Don't cry about yesterday (Alana)

[Constantine Smith]

Timestamp: Early Immanis, Spring of Era XIV

The last of the suns was descending, taking up it's resting place beneath the far off horizon, casting hues of orange and red across the skies. The twin moons were already hovering in the heavens, waiting patiently to guide the footsteps of the creatures and peoples of Telath with their pale light. Normally this would be nothing of consequence but tonight was not an ordinary darkening. Tonight was the first full moon of the new cycle.

In one of the many city squares of Archadoon a crowd had gathered. They were there to celebrate the new moon. Drums began to beat out a slow, rhythmic beat and the crowd began to move to it in an interactive manner. Other instruments joined in to add to the steady, low melody. The sound of the music reverberated through the square and seemed to infect everyone in it, making them want to move and loosening their bodies up as their inhibitions and shyness was slowly stripped away.

Slowly the last sun dipped below the horizon and the last ray of sunshine passed with it. A cry of joy rose up from the crowd and the beat quickened and the dancers movements intensified in response. A heavy and charged atmosphere built and built and infected everything close by, drawing in stray passersby to the celebration.

A deep voice began to sing loudly followed by another and another. They sang in a language that wasn't the common tongue although they were all Humans. Most of the men didn't wear a shirt and if they did it was somewhat gauzy and allowed their bodies to breathe. Many of the women were dressed similarly, wearing as little clothing as possible in some cases and almost always gauzy or slitted. Some of those dancing were covered in blue woad paint that traced intricate tribal symbols on their bare skin. Most had blonde or red hair of varying shades, the rare few had raven black hair. These people were Vagaran.

A single member of that barbarian race stood off to the side, leaning against a building on the edge of the square. He was a tall man, as were many of his race, and had light blonde hair and green eyes. His shoulders were broad and he was a decent weight and was, at the very least, fit. The man sported a thick goatee and the corners of his eyes were marked with faint laugh lines, on his left ring finger was a gold ring.

[Alana Hybrid]

Alana walked out her barracks just before the full moon rose. She and the other recruits had been given the night to join in with the festivities of the night. It was a nice jester coming from such the tough and mean Drill Instructor Silverblade; it would appear he did have a heart after all. The low rumble of the beat had no affect on Alana, the event of the day past still played over and over in her mind. She was troubled by them but learned from the experience all the same.

Alana sat back and watched the celebration. She was never one to really engage in such affairs; plus, even though her right arm was mended it was still tender to the touch, her head still pained and the small faint scare she bore on her neck was a lasting reminder of yesterday. As the moon finally came out to play the singing and dancing grew louder and joyous calls were emitting from everyone. Alana gave out a heavy sigh. No matter how hard she tried she just couldn't bring herself out of the mood she was in. It had seemed that her encounter with Silverblade had finally made Alana think of her past and the more she dwelled upon it the more she hurt and the angrier she became.

Unable to take the happiness of the crowd for another moment Alana got to her feet and started to walk down an alleyway. Silence is what she looked for and she wasn't going to get it there. Thinking of where she should go only one place came to mind, training field. Placing a hand at her side where her dagger was kept safely tucked away she soundless walked toward her destination.

[Constantine Smith]

Constantine saw a sad and lonely looking young woman sitting by herself. It was odd because besides himself there wasn't anybody else that was alone. They were all dancing or drinking together, in most cases doing both. Perhaps there was something in her that would be like him. Even if there wasn't that didn't matter. Usually he was a rather withdrawn and quiet man but he cared deeply about others and he didn't like to see another person in pain. Many had told him it wasn't any of his business to get involved, but he didn't care. All he wanted was for others to be happy.

She got up and walked down into an alley way and Constantine pushed himself off the building he was leaning against and followed her. His legs were longer and he tended to walk quickly anyways so it wasn't too long before he relatively caught up.

Not being one to shout out from distances he waited until he got almost within distance to reach out and touch her. "Excuse me," he said in his soft, nonthreatening voice, "excuse me," he reached out and lightly touched her shoulder with his right hand, "are you okay? Can I help you?" If she turned to look at him she would see a man wearing a kind smile who only wanted to help.

[Alana Hybrid]

Alana was so lost in thought that she let her guard down. She didn't even hear the man speak to her the first time, let alone know that he had been walking behind her. When her shoulder was touched she winched and immediately went to draw her dagger with her right hand. It was all instinct but that didn't matter when it was still technically healing. She let out a faint cry of pain and the blade fell from her hand and hit the ground with a thud. Left with no other options she traced her mind to see if she could remember the words the man had spoken.

Alana looked into the face of the man and her eyes connected with his. She saw something in them that was soft and kind-hearted but also there was something more to them. She could only return his look with a lostness to her. It was if her eyes had become glazed over. She tried to give the man a smile, which she was sure looked anything but, and took a step back. "Sorry" She said. "You startled me is all." Alana continued as she reached down with her left too pick up her dagger. She placed it back on her right side and looked at the man once more. His figure seemed to mean her no harm and he did ask if he could help, still Alana's mind was not completely right.

"I don't believe you could help me." Alana replied. She shifted her weight and looked off into the distance and listened the voices or song. "Why are you not joining in the fun kind Sir?"

