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Elven Romance (Michi No Sora Distain2003)

M

Michi No Sora

Planetoid
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Lillian sat behind the counter of her shop. As usual, it was a slow day. With how many people fell, fought, and just got into messes in general...she knew she should be busier, but she never was. Most people would rather go all the way to the other side of town to the other tailor shop than to come into her's. This was her hometown and no one really cared all that much for her. They never had. It was a human town, but even they were intolerant of something she had no control over. It wasn't her fault that she was half elven, nor was it her fault that she was half human. Years ago she'd tried to live in an elven town, but elves are even more cruel than humans at times. Instead she just tried to live her life as peacefully as possible. No man would have her, no woman would be her friend, and no one at all wanted to give her shop business. She'd had one customer all week.

"No dinner tonight," she grumbled. Going without food was something common for not only herself, but most half breeds. It was illegal to deny half breeds work and such, but no one ever said that anyone had to shop at places owned by them. Plus, plenty of people found reasons other than their race to reject them for a job. Lillian did better than most did, but not by much. Usually her only customers were perverted old men that only came in to gawk at her for a few minutes. Though none, even if she were interested in them, would ask her out or anything. They just wanted to look at her.

Lillian wasn't ugly, but she did look a tad awkward...or at least she thought so. She had the slender elven woman frame, but the curves of a human woman. To her, she looked silly to say the least. She managed to keep her ears covered by her hair most of the time. Sadly, she couldn't hide the elven shape to her face. Try as she might, it was too difficult to get herself to look like one or the other.

Sighing, she laid her head on the counter and thought about closing shop early. A sharp bell sound snapped her back to attention and she put a smile on her face, "Hello. Welcome to my shop. How can I help you?" she said with a sweet voice as she looked at the man that walked in. He wasn't very nice looking, but she wasn't going to be rude to a customer. That didn't last long though as the man showed the real reason he was there and held a knife out to her and asked for any money she had, "Money? You've got to be kidding me. I'm a half breed. Do you honestly think people come in here and actually pay me to do work?" despite having a knife being held to her, she wasn't all that scared sounding. Lillian didn't really have anything to look forward to in life, so this wasn't something that scared her all that much. Really the only thing she feared was the pain he might cause her.
 
Thanos had been rooming the world for 5 centuries and had grown tired of this world. He was a Drow, and at this point in his life he should an old man. But a gift from the elven god Elune had taken that from him. Long long ago he had turned on his Drow brother's during a raid on an Elven temple. Despite all his training he could not attack and kill elven women and children nor could he allow it. He and the few elven guards managed to kill all but one of the invading Drow.

Thanos still remembered the fight with the now long dead Drow captain. He remembered the mistake that cost him everything. His life, his family, his arm, he was young and aggressive easily exploitable by an old veteran. That is exactly what the captain did, when Thanos over shot his swing he took from him everything. 7 bones... 7 bones and the blade never even slowed. Thanos never felt the cut he only felt a slight pinch and then his arm laid next to him.

Thanos was met in death by the Elven god who's temple he defended. He was giving the gift of never aging and was brought back to life with a new arm. It had been 500 years and he still could not control it completely when he got angry what ever was in his hand was crushed. The silver appendage was obscenely strong a but he still had not gotten used to its tight grip.

Thanos had been working as a mercenary for the last 500 years. His Drow blood had giving him a reputation as a brutal fighter. Sadly for him though no one would welcome him into polite society. The elves still saw him as a Drow, and the Drow would always see him as the butcher of the temple of Elune. He was forced to deal with the human's or half breeds even though most of them still did not trust him.

Thanos had been way on working on a ranch defending against horse theives for 5 months. Now that job had passed and he was nearly out of clothing. The barbed wire and dagger blades had torn the remainder of his cloths to shreds. He was wearing nothing but a pair of under shorts under his black armor. His 2 long curved swords crossed over his back. He ignored the nervous looks he received as he entered the human town late in the day. He had grown bored of them and just let people think what they would.

He had no time to cross town to the other tailor not that he would if he did. It was growing late in the day and he wanted to place his order before they closed. The bell rang again as he entered shortly after Lillian had explained she had no money. He glanced up and saw the knife pointed at the young woman. He almost thought about letting her handle this herself as he was still bitter about the elves treatment of him. But he could not his morals would not allow him to let a woman be harmed if he could prevent it. He reached out with his left arm and gripped the mans shoulder pulling him back and throwing him down into the ground next to the door.

