The Hearts of Men (1x1 with Eternal Chronicler)

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Jack smiled and closed his eyes. "What has once been trusted and has not produced a reason for said trust to be severed, is best left to be trusted again," He said, opening his eyes. "But also a trust that has been made with the full knowing that that trust may be violated by means of unintended should also be left trust, no?" He asked, moving closer. His lips brushed her neck and he smiled. "Do you trust me Tessa Orinae? He whispered in her ear.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

"I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"
Tessa looked down her arm for a moment, closing her hand into a light fist and watching a drop of water fall from it, granting her a prospective measure out of the worst. She smiled.
"I am corrected then; try not to violate my trust on the matter, and yes I trust you."
She tilted her head back, staring straight into his eyes with a small smirk on her face.
"Although I think this mind may work better on such a matter when persuaded, Jack. You've left me wanting, for once," she said with a slight wink.

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

"Oh? So now I am to satisfy you?" Jack asked, lightly giving up a kiss to the Half Elf. He rolled her onto her back and moved above her, on his hands and knees. He lifted her head to him and grinned before letting his lips touch her neck again, his fingers roaming through her hair gently. "Tell me to stop whenever you choose," He whispered against her skin.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

Tessa closed her eyes in the mild fear, though her neck grew slightly colder as she willed a chill over it, as if to silently protest location only.
"I don't think I'm in any position to be making demands, am I?" She asked quietly, "After all you owe me a lot of answers when this is through, but I'm not one to rush too much. Besides..."
She wrapped her arms around him, slowly bringing him closer and simply laying there, eyes closed and smiling.
"It's not so bad, having the company of a pirate after all."

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Jack shuddered and pulled away for a moment, eyes closed in silent concentration as he fought his own wants. After a moment or two of stiffness, he relaxed, and trailed a hand down Tessa's spine. "And why would I owe answers?" He asked, hardly giving her any time to answer before he sealed her lips with his own. He broke away from her mouth and hungrily grazed along her jaw, hand clenched on the ground next to her head.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

The resulting exasperating breath sounded off the walls for a brief moment, but Tessa smiled nonetheless, indicating with an incline of her head to several points restricting her ability to get away, and shrugged.
"Well you see, by position alone I have to withdraw my statement that you don't own me, given I can't move all too much. That, with a few leisurely moments and I'm sure I won't owe this so much as you owing me, which all I can find right now for you to give is answers. Not so bad, is it? Besides, you wanted this even before you knew my name - or at least hinted at it. It may be the only time I don't protest."

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Jack broke away for a moment, head dangling above Tessa's for a moment, expression unreadable. Then, he grinned. "You're right," He said, running a hand through Tessa's hair gently. "Dammit you're right," His eyes traced a line down her neck though and he closed his eyes, a light shudder passing through him. "And yet again my wants are just out of reach," He whispered, pulling away completely and sitting up, his eyes still closed, in obvious pain. His back was straightened and his jaw muscle betrayed he was grinding his teeth, while his hand was clenched.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in fear.

Slowly dying...

Tessa leaned forward to seated and watched Jack for a long moment, her curiosity swollen with a mix of admiration and fear - both for his sudden restraint. She reached out a hand to the man's shoulder and lay it there, giving an understanding smile his way.
"Whether I've earned your desires or not is irrelevant, Jack. You've won my respect."
The chill about her throat faded into a small mist, and for a moment she considered the makeshift basin she had crafted at the entrance. Only a puddle remained, and again she frowned.
"Jack, I'm sorry. There aren't many things I'm afraid of, but to become something entirely different? I'm terrified, please understand..."
A thought occurred to her, and she picked herself to her feet and drew frozen designs on the wall, looking down in dismay as they detached and shattered on the floor below.
"Can it be reversed, Jack?" She asked, looking to him, "Can your case of vampirism be cured?"

