ageofkarme

[ageofkarme]

who?: @xpolarisx where?: wildlands when?: troupe 3

Whenever there was a moment of downtime, Karme tried to write messages on paper to his friends and send them with his weaves, but there was no way of knowing if they even reached their destination. Kuno, Araceli, Torsten, Adrian… There were many sent already and more he wanted to send, but his pen hovered over the paper for this latest one. He didn't know the details of what Polaris had to do in Maferath, but him being abroad when the queendom started getting attacked was a good sign, right? Just because they've not seen each other since Progress Day didn't mean Polaris was in danger, right? Karme knew he was using his fear as an excuse to avoid sending a message, but he calmed himself by imagining Polaris placing a hand on his shoulder, reminding him to breathe. 'You can create far more complicated works in your sleep. Twenty-five words is nothing. Besides, do you think I'd let myself get captured?' he imagined the bard saying in his ear. It brought a smile to Karme's face, so he finally began writing:

I hope this finds you and that you’re safe. I’m trying to be brave and help those in danger. I want Thinking about Please I think I Miss you. I’ll find you somehow.

Besides the part at the end where he struggled to find the right words, Karme thought his message was sound, though it didn't cross his mind to address it properly before his weaves sent the piece of paper out of his hand. He could only hope it found its way to Polaris, but that was for the One Power to decide.

[ageofkarme]

who?: @shewolfaurea where?: haven when?: troupe 3

Karme knew his voice held no real weight. After all, he decided to lend his mind to Haven completely on his own against requests for aid from his house and the Tower, no less. Rather green in the field and a stranger to conflict, it's no surprise everyone else's concerns drowned out his own. "That's not the issue—" he tried again, but he wasn't the only one trying to grab Queen Aurea's attention. Housing, food shortages, security, the taken; the Kossith brought with them a slew of problems and everyone needed her to address each one. Karme couldn't imagine what an enormous burden this was for her even with help from others, however… "But that's not the issue—" Again, someone else in the group spoke over him before he could say his piece. Everything he wanted to say felt like an unliftable weight on his tongue, and Karme could feel himself get worked up the more his thoughts built up without release. Finally, he exploded. "None of that is the issue!" he screeches, his shrill tone cutting through everyone else talking but warranting looks that made him want to turtle into his robes. Still, he nervously kept talking. "It's the Kossith and the fact that we're still here. Pride won't save lives so … you should retreat, Your Highness. Defensive measures can mitigate the risk of further harm to your pack, but to what end? Abandon the Wildlands and save lives. Say the word and in a day or two I can build you a new city somewhere else in Lysara. Anywhere but here."

[ageofkarme]

[ageofkarme]

"Me? Nervous? That doesn't sound like me at all, I'm super chill about all things all the time always—" Karme took a deep breath before throwing a guilty grin Polaris' way. He didn't know why he was trying to kid the elvhen anyway. "You're gonna watch?" he questioned sheepishly, fidgeting with his hands before continuing, "Okay, I'm nervous. I know I'll likely be okay, but usually my job during Progress Day is to be neither seen nor heard. Now I'm taking center stage in front of the entire queendom? It's … a lot." Mostly because Karme felt like his reputation, his reputation, was on the line. "I guess I feel like if I can't do well during this, I can't do well on adventures. And I want to be able to have my own. If you'll be there though, then I'll do my best to put on a good show for you. But the win will be for me. I don't think I've wanted to win something so bed ever."

Karme did enjoy talking, which was apt because Polaris enjoyed being engaged. Listening and asking questions in turn, Karme was going on a great deal about skytrol-fueled vessels, which was, in fact, a subject that the dragon happened to know very little about. Still, he was beginning to know when Karme was deflecting. He'd circle back to the skytrol and the airship later. "I'm surprised you're not more nervous about the fight tonight, I have to admit, I was surprised to hear you'd signed up at all -" everyone knew those fights weren't real, they were a waste of time as far as the Baran was concerned, however, "some friends of mine have a booth, I'll be watching with them." Cheering Karme on went unsaid but he had confidence in the witch's ability to survive the match.

[ageofkarme]

The sensation pooling between his thighs was unlike anything Karme had experienced in his life, or he thought possible to experience in the first place. He never wanted it to end. He never wanted the sun to rise. But something else was rising within him just like when Polaris taught him how a kiss was supposed to feel. Except now, he didn't have clothes on to hide how hard he was. The deeper Polaris went, the more Karme leaked into his mouth. His entire body tensed with the effort it took to hold back and not run into that wall. Polaris' tongue felt too good, and Karme selfishly didn't want him to stop.

Then he felt it like a jolt, the sensation of a press against his hole. He liked it, but he clamped down the moment he felt movement. Karme tried to hold back, but no amount of tension would stop the steady release into Polaris' mouth. As if a slow wave washed over him, electrifying pleasure spread across his nerves while his body trembled. He wished he could've given some warning, but Karme was distracted by the ringing in his ears. Once his twitching cockhead had no more to leak, he took a breath and felt himself open for the finger inside of him.

Karme looked down and instinctively understood on a deeper level what Polaris meant when he said Mine. Between his legs was an elvhen man eating him raw in a way that made Karme question if he'd truly tasted anything before the lips that were currently sucking any hint of an intelligent thought right out of him. "Please more," he gasped, still hard and throbbing against Polaris' tongue.

