Endurance Training [Open]

[Dzie Towen]

OOC: Sorry for the crappy TS. The purpose of this thread is to work on Dzie's Endurancem I am going to try and end each post so that if someone wants to join in they can…so feel free to hop on in

Timestamp: A couple of brightening after he signed up for the cage fight…

IC:
Endurance Dzie thought as he left Finnbarrs house this early brightening. He hadn’t been getting much sleep since he had signed up for the tournament and he wasn’t sure how to tell Finnbarr. Would she be mad? Could or would she encourage him? Either way, it was a hard thing to tell the person that you love. The suns were just starting to rise as Dzie took off down the streets at a jog. He wasn’t the most enduring person…not at all. He had walked from Nexus to Vortex and Vortex back, but not close to the same amount of time as someone who could walk for a long time. So it was only a matter of blocks before the half-human half-elf became out of breath and sweaty.

Must keep going, just for a little longer. It’s only a mental barrier he tried to convince himself. Running jogging took a lot more out of you then walking, which was good. The reason he was doing this wasn’t because he was worried about losing extra fat, which he had gained a little of since moving in with Finnbarr…mmm such good food there. It was the endurance aspect for the cage hand-to-hand bare-knuckle fighting tournament that he was in. He also decided that he was going to start eating better, at least for the fight was over with. Dzie had several short term goals that he needed to accomplish, hopefully this would help him to the 1,000 crown prize at the end of it.

Then he could start paying Finnbarr back for all of her kindnesses. He touched his thumb to the ring that she had bough him and drove on harder then he was going. Not faster, but past the barrier of exhaustion and leg pain. He had to do this for her, not just himself. She had money, and he wasn’t sure if she even had to pay for the house she lived in but that didn’t matter. Dzie didn’t want to be a leech forever. Then she could be proud of him as well, he would have accomplished something that he set out to do. He wasn’t just sitting around town doing little. He took Alchemy as well, another thing that he was proud of but this would get his name in the herald for a short time. He wasn’t looking for fame or anything else of the like, he just wanted to be recognized once and a while, anyone who says they don’t are lying.

The drive from his ring got him a few more blocks but it came to the point where he was starting to drag his feet and trip over them so he stopped for a rest. There weren’t many people about as it was really early in the morning, but the few that were Dzie watched and he sat on the sidewalk leaning his back against a wall trying to catch his breath.

[Viskyia Crow]

She paced him for a while when she turned down the street he was running on. It surprised her to find another runner out and about on this early morning brightening. She kept slowing her pace so she didn’t overtake him, but kept shadowing to follow him, very curious. It was obvious he didn’t notice… probably undergoing some internal dialog to bully himself into running further faster harder longer. She smiled. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t done herself, and kept doing off and on. All runners did. Was he friendly? She was. It was as if Viskyia was on a mission to meet everyone in Nexus Prime and establish some sort of relationship with them. A running partner would be great. Was he human or elven? She wasn’t sure. She made her decision, sped up a little, and paced him.

“You are going about it the hard way.” She said softly, coming up alongside him. She had been running, and watching the man struggle to keep going in his running. “Do you want some company and maybe some advice from a fellow runner?” She asked. Ah! He was mixed like her. And he didn’t exactly look unfriendly. “I’m Viskyia” she said.

When he didn’t seem to protest much, she said softly “Slow to a walk for a moment, and catch your breath. If you’re just starting out running and haven’t been running a lot, it’s best to work up to long runs and build up your strength and ability to keep going.” She instructed. “When I first started running, I thought I had to run everywhere without stopping at a breakneck speed. But I was lucky; I had someone experienced in physical fitness to help me break into it. Looks like you’re just out here on your own trying to get into better shape.” She smiled, friendly. “What they told me worked wonderfully. And if you want to hear what they said, I’ll keep you company for a while.”