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Tessa's hand on his shoulder made Jack's eyes fly open, now a dark burgundy, instead of their usual amber. "We had best be leaving," He said in a hoarse voice, standing upright stiffly and walking to William. He climbed onto the camel and waited for Tessa, her heartbeat being heard by him even from where he sat, the blood rushing through her viens, and he could feel the burning thirst that was never quite quenched, and had not been fed in over a hundred years. He sat on the camel and let his eyes close.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in defiance.

Slowly dying...

Tessa frowned, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms below her chest, remaining otherwise motionless. Defiant in stature.
"No, Jack. I'm not going to force myself both ways, and you're not yourself. If nothing else, I'm going to have to take the re-ah..."
For a brief moment, a silver droplet of water marked along her right hand and she passed out, though in the same moment Seriel shone brightly, enough to illuminate beyond ability to see the formation of the figure now hovering over the half-Elf's body.



She turned to Jack as the shimmer dimmed down to normal, stepping over to him with a trail of aquatic blue following a ring on her left hand.

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

"And who might you be?" Jack asked, turning a slight glare to the newcomer. "Come to reprimand me for my nature?" His mood had fouled, and the burn in his throat grew stronger, even poor William he feared was not safe, as the animal's heart thudded dully beneath him. He dismounted to put some distance between him and the animal and looked dully at the newcomer.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

The figure stopped a short few paces short of Jack and offered a slight nod of acknowledgement, before indicating Tessa's fallen figure, and pointedly the lack of a weapon at her side.
"My name is Wearan Seriel, Lady of the Seas," she explained, "I cannot stay long, but you must know something. I would help you, if I knew how but with my having been sealed away many of the greater traits of divinity were lost to me. Tessa speaks with me regularly, and I cannot for a second deny that she is quite fond of you, but she is equally afraid of what she might become. She fears asking anything of relevance, suspecting the worst at every turn. You must have noticed it; she even shied away from a more dire topic to discuss something comparatively irrelevant."
She sighed, looking back to Tessa for a long moment before lowering her head.
"I cannot aid you directly, but please know this. I chose Tessa Orinae, not for her mother's worship but for her outstanding will to see something to an end. Promise me you will be there for her, this is all I ask."

 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Jack struggled for a moment, attempting to put into words a vow that Seriel may believe. Finally he sighed. "Aye, if you can trust the words of a pirate, then I will protect her," He said, indicating Tessa with a nod of his head. "And of course accompany her," He added after realizing that he had added on to what the Lady had asked of him. The burgundy of his eyes was slowly ebbing away, and he felt empty, void of the anger that had just filled him.

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]
 

[Kares-Eternal Chronicler]

--<._.-'--.__Tessa Orinae__.--'-._.>--

So cold...

All the same, all about me.

The wit, the wisdom.

Here I stand,

Here I live...

The truth of a revelation, frozen in defiance.

Slowly dying...

"You speak the words of a good, yet unsure man, Jack Cortez." Waeran smiled softly, stepping over to Tessa and kneeling down beside the girl, gently turning her over and running a small stream of water over the many points of impact to the cave floor, the wounds all but vanishing, "I could hope for nothing more. I am familiar with the few honest pirates of the high seas, and I find your word greater than even many of theirs. Farewell."
Her figure shimmered silver once again, the light within the cave dimming about her as her appearance shrunk down to the blade clattering down against the floor at Tessa's side.

She woke instantly, startled by the sudden metallic ringing and she looked down. After a moment, she looked to her hand, now devoid of the marking and back to Jack, eyes closing in shame.
"I've been a fool..." she said quietly, "what has she said, Jack? Please, tell me."

Obliteration On Cheetos:
 

[The_Scarlet_Lark]

Jack------------------------------------------
------------------- Cortez

Of Blood and Gold I know,
of the freedom of a ship,
and only the wind holding you back.

Jack rushed over to Tessa, ignoring his thirst, and knelt down in front of her, inspecting her for any injury. "She wished for me to always be there for you," He said, looking at her with equally shameful eyes. "I-I'm sorry about what...happened, I thought it would be easier to control," Softly he brushed her cheek with a finger before retracting his hand. "I don't want to hurt you,"

This is what I loved...And lost.
[OutrageousObliviousCats:---]