquizit's not forsaken.." Bir blinked slowly, his head suddenly head pounding.

"Then maybe you should have, oh, what was it.. hidden it better? And slept with something that wouldn't infect you. You really are an idiot. Kovan will just love to hear about this, won't he. Go ahead and tell him his big brother refused to help you, see what he has to say about it." Eladis forced a dark look, no matter how badly he wanted to laugh in the sickly rogue's face. Revenge, twice over, it felt good. He could have probably lessened the pain, but why? He deserved it. With that, he tossed another letter at the boy.

"That isn't why I came here, I wouldn't take your help anyways. What did you do to Nilean?" Subject change, the best way to hide the pain from a sudden verbal gash.

"So what will your lover think of you now? What was his name, Aquizit? Are you even going to tell him?" Eladis saw right through that little game of his, not at all intending on skipping the subject entirely, just for now.

Bir shook his head, a violent cough making his body shake in the morning breeze. "It would only bother him to know I'm in pain. Besides, I didn't sleep with any undead.."

"So what, you're just going to kill him too? That's disgusting. I'm telling him and that's that. So if you didn't come here for healing, what do you want? That mask is useless, by the way, unless you're actually hiding something contagious under there." Eladis folded his arms, staring down at the city as he normally did in the morning, though he forgot his coffee.

"I want to know what you did to Nilean and.." Bir paused, bringing a closed fist up to cough into it, to look polite, forgetting all about his mask.

Fortunately for Bir, Eladis wasn't even looking. "And..? I didn't do anything to anyone. Why can't you just leave me the hell alone? Ah, I know. Stay here a moment." The knight turned away, not even giving a glance as he walked back into his home.

[Bir]

It seemed like the man was gone for only half of a second, returning with a single cup of coffee. Bir wrinkled his nose, he hated that stuff. Bitter and disgusting, who could ever enjoy it? It fit the eldest Thornel, actually.

"You're not really going to tell anyone anything, are you?" Bir questioned quietly, being sure to sound as pathetic and sickly as possible. Who knows, maybe he had a soft spot for silly rogues with funny noses.

"No, because I've just given you a good deal." Eladis sipped his coffee with an all too familiar crooked smile.

"You have?" Bir leaned against the ornate banister, turning to arch a slow brow.

"Yes, I have. Til will be sending a large sum of gold to you in the next few days, don't come here anymore. Don't talk to me anymore. Don't talk to Kovan anymore. Don't talk to my wife, or Til, ever. Since you already know she's around, don't bother her either. If I found out you have, I'll take the gold back and tell everyone what you wrote to me in those letters. Sound good? You get your gold, your undead lover on the side AND your Aquizit, and the rest of us get peace and quiet. We all win." Eladis likewise arched a brow, bringing his coffee mug up for another long sip of the hot liquid.

"I don't have an undead lover on the side. What will you tell Kovan if he asks? What if you keep your gold and tell him I'm fine?" Bir curled one finger to scratch the tip of his nose, trying hard to comprehend what a 'large sum' was to a man like Eladis.

"I won't tell him anything. What makes you think he cares about you anyway? Take the gold." Eladis smirked, it felt good to have the upper hand.

"Call it a hunch. Anyway, I'll take your deal if you throw in your fancy hoofed bird." Bir smiled his usual cheerful smile.

"Deal. Now get out of here and never come back." Eladis extended one arm to shake hands with the boy. Certainly he had no intention of sending his 'fancy hoofed bird' away, but at least he knew that would be the first thing to go missing if Bir ever decided to bother him again. Besides, it wasn't like those beasts were worth more than never seeing that idiot again.

[Eladis]

Eladis stood silently, staring at the rogue and waiting for him to jump off the balcony and climb down like a good rogue ought to. Hell, if he jumped off and broke his legs it would still be just as well. He didn't care to hear any more about this 'hunch', nor did he care to even look at the rogue.

Bir returned a blank look.

"What are you waiting for? Don't you want my fancy bird? Leave now, or you won't get it." Eladis combed his hair back, looking down at steam rising from his coffee rather than the little probably sobbing idiot.

"I'm waiting for you to tell me what you did to my brother. Bird's worth that, I'd say. He still won't speak to me." Bir sat down slowly, leaning against the wall with labored breaths.

"Oh, that? I just roughed him up a little bit for having a loose and disrespectful tongue. That was a long time ago and I didn't even break any bones. Is he really still upset about that? Maybe he's upset his little brother is a useless little fa--" Eladis stopped himself too late, it would be no good to ruin everything and make the boy have a fit now.

"Probably exactly what he thinks.. You must have hit him in the face and made him ugly. Keep the bird and the gold, don't tell him or Kovan anything." Bir stood slowly and went back into the house, not at all ever considering jumping off a balcony. He would use the front door like anyone else.

"As long as you don't show your face here again, I'll keep my mouth shut. If I ever find you in my kitchen or around those little ones, I'll have you hung for what you did to me. Understand?" Eladis grabbed the rogue's shoulder, forcing him to turn around.

"Whatever, don't touch me." Bir wriggled from the grasp after getting a good look at the man's face, imagining and lying to himself.

Eladis followed to be sure the rogue actually left, saying absolutely nothing as he walked by his errand boy and wife. Til already knew, the wife would hopefully never find out.

[Aquizit]

[ So it begins. ]

[Bir]

Bir bent slowly, yawning as he stuffed a crumpled letter into the mailbox. He shot a quick glance over his shoulder before flicking both his arms up to stretch, not wanting to hit anyone in the face. A smile curled his lips when he thought of the time he stretched too fast, hurt his arm and accidently hit an unsuspecting person in the nose. Sure, he felt awful then, worlds awful, poor person he didn't know got a bloody nose. It didn't compare to now. Nothing did. There was never a time in his life when he felt as horrible as he did right then.

"So, Lazuri. What do you think? I need to be somewhere warm." Bir wiped sweat from his forehead, he didn't need to be warm. He didn't think that he was warm enough sweating in his heavy robes.

The little imp scrambled up to the elf, reaching for the book he had strapped to his hip. Bir turned sharply with a glare, not at all intending to fork his tome over. Lazuri clawed at his master's drab green robes, trying to climb up them to get to the too-fat book.

"No way it looks cool where it is. Don't you think I look cool, like a paladin? If I give it to you I won't look nearly as awesome. I do good like a paladin does, I should get to have an awesome looking book don'tcha think? A scryer one too." Bir stuck his tongue out at the creature.

Lazuri blinked his big round eyes, then gave a short nod. He continued to climb up anyways, settling for perching himself on one side of his master's large dreadweave mantle. One might think the little floating bits of the shoulder armor would be annoying to deal with, however to a tiny imp, they were little floating back rests.

Bir kept his smile, as he always tried to do. It was the most important thing to him now, might as well hold onto it. He spoke quietly, to not draw any attention. "Ok I'm going to turn slowly, point in the direction you think is most warm."

The imp gave another nod as his master spun ever so slowly, and he quickly hopped up and started jabbing the side of the elf's head, pointing frantically to the north east. The elf stopped, folded his arms, then shook his head.

"Not Hellfire. I'll see pleanty of that in due time. Where else?" Bir started to turn again, "AAAGH!" he growled, passerbys looking his direction.

Lazuri decided to yank his hair, frantically pointing to the east even though he hadn't turned that way yet.

