Bittersweet Candy Bowl

Coming back after hearing the ruckus, he notices the three Ladies wander off.

This can’t be good.

Decides to follow them.

She looks at the princess as she slumps her back against a tree.

It’s nothing, I just was a fool to get involved in this silly adventure.

Damn you Hannibal! Find someone else to land on!

I wasn’t even close enough for that to happen!!)

Delilah stamps her foot on the ground at Lady Lieselotte’s words.

No! You are the only reason we’ve made it this far! We would have never heard those bandits had you not pointed them out to us… We’d probably all be dead, except Lord Makar…

Lily gives Hannibal a look, then back to the Princess again giving a smile “… Hm~ I’ve no children of my own and I’ve known the child since she was eight.. let an old woman worry” She snickers a bit “… though then again I’d like to think I’m ten or twenty years from ‘old’ just yet…”

The next few words from Hannibal got him a curious look… then an apathetic one quickly preparing one of her little papers marked with symbols of the east “Somehow ‘Not’-Sir Hannibal given your reputation…” she lowered the sheet into the flames lighting its very tip “That you’ve long since lost….”

She rose the paper before her eyes, looking at him through the smoke… suddenly switching from apathetic to startled. Blowing the smoke forward… it suddenly becoming a full cloud of gray…… revealing a form sitting right beside Hannibal before it fades away. “…….Hm… well then.. it seems you’re haunted. Congratulations”

The princess seats herself against the same tree, though further around, leaving them looking in different directions.

“Why DID you join this quest?”

Her question sounded more genuine than blunt.

“I hold no illusion that it is due to your unwavering alliegence to our nation…”

She paused briefly

“Is it because Makar was going?”

By the southerner? Huh. so can I communicate back? Do we need some ceremony? Do I just talk? Do I just think loudly? What’s the deal?

She has no response, but she noticeably tenses up at the mention of Makar. She continues to stare silently into the woods after this, seeming to ignore those around her now.

Though she guessed that Lieselotte wouldn’t respond, a question weighed too heavily on her mind.

“At least tell me this then… Lord Makar… What’s it like to adevnture with him? Alone I mean.”

Hannibal keels over drunk and passes out, snoring loudly.

((I’m out. Work tomorrow. If something goes down, I’ll be hung over. Please, no one kill me.))

Delilah stands there watching the passive vampire, tearing up a little, clutching her sides, trembling a little with melancholic anger.

She stays silent for several minutes, her only movement the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. Finally after what felt like hours to her, she sighed deeply and spoke.

Understand now, I will only tell you a a sliver of my experience with Lord Makar. A sliver and nothing more. I know if I don’t answer at least some of your questions now, you and the rest of this band of so called “heroes” will pester me until I am forced to leave.

(Going to bed now, so Kriegsherr will just work on the cape until it’s wearable, then go to sleep by the fire or something)

Lily scratches her chin in thought “….It depends on the spirit… -why- he’s haunting you. He might even be protecting you…” Glances at Hannibal for a moment considering who she’s talking to “Right then…” She sits on down quickly pulling out a fresh paper and some sink from her robes

“Never mind. Hannibal what in the world did you do to the man that he can rest until he sees you dead?… *sigh*…an exorcism out here would have risks… -lots- of risks and you take enough of those already…. here..” she quickly dips a finger into the ink and writes on the sheet… a short prayer later making it glow for just a moment.

She hands it to the Ex-Knight “… it should stop him from possessing you at least. As long as you keep it on you. I’d try talking to him when you’ve sobered up….try to be a bit more polite with the undead this time hm?” Lily gives one of her reassuring smiles, honestly joking this time.

(What I get for being distracted heh. Assume this post is from before Hannibal falls over out cold from booze ;p)

The princess contemplated trying to argue that she did not mean to seem so arrogant, but decided against it as she did genuinely wish to hear what the Vampiress had to say.

“Share only what you feel comfortable to”

Delilah bites her lip to make herself not respond to the vampire, realizing that Lady Lieselotte wants to talk, but doesn’t want them to know it, her hands squeezing on the sides of her skirt as she listens; while she is trying not to seem overanxious to the vampire, her interest is obvious.

My time with Makar has been unique. I’ve spent centuries alone wandering the world, just surviving. If you think your desire to live is great, that of my kind is tenfold. When I met Makar, he gave me something none had given me in my life- Compassion. I traveled with him at first, simply to aid him in his task as thanks for his actions.
She looks downwards and begins to fiddle with her hands. She is getting noticeably uncomfortable revealing so much, but continues in a softer tone.
I decided to stay with him, and we ventured forth to your kingdom. The path was quite treacherous, but the knowledge of having someone there to watch your back and aid in your survival made the trip much easier. It would seem I ensured his more then he did mine however.
She sighs again and closes her eyes. She breathes deep trying to relax herself, having told her tale has made her very out of place. A hint of irritation can be seen on her face. It would seem that she will share no more.

