#erik storn

[dcdreamblog]

related to the Hawks, the Furies are a similarly complicated tangle. I thought the first one was Wonder Woman's daughter but apparently she doesn't have a daughter and actually the first one was part of All-Star Squadron. My brain feels like melting whenever i think about it to hard. is this a reality rewrite thing (like those missing kids?) or am i crazy

So you're not going crazy. There is a REASON the idea that the second Fury was Wonder Woman's daughter has hung around for so long that has to do with the interpersonal issues around the woman's birth and childhood. This is one of those things I have been studying ahead of time knowing this ask was coming. Especially because both women are very deeply tied into my expertise. Also you should pretty much assume the answer to "is this a reality rewrite thing" is always yes (The universe changes when we're not looking, you won't remember how or why, the best possible plan is to not worry about it.)

Now, onto the first Fury so I can explain the second.

(A propaganda poster of the first Fury. She was popular pinup and nosecone art. For reasons) Helena Kosmatos was born in Athens, Greece in 1925. The first 16 years or so of her life are undocumented and assumed to be mostly moot until the Italian invasion and German occupation of the country in 1941. Her father was killed by Italian troops in an unknown incident and soon after her brother Michael began to collaborate with the occupying forces. Confronting her brother about this at the dinner table in front of their elderly mother, Mrs Kosmatos suffered a fatal heart attack from the news (her son had been keeping his collaboration a secret from their mother, which Helena didn't know at the time). Running from her brother onto the famous Areopagus a rock outcropping outside the city she unwittingly invoked the Furies of Greek myth and was possessed by Tisiphone.

This came with the benefit of granting her superhuman abilities, mostly strength and speed. But, as she learned when her brother confronted her it also allowed Tisiphone to take control of her body during moments of intense stress and anger transforming her into he mythological fury who slew her brother in cold blood.

Eventually discovered by Johnny Quick on an international assignment and taken to live with an aunt and uncle in Miami she was present when Axis Amerika attacked the Perisphere in April of 1942 where her powers were revealed at large. Taken into the newly formed Young All Stars she was instantly attracted to teammate Iron Munro with whom she shared an on again, off again flirtation. She also grew a close, sisterly bond with Joan Dale AKA Ms America who tried her best to take the troubled girl under her wing for a while. An important detail in your question would be when she met Queen Hippolyta, acting at that time under the identity of Wonder Woman. Helena and Hippolyta became VERY close in a short period of time, Helena coming to see the amazonian matriarch as a mother figure. When Hippolyta returned to Themyscira after the war Helena never truly got over the loss of forgave Hippolyta for the decision. Post war she returned to Greece, met a man, married and settled down until her husband was murdered at some point in the mid 70s by a Greek fascist in an attempt on Helena's life. Spending years stalking the man she caught up with him in England and one he was killed her fragile psyche was put in a state where she was discovered mostly catatonic and placed in an English nursing home. Which is where our second Fury enters this tale.

(The second Fury seen here speaking at an Infinity Inc press conference)

Soon after Helena's husband was killed, she gave birth to their child. Too dedicated to revenge to raise the child properly, Helena left her daughter, named Hippolyta after Helena's beloved mentor, with her old friend Joan Dale and her husband Admiral Derek Trevor. From which Hippolyta, nicknamed Lyta, took her surname after the pair adopted her when Helena failed to return for her daughter after 5 years. THIS is where the confusion comes from. The 1st Fury was very close to the WWII era Wonder Woman who treated her AS a daughter in many ways. And the 2nd Fury is named after said WWII era Wonder Woman due to that close relationship. To wrap up the story as quickly as possible, both women would struggle with intense mental and emotional traumas in life. Helena would eventually be discovered by the modern Wonder Woman and after a confrontation with Cheetah would take her to Themyscira where Helena and Hippolyta reunited after decades. With much effort and care Hippolyta was able to help her old protegee recover and officially adopted her as a second daughter alongside Diana. As far as I know Helena lives there still as a close confidant to Hippolyta and an official Amazon. Lyta would serve as the second Fury for a long stretch in Infinity Inc alongside many other heirs of the JSA, although she assumed she was the daughter of Ms America (the coincidence, or fate, of her choosing Fury as her codename is both staggering and heartbreaking). She would fall in love with Silver Scarab, the son of the Golden Age Hawks but the couple would tragically lose their first child soon after Hector himself was killed in the line of duty. Lyta would have a poor confrontation with her birth mother leading to the pair to sever basically all attempts at contact and while Lyta's adoptive mother did her best to be there for her despite her husband and Lyta's adoptive father passing away some years ago Lyta only became more and more despondent. She vanished from the public eye for a few years with the only update being the news that she had passed away. She, Hector and their son Daniel are all buried at Valhalla cemetery in New York where one can only hope they will be together in all the ways life kept them apart.