Polaris was ravenous, but not in the way that devoured indiscriminately - this was indulgence, this was reverence, worship at a shrine of architecture. He wanted to consume him, to learn every taste, every texture, every way he could make Karme fall apart under his touch and his tongue. He wanted to hold his pleasure on his lips and let it stain his soul, a sacrament only he was worthy of taking.

Polaris could feel how Karme was already breaking apart, his body trembling like a bowstring pulled too tight, his hands buried in Polaris’ hair as though he were both bracing himself and grounding himself in the same breath. Polaris moved, bobbing just enough to engulf the other from crown to base - he sucked a little harder each time and Polaris drank in every sound, and every shake from the Olympian.

“You should see yourself,” Polaris murmured against heated skin, pressing a kiss just above where Karme pulsed against his tongue. “A ruined, and I’ve only just started.” He pressed his hands firmer against Karme's thighs, his grip possessive, savoring the heat and the way Karme’s body twitched under his hold. A trembling like a leaf in the wind, and Polaris was a storm. He let his tongue trace along every curve and ridge, slow and deliberate, as though memorizing the shape of him. Polaris wanted to keep him in his mouth forever, to prolong this pleasure until Karme was nothing but a pleading, breathless mess beneath him. He wanted to consume him, to know every piece of his body as intimately as he knew the songs that danced from his lips. Even as the dragon swelled and throbbed between his thighs.

Polaris pulled back just enough to watch, licked his lips, dragging the taste of him into his mouth, his own arousal a relentless ache, but he refused to give in yet. His fingers came to his lips, coated, then found Karme's hole as Polaris sank his mouth down around the witch's cock once again. Swallowing, pressing, testing, a digit through that muscular ring but just enough to twitch appropriately.

[ageofkarme]

Karme had to admit she did have a point. He knew himself to not be one so probably shouldn't go around tossing the word out so casually. What if he accidentally offended someone? "Sorry idiots! I'll be more mindful," he says, folding his hands together so that his apology could be sent out into the air. "It's like you can tell I'm hoping to make a big splash! I am and it's because of my tendency to jump right into things! Wouldn't it be so cool if pushed the bounds of innovation within the queendom to their extremes in one go?" Of course, Karme knew better than to make such a claim seriously and laughed it off almost immediately.

"No, that won't be happening, but thanks for believing in me even after I bumped into you. Unfortunately, the unveiling of my Brothers and Sisters will pale in comparison to the other Apprentices…" But the shadow of sadness that flashed across Karme's features disappeared almost as soon as it arrived, replaced by his beaming smile. "Well, there are reasons for it being my first, but if it's yours, you're not a local, right? There's so much to do on Progress Day, or so I'm told. You should focus on having fun! See some exhibits or eat some yummy food … I'm not even a fighter,r but I'm getting in the gladiator ring and it'll be so cool!" Being forced to stay inside during past Progress Days gave Karme a very idealistic point of view. It always sounded like the best day of the year. "It's a festival! You've been to festivals before, haven't you? What did you do during those?" The bruise forming on his ass was already forgotten.

Was this just how things were now? Every celebration she went to some drunken twink was going to fall on top of her and threaten her life and limb? Luckily, miraculously, she managed to recover her center of gravity against all odds and merely stumbled seven feet to her left instead of falling over outright. At first, when she heard the utterance of a singular owie she thought some small child had run into her. Juneau’s patience ran thin in an instant when she realized it was someone closer to her own age, however old she was. She was silent as he jabbered on and pulled himself up from the ground–if she was lucky he’d wear out her social battery before she even had to say a word. “Oh, now don’t call yourself an idiot, that’s insulting to idiots everywhere,” Juneau responded in a sardonic tone of voice, the flare of her temper not quite yet burnt out yet. “I’m sure there won’t be much progress to speak of by the time you’re done with things–do you always barrel straight into things?” He was still talking? Juneau nearly gawked at the unflappable spirit of whoever the hell this was. But if she’d learned one thing from Etienne, Julian, Deja, Zeliha, Prospero, Alessia and whoever else it was this: if someone was determined to speak with her, the only way out was suffering through. Or, if she got lucky like with the folks she considered friends, it stopped being an annoyance and started being nice when they spoke with and spent time with Juneau. Her brow furrowed at his final statement–he didn’t have an Iskaran accent, thus indeed making this being his first Progress Day to attend strange. “Mine too,” she ground out eventually trying to will her temper back out of existence. “I don’t know. I didn’t really pay very good attention to what events they’re doing.” What was the polite thing to say? What would Alder or Julian or someone else she trusted say to keep the conversation flowing? “What… are you… excited for?” Nailed it.

[ageofkarme]

A chance to impress the wolf queen on his own merit? That's all Karme wanted, and now he felt even more confident with Althea's support. He trusted her advice because she was always honest with him. And because she was amazing, but that was a given. "Then I'll whip something up to impress her when I introduce myself. This is so exciting! I'm gonna start out this next chapter of my life with a bang!"

Karme was invested in his image now to a certain degree. He didn't want to change, but he did want to grow. Plus, he wanted to be someone reliable. That was part of the reason he flew to Haven today. He wanted Althea to know that he wasn't the same, spineless witch he used to be. His days of being a footstool were over.

"Oh, well I totally get that. I wouldn't want to keep you from your duties. I can send word to you if you have the time to spare. Or even if you want to give your assistants a break I could carry stuff around for you … I know you're a lot busier than I am so that could count as a hang," he waffles about, verbalizing every concession he could. Perhaps the old days weren't completely behind him because he very much wanted to get on his knees and beg Althea to fit him into her schedule, if only for a few minutes a month. "Being in the Legion isn't too scary, is it? Are they giving you the respect you deserve? They should feel so lucky to have you in their ranks. I know I feel lucky that you're keeping the queendom safe, Althea."