"Nagrand? Sure I guess it's pretty warm there, the sun's nice in the afternoon.." Making his choice, Bir smiled and went to collect his things.

[Eladis]

Eladis slowly read part of the letter aloud, "Your stupid whore of a wife blabbed, you said you would make sure Kovan would never find out, now you'll finally get what you want. I'm going somewhere warm...Well isn't that nice."

Til shrugged, looking just as passive as the man speaking. As usual, the two spoke in the upstairs office. He had been instructed to bring up anything from the boy as soon as possible.

"I suppose I should write him back, hm? Have a word with Qiana would you? Tell her to get back in the kitchen and out of my business. I'm surprised she even kept an eye on the situation. She seemed completely oblivious. I don't think it's a good idea for me to even look at her right now. I'm going to Shattrath to see if I can find the idiot before he does something stupid." Eladis pushed himself back from his desk, patting the colorful dust from a day's work off his palms.

"Sir, do you think that's wise?" Til gave the younger elf a look as if he had sprouted a second head or something equally as bizarre. It was the same uneasy look your father gave you when you asked him how babies were made for the first time, perhaps even more estranged than that. A shame there was no mother for Til to send Eladis to.

"Have a better idea? I'm listening." Eladis froze in place, it wasn't often his help spoke to him so politely. He had employed the older elf since he could first afford to, House Thornel having him as Eladis' assistant and caretaker even before that. The two were family and as respect was held in high regard, if Til thought the man was doing something stupid he would just tell him so in a blunt family like fashion. Til had been there since he was young, hardly judging and always watching, as a servant should.

"The boy has done unspeakable things to you, he's always spending his gold on whatever gets him high, he's with a different man every other day.. Are you sure he's going to do 'something stupid'? I would suggest you leave him be, he only wants your attention." Til kept his eyes on Eladis', he knew what had went on but he still felt no pity for the little idiot.

"If he's unstable enough to write something like this to me, don't you think he deserves a little attention?" Eladis stared back, quickly growing impatient.

"From you? If he's psycho enough to do something like that, he's psycho enough to lock you in a dark room again." Til sneered.

"Are you volunteering to go in my stead? He's weak in his condition anyway, I'm sure you could take him." Eladis smirked, taking the freshly cut gems from his desk and placing them in the usual large box. He hadn't actually considered what Til told him until he said it, a protective worry taking place of any common sense.

"Do what you like, Eladis. I'll be here to say I told you so when he's ruined everything for you again." Til rolled his eyes and hunched over the large box to pick it up.

[Bir]

"Well that's all I feel like carrying, the rest can stay here." Bir smiled and took what he considered to be his most precious belongings (at the time) to stuff them into a netherweave bag. He tossed the bag over his shoulder and gave a nod to the banker.

Lazuri followed, looking up at his master and for the first time ever, noticing the pillar of light coming from the center of the city. Naturally, the little imp went berserk, pointing and flailing, he wanted to see what the hell that thing was coming from.

Bir blinked down at the imp, "Whatcha want? A'dal? You wanna go see? Let's go see, nobody's waiting for us anyway."

[Eladis]

Eladis peered into the distance, eying down every dark haired elf outside the Scryer's bank. Leathers or robes, the idiot used both whenever he felt like it. He focused on their noses, Bir had a rather unique nose. It wasn't ugly or long really, just unique. After grabbing several angry rogue's shoulders, awkwardly lying through his teeth and very much regretting his Aldor tabard, he spotted the idiot headed to A'dal.

"Bir! Bir you get over here RIGHT now!" Eladis raised his voice in a commanding growl, picking up his pace as much as he could manage in his heavy plate.

Bir shot a surprised and terrified look over his shoulder. Not only did he look similar, they sounded the same when they was pissed off. Naturally, he picked up his imp and ran as fast as he could.. in the wrong direction, passing the knight with wide eyes. He was already out of breath when he wasn't running, he wouldn't make it far. It didn't matter why the man was mad, Bir didn't want to deal with it. Usually when he didn't want to deal with things, he disappeared. He couldn't disappear now, not with Lazuri. Abruptly stopping, he doubled over and slapped his hands on his knees in a fit of horrible coughing.

Eladis caught up easily, taking no time in throwing the letter in the sickly idiot's face. "What the hell is THIS all about, huh?!"

Bir winced, expecting something more. He struggled to catch his breath, wheezing out words as he could. "..Sorry.. I guess.. your wife... isn't really.. a whore.."

Muttering the most colorful phrases under his breath, Eladis raked his hair back, dark eyes set on the heap of sweaty sickly elf before him. "No more of this, Bir." With a groan, the knight got to his knees to scoop up the coughing boy, finding no objections.

"No more.. No more what?" Bir very well would have flung a shadowbolt or four at the man if he were able.

"As you know, Kovan found out. Did you tell Aquizit?" Eladis questioned softly, walking at a slow pace towards the lower city. What a sight, a man wearing an Aldor tabard carrying another wearing a Scryer's tabard. Someone somewhere gagged and spat.

"Yeah.. I told him.. Kind of." Bir looked down, hiding his face from the man. His chest burned from the running, at least thats what he told himself.

"You told him what you told me in that letter? 'Somewhere warm'? I can only assume that means hell." Eladis kept his gentle tone, not wanting to threaten the boy in any way.

"Sort of. I was going to.." He paused to cough, "I was going to bring him with me.. But I can't do that, not to him. I'm letting him go."

"Without telling him?" Concern creased the elder male's brow as he noticed the boy was hardly more heavy than his shield or over sized axe.

"I don't know what to say.. Where are you taking me?" Bir looked up with a forced smile, hoping to high hell it wasn't where he thought it was. He didn't want any 'thermometers' from Eladis. He didn't want to see that wife of his. He didn't want to see anyone.

"The infirmary."

[Bir]

Running, more running. He was tired, it hurt to breathe. Long ebon hair curled and plastered to his forehead, there was no wind even as he kept his pace. There was a tree in the distance, the same one with the long vines, the very same one from eversong woods. It was too bright, he raised a hand to block the sun. He had to keep running, he couldn't stop. As he got closer to the tree, there were two people under it, both with long dark hair. As their faces came into focus, he stopped.

The ground fell from under him.

Bir awoke with a start, someone else was on his bunk with him. Whoever that someone was, was awfully heavy and made the rickety wooden bed complain under their weight. He rolled onto his stomach and tucked both of his arms under his pillow, growling his discontent with whoever it was who woke him up in the form of a colorful little phrase he picked up somewhere.

"C'mere, and open your mouth.." The voice growled right back, sounding far too much like someone else.

Bir whined, "Kovaan, didn't I tell you to go away?"

"Just come here, idiot."

[Eladis]

"Kovan, go away." Bir buried his face in his sweat drenched pillow.

"I met your Aquizit today. I can see why you didn't tell him you were leaving him." Eladis was certainly in no mood for this, from when he first woke, to when he was supposed to be asleep, it had been nothing but disrespectful idiots.

Bir sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes with the base of his palms. He blinked slowly, narrowing his eyes until the familiar face came into focus and became not so familiar. "The hell do you mean by that?"

"He's trash, just like you. One might think that you two would make a perfect little couple. I can see why you left without a word. I'm curious, just how much did you admit to him? Did you mean to impress him with what you did?" Eladis hunched forward, snatching the rogue's face in one hand, squeezing the sweaty cheekbones with his index finger and thumb to open that idiotic little mouth.