[Dzie Towen]

It was on his second run that she had seen him, after he had sat down for a break. He was exhausted, his legs heavy, heart pumping as he gasped for air. It would take some time but he was sure that he was doing the right thing. How else would he make gains if he wasn’t always pushing himself to go further. Speed wasn’t a factor for him, he didn’t want to become a racer, he wanted to be able to last in the cage match long enough to come out victorious. If he could stay moving while others were tired then he would have an advantage. That mixed with the fightings down at the docks surely he would at least have a chance to win.

Then someone approached him, who he couldn’t see. He had to wipe the sweat out of his eyes and then turn to see who it was. A pale half-human like he was. Well not exactly, she was the antithesis of his tanned natural appearance but they both had a mix in there blood. He was to tired to actually say anything but he nodded when he was asked if he wanted a jogging partner. He did manage to get out his name ”Dzie” he turned to look at her and nodded. She was on the side of his face that wasn’t scared, when he turned it was all to obvious that he had a giant burn mark on the other side of his face. An appearance that many people thought made him look unfriendly, and even scary.

He did as she asked and slowed to a walk taking many deep breaths in. But slowly his heart rate began to slow. It felt better then just stopping and sitting down, that made him feel even more exhausted. He decided that from now on he’d always slow down to a walk for a while before stopping. ”Something like that” he smiled as he started getting his breath back. He had to gasp to get the words out however. ”I would like some company, thank you very much.”

He held out his hand this time and re-introduced himself ”The names Dzie Towen, nice to meet you.”

[Viskyia Crow]

Viskyia took his hand and shook it firmly. “Nice to meet you, as well, Dzie.” Tilting her head, Viskyia studied Dzie’s scarred face. She didn’t look away, or think it frightening. Instead, she wondered how it happened and how long something like that took to heal. She decided she’d ask about it, but later after they’d ran a bit and got to know each other better. There was something about him.. a quiet determination? She wasn’t sure.

As they walked, she smiled. “I know a little about running. I’ve never been formally trained, but then again I run daily now that I’ve been here in Nexus Prime. I can show you what I’ve learned on my own and from a trainer back home.” She offered. Speeding up slightly, she started walking a bit more briskly.

“Now.. swing your arms, and use your whole body to ‘walk’ when you do. The idea is to keep your heart pounding but let your lungs rest.” She encouraged. “Then.. after you’ve rested a short while, we start running again.” It had already been a minute or two, but she walked on for a few more minutes. She looked at him again, smiled, and broke into a light jog. “Then, you jog slowly for the same amount of time you walked.” Her footbeats were soft, and she kept pace with him as she ran, tucking her arms in and showing him now to pump lightly with them, keeping his body compacted and light. “It helps if you’ve seen a marionette doll… the type with its arms and legs attached by strings to a couple of crosses of wood that its handler can make dance?” She pantomimed working the doll. “Pretend there is a string through your body, lifting your spine up and lightening your feet. It puts your back into the right position to really run more easily.”

She ran on beside him, letting him pick the pathway, but paying attention to the direction they ran. After an equal length of time they walked, she smiled at him and said "Now’s the third step… we sprint. For exactly half the time we walked and jogged. Are you ready?” She waited for him to nod, and broke off at a sprint, adding speed to the equation as she raced with him down a street she wasn’t familiar with. The sprint didn’t last too long before she backed it down to a walk and gave him a chance to catch his breath and speak. “You can train yourself that way, and you will get stronger each time. Walk, jog, sprint… walk jog sprint. It will really help you. Plus, it’s a reward system too.” She added, then she paused giving him a chance to say something once he’d caught his breath and was rested a moment.

[Dzie Towen]

Dzie kept pace with Viskyia the best that he could. He was glad that he had someone with experience to guide him along. From her physique he guessed that she knew what she was talking about. He swung his arms as instructed and managed to get out between short breaths ”Thank you…for..helping me…out.” He put his hand to his mouth and coughed. It was still winter and still pretty cold out, but Dzie didn’t notice, he had been running to hard he felt hot. But taking in the breaths of cold air seemed difficult to him, much more so then if the weather had been mild.

