Mara sighed with contentment while Amir drank; vampires were hardly immune to the feeding effect. He stopped sooner than she'd anticipated though, and went back to the IV drip. It was unusual for him, and she observed him in silence, wondering what was going through his head.
Bao and Dana reappeared, and Amir drank from Bao as well before heaving himself upright with a snap and a crunch. Mara would have moved to help him but he held his hand out to Dana. Mara moved aside with a little nod of her head, just to herself.
Amir had taken Dana as one of them. She wasn't just his lover, she was part of their small group. Mara had observed that while Dana was well-grown and well-versed in many things, certain facets of life had been neglected. Apparently Amir had taken it upon himself to teach her, or at least guide her. He'd done the same with Mara, with Bao, with his other children. As mentors went, he was supportive and encouraging, a side of him that seemed at odds with his fanatical devotion to Subira and their mutual cause.
It was something that Mara though Subira envied; Amir instilled loyalty, a great deal of it, into his children and those who worked with him. Subira saw them as tools to use for her purposes; Amir saw them as capable allies and tried to place them in situations where they could be useful.
And Mara knew her place; she moved aside to allow Dana to get close to Amir, meeting Bao's eyes and nodding toward the living room. She didn't mind making herself comfortable here for at least part of the day. There was much to discuss.
Have You Ever Seen the Rain? (Invite only)
Mara kept her hand clasped around Amir's for the drive back to the Manor, keeping him steadied on the bike behind her. She could feel the warmth on the back of her neck as sluggish blood continued to flow from the wounds upon his face, but she also knew he would be concentrating as he could on mending his injuries from the inside out.
She ran the bike right up to the entrance of the Manor, parking it as close as she could. Climbing off, she tried to find someplace uninjured to rouse Amir from his daze.
"We're back. Come on, we need to heal you up."
Time was definitely a factor. Vampires weren't made of blood, after all. The fact that the scalp wounds were bleeding slowly was saying something. They should be closed, and not bleeding, or bleeding like crazy. A slow drip meant resources were being diverted elsewhere, and possibly running very low.
Mara took Amir's kilij from him, knowing he'd want the blade's edge sharp, and offered her shoulder instead. Even from where she stood she could see that Amir's ankle was going to be little good to him; it flopped uselessly at he end of his leg and every now and then a fragment of bone popped out of the torn leather to fade into dust on the ground.
Bao would have called ahead, she was sure, so she simply focused on getting Amir back to his rooms in one mostly whole piece.
Mara
14 years ago
Dana
14 years ago
Relief she could not begin to explain washed through her as she stepped fully into the room and took Amir's hand. He was whole, mostly, and alive and she felt his shallow pulse against her thumb on the back of his hand.
She changed her grip as she moved to stand in front of him. With mostly her support, he got himself from the tub. It was not an easy trip to his bedroom, and she did what she could to help him. Later she would wonder what it said about her that she didn't notice Bao and Mara moving out of their way.
They made it to his bed, and Dana threw back one corner of the blankets, and helped him become horizontal again. Tucking the blankets around his body, she sat gingerly on the edge of the bed and took his hand again.
"I want very much to be angry with you Amir. I want to chastise you and tell you how stupid you are, but I can't. I am just so very glad you are alive, that I can't even be angry with you."
She gave him a small smile, and her gaze, knowing it was full of everything she'd felt since leaving him this morning.
She changed her grip as she moved to stand in front of him. With mostly her support, he got himself from the tub. It was not an easy trip to his bedroom, and she did what she could to help him. Later she would wonder what it said about her that she didn't notice Bao and Mara moving out of their way.
They made it to his bed, and Dana threw back one corner of the blankets, and helped him become horizontal again. Tucking the blankets around his body, she sat gingerly on the edge of the bed and took his hand again.
"I want very much to be angry with you Amir. I want to chastise you and tell you how stupid you are, but I can't. I am just so very glad you are alive, that I can't even be angry with you."
