fight to save the living, fight to threaten the world

[ladyspitfire]

Date & Time: All week during the age changing.
Location: Out and about the city.
Characters: Elissa Cousland and YOU.
Summary: Someone's just been dragged back to the very worst moment in her life. Now, back in Exsilium, she's not so open and friendly.
Warnings: Language at least. Will update otherwise.


Nothing was as it should have been.

The burning of her home and the slaughter of her family was fresh in her mind, the rush out of Highever with her dog and Duncan all too clear, but the city before her was nothing close to the woods around her city. It was dank and dark, raining, and there was something almost metallic and toxic in the air. But perhaps it was the smell of death in her nose that made her feel ill and the strange new town merely offset her balance. She couldn't be certain.

But there was something altogether familiar and distinctive about where she was. Shop names, buildings, faces she could swear she'd seen before. It didn't seem possible or right. A fever dream? Perhaps I'm having a nightmare. Cruel, truth be told. Why couldn't the night previous be little else but a horrible dream? She prayed it was so. If she could return home and everything would be set right...

One glimpse in the window of a shop was all she needed to dispel that argument. She was messy, a smudge of ash on her cheek, hair tangled and out of its tie. Though her cloak was new and made of fine material, her boots and clothes were covered in dried blood, a testament to her battle from the night prior. It couldn't have been a dream. She covered her face with her hands. "Oh, Maker..." she whispered. Her dog nudged her side and she knelt down to press her forehead into his back. "...We'll be all right," she murmured, more for herself than for him. She just needed to get her bearings, that was all. She just needed a little time.


[ooc: ACTION OR PROSE, UP TO YOU. Name the time and place, as she'll be just about anywhere and everywhere to run into people.]

Comments

[ladyspitfire]

Elissa was equally as curious about her new surroundings, though she did not have the aptitude Ezio did for the rooftops and her adventurous streak needed a bit of rest. She was too engrossed in the types of shops, the clothes people wore, and the kinds of food that were being sold. Her eyes were everywhere, a certain paranoia to the way she scrutinized instead of admired the few things that stood out to her. She didn't have the energy for fighting. She needed to avoid anything - or anyone - who seemed threatening.

The man who approached her had a curious accent, one that reminded her of her sister-in-law. She turned to him with an inquiring look and then realized he was remarking on her state of dress.

Flushing briefly with shame, she reached up to rub her palm over her smudged cheek. "I am...lost, you could say." She didn't want to directly answer his question, still uncertain whether she deemed him safe enough to badger with her own inquiries. Atticus sniffed at Ezio and seemed to find him adequate. "You aren't a native of these parts, are you, messere?" If his clothes were any indication...

[recluta]

Ezio shook his head at the girl's question. He definitely wasn't a part of this place, and he could tell that neither was she. What catches his attention further now is the dog being so calm, so well-behaved around her. The girl must have trained it well. Without hesitation, Ezio kneels in front of the dog, debating whether or not to pet it as it didn't seem intent on attacking.

"No, I'm not," Ezio replied. "You aren't either, si?"

[ladyspitfire]

"No, I'm not," she says, and though it's a quiet admittance, there's nothing timid in her voice. Atticus continues to sniff at Ezio, eventually settling back on his haunches and allowing the man a closer look. His large tongue droops out of the side of his mouth while he has a look at the stranger.

Elissa briefly rolls her eyes at him. Embarrassing beast. "Gentle, boy," she murmurs. But one word is all it'd take for him to attack. She's giving Ezio the benefit of the doubt. "You sound... I can't place your accent, ser."

[recluta]

He scratches the giant dog behind the ear for a few moments. Nowhere had he seen a dog like this, as much as he may try to place it. "Italian," Ezio answered, looking up at the redhead. He'd already gotten many questions and remarks along the same lines. How could people not know Italia? Madness.

[ladyspitfire]

"Forgive me. It sounds almost Antivan." And it's a welcome sound, truth be told. Familiar. She gives him a hesitant smile, one that brightens just a little as he ruffles up her dog. Atticus seems all too pleased at the attention, whining encouragingly. "You're so embarrassing," she mutters softly. "You're supposed to be a war hound, remember?"

[recluta]

"A war hound?" he asked, continuing to scratch Atticus. "He looks like it. But I think I've never heard of 'Antivan.' You're from somewhere else, then?" That's the only answer to it, really. Plenty of people here are from, well, everywhere.

Though Ezio was happy that her spirits seemed to lift a little. He won't ask, but someone like her shouldn't have such a sadness on their face.

[ladyspitfire]

She laughed softly, the sound tapering off as quickly as it came. "He doesn't act like it sometimes. Whimpering and carrying on when he wants food." Atticus just kept wagging his tail. He could understand every word they said, of course, but Ezio had his undivided attention.

"Yes, I'm from...elsewhere." No one knew of Thedas. She wasn't certain if that was advantageous or not yet. "Antiva is a country to the north. It's warm and much more colorful than my home, where power lies with the merchants and their assassins. My..." Here, she paused. "My brother's wife came from Antiva."

[recluta]

He rose back to full height, still scratching the war hound behind the ear. Merchants? Assassins? Sounds entirely too familiar. "Antiva, Italia... Maybe we aren't so different, after all. My home is very colorful, very beautiful."

[ladyspitfire]

"I would be surprised if they were the same but they at least sound similar enough." She brushed some of her hair behind her ear, a little too aware of how she looked suddenly. "I've never been there before, unfortunately, so I cannot tell you anything else, messere." Her sister-in-law certainly never wore clothes quite like his. That was a certainty.

[recluta]

"A shame, I would've liked to know more," he responded. "But, are you alright? We should find you a place to clean up or get you new clothes."

[ladyspitfire]

"I'm fine," she said with a startling firmness. If she said it enough times, perhaps it would be true. "I've been told that I have a place to stay here but...truth be told, I don't recall having been there." And she wasn't too trusting of the people who'd spoken to her about it.

She rubbed briefly at her arm. "If you know of a place where I could get cleaned up, I would appreciate it. Clothes can come later."

[recluta]

"I can take you someplace, if you like," he offered. "There are rooms, many of them, nearby, or the doctores who can look after your wounds."

[ladyspitfire]

"It's not mine," she said. She glanced down at herself. "The blood. It's not mine." What few cuts she had on her had healed, though it had only been a few hours ago that she'd been fighting.

"If you could show me where to go, I would be very grateful." She wanted to trust him. She would just need to tread carefully.