Post by Tom M on Jun 24, 2024 10:08:46 GMT
Set at the Witching Court party that followed the events of the Season 14 Finale:
Leonida turns to leave, casting one last look of disgust at Rae as she does so. Keros was hoping to take this opportunity to speak with her, but lets her go. They’ll get another chance and he needs a drink.
Vox casually slips Rae 150 gold, saying “Honey, you need a spa day.” as she does so before striding off after Leonida to hitch a ride out.
Rae thanks Vox with a nod, then mumbles something along the lines of “Where were you during my research days?”
Walking back to the portals, Vox tries her best to cheer up Leonida. She invites her back to Port Ffirst where they can absolutely destroy some practice dummies.
Leonida reflects that killing demons usually lifts her spirits, but this time it didn’t. She politely declines Vox’s offer but is grateful, saying she just wants to hit the hay.
Vox reiterates that it’s an open invitation. She also mentions wanting to compare notes on horde strategy, lamenting working as an independent agent vs. leading a battalion.
Keros just sighs and turns to Mittens, "Thanks for the potion at the end there. Can I pay you for it?"
Mittens shakes his head, pulling open his jacket to reveal a bandolier with four other vials. "No thanks, I'm good!"
“So what’s going on with Rae? He gestures towards the back them with a nod, "They seem to have magic literally leaking out of'em.”
“Poor decision making.” Keros grumbles, “We are at a Feywild party so an elderly drow is about to appear and tell us that this is a curse and not their fault.”
“A curse? Mittens asks staring back over towards the haggard Rae and then looking back up at Keros. “I-Is that why they look so rough?"
Keros is trying his best to come across as flippant and angry, but he’s clearly worried about Rae and keeps sneaking concerned glances at them that Mittens catches. “Maybe. I doubt it is that simple though.” He gestures to Leonida walking away, “When that one thinks you have gone too far, you probably have.”
Well if it's a curse. Mittens mutters as he stands now flicking through an arcane tome. “I do have a spell for that. Here we are..Remove Curse. Should still have enough puff to get the job done today.”
Keros crouches down, “Mittens, some things are not that simple. I appreciate what is in your heart, but it just cannot be that simple.”
“Remove Curse,” Mittens reads aloud. "At your touch, all curses affecting one creature or object end. If the object is a cursed magic item, its curse remains, but the spell breaks its owner’s attunement to the object so it can be removed or discarded.”
“Seems pretty simple to me.” He says, glancing up at Keros. “Picked it up from a spell scroll last week when looking for things to help...Calla.” His voice falters just a little as he says her name aloud.
Keros puts a blood caked hand gently on Mittens’ shoulder, “She would have been proud of you today. You know she asked me to look out for you once?” He smiles, “I am grateful you were looking out for me at the end there.”
“Well I couldn't let ya go down.” Mittens says with smile before he gives out a sad little sigh. “I just wish I could've done the same for her.”
Keros cocks his head sympathetically, “There is a lesson I have had to learn the hard way, but I think I am starting to understand now. You cannot save everyone.”
“She's not gone exactly.” Continues Mittens. “Her crystalised body is just sorta, soul absent whilst it's...In another location.” He ends his explanation quickly, not wanting to give away too much of the information Orianna have imparted upon him.
Keros listens, not really understanding the difference, “In that case I hope it works out and you get to see her again. I doubt I would be much use, but if you need my help then please never hesitate to ask for it.”
He looks over Mittens’ shoulder for a second and squints.
“But for now I will let you enjoy the party instead of being forced to talk to some washed up soldier. I think I just saw someone I recognise. Be well Mittens.” Keros holds out a hand to shake.
Mittens glances over at the skinny eladrin man Keros has gazed at before looking back towards him. “You too Keros.” He says, putting his own paw on Keros' muscular mitten before then patting his arm as he moves off saying. “And don't worry about Rae.
Leave it with me.”
Mittens is soon making his away over towards Rae, two cups in his hand and a trailing fluffy Levoki in his wake.
