To Cull a Cetus (Revolution + Shizin)

They were looking for… music? Rev raised an eyebrow and pulled a face, her tusks making it look more like a snarl than the confusion it actually was. “For music? The game soundtrack?” She would have just turned up the BGM settings herself if that was what she was after. But maybe they meant new tracks they hadn’t heard before? That might explain wandering off into dangerous areas when you weren’t prepared for it. But they were from all appearances completely defenseless. Which was a stupid choice in a game that involved being attacked by monsters and beasts.

When they continued, and flushed very prettily Rev’s eyebrow climbed up again, this time smiling wickedly to make the elf flush a little deeper. Easy to tease, which was a weakness of hers. But then they asked her if she had heard it, the music they had been looking for. And she paused, her hand on her quiver where the last of her arrows were stowed away neatly. And thought back. She had been so focused on her hunting she hadn’t noticed. She kept the BGM off when she was stalking prey and trophies alike. Wanting to be able to focus solely on the sounds that were cues on them moving.

And then she remembered. There had been a song. Someone singing a melody that had lit her bones up and made her ready for battle even as she had crashed through debris and detritus after the serpent. She snapped the fingers of her unarmored hand and pointed at the elf on the rocks before grinning.

“That was you then? Not shabby. Not shabby at all. Got a pretty song bird voice that made me wanna kick that thing’s arse before I was even on it.” She laughed, gold tipped tusks catching the light and making her blue eyes sparkle. “Bloody well done.”

“For music? The game soundtrack?” Shizin stared uncomprehendingly at the orc for a moment before realizing what was meant. There was some music that played in the game after all, but like many players in order to hear the actual sounds of the game Shizin turned it off. Shizin preferred the more natural setting that could be achieved without it and thus had never turned it back on. The elf started to correct the orc, but just as quickly as the words had begun to form in the mind Shizin's rescuer caught on to what was really meant.

Those words which were so smoothly and easily given brought yet another flush to Shizin's cheeks, proving that the elf was indeed easy to bring such color to. Embarrassment made Shizin lower lavender eyes, ducking to hide behind a fall of dark blue hair even as the elf made way slowly from the perch which had been so hard won. "You are too kind."

Once Shizin made it to the bottom of the rocks the elf met the orc's eyes, peering into blue orbs with interest. It was rare to meet someone like this individual. Someone who was not stymied by the elf's proclivity towards silence. Though, they had in fact only just met. "I am Shizin." The elf bowed at the introduction, giving a soft shy smile at the words.

She couldn’t help herself as the elf in front of her flushed. She grinned, one brow cocking up and sharp fangs flashing before reciprocating. “Revolution. It’s a bit of a mouthful so most call me Rev.” She winked at them before leaning over with a grunt of effort to haul the dead cetus up over one well-muscled shoulder. Its many coils lay in the water, and while there was a good chance she’d end up damaging the hide before she could get it back to civilization there wasn’t much choice if she wanted her reward.

While she internally mourned the damage the cetus would take she realized that Shizin hadn’t done much more than stand around and be shy. As she looked him over she realized perhaps he needed more help than he was willing to admit out loud. Adjusting the weight of her burden she jerked her head towards the path she had trampled through to reach him.

“C’mon, least I can do is walk you back towards the town then.” She whistled for Mac, the white hound making his way down the rock at a slow but steady pace. He didn’t wander off the way he had on their way to this hunt, instead waiting on his mistress and Shizin to lead. While the elf debated he sat and wagged his tail, the length slapping into the water with each pass.

Rev’s brow climbed higher again and she shook her head at the summoned spirit. “Coulda used that to protect yourself, couldn’t you have?” She supposed Shizin was too scared to think of doing much more than calling for help. Still, if this was a game where a good chunk of time was spent slaying monsters she would have at least made an attempt to protect herself. But then again, she knew there were players that only crafted all day. Still, she snorted and shook her head before tipping her head towards the tail end of the cetus’s corpse.

“May as well take the back end then. Enough space between us and most of the scales should survive.”

Mac barked softly at her, pink eyes soft and mouth open so he could pant in the swamp’s humid air. She spared him a smile, her own eyes soft for just a breath before she blinked and looked back at Shizin. “C’mon, sooner started sooner done.”