Elendor
Appropriate Behavior
Mogel visits his fiance to discuss her flirtatious ways with other men. Ingnaur shows up in the middle of the discussion seeking medical aid.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Beorning Village
Description: Infirmary
The dark of night is held at bay in this room by two small lamps carefully set upon a long table that extends along the far wall and the flickering light of the fire in a small hearth in the far right corner. The dark of night turns the large windows on either side of the door into ebon mirrors, reflecting the light sources back into the room. Along either side of one entering the room are rows of cots, some apparently occupied, judging from the shapes covered in warm blankets.
Obvious exits:
Cecilia is sitting on top of one of the cots, a few pillows behind her as she lounges with some embroidery in her lap. The infirmary is very slow this evening, not a single patient, but someone needs to be present and tonight it's Ceci. She's humming softly while she works the stitching with a wooden needle, smiling softly.
[Mogel(#30277)]
The door opens and Mogel enters. He looks around searchingly for a moment until his eyes rest on Cecilia. "Ah, there you are." He then commences to shut the door and remove his dripping wet cloak before continuing.
Cecilia looks up as the door open and some of the relaxed smile slips away, her hand stalling it's motion with the needle and thread. "Mogel.. " She says quietly, sitting up and pulling her legs beneath her on the bed. "You've been looking for me?"
[Mogel(#30277)]
"Yes." Mogel looks around as if confused for a moment then steps away to hang his cloak on a peg. He moves across the room toward Cecilia and sits on the next cot over. He clasps his hands together and sighs. "So, we're to be married," he begins, as if about to launch into something.
Cecilia has her lips pressed together tightly, her gray eyes on him intently as he approaches, and she watches the young man sit down. "Yes. We are." She says, and her gaze drops to the embroidery again. Carefully, Ceci begins folding it up, placing the items into a small cloth bag at her side in a meticulous fashion.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"And we're both from fairly important families," Mogel hedges next, watching her in sort of a distant way. "I..." he sighs. "You're mine, Cecilia. Or you will be. So please stop behaving as if you're not." He adds after a thoughtful moment. "And I'm yours, too, mind."
Cecilia finishes tucking away her work before she looks up at him, her pale brows pinched together. "I know that Mogel. What do you mean? Behaving how?" Her words are calm and level, a far cry from the emotional cartwreck that she was the last time they spoke.
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel sniffs once before replying and brings his sleeve up to touch his nose briefly before dropping his arm again. "With other men. How you behave with them. You're spoken for, even if you didn't do the speaking."
"Other men.. " Ceci repeats, lifting her hand to twist one of the thin braids in her hair. "I'm not allowed to talk with other men?" She snorts, "You just try and tell my brothers that I can't talk to them. I don't think that will go over so well, Mogel." She gives him a sweet smile then, "What's really bothering you?"
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel's face starts to become harder, more determined looking. "You're not allowed to be sweet on other men outside of your family. You must be mindful of your reputation and mine. You must think of what you would want being said of our children's mother." His hands grip each other tightly now. "You can't deny it. Things are being said now of your behavior since our engagement became public."
"Sweet on -what- other men, Mogel?" Cecilia asks, frowning. The bag of stitchwork is set aside and she stands from the bed, crossing her arms over her chest tightly and looking down at him.
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel takes a slow, deep breath. "Don't be picking it apart with details, Cecilia. People are naming several names. Coming to me concerned. " He looks at her and raises his pale brows. "Will you stop now?"
Cecilia bites down on her lower lip, anger shifting to something more vague. Then she nods quickly and graces him with that charming smile that so many of the other men in the village get. "Of course, Mogel. I don't want you to be unhappy." She reaches forward and pats him on the shoulder, then moves on to the table where a pitcher of water is sitting next to a stack of cups. She fills one and slowly sips from it, turning back to regard him again. "I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, though. You're worrying over nothing!"
[Mogel(#30277)]
"I don't think I am." Mogel takes a breath and stands. He reaches out for her arm. "What can I do to help you reconcile yourself to me? I do not want you to be entirely unhappy."
And now the absent expression that had been on Ceci's face melts into rather extreme disappointment. "Is that how you feel?" She asks in a soft whisper, "You don't trust me, and you don't want me to be happy?" Is that her bottom lip quivering?? It is! She blinks her eyes rapidly, looking away and setting down the cup.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"Cecilia, stop it," Mogel says in a firm but not unkind manner, his hand tightening slightly on her arm. "You were disappointed, that was clear to me, and you behaved insensibly, which is understandable enough. You don't need to be jumping to conclusions now."
"I don't understand why you're so upset with me!" Cecilia retorts, looking back at him with wet eyes that are terribly close to spilling tears. "I haven't been acting any differently than I normally do. I was .. shocked.. but I didn't do anything. I've been doing my work, the same as always."
[Mogel(#30277)]
"See, and there's the problem. You do need to behave differently because you are spoken for now." Mogel looks at her and then, rather gingerly, steps forward and attempts to put his arms around her. "It's not that bad. Just a little adjustment in your thinking."
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
That kick in the ribs, or, as Mobeorn would try to explain it... a rolling boulder under the chair shove... well, it really hurt! Sure, Ingnaur was not unfamiliar with a few rough and tumble jerks and throws here and there, but when a "bear-like" man uses his manpower on you, it leaves a mark! Walking into the infirmary, and utterly incognizant of any lover's quarrels that might be taking place, the fisherwoman groans and looks around. "Any healer around? I need some balm or paste or whatever you have... I need some mending." Wincing, but not too loudly-she does not want to be known as a chicken who cannot handle her injuries in a fist-fight-Ingnaur sits down on one of the empty chairs while someone attends to her.