"That's enough! Leave now and you wont feel your life slipping away over a blade. " He stared at the man calmly there could have been 50 and he would have known no fear. He had been searching the world death for 500 years. He had not found another skilled enough to take his life. He his right silver arm now completely masked by his armor reached slowly for his sword. "Leave now i wont ask again. "
 
Lillian felt like this might be it. She'd angered so many people just by her mere presence and now someone was demanding something of her that she just didn't have. Humans had been more accepting of her than elves had, but not by much. They tolerated her till she had to deny them things. They all felt like she was an inconvenience to them somehow for her existence and that she owed them something for their tolerance to allow her to live in their town. This human seemed no different from the others.

"Stupid, half-breed," he growled and jumped when he heard the door bell ring as the Drow walked in. Drows weren't well accepted either, but more so than most half-breeds. At least they were purebred, "Mind your own business, Drow," he growled and pushed the tip of the knife against Lillian's neck, causing her to shiver slightly. The Drow didn't seem to care though or maybe he just wasn't scared. It didn't matter to the human. He was called on his bluff and lowered the knife, getting himself out of the Drow's grip before running to the door to leave.

Lillian, having not liked to have been bullied, threw an ink well at the would be attacker that she'd been save from. It hit the man, but not in the head like she'd intended as he slipped out the door, "Jerk!" was about all she could think of to say to the attempted thief.

She then turned her attention to the Drow standing in front of her counter. She knew she had to thank the man, but it was hard to be kind to people when most of them just snapped back at her, "...Thank you," she managed to get out. Lillian really was grateful, even if it didn't seem so, "They usually leave when they realize I don't have any money in here...but it didn't seem like he was going to...so thanks."

"Did you need something?" she doubted that he'd come in here to save her. Lillian assumed that he'd come in here for something and just happened to get to be the one to save her, "The shop is closing soon, so if you need something...let me know now."
 
Thanos moved towards him when he started to move ready to attack if need be. He was grateful that he man did the smart thing and ran. His death would have not been looked well upon especialy concidering a drow killed him while defending a half breed. The fact that people looked down on either of them based purely on race sickened him. He was no different then most humans why would he be seen as any different.

He stepped back as he hard her throw something not certain what it was or how accurate she would be. He smirked seeing the jar of ink burst on the mans back not quite his style but he had to give her credit she had some spunk. He was certain they would be back though not because of her insult he had been called worse things by children. It was almost endearing but he would not let it show though he had grown quite cold over the 500 years of his life.

Thanos turned to face her and then like nothing had happened he stepped up to the counter. He quickly pulled a small belt pouch taking a deep breath. "I need 20 shirts that i can wear under my armor. They need to be thin and light but not see threw. I like them in a mix of colors dark green, brown, and black. I don't really care how many of each color. " He reached in counting out half the price of the twenty shirts. Sliding it into a pile next to her glancing up at her face. "Half now half when i get my clothing. "

A slow breath before followed by some shifting his armor was sticking to his flesh and it was driving him mad. "I will also need 10 pair of pants the same as the shirts. Thin but i will need to wear them with out my armor as well. I need them in the same colors. Do you think you can handle all that in a timely manor? " He spoke calmly as he pulled half the money for the pants from the small sack that was now a little less then half empty. "If you can and you do well i may buy some nicer cloths for when i am not clad in armor. "
 
Such an order had never been placed in her shop before. Very few allowed her to do any work for them. This Drow's order would not only be good work, but the payment would be able to pay for her to eat for at least a month. Lillian was able to stretch food to last for a long time. Since it was just herself, she didn't need to buy much. And since she was used to not eating often, she was able to make little food last for a few days. Having never had that much money given to her at once, even if it was only half the payment, made her feel kind of guilty. She'd been a bit snappy with this man and he'd saved her and was giving her work, "I can't take your money," she grumbled and stared down at the counter, "I should be able to get the shirts done in a week if you can wait that long. The pants will be easier, two days at the most..."

Lillian wasn't a fast tailor, but her low times for being able to get work done was due to the fact that she pretty much forwent sleep to be able to get something done quickly. She slid the coins back towards him on the counter, "You helped me out with that guy, so this is the least I could do for you," it was bad for her business to take on such a large order and not take any payment. If on the off chance that someone did come to her for work in the time that she was putting through the Drow's order, she would have to turn it down to finish his order on time. That would be a loss of money. Lillian didn't care though. He'd helped her and this was what she could do to repay him.