Bir's jaw cracked as the man forced two fingers in his mouth to feel around his cheeks. He didn't tell him much, Aquizit never asked much.

"Closer to the candle.." Eladis took his fingers from the boy's mouth and reached forward to hook them around the ragged shirt collar, not letting go of his face.

Bir gave no complaints.

"Disgusting.. are these ulcers?" The knight spoke quietly, sounding distracted. He moved his hand to hold the mouth open as if the boy were some kind of wild animal. Inflammations, quite a few of them and little red bumps. He examined awhile longer, occasionally poking and prodding as any healer would.

Bir shrugged, how the hell would he know?

"Sickening. I'll send you something to lessen the pain." Eladis took his hands from the boy, flicking the saliva off his fingers.

"Was Aquizit.. ok?" Bir rubbed his jaw slowly, not exactly looking terribly interested in his own question.

Eladis muttered, "Seemed fine to me. A shadow flinging ungrateful wretch who would rather take a beating than say sorry, or even thank you." He raised his voice slightly, "Is there anything else you want?"

"Nope, thaank you." Bir gave his usual cheshire grin, sounding a little too sarcastic.

[Aquizit]

[ ... Piggly. ]

[Bir]

Bir had sent a letter the night before. He waited. This was unusual, he was never late. No reason for him to get nervous, no reason at all. The first letter he got was reason enough to be nervous, no matter just how amusing he told himself it should have been. There was already two, three couldn't hurt, could it? No, this was not a third. Eladis wasn't the sort to mess around, he meant business. Bir didn't have time for anything more, did he?

He waited perhaps two, three hours before he stood from his table in the world's end tavern and made his way back to the infirmary. Mid day in Shattrath was terribly boring. Groaning refugees, beggars, heavily armored and uncaring adventurers.. Bir fit in with the refugees or beggars, dressed in the same ragged off-white garb of any other 'terminal'. What an odd word. Conclusions, fatal, inevitable, mortal.. Depressing. It was depressing anyway. He didn't physically feel the way he should have, either. Another bind, another bout, always with the number two.

As he was entering the ruined building which contained his deathbed, he noticed a second large onyx drake lazily waiting just outside. There were many drakes lazing around out there, but this one seemed extra bored. Bir carefully stepped around it, leaning in like a child to examine its face.

"Who are you waiting for?" Bir inquired sheepishly.

Dragons were known to talk, but this one ignored the little elf and rolled over onto its side.

Bir shrugged and stepped over the beast's tail, giving the familiar aldor woman an awkward nod. He hated those draenei, every single one of them.. Even if they gave him tea. Then again, worse races have done worse things to him. Nobody had to know he held a grudge.

[Eladis]

Eladis sat on the bottom bunk with a child in his arms. He had shoved most of the sordid belongings off the bed to make himself some room. Everything that idiot owned was there in patched up bags. Everything looked so pathetic, the bags, the stray clothing, leathers, stitched poorly at the seams, stained and covered in a thin layer of dirt. There was a succubus curled up asleep on the top bunk. Even as he moved all the junk off the bed to sit, the succubus did not wake and nor did the infant in his arms. He could only be thankful for that.

Silence was something he always tried to take the time to enjoy. He enjoyed it for a time which didn't seem long at all, lost in his own thoughts. It was broken when the little rogue spotted him.

"Eladis! I told you to meet me in the tav-- Oh.." Bir lowered his voice once he realized there was a child in the man's arms. He should have come back earlier, but didn't think he would bring anyone with him.

Eladis stood slowly and handed the baby to his father, who eagerly accepted him. "Let's have a short walk. I have some questions to ask you."

"Sure.." Bir muttered the single word, following as he normally did. He admired the baby in his arms. This one had his mother's more masculine features leaving him looking a lot like his uncles, but he had the dark hair that said he wasn't theirs entirely.

"You're not happy. Why?" Eladis was dressed as he always was, in formal plate from his neck to his toes. The lazy drake didn't look so lazy as the two passed by. The knight walked as he always did through the ruined streets, proudly with his head held high.

"..I don't..know. Where do I start with that?" Bir stopped to sit at a tower of boxes, entranced by the child in his arms. His son opened his little watery eyes slowly, drifting in and out of a dream as most infants did. Bir couldn't help but smile.

"You look happy now, are you happy? You don't even seem sick." Eladis leaned against the boxes, noting how pristine and pale the other elf's skin was. As grubby as he lived, he was always white. He supposed he had gotten pale over the years himself, but he didn't have that odd listless glow.

"Well, my children make me happy..." Bir replied, hardly listening. He wondered why the man brought this one in particular. He probably favored it.

"Are you doing anything today." Eladis asked with a passive expression and flat tone, he knew the answer already.

"No.. Well, maybe. Kovan said he was going to talk to Aquizit, or something. I'm just waiting to see which one of them doesn't like me. I think it's for the best if.. Ah whatever, I can't hide. I can't even die." Bir didn't look at the man or notice his lack of expression. He never really did care for the knight and he had an idea of what he was after.

"You know, there are a lot of things you can do in your position Bir, you're not powerless. Why don't you forget all about that and look after Qet for today? I'll even help.." Eladis spoke with a light tone, trying his best to sound sincere.

Bir looked up slowly, puzzled. "You don't have anything better to do? I'm sick of everyone wasting their time with me.. and I know you don't like me."

"Whoever said I didn't like you? Well you can keep him, for a day. I'll come back tomorrow with some cake. Here." Eladis put on the most convincing smile he could. He reached over his shoulder to hand the boy his bag. Perhaps it was a bit of a stretch to trust an idiot with his own child, but he would prove it. For one, Bir was right. He did have better things to do.

The blood knight wore a crooked smirk as he walked away, empowering, manipulating.. This was only the beginning. His smirk grew when he heard the child fuss as he went out of their view. Everything would work out and he would feel a little less green when he was done.

[Bir]

As Bir was trying falling asleep that night, he recalled everything he did that day. Each wolf or person who frowned, every one who smiled. Was that a way to measure his worth? He moved his hand in circular motions over his son's back, trying his best not to let his mind wander that way.

Survivor's guilt? Blue balls? What did it matter, everything was always as it had been. Screwed up. The guilt brought a serious crease in his brow, where the 'blue balls' only made him laugh. Back and forth, on and off. What did anyone do when they found something was broken? If it was worth it, they fixed it. Bir sent him away again that night, even if he didn't exactly mean to. Sometimes things just slipped.

Only one trustworthy person came to mind when he thought of fixing his 'condition', or 'problem'. But she was dead, wasn't she? He was dead too, three times. More than that even. Nobody would help with that. What did he do when no one helped? He helped himself.

That consideration soothed his mind as he glided into the repetitive dream, the one with the tree.

[Eladis]

Eladis arrived to retrieve the child as early as possible. The sun hadn't even risen yet. His stomach churned for every second he knew a defenseless little infant was in the arms of such an idiot. How many hours was he gone, five, six? Not even? An infant was not a play thing, not a cuddly little teddy bear. He found the child asleep on his father's chest.