"You want me to be miserable and not have any friends?" Cecilia asks, sniffling now as held back tears congest her nose. He wraps his arms around her and the only thing she can think about is how this is nothing like the romantic fairytale she envisioned. When Ingnaur busts into the infirmary, she pulls away from Mogel quickly and puts on a smile for the other girl that's close to her age. "I'm the only one here tonight. You're bruised from last night? Or did Lumpy catch up to you outside?" She asks.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"I didn't say either of those things, Cecilia," Mogel says firmly, paying little heed to the woman who enters at first. At last he tears himself to look at Ingnaur.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
"Lumpy does not have the willpower or the speed to catch up to me!" Ingnaur tells Cecilia with a mischevious gleam in her eyes. "And, err--yes," she sighs, "I am a little bruised from last night. I--" she arches a dark brow, "Did not have anyone rescuing me from a fall, unlike you." Is that just the teeniest hint of jealousy in her voice? Groaning again, she tugs the ends of her shirt and eyes her side. "Just grind whatever it is and gimme, so I walk straight again." No, Mogel hasn't been completely ignored by her, when she finally winks at him and says, "Hello, you. How's the wedding preparations coming along? All excited about the big day?"
Cecilia glances back at Mogel, "Well, then don't worry about it. Okay? I'll be more careful about how I act, okay?" She gives him another smile, then immediately shifts her attention back to Ingnaur. "Where is the bruising? Let me see it and I'll know the best dose to give you. There's a salve I can make up that will take away the pain almost completely, but it will dry your skin out. But I have an ointment for that, too, and it smells very lovely."
[Mogel(#30277)]
"Very excited," Mogel says politely, watching the two women while folding his arms.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Ears all attuned to their conversation in the background, Ingnaur watches the interaction between the engaged couple. Then, eyeing the blueish-purple mark on her side, she says to the healer. "It's on my side. Under my armpits!" Why then, wasn't she explicit. "And," she adds says, looking at runny-eyed Mogel, "I cannot show you if he's gonna stand here staring at me like that!" Her grey-green gaze narrows just slightly.
Cecilia considers the fact that Mogel is here and looks over at her fiance. "Would you sit over by the window, there? And promise not to look?" She asks, smiling at him more warmly now. He didn't question her when she said she would be more careful and that's improved her mood considerably. "Please?"
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel nods and unfolds his arms. He wanders over by the window and sits down, staring vaguely out at the rain.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Ingnaur watches Mogel walk over to the window and look disinterested. Still, she isn't convinced. Turning to Cecilia, she cants her head to the side and says, "The two of you may be promised, but how do I know he won't look?!" Shaking her head, she shifts a little back into her chair. "You have to tie a cloth over his eyes if you want to see this bruise and treat it. Either that, or you send him outside. Where he cannot look!" Ah, but it's raining, isn't it? Wasn't she being just so charming and co-operative.
"He won't look.. Why would he?" Cecilia asks, laughing. Oh, but there is a curious doubt in her eyes. Would Mogel look? "Well, I suppose it must be done." She snatches up a towel from a counter and moves over to where the man has sat down, grinning now. "I have to blindfold you, okay?"
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel looks up, surprised as Cecilia approaches, as if he hasn't been listening. He hesitates, and then, "Fine, go ahead." He folds his hands in his lap.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Arching a brow, Ingnaur is a little surprised to watch Mogel give in so quickly. Maybe he really loves Cecilia to give in so easily to her wishes. Still, at least he wasn't marrying her! And secure in that thought, she a crooked little smile twists in the corner of her mouth.
Cecilia takes the towel and folds it a couple of times longways before she moves behind him and wraps it around his head, still grinning as she ties the knot at the back of his head. Then she reaches her fingers to lightly trace on her fiance's cheek, considering for a long moment before suddenly the girl leans in to give him a quick kiss on the lips. Just to try it out, compare.
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel's eyes close calmly as Cecilia moves the cloth over him, for a moment making his face look perhaps less odd. When she kisses him, his thin lips are still, not expecting it, but he immediately gasps and pulls at the blindfold to take it off!
[Ingnaur(#30298)] "Hey!" Jumping to her feet, Ingnaur points an accusatory finger at the two of them and says, "I thought you were supposed to tie the cloth on his eyes so he would not look! Why is he trying to take it off?" And groaning again because he sudden movement had unexpected pulled a muscle in her side, she sits back down on the chair. "Trust you, Cecilia, to carry on with your romance and flirt when people are dying in pain all around you," she whimpers, sighing to herself.
Cecilia quickly reaches to stop him, "No! Don't! I have to take care of Ingnaur. You can't take it off, Mogel. She's already taken her shirt off." The healer hasn't actually looked over at the other girl to see if that's true, but the way he's reacting she'd rather he remain blind for the moment while she decides if she's happy with this development or not. "You'll feel better in just a minute, let me make up the salve." And Ceci moves towards the counter now to begin preparing the medicine.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"Cecilia!" Mogel protests, low, as he stands, but his hand drops from the blindfold at once. He folds his arms and stands there, blushing.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Looking at herself to double check, Ingnaur looks confused. Yes, her shirt was still on. Turning to Cecilia, she bites her lips and looks questioningly with a raised brow. "If you must know, I have not and will not,--" She gaze travels to Mogel. He sure was a sight blindfolded, just standing there, blushing! Grumbling, the fisherwoman eyes Cecilia. "I am not going to wait around until the two of you get cozy in each others arms! I came here to get fixed and I planned to go home right after." She looks at the rain. "And now I am stuck here with the two of you until the rain stops!"