[somewherefornow]

NATASHA IRONS/VAPERLOCK & ERIKA STORN/AMAZING WOMAN in INFINITY INC. (2008) and SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN SPECIAL #2

[batgirldid]

DC's first egg superhero!!!!

This is Erika Storn who is my everything now and she's only in Infinity Inc Volume 2 whihc is a shitty comic but I don't care she wants to be a woman and she dies as a woman and I lover her always

From Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (2009) #2

[fancyfade]

well i read infinity inc (2007) 1-5 because I got the TPB for cheap at half price and finally decided to read it.

It was surprisingly good. I liked the weird characters and the aftermath of the everyman project kids. I feel like 52 was kind of harsh on them, like oh they're irresponsible they're not real heroes, etc... they're kind of treated like cowards for not being willing to go after 'killing the embodiment of death' black adam when he's trouncing every single other hero around...

we do see how some of the characters are handling the aftermath of losing their powers and having been lex luthor's genetically modified superteam in the first place. lots of them are in therapy and the writer has someone go off on about how this generation has so much therapy but also so many psychological problems... so it looks like the author has a bone-to-pick with therapy... but also natasha's shrink actually helps her so ¯_(ツ)_/¯

The focal characters are Erik/Erika (previously Fury v3, had powers to slice stuff with their hands), gerome (previously nuklon v2, had.... generic strong powers?), and natasha irons (previously steel, previously in infinity inc starlight). they all thought they lost their powers when Luthor's machinations were revealed in the end of 52* but now are getting new manifestations of powers. The writer has it framed like their powers are reflections of whatever psychological thing is bothering them. Like Natasha is afraid of being abandoned because well... if u read the start of Steel she's in a big house with her parents and grandparents and siblings... in Superman comics in president lex era she's living with steel... haven't read all of the steel comics but I'm guessing that the rest of her family dies. Erik's thing is being able to transform into Erika, who is a lot more confident than he is when he's Erik but I'm not sure if she has any powers besides that. I think they're trying to write Erik as a trans woman or gender queer, but it's also handled kind of weirdly. Erik when in their AGAB form is very stuttery and self conscious. And Gerome is *sigh* "narcissistic" so he can manifest a duplicate of himself. who often says stuff to him that I think is challenging his POV slightly? IDK.

The Erik and Gerome stuff seems kind of from nowhere b/c they barely had personalities in 52 (the previous comic they appeared in). I can't remember if Erik said anything notable as Fury, and Gerome mostly defended that he was being legacy Nuklon not because he looked up to him but because he didn't want to repeat his mistakes or something.

I do like reading the characters interacting, they're very fun.