Fortunate for Althea that she was such an apt student, so paying attention during very long, drawled out explanations weren't too difficult for her to weather. That was what it was like listening to Karme prattle on and on. "Fascinating." Was what Althea stated after an appropriate period of time, she had very little interest in the bodies of witchers. Save, perhaps, for one - though she wouldn't entertain the notion in front of Karme because the stark contrast between the bony man and the witcher in question was too jarring.

"I can promise you your last name carries no weight here," there was little chance that Aurea had any interest in learning just who the Chrysanthos was. "Aurea is far more approachable and invests little time in the Game. If you wish to speak to her, then seeking her out would be fair enough."

Oh, did he say hangout?

"Well, between the Legion and my role here, my schedule is tight. But if you find yourself in Haven an... excessive amount, I've no doubt our paths will cross." She had nothing against Karme, he was a bright and talented witch - somehow - but every time they conversed Althea felt the need to take a shower afterwards.

[ageofkarme]

Karme didn't know a lot about who Torsten was in Iskaldrik, and from all the stories he heard about witchers in general the smart thing would've been to keep his distance, but he simply wouldn't do that. Torsten was more than a friend to Karme, he was the first person to put faith in his skills and that was important. There was no reason for Torsten to hand his armor to Karme, in fact he had every reason not to. But he did, and that chance bound them for good. At least that's how Karme saw things.

"You don't have to thank me. I told you, I'm always on call for you. I'm your mechanic now. I've got to keep all of you in good working condition, but especially your arm," he says a bit jokingly as he gently knocks on the mithril limb. In truth, Karme felt indebted to Torsten, so it felt strange to be thanked by him. He wouldn't have had the opportunities he did without the witcher. Heck, there was a good chance he'd be dead wihtout his strength on their slayer mission. Karme would be so sad to lose a friend like him, but he also figured saying such things out loud would only make Torsten angry. "Now that you're awake and talking, do you want me to send word to anyone that you're alright? I'm sure people are worried about you, and clearly, the Healers are focused exclusively on your physical condition."

This had to be some method of torture. That Karme was here instead of Afshin, or even Ormir. Torsten wasn't so foolish as to think that Njal or Freydis might consider seeing him here, but this bony little man was the one that greeted him instead. Again the witch prattled, though this time it seemed directed at the healers as he explained details that Torsten scarcely knew himself. Karme spoke of his arm, then he went to grab the water from Torsten's hospital bedside - bringing it to his lips. In another world he'd have punched a hole through him but as he went to lift his arm he couldn't manage even that much.

Instead, Torsten craned his head forward and drank as deeply as he could dare, head tilting backward again as he relinquished a deep sigh into the air. A beat passed as the witcher was still, unspeaking and instead quiet in his reflection. He should have died in that gutter. He should have died in that snow. He should have died under the claws of the var'terral and a thousand times over on the floor of the witcher's watch.

And yet.

"Thank you," was all he expressed.

[ageofkarme]

Karme tried his hardest to not let his glee at Alucard's words to show. He wanted to maintain a cool presence at this bar to match his energy. Unfortunately, hearing he had the dhampir's respect warrented a moment of private celebration. He excitedly pumped his fists and bounced in his stool a bit before taking a deep breath to stop his fidgeting, though Karme's knee continued to bounce as he attempted to lean against the bar in a "cool" manner.

"Yeah … I don't think I have what it takes to be a legionnaire. Maybe not by your side, but the frontlines are a little less scary now for me, I promise! I don't want there to be any more danger, but…" It wasn't his job to fight darkspawn, but he understood now that Olympians couldn't sit idle while the Dark continued to threaten his queendom. Plus, Beastbane's warning replayed in Karme's ear every day. "…the Dark One scares me a lot. I want to do everything I can to help Lysara. Even if that means flying toward another horde of darkspawn to fight. I can stay out of the fray and still be brave, can't I?"

While Alucard had exasperated his ability to compliment the witch who'd taken up a seat next to him, the dhampir did consider Karme a friend. "Everyone has moments of weakness but.... Likewise." Was what the dhampir said instead before he finished the pint that he'd been nursing before he tapped his finger on the bar to signify to the individual to bring another of the same: blood.

"I fight beside the Legion of the Dead," in the vanguard, where the legionnaires were meant to be. "you'd only be a liability unless you choose to join." Which Alucard would never allow - Karme's constitution was much too weak to survive the Joining. A strong wind could dislocate one of those thin little arms.

[ageofkarme]

He wasn't anything special. Karme's house was overflowing with ladies who had far more potential than him. Genius and prodigal spellweaving was passed from daughter to daughter so he had to become an Olympian without any support. Still, he became one not because he had comprable skill to the many noble Apprentices who were keeping Genovia at the cutting edge of technological development in Lysara but because he applied himself over and over. Karme never gave up, even when he was on the ground bleeding due to his lack of experience in the field. When he got fixated on a goal, it became difficult to let it go.

That's why he beamed so brightly at the end result of Araceli's request glowing in front of him. Karme knew that without his magic and the tools he built, he was a less-than-average guy. Strip him of those and there wasn't much that he was capable of. That was no longer his concern, though, because he confronted his worst fears already. Take everything away and he'd still want to help people. His heart and mind were his most useful assets, so seeing Araceli happy made him feel happy as well.

