Nearly There Nicely 110 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 110
It was a quiet walk to the knight's barracks. Every now and then, Crow would glance at Will out of the corner of his eye, peering past the rod of the umbrella between them. On the third time, Will zipped his eyes over to meet Crow's just in time with a glare. All Crow could do was chuckle nervously, and immediately returned to looking ahead of him without any comment. If he's so worried about me why doesn't he just say something? Will asked himself as he returned his gaze ahead of him. Is it because of his father? The water god? Rhys? I'm just... so sick of this. Although... I must say, part of it is a relief. I feel like I'm not grasping at nothing in the darkness now. I know where the answers are now: Theghesalia. But. Do I go there? Can I go there? Or is it like Crow said; These aren't things I need answered. Before Will realized it, they were already inside the main building for the barracks. Crow had passed off the umbrella to a knight who was carting a wheel barrel
Nearly There Nicely 104 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 104
The loud roaring sound only a humongous creature could make, akin to a whale, sweet to the tone, but deafening all the same, echoed all around him until he was roused from slumber. Groggy and irritated at being awoken to such a loud sound, no matter how soothing, Matéas's green eyes fluttered open, and then immediately shut as the cool air of the tiny room stung. “I hear a call.” he mumbled to himself. “So loud, as to wake me from my rest…” He groaned, rolling onto his side before sitting up, never opening his eyes. “To whatever trouble you are causing now, I want no part.” He rubbed his forehead, wincing at the pain his wound caused him suddenly. Again, the whalesong rang out. Long, loud, and full. Irritated, Matéas lifted his head up and opened his eyes to gaze the short distance to the door of the tiny apartment. “You may not stay, friend.” He sighed, then slid his legs out straight. “This is not your kingdom to invade.” His feet planted firm, Matéas lifted himself up
Nearly There Nicely 109 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 109
“If you don't mind, I'd like to close the door before some unscrupulous minis finds me hiding here.” Matéas's voice echoed out of the small room's door toward the pair. “Still angry?” Crow asked, raising his brow as he looked at Will while forcing a small smile into the corner of his lips. Will glared at him without moving his head. “How are you not as upset as I am?” Crow shrugged right away and started toward the door. “I 'unno. Maybe I've just learned not to expect these guys to be kind pacifists.” Will looked down at the cobblestone. He studied the ripples of water on the smooth surface as the stone remained wet from the cold damp air. Is it wrong to have a pacifist attitude? Even toward Matéas and Phyte? “Have I been wrong in trying to befriend them?” Crow turned on his heel right at the threshold to the door. “Heck no. Just…” Crow paused, waiting until Will would lift his head. I wasn't? Will asked himself. After a few seconds he looked up, and started to move toward
Nearly There Nicely 108 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 108
Cool rain misted down around them gently as they walked through the city. A gentle breeze kept their hair fluttering about, and their ears started to chill just as Crow stopped in front of a darkened lamppost. “Hmmm.” Crow mused to himself as he looked around the street. “Something wrong?” Will asked as he leaned forward to look at Crow's puzzled face. “I just thought,” he gave Will a smile, “if this were different circumstances this might make for a nice walk for a date.” Will laughed a bit as he straightened back. “Yes. I suppose.” “Don't 'suppose' me.” Crow snickered. “We'd just need an umbrella,” he lifted his hands up with the sword and held it just out from his chest as if it were the stem of the imagined umbrella. “And we could cuddle and walk under it.” “Until the wind blows it away.” Will said with a smile shaking his head. “Bleh, it's no fun,” Crow dropped his arms to his side, the sword and bag of Matéas's food swinging with, “if you're just going to be realistic.” “Oh,”
Nearly There Nicely 107 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 107
Dove sighed as she strained to push open the door to Nocturne. Inside, herself and the two young men behind her, could see the mess that awaited them to be cleaned. It looked like an earthquake had happened. Most things from the highest shelves had been knocked down to the floor – books, papers, bottles, broken bottles, things that looked like knickknacks and dust collectors. The elf lit a match and went into the shop slowly, being careful where she stepped so as not to step in any liquids that had spilled from the bottles. Isaac and Akiio waited at the door, holding it open for her to get some more light. After Dove lit up the first lantern on the wall, they were able to see the chaos went across most of the room. A few odd creatures that were specks of disembodied lights like a cluster of fireflies floated away from the fireglow and farther into the shop. “Well,” Isaac sighed. “This'll be pain.” Dove nodded, already on her way over to the next lantern. “Can one of you go see if we