*and like... John Henry Irons made it sound like their powers were going to kill them? IDK if they just dropped that plot point or if it will come up again

[dc-megatournament]

DC Ladies Only Tournament

Round 1

Circe's feats:

Animal Control

Animation

Astral Projection

Blast Power

Cosmic Awareness

Divine Powers

Earth Manipulation

Emotion Control

Energy Absorption

Energy Based Constructs

Energy Manipulation

Energy Shield

Escape Artist

Fire Control

Flight

Force Field

Genetic Manipulation

Healing

Holographic Projection

Hypnosis

Ice Control

Illusion Casting

Immortal

Intellect

Invisibility

Leadership

Levitation

Light Projection

Longevity

Magic

Necromancy

Plant Control

Possession

Power Item

Precognition

Probability Manipulation

Psionic

Psychic

Reality Manpulation

Sense Death

Shape Shifter

Siphon Abilities

Sonic Scream

Soul Absorption

Stamina

Super Speed

Super Strength

Telekinesis

Telepathy

Teleport

Time Manipulation

Unarmed Combat

Voice-induced Manipulation

Water Control

Weather Control

Wind Bursts

Erika's feats:

Gender Transformation

Claws

Agility

Super Strength

Hand to hand combat

[roy-dcm2]

A Tribute to Amazing Woman

A world without trans people never existed. They were always there, we just never noticed them.

Amazing Woman, formerly known as Fury

After the mega crossover even Infinite Crisis in DC Comics back in 2006, the main DC Trinity took a break for one year, and the comics company decided to follow the lives of more ordinary heroes. Among them was an ill-fated team calling themselves Infinity Inc.

While I was re-reading 52 a few weeks back, when I got my curiosity piqued and decided that I wanted to know whatever happened to Infinity Inc, in the aftermath of 52.

Among the original roster of Infinity Inc was a shadow of a character called Erik Storn, codenamed Fury. He was the violent guy of a group. Wanna be wolverine with hands that turn into claws.

In the aftermath of 52, several of the Infinity Inc roster began manifesting new powers and dealing with mental health issues. And we see Erik stumbling through figuring out his gender identity, which is manifesting as an almost separate personality, with a separate gender identity and the power to BECOME a different biological gender.

It's nowhere near perfect as representation. None of the members of Infinity Inc were cut out to be heroes in the long term. But I like it as a time capsule. A young person questioning their identity, and not having the language to express what they're feeling. They're so deep in denial that being gender-fluid is a thought that can't enter their mind.

Erik Storn was a unconfident, stuttering want-to-be everyman. Their gender-flipped side was a confident, invulnerable hero, that why she was known as Amazing Woman.

But, they just couldn't hold themselves together.

Erik Storn died before the Flashpoint. The pressure of being a hero proved too much for them. They died as part of one last heroic mission. Erik / Erika were part of a deep cover operation to prevent a war between planets. Sadly, they were executed for knowing too much.

Maybe if they had lived they would have reconciled their two halves, or fully transitions into being Erika all the time. Their story is a footnote in the DCU, but at least now, someone had read it.

[zal-cryptid]

For the DC project: Erik/a Storn, aka Fury, aka Amazing Woman

This is such a cool obscure DC character you sent me!

DC characters - Amazing Woman

I don't know know what his pronouns or gender is, but he's from the '00s, so I don't think he knows either.

I'm still gonna put this in my #dclgbtq tag.

[girlsofcomics]

Amazing Woman

-Real name: Erik Storn/ Erika Strong

-A.k.a.: Erika, Fury, Eternity 7734

-Publisher: DC Comics

-Type: Meta-human

-Afilliations: Everyman Project, Infinity Inc., The Martyr Militia

-Powers: Agility, claws, stamina, super strength, unarmed combat.

[snapiphany]

52: Week 40

[lady-loki-laufeyson]

Comic Heroines Moodboards - Amazing Woman

     “The [outfit] design could have been a bit more ballsy.”

[chaosrisingverse]

CIARAN HUDSON, nineteen

ALIAS | Antiguard

FAMILY | James Hudson aka Guardian (father), Heather McNeil aka Vindicator (mother), (siblings tba)

ENDGAME SHIP | Erik Storn

ORIENTATION | bisexual, cis man

POWERS / ABILITIES / EQUIPMENT

POWERS | Computer Interfacing, Concussive Electromagnetic Beam Generation, Electromagnetism Dispersal Capabilities, Force-Field Generation, Geokinesis, Graviton Beam, Gravity Propulsion, Heat Manipulation, Hydrokinesis, Superhuman Durability, Supersonic Flight (via Antiguard suit)

ABILITIES | Engineering, Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced)

EQUIPMENT | Antiguard battle-suit

FACECLAIM | Jayden Geerlinks

PINTEREST | Ciaran

[lockewrites]

The Perfect Storm

The story so far...