Dzie’s footsteps were harder then the half-human that was leading him. It wasn’t only because he weighed more, but his old boots were not the best for remaining silent at speeds, they also weren’t the best for running in but he could afford anything else…and didn’t want to ask to borrow money. However once he fixed his posture and style of running as suggested it was a much less sounding beat on the ground below him.

Hoping that they would be slowing down again Dzie got excited, but it wasn’t to be. They were to sprint…he mustered up every last bit of strength that he could to try and keep going. He nodded and was off. He didn’t worry about being able to keep up with the runner, he was only worried about pushing himself to his own limits as he sprinted. Luckily the sprint lasted a much shorter time then the walking and jogging, Dzie thought he was about to pass out. He wiped his forearm across his face to take away the sweat as he breathed heavily. He wondered why she had decided to help him out, was it obvious that he was new to this? Was she just a nice person? Or where there hidden motives? Dzie was suspicious of strangers offering to help, he wasn’t sure why though.

Once he caught his breath he said ”So I see. This is mu-much harder then I thought it would be. *cough* How long ha-ha--*cough* have you been at it?” he decided that it would be rude to ask her motive for helping him, surely she was just a kind person…after all, what would one want with a scared half-human/elf

[Viskyia Crow]

She ran alongside him, though not as easily as he made it sound. She was trying to build her own strength and fleetness as well, so this was as much for her as it was for him. Because she was just honing her skill, she looked vastly better than him at a jog. But, if a real runner… say a long distance messenger were to join them, her blatant lack of physical conditioning would be obvious. Every step she took beside him at a jog helped get her closer to where she wanted to be. After the sprint, she brought herself back to a walk, hoping Dzie would follow and tried to make idle conversation for the brief rest.

“I normally have to run alone. I don’t have much weapons training, and I figured if I practiced running enough, I could pretty much outdistance anything or anyone that decided to give chase… including muggers, thieves, rapists. The notion is silly, I know, but it gives me confidence.” She laughed. Her notion of personal safety was skewed, she knew. He must think her a fool. She threw him a grin anyhow. “I’m glad for the company. Even if I wasn’t doing this to learn how to avoid having to fight, I’d have to do this anyhow. I’m an apprentice to Master Titus the jeweler, and with the way I am starting to love scones, I need something to keep me from getting fat leaning over a jewelers bench.” Viskyia laughed at herself, throwing him a smile. For all that she was panting as she walked out the sprint, she was still having fun meeting someone new. She stopped chattering long enough to let him speak up a bit, enough time having passed for him to catch a little breath.

Then, she nodded, tucked her arms up, and when he nodded his readiness, she set off at a jog again. After a few moments she spent just enjoying the run, she turned and studied him. He was struggling again, and she studied him for a moment to decide why he was.

“Dzie, you run like a human! Don’t use your heels at all. Rise up and run on the balls of your feet. Feel your body lighten, and rise up… just push off from the ground.” She marveled that he moved so humanly. She also noted the darkness of his skin for all that his ears were pointed. It was obvious he took after his human parent. They were vastly different. She was surprised she hadn’t seen it before. For all their mixed blood, he was far more human and she far more elven. She was glad for the difference. Life never ceased to surprise her.

She nodded again… it was time for the sprint. As they struck out for the swift flight, she studied him again. All his strength was probably in his upper body. He could probably fight well enough to hold his own. Viskyia hadn’t known many men. Just her father, a few servants, and a dwarf shared her life. She’d never paid them much mind either. There had been no reason too. She also thought about Rhargn, Nydardomond, and now Dzie. They were all so different. Viskyia was definitely starting to see how having a variety of people she knew would be important in her life. Each had strengths, weaknesses, and so far she’d yet to meet anyone who wasn’t vastly more beneath their skin. She suspected the same of Dzie. Absently, she wondered if they could be friends and what life would lead her to think of him. Did he have a lesson to teach her like Rhargn and Nydardomond had? Rhargn had definitely taught her that love came in many forms, even dogs, and that love could drive a man to chase dreams. Nydardomond had taught her that all people weren’t what they appeared. They’d both been valuable lessons.