Cecilia is still grinning widely, thoroughly pleased with herself and glancing more than once at Mogel as he stands protesting and blushing. Ingnaur's complaints finally draw her attention, "I'm making it.. it takes time. If I mix it fresh it will work better." When Ingnaur mentions 'cozy' the healer's gray eyes wander back to her fiance, more appraising now.
"Here, now let me show you how much to use, and I will give you a little extra to take home with you." She carries a wooden bowl with the salve over to Ingnaur's side.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"All right, Ignaur, that's enough!" Mogel calls out in a thoroughly uncomfortable voice, his fingers fidgeting with his sleeves.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Sitting tight, the while Cecilia appraises her fiance, the fisherwoman in return appraises the healer's movements as she makes her way to her side. "Yes," she nods her head, "Tell me how much I should apply,--" And at Mogel's outburst, she glares back at him. "What is his problem now?!" she asks, turning to Cecilia. "I would have thought he'd be settled with the idea of getting married to you and--err--you know,--." The sarcasm in her voice may not be evident enough, overlaced by all heavy notes of innocence, but the girl was having a perfectly good time checking out just how comfortable the two of them were with the idea of getting 'cozy'.
Cecilia sighs softly as Mogel grows more agitated and the fisher antagonizes him. "Oh.. here, I'll guide you outside." She abandons Ingnaur to return to Mogel's side, reaching for his arm. "Just follow me, once you're outside you can take off the blindfold and go on your way. I'm sure you have a lot of important things to be doing, anyway. It was sweet of you to come talk with me." Unless he resists she'll walk him across the room to the door, and once it's open give him a little nudge out into the rain.
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel allows Cecilia to lead him, but it doesn't go quite how she meant it, perhaps. Once he is outside Mogel reaches back and pulls the healer out into the rain with him. He tugs off the blindfold, bends down and kisses her once on the mouth, hard, then looks intently at her eyes, almost posessively. Without saying another word he turns and walks away into the storm, leaving his cloak behind.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Ingnaur would have cupped her hands under her chin and watched with keen intent, had this love story gone on any longer. "Hurry it up, will you. My brothers are waiting for me at home!" she holllers to the healer. And upon catching a slight peek at the kissing action through the darkness of the night outside, she gasps. There would be some tales to tell, tomorrow!
After being so secure that she has the upper hand with Mogel, the unexpected kiss from him takes Cecilia completely by surprise. She stands frozen in shock, her mouth dropping open slightly as he walks purposefully away. The healer stands motionless long enough to get more than a little bit wet by the heavy rain, but finally turns to slip back into the infirmary with a slow smile creeping onto her face. Ingnaur is decidedly forgotten for the moment as Ceci reassesses her opinion of Mogel.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Frowning, the fisherwoman looks at the overwhelmed Cecilia. The girl had had a very long night, tonight. But, she also had a job to do. And unluckly for Ingnaur, she was her patient. "Come on, healer, show me how much of this stuff to use so I can get on my way, as well. Unlike your intended, I have a job to do tomorrow!" Shaking her head, she rolls her eyes at the girl.
Cecilia turns to look her patient again, a faint blush to her own cheeks now. "I did not think he would do that.." She says quietly, "I've never been kissed like that before!" The healer wanders back to the fisher, "What do you suppose it meant? Do you think he really likes me?"
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Upon being asked queer questions like this, especially considering that Ingnaur didn't know the first thing about being girlish or have in-depth experience with romancing and love, her face contorts into a BIG question mark. Everything about her said she was a tomboy! "How do I know!" she shrugs, "But, I have been told that if someone kisses you, it isn't because you're hated." Rolling her grey-green eyes, she exclaims, "Stop being dense, Cecilia. Obviously the man must like you!" Ouch! And all this loud talking and exertion sure was taking it's toll. By tomorrow, if she carried on exerting herself in this excited manner, Ingnaur was surely going to find herself on a bed right in the infirmary!
"He was pretty angry with me earlier.. " Cecilia says in a musing fashion, beginning to make a list of good and bad qualities about Mogel in her head. "Ok.. so, you just take a very -small- amount on the tips of your fingers, like this.. and gently rub it in until it's dry." She shows Ingnaur how to apply the salve, but is clearly still distracted by the kiss. "Maybe it means he's not upset anymore?"
Sending WHO request.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
"Err,--" Ingnaur nods, "Sure, that must be it!" She watches the healer as she teaches her the application, and then taking the slave from her hand she says, "So now, where do I put this so I can take it home? I suspect you'll be wanting your mortar and pestel?" The fisherwoman was the wrong person to ask such questions! Anyone in their right mind would know that. But then, of course, in her present state, Cecilia wasn't doing much thinking.
"I have a jar I'll put it in. Do you want some cream for your skin? This is going to dry it out and make it itchy." Cecilia drifts back to the counter to begin transferring the salve to a small glass jar.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
"Yes, a jar. Put it in a jar. And," she eyes the healer, "I'll have some of that cream as well." Tucking her shirt back into her pants, the girl gets up and walks to Cecilia. "I saw you at the tavern, the other day..." Her gaze is fixed on Cecilia. "Did Mogel come to talk to you about that before I came in?" she asks, before shrugging. "'course, it isn't any of my business, but you know people are talking..."
"You almost -crushed- me at the tavern." Cecilia says, laughing as she looks over at Ingnaur, her thumb pressing a cork down to seal the bottle. "Luckily Elaos was there to pull me out of the way." She's thoughtful for a moment, "He was mad about how I.. talk to my friends, I guess. What are people saying?"