Telyra ventures to Solstheim intending to put an end to Miraak’s plans after being attacked by cultists, calling her the False Dragonborn. Once there, she finds it difficult to view Miraak as the villain he’s portrayed as, and she feels drawn to the only being alive that understands life as dovahkiin.

Universe: The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Pairing: Miraak x F!Dragonborn Rating: Mature Chapter Count: 12/? Current Word Count: 29,962 AO3 & FF.net

1. The First: Telyra, the Last Dragonborn, meets Miraak, the First. It’s brief, but it’s the start of a journey more complicated than she ever expected. After leaving Miraak’s temple, she travels back to the Skaal village with Frea who shares her knowledge of Miraak.

2. A Warning: Telyra learns the first word of the Bend Will Shout and receives a warning from Miraak.

3. Down His Path: Telyra learns the second Word to Bend Will and discovers Mora may be more conniving than she thought.

4. Shattered: Telyra and Miraak battle on Solstheim, and the result surprises them both.

5. Just Listen: Telyra dares to have a conversation with Miraak, one Erik isn’t fond of.

6. Skirting the Truth: Telyra returns from Apocrypha just in time to find Storn in Mora’s slimy clutches.

7. Remnants of Slander: Telyra meets Miraak in Apocrypha with the intention of beginning to plan for his escape; instead, she’s given a history lesson.

8. A Simpler Time: After her trip to Apocrypha, Telyra and Erik return to the Retching Netch and delve into her memories before she was the Dragonborn.

9. Peeling Back a Layer: After her trip to Apocrypha, Telyra and Erik return to the Retching Netch and delve into her memories before she was the Dragonborn.

10. Victims of Gravity: Telyra begins feeling constricted in Apocrypha and suggests they meet somewhere outside on Solstheim.

11. Hesitation: Erik agrees to meet with Telyra and Miraak for quality bonding, and Miraak gifts them the full story of his rebellion.

12. Closing a Chapter: Telyra and Erik hear a disturbance in the Jailor’s tomb and find the aftermath of a violent clash.

[somewherefornow]

ERIK(A) STORN in SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN SPECIAL #2 (2009)

[goalhofer]

2020 Olympics Norway Roster

Athletics

Karsten Warholm (Ulsteinvik)

Filip Ingebrigtsen (Sandnes)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Sandnes)

Håvard Haukenes (Bergen)

Sondre Guttormsen (Ski)

Narve Gilje-Nordås (Voll)

Sondre Norstad-Moen (Trondheim)

Ola Isene II (Lier)

Eivind Henriksen (Oslo)

Martin Roe (Bergen)

Amalie Iuel (Bærum)

Karoline Bjerkeli-Grøvdal (Ålesund)

Hedda Hynne (Skien)

Line Kloster (Asker)

Lene Retzius (Ringsaker)

Diving

Anne Tuxen (Stavanger)

Golf

Viktor Hovland (Stillwater, Oklahoma)

Kristian Krogh-Johannessen (Drammen)

Tonje Frydenberg-Daffinrud (Østerås)

Gymnastics

Sofus Heggemsnes (Oslo)

Julie Erichsen (Bergen)

Handball

Sander Sagosen (Stavanger)

Bjarte Myrhol (Oslo)

Petter Øverby (Kongsvinger)

Kristian Sæverås (Oslo)

Kent Tønnesen (Lørenskog)

Magnus Jøndal (Tomter)

Kristian Bjørnsen (Stavanger)

Magnus Gullerud (Kongsvinger)