She was tired and pulled the sprint up early… gasping… tempted to stop… she walked on shaking out her arms and feeling the burning sensation in her lungs. Burning lungs. She turnd and looked at Dzie sharply.

It was obvious he was concentrating on breathing, and she had that sudden horrible thought. “I don’t mean to pry, but… when… uh… when you were.. burned… did it harm your lungs? We might not want to push so hard if… you can’t breath because they are damaged.” She was pretty sure he’d been burned. Skin didn’t take on that melted appearance without getting very hot. She shuddered, pressing back a haunting memory. She hated to ask him, but didn’t want to hurt him by pushing him harder than he had the wind for.

[Dzie Towen]

”There is nothing wrong with that at all. It’s the people who try to be a hero that always end up on the short end of things. It is better to get away then to stand there and try to fight most of the time…as long as you aren’t harmed the ends justify the means I suppose.” He replied. He was speaking from his own experiences in a way. Nearly every conflict he had ever been faced with had he been given something that he didn’t before. Things that he didn’t want, didn’t need but he kept on taking. Not talking about the possessions that he looted from the corpses of those that were also in the same conflict, he was talking about his scars. He had hidden injuries too, under his sleeves his arms were scared from when he was attacked by a katta…one that still walks around this town actually.

He nodded when he seen the it was time for the jog at set off at a jogging pace as well. He tried to control his breathing but he was hard. He wasn’t doing too bad of a job for this being his first day. At least he didn’t believe that he was.

”I am human he remarked at the comment about the way that he ran. He knew that he was a half-elf, that much was obvious but he always considered himself to be more human then elf. In reality he was half of each, but his appearance, mannerisms, and thoughts were much more human the elf. A likely result of being raised but his father; human, after his mother died. His physique was leaning more and more towards human with the passing brightenings, getting heavier and heavier with the fat that he was putting on. He wasn’t fat by any means, but with his smaller then average human frame when he indulged in food it showed…and ever since he moved in with Finnbarr he had been indulging a lot.

As they made off for their sprint Dzie thought of things as well. He wondered too about the lady that he was running with, if they would become friends, running partners, or just simple acquaintances. Perhaps things would work out even worse, maybe they wouldn’t get along, they were wildly different from one another so it seemed on the surface. She perhaps spent more time with elves then he did. Had she then taken brightenings to make a simple decision because of her long lifetime? Or was she what many of the elves were turning into…humans? It seemed that being in a city with a majority of humans turned the elves to be like them. Dzie wasn’t a mixture of the two, he was human in that aspect. He caught it off of his father, the humans don’t have as long to live so things seem to be hurried for them. Elves on the other hand…like his mother when she was alive could take forever to decide what should be done. He remembered only a little of her but he knew that this was one of her traits, one of the things that caused fights between his parents. They were never serious fights, that he could remember anyway…

Ah how time can go by when you are in thought…only not enough time. Dzie was starting to slow in pace before Viskyia stopped. He was winded and was about to stop and start walking at the same time she did.

”Hmm? Oh this” he touched his scar that he hated so much. ”It was an acid burn, nothing was effected besides the side of my face”and my pride he thought silently. ”I’m fine to run, it’s just that this is sort of…well it’s my first day” he smiled. He was glad someone was upfront about his injury instead of beating around the bush. He wondered if she had known had he got it, or if she were new to the city since last winter. Then he wondered if anyone still remembered his part of the story...his insignificant part as far as the public knew.

[Viskyia Crow]

He was smart. She noticed it right off the bat. He didn’t try to push himself past his limit, but seemed to know where that limit was and when he reached it, he began to slow. He also didn’t fill silence with endless random noise like some people did. They were here to work, and as she set off in another sprint, she decided she would enjoy his companionship.