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
"I am sorry about that!" the fisherwoman quickly jumps to apologize. "It wasn't my intention to fall on you, you know. I was being chased! By none other than Lumpy. And you saw how he was after my life." Then, taking a deep breath Ingnaur looks away and says nothing for a good many minutes. Turning back to Cecilia with a very somber expression, she adds: "I am not one to talk, but I have heard that people are saying you are not happy with Mogel. They say you have your eyes on Ealos, and before that some tailor. There were a few more names, mentioned, but I wasn't keeping a count."
"I.. well.." Cecilia's face grows red at Ingnaur's words and she quickly begins rooting through the cabinets, sifting through jars and pots. "That was just the first romantic thing that Mogel has ever done... if it even -was- romantic. I'm not even certain!" She pulls down a heavy clay pot and sets it on the counter. Nothing is said about Elaos.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Shrugging, Ingnaur watches Cecilia potter around the cabinets and counter. "Well, it looked to -me- like he was being quite romantic when he sat blindfolded at your insistance, and even walked into the rain when,--" she laughs, "When you sent him off! Of course, it could just be that he is used to taking, errr, orders." Smirking, she continues, "But, then again, the kiss was quite a firm sign of interest. And the way he was looking at you..." Waggling a brow, the fisherwoman teases Cecilia. "He won't sweep you off your feet like Elaos, but at least you know he will hunt you down if ever your eyes wander." Bursting into laughter, she sits down again.
Cecilia finds another small jar and uses a spoon to slowly scoop some of the cream into into it. "Elaos is very nice. He always knows how to make me smile, and he's fun. And, he works quite hard and has an amazing tan already." She glances over at Ingnaur, grinning. There's an obvious fondness in her voice for the older healer. "We were off collecting herbs the other day and he had his shirt off." She finishes with the cream and walks over to hand it to the other girl. "Mogel.. I don't know him that well. He's not very.." She lets out a slow sigh. "He should be out on patrols, don't you think?"
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Still recovering from her fit of laughter, when Cecilia asks her another tough question, the fisherwoman wasn't prepared for it. Clearing her throat, she says, "Now why would a good girl like you be looking at shirtless men when she is engaged and ready to be married?" Of course, if Cecilia had any sense, she would not be discussing such matters so openly with anybody! Taking the pot from the healer, she stares at her. "It would not do you well if your father heard about your antics! My own father would have my hide if he heard I was going around making hanky-panky while I was to be married." She shakes her head. "Especially to someone from a prominent house of the bear clan."
"I haven't -done- anything. Besides.. I'm going to be married regardless. What difference does it make if I look at him? It's not as if I was kissing him." Ceci drops into a chair next to Ingnaur. "You didn't answer my question. Don't you think the son of the Bear Clan skald ought to be out on patrols? Two of my brothers are warriors."
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Turning her neck around, Ingnaur looks at Cecilia and raises both her brow in perplexed misunderstanding. "And all of my four brothers are fishermen. That doesn't mean they all go fishing everyday. Maybe Mogel doesn't need to go on patrols! Maybe," she shrugs, "Maybe he can take a few days off. It isn't like the village would be less protected if he went everyday." She frowns and asks the healer, "Why are you so worried about what he does with his time, anyway? His family will take care of you. Not like he has to work for a living and put food on the table."
Cecilia slumps back in the chair, unsatisfied with the answer. "I know, but, shouldn't he be braver? His father, Svee, is a might warrior. Mogel should do something to contribute." She pulls her feet up onto the chair and wraps her arms around her knees, hugging them to her chest. "He has to do -something-. I don't want a husband that's lazy all the time."
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Ingnaur sighs and getting off the chair, she tells Cecilia. "What does it matter if he goes on patrols? How will that prove he is brave? Brave is as brave does, and you won't see that until,--" Wrinkling her nose, the fisherwoman continues, "Until the time is right. Give him some benefit of the doubt, will you? Gosh, woman, if you want to see him parade around the village and the boundary with a sword on his side then tell him so! If it will make you happy to see him work, send him off. Like you just did. In the rain. And maybe if he came back with a few scars, he'd be better off for it in your eyes?"
"No.. " Cecilia loses some steam when Ingnaur lays into her, and has the grace to look chagrinned for her criticism. "I do not want anyone to get hurt. The guides and warriors are all so courageous." The healer grows quiet, resting her chin on her knee as she reaches up to trace her finger over the thin line of her own scar on her forehead. "Maybe I will ask him, though. Just as something to talk about, so I can get to know him better?" A slow smile spreads on her face again, "Mogel is good at one thing, at least."
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Arching a brow, the fisherwoman asks: "And what is that, now? After all this while, have you finally found him worthy of your affection? Maybe he should grow a beard and get a tan, while he's out there patrolling for you."
"That is not fair. I did not pick, my father did." Cecilia argues now, looking up at the other woman with irritation on her delicate face. "Am I not allowed to have an opinion either?" She asks, but grows distracted almost immediately, "A beard and a tan would make him far more attractive. I think I will suggest that!" The girl smiles, standing. "It looks like the rain is stopping."
Looking outside, herself, Ingnaur nods and says, "That, it has." She quickly picks up the two pots that the healer has given her, and going up to the woman she says, "Thank you for this,--" She puts her hand into her pocket and removes a coin. "I don't have much, but I hope this will cover the costs." And putting it on the table, she makes her way to the door. "Be patient, Cecilia. Maybe Mogel will prove himself in ways you do not know." Perhaps the tomboy is not as young as she looks? "One cannot read a book by its cover." And saying thus, she makes her way home.