The scene so silently disgusted him, he was tempted to hold a pillow over Bir's face. Instead, he carefully took the baby from the sleeping elf, replacing him with a frilly box tied with too many swirly colorful ribbons. The fat woman had made him an entire cake. Whatever feeling she held for Eladis was dwarfed by the care and consideration she put into the baked good. Either way, it was a relief to know he didn't roll over and crush the child while he was asleep, or something equally as thoughtless and stupid. There was no reason to be green over a fat maid, absolutely no reason at all.

As the child was lifted from his father's arms, he awoke and immediately fussed. He found the familiar blonde man inspecting him as he usually did, holding him with one arm and delicately keeping his little head up. No no, he wanted to show him he could keep his neck straight himself! How annoying, being woken up and insulted! The baby let out a sharp cry, wriggling weakly in the knight's grasp.

"I missed you too.." Eladis muttered, gently bouncing the crying child and taking his bag from one of the bedposts.

As he was about to leave, he turned and seriously pondered his pillow-smothering idea. There were too many flaws with that, it couldn't be so easy. Others would see, he could wake and counter him.. The cry would have woken the idiot anyway. Regardless, he could think of at least eight people who would go after his own head if they ever found out. They would go after him anyway, he could make it all better with just a snap of his fingers. But he could make it all better with a little bit of force and a pillow.. He would never dirty his hands so directly anyway, no matter how easy and tempting it was. All he really had to do was wait. Patience was normally a virtue he kept very close.

[Lazuri]

Lazuri rolled around on the top bunk, bored as a little imp could be. It felt like weeks since he last saw any interesting combat. Whatever the fel his master did a few nights ago at the waterfalls looked like combat and it certainly looked like he lost. He sensed it was losing, anyway. If there were a soul link it would have been much easier to tell. It made no sense to him and he knew better than to ask. Losing was so boring. The infirmary was so boring. Everything was boring.

"Hey, Lazuri. Let's play, it'll be fun I promise. I have a new game." Bir yawned, waving the little imp down.

The smaller than most demon peered down at his master, holding onto the post of the ladder for dear life. What wasn't a far distance for an elf, was a great distance for an imp. It was too scary to jump! He didn't want to end up in the nether again! He refused to do it.

"It's ok, I'll catch you!" Bir smiled, outstretching his arms.

Just as the imp finally mustered the courage to jump, someone important caught his master's attention. A blood knight, why so many blood knights? Did this one come to lose too? Lazuri tilted his head in thought and slowly retreated to hide himself under a large pillow. This one probably had that spark he didn't like. He inched forward, peeking down off the bed to watch the two.

"Good evening Bir, did you enjoy the cake." Eladis asked plainly as he strode into the little corner which belonged to the idiot. His boots clicked against the stone floor, the noise slightly irritating.. To him, anyway. Everything was more irritating when the idiot was around, even breathing.

"Sure did! Tell--"

"I'm here to ask you some more ques-- to conv-- to talk, if that's alright with you." Eladis cut the rogue off with a too-serious look, trying his best to dumb his words down as much as possible. It was odd, stumbling over his own voice on purpose.

"Umm, sure..?" Bir replied uneasily as he shuffled backwards, surrounded by his things. By the looks of it, he was organizing what the knight had messed up the day before.

Lazuri met eyes with the knight, then quickly tucked his face back under the pillow.

"How are you doing."

"Ok, I guess.. Why do you care?"

"Why shouldn't I care."

"Because you don't like me."

"Who told you that."

"You did, when you picked the glass out of your foot that night. Remember? I was watching you. I remember exactly what you said, too. Some kind of night, huh? Don't get the wrong impression, I still hate you."

"I suppose, but that was some time ago. You have a good memory."

"I sure do, I even remember another time.. We were playing sneak. You elbowed me in the face when I grabbed you and gave me a bloody nose. You scare easy, it makes you really suck at that game." Bir gave a laugh, recalling it perfectly. "And that other time you dragged me out of the house by my hair.. and told me it was all my fault. OH! And that time I ran around in the house naked and told everyone that secret! And again, when I ruined your best suit.. You told me you -loathed- me on every single one of those occasions. That very word."

"..You have a much better memory than I do, Bir.. and that elbow was an accident. I'm sorry I'm no good at playing 'sneak'. Things have changed though, haven't they? You don't try to copy me anymore.. as flattering as that was I'm sure it was just another game. You aren't happy anymore. The house is gone. A lot of things have changed."

"I'm dying, or at least I'm trying to. That's all that's changed."

"That's a rath-- a pretty big change, don't you think? So you're still happy?"

"No, not really. I should have died a long time ago, with mom and dad. I wasn't really happy back then in the house either."

Enough was enough with that banter, Eladis took his voice a little deeper. "You seemed happy to me. You don't pretend very well, Bir. Lying isn't something you're good at. Does lying to yourself like that really work? You will be happy when you're dead? Well, you should have died and you didn't. What now? Are you going to kill yourself? Will that make mommy and daddy proud? What about the little ones, what do I tell them? Oh, your real father didn't want you so he gave you to me, he thought he was supposed to be dead so he just went and leaped off a cliff like a little sissy."

"Eladis, why are you here? Why don't you kill me and find a really good place to hide my body. You'd really like that huh? That's exactly why you're here, isn't it. Fine, do it then. Make it as painful as you want. I deserve it for what I did to you. Don't tell Kovan though, he'd kill himself too." Bir tried to make his words sting just as much as the ones thrown at him.

"You should know why I'm here. If Kovan is willing to end his life over yours, what do you think that means for me? I want to reach a compromise, Bir. I don't think your life is worth my brother's. We can plan around this and make it work out for everyone." Eladis lied through his teeth, giddy as a 'virgin' priestess at the boldness of his confrontation.

"You're lying." Bir saw through it, at least he was pretty damn sure he did. "You only care about one person, yourself."

"That's not true. I care about Kovan, my wife, YOUR children.. and you."

"Because they benefit YOU in some way, that's the only reason. Now how come I benefit you? Just because of Kovan? What does Kovan do for you-- Oh.. Oh I see. You're such a bastard. Is this why Kovan hasn't come to see me today?" Bir growled.

"What? I haven't spoken a word to Kovan since I told him I.. wanted to see you. Tell me why you think my wife and your children benefit me." This was something Eladis knew he had to tread lightly on, use vague words and change the subject.

"Want to see me WHY?" Bir would not take it.

"I told you why. I want to see you happy. I want a compromise. I want to see everything work out for the best."

"Clefthoof shit! Just tell me what you want you selfish pig!"

"Inside voices, Bir. There are others here besides us."

"..Shut up." Bir reached into his boot and threw the thin knife he kept there at the knight's shoulder.

Lazuri perked up at the sound of a blade being unsheathed and poked his head down to watch. Unfortunately, the knife hit Eladis' plate armor with a weak clang, not even piercing it. It must have just been a warning. The two men spoke to each other, but didn't look at one another. Bir kept himself busy with his things and Eladis simply had his back turned.

"Tell me what you plan to do with the rest of your time." Eladis didn't ask, he demanded.

"I-I.. am.. going to just waste away. Like I ought to." Bir replied slowly, the stern voice driving him to become submissive.

"Then Kovan will waste away too. You're that heartless?"

"N-no, he'll grow bored and leave. I.. I told him to go away. I told him to go away because I love him. I told him to find someone else. I told him to go back to Alphaeus. I have Aquizit, too, even if he's not really been around much.."

"You would take that TRASH over my brother?"

"..I love him. He's a very good man. He wants to protect me."