((Bleh, I don’t care for this post too much, but hopefully this will help with some story progression. It’s difficult to have “just a sliver” and still give any info :\ ))

Delilah listens raptly at the vamp… no, the woman’s, story, her hands relaxing slightly on her dress, trying to keep her expression neutral, afraid it will make Lady Lieselotte clam up if she shows any sort of reaction at. But as the woman fiddles with her hands, the dancer’s own emotions become a bit tangled - jealous, but also sad, as well as happy for the harsh cat. As the Lady closes her eyes and lowers her head, after a moment Delilah steps forward, reaching to touch her shoulder, to comfort her.

“I see… It must be nice to share such a bond.”

The young woman sighed softly and turned to Delilah

“And what of you Delilah? Is there one whom you trust yourself unto?”

She looks up and glares at the girl reaching out to her. She stands then turns towards the fire.

I’ve said far, far, far too much. This will only lead to trouble, that I can tell. I was right, I never should have gotten involved.

She walks off, angry though the direction this anger is towards is unclear. She takes a seat by the fire and stares intently in the fire, doing what she can to block out the world around her.

I understand it’s hard for you to trust us. After hearing how people treated you in the past from Lord Makar, I can’t say I blame you…Just know that there are several of us in the group who care about you.

Smiles and starts to walk away.

By the way, you should take it easy for a little while longer. If you open up those wounds of yours, the Princess and myself still don’t have the strength to heal you for a few more hours. I’m certain you wouldn’t want to be in pain until then.

At least things have calmed down.

Heads back to the group.

(Automode: Continues meet and greet in the hopes of learning more about the others. Goodnight everyone.)

((SPARKLY VAMPIRE IMHO))

Pops up from a bush
” It is uncharacteristic for a vampire to show such emotions for what your race typically considers, “lesser races”


(ahhh time lapse&hellip

She approaches McCardell and looks at him straight in the eye.
You keep your mouth shut.
She forms a fist and punches him in the face before storming off into the woods, disappearing amongst the dark trees.

((WAGE IMO))

Delilah looks hurt as the noble vampire walks away from her, her face falling, wanting to help her, but apparently the vampire didn’t want her help. She sighs a little bit, silent for a few moments, seemingly not hearing Princess Sunday’s question, but just as it seems like she ignored it entirely, she speaks.

My friends. I trust my friends. But… *she shakes a little, eyes shining* I don’t think that’s really what your question is, is it?

Holds her belly, a feeling of loneliness hollowing her gut.

((Ugh, I had Lieselotte tell waaay too much, waaay to fast. I totally fucked up the Lucy character ))

rubbing his eye he mutters

Ah, now anger is characteristic of a vampire…

Disappears where is insight is most needed

(and I’m out for now, sleepy times.)

Sensing that talking to Delilah required a different kind of tactic, Sunday moved closer and placed an arm around the dancer, trying to comfort her.

“Sometimes talking helps… It certainly helped me before over at the fire”

((I don’t think you’ve screwed Lucy up. It’s easy for her to get lost in thought and ‘say too much’ etc))

After training for a while, Icarus begins to feel the effects of fatigue setting in.

Haah, haah… *That turned out pretty well in my opinion.*

He notes significant improvement in his aim, and decent improvement in his power. Being fully healed in his leg, his agility is now back at its peak. The paladin looks for a suitable resting spot.

Time to get some rest.

(Gotta go, battle strategy is the same, will now be referred to as “default” from now on. I will usually post some stat improvements/changes in my afk post (like this one) as seen above in narrative.)

Delilah nods her head, smiling over at you despite her tears.

Thanks. Its just… hard to watch her and Lord Makal together. He loves her… and she loves him… but she doesn’t appreciate him! If Lord Makal was stroking MY head, I’d… I’d… something. She got angry at him! If I had a knight like him, I’d make sure he knew how I felt. But I don’t.

Delilah shakes her head, rubbing at her cheeks.

He is my protector, and my friend, like Dave… but he’s not MY knight. He’s someone else’s. Always her, and you… Never me.

Then there’s Albert… but I worry that he sees me the same way as Lord Makal does. Just some hapless dancer, a friend, someone who can’t take care of herself and needs to be saved. He’s a knight, and sometimes, I think he could be MY knight.. nnn. Its easier being disappointed by something you’ve gotten used to, rather than being disappointed in a new way. The old sort of disappointment, it is almost like an old friend… twisting a knife in your gut… but the new sort? That’s like being stabbed all over again again.

She gets a mental image of the person who died on the first day, died before she even knew their name, and shudders.

Not that I would know. Here I am, whimpering about not being loved, when Albert, and Lord Makal, and even McCardell, were all throwing themselves in front of me, to protect me from harm. They know what it means to hurt.

