City of Cresthall

He mentioned something about Bennett's magical aura. And yes, an escort would be just lovely. Ashley stands up and holds her hand out for Crispy to take.

Crispy gladly takes Ashley’s hand. Before they go up, she flings a couple of coins to the barkeep, paying for Ashley, and whomever else it covered, plus tip. She liked the way her hand felt, warm, with the perfect pressure. For a second Crispy was self conscious about her own hand, which was a bit more rough. Not knowing which room was hers, she let Ashley lead. Crispy’s heart was pounding in her throat.

Ashley led Crispy along. her hand was firm but not unpleasant to the touch. Through her hand she could feel the burden Crispy has been carrying for so long. She wanted to help ease that burden. But Ashley is also a little scared. She hadn't been in a relationship in a long while and Crispy was clearly much more experienced than her. She is a little worried she may not be able to keep pace with beautiful woman she was now leading. By the time they arrived she could feel her chest pounding.  Well, a little more shyly than intended Here we are, my room. 

Crispy looked around her room, noticing Ashley was a beautiful shade of red in her cheeks. She smiled inwardly, and made an attempt to make Ashley more comfortable. Swallowing her heart back down into her chest, the growing heat in her loins was rising fast, but didn't exactly know what Ashley wanted. Easy, Cora. Eassyyy. Be cool. Be smooth. I think she likes you, too.

“What a cute room! It’s nice, it’s tidy..great choice!” she said, smiling, looking around. “Well..I uh. I should..um..you probably want to..uh, get some sleep.”

She continued to look around the room, cursing herself for her sudden nervousness, she turned her face and it wrinkled in frustration. Hells, you IDIOT, Cora. She so hot, what the HELL are you doing!? Ok, hells, here goes.

”Hey, I really liked tonight, you’re really great to talk with. I..really like you. You're like..a beacon of light..in my life.” She winced at her own words. "Hells, that sounds bad, sorry..what i'm trying..to say is.." 

But she just stood there. And looked at Ashley, looked into her eyes, her beautiful hair, her beautiful face.

Thank you, habits from my service and occupation. I enjoyed talking with you tonight as well.  Ashley can sense something coming from Crispy but is unsure what exactly it is, inexperienced as she is. So um..*clears though* your the third person I've started something like this before. And the first to be a woman. How do we advance from here? She looks into Crispy's eyes with genuine curiosity.

The silly sudden jitters she was having turned into something else, now. Yearning. Crispy turned around and closed the door. She took off her jacket. She took off her sword holster. She walked up to Ashley, and she was praying to whatever demons in Hell were punishing her that she, for one, wasn't making Ashley feel uncomfortable, so, like many things in her life, she took a chance and ran with it. And she really ran with it.

"How about this." Crispy took her hands and cupped Ashley's cheeks. She looked into her eyes, and her lips, and slowly leaned in and kissed her.

As Crispy embraced her as no one else had, Ashley prayed and gave thanks to The Morninglord for bringing  her here and beginning so many things. Come on Ashley she thinks to herself Time to spread your wings a little.  Ashley wrapped her arms around Crispy and brought them closer.

(insert PG fade to blade scene here)

Nice <3 Kept it classy. Just one reason why she likes you.

It may be safe to assume that, in the morning, Ashley may be more experienced than she was the night prior.

Whatever happened that night would be left to imagination. =P Now for a little character development.

The dreams were always the same.

In the darkest part of night. The endless rolling fields stretching for eternity. In the distance, a huge city lit in the darkness - so far away yet still within reach. I'm not Crispy anymore, i'm Cora. And i'm only 8. I look up at the stars, I do not recognize their patterns. There's..astronomical formations in the sky, as if i'm not on Toril anymore. Where am I? I can never tell. I look down, and i'm just a weak girl, all stick and bones. 

That's when I feel it.

An evil I can't explain, yet I know it's there. I slowly turn and in the distance is the black silhouette of my dead father. He starts walking towards me. I can't see his features but I know it's him. He has his club with him. The one he always used to beat my mother and I. My heart pounds in my chest, it's about to explode. I'm overwhelmed by fear, by panic, a primal fear explodes out of me and I try and run away from him, towards the city. But as hard as I try, i'm weak, i'm so terribly weak and I run like i'm stuck in a tar pit. I run as best I can, but i'm not moving, and he's getting closer. I burst into tears, i'm afraid, i'm so afraid. 

Just as he is upon me I scream till my voice is hoarse as his club beats me into oblivion, my bones breaking, the pain electrifying, every nerve ending on fire. If there is a Hell, I experience it ten fold as he laughs and laughs.