“Hey, Rae!” Mittens calls, noting the figure standing looking a bit oblivious to the party going on around them, as if perhaps they don't want to be here.
Rae blinks a couple of times, having to focus in to spot Mittens in front of them. “Mittens.. Hello. Well done today. Poor luck on the Banishments... More practice for next time.”
“Eh well. Ya get get pulled into distracting a horde of murderous maw serving demons ya gonna make a few potshots!” Mittens says, offering a cup over to Rae.
They take the cup with a nod and gulp half of its contents. “I shouldn’t stay long. Not much to be done here.”
“Oh I get it.” Mittens nods, adjusting his footing slightly. “I just thought you looked a little peaky. Wanted to check you were okay? Oh-Have you met Lev by the way?” The plump furry winged fae climbs up from Mittens back to shoulder and then to Rae, resting his paws the palm of Rae's non-cup holding hand and sniffs before saying in Slyvan. “You smell funny.”
Rae's eyes don't even register the blue glow that emanates from Mittens' eyes, rippling across his fur and down his leg to his hind paw he has pressed upon Rae's foot.
Mittens Casts Remove Curse
Rae shudders slightly, and their previously distracted facial expression quickly drops. The quick looks all around become a hundred yard stare straight ahead. They drop their cup and raise their hands to their mouth.
However, their physical ailments do not alleviate. The magic coursing through their veins is just as present and noticeable, and they still look gaunt and tired. They stand in stunned silence before speaking in a shaky tone.
“What have I done?”
“Well you've just downed a cup of milk.” Mittens replies matter-of-factly. “Though really, considering we're in the Feywild, I feel I should've asked first what it creature was from.”
With a shrug he takes a big gulp of the thick purplish creamy substance in his own cup, stepping back off Rae's foot as he does and licking his lips but still retaining a partial milked-fur moustache. “Mm, not bad.”
Rae drops to their knees, reaches a hand out for Mittens’ shoulder, and then turns to look at him. Their eyes dark and jaded.
“Thank you, friend. You don’t know what you’ve done for me today.”
Mittens stares back at Rae, a blob of stray milk sliding down one whisker into a drop. “Sometimes you’ve just gotta help friends when they need it” he says. “Even if they don’t know it.” His small smile twitching the drop, which lands to the floor with an audible ‘PLOP!’
Rae looks around the gathering, the party, the people. They blink a couple of times and then groan with frustration.
“I’m still exhibiting perception issues..” they stand up and pat themselves down, check their heartbeat and look for a mirror. “And my physical state is not returned to normal... This isn’t finished... There’s more I need to do.” They look down at Mittens again. “If you see Keros... Tell him...” Rae pauses, truly unable to decide what they could possibly say. “Say I’m sorry. I’m working on something.” They sniffle up the beginnings of tears and head for a portal.
“Rae wai- oh…” Mittens barely even knows Rae, what could he say? So he does the only thing he can think of. He messages Keros!
“Uncursed Rae. Don’t know what to say. Go talk to them now before they go away, they’re heading for a portal! Move your butt Keros!”
Keros is leaning on a small table in conversation with the eladrin, Carell. After discussing what happened with the leaf the two have arranged to meet up and experiment further, but continued chatting for a while.
Keros freezes mid conversation and looks toward the portals as the message arrives. Not long ago he would have remembered a year ago to the day. A victorious mob of Dawnlanders milling around portals, seeing Rae through the crowd, their first kiss…
But sparking that memory, which would have been enough to have him bulldoze a line to Rae through the crowd on the faintest hope at the back of his mind that Mittens might be right, doesn’t happen. Without it the pain and anger and heartbreak of the past few months is too much and he just can’t bring himself to go through it again. Even so, he stands and watches as he lets Rae walk away from him again.
“Mittens, I truly wish it was that simple.” he replies as he looks down to see that Carell has casually placed his hand on his own. He looks into the eladrin’s eyes and sighs deeply as he withdraws the hand, thanks Carell for his time, and offers it instead to shake before finishing his drink and leaving his new acquaintance awkwardly as he makes his own way slowly to the portals.