His spellweaves wrap around the kaleidoscope to shrink it, then Karme draws a glyph over it with his fingers and hands it to Araceli, now an object that could easily fit in the palm of her hand. "There you go. When you're ready to show it off, it'll return to its regular size, but until then you can keep it in your pocket and remember that helping others can take many different forms, Lady Araceli. I get a bit bored making armor for the queensguard, but someone has to do it! Even the smallest contribution helps the queendom. I haven't really suffered, so maybe my words are meaningless, but so long as you want to make things better, things will get better. I'm going to try and stay positive, so maybe you can too. And if not, I'd be happy to make you more cool stuff to show off." Karme grinned.

Despite her best efforts to wrap all the feelings born from the fall of Aventia and set them aside, Araceli knows she is doing poorly. There is no cabinet she can shove the overwhelming wave of grief and guilt that follows each and every mention of her home to be forgotten forevermore, not when she is the one that keeps opening said cabinet constantly. Picking at the scab, not allowing it to heel.

Mea culpa. 

It’s all her fault, even if she knows it’s not. 

She should have been better. 

“Failure is a teacher,” she says through the knot on her throat, truth heavy on her throat even as she struggles to find the lesson Aventia’s fall had imparted upon her. “And it’s a good goal. To be determined to be better next time, to be determined to do better. It’s all any of us can hope for.”

Her mouth tastes like blood and ashes, but she keeps her attention on Karme, ignoring the pressure on her shoulders and the light buzzing on her ears. She is here for a reason, and even if her original idea has failed, maybe she can work something else out. In the end, she doesn’t have time to think about another avenue or plan, not when Karme races ahead, bright and willing to help her on her childish request with enthusiasm. It’s a breath of fresh air, and the knot on her throat loosens just enough for her to take a deep breath and offer Karme a genuine smile. 

“Yes, I want to help, just like you,” she admits. Part of it, it’s because she wants to do better, to make up for the fact that it was her responding to the invasion in Aventia and not her mother. To make up for her failure. But a bigger part calls back to the core of her motivations, now and always: she can help, so she will because she wants to. She had the luxury to have been born a Severian, and she will use that to ensure her people are taken off, to ensure those who seek aid get it. Aventia might be gone, but she has trained all her life to be the blade that protects her people, and that won’t change. “I am looking,” she says, voice hushed in awe, eyes focused on Karme’s work as he creates light out of nothing. Color fills the space between them, and a smile settles on her lips as she considers how much more colorful the world seems now than just a few moments before. Yes, this is what she was looking for, something to bring color and hope back to those who had forgotten the world could be beautiful because Aventia had shown them it could be cruel as well. “It’s beautiful. Just what I wanted, actually. Better, even, because you made it to help. Thank you, Karme.”

[ageofkarme]

Polaris was gentle, slow, and deliberate with each of his movements and yet Karme felt there was something inherently demanding about his touch. He was coaxing something out of Karme that ran deeper than simple release, and Karme wanted to let him have it. So this was what it meant to savor lust on a tongue, to take the time to appreciate every inch of what your partner has to offer. Yes, Karme was impatient but only because fervor was all he knew. Maybe slow, steady, and torturous could become his default. Maybe he could be still and have patience—

"Ahh-ah-ha…" Karme's labored breaths intensified as he was bit again. His entire body squired and quaked as best he could manage, but Polaris had him pressed down perfectly, leaving little room for Karme to run from the pleasure his contact delivered. Even the tenor of his voice wrapped around the witch's ear and made his head buzz. Between the conflicting sensations his mouth drizzled on Karme's flesh, he was struggling to keep up with Polaris on his trek southward, delaying his conscious reactions until clarity broke through the mental fog of his desire. "Worshipped? I'm not … I mean I haven't…" He, of course thought about worshiping every inch of Polaris as he prepared for their date, but Karme never thought he'd be on the receiving end. Especially not to this extent. He whined as he realized the night was far from over. If Polaris meant to taste him in this state until the sun came up, then Karme would have to accept that. There was an assuredness in Polaris' voice that told him he was going to be worshipped, all night too, if the elvhen decided on that.

He came undone a bit as the warmth of Polaris' mouth made his head spin. Karme was all squirms and bestial noises, gripping the couch for his dear life while his hips instinctively jerked back. But there was nowhere to go between the cushions and Polaris' hands gripping his thighs. So Karme's eyes crossed and rolled back in his head as warmth bloomed from the tongue that just found another way to drive him wild. The more of himself Polaris took in, the more Karme felt like he was losing his mind. Never having encountered pleasure so intense, the feeling that he was about to burst only increased. Except, Polaris wasn't doing enough to make him explode yet, something he likely knew. Taking the time to look down was probably his worst mistake though, because the sight of Polaris looking back up from between his legs while his mouth toyed with Karme sparked a rather carnal reaction.

"You're beautiful," he moans absentmindedly, his breathing only getting heavier now. And then he went rigid again; a subtle change of Polaris' mouth made Karme pulse so hard that his ears started to ring. "Aw geez Polaris," he whimpers, saying the other's name with the intonation of a swear. In this position, it did feel a little dirty on his tongue, but it was warranted. How a man could make his hyperactive mind go blank with his mouth alone was a mystery, but that's exactly what was happening. Karme could barely form a thought besides 'Hold it' in his hand. Now it was starting to feel so good that he wanted to spend the night like this, teetering on the edge. He didn't know what to say, but one of his trembling hands did come to rest on the back of Polaris' head. Karme wanted to coax more from him too, wanting to be consumed by the elvhen to the point where every sensation before this would be erased from his memory.

