Melada Sunstriker

Truth be told she hadn’t expected to get a letter from anyone really, Lola had fallen into a habit of work, parties- where she simply blended in rather than striving for any sort of attention, and then back to her apartment in the Row. The one where she had first moved into when she came back to Silvermoon, funny how she ended up back there after a few years. Granted she had a roommate now, but it made the place far less lonely. So when a bot arrived for her she was skeptical and distrusting at first, but once she opened the letter she was relieved to see it was from an old friend. A small smile touched the priestess’ lips and she moved to get a piece of parchment to pen her reply.

“Melada,

Things are alright I guess. I’ve been busy with the lounge and a few other things, but none really worth mentioning here. Honestly I’ve gotten boring in the last year, nothing really exciting has happened and no one has tried to kill me I haven’t taken a contract in ages.

I miss you too and it’s great to hear from you. I hope you’re doing well and you should come out of isolation sometime. I think being in the city every once in a while would do you some good. Let me know when you want that drink, I could always use the company.

- Lola.”

It entered in through the open window and hovered over towards its maker’s workbench, rotary-blades slowing to a halt as it made its descent. Belle stared at the bot as it landed, tail moving from side to side as it dangled off her perch. The cat mewed and the bot let out a happy ping as its compartment door swung open, revealing the mail that was inside. Melada lifted her goggles up to her forehead, fel green eyes blinking at the change in light without the shaded red lenses. She took the letter, smiling as she read and then reread the message. She promptly reached for parchment and pen and began writing a response.

“Lolette,

They say no news is good news. Of course, they talk a lot of kodo shit say many things and they’re wrong about as often as they’re right but I’m happy to know that you’re busy and out of danger. I haven’t taken a contract in ages, either. Do you miss them? 

I never really went on those jobs for the gold, neither did you. The gold was just self justification, at least for me. Something that others deemed as a measure of success that I tried to convince myself with. Well, that and I liked to think that we (or at least I) were the good guys, or at least not as bad as the other guys and that the things we did ultimately had a positive effect somewhere in the world besides my bank balance.

I don’t like to think of myself as taking any particular joy from killing the physical parts of our work. Rather, it was a certain sense of purpose I got from it, knowing where I belonged in that exact moment and what I had to do. I was a professional in the field and I was damn good at what I did, you know I was. I guess part of the reason I left again was because last time I was in Silvermoon, I recall there being a lot of rabble, a lot of people I didn’t know or care to know, and not a single crew I’d want to work with. Tell me, you think the situation has gotten any better?

Sorry if I got a little deep and a little off topic there. I miss having someone to really talk to and writing to you just kind of opened up the flood gates, so to speak. Nobody ever tells my thoughts to shut up and I’m not the one who will have to strain my eyes reading my written rambling. 

Everything has been okay, though. No news is good news, right? My only real complaint is that I don’t see the people who matter enough. Seriously, let’s fix that. I’ll only go to Silvermoon if I sneak into the lounge and you lock the doors, though. Otherwise, we can do much better for scenery. Give me a date and a time that works for you, I keep a pretty open schedule these days and you can mark that down as the understatement of the week.

Love,

-Melada Sunstriker”

“I’ve tried. In the small contact we’ve had, I’ve always encouraged her to live her life. She has a lot t’offer th’world- more than I do. If she’s still living in seclusion, she’s either not letting herself come out or she just prefers solitude.

Which, y’should know as well as I, she does. She’s alone even when she’s in the heart of the City, most times.”

He blows on the cigarette’s cherry to ash it, revealing bright embers that only burn brighter as he takes another drag. 

“I -have- apologized. For leaving. For taking her out t’sea and winding up on the island. For ever meeting her, I’ve apologized, because I know the pain I’ve brought her. I’ve said all I can say, and all that’s left when I see her is pain.

