#sulkan ;

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃  &  𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄  / @gezelligheiid

🌑 . . . ╰──╮    THE RAVEN-HAIRED MER gasped sharply as he nearly lost his footing. 

His hand shot out, catching Sulkan's before he could tumble forward   &  directly into what he now recognized as a pressure plate. 

Shadowheart took a moment to compose himself. He was grateful the dunmer was here… not merely for his own life, but because he musn't fail this mission — he served a purpose far greater than himself. 

It had been easy enough to remain vague with Sulkan about his true purpose here, simply because Shadowheart himself knew so little. The half-truth about "seeking treasure" served as convenient cover, though by now it must be obvious that wasn't his real objective. No sane adventurer chasing mere coin would venture this deep into this dwemer death maze…

All Shadowheart knew was that the artifact had to be here, somewhere in these ancient ruins, waiting to be claimed. He was certain of it! He didn't know precisely where, he didn't even know WHAT he was searching for… only that he would recognize the artifact when he saw it.

ㅤㅤㅤHe couldn't fail.

Dying to some Dwemer trap before completing his sacred mission was unthinkable.

❝Thank you,❞   he said once he'd caught his breath, giving a sincere nod.   ❝We should keep moving.❞   Despite this close call, the altmer showed no hesitation.

TOMODACHI LIFE: LIVING THE DREAM. / @gezelligheiid

🌸 ˗ˏˋ ❝I..I see... That, er, that sounds very Redoran of you, I suppose...❞

Amrûn regarded him with mild concern.

❝And how full is this bottle, at present? I've found that such bottles have a tendency to leak or, worse, shatter at the most inconvenient of times...❞

ㅤㅤThe Altmer leaned a little closer, brows delicately knit. Obviously they wouldn't let the matter rest.

🌸 ˗ˏˋ ❝This is so fascinating!!❞ Amrûn beamed, perhaps a tad too enthusiastically for someone with a well-documented aversion to danger, currently standing in a Dwemer ruin where said danger lurked around every corner.

They were here to retrieve an artifact & the pay was more than generous. Amrûn could certainly use the coin, though that hadn't been what drew them here. Science was.

The Altmer was so unlike most of their kin. There wasn't a shred of arrogance in them, and they wore their heart openly on their sleeve — perhaps a little too much so, as they had been cheerfully talking Sulkan's ear off the entire way to the ruin. Well, they were travelling companions now, weren't they? They had to get to know one another! And oh, Amrûn was so glad to have a travelling companion! As far as they were concerned, they were already friends. Not having a friend in this perilous land was practically a death sentence.

❝Oh! Sulkan, look at these inscriptio———❞

ㅤㅤㅤCLICK.

Amrûn leapt back just in time, landing hard on their backside as golden blades sprung from the ground, spinning to shred everything in their path ; right where Amrûn had been standing a second ago!

They sat there for a moment, stunned, blue eyes blown wide, before exhaling shakily as an anxious little laugh bubbled out of them. ❝Oh… Oh my! M-merciful Mara ——— that was close…! Aha…❞

. . . A mechanical whirring sound echoed through the ruin from somewhere within its depths. The Altmer froze. That didn't sound good.

With a look that was equal parts alarmed & apologetic, they slowly turned their head toward the Dunmer.