"You love both of them? Little whore. Kovan wants to protect too."

"No, it-it's not like that.. I.. Of course he does but that will only hurt him."

"You love one so the other will leave, but then that still leaves you with one. So you don't care for trash?"

"No.. I just said I love him too. He'll get bored too, then leave."

"So you'll be alone."

"Yes."

"There are flaws in that plan."

"No there isn't."

"Yes, for one.. You told me. For two, you think about others too much to pull it off."

"Tell either of them anything you want, they know already.. and.. so what?"

"So you'll get caught up in it and your plan to waste away won't work."

"It already isn't working, Kovan keeps setting the sickness back."

"Why don't you just ask one of them to do the honors?"

"I did. Kovan brought me back. They love me too much.. so if I make them hate me.."

"Then.." Eladis paused, laughing. "You're an idiot."

"Why am I an idiot!"

"Because, you.. have so much more pull in this than anyone. You could do so much.. more. I told you once before, you're not so powerless. I'm glad you already knew that."

"Eladis, what do you want?"

"I already told you, I came to talk."

"So you don't give a shit about Kovan.. You just want to make sure I don't infringe on anything you're planning?"

"I came to make you happy. Do you want some advice?"

"..Whatever Eladis."

"While you're already breaking two hearts, why not find a few more to really throw them off. You don't care about your body, do you? Just latch onto anyone and have fun. Enjoy what time you have left doing the only thing you're good at. Hell, bring a few down with you."

"That's the sort of thing a bastard would do, I'm not a bastard. My parents were married and they loved me. I'm good. I only do good. I'm doing what's best! I wasn't a whore's mistake, like you." Bir grinned at his own sharp words, only wishing he could see the look on Eladis' face.

"Do you know what a good person would do? They would choose one, then live and allow them self to be happy. They would pull their head out of their ass and get over their needless angst. You're not a good person, Bir. You're trash."

"..Fuck off, Eladis."

"Why? I've been in your shoes. Remember when I went to the Undercity for my 'treatments'? Did you really think I cared about what I am? Fuck no, I did it for the hell of it. I did it to remind myself everyone still gave a shit about me. I shed some unwanted weight along the way too. It's not exactly something I'm proud of, but it made life a little more interesting for a time.. Ended up all exactly how I wanted it to, too.."

"Clefthoof shit. No one can be that devoted to-- You are such a bastard."

"Well doesn't it explain why no one has anything to do with me now?"

"...I don't want anything to do with you either."

"I still want to see you happy, Bir. I'll bring some cake tomorrow. I have other things to do tonight."

"Whores, you mean. You have whores to do. They aren't things."

"Yes they are, they choose to be. You chose to be a thing, Bir. I'm just glad you can't live with it."

"Don't bring me any cake, I never want to see you again."

[Eladis]

Eladis arrived the next day as he said he would, with another frilly ribbon box. He sighed, not finding the idiot where he should have been. This needed to be done. It tore him from his duties often enough with the excuse of 'mental sickness'. That's exactly what it was, wasn't it? He wasn't even lying. Being green felt like a mental illness, especially if he brought it this far. He would wait again. As long as it took. It would all wrap itself up in his favor, as it always did. He held the scales. He had the upper hand.

As he silently brought himself to the state he wanted to be, the knight circled the bunk and sat where the idiot was sitting last night. He seemed to have organized his clothes, trinkets, even his little books into stacks of whatever color they were.. There was quite the pile of black leather. Patience, silence.. Two things that were hand in hand that he normally always enjoyed. He didn't want to wait.

One item in particular caught the knight's eye. A half burnt tome. He leaned forward to pluck it from the 'green' pile, carrying it between two fingers by its spine as if it would explode at any second. Once it seemed safe enough, he opened it. An arcane tome..? No, this was a journal. A shame half of it was burnt away. Eladis smirked a little, flipping through its pages. Near the end of the book, a few choice lines jumped out at him. Eladis isn't as bad as I thought he was. Write Piggly more letters. Vengeance is something for poor losers. I have no time for that. The last line really, truly made him laugh.

[Bir]

Bir strode into the room, pulling his torn shirt up to his neck to hide his chest. Someone was laughing. His stinging red rimmed eyes went to the book in the knight's hand, then to his face. He hadn't remembered the last time he saw Eladis actually laugh. Frankly, he didn't care for it.

"I thought I told you not to come by. Wh-why are you looking at my things?" His voice quivered despite his seriousness.

"You always looked at my journal, even wrote in it (http://wow-tng.org/showthread.php?t=5769). I thought I would return the favor. Isn't very nice, is it? Be glad I'm not wearing your clothes." Eladis' laughter died and he flicked the book at the idiot. He stood, the colorful box under his arm. "I brought cake, let's talk."

"I don't want to talk to you. Leave the cake." Bir let the half-book hit his leg and made no move to pick it up.

"What? I sat in the kitchen for so long helping her bake it, I want to have a piece." Eladis replied softly, sounding years younger. He bowed his head to hide his crooked smirk.

"You don't like cake. You think it's for children." Bir muttered, squinting. When he squinted enough, Eladis really did look like Kovan. The light blurred under his lashes and made it possible. He would much rather look at Kovan than Eladis, in any circumstance.

"Your memory isn't that great, I still enjoy a piece every once in awhile.. So why are you crying? Did they both decide they didn't want you? Don't like being alone? It's ok, Bir. I'm here.." Eladis stifled his laughter, sweeping the 'organized' belongings off the bottom bunk to set the box in the center of the bed. "Come here, I brought two forks. Do you remember how to use a fork?"

"No, teach me." Bir rolled his eyes, walking around the bed and privately cussing as the man ruined his poor attempt at organization.

"Why are you unhappy?" Eladis' lips were screwed up in what seemed to be a smile, who knew with him. The look was twisted and looked completely out of place.

"Because I feel upset.." Bir opened the box, dramatically moving his arms high as he undid the ribbons.

"Why are you upset? Let me make it better." Eladis kept his crooked smile. It wasn't a smirk, it was an outright grin. He showed off his perfect pearly teeth, shoulders bobbing as he found himself on the verge of laughing.

"..Because everyone's right. I'm sick. I've got a condition. Dying won't fix it." Bir waved his hand, gesturing for one of the forks.

"I see.. I see.." Eladis handed the boy a fork, just waiting. Waiting for him to ask. His smile died away. It was too soon, too early. He hadn't asked yet. He needed to ask.

Bir's brow creased as he shoveled a bite of cake into his mouth. It was sweet, pink frosting, the same cake he ate every single day when he lived in House Thornel. "I'm sorry, Eladis.."

"Sorry? Why." Eladis stabbed his fork into the opposite side of the cake.

"I said some awful things I didn't mean yesterday. You just want to help, I shouldn't have insulted your mother. I'm sure she was a good woman.. You were right. How were the whores?" Bir took another bite, long ragged ears drooping.

"Good enough. You were always the best though." The laughter built up in Eladis' throat again, he held it there, making it a cough instead.

"That's not really a compliment to me, you know."

"Oh, well.. It should be. You're good enough to drive two Thornel men to the brink, that should say something. I accept your apology and I'm glad you know I'm right." There was a falter in Eladis' voice, he didn't ask. The idiot didn't ask. It wasn't good unless he asked.

"I don't like my body, it's not a compliment."

