Hornet's room was filled with the scent of warm tea and honey. Aya had sent along some biscuits and honey candies along with the tea with honey that Hornet had requested. The warmth and the fine scent had relaxed Hornets nerves enough that she was finally able to sit and reflect on what had been a very eventful couple of days. She sat at her dresser on a short stool and began the process of removing her makeup so she could take a hot, steamy bath without it running in ugly lines down her face.
Hornet worked slowly and with precision as she cleaned her face of her lipstain and the yellow stripe across her eyes. As she did, she thought of how it began. She had gone to the Grindstone with the intent of working off some of her negative feelings. Losing the chance to be with Dhemgeim had hurt more than she had wanted to admit and she was frankly dreading seeing Dhem and Dogberry together. She was feeling bitter and it made her dislike herself. The fighting had been fun and even though she had lost in her second match to the nible Miqo'te lancer Mahvashi she had begun to feel better. It was nice to see familiar faces and the Grindstone had almost always been a happy visit for her. It was how she had met Gharen after all.
After the fighting was done she spotted Jancis among the spectators and gently drew her away from Alveo and the others for a quick word. Alveo had been acting oddly, Hornet was concerned that he was becoming jealous of the attention Jancis had been getting from other men recently. Deserved attention really, Jancis was a lovely woman. Still, an jealous man with a martial background could be trouble. When Jancis confided in Hornet and Alveo's state attributed to more potentially matrimonial concerns Hornet felt an immense burden lift from her shoulder.
The smile on Jancis' lips and the shy radiance of her happines had reminded Hornet of something vitally important. Love was real. It was all around. And even if she and Dhemgeim had not come together, she should at the least be happy that Dhemgeim was happy and finding love herself. Hornet had promised to support Dhemgeim however Dhemgeim needed her to, and now as she basked in Jancis's joy she knew she could do it. She could be the friend that Dhemgeim needed her to be. She could support Dhemgeim's relationship with Dogberry. She could do it.
Feeling strong and confident Hornet moved to retire to the Hourglass for the night but along the way encountered Dhemgeim. Dhemgeim did not seem well and after some gentle cajoling Hornet drew her outside the city walls to talk. Hornet was direct in her questions and learned much that she had already supected. She learned about Dhemgeim, Tau, and Dogberry and how their relationships had intertwined. As much as she liked Tau, what she learned that day turned her sympathy to Dogberry and she encouraged Dhemgeim to pursue this new relationship. And then Dhemgeim threw up.
Hornet guided Dhemgeim back inside and got her a room. She stayed by Dhem's side through the night, making sure she was going to be all right and cleaning out the basin she had used to catch Dhemgeim's sick. It wasn't an exciting night, but it was important. When morning came she felt energized again even though she had barely slept and once she was certain Dhemgeim would be all right she left.
The next few hours were spent wandering Ul'dah while wearing an illegally obtained Sultansworn outfit and asking people how their days were going. It was a good bit of fun and Hornet enjoyed adopting the formal manner of speaking she had heard from the likes of Crofte and the free paladin Warren Castille. It was while she was on "patrol" that she encountered the very lovely figure of Rivienne Delacroux.
Hornet was never short of flattery for a beautiful girl and she let a river of compliments flow as she spoke with Rivienne. It was not simple flirtation though. Hornet learned of Rivienne's family and a mystery brewing. She offered her assistance to Rivienne in the form of translating a journal out of Ishgardian and then arranging a meeting with a very scholarly friend of hers to decipher what aetheric secrets the journal contained. It felt good to be helping someone and, Hornet would freely admit, she truly enjoyed making Rivienne blush. There was a thinly veiled invitation to a dinner date once the translation was complete, and then Hornet was off again.
Hornet found Dogberry in the Goblet. She knew there was a chance he was expecting a fight. She explained her position to him, that she still loved Dhemgeim but that she would be supporting him and the relationship he was to have with Dhemgeim. He tried to empathize with Hornet and she found herself annoyed, but remained civil. She didn't want his empathy, she wanted his promise that he would be the best man in the world for Dhemgeim and that he would love her well enough for both of them. "Scuttle me if I don't." He had said. "I will." Hornet had replied before quitting the scene and returning to the Hourglass.