The dark of night is held at bay in this room by two small lamps carefully set upon a long table that extends along the far wall and the flickering light of the fire in a small hearth in the far right corner. The dark of night turns the large windows on either side of the door into ebon mirrors, reflecting the light sources back into the room. Along either side of one entering the room are rows of cots, some apparently occupied, judging from the shapes covered in warm blankets.
Obvious exits:
Cecilia is sitting on top of one of the cots, a few pillows behind her as she lounges with some embroidery in her lap. The infirmary is very slow this evening, not a single patient, but someone needs to be present and tonight it's Ceci. She's humming softly while she works the stitching with a wooden needle, smiling softly.
[Mogel(#30277)]
The door opens and Mogel enters. He looks around searchingly for a moment until his eyes rest on Cecilia. "Ah, there you are." He then commences to shut the door and remove his dripping wet cloak before continuing.
Cecilia looks up as the door open and some of the relaxed smile slips away, her hand stalling it's motion with the needle and thread. "Mogel.. " She says quietly, sitting up and pulling her legs beneath her on the bed. "You've been looking for me?"
[Mogel(#30277)]
"Yes." Mogel looks around as if confused for a moment then steps away to hang his cloak on a peg. He moves across the room toward Cecilia and sits on the next cot over. He clasps his hands together and sighs. "So, we're to be married," he begins, as if about to launch into something.
Cecilia has her lips pressed together tightly, her gray eyes on him intently as he approaches, and she watches the young man sit down. "Yes. We are." She says, and her gaze drops to the embroidery again. Carefully, Ceci begins folding it up, placing the items into a small cloth bag at her side in a meticulous fashion.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"And we're both from fairly important families," Mogel hedges next, watching her in sort of a distant way. "I..." he sighs. "You're mine, Cecilia. Or you will be. So please stop behaving as if you're not." He adds after a thoughtful moment. "And I'm yours, too, mind."
Cecilia finishes tucking away her work before she looks up at him, her pale brows pinched together. "I know that Mogel. What do you mean? Behaving how?" Her words are calm and level, a far cry from the emotional cartwreck that she was the last time they spoke.
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel sniffs once before replying and brings his sleeve up to touch his nose briefly before dropping his arm again. "With other men. How you behave with them. You're spoken for, even if you didn't do the speaking."
"Other men.. " Ceci repeats, lifting her hand to twist one of the thin braids in her hair. "I'm not allowed to talk with other men?" She snorts, "You just try and tell my brothers that I can't talk to them. I don't think that will go over so well, Mogel." She gives him a sweet smile then, "What's really bothering you?"
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel's face starts to become harder, more determined looking. "You're not allowed to be sweet on other men outside of your family. You must be mindful of your reputation and mine. You must think of what you would want being said of our children's mother." His hands grip each other tightly now. "You can't deny it. Things are being said now of your behavior since our engagement became public."
"Sweet on -what- other men, Mogel?" Cecilia asks, frowning. The bag of stitchwork is set aside and she stands from the bed, crossing her arms over her chest tightly and looking down at him.
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel takes a slow, deep breath. "Don't be picking it apart with details, Cecilia. People are naming several names. Coming to me concerned. " He looks at her and raises his pale brows. "Will you stop now?"
Cecilia bites down on her lower lip, anger shifting to something more vague. Then she nods quickly and graces him with that charming smile that so many of the other men in the village get. "Of course, Mogel. I don't want you to be unhappy." She reaches forward and pats him on the shoulder, then moves on to the table where a pitcher of water is sitting next to a stack of cups. She fills one and slowly sips from it, turning back to regard him again. "I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, though. You're worrying over nothing!"
[Mogel(#30277)]
"I don't think I am." Mogel takes a breath and stands. He reaches out for her arm. "What can I do to help you reconcile yourself to me? I do not want you to be entirely unhappy."
And now the absent expression that had been on Ceci's face melts into rather extreme disappointment. "Is that how you feel?" She asks in a soft whisper, "You don't trust me, and you don't want me to be happy?" Is that her bottom lip quivering?? It is! She blinks her eyes rapidly, looking away and setting down the cup.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"Cecilia, stop it," Mogel says in a firm but not unkind manner, his hand tightening slightly on her arm. "You were disappointed, that was clear to me, and you behaved insensibly, which is understandable enough. You don't need to be jumping to conclusions now."
"I don't understand why you're so upset with me!" Cecilia retorts, looking back at him with wet eyes that are terribly close to spilling tears. "I haven't been acting any differently than I normally do. I was .. shocked.. but I didn't do anything. I've been doing my work, the same as always."
[Mogel(#30277)]
"See, and there's the problem. You do need to behave differently because you are spoken for now." Mogel looks at her and then, rather gingerly, steps forward and attempts to put his arms around her. "It's not that bad. Just a little adjustment in your thinking."
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
That kick in the ribs, or, as Mobeorn would try to explain it... a rolling boulder under the chair shove... well, it really hurt! Sure, Ingnaur was not unfamiliar with a few rough and tumble jerks and throws here and there, but when a "bear-like" man uses his manpower on you, it leaves a mark! Walking into the infirmary, and utterly incognizant of any lover's quarrels that might be taking place, the fisherwoman groans and looks around. "Any healer around? I need some balm or paste or whatever you have... I need some mending." Wincing, but not too loudly-she does not want to be known as a chicken who cannot handle her injuries in a fist-fight-Ingnaur sits down on one of the empty chairs while someone attends to her.