Christian O’Sullivan (Oslo)

Harald Reinkind (Tønsberg)

Torbjørn Sitterup-Bergerud (Drammen)

Kevin Maagerø-Gulliksen (Oslo)

Magnus Rød (Oslo)

Magnus Fredriksen (Vestfossen)

Simen Holand-Pettersen (Tønsberg)

Henny Reistad (Oslo)

Veronica Egebakken-Kristiansen (Drammen)

Marit Malm-Frafjord (Tromsø)

Stine Skogrand (Bergen)

Nora Mørk (Oslo)

Stine Bredal-Oftedal (Oslo)

Silje Solberg (Bærum)

Kari Brattset-Dale (Fredrikstad)

Vilde Mortensen-Ingstad (Oslo)

Katrine Lunde (Kristianstad)

Marit Røsberg-Jacobsen (Narvik)

Camilla Herrem (Sola)

Sanna Solberg-Isaksen (Bærum)

Kristine Breistøl (Oslo)

Marta Tomac (Trondheim)

Vilde Ingeborg-Johansen (Tønsberg)

Rowing

Torjus Trømborg (Oslo)

Petter Solberg-Svingen (Oslo)

Trond Bjercke (Oslo)

Andreas Dugstad-Sørskaar (Oslo)

Marius Ahlsand (Oslo)

Jonathan Wang-Norderud (Oslo)

Kjetil Borch (Tønsberg)

Kristoffer Brun (Bergen)

Are Weierholt-Strandli (Stavanger)

Martin Helseth (Ålesund)

Jan Stabe-Helvig (Oslo)

Erik Solbakken (Fredrikstad)

Olaf Tufte (Tønsberg)

Swimming

Henrik Christiansen (Skjetten)

Tomoe Zenimoto-Hvas (Bærum)

André Klippenberg-Grindheim (Haugesund)

Ingeborg Vassbakk-Løyning (Bærum)

Taekwondo

Richard Ordemann (Nannestad)

Canoeing

Lars Ullvang (Haugesund)

Cycling

Tobias Svendsen-Foss (Vingrom)

Markus Hoelgaard (Stavanger)

Tobias Halland-Johannessen (Drøbak)

Erik Hægstad (Drammen)

Andreas Leknessund (Tromsø)

Tore Navrestad (Oslo)

Katrine Aalerud (Vestby)

Stine Andersen-Borgli (Sandnes)

Anita Stenberg (Drammen)

Anne Tuxen (Stavanger)

Equestrian

Geir Gulliksen (Lier)

Sailing

Endre Funnemark (Oslo)

Herman Tomasgaard (Lørenskog)

Anders Østre-Pedersen (Lørenskog)

Nicholas Fadler-Martinsen (Bergen)

Linn Høst (Oslo)

Helene Næss (Tønsberg)

Marie Rønningen (Bærum)

Martine Steller-Mortensen (Kristiansand)

Shooting

Jon-Hermann Hegg (Borgen)

Henrik Larsen (Fredrikstad)

Erik Watndal (Oslo)

Jeannette Hegg-Duestad (Tønsberg)

Jenny Stene (Lørenskog)

Triathlon

Kristian Blummenfelt (Bergen)

Gustav Iden (Bergen)

Casper Stornes (Askøy)

Lotte Miller (Stavanger)

Volleyball

Anders Berntsen-Mol (Stord)

Christian Sandlie-Sørum (Rælingen)

[transsupers]

Trans super-per-day #34: Amazing Woman!  Also known as Amazing Man.  Erik Storn was a man from Gary, Indiana who participated in Lex Luthor's everyman project, which gave him claws which could cut almost anything.  He was part of Infinity, Inc. as their team member Fury.  Following the disbanding of the team, Erik developed a secondary power, to change sex.  This power was one Erik could not control.  The female form (given the name Erika) seemed to manifest different personality traits, as well.

 Erik later is killed in a fire set by Codename: Assassin.