"If that will take too long, then I might be able to get it done in a week. Shirts and pants," though she really would have to not sleep to get all that done in one week. But it was something she was willing to do, "It's not like I'll have any other work to do," Lillian really didn't expect to get any other customers.
 
When she pushed back his money and refused payment he got a bit annoyed. She was still going to do the work but for free which confused him. He had been told his gold was no good here before but always because it came from his black hand. He pushed the money back at her more aggressively and gave her a soft glare. He he had taken his last gift of gratitude when he received his arm. That soured him to the niceties of thankful presents.

"I will not take goods with out paying for them. No matter how hard you try you will always find this money in your pouch at the end of the day. Save us both a good deal of work and effort and just take the coin. You need it as much as i do. " He stared at her with a look that screamed i will not take no for an answer.

"Take all the time you like i have enough time on my hands right now to as it is. Though i will need a shirt and pants as soon as possible. Preferably tomorrow before noon if possible. If you wish to give me something for my effort if you choose to call it that. Allow me to sleep on your front deck that way if the man comes back i will be here to stop him. And i wont need to find a place to stay and be charged an threw the nose. " He remained calm as he put his sack back on his hip before stepping back his feet falling almost silently on the wood floor.
 
It didn't matter how much he glared at her or insisted. Lillian wasn't going to take the money. She'd feel horrible if she took it. He'd saved her from being hurt or possibly killed. The least she could do was fill a clothing order for him and even allow him to sleep on the deck like he wanted, "Don't be so stubborn. I'm offering you free clothing, so take it. I don't need your money. I've spent most of my life without money, I can deal with it now. If you're thinking that I'm going to hold it over you if you don't pay me, then stop. Despite what you might of heard from those ignorant, old fools in town; I'm not a bitch," which is one of the nicer things she'd heard from the townspeople.

"You don't have to sleep on the deck. There is plenty of room in the store," she motioned around the room, "I can get you some blankets and pillows so you'll be comfortable," she turned on her heels from him and headed through a door behind the counter and rummaged around a bit before coming back out with an arm full of blankets. She tossed them over the counter at him, "If you need more, just ask."

Lillian might of sounded rude and pushy, but that was just her way of being nice. Like Thanos, she was too used to being looked down on to be openly nice with someone, "You're on your own for food though. There's an Inn down the street that stays open rather late. They might be rude, but they will serve you," she knew that Drows weren't well liked, but most places wouldn't turn down their money unless they really had a stick up their backsides, "I'm really the only one in town that they don't like," as sad as it was, this was the hometown of her father. The man had been horrible to her mother and herself as a child before he eventually died of alcohol poisoning. Her mother had been beaten to death by her father when she was young. Lillian had left the town a few times, but always ended up coming back. The townspeople knew her well and thought highly of her drunken father and lowly of her.

"They'll serve you so long as you don't let them know that you're staying here."
 
"You let me sleep here for the time you are working on my clothing and we will call it even. " He looked at her after listening to her story about the inn and how the people would treat him well. He had been to this town a few times and had once drawn a blade in that in deffending himself. He was only at this town because his armor was running dangerously close to eating his skin alive.

"And don't go spending all that money on food I shot a dear yesterday and your more then welcome to some of it. It will just go bad if i don't get rid of some of it. It is smoking in a cave not far from here. I will go fetch it in the morning. " He was just as brash as she was though his was not him being nice. He was a hard bitter man who know the racism of men and felt it was nothing but a required kindness to give this woman a break.

"I have 2 rules about money, never ask and never argue. " He looked at her giving her a soft smiled as he piled the blankets up near the door to make a sort way for him to sit down and lean back comfortably. "If you tell me you wont take my money for this order again i will double it and make you keep it. Don't tempt me just take the coin and you need it more than i do and your earning it. I am not giving it to you out of piety but because your doing a job and you deserve to be paid. "
 
"Fine...then I won't tell you that I won't take it," she said with a shrug, though that didn't mean she would take the money. Instead, she left it sitting on the counter, "And don't worry about food or giving me any deer. I can take care of myself. I've done it all my life and I don't think I need any help with that," she smirked lightly. Lillian was as stubborn as she was making Thanos out to be. He had five hundred years of it built up, but she had dealt with it for what felt like that long. Her life might never be as long as his, but sometimes she felt like it was dragging on for far too long, "You keep your deer. That way you won't have to spend any money. You can use my kitchen for your cooking if you'd like," she pointed over her shoulder to the door behind the counter, "It's back there along with a small bedroom in case you get sick of sleeping on the floor out here."