“Yeah, she does appreciate her solitude. But you can be happy and live your life without interacting with a lot of people. You’re missing the point, though. Apologizing for meeting her means that you’d just as soon get rid of the good as you would the bad. All the nights you two spent together, those heating sources you put in her house, the peach orchard in Pandaria, the more successful boating trips.. she doesn’t want to forget that, she’s glad that happened.

And if memory serves, the last two times you interacted with her weren’t anything as pleasant as apologizing for ever meeting her. You were acting like a real prick but you know that, you were going through some stuff and I’m not mad at you for it. Just, I don’t know, I feel like what she really needs is some closure. A lot of us don’t get that privilege but you’re still alive and around to grant it. You know, not an apology for your time together or that it had to end but just something.. satisfying, something you’d want to hear in her situation to finally close that chapter in her life and have it be okay.

“I’m not talking anymore about her.”

He hesitates for a moment, as if he’s going to go against that sentiment- and knocks back the rest of his whiskey instead. 

“Last few months? Spent most of it on Gal’s balcony, in one chair, looking at the city and the sky and the roses on the railing. Catatonic, probably be th’best way to describe it. Couldn’t hold on to any thought, didn’t want to drag myself out of the thoughts. So I just sat there.

Gradually got better. Eventually had a small motivation to step down to the street and see something. I’ve just been trying to keep myself moving since then- part o’me’s afraid I’ll just go numb again if I don’t have something to occupy me. Then again, that’s nothing new.

“At least she had a good view? But yeah, I do know what you mean.. mmm. You got bored of sitting, I guess. And so long as the momentum is there, just stay in motion. Have you found work yet? I was having trouble finding an organization worthy of my services in Silvermoon, I imagine you’ll have the same problem. I meant to look around in Orgrimmar, I did one night a few months ago and it wasn’t bad but I never showed up again. Might be something we could look into together?

As for that, yeah. When I heard, I was.. I don’t know. I’m not arrogant enough to think that I put the idea in your head but I couldn’t help feeling that maybe I could have done something different the last time we met. That night didn’t exactly go as planned. But, if you took away anything from that whole mess, it should be that you should let me do all your shooting from now on. You’re a shit shot, Lantis.”

The engineer offered a small grin, hoping that the war-mage found her attempt at humor amusing. She reached out across the table to give him a nudge.

“I’ve tried. In the small contact we’ve had, I’ve always encouraged her to live her life. She has a lot t’offer th’world- more than I do. If she’s still living in seclusion, she’s either not letting herself come out or she just prefers solitude.

Which, y’should know as well as I, she does. She’s alone even when she’s in the heart of the City, most times.”

He blows on the cigarette’s cherry to ash it, revealing bright embers that only burn brighter as he takes another drag. 

“I -have- apologized. For leaving. For taking her out t’sea and winding up on the island. For ever meeting her, I’ve apologized, because I know the pain I’ve brought her. I’ve said all I can say, and all that’s left when I see her is pain.

"Yeah, she does appreciate her solitude. But you can be happy and live your life without interacting with a lot of people. You're missing the point, though. Apologizing for meeting her means that you'd just as soon get rid of the good as you would the bad. All the nights you two spent together, those heating sources you put in her house, the peach orchard in Pandaria, the more successful boating trips.. she doesn't want to forget that, she's glad that happened.

And if memory serves, the last two times you interacted with her weren't anything as pleasant as apologizing for ever meeting her. You were acting like a real prick but you know that, you were going through some stuff and I'm not mad at you for it. Just, I don't know, I feel like what she really needs is some closure. A lot of us don't get that privilege but you're still alive and around to grant it. You know, not an apology for your time together or that it had to end but just something.. satisfying, something you'd want to hear in her situation to finally close that chapter in her life and have it be okay.

He sat at the familiar table, fingers tracing the edges of carved symbols within the wood. Years old by this point, the moment seeming as if it’d just passed, as if he’d just been sitting and cleaning a woman’s arms of blood and telling her in gruff irritation how stupidly she’d acted.

It was another woman that brought him here, tonight, however. Two, if you were making things technical.