"You want me to be miserable and not have any friends?" Cecilia asks, sniffling now as held back tears congest her nose. He wraps his arms around her and the only thing she can think about is how this is nothing like the romantic fairytale she envisioned. When Ingnaur busts into the infirmary, she pulls away from Mogel quickly and puts on a smile for the other girl that's close to her age. "I'm the only one here tonight. You're bruised from last night? Or did Lumpy catch up to you outside?" She asks.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"I didn't say either of those things, Cecilia," Mogel says firmly, paying little heed to the woman who enters at first. At last he tears himself to look at Ingnaur.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
"Lumpy does not have the willpower or the speed to catch up to me!" Ingnaur tells Cecilia with a mischevious gleam in her eyes. "And, err--yes," she sighs, "I am a little bruised from last night. I--" she arches a dark brow, "Did not have anyone rescuing me from a fall, unlike you." Is that just the teeniest hint of jealousy in her voice? Groaning again, she tugs the ends of her shirt and eyes her side. "Just grind whatever it is and gimme, so I walk straight again." No, Mogel hasn't been completely ignored by her, when she finally winks at him and says, "Hello, you. How's the wedding preparations coming along? All excited about the big day?"
Cecilia glances back at Mogel, "Well, then don't worry about it. Okay? I'll be more careful about how I act, okay?" She gives him another smile, then immediately shifts her attention back to Ingnaur. "Where is the bruising? Let me see it and I'll know the best dose to give you. There's a salve I can make up that will take away the pain almost completely, but it will dry your skin out. But I have an ointment for that, too, and it smells very lovely."
[Mogel(#30277)]
"Very excited," Mogel says politely, watching the two women while folding his arms.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Ears all attuned to their conversation in the background, Ingnaur watches the interaction between the engaged couple. Then, eyeing the blueish-purple mark on her side, she says to the healer. "It's on my side. Under my armpits!" Why then, wasn't she explicit. "And," she adds says, looking at runny-eyed Mogel, "I cannot show you if he's gonna stand here staring at me like that!" Her grey-green gaze narrows just slightly.
Cecilia considers the fact that Mogel is here and looks over at her fiance. "Would you sit over by the window, there? And promise not to look?" She asks, smiling at him more warmly now. He didn't question her when she said she would be more careful and that's improved her mood considerably. "Please?"
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel nods and unfolds his arms. He wanders over by the window and sits down, staring vaguely out at the rain.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Ingnaur watches Mogel walk over to the window and look disinterested. Still, she isn't convinced. Turning to Cecilia, she cants her head to the side and says, "The two of you may be promised, but how do I know he won't look?!" Shaking her head, she shifts a little back into her chair. "You have to tie a cloth over his eyes if you want to see this bruise and treat it. Either that, or you send him outside. Where he cannot look!" Ah, but it's raining, isn't it? Wasn't she being just so charming and co-operative.
"He won't look.. Why would he?" Cecilia asks, laughing. Oh, but there is a curious doubt in her eyes. Would Mogel look? "Well, I suppose it must be done." She snatches up a towel from a counter and moves over to where the man has sat down, grinning now. "I have to blindfold you, okay?"
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel looks up, surprised as Cecilia approaches, as if he hasn't been listening. He hesitates, and then, "Fine, go ahead." He folds his hands in his lap.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Arching a brow, Ingnaur is a little surprised to watch Mogel give in so quickly. Maybe he really loves Cecilia to give in so easily to her wishes. Still, at least he wasn't marrying her! And secure in that thought, she a crooked little smile twists in the corner of her mouth.
Cecilia takes the towel and folds it a couple of times longways before she moves behind him and wraps it around his head, still grinning as she ties the knot at the back of his head. Then she reaches her fingers to lightly trace on her fiance's cheek, considering for a long moment before suddenly the girl leans in to give him a quick kiss on the lips. Just to try it out, compare.
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel's eyes close calmly as Cecilia moves the cloth over him, for a moment making his face look perhaps less odd. When she kisses him, his thin lips are still, not expecting it, but he immediately gasps and pulls at the blindfold to take it off!
[Ingnaur(#30298)] "Hey!" Jumping to her feet, Ingnaur points an accusatory finger at the two of them and says, "I thought you were supposed to tie the cloth on his eyes so he would not look! Why is he trying to take it off?" And groaning again because he sudden movement had unexpected pulled a muscle in her side, she sits back down on the chair. "Trust you, Cecilia, to carry on with your romance and flirt when people are dying in pain all around you," she whimpers, sighing to herself.
Cecilia quickly reaches to stop him, "No! Don't! I have to take care of Ingnaur. You can't take it off, Mogel. She's already taken her shirt off." The healer hasn't actually looked over at the other girl to see if that's true, but the way he's reacting she'd rather he remain blind for the moment while she decides if she's happy with this development or not. "You'll feel better in just a minute, let me make up the salve." And Ceci moves towards the counter now to begin preparing the medicine.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"Cecilia!" Mogel protests, low, as he stands, but his hand drops from the blindfold at once. He folds his arms and stands there, blushing.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Looking at herself to double check, Ingnaur looks confused. Yes, her shirt was still on. Turning to Cecilia, she bites her lips and looks questioningly with a raised brow. "If you must know, I have not and will not,--" She gaze travels to Mogel. He sure was a sight blindfolded, just standing there, blushing! Grumbling, the fisherwoman eyes Cecilia. "I am not going to wait around until the two of you get cozy in each others arms! I came here to get fixed and I planned to go home right after." She looks at the rain. "And now I am stuck here with the two of you until the rain stops!"