She gave him a small smile, and her gaze, knowing it was full of everything she'd felt since leaving him this morning.
Amir
14 years ago
It was not his nature to be completely amiable, and Amir knew he made a horrible patient. With that in mind he listened to Dana and didn't respond. What could he say? He'd done the job that was asked of him. Whether it was stupid or not wasn't his to judge. At the moment he was far too sore and tired to argue, even if he had full use of his mouth.
So he listened, and he lay there, comfortable enough and warm enough, blood still dripping into his arm. When he was sure she was finished he opened his eye and looked at her.
"Done?"
He didn't wait for her answer but continued as best he could. He lifted his right shoulder helplessly. "It's my job."
She had wanted to know what he did. She had seen it firsthand. There were scholars among them, there were teachers, there were commanders and there were warriors. Amir fell into the latter category. Sure, he had skills that made him useful elsewhere but when push came to shove, he was a grunt.
"Doesn't always go as planned."
It hurt to talk and he sounded stupid with half his face missing. He wasn't going to explain much more at the moment. He hadn't been requested to go face down two wolf Packs at once; Subira's direct order had been to leave a message.
Well, message left.
So he listened, and he lay there, comfortable enough and warm enough, blood still dripping into his arm. When he was sure she was finished he opened his eye and looked at her.
"Done?"
He didn't wait for her answer but continued as best he could. He lifted his right shoulder helplessly. "It's my job."
She had wanted to know what he did. She had seen it firsthand. There were scholars among them, there were teachers, there were commanders and there were warriors. Amir fell into the latter category. Sure, he had skills that made him useful elsewhere but when push came to shove, he was a grunt.
"Doesn't always go as planned."
It hurt to talk and he sounded stupid with half his face missing. He wasn't going to explain much more at the moment. He hadn't been requested to go face down two wolf Packs at once; Subira's direct order had been to leave a message.
Well, message left.
Dana
14 years ago
She gave a small exasperated sigh. "Your job is a good one, and not one I or any one should keep you from. But Amir, can you honestly tell me that what happened tonight is the purpose of your job?"
She turned gently putting more of herself on the bed, touching more of him in a careful gentle way. She was a little angry now, not at him not really, but at Subria. She was beginning to suspect that vampire knew something like this might happen.
"I can not accept that you think hunting those creatures when the moon pulls them, is the right thing to do."
Another soft sigh fluttered her chest, and she gave his hand a small squeeze. "I had underestimated the wolves. What was in my head after reading those book and talking to Mara, was not what I saw. What I imagined, should not have been able to best you. I entered a clearing with fully a dozen wolves and one of them was eating your face Amir. You can not tell me your job means that you should put yourself in that kind of danger."
Her voice was still low, but the anger in it was palpable, and her chest rose and fell a little more quickly that was normal for her. "This was a suicide mission Amir, not a job that went a little wrong when the owners of the house came home too early."
She didn't want to argue with him, not in the state he was in. And she really had no right to say such things to him, but if he was to trust her in this then he must know how she felt. She was an analyzer, and could take small bits of information and make them into a cohesive whole. It was a skill gained after spending centuries of doing hardly more than studying and learning; of spying and gaining information. Dana was not a stupid woman, naive perhaps, okay very much so, but not stupid.
"It is not my intent to upset you, Amir. You need to rest and heal. We can talk about this later."
She turned gently putting more of herself on the bed, touching more of him in a careful gentle way. She was a little angry now, not at him not really, but at Subria. She was beginning to suspect that vampire knew something like this might happen.
"I can not accept that you think hunting those creatures when the moon pulls them, is the right thing to do."
Another soft sigh fluttered her chest, and she gave his hand a small squeeze. "I had underestimated the wolves. What was in my head after reading those book and talking to Mara, was not what I saw. What I imagined, should not have been able to best you. I entered a clearing with fully a dozen wolves and one of them was eating your face Amir. You can not tell me your job means that you should put yourself in that kind of danger."