The barmaid brought over a bottle of Dwarven whiskey, squat and wrought in the same stone they made their whiskey stones from. A bit of frost magic worked into the stone’s most basic properties, and it assured a chilled drink with no effort.

He’d sent the message out over the communication device the night before, with a time and place. 

“I’m awake, for lack of a better word. Need t’talk t’you. Make amends. Tell you about th’lass I had a drink with the other night. Trust me, you’ll want t’hear about this one. She’s an old face, used t’have a Wolf padding around after her, makes your head ache just remembering all th’shit you two went through. Don’t worry, I bought an apple pie t’apologize for making you think of her again.

Meet me at the tavern. Sunset in Shattrath. See y’soon, Melly.”

The redhead took in a deep breath through her nose, holding it in for a moment before letting it out in a heavy sigh. Booted legs walked her through the entrance and she closed her eyes behind her red lenses, simply counting the steps to her favorite table in the back. Melada opened up her eyes about five paces away and immediately spotted Lantis right where she knew he’d be.

If he said anything when he saw her, she didn’t immediately acknowledge it as she quickly stepped towards him and raised her right hand up. She’d bring it down in a slap upon the war-mage’s cheek when she closed the distance. “That one was for me,” she stated before moving to slap him across the other cheek with the back of her hand. “And that one was for Feythril,” she added before pulling out a chair to take her seat.

The engineer moved to pour herself a drink, noting that tonight’s bottle wasn’t the usual doublerum. However, she made no comment on the subject and instead took a sip from her drink. “It’s good to see you back on your feet again, Lantis,” she told him, finally allowing some warmth for her old friend to come out after she’d given him the slaps he deserved. She reached for one of her bloodthistle cigarettes as she spoke. “Now what’s this kodo shit you were saying about you know who?” She asked before placing the cigarette between her lips and leaning forward. “Gimme a light.”

Working his jaw to and fro as she takes her seat, he hangs his head and runs his fingers through the tangles of his mane. 

“Fuck. Don’t mention her.”

He raises a hand to catch the waitress’ attention without looking up, letting himself slump his head onto one arm until she arrives. He grunts out something with the word ‘washcloth’ and she moves off, leaving the two alone as Melada leans forward. 

A gravelly groan grinding from his throat, he raises his head enough to spot the end of the cigarette and mumbles out an incantation, a spark of flame lighting the herbs in an instant. The act of magic brings with it an uncomfortable reminder of Avalara, and he feels his stomach turn in disgust and heart leap in excitement in the same instant. 

Which only makes him more disgusted, of course. 

“Zalynna came t’the City. I was talkin’ to an old friend of mine, ex-Ranger-Captain from the Farstriders, who noticed her look at me. Took a second glance for me t’recognize the face. Ended up findin’ the ol’ ‘Zingara’ later that evening. She’s still got a crowd of followers that get their nuts up in a twist whenever someone comes around that she pays more attention to.” 

Pushing himself up from the table, he gives a grim smile and nod to the waitress as she delivers the cloth, mopping up the alcohol he’d spat and sticking the soaked end of the towel into his mouth where the worst of the pain from her slap was. The action bore a heavy resemblance to a mother giving her teething child a bit of alcohol-soaked cloth to suckle on to put off the pain. 

“Fuck, you slap hard. Wasted damn good whiskey.”

Melada frowned around her bloodthistle cigarette as she peered at Lantis from behind her red lenses. When he conjured a flame to light her joint, she closed her eyes and took a long drag, allowing the intoxicating smoke to fill up her lungs. She sucked in an extra breath once she lowered the joint from her lips, holding it in for a moment before letting out a breathy sigh; wisps of smoke lazily floated across the table. Feeling relaxed, she allowed her rifle strap to slide down her shoulder and she gripped the gun, propping it up against the table before leaning back in her seat. 

The engineer’s ears twitched as the war-mage talked of his reunion with Zalynna. She raised a brow and tilted her head at him, reaching out for her glass to take another sip from her whiskey.