"GAAAAA!" I return to the present. I jolt awake. I'm sweating as if I had a fever. I look around in a panic and the feral part of me struggles to retain control over the human side, trying it's best to resume command. I'm out of breath, i'm panting and my heart won't slow down. I see Ashley gently sleeping in the bed next to me, her body perfect and her scent all over me. I retain just enough control to throw myself off the bed, and land on the floor, the feral part of me wanting to scream and fight, trying to protect me. I cover my mouth as my innards want to exit my mouth, my muscles are tense and I flop on the ground to get away from Ashley so I won't hurt her in my primal state and I empty the contents of my stomach into the washbowl. My human side slowly returns, the nightmare always fresh in my mind, and I just lean against the wall, and slump to the floor and cry quietly the rest of the evening away.

Woken from a blissful dream, Ashley looks around the room. She finds her bed vacant of Crispy. She hears a gentle sobbing from somewhere in he room. when her eyes adjust to the dark she finds her new companion slumped on the floor crying. She slowly and quietly approaches.  Prepared for a confused Crispy to strike out, Ashley carefully wraps a blanket around they crying woman. Come on. Lets get back to sleep. She will try to whisper if Crispy doesn't panic. 

Crispy, her eyes red and swollen, feels the blanket around her and knows its Ashley. She had spent some time alone crying and was able to resume control of her senses. She reached up and hugged Ashley tight as if her light and warmth could protect her. She was ashamed, embarrassed, and the last thing she wanted was to wake her up because someone had a sleep disorder. “Im sorry. Im so sorry, I didnt mean to wake you. I should have told you, but I was just so wrapped up in just being with you tonight. Im ok. I’ll be ok.”

She takes a moment to get up, wash her face, and allow Ashley to take her back to bed, where Crispy hugged her very tightly, as if Ashley alone could keep the dreams away. She smelled good, and her warmth was welcome. 

“Im sorry..” she whispered..

Ashley holds Crispy tight for a long moment and releases her. She holds her face with her hands to position Crispy to look at her. Don't be sorry. I know your full of scars inside and out.Lets try to heal them together. Lightening her tone she continues And as your doctor i say you need a good nights sleep. I'll be right by your side if you need me. Ashley kisses Crispy on the forehead and lays her down on the bed before returning there herself.. 

Crispy gently awoke very early to find herself exactly where she wanted to be, tangled in Ashley in bed, who was sleeping peacefully.

She couldn't remember since her father's murder that she slept well, and much to Crispy's sadness, Ashley had experienced that last night. Crispy didn't move as not to wake her, she always woke up way too early, perhaps because of her curse, or because of her military training. Ashley would eventually be up soon, and Crispy had a morning routine she always did, so as silkily and smoothly as she could, slithered out of bed to let her sleep a bit more, and Crispy took care of business to get ready for the day. 

She tiptoed to the closest and put on a half shirt that said "DOST THOU EVEN HOIST", one of her favorite shirts, and a pair of shorts. She opened the door quietly and went to the lower level and walked around, stretching her arms and legs as she found a place to run, and she did so for a little while to get her heart rate up. She ran over to the blacksmith area, and knowing who she was, they let her borrow some of the iron ingots and use them as something heavy while she did a variety of upper body exercises that kept her arms and shoulders lean and mean. She found a place to do sit ups and pull ups. When she was done, she returned them and remembered how the Academy always taught her to "never skip leg day", and found a flight of tall stairs and used them till her legs were burning hotter than the afternoon sun and she was soaked with sweat.

She slowly walked back to their room to catch her breath and freshen up, eager to see Ashley again and begin the day. She opened the door, took a quick bath, slid back into bed, and kissed Ashley on the mouth.

(I'm assuming everyone went for a rest so I'm going to do long rest for you all.)

(And Bennett, you need to do a WIS save throw.)

((Shiiit)

4

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((Shiiit)

13

That feeling from before still lingers but not as strong as last time. It's morning and the tavern's staff is just doing a bit of cleaning while serving breakfast to the few people who stayed the night. You don't see the copper dragonborn anywhere in the tavern.

Ashley wakes sometime after Crispy would have returned from her morning workout. She slowly slides out of bed doing her best to let her companion sleep as long as possible. She will quietly wash and groom and redress. She will find a quiet place to do her morning prayers and head down to meet the rest of the group for breakfast. 

Hatt slept surprisingly well, given his agitated state of mind upon going to bed; he says a sincere prayer of gratitude and asks for safety of his party during the coming voyage.  He then heads up to the tavern's main room.  If he sees any of the party there, he joins them and orders breakfast.