“I like your answer. Not many people would admit running away can be better than standing and fighting. I think it takes a whole different kind of courage to not stand down your enemies, but to turn, escape, and be able to fight another day.” She hoped she sounded brave. Everyone wanted to be able to be the best at things: the fastest runner, the strongest warrior, the smartest scholar. She was no exception. The problem was, there was very little she knew about in life. The only thing she could really do was cut gems and make beautiful things. Even her skills therein were still being honed, and there was far more to still learn than she’d ever probably even imagined.

Viskyia glanced over at him when he made the comment “I’m AM human.”

“That’s odd. You look like a Dzie to me.” She responded. “There are too many monsters in the world walking around in human and elven forms for my liking. What they are has nothing to do with what they look like. It’s nice to meet someone who doesn’t mind taking a run with a stranger, and taking a chance on giving them the benefit of the doubt, especially in this town. Nexus Prime seems a little rough at times. It seems to me a lot of people want to put too many labels on which they are. ‘I’m elven!’ or ‘I’m Human.’ Why can’t we just be a Dzie or a Viskyia? I want to let my name represent who and what I am, not the shape of my ears or the color of my skin. I shouldn’t have said you run like a human. Most people, no matter what race they are, don’t know how to run or even how to move. It has nothing to do with their blood. I recently met a half-orc that moved more gracefully than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“You need new boots.” She added the last thought as almost an afterthought. She wasn’t being critical, they just looked stiff and like they were going to hurt his feet after he ran a while. She glanced down at her softer elven made ankle-height boots. She wondered if it would be hard to find a pair like them around town, but the thought was interrupted by the stitch in her side and the burning in her lungs.

She pulled up huffing. They were close to the coliseum and she wondered how open he’d be to sprinting up and down the steps now that they were good and warmed up. “Would you tell me how you got burned?” She asked softly, curiosity getting the better of her.

[Dzie Towen]

He wasn’t the smartest that much was for sure, although he was working more with his mind then anything else. He was on his way to become an alchemist. Although it seemed some days he said stupid things and asked stupid questions but in the end, hopefully he could become what he wanted. Sometimes he wondered though if he really had what it took or if he were just wasting Negus’ time.

Dzie shrugged, he was glad that she liked his answer but what else was there for him to do? Say thanks? Not that wouldn’t do at all. The difference between the twos occupational hazards were vastly different as well. She could get cuts on her hands for the gems and what not but Dzie could literally blow himself up if he didn’t know what he was doing. What she created was beautiful and appealing to the eyes, Dzie mixed chemicals and such to create a product but more importantly then that to gain knowledge.

”The town has many faults” he paused for a second, long enough to make it seem as if he weren’t going to continue but he did. ”Many faults indeed. I myself haven’t seemed to much of these race relations that you speak of, besides to Vysstichi who attacked here not to long ago. The fault that I am talking about doesn’t lie within the citizens of the city but with it’s military. To afraid to do what is needed without orders. They would let the city be over run before they would act without clear instructions. On some things this is fine, but when people are dying, innocent people: Men, Women, and Children of all races and they surround the area and don’t enter immediately. They knew the enemy, and I believe they may have even known what was going to happen on the said darkening but they did nothing until it was to late. He was telling her much more then he told most people and he wasn’t sure why…

Unsure if she knew what he was talking about he offered no explanation, if she was from around here she would surely know the Bloodsnow Darkening…He wasn’t sure if the story had been posted throughout the empire or not. They probably covered it up… He looked down at his boots and seemed to come out of his little trance of thought. ”Well so I do” he laughed keep pace with her the best that he could.

He felt like giving up, going home and laying in bed but he knew that he wouldn’t accomplish anything this way. He had to win the battle of the mind before he’d be able to make many improvements. Thus far it was Mind 0 Body 1, hopefully the mind would stay with the same ranking. He coughed again as they slowed down.

For a moment he didn’t respond walking a little slower then he should have been as he talked. He looked ahead almost sternly looking over once in a while to make sure that he didn’t put his running companion to sleep.