“That’s disturbing. I assumed you wished just as much as I did that she’d stay hidden in whatever distant part of the world she left for. You think she’s been busy on Kalimdor again finding a bunch of gullible bastards to use for a new caravan or do you think she’s been back in Silvermoon for long enough to recruit from there? Not like it really matters, I’m going to avoid her and that group like the plague. Even if she has some sort of apology for me, which I highly doubt, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t trust her to be genuine. If I do get anything at all from her, it’ll probably be some half-assed excuse or explanation, some sort of weak attempt to justify her behavior without taking any responsibility for her actions or how they affect people.”

She was getting flustered by unpleasant memories at this point and she sipped down the rest of her drink before moving to pour herself a new one, puffing at her cigarette while she did so.

“You know, I’d rather be alone than call her friend again. But, anyways,” she sighed. “Was that all that happened when you saw her again? Did you talk at all? Are you sleeping with the enemy again? Is that fucking miserable Goblin back? I’ll kill him, I swear I will.. and sorry about the slap. I mean, you deserved it but I forgot that your, um, head might still be in pain from.. y’know. But speaking of whiskey, what happened to doublerum?”

His nostrils twitching at the scent of bloodthistle, he pulls the washcloth from his mouth and sets it to the side, rubbing at his jaw for a moment. His drink proves a welcome distraction, downed in sips and gulps as she speaks. 

“I mentioned you t’her. She claims t’have lost much of her memory, but I doubt that some. With the way she has convenient gaps in the amnesia, I think it’s just a way to get away with all she did. She remembered you, though- had quite the reaction. I’m sure it would’ve been satisfying for you t’see.

Don’t know where she gathered up her latest pining pawns, don’t care much. They keep thinkin’ I’ve got her demise planned, but all I’ve done and care t’do is chat with her some, reflect on the past. She tried asking what happened to us- I told her blunt that a poisoning doesn’t do much t’foster feelings of love. Trust me, I might get myself wrapped up in some convoluted romance, but I’m not touchin’ Zalynna. Been down that road.”

He glances to the stone bottle as she mentions it, shrugging as he tops off his glass again.

“Shock, first, that me an’you were drinking buddies. We didn’t become friends ‘till near the end of your time with her, if I recall right. Then worry. Not worry over you- we both know she’s too much of a bitch for that. Or was, before the amnesia. As if I’m really going to believe her through and through on that right off. Anyway, worry because, I think she thought, for just a second, that I was distracting her for you to get a shot off. The fear in her eyes that you’d get back at her? Thought you’d appreciate it.”

He lights the cigarette with another mumble, puffing happily as he slumps down in the chair somewhat, not bothering to move the hair from his face when it hangs down in windswept tangles. 

He sat at the familiar table, fingers tracing the edges of carved symbols within the wood. Years old by this point, the moment seeming as if it’d just passed, as if he’d just been sitting and cleaning a woman’s arms of blood and telling her in gruff irritation how stupidly she’d acted.

It was another woman that brought him here, tonight, however. Two, if you were making things technical.

The barmaid brought over a bottle of Dwarven whiskey, squat and wrought in the same stone they made their whiskey stones from. A bit of frost magic worked into the stone’s most basic properties, and it assured a chilled drink with no effort.

He’d sent the message out over the communication device the night before, with a time and place. 

“I’m awake, for lack of a better word. Need t’talk t’you. Make amends. Tell you about th’lass I had a drink with the other night. Trust me, you’ll want t’hear about this one. She’s an old face, used t’have a Wolf padding around after her, makes your head ache just remembering all th’shit you two went through. Don’t worry, I bought an apple pie t’apologize for making you think of her again.

Meet me at the tavern. Sunset in Shattrath. See y’soon, Melly.”

The redhead took in a deep breath through her nose, holding it in for a moment before letting it out in a heavy sigh. Booted legs walked her through the entrance and she closed her eyes behind her red lenses, simply counting the steps to her favorite table in the back. Melada opened up her eyes about five paces away and immediately spotted Lantis right where she knew he’d be.

