#hellfists

Send '😴' To Fall Asleep In My Muse's Arms

Rahela couldn’t convince Lyse to head all the way back to Gridania so they could rent a room at the Roost; whether it was from wanting to avoid questions from Mother Miounne, or simply not wanting to leave the Spire, she didn’t ask. But despite the pugilist’s insistence that she liked sleeping in the forest, Rah finally got her into one of the spare beds in the Hawthorne Hut.

The two lay there embraced on the same bed, talking in hushed voices. Talking about lemon cakes and mun-tuy sauce. About dancing and leg cramps and squats. About Little Ladies’ Day. About Moenbryda and Papalymo. About Yda. About what parts were Lyse and what parts weren’t. Rahela expects there to be tears from at least one of them, but they never come.

She doesn’t have any timepiece, but it’s surely in the wee hours of the morning when the conversation hits one final lull. Lyse rests her head on Rahela’s shoulder, and her breathing slows. The mage’s thumb gently strokes the blonde temple she had never seen before, and she kisses her forehead. It’s difficult to tell if Lyse looks peaceful or not; Rah had set her spectacles (Papalymo had always insisted she acquire a pair, and he’d scold her whenever she made a mistake due to her poor eyesight) aside for the night. But she hugged her close, stroking her fingertips through the locks of free-flowing sunshine (just like their owner) she’d never touched before.

“Good night, Lyse.”

she was panting, afraid, beaten and bloodied – her wrists and ankles locked in cuffs, chained to the wall behind her. her hair was wild, taken out of its ponytail, and her clothing was horribly disheveled – she had been tortured,mutilated by the imperials, by zenos, and gods, how was she still alive? it wasimpossible, she should be dead – lyse’s panicked breathing stopped filling her ears when the sound of someone’s voice replaced it, someone’s voice that she knew, oh gods! it sounded so familiar, who – who was it – it was alisaie. alisaie, of all people, had come to save her. had she brought anyone else, too? was she alone? how in the seven hells would she have gotten in here by herself, she had to have brought someone with her – oh, did lyse hope she brought someone with her. the woman’s glossy, dull blue eyes lifted and she blinked a few times in order to see the elezen girl better, tears that lyse didn’t even know she was holding back running down and wetting her cheeks. how long had she been trapped here like this, in a small, damp cell, sitting in her own filth and blood? how long had it been since she had been kidnapped? how long did it take for her to be saved?

“a-alisaie,” lyse choked out, her voice hoarse and quiet as she did so.pathetic. “is that really you? have you come to get me out of here? oh, it’s so nice to see you again, i thought you were – you were him –”

The journey had not been easy, but the reward was far worth the risk. She had not gone alone–her brother would not have allowed it. So much so that of course he’d gone himself. Behind them, their friends still fought what remained of the enemy, who’d been driven away. From here, their path out was clear, which it seemed a small blessing now.

“Lyse!” Alisaie was the first to rush to her aid, her brother soon behind. They both looked her over, gauging the severity of her injuries. “Don’t worry, we’ve driven him away for now, or rather, he grew bored of us and left again.” As she spoke, Alphinaud freed her of her chains with a key they’d stolen before. Alisaie moved to support her, should she be too weak to move.

   Lapis gave Lyse a good squeeze as they hugged before letting go. She looked up at her with a bright smile and even brighter eyes. It had been a while since they last spoke!  . . . Okay, a week wasn’t that long.

“Ah, ain’t a big deal lass. I’ve always wondered what ye looked like under that mask. So nice to know ye got a pretty face under there”

Maetikoel didn’t really feel bothered by her secret. The Keeper didn’t know Yda or Lyse as well as the others did so he didn’t feel hurt by it or anything. It would be interesting if she showed a different personality. Was Yda just as quirky or was that a Lyse thing only?