At Last I See The Light

[Balthazar Black]

33 Ashan 720

"I don't think so, but I've never tried it. I get an arm stuck in a closing portal every once in a while and it just pushed me out." Balthazar replied when Natalie asked about getting her head chopped off by the portal. It had crossed his mind to try and do that to opponents in combat but he'd never had the skill with the magic needed to cast portals that easily. He'd created the four Defiance fighting styles in order to utilize that magic in combat... but Rupture could have some interesting applications as well. Balthazar's mind began to wander towards ways he could utilize portals in combat, the most obvious difficulty being that he needed to move his arms a decent amount, or maybe just his hand if he was lucky, in order to rupture the space between where he was and where he wanted to be. While pondering, Natalie seemed to take off in a sprint down the street. Balthazar didn't notice until she was quite a distance away and he dispelled his portal with the wave of a hand.

He pushed himself forward, sliding down and off the roof into the air where the wind caught him and lowered him onto unsteady footing- an irritating wind seemed to blow in his face whenever he utilized his kin... apparently even when he did not intend to. Balthazar landed a few feet behind Natalie, apparently unnoticed by the running woman and he tried to keep up with her but she was in a sprint and he didn't really want to break a jog. It was a marathon, not a race.If it were a race he'd be using portals to win. As the large tree came closer into view Balthazar began to recognize it. They were going to the Menagerie! Oh how fate made fools of them all! Balthazar grinned a dumb grin as his plans to abandon the Menagerie and the lights in the sky to hang out with the woman from the store suddenly became plans to go to the Menagerie and look at lights in the sky.

Then he heard Natalie screaming his name. Well calling out loudly? Balthazar wasn't all that far behind and arrived shortly after she called him her date. Oh how he hoped Isabella wasn't looking through his eyes right now. The things she would say to him when he returned to Almund might very well keep him from that city. But hey, they were on a break, right? For like arcs? Who was she to judge him?

"I'm sorry we're bothering you." Balthazar said to the Elements that were waiting with Natalie. "Abigail, come here." Balthazar said, walking slightly away from the two Elements and looking up towards the top of the large tree. He couldn't really see a branch but he knew exactly how far away it was. He could fly up to it... or he could do something more entertaining. "Alright, hold onto me." Balthazar said as he brought his feet closer together and looked down at the ground before looking up at the sky. "Tightly, and keep your feet together. This will be fun, trust me. I did it once to get onto a ship that had left port without me. Just stay close so we both fit, and hold on so you don't... um.."

He was implying: Splat.

[Natalie Cooper]

And there he was, finally (albeit moments later). There were so many polite people in Scalvoris! He had even apologized to the guards for bothering them. She hadn't thought she was a bother, and if the guards had thought so, they should've said something. Not her fault that their lips were sealed so tight they turned white. It also wasn't lost on her that he'd chosen to call her Abigail and not Abby. She wondered why some people picked one over the other. She didn't mind, it was just a curiosity, and weirdly she'd never asked. And probably never would. She liked having on going mysteries like that in her life.

She walked up to him, grabbing his arm and walking with him away from the guards. "Slowpoke." She grinned devilishly as she said this. She looked up at the tree, even from this far away, or close, she wasn't really sure because it was that big. "How does a tree even get that big?" She felt him straighten, even heard the light tap of his boots together. Was he a soldier? Only soldiers did that in her terribly limited experience.

She wasn't sure what he was about to do, and that excited her even more. Just how many surprises did this man have. He seemed to be really serious about her holding onto him tightly. So she moved around to his front, pressing her ample chest against his rock hard one. She reached around his torso, beneath his arms, grabbing her wrist behind him. Then she squeezed, squishing herself against him, pressing her entire form against the entirety of his. And only now did she look up at him, a soft, trusting smile.

"You'll have to tell me why you were late for the boat. Was it a woman?" This was said teasingly, a sly smile growing.

She then lowered her face into his chest, squeezing on tight, "Ready!" She wondered if it was another portal magic trick. The last one was fun, but she would need more than that to sate her current rising anticipation.

[Balthazar Black]

33 Ashan 720

While most men (Balthazar included) would have taken a decent trill to enjoy the feeling of Natalie's form pressed up against their body, the mage was unfortunately preoccupied with trying to ensure he didn't get them both killed. Balthazar kept looking down at the floor, then up towards the tree. He didn't want to risk a full hundred foot portal, not when he had to make it a little larger to accommodate Natalie moving through it as well. He really didn't want them to break the edges of the portal when it was formed because he didn't like the idea of being jettisoned out of the one he was going to make in the air any more than he liked the idea of being shot out of the one of the ground.