Polaris’s breath was a ghost of heat across Karme’s skin, warm where the room was cool, brushing the witch's tepid skin - reveling in every squirm, every movement. Polaris couldn't help himself. Karme was already trembling beneath him, and Polaris could feel it - the rapid rise and fall of his chest, the way his thighs tensed and quivered each time Polaris moved lower. "Such impatience," Polaris murmured, his voice like dark honey, thick and smooth. His fingers pressed into the taut muscle of Karme’s thighs, thumbs circling against the pulse of his skin, teasing the place where tension had pooled unbearably. He leaned in, his nose brushing the sharp cut of Karme’s hip bone before he bit down - gently enough that it could still be called intimate.

“Have you ever been properly worshiped, Karme? You're about to be.” Polaris’s voice was nothing but sin and indulgence. Polaris moved slow - achingly so. The curve of his lips found Karme’s navel, pressing kisses that were deceptively tender before trailing lower, his tongue tracing a path down the dip of muscle leading below. He could feel Karme’s entire body stiffen, thighs threatening to snap shut around his shoulders. But Polaris wasn’t having that. He gripped Karme’s thighs firmly, thumbs pressing bruises into sensitive skin as he pried them open again, spreading him wider beneath him. The little whimpers that slipped from his lips only spurred Polaris on, his own arousal a persistent throb against his trousers, but he ignored it - for now.

"We have all night." With aching slowness, Polaris pressed his mouth fully to him. Polaris took his time, savoring the subtle weight of Karme in his mouth, the way he twitched and throbbed with every teasing motion. His tongue traced slow, deliberate patterns, his lips molding to every curve and ridge, intent on worship rather than mere indulgence. He wanted Karme to feel utterly adored, to know what it was to be held and cherished in a way that was both intimate and consuming. The bard was well practiced, the dragon even more seasoned - he'd prolong this for a century if he wished.

[ageofkarme]

Ever the explorer, Karme was unafraid of taking the long route to a destination. Even if that destination resulted in a failure, he was the type to be thrilled from the journey. Constant experimentation and trials of even the most outlandish concepts resulted in many explosions in his face, but in failure, there were lessons to be gleaned, the kind that Karme carried with him. This was his philosophy in life and in the forge, to try everything with the understanding that there would be more failures than successes. But that was okay, so long as he derived inspiration his creative mind would find a solution.

"Oh, no one takes the aqueducts. There are much faster ways to get to Vulcan's Vessel than here. But you deserve the full Accepted experience too, don't you? When I was a white robe, getting lost down here inspired me so much that when I finally learned how to navigate to Vulcan's Vessel, I spent the next week making stuff nonstop!" Of course, it never even crossed Karme's mind that Adrian wasn't enjoying himself as much as he was. Luckily, Adrian's words got Karme out of his own head enough for the Olympian to consider how the other witch felt. He didn't think of himself as particularly wise, but he did know how to be a good friend now that he had so many. That's why he as able to laugh so hard at Adrian's comment he buckled over. Luckily, Karme had recently broken free of his inferiority complex when it came to his Olympian status.

"Wow, you really are acclimating well to the Tower! I've lost count of how many times someone asked how I earned my ring! At least you're wondering to my face!" Karme chortled, familiar with the sentiment since it seemed everyone doubted him as much as he doubted himself at the time. "If you could see Genovia, you'd probably assume the same as everybody else: that my house influenced my passing. I mean, I don't exactly meet their expectations for Apprentices. The tools I've made pale in comparison to what the Chrysanthos ladies create, but let me tell you they were against me studying here. Men of my house are forbidden from even trying you know, so being nobility had nothing to do with me passing my trials." Karme had a feeling he and Adrian were kindred spirits, but he just assumed that was because they were both outsiders. He never would've imagined that the other witch was struggling in a way that was similar to how he did.

"How can I put this…" he pondered aloud as he reached for his key ring, removing it from his belt to show Adrian. "These were the first items I ever made in my father's forge. Again, I was forbidden from using the forges of my house. They're nothing special, just keys to help me with conjuration. I … get distracted easily, so summonings can be tricky and having a physical item helps. They're called the Pleiades, my 7 Sisters, tools I've been honing for years. Do you know what the Sitters said when I first showed them off? They said that the concept and execution were overly flawed and a complete waste of my weaves.  They basically demanded I toss them into the flames of Vulcan and try developing something new. I refused. Well, more like I said I would then kept working on them in secret."

Karme puts the ring back on his belt, pulls the sixth one from his ring, and makes a show of waving it around as it glows, conjuring Asterope from her pocket dimension. The rings of her armillary sphere shape spun around their nucleus, immediately producing a holomap of the way forward and even lighting the aqueduct per the task Karme gave her when she was summoned. "When I started at the Tower, she was nothing more than a light source. But look at her now! Mark two has a multitude of advancements from mark one, and now I have the best navigation system in the queendom! Did you know that she was even able to display where wild magic surges in the cities would pop up? Cool right?" he says, beaming at Adrian. "The point is, I didn't turn away from what I love and it worked out for me. I'll admit, I was lucky that I had the best Apprentice as a teacher, and she likely wouldn't have looked my way if not for my house. But she helped me refine my ideas and create something spectacular! Psionics, divination, elemental magic, and even some temporal weaves too. Hundreds of enchantments and little instructions, not to mention the effort spent in the forge crafting a body with materials capable of containing complex weaves. She's one of a set, each of my Sisters has a different function and I can tinker with them any time to improve their functionality. I dabble in all schools and methods of magic to get the job done, as is customary for engineers in Genovia."