Her voice was still low, but the anger in it was palpable, and her chest rose and fell a little more quickly that was normal for her. "This was a suicide mission Amir, not a job that went a little wrong when the owners of the house came home too early."
She didn't want to argue with him, not in the state he was in. And she really had no right to say such things to him, but if he was to trust her in this then he must know how she felt. She was an analyzer, and could take small bits of information and make them into a cohesive whole. It was a skill gained after spending centuries of doing hardly more than studying and learning; of spying and gaining information. Dana was not a stupid woman, naive perhaps, okay very much so, but not stupid.
"It is not my intent to upset you, Amir. You need to rest and heal. We can talk about this later."
Amir
14 years ago
Dana apparently had a lot more to say. Amir caught most of it, although he would have been the first to admit he wasn't at his best listening form. Not only was she sitting on the side of him that was missing an ear, but he was exhausted and in a great deal of pain. Oddly enough, however, part of what she said stuck.
"They don't eat us. Going for my neck."
It was a perfectly reasonable clarification. He couldn't explain anything to her. Not when he wasn't thinking straight himself. Subira had been wrong, sure. She had been upset with him for being delinquent and that was no one's fault but his own. She tested him on multiple levels; his loyalty, his sturdiness, his ability to handle weres under the madness of the full moon. As far as he was concerned, it was just a bad coin toss, running into Xephier and his pals.
Amir caught onto the whole "later" concept and jumped on board that wagon before it could leave. He nodded his head. Later he would explain to Dana.
"Thanks," he said instead. "Sorry you saw."
He was frustrated at his inability to shape many words. He had Dana to thank on multiple levels, although she probably wasn't aware of just what she'd done for him that night.
"They don't eat us. Going for my neck."
It was a perfectly reasonable clarification. He couldn't explain anything to her. Not when he wasn't thinking straight himself. Subira had been wrong, sure. She had been upset with him for being delinquent and that was no one's fault but his own. She tested him on multiple levels; his loyalty, his sturdiness, his ability to handle weres under the madness of the full moon. As far as he was concerned, it was just a bad coin toss, running into Xephier and his pals.
Amir caught onto the whole "later" concept and jumped on board that wagon before it could leave. He nodded his head. Later he would explain to Dana.
"Thanks," he said instead. "Sorry you saw."
He was frustrated at his inability to shape many words. He had Dana to thank on multiple levels, although she probably wasn't aware of just what she'd done for him that night.
Bao
14 years ago
Impressive. Amir apparently cared more for Dana than he had thought. That was quite an effort to reassure her.
Bao said nothing, but watched them move to his bedroom. They did have something to work out between them. Bao questioned Dana's timing but it wasn't his place to say anything.
Silently Bao followed Mara to the living room and settled himself into what seemed like a comfortable chair. Finally he let himself relax some what hand heaved a heavy sigh.
"She may have saved both him and us tonight."Â?
He observed blandly, as if it didn't mean anything. Which was, of course, far from the truth. It meant a great deal.
"It would be best if he allowed us to help from here out..."Â?
Of course he probably wouldn't.
Bao also wondered how Subiera would take all this, what Amir would say to her and what would be next. They couldn't deal with another night like tonight again, not without back up.
Bao said nothing, but watched them move to his bedroom. They did have something to work out between them. Bao questioned Dana's timing but it wasn't his place to say anything.
Silently Bao followed Mara to the living room and settled himself into what seemed like a comfortable chair. Finally he let himself relax some what hand heaved a heavy sigh.
"She may have saved both him and us tonight."Â?
He observed blandly, as if it didn't mean anything. Which was, of course, far from the truth. It meant a great deal.
"It would be best if he allowed us to help from here out..."Â?
Of course he probably wouldn't.
Bao also wondered how Subiera would take all this, what Amir would say to her and what would be next. They couldn't deal with another night like tonight again, not without back up.