"No, not a woman that time." Balthazar admit. It was still somewhat of a lie because he'd only been looking for a ship so that he could find Isabella, but Natalie didn't need to be troubled with that and Balthazar didn't want to think about it given what he was going to attempt. Balthazar began to wave his hand beside them and the same loud cry sounded out as the air ripped open, generating a portal just large enough for the two of them to squeeze through on the floor next to them. Before Natalie would have a chance to see where Balthazar had conjured the egress, he'd jump through the portal on the ground.

About then it would become clear why he'd insisted she hold on tightly because as they moved through the portal on the ground, they came flying out of a portal fifty feet into the air- and nothing caught them. The two of them fell, faster and faster towards the ground while Balthazar's face tightened and he shifted his right arm, trying to embrace the wind and take flight as he often had done before... but he'd never done it with someone holding onto him... well someone who didn't get dropped shortly after.

Forty feet till collision... thirty.... twenty... thirty five feet... they were climbing now, the wind having slowed their descent finally and beginning to bring Balthazar back up towards the top of the tree. He was beginning to sweat, unfortunately, and there was a clear strain on his face- partially caused by a wind whipping against it that Natalie would feel as well given how close to him she was. Yet in a matter of about a bit, they'd lower safely onto one of the tree branches Balthazar thought would be sturdy enough to hold them both. "Well that could have gone worse." Balthazar said upon landing.

[Natalie Cooper]

Abigail heard the loud rushing sound as a portal next to them was opened up. She felt the winds around them change, whipping her hair all around in Balthazar's face. And just as suddenly as the portal was opened, Balthazar jumped, with her in his arms. It was an awkward position, she would've recommended piggybacking. She opened her eyes, turning her face so one cheek was against his chest, taking in the world as they began to fall. She'd been on the ground before they jumped. And now she was several stories in the air and falling.

And she was loving it.

She began laughing, squeezing him tight as they fell together. They were racing toward the ground like a particularly heavy sack of potatoes, but she wasn't afraid. She'd trusted Balthazar this far and he'd not let her down. No reason to worry now. She felt him shift and she did her best to stay still, squeezing him tighter and tighter, her fingers and hands hurting from the grip they struggled to maintain.

And with a sudden lurch in her stomach, they were curving through the air, then shooting upwards. She could feel the firm, muscular man in her grip straining, as though he were carrying a particularly stubborn mule over a stream. But she continued to laugh and cheer as they flew through the air, right up until Balthazar landed them on one of the large branches of the Menagerie.

She listened to his little joke, still laughing, her heart beating in her ears as she let go of him, shaking out her hands which were shaking from the strain. "Wow...." She didn't really have anything else to say in that moment. She had been thoroughly amazed. She'd just flown! For the first time in her life. Her legs were wobbly, as she sat down upon the massive branch, finding that they were completely alone up here. She continued to exhale and catch her breath as her heartbeat came back down, and the entire time, her eyes were on the man.

"That was..." She really didn't have words for it. But she patted the wood next to her, beckoning him to come and sit with her. It was dark, but of course, being Cylus, but the colorful lights in the north lit up their entire view, clear and unimpeded from their little spot in the tree. It was absolutely beautiful, and Abigail fully intended to paint it later. It was a sight she would not soon forget. But not because of what it was, but because of how she came to see it.

"Thank you... thank you for giving me the chance to join you for this."

She shivered a bit in the cold, wrapping her cloak a bit tighter around herself as best she could, continuing to watch the moving lights in the sky.

[Balthazar Black]

33 Ashan 720

Balthazar lowered himself carefully so that he was sitting down beside Abigail on the tree branch, his unnaturally warm body keeping him perfectly comfortable despite the cold breeze. Abigail's loss for words was more than amusing to Balthazar... it was cute. He hated that the thought passed through his mind. She was cute. This woman- this strange woman from the strange shop, was cute. Cute was not the same as attractive to Balthazar, it was incredibly more compelling. He thought Isabella was cute. Oh Immortals how he wanted to fling himself from the branch and be free of the thoughts in his mind. Balthazar shook his head slightly and looked over at Abigail as she thanked him for bringing her. A small smile spread on his face and he nodded to her.

"Thank you for coming." Balthazar replied to Abigail as he looked out at the lights in the sky. It wasn't as close as he had expected or intended to get to the lights, but it was certainly a view he wouldn't be forgetting anytime soon. Balthazar felt the shiver pass through Abigail's body before he realized she was cold. He turned his head towards her and scooted a little closer so that his internal heat would warm her a little. He raised his arm so she could move closer and he could lower it around her before saying "Hold on so you don't fall, the branch doesn't feel too stable." Balthazar lied, giving her an out to get closer to him... or perhaps the other way around.

[Natalie Cooper]

Abigail felt Balthazar scoot towards her on the branch and heard his invitation. She almost laughed at his line though. The branch was thicker than her entire body, she seriously doubted it was going to crack under their weight. She wasn't even sure she could make it move if she wanted. Still, she wouldn't hold it against him. Instead, she scooted in closer to him, leaning into the crook of his arm, resting her head upon his shoulder.