Cecilia is still grinning widely, thoroughly pleased with herself and glancing more than once at Mogel as he stands protesting and blushing. Ingnaur's complaints finally draw her attention, "I'm making it.. it takes time. If I mix it fresh it will work better." When Ingnaur mentions 'cozy' the healer's gray eyes wander back to her fiance, more appraising now.
"Here, now let me show you how much to use, and I will give you a little extra to take home with you." She carries a wooden bowl with the salve over to Ingnaur's side.
[Mogel(#30277)]
"All right, Ignaur, that's enough!" Mogel calls out in a thoroughly uncomfortable voice, his fingers fidgeting with his sleeves.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Sitting tight, the while Cecilia appraises her fiance, the fisherwoman in return appraises the healer's movements as she makes her way to her side. "Yes," she nods her head, "Tell me how much I should apply,--" And at Mogel's outburst, she glares back at him. "What is his problem now?!" she asks, turning to Cecilia. "I would have thought he'd be settled with the idea of getting married to you and--err--you know,--." The sarcasm in her voice may not be evident enough, overlaced by all heavy notes of innocence, but the girl was having a perfectly good time checking out just how comfortable the two of them were with the idea of getting 'cozy'.
Cecilia sighs softly as Mogel grows more agitated and the fisher antagonizes him. "Oh.. here, I'll guide you outside." She abandons Ingnaur to return to Mogel's side, reaching for his arm. "Just follow me, once you're outside you can take off the blindfold and go on your way. I'm sure you have a lot of important things to be doing, anyway. It was sweet of you to come talk with me." Unless he resists she'll walk him across the room to the door, and once it's open give him a little nudge out into the rain.
[Mogel(#30277)]
Mogel allows Cecilia to lead him, but it doesn't go quite how she meant it, perhaps. Once he is outside Mogel reaches back and pulls the healer out into the rain with him. He tugs off the blindfold, bends down and kisses her once on the mouth, hard, then looks intently at her eyes, almost posessively. Without saying another word he turns and walks away into the storm, leaving his cloak behind.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Ingnaur would have cupped her hands under her chin and watched with keen intent, had this love story gone on any longer. "Hurry it up, will you. My brothers are waiting for me at home!" she holllers to the healer. And upon catching a slight peek at the kissing action through the darkness of the night outside, she gasps. There would be some tales to tell, tomorrow!
After being so secure that she has the upper hand with Mogel, the unexpected kiss from him takes Cecilia completely by surprise. She stands frozen in shock, her mouth dropping open slightly as he walks purposefully away. The healer stands motionless long enough to get more than a little bit wet by the heavy rain, but finally turns to slip back into the infirmary with a slow smile creeping onto her face. Ingnaur is decidedly forgotten for the moment as Ceci reassesses her opinion of Mogel.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Frowning, the fisherwoman looks at the overwhelmed Cecilia. The girl had had a very long night, tonight. But, she also had a job to do. And unluckly for Ingnaur, she was her patient. "Come on, healer, show me how much of this stuff to use so I can get on my way, as well. Unlike your intended, I have a job to do tomorrow!" Shaking her head, she rolls her eyes at the girl.
Cecilia turns to look her patient again, a faint blush to her own cheeks now. "I did not think he would do that.." She says quietly, "I've never been kissed like that before!" The healer wanders back to the fisher, "What do you suppose it meant? Do you think he really likes me?"
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Upon being asked queer questions like this, especially considering that Ingnaur didn't know the first thing about being girlish or have in-depth experience with romancing and love, her face contorts into a BIG question mark. Everything about her said she was a tomboy! "How do I know!" she shrugs, "But, I have been told that if someone kisses you, it isn't because you're hated." Rolling her grey-green eyes, she exclaims, "Stop being dense, Cecilia. Obviously the man must like you!" Ouch! And all this loud talking and exertion sure was taking it's toll. By tomorrow, if she carried on exerting herself in this excited manner, Ingnaur was surely going to find herself on a bed right in the infirmary!
"He was pretty angry with me earlier.. " Cecilia says in a musing fashion, beginning to make a list of good and bad qualities about Mogel in her head. "Ok.. so, you just take a very -small- amount on the tips of your fingers, like this.. and gently rub it in until it's dry." She shows Ingnaur how to apply the salve, but is clearly still distracted by the kiss. "Maybe it means he's not upset anymore?"
Sending WHO request.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
"Err,--" Ingnaur nods, "Sure, that must be it!" She watches the healer as she teaches her the application, and then taking the slave from her hand she says, "So now, where do I put this so I can take it home? I suspect you'll be wanting your mortar and pestel?" The fisherwoman was the wrong person to ask such questions! Anyone in their right mind would know that. But then, of course, in her present state, Cecilia wasn't doing much thinking.
"I have a jar I'll put it in. Do you want some cream for your skin? This is going to dry it out and make it itchy." Cecilia drifts back to the counter to begin transferring the salve to a small glass jar.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
"Yes, a jar. Put it in a jar. And," she eyes the healer, "I'll have some of that cream as well." Tucking her shirt back into her pants, the girl gets up and walks to Cecilia. "I saw you at the tavern, the other day..." Her gaze is fixed on Cecilia. "Did Mogel come to talk to you about that before I came in?" she asks, before shrugging. "'course, it isn't any of my business, but you know people are talking..."
"You almost -crushed- me at the tavern." Cecilia says, laughing as she looks over at Ingnaur, her thumb pressing a cork down to seal the bottle. "Luckily Elaos was there to pull me out of the way." She's thoughtful for a moment, "He was mad about how I.. talk to my friends, I guess. What are people saying?"