[lockewrites]

Skirting the Truth

The Perfect Storm: Chapter 6

LDB x Miraak || SFW || 1552 words AO3 & FF

Telyra returns from Apocrypha just in time to find Storn in Mora’s slimy clutches.

She shoved through the front door and into the bitter cold of the Skaal village. Many were gathered around the center, watching helplessly as Mora held Storn captive in his tentacles’ grasp and aimed one at the shaman’s head. The sound of the wood smashing against the house startled the villagers and drew Mora’s attention. 

Telyra saw his grip slacken just slightly, and with a deep breath, she Shouted, “WULD!” Her body flew forward, toes barely grazing the top of the snow, and she wrapped her arms around Storn, pulling him from Mora’s tendrils and falling in a pile several feet away.

“Fool!” Mora fumed. 

“What are you doing?” Frea shouted as she ran toward them.

Erik also rushed at them, helping Storn up while holding a hand out to Frea, silently requesting her silence.

The Dragonborn pushed herself to her feet and turned toward the mass of eyes and tentacles. “Leave!” she ordered. “The deal’s off.” 

“Without this knowledge, I will not gift you the final Word!” he hissed. His voice softened in his next words, returning to the lulling tone he seemed to favor. “Will you so easily allow an entire island to fall victim to Miraak simply to save the secrets of a minuscule village?”

The eyes of every village bored into her, she could feel it, the village as a whole holding its breath, waiting for her next words. 

“I will save Solstheim without your ‘help,’” Telyra declared. 

He chuckled, low and dangerous. “You have no hope of doing so,” he replied. “And when you realize that, you will return to me, and my aid will be at a much greater cost.”

“We’ll see.”

Again, his laugh rumbled, echoing as his physical embodiment disappeared.

Erik moved to stand beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Is everything… as expected?”

She nodded and smiled. Her attention turned to Storn who watched her with cautious curiosity. “I’m sorry for not being honest with you,” she said, her cheeks warming. “I needed to be sure Mora wouldn’t suspect anything.”

“I trust you have a plan, Dragonborn,” Storn said. “I am unsure how else to acquire the remaining Word of Power without Herma-Mora.”

“I have it,” she said, leaving out that she didn’t, in fact, need it. “While Mora was distracted, I was able to reach parts of Apocrypha he normally kept hidden.”

“You used my father as bait?” Frea asked, standing beside Storn.

“I’m so sorry,” Telyra repeated. “I know it was a risk, but I’m not sure the result would’ve been different if I failed or went along with what Mora wanted.”

Frea crossed her arms and furrowed her brow. “I do not approve of such methods.”

Storn placed an arm on his daughter’s. “Frea, calm yourself. I believe the Dragonborn is right. Herma-Mora had no intention of allowing me to live after claiming our knowledge for his own." He turned to Telyra. "What is your next step?"

She bit her lip, regretting not having a lie in place. 

Erik put an arm around her. "That's part of what we need to figure out," he replied for her. "Even with the third Word, Miraak is dangerous."

Storn nodded. "That is true. We are here for any counsel you may require," he said.

"Thank you." She nodded to Storn before glancing at Erik and smiling as he removed his arm.

Frea gave a short nod as well. "I will still accompany you to anywhere you request. You need only ask." She turned to her father. "We will need to resume our ward. I do not believe Mora will simply accept the denial of our secrets."

"Yes," he said. "We will prepare the ritual once more. In the meantime, do you need anything more from us, Dragonborn?"

Telyra thought a moment. "I'd like to return to Apocrypha and see what else I can learn." She held up a hand as Frea opened her mouth to speak. "I know it's dangerous, but as Erik said, I need to be better prepared before going after Miraak."

Frea frowned as she replied, "I am unsure how we would be able to assist in that."

"Is it possible," Telyra began, "to take the magic from the ritual and, I don't know, somehow use that to hide me from Mora while in Apocrypha?"

Storn held his chin in thought, his lips pressed together in a thin line.