"Is that why you're upset? They didn't leave you? You know you're not that bad looking. Could do without the funny nose.." Eladis muttered, trying to be as causal as possible.

"Nobody has come by but you." Bir sheepishly brought another chunk of cake to his lips, just staring at it a second before popping it in his mouth.

"So they did leave you."

"No.. I don't think so. They're wolves, they're busy. They have more important things than me."

"Have they written."

Bir paused, eating more cake before replying. "No."

"So they left."

"..Maybe. It doesn't matter, they only want me to be happy."

"What are you going to do now?"

"..I'm going to fix my condition and be happy again."

This was what Eladis was waiting for. "You are? How?"

"I'm going to find my doctor, my sister, she will make me well again. She always knew I wasn't right." Bir looked down at the cake with a sigh. His half was already gone.

"..What? Your.. doctor? A sister? A female doctor? A past lover? She 'made you well'? Who is she? What did she do?" Eladis sounded almost offended, masking it with concern. No, it wasn't a mask. It was concern, for himself. He wouldn't let the rat have his satisfaction. That idiot would beg. There would be no one else.

"A lover? Hells no, Malorii wasn't my lover.. She was like.. My best friend. My sister in arms. She always knew when I wasn't feeling right, then she would fix it. I used to play sneak with her. She made that game up. We had the best games.. But she died. I'm going to get what she left me. I need to be well again." Bir didn't notice the concern in the other's voice.

"..You've been carrying that sickness for this long? I think we're confusing your condition, Bir." Eladis kept his confusion to himself.

"I don't know, Eladis.. I'm tired.. I'm sick.. I'm scared." Bir pulled his knees to his chest as he always did when he felt himself breaking down. He felt the knight touch his arm and immediately jerked back. "Don't you touch me, Eladis. I hate you!"

"So be it." Eladis stood abruptly and left, not for one second comforting the elf. That's probably what he wanted. He would not get what he wanted from him, anyone else, fine. Not him. The knight refused to be another little tool for an idiot's game. He didn't ask. Damnit he didn't ask. He would ask.

[Eladis]

Eladis carefully raked his hair back, walking-- no, strutting about the Undercity with his head held high as usual. These people exalted him, why? Gold, of course. Throw enough gold at anyone and they'll love you forever. He turned a corner and smirked to himself, Bir would be there tonight. He was here last night, the night before too.

The smirk was suppressed into the usual passive stare as he continued. A ragged forsaken woman waddled by him, she wasn't fat but she waddled none the less. Her head turned, no question. Eladis was tall, broad and handsome.. Even if a little old, he didn't miss it. Yes, tonight was his night. It wasn't often women with no feeling left even bothered to look at him, but tonight was something else.

Bir Romine would be his tonight.

The knight had every last detail planned out in his head. He would seduce the idiot if he had to, but if he was right, he wouldn't need to. There would be words he didn't mean, if he had to say them. It will be glorious. He will do something for his people, yet again. If all things were willing, by this time tomorrow Leoren Evershine will have a package. A head wrapped in a tabard. Just the thought of it made Eladis grin.

There was a woman who could stand in the way, if such things even mattered. His name escaped her, but she was blonde, delicate, part of that Raven Cross as well. It didn't matter. It could be disguised as duty. Eladis was even surprised she crossed his thoughts at all. The rhythmical clicking of his heavy boots stopped as he reached his destination.

Then there he was. Bir Romine, curled up asleep outside the Apothecary. Waiting, of course. When more carefully inspected, it didn't seem the boy had done much moving at all. Eladis bent slowly and scooped him up like a child might uneasily scoop up a large glass figurine.

"You don't have to sleep here, Bir.. Let's bring you to a proper bed." Eladis muttered with an indifferent expression, despite the butterflies fluttering in his gut.

[Bir]

Bir let out a pained groan, twisting and stretching his arms and legs.. across sheets? That wasn't right. He opened his eyes to see, nothing, yet. This happened sometimes, it terrified him. Did he go blind? Bending with yet another low outcry, he held his hands up to his dimly glowing eyes. Nope, not blind, the light slightly reflected, or at least showed outlines of fingers. His ears folded back as he coughed, brow creasing.

Now onto the next important thing, where the hell was he? Not Kovan's, Kovan's has windows and Kovan would have tied him up so he wouldn't run. Or maybe not, he did make a promise. He found himself somewhere, on a bed, in a dark room with no windows. This wasn't the first time he's woken up in strange beds but usually he was knocked in the head or something far worse beforehand. Well, since there was no light, there was probably no note and he heard no one else breathing. It was time to find a way out.

The sickly elf stood uneasily and wobbled for whatever wall he could find. He bumped into a few things, boxes, chairs, then his arms found the wall. He followed the wall until he reached the door. Would it be unlocked? Never, doors were always closed and locked. If he wasn't trapped behind them he was the one locking them. It was always worth a shot. He turned the knob and found that the door was unlocked. For some stupid reason, this amazed him.

In the next room he found an elf with long silver hair sitting at a chair, reading by candlelight. Til seemed just as surprised to see Bir as Bir was to see him. Both the men exchanged funny wide eyed looks. The light reminded Bir why he actually didn't mind dark rooms.

Til abruptly stood, closing his book softly and being sure to be as quiet as possible. "Mister Romine, do you need anything?"

"Umm, yeah? Why in fel's name am I here? Where is here? ..And where's Eladis?" Bir was smarter than that, he knew Til would have had no part in bringing him to wherever he was. This probably had to do with that little note he wrote. It was too early to send it, he didn't win yet.. Not yet.

[Eladis]

"I haven't any clue why you're here, Mister Romine. Here? The Undercity, of course. As for Eladis, I think he went to get the mail. Come, sit.." Til waved the boy to the chair he had been sitting in, it looked similar to the one Eladis had back in the old house. It was certainly big enough to sleep in, more like a bed with arms.

"Mail? My mail? I want my mail.. I want--" Bir leaned against the door frame with a violent cough.

"Cake, yes I know. You always want cake. I don't think we have any." Til swept a long silver strand back behind his ear, shuffling over to the smaller elf to help him into the chair, twining one arm across his. As expected, Bir leaned against him, knees struggling under his own weight. It would have been very nice to be as informed as he kept Eladis, but that didn't much matter. For once, he had someone to talk to who wasn't on their way out the door. Or so he thought at the time. He had somehow forgotten who this elf was but that didn't take long to come back to mind.

"N-naw no cake, maybe tea. And how about my mail?" Bir sat in the chair and nestled into one corner of it. There was room for the other man to sit too, so he patted the spot next to him with a smile. Servants, or whatever they wanted to call themselves, were equals in Bir's eyes, just like smelly pirates. That brought something else into question, but not really, it took a lot for someone to be considered less than he thought of himself. They did enough.

Til's face contorted into a sort of uneasy half smile, the same one your father would give you if you asked him where kitties go when they die. Too bad there was no mother around to put in the spot next to the sickly idiot. Til knew what happened when this man was displeased, so he sat next to him. Well, sort of. He sat as far away on the chair as he possibly could, leaving maybe six inches between them.

"Your mail, huh? I can't pick up your mail, it's for you not for me.."

"It hurts to walk though, I can't go all the way to the only damned box in this city. I'll never make it!" Bir laughed, trying to sound as if he were exaggerating.