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
"I am sorry about that!" the fisherwoman quickly jumps to apologize. "It wasn't my intention to fall on you, you know. I was being chased! By none other than Lumpy. And you saw how he was after my life." Then, taking a deep breath Ingnaur looks away and says nothing for a good many minutes. Turning back to Cecilia with a very somber expression, she adds: "I am not one to talk, but I have heard that people are saying you are not happy with Mogel. They say you have your eyes on Ealos, and before that some tailor. There were a few more names, mentioned, but I wasn't keeping a count."
"I.. well.." Cecilia's face grows red at Ingnaur's words and she quickly begins rooting through the cabinets, sifting through jars and pots. "That was just the first romantic thing that Mogel has ever done... if it even -was- romantic. I'm not even certain!" She pulls down a heavy clay pot and sets it on the counter. Nothing is said about Elaos.
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Shrugging, Ingnaur watches Cecilia potter around the cabinets and counter. "Well, it looked to -me- like he was being quite romantic when he sat blindfolded at your insistance, and even walked into the rain when,--" she laughs, "When you sent him off! Of course, it could just be that he is used to taking, errr, orders." Smirking, she continues, "But, then again, the kiss was quite a firm sign of interest. And the way he was looking at you..." Waggling a brow, the fisherwoman teases Cecilia. "He won't sweep you off your feet like Elaos, but at least you know he will hunt you down if ever your eyes wander." Bursting into laughter, she sits down again.
Cecilia finds another small jar and uses a spoon to slowly scoop some of the cream into into it. "Elaos is very nice. He always knows how to make me smile, and he's fun. And, he works quite hard and has an amazing tan already." She glances over at Ingnaur, grinning. There's an obvious fondness in her voice for the older healer. "We were off collecting herbs the other day and he had his shirt off." She finishes with the cream and walks over to hand it to the other girl. "Mogel.. I don't know him that well. He's not very.." She lets out a slow sigh. "He should be out on patrols, don't you think?"
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Still recovering from her fit of laughter, when Cecilia asks her another tough question, the fisherwoman wasn't prepared for it. Clearing her throat, she says, "Now why would a good girl like you be looking at shirtless men when she is engaged and ready to be married?" Of course, if Cecilia had any sense, she would not be discussing such matters so openly with anybody! Taking the pot from the healer, she stares at her. "It would not do you well if your father heard about your antics! My own father would have my hide if he heard I was going around making hanky-panky while I was to be married." She shakes her head. "Especially to someone from a prominent house of the bear clan."
"I haven't -done- anything. Besides.. I'm going to be married regardless. What difference does it make if I look at him? It's not as if I was kissing him." Ceci drops into a chair next to Ingnaur. "You didn't answer my question. Don't you think the son of the Bear Clan skald ought to be out on patrols? Two of my brothers are warriors."
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Turning her neck around, Ingnaur looks at Cecilia and raises both her brow in perplexed misunderstanding. "And all of my four brothers are fishermen. That doesn't mean they all go fishing everyday. Maybe Mogel doesn't need to go on patrols! Maybe," she shrugs, "Maybe he can take a few days off. It isn't like the village would be less protected if he went everyday." She frowns and asks the healer, "Why are you so worried about what he does with his time, anyway? His family will take care of you. Not like he has to work for a living and put food on the table."
Cecilia slumps back in the chair, unsatisfied with the answer. "I know, but, shouldn't he be braver? His father, Svee, is a might warrior. Mogel should do something to contribute." She pulls her feet up onto the chair and wraps her arms around her knees, hugging them to her chest. "He has to do -something-. I don't want a husband that's lazy all the time."
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Ingnaur sighs and getting off the chair, she tells Cecilia. "What does it matter if he goes on patrols? How will that prove he is brave? Brave is as brave does, and you won't see that until,--" Wrinkling her nose, the fisherwoman continues, "Until the time is right. Give him some benefit of the doubt, will you? Gosh, woman, if you want to see him parade around the village and the boundary with a sword on his side then tell him so! If it will make you happy to see him work, send him off. Like you just did. In the rain. And maybe if he came back with a few scars, he'd be better off for it in your eyes?"
"No.. " Cecilia loses some steam when Ingnaur lays into her, and has the grace to look chagrinned for her criticism. "I do not want anyone to get hurt. The guides and warriors are all so courageous." The healer grows quiet, resting her chin on her knee as she reaches up to trace her finger over the thin line of her own scar on her forehead. "Maybe I will ask him, though. Just as something to talk about, so I can get to know him better?" A slow smile spreads on her face again, "Mogel is good at one thing, at least."
[Ingnaur(#30298)]
Arching a brow, the fisherwoman asks: "And what is that, now? After all this while, have you finally found him worthy of your affection? Maybe he should grow a beard and get a tan, while he's out there patrolling for you."
"That is not fair. I did not pick, my father did." Cecilia argues now, looking up at the other woman with irritation on her delicate face. "Am I not allowed to have an opinion either?" She asks, but grows distracted almost immediately, "A beard and a tan would make him far more attractive. I think I will suggest that!" The girl smiles, standing. "It looks like the rain is stopping."
Looking outside, herself, Ingnaur nods and says, "That, it has." She quickly picks up the two pots that the healer has given her, and going up to the woman she says, "Thank you for this,--" She puts her hand into her pocket and removes a coin. "I don't have much, but I hope this will cover the costs." And putting it on the table, she makes her way to the door. "Be patient, Cecilia. Maybe Mogel will prove himself in ways you do not know." Perhaps the tomboy is not as young as she looks? "One cannot read a book by its cover." And saying thus, she makes her way home.
Players: Mogel, Cecilia, Ingnaur
Located in: Beorning