Dana
14 years ago
With a soft sigh, Dana stood. The reason for the wolf eating Amir's face, made sense, but it still didn't make her happy. Very quickly she pulled her tattered and now slightly bloody clothing from her body and placed it in the waste basket next to Amir's bed. Those things were not salvageable and she would just borrow something of Amir's later. It was presumptuous of her to think he would let her, but she wasn't changing it now.
Clad in only the triangles of white lace that made up her panties, she slipped into the bed beside Amir. She carefully wriggled, and moved him little tiny bits so that his right shoulder rested on her chest, and her body laid along the line of him. Tucking her head into the crook of his neck, and resting her arm across his chest, she held him.
"I still think you're stupid," she whispered into his neck. "But I love you enough not to tell you."
A soft chuckle rumbled in her throat, and she slid her arm up his chest a bit. "If you need more than you took from Mara and Bao, please use me. I know my blood is not as strong as theirs but it will help. I fed before I left to talk with Mara and I was not injured. You will not be harming me."
She didn't know why she was reassuring him, but she felt like he needed to hear the words.
Clad in only the triangles of white lace that made up her panties, she slipped into the bed beside Amir. She carefully wriggled, and moved him little tiny bits so that his right shoulder rested on her chest, and her body laid along the line of him. Tucking her head into the crook of his neck, and resting her arm across his chest, she held him.
"I still think you're stupid," she whispered into his neck. "But I love you enough not to tell you."
A soft chuckle rumbled in her throat, and she slid her arm up his chest a bit. "If you need more than you took from Mara and Bao, please use me. I know my blood is not as strong as theirs but it will help. I fed before I left to talk with Mara and I was not injured. You will not be harming me."
She didn't know why she was reassuring him, but she felt like he needed to hear the words.
Mara
14 years ago
Since Bao claimed the one single chair in the living room, Mara settled herself onto the couch and curled her legs up beneath her after removing her sneakers.
"He saved himself," she said softly, assuredly. "He knows. He's playing now, he's acting that he doesn't. But somewhere deep down even if he doesn't believe it, he knows what Subira did."
Mara had her suspicions, but first and foremost she had her faith in her creator. Amir may be lower n the totem pole than Subira, but in his way he was far craftier. he had made a gamble earlier that evening and it seemed to have worked, but now was not the time to discuss that.
Mara inclined her head toward Bao. "Yes, but I hardly doubt he'll want that sort of help. There are other things we can do, if we don't mind breaking orders now and then."
Mara's tone of voice made it plain that she certainly didn't mind, and was just using the word "we" out of respect for Bao, to not put him on the spot. She heard Dana's soft voice coming out of the bedroom, but didn't pay attention to the words.
"I hope she saves some for us," Mara muttered. "I have a few words too."
In that moment she felt a bit of kinship with Dana; she had been a little intimidated by the new woman, unsure of how to act around her knowing Dana didn't seem to like her very well, but having seen her tonight, she realized Dana was just a woman like any other... and apparently as unhappy with Amir as they were. That was comforting.
"He saved himself," she said softly, assuredly. "He knows. He's playing now, he's acting that he doesn't. But somewhere deep down even if he doesn't believe it, he knows what Subira did."
Mara had her suspicions, but first and foremost she had her faith in her creator. Amir may be lower n the totem pole than Subira, but in his way he was far craftier. he had made a gamble earlier that evening and it seemed to have worked, but now was not the time to discuss that.
Mara inclined her head toward Bao. "Yes, but I hardly doubt he'll want that sort of help. There are other things we can do, if we don't mind breaking orders now and then."
Mara's tone of voice made it plain that she certainly didn't mind, and was just using the word "we" out of respect for Bao, to not put him on the spot. She heard Dana's soft voice coming out of the bedroom, but didn't pay attention to the words.
"I hope she saves some for us," Mara muttered. "I have a few words too."