It then occurred to her that she not only didn't know his name, but he probably didn't know her's, "By the way, I'm Lillian," she was as hard headed as he was about somethings, but she was starting to realize that she was being overly rude, "Sorry if I'm being a little snappy. I'm not really used to having people around..." sighing she looked at the floor for a moment, "Anyways, make yourself comfortable. I'm going to go get at least one shirt and pair of pants done for you. I assume you need those ones this soon because of your armor," it wasn't the first time she'd seen a man wandering around in his armor at all times because he lacked under clothing at the moment.

Lillian started sifting through some different types of cloth that were sitting out to find the right kind of material to make the outfits out of, "What's a Drow doing around here anyways? Don't your people tend to stay with each other like the other elven races do?" most elves never left their hometown due to the hatred towards other races of creatures and thinking themselves better than others, "Or are the Drows planning on doing something and you're just scouting the area?" though that was more of a joke. The elven races had been at a small form of peace for years and the humans hadn't had a reason to bother them lately.
 
He shook his head as again refused his money it was getting extremely agitating. Then when she refused the deer he snapped he was now angry that his kindness was being turned down. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself while you continued to speak. "If i return to the Drow home then only one of 2 things will happen. Either i die... Or i kill every Drow able to wield a blade. "

He took a deep breath remembering the last time he ran into a small group of Drow. "I work as a blade for hire. My last job ruined all my clothing and my armor is starting to bind." He took a long deep breath trying not to snap at her wanting just to relax. " Again i am going to insist that take some of that deer. I wont be able to eat it all myself and i will not need to spend any money on food other than some vegetables. "

He moved to set down leaning against his blankets and closed is eyes. It had been a long day and he was tied and her stubbornness was not helping him at all. "My name is Thanos. I am not well known in human cities that is why i choose to tread there. If you lived with your elven family you would have most likely heard of me. "
 
Lillian shook her head a bit as he offered the deer, though she knew this fight could go on forever, "Fine...I'll share the deer..." meat was rare for her to come by or to be able to afford. So this wouldn't be so bad.

"Your name doesn't sound familiar. Then again, I didn't grow up in an elven home. I grew up in this town. My mother was a slave and my father was her owner," though since she was standing here, her father obviously took something from his slaves that most frowned upon doing, "Didn't really grow up in a human home either," but that wasn't his problem, so she left it at that.

"It was nice meeting you, Thanos," and she meant that, "I'll get to work on those cloths for you. Can't imagine how it feels to be walking around in metal all day," she gave a half bow to him before disappearing into the back area of the shop that seemed to be more of a house since it had a kitchen and such.

Occasionally throughout the night she wandered back out to the store front to gather a new needle or more thread. Also because she was wary of new people and didn't need Thanos turn out to be a thief and make off with what little she did have in the store. By morning she had a forest green shirt and pants done sitting on the counter for him with a note saying she'd gone to sleep and she'd work on the rest of the order after getting some rest.
 
He striped down to his shorts right there in the shop struggling with the buckles of his armor for a moment. The heavy scaled plates had grown tighter then he had expected threw the night. Once he was down to his shorts he put on the shirt and pants smiling as the fit well and he was happy to have their comfort.

Once he was dressed again he took up the coin she had left on the counter and searched the house for her where she put her coin. He moved quietly having spent so long trying not to be noticed he had become quite good at it. Once he found it he put the money inside and closed it trying to make it look as though he had never touched it.

With that task complete he moved to redawn his armor. With it now recovering his body he smiled back in his usual comfort. His armor had become a second skin to him over these last many years. He again moved quickly and slipped from the back door of the building this time. Wanting to leave the bell hanging silently in the front of the store. He did not want to wake her from her much deserved sleep. He moved at nearly a run to return to his horse and cave where he had been smoking the deer. Gathering it all up on the back of his horse he made haste back to the small shop hoping to arrive before she woke but rather certain he would not.
 