Hornet spent the next several hours in her room at the Hourglass transcribing the journal in her neat, precise hand. She spoke to Kaylie over her pearl and worried for the girl but was then relieved to learn that Rinilda had prevented Kaylie from going on her self-imposed exile. She would have to thank Rinilda next time she saw her. And Dhemgeim was off hunting Leviathan, which seemed to suit the world at large. Hornet was content with her work and was genuinely enjoying the steady rhythm of translation. However eye-strain and the constant motion of her wrist had forced her to take a break and retire out to the Quicksand for a drink and to listen to the crowd.
Happily while she was sitting she caught sight of the mysterious and devastatingly handsome Oscare Iono and invited him to join her. He did and the pair enjoyed a few moments quiet conversation. Hornet was enjoying learning more about Oscare and offered her help with his missing bow situation when Dhemgeim contacted her. Dogberry had been injured, the extent of which was not revealed to her at the time, and Dhemgeim told her she would be staying with him for a time. Hornet was concerned but not overly so and offered to assist however she could.
Just then, Berrod arrived with grim news. A man he referred to as 'The Captain' had lost his legs. He did not recall the mans name but Oscare helpfully provided clarification. Dogberry. The injury Dhemgeim had apparently tried to downplay was actually a double amputation. Hornet was stunned by the news. She reached out to Dhemgeim full of apologies and promises of assistance. A horrible sadness washed over her, tinged with a nagging sensation of guilt. Somehow this was her fault. She had encouraged Dhemgeim's feelings for Dogberry and had told Dogberry that she supported him. And then this happened. Hornet had to flee the Quicksand and took a short walk, trying to calm herself and keep from bursting into hysterics.
Oscare found her only a few minutes later. Hornet sat on one of the stone benches of Ul'dah, face in her hands, struggling not to dissolve into tears. Oscare comforted her and apologized for bringing Dogberry's name out. She leaned against him and, to his credit, he was not awkward with the contact. He told her a story, a fable of sorts about a girl with golden hair. Hornet enjoyed it and recalling it made her smile slightly even if she couldn't remember all the details. After she had calmed a bit she and Oscare returned inside where she got him some water for his throat and thanked him with a chaste kiss on his forehead before retiring.
The last traces of yellow were gone from her skin and the bath she had run was steaming up the bathroom. Shedding her clothes Hornet slipped into the warm water and closed her eyes. She could do this. She could be strong for Dhemgeim through this trial. She could help Rivienne and become closer to her. She could learn more about Oscare and continue to thank him for his kindness. She could do these things. She must.
Hornet worked slowly and with precision as she cleaned her face of her lipstain and the yellow stripe across her eyes. As she did, she thought of how it began. She had gone to the Grindstone with the intent of working off some of her negative feelings. Losing the chance to be with Dhemgeim had hurt more than she had wanted to admit and she was frankly dreading seeing Dhem and Dogberry together. She was feeling bitter and it made her dislike herself. The fighting had been fun and even though she had lost in her second match to the nible Miqo'te lancer Mahvashi she had begun to feel better. It was nice to see familiar faces and the Grindstone had almost always been a happy visit for her. It was how she had met Gharen after all.
After the fighting was done she spotted Jancis among the spectators and gently drew her away from Alveo and the others for a quick word. Alveo had been acting oddly, Hornet was concerned that he was becoming jealous of the attention Jancis had been getting from other men recently. Deserved attention really, Jancis was a lovely woman. Still, an jealous man with a martial background could be trouble. When Jancis confided in Hornet and Alveo's state attributed to more potentially matrimonial concerns Hornet felt an immense burden lift from her shoulder.
The smile on Jancis' lips and the shy radiance of her happines had reminded Hornet of something vitally important. Love was real. It was all around. And even if she and Dhemgeim had not come together, she should at the least be happy that Dhemgeim was happy and finding love herself. Hornet had promised to support Dhemgeim however Dhemgeim needed her to, and now as she basked in Jancis's joy she knew she could do it. She could be the friend that Dhemgeim needed her to be. She could support Dhemgeim's relationship with Dogberry. She could do it.
Feeling strong and confident Hornet moved to retire to the Hourglass for the night but along the way encountered Dhemgeim. Dhemgeim did not seem well and after some gentle cajoling Hornet drew her outside the city walls to talk. Hornet was direct in her questions and learned much that she had already supected. She learned about Dhemgeim, Tau, and Dogberry and how their relationships had intertwined. As much as she liked Tau, what she learned that day turned her sympathy to Dogberry and she encouraged Dhemgeim to pursue this new relationship. And then Dhemgeim threw up.