Now that Adrian could see the way forward was that far off, Karme summoned Maia as well. At least she'd be able to carry them. Her metalloid slipped under their feet, lifting them out of the water and hovering forward through the air as Karme chuckled. "Your specialty isn't an issue. Turning away from what you know doesn't make any sense, I mean I never did. I love round, spherical shapes so that's what I make. Orbs speak to me, so think about what speaks to you. Tell me Adrian, are runes the kind of magic you most enjoy? Do you have fun when you weave with them? Do you make stuff because you love the craft or is there some other intention behind your forge activities?"

Mostly having been treated like someone with the taint, Adrian definitely faltered at Karme's interest to help him. The further they wandered and the more the Apprentice showed Adrian around, the clearer it was that Karme was not actually duplicitous on this whatsoever. The Apprentice showed all the excitement Adrian felt but could not ever conjure to the surface. It was staggering, wrought plenty of lingering eyes from other members of the Tower as they walked and Adrian wished his Accepted garb wasn't so obvious, though the sorcerer knew, at the end of the day, that was the point when it came to the specific flair of each garment they were affixed to.

"Look...." Adrian tried to be polite, it seemed Karme was the only Tower witch that did not possess the typical snooty aura each had in droves, "I just don't think people travel it on foot, no?" Adrian picked up his foot, his shoes and socks offering the most uncomfortable feeling as water sloshed between his toes and under his heel. He'd entered begrudgingly, despite the fact he had more or less steered clear of Vulcan's Vessel as he attempted to come back with further crafts that could possibly warrant even a mere reaction on Damaris' face, other than the typical scathing and reproachful glare. Karme rambled on, more or less stating Adrian's point, retracting from it - this way was so much more fun, no? It was, indeed, not, but Adrian was often called a fun killer, so he tried to be more open-minded in this moment, though he figured it was near impossible to kill the kilowatt smile Karme often had cemented on his expression.

"Everything under Vulcan's Forge is a lot more.... mechanical than I once thought." It didn't mean he was giving up, Adrian often never did even if he exhausted one area of knowledge before the inevitable. "I don't underestimate your talents, Karme, but I have to wonder what you had done for your trials, how you've made it this far." That was the polite way of putting it; Karme was young, the same age as Adrian but leaps and bounds ahead of him. Obviously, their circumstances were vastly different, but Adrian still sought to understand where Karme was coming from, what he was headed towards. "Show me this Sister. I work a lot with runes, I try to augment myself with them, craft bracers or gloves with them, channel them into blades I craft. It seems maybe I've underthought the true essence of this forge, but I still don't wish to turn away from it." Adrian sighed quietly, though he would rather be stuck in this aqueduct then tread further to the forge in this moment.

[ageofkarme]

who?: @xpolarisx where?: tiber bay when?: progress day

Sitting on the docks with festival food, talking about the specs of the airships that danced above was the perfect way to spend his time with Polaris. At least Karme thought so. However, there was a notable lack of quiet and not just because he kept changing focus the moment he ran out of things to say about a specific ship. His mind was jittery and his fidgeting betrayed his anxiety. Still, Karme continued, "…and that's why skytrol-fueled vessels will become obsolete real soon despite grandmama unveiling the first less than a year ago! Isn't that exciting?! Two generations beyond steam engines all within my lifetime, like wow. I'm glad I didn't have to hide out this year and gott to participate with everybody. This Progress Day has been…" Fun was the word to use because Karme did enjoy walking through the festival before he met up with Polaris, but his stomach was twisting to the point where he stopped eating the food in his hand. What if he made a mistake by signing up for the gladiator match? Luckily, he was quite skilled at avoidance. "Hey! Did I ever tell you how I won the ship? Prepare yourself for a tale of flower arranging and saucy dancing. I've never pulled a muscle so hard in my life!"

[ageofkarme]

who?: @vuldak-juneau where?: mercury's bazaar when?: progress day

Progress Day has always been a big deal, for Karme's house anyway. For him? It was typically just a reminder of how little they thought of him, but not this year. Karme was putting himself out there front and center for the entire queendom to see, which meant he was a wound-up ball of stress. Anxiously fretting as he left the festival tent, Karme was so in his head he didn't register another person in his path. He barreled right into her and, naturally, fell on his as. Olympian he may have been, Karme wasn't especially tough. "Owie…" he mumbled as he rubbed his tailbone before realizing that he bumped into a woman. "Oh geez, are you okay, miss? I'm so sorry! I didn't hurt you did I? I should've been more careful oh man oh man…" Karme continues to prattle on as he stumbles back to his feet, glad he told his Brothers to hang back at the ship for now. What if they had a bad reaction? "Not really a good way to show our queendom's progress, huh? Bumping into someone like an idiot," he chuckles nervously, feeling so incredibly awkward but more worried that he somehow might've negatively impacted her day. "Are you planning to get into the Progress Day spirit by participating in some of the events? Me too! This is my first time if you can believe it."

[ageofkarme]

Karme chose this, had he not? By stepping out from under his house's thumb and reaffirming his allegiance to the Tower, he agreed to use his talents toward the betterment of Lysara no matter the danger. Olympians were meant to be forces of nature capable of handling insurmountable adversity through power alone, regardless of their chosen patron. As far as he had come, Karme still didn't see himself that way. Not yet.