And that hurts even more, not even having the right to hurt.

She looks at Sunday.

How do you deal with it? Watching Makal and Lieselotte together?

(Wow… why I always am absent when something interesting happens? Just look what I lost! Anyway&hellip
Lord Makar finally woke up, noticing that Lieselotte wasn’t besides him anymore.
I guess she healed up already… or at least enough to stand on her feet.
He got up and looked at his comrades near the campfire, then to two girls under a tree on the other side of the camp. On his way to them, he stoped near the campfire and said hi to everyone there, noticing that Lieselotte, Sunday nor Delilah were along them.
One of the girls are absent… would she be the Lady?
He walked to where the other two were at, but after listening to Delilah’s question directed to Sunday, he stalked behind the tree, unseen.

((This post remains unchanged as Sunday wouldn’t notice Makar’s approach.))

The princess listened intently to what the dancer had to say. She was slightly taken aback by her interest in Makar, but it wasn’t honestly all that surprising. She also mentioned Sir Albert, and Sunday suddenly realised that she had seen them together quite a bit. Delilah’s question was a tough one indeed…

“I have learned not to make a fuss… Not to ever speak out or state what it is that I want. So many rules that a princess must adhere to…”

She pulls a small comb from her pocket and begins to run it through Delilah’s hair. She had always found it comforting as a child when Lily would do this for her, so perhaps it would help her new friend?

“I believe that, so long as he is happy, I will feel contented. Though, I would like it best if he could find a way to be happy with me…”

She thought a moment as she brushed.

“You are not bound by expectation to stay silent. Why do you not just tell Albert how you feel? I’m sure the very fact that he leaps at the chance to save you before all others says that there is something more to his feelings than you may realize.”

He stood there, motionless, without knowing how to act or what to think. He sat down, thoughtful, and fell in the reflection.

Delilah closes her eyes, letting her hair be combed, smiling a little at the gesture.

Seeing him smiling at her makes me so sad… but also happy in a way, so I understand what you mean.

The dancer leans back a little into the combing, thinking about her words about Albert.

I don’t want him to think I just like him because he rescued me. Because I don’t. I mean… he’s noble, and I don’t mean royalty. He’s a knight without a title. He helped me out without asking for a reward, even though he could use the money. He told me he was going to do something to help Lord Makar… try to escape from his life. I think he wants to be a real knight, even though he already is. Its the selflessness…

Plus… shouldn’t a knight ask a lady he loves? I…

…am just looking for excuses. I just don’t want to admit to myself that my dreams of these last few years have been just cloudstuff. *she looks at the ground, a bit ashamed of herself* And once I ask him… no matter what he says… I will as good as admitted that they are. And if he says no?

What do I have to look forward to then?

I like Lord Makar for the same reason as I like Albert. They’re similar, in a way… and that feels unfair to me, almost like I’m replacing Makar with Albert. And that’s not fair to either of them.

Sunday continues to comb as she frowns a little.

“It certainly is the romantic thing for the Knight to ask his love… But then, what are we to do when out own happy ending is in jeopardy? Just sit by and wish things had turned out differently?”

She sigh’s

“Still. I think before you can do much of anything, you need to reach inside and find what you really want. Is Albert truly a replacement for Makar? Or does it just seem that way?”

A soft blush crosses her cheeks

“I love Makar. There’s no question of that… And it is because I am so strong in my conviction that I am willing to fight for it. Even if it means endangering myself by coming with him on this quest. But you still have a choice to make. And for that I do not envy you…”

She sighs a soft and happy sigh

“Still… Albert certainly does sound like a wonderful man. And he would be lucky to call someone as kind hearted as you his own.”

Makar listened carefully to Delilah’s and the Princess’ words and looked down.
That’s it… I have to choose… I’m just a good friend of Lieselotte, so why don’t I declare to Sunday? Maybe because I’m not just Liselotte’s best friend, but the only one… I’ll probably be more distant from the Lady and she will be all alone again…
He looked up to the sky.
Why not Lieselotte, then? Sunday may find someone else… but I can’t leave her as well… I’m fond of her and I don’t want to stay away from her.
He looked foward, into the dark trees, frowning.
I don’t propose to Sunday just because I don’t want to leave Lieselotte to be alone once more?!
He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
What pitiful kind of knight am I?! He shouted.
Unable to hold his self-hatred, the knight gave a strong nudge in the tree he was leaning, making it tremble. Realising what he just did, he got up and ran away.

Wakes up after his short nap beside the now barely lit fireside. He begins moaning and strecthing but then notices Delilah had moved from her resting place
Where…
Where has Delilah gone?
I want to talk to her about something important.

