The Lower Bunk Of The Middle Bed Was Comfortable Enough To Sit On. She Thought It Would Suffice For Sleeping

The lower bunk of the middle bed was comfortable enough to sit on. She thought it would suffice for sleeping as well, but wasn’t yet willing to put it to the test. That was for later. For now she was learning the feel of the place, its cracks and crevices, the places it fit together and where it fell apart.

A blond young man entered, the door closing behind him and Auberdine looked up from her quiet. The two stared at one another for a long moment before the man smiled.

“I’m Evan Knight,” he swaggered toward her. “Who’re you, all pale eyes and red hair?” His hand extended toward her and she thought, for a moment, that she saw all his doubts laid out on his face. It was the only reason she accepted the handshake.

“I’m afraid, too,” she reassured him as their hands touched. He took a sharp step backwards, pulling free of her hand.

“That wasn’t what I asked,” he growled, stalking toward the last unclaimed single bed.

“I know, but you needed to hear it. I’m Auberdine,” she said, finally doing what he’d asked.

“Well keep your creepiness to yourself,” Evan shrugged and turned away from her, surveying the bed. He’d been given grey and black clothing, the rest of his belongings taken from him. He hated it, like he was a prisoner to be stripped of all worldly goods. He wanted to hit something, the wall or that pretty face--

“They’re coming,” she murmured.

He had time to look up before the door opened and the group of...patients entered, the charr and a couple of attendants on their heels. It was easy enough to tell who was a patient. The clothing, despite an array of colors, was all paired with grey in the same style.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” Calmheart began with an open, welcoming gesture. Nobody looked welcomed or reassured. “You will all be members of the fahrar here for the next two weeks. You will eat together, sleep together, and perform many cooperative tasks together in order to help you all overcome your problems. It is okay if you form bonds among yourselves -- encouraged, even! Having a close group with whom you share everything is a pillar of charr society and I believe humans could learn to embrace it in certain circumstances.” He glanced around, trying to catch eyes and give a warm grin. They were all looking at one another or the floor. This was, he thought, probably for the best. They needed to unite for the treatment to be most effective. “You will also be having daily sessions with me, some longer than others, so don’t worry that your treatment isn’t my first priority. I want to return you to your families hale and hearty. Now,” he clapped. A couple of people jumped. “I have a schedule to set up for you all for the next two weeks. I look forward to seeing you all at dinner.”

With that he left, leaving only the two brawny men he’d brought with him to tend to the group.

Immediately, a short woman with short brown hair hurried over to Auberdine.

“Hello, honey,” she took Auberdine’s hand. “Are you alright? You look pale. Have you eaten?”

“Leave her alone, Annie,” said another woman, hair longer and darker, her own skin as pale as Auberdine’s and eyes a piercing green. “She’s not another child for you to look after.”

“I-I’m fine, thank you,” Auberdine said to Annie, squeezing the woman’s hand. She could hear the sound of a baby crying. “You...you have a daughter?” she asked more softly.

Annie glared at the other woman. “I am merely being helpful Pearl.” Then she gave Auberdine a quivering smile. “It’s that obvious I’m a new mother?”

“It’s Katie, how many times do I have to say that?” the woman growled.

“Until Leotian tells her to call you Katie,” said a third woman, this one blonde and rosy cheeked. She flopped down on the bed beside Auberdine, looking like a perfect doll. “I’m Claire. That’s Anabelle and Katie. What’s your name?”

“Auberdine,” she answered quietly.

As they were talking, a girl younger than them all, scarcely a teenager, if that, darted past, heading for the top bunk of the bed in the corner. She swiftly climbed on top and curled into a ball, back to the room.

“That’s Mariel,” Claire waved a delicate hand toward the girl. “She’s been here longer than the rest of us.”

“How long is that?” Auberdine asked. “I thought two weeks was the limit?”

“The limit is how much your family is willing to pay,” Katie scoffed. “I’ve been here three weeks, Annie a month. We don’t know how long the kid has been here.”

Just then one of the orderlies stepped among them, holding a tray with two bracelets made of wide gold links. “Excuse me, miss. Just need t’slip this on ye.” He gestured for Auberdine’s hand and she held it up to him, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Quickly he buckled the bracelet around her arm. She noticed the rest had them as well.