If he said anything when he saw her, she didn’t immediately acknowledge it as she quickly stepped towards him and raised her right hand up. She’d bring it down in a slap upon the war-mage’s cheek when she closed the distance. “That one was for me,” she stated before moving to slap him across the other cheek with the back of her hand. “And that one was for Feythril,” she added before pulling out a chair to take her seat.

The engineer moved to pour herself a drink, noting that tonight’s bottle wasn’t the usual doublerum. However, she made no comment on the subject and instead took a sip from her drink. “It’s good to see you back on your feet again, Lantis,” she told him, finally allowing some warmth for her old friend to come out after she’d given him the slaps he deserved. She reached for one of her bloodthistle cigarettes as she spoke. “Now what’s this kodo shit you were saying about you know who?” She asked before placing the cigarette between her lips and leaning forward. “Gimme a light.”

Working his jaw to and fro as she takes her seat, he hangs his head and runs his fingers through the tangles of his mane. 

“Fuck. Don’t mention her.”

He raises a hand to catch the waitress’ attention without looking up, letting himself slump his head onto one arm until she arrives. He grunts out something with the word ‘washcloth’ and she moves off, leaving the two alone as Melada leans forward. 

A gravelly groan grinding from his throat, he raises his head enough to spot the end of the cigarette and mumbles out an incantation, a spark of flame lighting the herbs in an instant. The act of magic brings with it an uncomfortable reminder of Avalara, and he feels his stomach turn in disgust and heart leap in excitement in the same instant. 

Which only makes him more disgusted, of course. 

“Zalynna came t’the City. I was talkin’ to an old friend of mine, ex-Ranger-Captain from the Farstriders, who noticed her look at me. Took a second glance for me t’recognize the face. Ended up findin’ the ol’ ‘Zingara’ later that evening. She’s still got a crowd of followers that get their nuts up in a twist whenever someone comes around that she pays more attention to.” 

Pushing himself up from the table, he gives a grim smile and nod to the waitress as she delivers the cloth, mopping up the alcohol he’d spat and sticking the soaked end of the towel into his mouth where the worst of the pain from her slap was. The action bore a heavy resemblance to a mother giving her teething child a bit of alcohol-soaked cloth to suckle on to put off the pain. 

“Fuck, you slap hard. Wasted damn good whiskey.”

Melada frowned around her bloodthistle cigarette as she peered at Lantis from behind her red lenses. When he conjured a flame to light her joint, she closed her eyes and took a long drag, allowing the intoxicating smoke to fill up her lungs. She sucked in an extra breath once she lowered the joint from her lips, holding it in for a moment before letting out a breathy sigh; wisps of smoke lazily floated across the table. Feeling relaxed, she allowed her rifle strap to slide down her shoulder and she gripped the gun, propping it up against the table before leaning back in her seat. 

The engineer’s ears twitched as the war-mage talked of his reunion with Zalynna. She raised a brow and tilted her head at him, reaching out for her glass to take another sip from her whiskey.

“That’s disturbing. I assumed you wished just as much as I did that she’d stay hidden in whatever distant part of the world she left for. You think she’s been busy on Kalimdor again finding a bunch of gullible bastards to use for a new caravan or do you think she’s been back in Silvermoon for long enough to recruit from there? Not like it really matters, I’m going to avoid her and that group like the plague. Even if she has some sort of apology for me, which I highly doubt, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t trust her to be genuine. If I do get anything at all from her, it’ll probably be some half-assed excuse or explanation, some sort of weak attempt to justify her behavior without taking any responsibility for her actions or how they affect people.”

She was getting flustered by unpleasant memories at this point and she sipped down the rest of her drink before moving to pour herself a new one, puffing at her cigarette while she did so.

“You know, I’d rather be alone than call her friend again. But, anyways,” she sighed. “Was that all that happened when you saw her again? Did you talk at all? Are you sleeping with the enemy again? Is that fucking miserable Goblin back? I’ll kill him, I swear I will.. and sorry about the slap. I mean, you deserved it but I forgot that your, um, head might still be in pain from.. y’know. But speaking of whiskey, what happened to doublerum?”