(Aghhh stupid name. It’s Albert ¬_¬

I don’t know. Maybe I’m just telling myself that so I don’t have to do anything. *she smiles wanly back at you*

I was hoping to see what it was like out here for him. Its so much harder than I imagined… so much worse. I don’t know how people like them handle it and yet are still so kind in the face of so much danger and death. They KNOW they can die at any moment… but they are still willing to face it to protect us.

I don’t know that I could do that. Put myself in front of someone else to save them, even if it could kill me? Its… so hard to imagine facing down that kind of fear. But when I think of my friends dying, I get this horrible feeling, almost like I’d rather it be me… but I could barely even move when those bandits were attacking us. I worry that I’ll freeze up when someone attacks us, and someone will die trying to save me.

And… I still don’t know the way of things any better than…

When she hears the shout from behind the tree, she jerks around, wide-eyed at the noise and the shaking of the tree, followed by rapid footfalls away.

Was that…? *she blushes a deep crimson* Did he hear us talking?

Makar kept running into the forest, following the way of dark trees he was facing before, untill he finally stopped to pant. He leaned his shoulder on a tree and kept breathing, giving it a nudge per second to get rid of his rage.

Sees Lord Makar off in the distance running from the group and chases after him
Hey stop!
Where are you going!?

Sunday listened quietly as Delilah shared her feelings so openly, feeling very sympathetic towards her feelings of helplessness and her hatred of seeing all this death. Though, as she spoke, they heard the unmistakable sound of Makar shouting out, and the shaking of the tree drew their attention towards the direction it came from.

“Oh no… Makar was listening?”

The princess looked distraught.

“Should we… Go after him?”

She asked nervously

He stopped attacking the tree and turned to his atention to Albert.
Sorry for making things dificult for you. He patted his shoulder quite heavily.
Delilah may like to hear something from you, if you understand what I mean.
He walked away back to the campfire, sitting in front of the flames and looking deep into them, frowning. He was so upset with himself that he got up just a few seconds later and sat down under the tree he was with Lieselotte before.

Albert blushes a little as Makar makes his comment.
Yeah I think it’s time I spoke to her now anyway.
Do you know where she went?

Without saying a word, he pointed at the tree Delilah and Sunday were.

Delilah bites her lip.

I… don’t know. Obviously he didn’t want us to know he’d heard… maybe… maybe he ran because he didn’t want to speak to us?

Feeling butterflies in her belly, she looks over at the princess.

But he already knows. Maybe we should do what the Lady won’t… and talk to him? *she looks off in the direction that he went, seeing a figure still standing there, not realizing it is Albert, not Lord Makar, in the darkness* I could… I could tell him… then… I wouldn’t have to think about it anymore…

She shakes a little, then clenches her fists, steeling herself.

No! I will be brave! *she marches off straight-backed towards the figure, as though marching to her death, her twitching tail being the only the only sign of her anxiety*

Thanks.
Oh and good luck with Lieselotte *winks*
Walks up to Delilah, his heart pounding extremely fast

Delilah?
I…
I wanted to talk to you.
In private please.

The dancer walks up to the figure, shaking a little, and opens her mouth to speak only to squeak loudly as she recognizes it as not Lord Makar but Albert.

A-Albert? It was you who heard? *she blushes, looking up at him, her breath leaving her* I… I wanted to talk to you too. *she clenches and unclenches her fists, trying to calm herself a little, even as her thoughts race as to why he would want to talk to her alone* I… I can take it. I promise.

*she braces herself, squaring her shoulders and looking up into his face a bit nervously, her ears drooping a little in anticipation of what she thinks he is going to say*

Sunday places the comb back in her pocket and stands up with Delilah. She nods, giving the girl the afirmation that she should follow through with her words and put them into action.

“I’ll head back to the camp then. Tell me how it goes”

She smiles, knowing that she could very well be encouraging yet another woman to chase after her love. But it didn’t matter. Whoever won the Knight’s heart, it would be his choice. As Delilah determinedly marched towards where it seemed that Makar stood, Sunday slipped back to the camp.

As she arrived, the sight of the Knight surprised her, causing the young princess to look back towards where she had just come from.

Then that was…

She smiled a little.

Good luck Delilah…

Sunday moved over to sit by the fire, placing herself next to Makar, once more starting to absentmindedly poke at the fire.

“It’s been a while since we have just talked hasn’t it Makar?”

She couldn’t look at him. Her face too flushed from the combination of knowing that he had heard her discussion, and the close proximity they now shared.

Albert stares blindly at Delilah, his voice braking up, and is finding hard to breath with his heart beating so fast
I…
I’ve been admiring you the day I’ve met you Delilah.
Just how cheerful you always acted and you never stopped smiling. Always dancing around and making everyone feel better just by bing near them.
You’ve always made me feel better just being near you but I’ve never been able to say how I feel.
Then I saw even when a Dragon attacked us how much courage you and tried helping as much as you could so I feel like I need to start showing my courage as much as you have been.
What I saying is Delilah is…
I love you.