”It was last winter…wow, not that long ago at all. I was in what would later be known as the Bloodsnow Massacre. A band of Meephans…at least that’s what I’ve heard them referred to as. They took over the City Hall here in Nexus, I tried to help a man. Tried. He died in the end, nothing that I could have saved him perhaps. Maybe if someone else had went to help the dying man he would still be alive today…It was a necromancer that did this to me, I was running away from them and they must have cast some acid spell at me. It didn’t hit be straight on or I’d be dead, it hit a railing or something, I can’t remember it all happened so fast but then it splattered onto me…I killed them…I saved her, Finnbarr that is.” Surely she knew Finnbarr De’ Ryes Senior Aedile of Nexus Prime. ”That’s how it happened” There was more to the story that much was obvious, but he hadn’t shared it with anyone. Even the closest people in his life didn’t know the things that he had done that darkening…he was silent after the story looking for some sort of response.

”What about you? What’s your life story?” he asked looking over at Viskyia.

[Viskyia Crow]

She almost stopped. “The Vysstichi attacked here and the military didn’t react until it was too late?” She walked on, shaking out her arms and building her strength through pushing herself to run with this man. The term he used was ominous ‘Bloodsnow Massacre’. “I didn’t know there were any Vysstichi around here. I thought they were all over by Vortex.” She trembled a little, and felt the world close in around her like she’d trap one of her stones in a small vice. She couldn’t breathe in an instant. She hated the feeling and knew she paled a bit, which was no small feet being that her skin was almost colorless as it was. Memories threatened to flood her mind. She pushed them back, but not before she caught glimpses of the robe figures standing with her father, laughing with him. Her body remembered the emptiness of the aftereffects of the rituals. She bit her lip and looked at him, forcing herself to speak.

“I’ve never heard of the Bloodsnow Massacre, but I’m not from around here. I’ve only been here a few months. I had no idea this city isn’t safe.” She shook her head. Nowhere was safe. Nexus Prime was just like anywhere else. It was subject to situations that was beyond its control. She turned and looked at Dzie. “I can’t imagine what that was like… facing a necromancer and saving someone’s life.” She knew exactly what facing a necromancer was like. She lived with one all her life. She couldn’t tell him this though. She couldn’t speak without having to answer difficult questions she just wasn’t ready to answer or admit that she knew the answers to. “I hope you wear your scars proudly. And I hope the person you saved treasures your gift of life to her.” She had no idea who Finnbarr was. In fact, she really had no idea what an Aedile was either, if he’d have mentioned Finnbarr’s title. Viskyia was painfully ignorant on politics in general and government specifically. The way he spoke her name indicated that Finnbarr was someone Viskyia ought to know. “Do you know her really well? Finnbarr I mean?” She hoped they were friends.

What she really wanted to ask him was who the Necromancer was. She didn’t ask him though. It was obvious the man got away. If Dzie would have cut something like that down, he would speak of it when telling the story. Dzie didn’t speak of it. So she knew the man walked free. They ran on, through two more walk, jog, sprint cycles.

He asked her a question. She didn’t really want to answer, but the response she gave him was standard. He probably wouldn’t ask her for any details. “I grew up on a small estate outside of Vortex with my grandmother. I traveled here to learn my craft. I haven’t been around much, and I didn’t realize how sheltered I was before I came here. I don’t know a whole lot about the world. That’s why I’m here. I’m trying to muddle through things and figure out what its all about.”

She paused at the bottom of the long flight of steps leading up into the coliseum. She waited for his answer, then turned, grinned at Dzie, and started a sprint straight up them.

