[PP-F1] Adrift in Dreams

[Mari 1]

The two landed in a messy heap, with Alinta sprawled on top of Scar. Her weapon safely put away, the binds of her string no longer digging into his flesh, but his health had still trickled down, almost a quarter gone - her own, not much better. She groaned as she picked herself up. Her arm still hurts. “H-Help!” Her cries frantic, echoed loud and shrill above the hustle and bustle of the city center. “P-Please…someone!?” The few players that had seen her shuffled away. “Hello Don’t just-” Her head whipped back and forth, desperate, erratic. Wanting to gain someones attention. But no one seemed to care, it was as though this was a common occurrence. A headache was forming, and it was painful to bear, thoughts twisting and turning and churning - why? Why didn’t anyone care that someone was hurt?

A groan and movement beneath her diverted her attention. “S-Scar?” Alintas hands trembled as they danced over his face. His eyes were still glazed, unfocused. “Oh Scar…what happened to you?” A huff of effort as she tried to pull him into her lap, arms under his, her head landing into the top of his, inhaling deeply the scent of his shampoo. Of Lavender. 

“Miss? You two good?”

Finally…Finally someone had stopped. A tall burly man wearing green metal heavy armour and sporting a bowl cut, an obnoxiously purple colour. He seemed friendly enough but the cadence and tone of his voice, somehow…seemed to annoy her. “I…I don’t know - what happened but he’s struggling and…and…and…”

“Lets see…” He kneeled down and took a single glance at Scar. “Residual paralysis from a fight. I’d get him to an inn so he can sleep it off.” With a quick heft he had managed to pick up Scar. “C’mon. I’ll take you to one.”

“T-Thank you!” Alinta stammered, still shaken by everything that happened. She quickly followed behind the taller man. “I - I’m not sure what happened, there was this forest- and this girl, and then this PKer with a mask and-”

“A PKer?” The concern is evident in the strangers tone. He glanced over an overly broad shoulder at Alinta. “You aren’t involved in any trouble are you?”

Alinta caught the falter in his step, if she had said yes, he’d not help… She quickly shook her head. “No. No. Just someone who…wanted to you know…” She was terrible at lying. “Take our loot, and - I mean he did because…you know…I uhm…life…is…uhm…” She started to stammer, her lie unravelling.

Thankfully the man didn’t seem to catch on, thinking her reaction was naught more than fear. “Alright. I hear ya. Thats typical on the higher floors. Lets just get this boy to a bed.”

The man lead Alinta to an inn, and was even kind enough to pay for the room. He set Scar down in the bed, and lingered in the doorway.

“Names Piros, by the way. So is he your-”

“Yes. He’s my boyfriend.” Alinta already knew where this was headed, she heard it a thousand times before, and would hear it a thousand times in the future. “I appreciate your help. If you want me to pay you back I-”

A laugh as he waved her off dismissively. “No need Miss.” He gave her a wink and a thumbs up. “That’s what heroes are for! I will leave you be! Piros the third! Out!”

The door shut with a soft click and Alinta fell to her knees, then to her hands. Trembling. She had been trying her best to hold it together, but now… now… Her tears bubbled up with heaving hiccups. The woman began to cry, heavily. Drenching her face, her lips, the floor. Her body shook.

I hurt him…
    I hurt him…
          I just wanted to protect him and I hurt him.

“S…Scar…” She sobbed with a hiccup that devolved into coughs. That was terrifying. An actual Pker…and they had been so close to her… so wild and untamed and angry.

He let them go…but why?

WC: 667
@Scar