And then she noticed that everything was wrong. She froze in place, eyes darting about at the subtle wrongness. The cracks were sealed over, the pits covered and blank. She could hear practically nothing, just the women chattering on, the birds outside, but the world wasn’t talking to her.

Without a backward glance, the orderly headed over to Evan, who’d stood silently watching names being exchanged. “You too, sir,” the orderly reached for the bracelet, then Evan’s arm.

That was when Auberdine screamed. Anything to break the silence.

Alarmed, the two orderlies rushed to her, moving everyone away from her as she fell to the bed, rocking and holding her head as heart-wrenching screams were torn from her throat. “Sometimes they react this way,” one of the orderlies was yelling at the other, trying to hold back the anxious women. Even Evan took a step forward to see what was going on.

Quickly enough a syringe was displayed, a sedative applied to Auberdine. She slept, though it was far from restful.

When the orderly came back to his tray, he found the second bracelet missing. “Oi!” he turned to Evan. “Where’d it go?”

“Oh, I put it on,” Evan pulled up his sleeve so the man could see the gold links against his skin. “I thought that was what I ought to do.”

“Yeah,” the orderly nodded, satisfied as Evan adjusted his sleeves again. “They’re trackin’ bracelets so’s ye don’ get lost out here in the woods.”

Satisfied their jobs were taken care of, the orderlies left.

There was one other man in the room and it seemed most of the women were crowded around Auberdine or napping. So he made a beeline for the tall, extremely thin man also wearing grey and black.

He came up beside the man in front of the room’s fireplace where he stood watching the flames. “Is it always this crazy around here?” he muttered in a convivial fashion. The man shook his head. Evan tried again. “So I’m Evan. I haven’t seen you around the clubs or taverns, are you not from Divinity’s Reach? Or just not into drinking?”

Dark yellow eyes swung up to meet his and Evan felt he was being not-so-subtly weighed and measured. And found lacking. Still, the man did at least speak. “I’m Aleksander DuFresne of Ebonhawke. I do not frequent Divinity’s Reach clubs or taverns,” he turned back to the fire.

“Look, I’m not trying to be your best friend,” Evan continued, “I’m just not interested in being alone in this operation for two weeks.” He glanced back at Auberdine. “The charr’s men said the screaming happens sometimes. Does it happen often?”

“No,” Aleksander remained intent on the flames. “But it does lend credence to Katie’s theory.”

“And what theory is that?” Evan asked.

“That the bracelets dampen any magical talent you possess,” said another voice, this one feminine and far closer than Evan expected.

He looked at the strikingly beautiful Elonian woman and a grin spread across his face. “Hello, gorgeous.”

“No,” she said, her voice short, the word clipped in a way that told Evan very clearly that such actions were not welcome. “Katie is probably right, you know.”

“I’m aware,” Aleksander shrugged. “But what does it matter? A couple of weeks and we’ll be out of here anyway.”

“If we’re lucky,” the Elonian said, glancing back at the others, slowly breaking into smaller groups.

Katie approached. “Did you see what happened when he put the bracelet on her?”

“Aleksander was just saying it proved your theory,” Evan said.

Katie nodded. “Lydianne has helped me a lot. Testing it as best we can.”

“It was a pleasure,” Lydianne purred.

Katie rolled her eyes but said nothing to the woman’s obvious flirtations. “New guy, do you know her? The red head? Is she still going to be screaming when she wakes up?”

Evan shrugged. “I have no idea. I got here about a minute before you did. And the name’s Evan.”

“Katie,” she nodded to him. “We’ve probably got 30 minutes before dinner. I’m going to go read over my notes. Someone let me know when they’re coming back.”

“I will, sug,” Lydianne volunteered.

Katie headed back to her bed, the one atop Auberdine’s. Evan watched her walk away. “This place is strange as hell,” he muttered.

“Isn’t everyplace?” Aleksander shrugged, moving away from them.

Lydianne gave Evan a helpless shrug of her own before taking up a seat facing the door to be a lookout for Katie.

And that, of course, left him alone again, uncomfortably in need of a drink.

I hate to be the one to break this to you, dude, but as a general rule, women don’t pretend to virulently hate men they’re secretly in love with as some sort of elaborate courtship ritual. That’s a trope we made up to justify why the male protagonist always gets the girl in the end even when it’s starkly at odds with prior characterisation. In real life, if she acts like she thinks you’re a creep, it’s because she thinks you’re a creep!