"You're terribly warm. It's nice. Offer it up to all the women you take flying?"

She smiled as she jested, both of her hands to take his right hand, dangling down around her. She entwined all her fingers with his, and just laid there, absorbing his heat, listening to the calming beat of his heart, and looking at the colors dancing in the sky in the distance. She knew she would paint this scene later, this one right here. It was the perfect moment.

But even perfect moments must pass, "How did you get magic? Are you born that way? Did you learn it from someone? Are your holes and your flying the same thing or do you have many magics? Is it scary for you?" She gripped his hand tight, "No, don't answer those. Sometimes my tongue has its own mind."

If he looked upon her face, he could see her looking rather pensive, trying to decide what she'd rather say. She settled on just the one, "Does it scare you? Flying, stepping through those holes you made... they scared me. And I loved it. Do they scare you? Or is it as normal as breathing?" One of her hands move to his thigh, just above the knee, "Or feeling?" She turned to look up at him, "Or seeing?"

[Balthazar Black]

33 Ashan 720

A small grin crept into the corners of Balthazar's mouth when Abigail asked if he offered his warmth to all the women he took flying. "Only the fun ones." Balthazar said the words before his mind caught up with his mouth. When it did he added, "Believe it or not, I don't take people flying regularly." It was certainly more than a little strenuous on the sparks even if it was a hell of a time. Maybe he could cycle it into his magic practice to try and make it an easier feat... Balthazar certainly would not mind being able to fly others with ease. Yet Balthazar wasn't quite thinking about that as Abigail moved closer and made herself comfortable. He thought more of the small warmth she brought into his fold. The scent of her hair so close to his head that he could smell it whether or not he tried to. She smelled like the sea... who didn't in Scalvoris, but there was more to it. Her frequency. Balthazar wanted to tune into it and hear what he could hear but he didn't.

He wanted to enjoy the moment. But every moment did have to end eventually. Abigail struck the moment down with a flurry of questions about his magic, all of which he was prepared to answer while looking out at the lights, but when he opened his mouth to answer the first, Abigail stopped him.

That caused Balthazar to turn and see the pensive expression on her face. He raised a curious brow and Natalie provided new questions. Balthazar waited a beat to confirm she was content with those questions and then said ”It’s harder to explain. I feel," Balthazar put a hand over Abigail’s as it found his thigh, cupping it and giving a gentle squeeze. "the magic in my body. I’m in control of it so I know the portal will stay open and the wind will keep me in the air. It’s comforting." Balthazar paused and his eyes drifted to their hands before he looked back into Abigail’s eyes. "But it is still frighten. I can feel the strain. Sometimes it’s like trying to hang on to something while knowing your grip is failing."

[Pig Boy]

Abigail

Experience: 15 no magic xp

Knowledge: none requested

Renown: 5 for flying in public

Skill Usage: Appropriate to level

Loot/Losses: none

Injuries/Conditions: Slight vertigo

Consequences: none

Balthazar

Experience: 15 these points can be used to advance rupturing or defiance.

Knowledge:

Rupture - Maintaining a stable portal for someone to go through
Rupture - Forming an egress as far up as you can see
Flying - Navigating in the air with extra weight
Flying - Manipulating air currents to keep yourself afloat
Intelligence - Friell owns the Spirit of Adventure
Intelligence - The Spirit of Adventure has many things
Intelligence - The Menagerie has mounts for Elements
Intelligence - Natalie/Abigail is... friendly.
Acrobatics - Falling with style
Acrobatics - Landing on a tree branch.
Acrobatics - Balancing on a tree branch to enjoy the view
Detection - Enjoying the view from up high
Detection - Spotting far off lights
Navigation - The streets of Scalvoris Town

Renown: 5 for flying in public

Skill Usage: Very slight flight skill overplay. Handing down light overstepping, see below.

Loot/Losses: none

Injuries/Conditions: Balthazar has zero flight skill. Defiance gives you the capability, but you're not exactly great at it without accompanying skills. While I feel like you played it as sufficiently strenuous, you were also carrying a woman while doing it. So I'm just gonna hand down some light overstepping. Some mildly, inexplicable, crushing loneliness that comes and goes the rest of Ashan but comes on strong into the next cycle for about 10 days.

Consequences: Light overstepping

Comments: Well this was very much like a Titanic movie moment. I didn't realize defiance was such a nice way to pick up chicks, but there you go, proving me literally wrong. At first I was curious why Balthazar was laughing at a suit of armor, but then Abigail came and cleared up the confusion. It's a shame Abigail wasn't around to finish this up, as this made for an interesting interaction with that character.

If you have any concerns about this review, please PM me about them.