Hornet guided Dhemgeim back inside and got her a room. She stayed by Dhem's side through the night, making sure she was going to be all right and cleaning out the basin she had used to catch Dhemgeim's sick. It wasn't an exciting night, but it was important. When morning came she felt energized again even though she had barely slept and once she was certain Dhemgeim would be all right she left.
The next few hours were spent wandering Ul'dah while wearing an illegally obtained Sultansworn outfit and asking people how their days were going. It was a good bit of fun and Hornet enjoyed adopting the formal manner of speaking she had heard from the likes of Crofte and the free paladin Warren Castille. It was while she was on "patrol" that she encountered the very lovely figure of Rivienne Delacroux.
Hornet was never short of flattery for a beautiful girl and she let a river of compliments flow as she spoke with Rivienne. It was not simple flirtation though. Hornet learned of Rivienne's family and a mystery brewing. She offered her assistance to Rivienne in the form of translating a journal out of Ishgardian and then arranging a meeting with a very scholarly friend of hers to decipher what aetheric secrets the journal contained. It felt good to be helping someone and, Hornet would freely admit, she truly enjoyed making Rivienne blush. There was a thinly veiled invitation to a dinner date once the translation was complete, and then Hornet was off again.
Hornet found Dogberry in the Goblet. She knew there was a chance he was expecting a fight. She explained her position to him, that she still loved Dhemgeim but that she would be supporting him and the relationship he was to have with Dhemgeim. He tried to empathize with Hornet and she found herself annoyed, but remained civil. She didn't want his empathy, she wanted his promise that he would be the best man in the world for Dhemgeim and that he would love her well enough for both of them. "Scuttle me if I don't." He had said. "I will." Hornet had replied before quitting the scene and returning to the Hourglass.
Hornet spent the next several hours in her room at the Hourglass transcribing the journal in her neat, precise hand. She spoke to Kaylie over her pearl and worried for the girl but was then relieved to learn that Rinilda had prevented Kaylie from going on her self-imposed exile. She would have to thank Rinilda next time she saw her. And Dhemgeim was off hunting Leviathan, which seemed to suit the world at large. Hornet was content with her work and was genuinely enjoying the steady rhythm of translation. However eye-strain and the constant motion of her wrist had forced her to take a break and retire out to the Quicksand for a drink and to listen to the crowd.
Happily while she was sitting she caught sight of the mysterious and devastatingly handsome Oscare Iono and invited him to join her. He did and the pair enjoyed a few moments quiet conversation. Hornet was enjoying learning more about Oscare and offered her help with his missing bow situation when Dhemgeim contacted her. Dogberry had been injured, the extent of which was not revealed to her at the time, and Dhemgeim told her she would be staying with him for a time. Hornet was concerned but not overly so and offered to assist however she could.
Just then, Berrod arrived with grim news. A man he referred to as 'The Captain' had lost his legs. He did not recall the mans name but Oscare helpfully provided clarification. Dogberry. The injury Dhemgeim had apparently tried to downplay was actually a double amputation. Hornet was stunned by the news. She reached out to Dhemgeim full of apologies and promises of assistance. A horrible sadness washed over her, tinged with a nagging sensation of guilt. Somehow this was her fault. She had encouraged Dhemgeim's feelings for Dogberry and had told Dogberry that she supported him. And then this happened. Hornet had to flee the Quicksand and took a short walk, trying to calm herself and keep from bursting into hysterics.
Oscare found her only a few minutes later. Hornet sat on one of the stone benches of Ul'dah, face in her hands, struggling not to dissolve into tears. Oscare comforted her and apologized for bringing Dogberry's name out. She leaned against him and, to his credit, he was not awkward with the contact. He told her a story, a fable of sorts about a girl with golden hair. Hornet enjoyed it and recalling it made her smile slightly even if she couldn't remember all the details. After she had calmed a bit she and Oscare returned inside where she got him some water for his throat and thanked him with a chaste kiss on his forehead before retiring.
The last traces of yellow were gone from her skin and the bath she had run was steaming up the bathroom. Shedding her clothes Hornet slipped into the warm water and closed her eyes. She could do this. She could be strong for Dhemgeim through this trial. She could help Rivienne and become closer to her. She could learn more about Oscare and continue to thank him for his kindness. She could do these things. She must.