His nostrils twitching at the scent of bloodthistle, he pulls the washcloth from his mouth and sets it to the side, rubbing at his jaw for a moment. His drink proves a welcome distraction, downed in sips and gulps as she speaks. 

“I mentioned you t’her. She claims t’have lost much of her memory, but I doubt that some. With the way she has convenient gaps in the amnesia, I think it’s just a way to get away with all she did. She remembered you, though- had quite the reaction. I’m sure it would’ve been satisfying for you t’see.

Don’t know where she gathered up her latest pining pawns, don’t care much. They keep thinkin’ I’ve got her demise planned, but all I’ve done and care t’do is chat with her some, reflect on the past. She tried asking what happened to us- I told her blunt that a poisoning doesn’t do much t’foster feelings of love. Trust me, I might get myself wrapped up in some convoluted romance, but I’m not touchin’ Zalynna. Been down that road.”

He glances to the stone bottle as she mentions it, shrugging as he tops off his glass again.

He sat at the familiar table, fingers tracing the edges of carved symbols within the wood. Years old by this point, the moment seeming as if it’d just passed, as if he’d just been sitting and cleaning a woman’s arms of blood and telling her in gruff irritation how stupidly she’d acted.

It was another woman that brought him here, tonight, however. Two, if you were making things technical.

The barmaid brought over a bottle of Dwarven whiskey, squat and wrought in the same stone they made their whiskey stones from. A bit of frost magic worked into the stone’s most basic properties, and it assured a chilled drink with no effort.

He’d sent the message out over the communication device the night before, with a time and place. 

“I’m awake, for lack of a better word. Need t’talk t’you. Make amends. Tell you about th’lass I had a drink with the other night. Trust me, you’ll want t’hear about this one. She’s an old face, used t’have a Wolf padding around after her, makes your head ache just remembering all th’shit you two went through. Don’t worry, I bought an apple pie t’apologize for making you think of her again.

Meet me at the tavern. Sunset in Shattrath. See y’soon, Melly.”

The redhead took in a deep breath through her nose, holding it in for a moment before letting it out in a heavy sigh. Booted legs walked her through the entrance and she closed her eyes behind her red lenses, simply counting the steps to her favorite table in the back. Melada opened up her eyes about five paces away and immediately spotted Lantis right where she knew he’d be.

If he said anything when he saw her, she didn’t immediately acknowledge it as she quickly stepped towards him and raised her right hand up. She’d bring it down in a slap upon the war-mage’s cheek when she closed the distance. “That one was for me,” she stated before moving to slap him across the other cheek with the back of her hand. “And that one was for Feythril,” she added before pulling out a chair to take her seat.

The engineer moved to pour herself a drink, noting that tonight’s bottle wasn’t the usual doublerum. However, she made no comment on the subject and instead took a sip from her drink. “It’s good to see you back on your feet again, Lantis,” she told him, finally allowing some warmth for her old friend to come out after she’d given him the slaps he deserved. She reached for one of her bloodthistle cigarettes as she spoke. “Now what’s this kodo shit you were saying about you know who?” She asked before placing the cigarette between her lips and leaning forward. “Gimme a light.”

Working his jaw to and fro as she takes her seat, he hangs his head and runs his fingers through the tangles of his mane. 

“Fuck. Don’t mention her.”

He raises a hand to catch the waitress’ attention without looking up, letting himself slump his head onto one arm until she arrives. He grunts out something with the word ‘washcloth’ and she moves off, leaving the two alone as Melada leans forward. 

A gravelly groan grinding from his throat, he raises his head enough to spot the end of the cigarette and mumbles out an incantation, a spark of flame lighting the herbs in an instant. The act of magic brings with it an uncomfortable reminder of Avalara, and he feels his stomach turn in disgust and heart leap in excitement in the same instant. 