In that moment she felt a bit of kinship with Dana; she had been a little intimidated by the new woman, unsure of how to act around her knowing Dana didn't seem to like her very well, but having seen her tonight, she realized Dana was just a woman like any other... and apparently as unhappy with Amir as they were. That was comforting.
Amir
14 years ago
Dana's minuscule motions sent stars bursting before his one decent eye and had him involuntarily sucking in air, no matter how gentle she was; and he knew she was. He had to admit once everything faded though, back to a dull body-wide ache, it was good to have her there.
Her offer was well-meant, and in his current state he doubted there was any risk of losing control. Amir knew there was more bagged blood back in the bathroom and imagined he'd end up using that before he looked reasonable enough to go find a wandering human. He took Dana up on her offer though; he wasn't about to turn down any source, and what was better than vampire blood?
He bowed his head down and lightly touched his forehead to her wrist in thanks before biting gently, feeling his body relax further as it immediately went to work using this new, fresh source as well. Pulling away wasn't difficult this time and he did so carefully.
"Not so stupid," he said, the words coming much easier as his face finally began to mend itself. He had, after all, gotten a message to Mara, hadn't he?
Her offer was well-meant, and in his current state he doubted there was any risk of losing control. Amir knew there was more bagged blood back in the bathroom and imagined he'd end up using that before he looked reasonable enough to go find a wandering human. He took Dana up on her offer though; he wasn't about to turn down any source, and what was better than vampire blood?
He bowed his head down and lightly touched his forehead to her wrist in thanks before biting gently, feeling his body relax further as it immediately went to work using this new, fresh source as well. Pulling away wasn't difficult this time and he did so carefully.
"Not so stupid," he said, the words coming much easier as his face finally began to mend itself. He had, after all, gotten a message to Mara, hadn't he?
Dana
14 years ago
Her body remember well what had happened the last time he'd bit her. It caused her lungs to try and draw more rapid breaths, and her heart to beat faster, and things low in her belly to go tight and achy. She could not stop the internal physical reaction, but she could control the external. Dana held very still, forcing her lungs to take small shallow breaths, as he took her life's blood.
Slowly she relaxed beneath him, and was a little sad when he oh so carefully removed his mouth from her wrist. He cleaned the wound gently and she offered him a soft sigh of contentment. Her body was lax and easy to be in, as she wrapped herself a little more fully around him, careful to avoid the injured joints.
He had not taken as much as he could have, but he had been short with Mara and Bao as well. She would offer herself to him again later, but it was enough to feel his body relax against hers. Dana's ears hummed at the sound of his voice so close to normal. A soft noise between a hum and a grunt proceeded her words.
"Sleep, a chroÃÂ. Sleep and heal. We will sort it all out later. Dawn is upon us and sleep is in high order."
Slowly she relaxed beneath him, and was a little sad when he oh so carefully removed his mouth from her wrist. He cleaned the wound gently and she offered him a soft sigh of contentment. Her body was lax and easy to be in, as she wrapped herself a little more fully around him, careful to avoid the injured joints.
He had not taken as much as he could have, but he had been short with Mara and Bao as well. She would offer herself to him again later, but it was enough to feel his body relax against hers. Dana's ears hummed at the sound of his voice so close to normal. A soft noise between a hum and a grunt proceeded her words.
"Sleep, a chroÃÂ. Sleep and heal. We will sort it all out later. Dawn is upon us and sleep is in high order."
Amir
14 years ago
Amir gave up trying to explain his logic; he would do a better job of it later. he hadn't heard the door open or close so he assumed Bao and Mara were still nearby. He didn't want to think about Subira anymore. Nor did he want to reflect on the fight, or the ramifications it would have on his job here in Nachton.
Right now, he wanted blood and sleep in whichever order he could get them, and since the one had been adequately provided and the other was being suggested, he agreed.
((ooc: out to new thread))
Right now, he wanted blood and sleep in whichever order he could get them, and since the one had been adequately provided and the other was being suggested, he agreed.
((ooc: out to new thread))