Til moved up off the edge of the chair to stand, being sure to return the awkward laugh. "I know, Eladis is an official.. He can get it for you, let me see if I can catch him on his way back.. There's tea in the kitchen, it might be cold."

As the door closed behind him, Til let out a long sigh. He tightened his shirt cuffs and did his best to look somewhat presentable. It wouldn't matter, this needed to be fixed now. Bir needed to be out now. He hated that boy and would not tolerate him wandering around their home nude, or whatever else his little head planned. His walking sped up to a half jog as his mind raced to all the stupid things that little idiot could be doing in the kitchen. No, no, no, he would not clean that shit up again. He helped pay for this place, there would be no idiots allowed there. While lost in his own thoughts he nearly walked right by the man he was looking for.

"Eladis Vant!" Til nearly snarled out the name, stopping the man in his tracks.

"Til Ath'ren?" Eladis turned with a cool look. It unnerved him, the way his name was spat. He hadn't hurt it spoken that way since he was hardly up to Til's shoulder.

"Oh don't you pretend you don't know why I'm so pissed off."

"Oh don't you pretend you don't know why I'm so pissed off." Eladis repeated with a nasally voice. If Til was going to go back in time, why couldn't he?

"I want Bir Romine OUT. Find your brother, find anyone, get him out of MY home. Right and he wants his fel be damned mail." Til followed the taller elf as he continued on his way, looking like a little hound barking at its master.

Eladis gasped, his mouth forming a shocked little 'o'. It felt silly to act this way, but the man's reactions were truly amusing. "Til Ath'ren! I am appalled! A man of the light using such HORRID words!"

"What's gotten into you, Eladis? Did you take whatever drugs that boy SHOULD be using? I want him OUT. NOW."

"Oh I have a better plan than that. I assume he's awake?" Eladis continued down the disgusting streets of the Undercity, nose held high as always.

"He's awake and wants his damned mail. You'd best get it, who knows, you'll find yourself locked up and in his care again. Find him some cake too, he said he didn't want any but you know how he is." Til grumbled, nudging the man to turn around.

"Right, mail.. and cake." Eladis turned right around and tried his best not to laugh. It actually almost felt like he was on these drugs he didn't take. The anticipation, everything was flawless so far.

"I'm going to make sure he didn't ruin the kitchen, you'd better run home or I swear to the light I'll get the stra--" Til stopped before he finished that sentence. He knew better than that.

"Yeah, yeah, sure.." Eladis casually went back the way he came.

A group of forsaken women were at the corner near the center of the city, if they were living they would probably be clucking like chickens, gossiping to one another. Rather, they were gurgling out their gutterspeak. Every sound was lost to Eladis' ears as he continued on. Around, then up, then north, to the only box in the city. He took a few letters from it, shuffling through until he found one to Bir. His 'official' standing meant jack all in this city, but then again they didn't much care what an elf was doing sifting through the mail.

There it was. There was the name that would ruin his plan. It brought something else to mind, perhaps he would send the head to that knight rather than the heretic one. No, no good. He tore the letter from Kovan in half, then tossed it over his shoulder. The paper floated through the air and ended up in the bubbling green waste.

[Bir]

Running again. Bir went as fast as his legs would allow. His sweat flowed like cool rainwater, but his sense of smell betrayed him. When he took in the scent, it smelled more like alcohol. It burnt his nostrils. There was shade for some reason, but he couldn't stop yet. Not until he passed it.

Two sets of eyes blinked at him from the darkness under the tree. That wasn't right, it wasn't sunny. It was never dark. His head lulled back until he could see the quickly clouding sky. Bir's arms and neck slowly loosened. Someone reached for him, pulled at him. He nearly tripped over something he couldn't see. A cold breeze soothed him as he ran through the growing blades of grass. The further he got from the tree, the shorter the grass got. The sun, or whatever lit up this place, never usually went out. It was always bright here, always. He heard someone else's breath, not his own.

The further he ran, the lighter he felt. Whoever was behind him was pulling weight off of him. He wanted to thank them, so he looked over his shoulder to do so. Arms, no grass, no trees, no clouds, no sun. There were hands reaching behind him and a large field in ahead of him. He couldn't stop. The hands would get him then.

Bir contorted and let out a sharp cry, he couldn't make it there. Two hands followed him, caught him and grabbed his shoulders.

"I win. You lose." A familiar voice let out a chuckle, pushing Bir forward. Nilean ran ahead of him.

The long green blades in front of him warped and sizzled. Bir's body sized up and he gasped for breath. He fell in the grass, his legs refusing to move any more. The two dark haired elves who were always under the tree turned their heads and casually looked down at him, then they looked back to Nilean who sat across from them. Bir twisted and longed for the three, their faces coming into focus. He wanted to sit with them. Nilean opened his mouth and spoke to the two, no sound coming out. The first elf smiled and waved Bir over after hearing the words. The second gasped into her palms and opened her arms to Bir. Nilean laughed maliciously and repeated what he said earlier.

"I win. You lose."

Before he could greet his family, Bir hid the ground with a thud.

"Owww.. No fair, Nilean.."

Eladis let out a husky laugh as he attempted to pick up the groaning elf. He slowly combed Bir's sweaty hair from his forehead with his fingertips. Eladis cradled the coughing elf close against his chest, not lifting him yet.

The room was lit by candlelight. No windows. The same room Bir woke up in. All his belongings were spread out on the bed, encircling the two tabards Bir usually wore. One with a black cross and another with the ensign of the Scryers. His leathers, his robes, maces, trinkets, even the ring he normally wore around his neck. Eladis must have taken a lot of time organizing everything by color.

"Eladis?" Bir questioned, looking down to notice his own lack of clothing.

"Yes, Bir?" Eladis smiled drunkenly as he picked Bir up and carried him across the room. With a careful movement, he dropped the limp rogue on the bed on top of the two tabards. He turned away and went to his weapon rack.

"What are you doing? Did you bring my mail?" Bir sat up as best he could, yawning and still sleep dazed.

"Nobody wrote.. and I'm going to sharpen my axe. Then I'm going to help you." Eladis spoke as if it were great news.

"..Sharpen your axe, how come?" Bir's eyes were heavy, they stung. Help? He knew this couldn't be good. The mix of liquor and an axe screamed bad news. His eyes snapped over to the black colored pile. A small mountain of leather and a few pouches. As slowly as he could, Bir hooked one finger around a felcloth pouch and yanked a violet gem from within it. The drunk was too stupid to get rid of the shards, good thing too.

"I don't like to fight with dull weapons, do you? I suppose that's a stupid thing to ask. How come you didn't keep your promise Bir?" Eladis took the largest axe from the rack and sat on the edge of the bed. He heard the hissing of fel magic behind him. The hardly audible sound sent a surge of rage through him. Rage was better harnessed and focused. Anger in battle was rarely a good thing. He would win. One way or another, he would win.

A blue light shot up around Bir, he wasn't going to go down so easily. If that was the plan, anyway. Who knew with a drunk. He took his time choosing his words, mind racing to come up with any promises he could have broken to the man. There were a few that came to mind. But they weren't anything serious, or so he thought. Four situations, four promises. None of them worth discussing.

"I can't tell you that, Eladis." Bir, normally an eccentric little thing with no modesty, felt the need to cover himself up as the other male turned around.