Which only makes him more disgusted, of course. 

“Zalynna came t’the City. I was talkin’ to an old friend of mine, ex-Ranger-Captain from the Farstriders, who noticed her look at me. Took a second glance for me t’recognize the face. Ended up findin’ the ol’ ‘Zingara’ later that evening. She’s still got a crowd of followers that get their nuts up in a twist whenever someone comes around that she pays more attention to.” 

Pushing himself up from the table, he gives a grim smile and nod to the waitress as she delivers the cloth, mopping up the alcohol he’d spat and sticking the soaked end of the towel into his mouth where the worst of the pain from her slap was. The action bore a heavy resemblance to a mother giving her teething child a bit of alcohol-soaked cloth to suckle on to put off the pain. 

“Fuck, you slap hard. Wasted damn good whiskey.”

Melada frowned around her bloodthistle cigarette as she peered at Lantis from behind her red lenses. When he conjured a flame to light her joint, she closed her eyes and took a long drag, allowing the intoxicating smoke to fill up her lungs. She sucked in an extra breath once she lowered the joint from her lips, holding it in for a moment before letting out a breathy sigh; wisps of smoke lazily floated across the table. Feeling relaxed, she allowed her rifle strap to slide down her shoulder and she gripped the gun, propping it up against the table before leaning back in her seat. 

The engineer’s ears twitched as the war-mage talked of his reunion with Zalynna. She raised a brow and tilted her head at him, reaching out for her glass to take another sip from her whiskey.

“That’s disturbing. I assumed you wished just as much as I did that she’d stay hidden in whatever distant part of the world she left for. You think she’s been busy on Kalimdor again finding a bunch of gullible bastards to use for a new caravan or do you think she’s been back in Silvermoon for long enough to recruit from there? Not like it really matters, I’m going to avoid her and that group like the plague. Even if she has some sort of apology for me, which I highly doubt, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t trust her to be genuine. If I do get anything at all from her, it’ll probably be some half-assed excuse or explanation, some sort of weak attempt to justify her behavior without taking any responsibility for her actions or how they affect people.”

She was getting flustered by unpleasant memories at this point and she sipped down the rest of her drink before moving to pour herself a new one, puffing at her cigarette while she did so.

“You know, I’d rather be alone than call her friend again. But, anyways,” she sighed. “Was that all that happened when you saw her again? Did you talk at all? Are you sleeping with the enemy again? Is that fucking miserable Goblin back? I’ll kill him, I swear I will.. and sorry about the slap. I mean, you deserved it but I forgot that your, um, head might still be in pain from.. y’know. But speaking of whiskey, what happened to doublerum?”

He sat at the familiar table, fingers tracing the edges of carved symbols within the wood. Years old by this point, the moment seeming as if it’d just passed, as if he’d just been sitting and cleaning a woman’s arms of blood and telling her in gruff irritation how stupidly she’d acted.

It was another woman that brought him here, tonight, however. Two, if you were making things technical.

The barmaid brought over a bottle of Dwarven whiskey, squat and wrought in the same stone they made their whiskey stones from. A bit of frost magic worked into the stone’s most basic properties, and it assured a chilled drink with no effort.

He’d sent the message out over the communication device the night before, with a time and place. 

“I’m awake, for lack of a better word. Need t’talk t’you. Make amends. Tell you about th’lass I had a drink with the other night. Trust me, you’ll want t’hear about this one. She’s an old face, used t’have a Wolf padding around after her, makes your head ache just remembering all th’shit you two went through. Don’t worry, I bought an apple pie t’apologize for making you think of her again.

Meet me at the tavern. Sunset in Shattrath. See y’soon, Melly.”

The redhead took in a deep breath through her nose, holding it in for a moment before letting it out in a heavy sigh. Booted legs walked her through the entrance and she closed her eyes behind her red lenses, simply counting the steps to her favorite table in the back. Melada opened up her eyes about five paces away and immediately spotted Lantis right where she knew he’d be.