"I don't think Mora would take you as bait a second time," she said, filling the uncomfortable silence.

He let out the quietest of sighs before speaking to Frea. "Bring me the amulet from my chest."

"Father," she replied, her eyebrows shooting up toward her hairline. "Are you sure of this?"

"Please, do as I ask."

She nodded before heading toward Storn's home.

"Forgive her cautious nature," he said. "She holds our traditions and knowledge as tightly as myself. To give such things freely is difficult."

Telyra's stomach flipped, and her cheeks burned even in the cold. "I understand," she replied, trying to ignore feeling as though she were abusing their generosity.

Erik reached out and gave her shoulder a light squeeze, apparently sensing her unease.

Frea returned soon after, delicately carrying an ornate jewelry box. She handed it to Storn, still appearing apprehensive.

He opened it and removed the necklace inside, holding it out toward Telyra. "This amulet has been with our tribe for generations," he explained. "Never before has its use been allowed by an outsider. The magic within is near as powerful as the ritual we use for protection."

Eyes wide, Telyra accepted it, carefully pulling it over her head and tucking it under her robes.

"I believe it will serve you well," he continued. "May it keep you from Mora's gaze."

"I can't thank you enough for this," she muttered, her voice a near-whisper. "I swear I'll return this once Miraak is taken care of." She held her hand out, solidifying her promise with a handshake.

"Thank you, Dragonborn," Storn said. "Where do your plans take you now?"

"I think to the tavern," she replied with a smile. "I may not have been gone long here, but that time in Apocrypha felt like hours."

He nodded. "Understood. May the All-Maker watch over you and your companion as you continue on your quest to defeat Miraak."

She smiled again. "And I hope your All-Maker keeps you safe as well."

The journey back to Raven Rock was quick and quiet, perfect for stewing in the thoughts Telyra found bouncing around her mind. With the Skaal amulet, speaking with Miraak should be safe… relatively. And she wondered when she should return; though the idea of simply appearing whenever felt rude. She snorted to herself as they entered the tavern.

The two sat at their usual table which was strangely almost always empty when they arrived.

"So," Erik began just as the server walked away, "what happened?"

"I showed up and gave him my offer," she said with a shrug. 

"And he just took it?"

Telyra nodded then tilted her head. "Well, he was suspicious at first," she explained. "But he seemed to believe me. He gave the last Word of that Shout Mora promised as a sign of good faith."

His eyebrows shot upward. "I thought you were lying about having it," he said. "He really just gave it to you?"

She nodded before her eyes widened, the weight of the gesture finally settling in her stomach. "He did," she muttered.

"Wow, that's… something."

The server brought their food and drinks, giving a brief, "Here you go," before heading to the next table.

Erik was quick to dig in, but Telyra remained still, her hands resting in her lap as she stared at her drink without really seeing it. Her plate moved closer to her, and she looked up to see Erik pushing it with his fork.

"You all right?" he asked.

She blinked. "Yeah. Yes." Picking up her fork, she stabbed one of the roasted ash yams and brought it to her mouth. "I guess it's just… I don't know," she spoke between bites. "What have I gotten myself into?"

With a snort, Erik swallowed his bite. "You've made this so much more complicated for yourself," he remarked, his smile a contrast to his words. "But I understand--well, sort of." He ate another forkful before continuing. "Someone with more sense would tell you to take advantage of the situation. You've obviously earned his trust. Using that, you have the advantage of surprise. You almost beat him once, that could be enough to end this for good."

Telyra stared at him, even as his eyes remained on his food and his words were spoken as if they were a mere comment on the quality of his meat. 

He finally looked up at her and, upon seeing her expression, held up his free hand. "But," he dragged out, "I know better than to think I have enough sense to tell you that." He pointed at her with his fork holding a chunk of steak. "And I know that, even if I did, you wouldn't listen."

Telyra sighed and took a bite of her food.

"I'm only teasing," he said. "I get it. This is what you feel you need to do."

She swallowed and smiled at him. "It is."