Tag Meme; Ewan Carmine

Full Name: 

Ewan Phillip Carmine

Gender and Sexuality: Male | Heterosexual

Pronouns: He/Him

Ethnicity/Species: Elonian/Krytan | Human

Birthplace and Birthdate:

Day 39 of the Zephyr (22 years ago) | Shaemoor, Queensdale

Guilty Pleasures:   Buying gifts for Isidora, writing letters to Isidora, daydreaming of Isidora, playing cards with his friend Jules and losing all his money to her.

Phobias: Being poor and destitute, unable to care for the woman he loves

What They Would Be Famous For: He’s been a quiet, shy kid all his life, only really breaking out of the Priory and his mother’s influences when he was hired as a bodyguard and accompaniment for Isidora Castillo. He did once hunt down Ashlan Kent at a charity ball and then zealously bid for an afternoon with the man in order to give it to Isidora. The date never took place as Isidora no longer wanted anything to do with Ashlan.

What Have They / Would They Gotten Arrested For: Ewan might have gotten arrested with Jules, a childhood friend and confidant, for stealing candies or other small trinkets, except he generally waited nervously for her on the sidewalk outside. Evan since then he has been very cautious to stay clear of the wrong side of the law, knowing he has no noble name or money to keep him from suffering in jail.

OC You Ship Them With: He is desperately in love with Isidora Castillo, has put her on a pedestal, and worships her from afar. Ewan isn’t really aware of how transparent he is.

OC Most Likely To Murder Them: For a time, it was Ashlan Kent’s fiance, Aurora Glass, who he outbid at the charity auction. Now it would probably be Isidora because he wouldn’t stop bothering her.

Favorite Book Genre: Historical and archaeological research.

Least Favorite Book Cliche: The love triangle where the bad boy wins out over the good man.

Talents and/or Powers: Ewan is a trained mesmer and competent combatant. Though not a soldier by any means, Ewan can defend himself with his sword and his magic and has worked as a bodyguard for nobility before. His mesmeric magic is focused mostly in illusions and mantras, allowing him to heal his charges and himself while quickly moving them away from the fighting.

Ewan studied in the Priory before his current position as aide to Lord Castillo. He maintains a relationship with the Priory library in Divinity’s Reach through previous relationships for his own enjoyment and Isidora’s. He’s an avid reader. His friend Jules is the person who knows him best and if he calls for her, the necromancer will be at his side to aid him, even if she thinks he’s being an idiot or naive. And she’ll be sure to call him on that.

Why Someone Might Love Them: Ewan is honest and hard-working, with a good attitude and a pleasant demeanor. He is polite and well-mannered, intelligent if not particularly creative. He seizes upon an idea and follows it to its conclusion. This includes love, which occasionally borders on obsession.

Why Someone Might Hate Them: It’s that obsession where things get sticky. Ewan’s understanding of romantic norms have come mostly from the worst kind of romance novels, where the man pines for the woman from afar until she miraculously notices him. Then they fall in love and live happily ever after. He has that kind of relationship with Isidora right now. Whether or not she will ever notice him is unknown. But he talks of her constantly and pines for her openly. He can be more than a little annoying about the subject of his dearest Isidora.

How They Change: Ewan started out as a joke companion for Isidora. As she obsessed over Ashlan Kent, Ewan obsessed over her. But he is devoted to her and that hasn’t changed. Recently he became her father’s aide and is learning how to run their household and funds. Ewan thinks this means he is also being groomed to be Isidora’s husband and is fantastically pleased at this tacit approval from her father. The truth of that is unclear, but Ewan will continue to be at Isidora’s side indefinitely. He wears rose-colored glasses where she is concerned and has attempted to aid her in securing her own romantic obsession in the past. What he will do when she actually finds someone to love other than him will be very interesting.

Why You Love Them: I love to make Ewan suffer. He’s so good at being quietly sad and angry, then picking himself up and doing his job anyway. He’s got a good heart, but his devotions are just a tad misplaced. But he has potential to grow and become either a good man or a really bad one, depending on what Isidora requires of him. And you better believe what she asks, he provides.

listen, strange naked women emerging from fires is no basis for a system of government

Some cool photos from the Cadillac Ranch. The paint layers are so thick is amazing and you even have permanent paint stalactites forming off the surfaces. Was a very cool stop.

i think it’s cute when someone texts you after hanging out just to say they had fun with you, idk little things like that are sweet to me