Of course he wanted to prove himself, but this was too much. Crumbling under the weight of expectation was normal, though, it's just now the people looking to see what he'd do changed from Chrysanthos ladies to the Tower Sitters. Containing the wild magic was a critical mission but also a test. Karme knew well that the Game was always in play. At least one person would be routing for his downfall as was standard when it came to interwoven witch agendas, and Karme was about ready to let them have their win.

'I'm sorry mom, I can't be you…'

Just as he was about to curl into a tighter ball and start wailing out for her, a breeze washed over him, carrying with it the gentle words of a stranger. They broke through, just barely, but enough to get Karme to look up and at least. He wouldn't dare meltdown in front of Lady Juliana out of sheer terror, so he needed to pull it together as if it were her standing over him. He was still sobbing as he unfurled his limbs and stumbled back to his feet, but Valthar's hand was right there at Karme's back, encouraging him to heed the woman's words. "O-Okay, I'll keep going, but you should back away, my lady. This surge is close…" Asterope was functioning again, providing Karme with the insights he needed. Contain this surge, redirect a portion of the wild magic to Electra's location so she can trigger the other, then harness all the power released. His weaves began to swirl around him in preparation, wavering at first but calming enough to flow with the expertise buried beneath the swell of his emotions. It wasn't the thought that he could do this that drove Karme to continue, it was the understanding that he had to. He was the only one. "I want to go home, I want to tinker with whatever is around, I want to have fun again, but I also want to make my queendom proud. I-I want to be a proud and brave Olympian too!" Right on cue, the wild magic surged from beneath the ground around them.

Comforts were in the palm of her hand, her hearth was always stoked, fire burned the wood down to cinders and ash as she departed to the dream realm, a comforter full of goose feathers tucked around her and where she visited, it was not a land of peace, echoing the darkness and war that had consumed Taravell. Nightmares plagued her and warned that a monster that she could not see that was mighty and full of devilish desires was awakening and the silence that echoed around her was louder than any scream.

She had not taken to the battlefield of Aventia, although she had resided in Eterna where magic was welcomed, she knew the harsh lands of Iskaldrik had sentenced those with magic in their veins to life of servitude, cleaving or transforming into an anti-thesis of who they were born to be and so she stepped with grace and carefulness, which could be seen as cowardly to some. Even if she hadn't seen the warfield for herself, it was never far from her thoughts and her guilt grew more in depth for those that she saw returned and devasted and those that would never come again.

She travelled to where she had heard pockets of wild magic had erupted to see if she could soothe the land or gleam anything as to what was causing the explosions that had taken root in the soil and would never belong to the natural realm. She hadn't expected the temper tantrum or the waterworks and yet she had shared her bed with more than one unstable man in her life, a gentle weave of magic as wind tenderly tugs through his hair as if he was being petted by the wind itself, wind brushing the tears that had fallen aside, she let the elements do the comforting for her, never dropping her own composure or falling to her knees. "You must. Get to your feet, it's not over until it's over. There are people that count on you for safety and security, picture them and dare to whine to their faces. You are strong and even if you don't feel it, you must endure." It's the hardest she's ever been but he does not pay her coin to hear what he wants.

[ageofkarme]

who?: @adrianvoll where?: you said he's never been to vulcan's vessel? well let's go, the worst possible tour guide is here to show him the ropes. once they get there hehe when?: the now (possibly whole thread shifted to the next now we'll see)

Witches sure did love their gossip. If even Karme was being included in the watercooler talks around Vulcan's Vessel, then everyone must've heard about the latest Accepted's attempt to walk the path of the forge. Just hearing all the jeers about how Damaris put down "another unworthy Iskaran brute" made Karme want to turtle into his robe. The Sitter is only half as scary as Grandmama, yet his disapproving stares still haunt Karme's dreams to this day. He remembered all too well how hard it is for white robes to get any respect around the volcano, a part of the reason he never set up shop there after receiving his ring. But now that he was back, wouldn't it be great if this year's Accepted witches interested in arcane smithing got a better reception than he did. 'Hey buddy, I'm Karme. Wanna be friends? Say yes say yes say yes! If you do I've got something cool to show you … check it!'

Karme had Verna to guide him, but who did Adrian have? Well, now he had a bonafide Apprentice in his corner, which should make things easier. Unfortunately, Karme didn't specify upfront that the "cool thing" was, in fact, his favorite aqueduct to take to Vulcan's Vessel before basically forcing the other witch to follow him. "Aw c'mon, don't be grumpy. It's just a little water. Besides, it'll keep us refreshed!" he reassured Adrian, walking through the tunnels without any apparent care for the water he kicked up, soaking his boots and robes. "It's a bit of a walk to get there and being underground can be scary, but think! If you can learn to walk the aqueducts without getting lost, you can get to Vulcan's Vessel even in the middle of the night! It only took me like a year and a half to not get lost down here. Most witches take boats or other carrier crafts, but this way is so much more fun don't you think?" Of course, between his conjuration, airship, and other tools Karme was in that category too, but he genuinely thought Adrian would enjoy trudging through the water and learning about the aqueducts instead of flying right over. With Asterope's key, he's able to create some illumination, but it goes out after he gets sidetracked and dropped to his knees, further soaking his clothes.

 "Adrian, Adrian! Look at this!" he exclaims, holding up a gold coin he found bobbing around in the water. "Do you think there's other treasure hidden in the aqueducts? I've never thought about it before but maybe! We should check I have the perfect Sister for that! You wanna see? Oh! Maybe you have a secret tool that can search. Show me show me show me! Pretty please? What have you been crafting recently and—" From the way Karme was hopping around and splashing even more water, he'd clearly forgotten why they were down there in the first place.