[Constantine Smith]

Horror and pain were mixed all in one as Constantine saw what he had done to the woman. He didn't know how he'd done it but somehow he had. His former captain had unbound him, perhaps he was capable of some form of magic that he wasn't aware of. Whatever the case was, he felt absolutely horrible for what he had done. A picture of remorse and concern was painted on his face as he reached out to touch her arm again but drew his hand back suddenly, worried that he would hurt her even more if he touched her once again.

He held his hands together and pleaded with Alana, "Please, please, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, I don't even know what I did. My captain unbound me a while ago, maybe it was some form of magic I did, I don't know. I'm so sorry. How can I..." but she had began to talk and as he had been taught he immediately shut up when a woman spoke. The captain had taught him to show the utmost respect to a woman. They were the bearers of life, it was only appropriate that they be honoured.

Uncomfortably he glanced back in the direction of the celebration and shrugged, muttering, "Not really my thing." He was beginning to withdraw inside of himself, he never did like talking about himself.

For a moment he just stood there, his right hand finding it's way up to the back of his head and rubbing it. His eyes widened for a moment and he blushed slightly, "Oh, and uhh...what about you? Why aren't you joining in on it...umm...I'm sorry I don't know your name." Rather awkwardly he offered his left hand on which he wore his wedding band - even though he hadn't seen his wife in almost two patterns and wasn't even sure if they were still married, she had never liked him much - he was always very uncomfortable around women he found attractive, "I'm Constantine."

[Alana Hybrid]

"Alana." She said in response. "I don't enjoy being apart of large groups of people such as this. I wasn't rasied around people. It is all rather new." Alana paused and looked up at the full moon unawared that lifted her neck will show the newly aquried scare. "It is very beautiful isn't it?" She said absentmindedly. "Don't worry about my arm, you have done nothing wrong, I had a mis..." Alana voice trailed off. She was once again thinking of her fallen commrades. Alana breahed in deeped and let out a heavy sigh.

"So you are married. Where is your wife? One would think you would be spending such a lovely night as this with the one you love." Alana questioned, hoping it would take her mind off of last nights events. She also just enjoyed learning about the people she met.

[Constantine Smith]

Constantine looked down at his wedding ring. He was a little shocked to see it there, he never really thought about it. Not once had he taken it off since it was first put on. It was almost more apart of his flesh and blood than it was just a simple ring. It being there really had nothing to do with his wife, he just couldn't take it off - not out of attachment to her or any sense of loyalty, but simply because he was so used to the feel of it on his finger.

The large Vagaran shrugged, "Oh, her. I haven't seen her in almost two patterns." He waved a hand in the air indistinctly, "She's out there, somewhere. A Vagaran village near this city I believe. We never really loved each other, we were just made to marry. I don't even know if we're still actually married..." Knowing her she probably had at least one mate, if not two or three. A woman needed children and he had never been around long enough to provide them for her. He was always moving, always trying to sail somewhere else.

"What about you? Anyone special?" He really didn't like talking about his feelings and it was more than difficult to express them. It had felt like his teeth were being ripped out.

[Alana Hybrid]

Alana gave a soft blush when she was asked about anyone special. She had had passing thoughts about Theying but she never really thought about him. In all truth she had not gotten to know him...well not in the aspect of his personality. She looked off into the distance and remembered the two days she had spent with him.

"Well, there is this one guy but like you he is married. He said he would come and visit me in the summer though. Other than that, I don't have anyone." Alana said the last words to Constantine rather than looking off in to the distance. "So, tell me, what brings you to this city kind sir?"

Alana looked around for a place to sit, unable to find one she sat against the building closest. She took her dagger off her belt and placed it next to her. She had not forgotten the reason she headed off toward this direction but since this man had been so nice to speak to her she decided it couldn't hurt.

[Constantine Smith]

Constantine snorted, "I wouldn't call what I have a marriage. It's more like...being divorced without being divorced." Suddenly he stopped talking and his jaw went taut. He hadn't meant to say that. He didn't like talking about the subject.

The large Vagaran man stood in front of where Alana sat and crossed his arms, "I came because my people founded the city. I'll be going to Tearsfall soon though." There was little else for him to say about that. That was pretty much all it was.

A slight smirk came across his face, "So you like married men, hey?" It was a bit of a joke and didn't mean anywhere near as much as it implied. In fact, Alana had just seen a rare flash of confidence around women that Constantine didn't naturally have. He was usually quite quiet and shy around them, more than likely it was the music that had infected him.

[Alana Hybrid]

Alana chuckled at the joke about married men and thought to herself that the trend seemed to not lie about itself but shock it off when her mind suddenly and most awfully snapped back to the events for which sent her out toward the training field in the first place. Alana looked down at the ground and began to hum a mournful tone absentmindedly before getting to her feet.

"I'm not one to sit still for two long she said the Mr. Smith, would you mind joining for a little training session and you can tell me more about this founding of the city thing, yes?" Alana said while taking a few steps backwards making sure to let him know he was invited to follow if he wished but was not obligated too. She then turned and started to make her way down the dimly lit road.