Nearly There Nicely 106 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 106
Will carefully went up the stairs with the two cups of hot water. “Crow?” He called halfway up the stairs. He stopped at the top of the stairs, took a turn and walked over to Arluin's open bedroom door. “Crow? He asked quieter. Crow was inside the room with Arluin's clothes strewn about him messily, on the bed, the dresser, with a jacket hanging on the door knob. Crow turned and pointed at Will with his hand holding a wine colored shirt, “Hey, don't touch that jacket. I'm thinking of wearing that.” “Oh,” Will took a careful step away from the door so he wouldn't knock the jacket. “Okay… I brought the water.” Crow tossed the blue shirt in his other hand onto the bed and took one of the cups offered to him by Will. “Thanks. My throat feels super dry.” He blew on the steam and took a sip. “Find… uh… anything that'll fit?” Will looked down around him to all of the discarded clothes, moving a bit to see if Crow had left anything in the dresser drawers at all. “A few things. He's larger
Nearly There Nicely 105 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 105
Walking outside, Crow led the horse by the reins with one hand while eating some of the dried orange with his other. Will walked next to him, nibbling on his own dried orange slowly, while he looked around the dark city. “It feels so empty right now.” Crow looked around a bit. The street was illuminated by a few electric lamps here and there, since most of the flame ones had gone out from the constant dampness. “It's late, and the rain's probably keeping people in.” He looked to Will, studying his pale and tired face. “Wanna rest up at your mansion?” Will stopped walking. Do I want to go to my mansion? It sounds so… large and empty. And cold. Crow stopped next to him, gently pulling the horse to pause. It whinnied as it stopped. “I'm not sure if Arluin'll be there though.” At that, Will looked up to him. “Uh, well, remember? I thought I told you. He gave Matéas and us a place to hide on the threshold.” He tilted his head to the side. “So, he might still be looking after
Nearly There Nicely 104 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 104
The loud roaring sound only a humongous creature could make, akin to a whale, sweet to the tone, but deafening all the same, echoed all around him until he was roused from slumber. Groggy and irritated at being awoken to such a loud sound, no matter how soothing, Matéas's green eyes fluttered open, and then immediately shut as the cool air of the tiny room stung. “I hear a call.” he mumbled to himself. “So loud, as to wake me from my rest…” He groaned, rolling onto his side before sitting up, never opening his eyes. “To whatever trouble you are causing now, I want no part.” He rubbed his forehead, wincing at the pain his wound caused him suddenly. Again, the whalesong rang out. Long, loud, and full. Irritated, Matéas lifted his head up and opened his eyes to gaze the short distance to the door of the tiny apartment. “You may not stay, friend.” He sighed, then slid his legs out straight. “This is not your kingdom to invade.” His feet planted firm, Matéas lifted himself up without
Nearly There Nicely 102 by NostalgicRoxas, literature
Literature
Nearly There Nicely 102
Laying in the dark, Will took in a soft breath. He shifted uneasily on the not-so-comfortable bed he was laying on. Adjacent to him, following the curve of the inside of the tree's trunk, Crow was laying on his back on his bed. Will sniffled in cold air, pulling the blanket up to his nose to try and keep the air from his own body going into his nose, so it'd warm his lungs. He shut his eyes uneasily. Outside, the sounds of rain had gotten louder, suddenly pounding until it just was a muddled mess of noise leaving them both deaf. Some gusts of wind shook the branches outside around the trunk, and wind zipped through the room from small cracks around the windows and door. Snuggling himself tightly into a ball, Will inhaled hot air again to try and calm himself. After a few seconds, the pounding softened, but didn't end. Will uncurled until his head could pop out from the scratchy blanket. “Crow?” he asked into the darkness. “Are you awake?” His words were soft and hoarse. He was
The young man darted into a room. He scrambled around hastily to shut the door and pressed his back to it. As soon as he did, he heard several women screaming at him, startled by his sudden entrance into their room. His brown eyes looked about the room in a panic, quickly assessing he was in a group bedroom for maids and servants, at least five of them. He yelped and huddled into a ball on the floor with his knees to his chest, his hands covering his head tightly, and his eyes shut firmly. “Pl-please don't hurt me! I just,” he stammered over their shouting. One woman more composed than the rest waved her hands up for her roommates to silence as she approached him. He was trembling on the floor and didn't move. As the girls quieted down, the woman pressed her ear the door to listen out into the hallway. Verily the sounds of knights and servants scuttling about the hall echoed into the bedroom. She pressed a finger to her lips as she turned her head to show the symbol of quiet to her