If he said anything when he saw her, she didn’t immediately acknowledge it as she quickly stepped towards him and raised her right hand up. She’d bring it down in a slap upon the war-mage’s cheek when she closed the distance. “That one was for me,” she stated before moving to slap him across the other cheek with the back of her hand. “And that one was for Feythril,” she added before pulling out a chair to take her seat.

The engineer moved to pour herself a drink, noting that tonight’s bottle wasn’t the usual doublerum. However, she made no comment on the subject and instead took a sip from her drink. “It’s good to see you back on your feet again, Lantis,” she told him, finally allowing some warmth for her old friend to come out after she’d given him the slaps he deserved. She reached for one of her bloodthistle cigarettes as she spoke. “Now what’s this kodo shit you were saying about you know who?” She asked before placing the cigarette between her lips and leaning forward. “Gimme a light.”

“Paid the photographer five silvers t’take this of Melly, some fancy party we had absolutely no reason or invitation t’be at. It was before th’cameras were quite a finished device, and it took the picture a bit late. 

NOTE: Melada DOES NOT have a Face Claim (as far as I know), and this is pretty damn close to how I see the amazing engineer in my own mind!

VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: 💗💗💗💗(purely aesthetic appreciation of looks)

“Mel is cute in a rough ‘n tumble kind of way. I find her more attractive when she’s in clothes that make her feel comfortable. I remember those few weeks she would wear a dress…to me that wasn’t Melada.”

FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: 💗💗💗💗(how close a friend they consider them)

“I consider her my favorite red headed engineer. It took me a little bit of time to warm up to her, but after awhile we got fairly close. I cherish our friendship.”

SEXUAL DESIRE: 💔(wanting to have sex with them)

“Due to me caring about her so much as a friend, that part of my brain that says, ‘Hey, go hump that’ has officially turned off. I can’t see her any other way than that.”

ROMANTIC INTENT: 💔(hoping for a romantic relationship)

“Again, she’s a really good friend of mine, and I cherish her friendship more than even thinking of attempting a relationship that could possibly destroy what we have now.”

💔 Non-existent💗 Very low💗💗 A little💗💗💗 Hopeful💗💗💗💗 High💗💗💗💗💗 Maximum

This isn’t even close to something I want to do, but I don’t actually see any other way around it.

Pamina’s officially retired, her outcome and story up in the air because to be frank, I don’t really know where she’s going or what she’s doing or if she’s even breathing. Before I get the “But what about…”, don’t. I don’t know. Please don’t ask me.

I will keep this blog open as a resource for magic-related images/gifs and signal boosting, because honestly, I still have a lot of followers. I know a lot of people use this blog to pilfer the magic stuff too, and I’d never deny you guys that.

If I can bring myself to get on WoW again, you’ll probably find me tooling around with @raziahshadeleaf, @riaevis, or @ceithil and the Lotus. 

Thank you for the people who bothered reading her story, or for those who have impacted it, or those who were genuinely interested in her as a character. You guys made it worth bringing her to this universe.

AHHHHHH! MEL!!!!! <3 My partner in long hiatus’! =D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpCcJY-rJSs

“What You Know”In a few weeks I will get timeTo realise it’s right before my eyesAnd I can take it if it’s what I want to doI am leaving, this is starting to feel likeIt’s right before my eyesAnd I can taste it, it’s my sweet beginning( Chorus )And I can tell just what you wantYou don’t want to be aloneYou don’t want to be aloneAnd I can’t say it’s what you knowBut you’ve known it the whole time,Yeah, you’ve known it the whole timeMaybe next year I’ll have no timeTo think about the questions to addressAm I the one to try to stop the fire?I wouldn’t test you, I’m not the best you could have attainedWhy try anything?I will get there, just remember I know

And I can tell just what you wantYou don’t want to be aloneYou don’t want to be aloneAnd I can’t say it’s what you knowBut you’ve known it the whole timeYeah, you’ve known it the whole time

( Repeat Chorus x2 )