[Dzie Towen]

”I’m sorry” Dzie said rubbing his brows, getting the sweat off as well as in frustration. Not with the half-human but with himself. ”I am confusing sometimes. Those are two different events, in my mind they sometime collide with one another. The Vystichi were one event, the bloodsnow was another. The bloodsnow was relating to when a group called Meephans came and attacked the city hall. They killed many people. Their purpose…to free one of there brothers as they called him from the jail or gaol or something. I’m not really sure what happened afterwards, but I know that as I made it threw the building, fighting, the guards were just then coming in. That is what I call to late. I made it from one side of the building, trying to help a man, fighting the evil, and I made it threw just as they were entering…”

“The other event has to do with the Vysstichi, they were pirates here to loot and plunder no doubt…”(OOC: As this isn’t finished yet I can’t elaborate sorry)

”Proudly?” he asked touched his hard face. How could someone wear this hideousness proudly? He had never been the best looking in town but now…he got looks from everyone. He made some people sick just by the appearance of his face. He wasn’t proud of it no, but there was also something that kept him from seeking rid of it. The memories perhaps…he never wanted to forget. ”The reason for it is dead now…it just a scar like anything else…meaningless.” Dzie wasn’t sure where this came from…was he afraid someone might sense the emotional attachment to his scar

”Yes, I know Finnbarr really well actually” it was the truth. They even lived together now, they were lovers but how could he tell her this. They weren’t officially dating as she was still married to her husband who is assumed dead. He stayed quite about this though.

”Sheltered in Vortex?” he asked. He sounded rude although he didn’t mean to be. ”Sorry if I sound rude…but I was there for a few brightening and was met with a horde of Orc. Violent Orcs, lots of Orcs…but I was lucky” he nodded to himself. He was surprised how fast the conversation went as they made their way walking, jogging and sprinting.

Then she was off, Dzie trying his best to keep up behind her. He sprinted as fast as he could up the stairs while still being careful not to catch the edge of the stairs and fall.

[Viskyia Crow]

As she sprinted up the stairs, she thought about what Dzie had said. The bloodsnow and the pirate attack disturbed her. She thought Nexus Prime would be safe because of the sheer amount of people here. She glanced over at the other young half-elf sticking by her side. He was in good shape though he was panting as hard as she was as the reached the top. She paused to catch her breath, panting equally as hard.

“Nothing in the past is meaningless. Everything has meaning. If we don’t learn from what we’ve been through and cherish it as a battle won or lost, there is a sort of throwing away of the past that is wrong in some deep profound way.” She said softly. She wasn’t certain Dzie could hear her, but she felt compelled to speak nonetheless.

She was glad he knew Finnbarr and the softness in his voice when he spoke her name told Viskyia more than she had asked. There were so many people in Nexus Prime. She wondered if she’d ever seen the woman, or would run across her in the future. She hoped so. It’d taken her quite a while to even remotely begin to speak to anyone here. It would take her even longer to begin to trust them. However… there was something about this half-elf that removed a great many of her usual precautions.

“I guess sheltered in Vortex is the wrong way to put it. You wear your scars on the outside. Some of us wear them on the inside or in our eyes.” She left it at that, but in the whole of it really said more than she was meaning to say. As she caught her breath and started sprinting back down the stairs, she asked him about his future.

“So what about you? What are you planning on doing in the future? I told you I was going to be a jeweler. What are you thinking of doing to pass the time of your life away?” She coughed a little and ran a bit more slower at this sprint. She was growing tired.

[Dzie Towen]

Dzie had shrugged off the advice, it had meant something to him he just didn’t want anyone to know. He felt that maybe people would perceive him as weak if they knew his scar was personal to him…that he wanted to keep it. It was all his fighting that gave Dzie the little bit of athleticism that he had. He hadn’t done much else since his father had died or so it seemed.

He turned and followed her trying to make it down the stairs at a quick pace and although Viskyia had slowed Dzie still couldn’t stay at her pace. He was gasping for air but he was still going, trying his damndest to make it to the bottom of the stairs. Then he would break, he had to. His legs were killing him, he wouldn’t even be able to walk it off when he was done. He was fighting himself now, this battle was much harder then any of the other ones that he had been in but he was determined to see it to an end.

At the same time Dzie thought he was going to collapse he was at the bottom of the stairs, he was silent on the way down incapable of being able to speak as he was to winded. At the bottom of the stairs he fell back sitting at the bottom step his head between