"Why not? You don't like tea? You promised you would go back to the infirmary to drink tea, three times a day. Look at you now. Who's going to bother fixing you up when you're so useless and you can't listen to simple instructions? It will take me weeks to mend all that, Bir. I don't think I want to waste that much time on you. You're not even willing."

The words flew completely over Bir's head. He hadn't considered tea at all. Willing? Fixing? Who asked? He took the crimson tabard from under him and slowly wrapped himself in it, bending his knees up to his chest to hide what the man probably wanted to see. There wasn't much to look at. What a damned pig. Even in his condition, Bir was certain there was something he could do to teach the disgusting blonde a lesson.

"Doctor Leibowitz will fix me, Ela. You don't have to worry about that. You didn't even have to bring me here, but I appreciate it. I'm sorry for not drinking the tea I said I would. How come you organized all my things? Can I see that axe?" Bir offered a weak smile with his awkwardly spoken words.

[Eladis]

Eladis turned his torso slowly, holding up his large axe with both hands. He held it out towards the smaller male with a crooked smirk. Bir gave a smile and curled one hand into a fist around the shaft of the weapon, giving the knight's hand a fond little pat as he did.

"You got it?" Eladis muttered, slowly letting go.

"Sure..? Unngh~ Nope!"

As soon as the blood knight let go of the heavy axe, it dropped safely onto the bed. Not only was Bir weak, he wouldn't be able to lift the damn thing normally anyways. It was worth a shot, he told himself. Now onto the next question.

"How are you going to help me, Ela?" Bir spoke in a quiet squeak as he tried to lift the weapon to give it back.

"Have you ever heard of.. bloodletting?" Eladis' facial expression hadn't changed. He took the axe from Bir and slowly stood, holding it at the ready above the slender elf's head.

"Yeaaahh, but you can't tell me you're gonna use that.." Bir looked up to find himself face to face with a newly sharpened blade. His ears pinned themselves back as he recoiled, getting out of harm's way. But to seem casual, he reached up and tested the edge with his finger.

"Oh, why not?" The blood knight's smirk grew into that screwed up smile of his. He bounced one end of the axe in his hand, the way an impatient little boy would bounce a baseball bat.

"Eladis be serious. What the hell did you bring me here for." Bir's voice grew flat, eyes dulling over in an unamused expression. As if it were a reflex, fel energy weaved itself about his form, providing him with a sense of armor despite only being dressed in his raven cross tabard.

In one swift motion, Eladis brought the axe to his shoulder and gave it a drunken swing. Aiming for the idiot's neck, no doubt. He told himself he didn't want to watch, so he closed his eyes.

Bir rolled back off the bed, taking an assortment of tattered clothing with him as he avoided this 'bloodletting'. He popped up for a split second, spreading all five fingers. Shadows tinged his fingertips and slowly spread about the man Bir was aiming at. It wasn't a powerful spell, but siphoning just a little helped more than taking nothing at all.

"The hell is this? What do you take me for, Romine? You think I've never faced a warlock before? Why don't you make it more interesting and grab your maces, they're right there." Eladis chuckled, snapping his fingers to cleanse himself of the affliction.

"G-get away from me, Vant. I don't want your help! Wait until I tell everyone you captured me." Bir held his hands open at his sides, fingers twitching with anticipation.

"Was anyone stopping you from leaving? I certainly wasn't. Who the hell is everyone? Nobody cares about you. Well, I do. That's why I'd like to help. Don't you want my help?"

A light shimmered around the broad knight as he called his will bent crusade. He didn't need to close the distance to judge the boy. All his arrangements were carried out skillfully, wisdom taking his mind just like in the actual field of battle. His smirked melted into the usual set in stone passiveness as he watched the warlock cast. He held his will, shifting his aura accordingly.

Bir slung every affliction he knew. He wanted to call Khuu but he told himself he didn't need the crutch. The crutch wasn't needed with any other blood knight, why would this one be any different. He had hoped the man was drunk enough not to notice the unstable pins and needles of shadows. The ones that blew up when anyone dispelled them. It was his favorite spell that he sometimes sacrificed to link his soul to his demons. That wasn't the case now, luckily. Sweat stuck the thick fabric of his tabard to his skin, the feeling less than comfortable.

"I am not afraid of you. Did you think that would do it?" Eladis set the head of his weapon down on the wooden floor with a heavy clunk. He flicked his hands into the air and called the light to mend his form.

Bir didn't think his trump card through, he would need his crutch. No, no it wasn't too late. The man hadn't even hit him yet. He suppressed a whimper, tapping from himself.

"Ela, back down now or I will hurt you. Tell me what you want and we can stop this." Sweat trickled down the sometimes-shadowmancer's brow, more from his sickness than the slight combat.

"I want to win."

Eladis quickly circled around the bed, calling a seal of blood. He unleashed the seal on the boy and brought his axe up to cleave through the tabard, meeting with a ripple of ribs. Bir took in a sharp gasp, chest heaving as the axe met him with a sickening crunch. The knight lifted the weapon with a grunt and took his aim for the boy's neck once again. Just as he intended to swing the shaft sideways, Bir screamed.

Shadows encircled Eladis' mind, bringing up the things he feared most. No matter how many times warlocks in the field used this spell on him, it was no less disturbing than the first. The room evaporated into the most terrifying setting the man recalled. Forest trolls, everywhere. He turned and ran, finding himself cornered. His eyes searched the savage creatures.

Bir watched Eladis run across the room. If he weren't just brutally assaulted with an axe that was just as tall as him, he would have laughed. Instead, he kept himself focused. He grasped at the wound on his chest with one hand and extended the other to send the usual afflictions. Corruption, agony, siphon life. He even went to the trouble to call the fire on Eladis. Warm blood oozed from between his fingers. Once he was finished with those spells, a bright green shimmer of life glided out of the terrified Eladis' middle, finding its way into Bir's palm. He took only what was needed to close the wound, then the ribbon turned from green to blue.

This was the part where Bir would have spoken to Eladis to taunt him. The knight looked around at things that weren't there, hallucinating. Someone in the back of Bir's mind told him not to provoke him. He was better than that. He didn't need the satisfaction, he would have it by leaving there with his life. Eladis' eyes slowly started to come back into focus and he set them on Bir. He stood, almost snarling as he brought his axe back behind him.

Bir's unusually dark fel misted eyes widened expectantly, and he wove the shadows into another horrifying spell. Fear overtook Eladis once again. The spell was most amusing, sometimes they screamed names, sometimes they begged for their life. Other times they ran into things and smacked themselves unconscious into walls and the like. Not Eladis Vant, he was silent, almost refined as he shivered.

Oddly, Eladis' eyes stayed on Bir even as he ran. Bir drained more life from him, why not? It wasn't a fix for his condition but it certainly helped. It was no different than the light setting his symptoms back. There was a good reason he spent a lot of his time in the gulch. He remembered what Nilean told him, tongues and mana. Curse their tongues, take their mana and you win. It wasn't a bad idea, but he didn't need to do that with Eladis. Eladis wasn't any better than Aest and Bir didn't bother with tongues on him. A drunken piggly was probably even worse than the peacock man. The man's eyes were unsettling in the near silent combat. They looked too much like his brother's. He couldn't help but return the longing stare.

It was never Bir's intention to 'win' and kill the man, but it wasn't his intention to run either. He picked up everything he could and fled as the knight ran about in fear. Somehow he would need to get everything he left behind back.