[ageofkarme]

Karme didn't practice restraint or moderation in any other want, so why would this be any different? Because this was so different, he felt even more sure that haste was warranted. Between his last lesson in the play box, the way he was getting kissed and touched now, and the years he spent pouring excess energy into his creations to avoid his fellow witches preying on his desperation to be loved as a part of their bets, why shouldn't he be excited that Polaris wanted him? Polaris actually wanted him. The concept alone was enough to send lustful surges straight to his groin so intense that he was certain a mess in his pants was inevitable.

All night? Could he last that long? Was it normal for a voice to be enough to send someone over the edge? Karme certainly thought so, because he made a noise he didn't know he was capable of in response. His squirming didn't let up, he wanted to explore every facet of Polaris' body too. "Fuck!" he chirped out in immediate response to the elvhen's hand cupping his bulge. He tried to bite his lip, the seduction attempt more than effective, but in his effort to hold back, his frame trembled and vibrated, conveying just how close he already was. All night seemed like such a long time, considering he'd never focused on one task for that long in his life. But one look was all it took for Karme to surrender. The way Polaris smiled and licked his lips, the way he grabbed himself just to further enjoy his spectation, it all worked to have Karme melt further into the couch, equal parts impatient and intimidated.

He felt the other's bulge grind into him. He could sense the burning passion that fueled it and he wanted it, for he knew no fantasy he could concoct out of his limited frame of reference would compare to what a real Polaris was capable of. Karme was practically salivating now, his lips starved for attention while the skin on his neck burned from the trail Polaris left behind. It wasn't enough and he hadn't been still for a moment, too hopped up on the energy of their intimacy. More more, please more, his eyes seemed to beg as his next lesson began.

"Polaris w-wait what are you—" He was going lower, that wasn't the right direction! Not to mention if Polaris lowered his face down there then the depths of Karme's lust would be exposed. The thought turned his face beet red. "I'm not … I mean it's not … m-maybe we should—" Karme is scrambling to prop himself onto his elbows, but rather quickly his shock dies in his throat, letting the music play clearly as his noise is reduced to heavy breathing and soft moans. Polaris rubbing over him made his trapped length throb. The sensation of his tongue and mouth over the fabric made the pulsing head of his shaft leak. How many stains would there be below the waist at this point? Karme had no way of knowing nor any faculties to guess. His trousers opening up so that he could feel Polaris' hot breath down there did away with what little coherent, critical thought he was capable of. He bucked, squirmed, and even tried to close his thighs to no avail, anything to alleviate some of the tension Polaris was only increasing through his careful teasing. His mind was clouded by desire and a long, dormant urge to release.

Yet, Polaris only gave enough to get him to teetering on that edge, changing where he touched or tongued just as Karme thought he'd finally fly over. It was torturous in the best way, but Karme's limbs were already beginning to feel like jelly. He fell back flat onto the chaise, barely registering anything beyond Polaris taking his time to disrobe him and his hot breath across the skin of his pelvis. Karme’s hands lazily and sloppily began to push down on his trousers, too, but each time Polaris rubbed a sensitive spot, his entire frame stiffened in a reflex to not explode then and there. "Please please please…" he begged, his whining tone approaching a sob. Was it possible for something to feel so good that it brought a man to tears? Was that the lesson Polaris wanted to teach him? Because if crying out of pleasure, desperate need, and pure sexual desire was possible, then Karme could tell he wasn't that far off.

The soft, desperate, mewling cries sang like a symphony in Polaris's ears - incensing him further. Polaris leaned into the erratic energy that came off of Karme in waves, the witch was all desire and wandering hands as Karme drummed up the courage to touch him there and there. He could feel the warmth at his core, the rough pads of Karme's fingers on his skin, and Polaris leaned into it - happy to feast in tandem before sheer focus alone brought his attention back.

"We have all night." Polaris reminded him, though something told him that Karme wasn't going to burn through all this pent-up sexual energy anytime soon. His lips found Karme's ear again, his nose brushing against him as he leaned in. "All night to explore," Polaris's hand ghosted between Karme's thighs, sliding with a firm hold over the witch's bulge. "and to fuck." It was taking no small amount of willpower not the break the witch's back, but if nothing else he'd learned restraint over the past decade.

"That so?" Polaris drew his hand across his mouth, absent-mindedly wiping away some of the spittle that'd inadvertently accrued at the corners. His tongue passed over his lips again, moistening the swollen pair as he felt a light smile lingering at the corner of his mouth. The heft of Polaris's strain wasn't discreet, but shy or bashful were two traits that were never associated with the bard. With only half-intention behind his motions, Polaris's hand seized himself, giving the stiffening cock a firm squeeze as he looked down at the witch beneath him. It wasn't hard to imagine his features split and broken, body splayed in ruinous bliss - peppered with endless landmarks laid down by Polaris himself. Polaris dipped his head toward Karme's waist:

"Another lesson, then."

Careful, methodical fingers plucked at the first button on Karme's trousers, Polaris's mouth ghosting over the fabric as he massaged against the burgeoning fabric with smooth, tantric ministrations. He sighed and with the breath came the warm breath thrummed up from the dragon's lungs. Another loosened, then was freed as Polaris's tongue dampened the fabric, giving little by little until the span of skin from naval to pubis was laid bare - save for the dark, course hair that bloomed from within.