Lillian rolled out of her bed later in the day than she'd expected. The sun was already up and high in the sky. She was still in her common gown from the day before and ruffled through the small pile of clothing that she had in her bedroom. The half-elf didn't normally wear gowns and such, she'd only been wearing one the day before because it was the first thing she found. Normally she wore thin leggings and a tunic. Most of the people in town frowned on a woman wearing leggings or pants, but she found them more comfortable and convenient. She pulled on a pair of black leggings and a blue tunic before pulling her hair back into a tight bun. She hated her ears, but her hair tended to get in the way when she was bent over sewing. She'd accidentally sewn her hair into a piece of cloth a few times before because she didn't pull it back. If she could bare even more torment from the towns people she would just hack her hair off.

When Thanos got back, she was sitting behind the counter with a pile of material and a box of sewing needles and thread. She didn't look anything like she had the day before. With her hair back and in less womanly clothing, she didn't look as much like an easy target for thieves and robbers. Instead she looked a little more like she could hold her own against someone, even if she really couldn't. Lillian was good at looking tougher than she actually was. To be able to tolerate what people said to her and sometimes did to her around here, she had to have a thick skin.

"Welcome back. I hope you slept well," she commented without stopping her work or lifting her head, "You can put the deer in the kitchen in the back. I'm about half way through the second shirt for you."
 
Thanos did as she told him taking the pile of meats wrapped in a blanket and placed them in the corner of the kitchen. He did not ask if she was hungry before starting a pot to boil on the stove. It would take a while so while that was cooking he walked out to the front counter. He was clearly much more comfortable with something guarding his body from the leather and metal on the inside of his armor.

"Its nice to see you being proud of who you are." He glanced at her seeing her ears he clothing made him feel more at home. Even after 500 years he was not used to the women of this realm being submissive and feminine. She looked more like the Drow women he had grown up caring for.
 
Lillian didn't think that she was being 'proud' by showing her ears. She was doing it for convenience, "I'm not doing it for pride. I just have a habit of getting my hair caught in the threads if I don't pull my hair back," Lillian wasn't proud of her human or elven blood, "I'd honestly rather be a dwarf or something than a human or elf," she'd had nothing but trouble with races and would be happy to rid of both her bloodlines. Drows were a little higher up in her opinion, but only because she'd never really met one other than Thanos and he'd been kind to her so far, "But that's not going to happen, so I might as well just deal with what I am," when she was younger she'd cared more about her mother than her father and tried to cut herself in an attempt to 'bleed out the human' part of her. Though over the years she learned to hate her mother's people as much as her father's.

"I didn't think I would ever meet a Drow though. I've heard that they tend to stick to their own kind and homes. Never really seen one just wandering around," though she was sure that not all of them stuck to their home areas. Lillian shrugged a little bit, "But I'm sure you have your reasons. Everyone always does," she smiled a little with her head still down as she focused on making her stitches, "You don't have to always wear your armor. No one is going to mind you walking around in your shirt and pants," though he probably kept the armor on as a protection in case the townspeople decided to try to attack him.
 
"You would not rather be a dwarf Dwarven women look almost exactly like Dwarven men. I am certain you would rather look like you do then be short fat and harry. " He liked the Dwarfs but in his honest opinion they where a very ugly race. He shook his head as she spoke about Drow he ha given her a false opinion of his people. They where crueler and meaner then anything she had seen in her life with the humans.

"Drow are not kind they are not nice. If you see a Drow other than myself get away from it quickly for their intentions are the furthest from kind one can get. I from the time i leave my home to the time i return. That way i am always prepared if someone approaches with ill intent. " He moved back into the kitchen to prepare the stew adding herbs and several vegetables to the pound of cubed meat he put into the pot.

A few minuets later her returned allowing the pot to stew under its own devices the whole building starting to fill with the sent of the herbs he had placed in the hot water. "Why do you live her? There are cities that are more tolerant of Half-elves. Do you just not have enough money to get a start in those cities?"
 
Lillian was still sure she'd rather be a dwarf. It didn't matter what they looked like or what she looked like now. They were hard working people. Not the most friendly, but at least they were outright cruel to other people. It didn't matter that their women looked like their men to her. Normally she would say that she didn't think the Drow were how he said they were, but she wasn't a Drow and guessed that he knew better. Thanos seemed like he'd been wronged by his own people as she had been. Probably in different ways from how she was though. Lillian doubted that Thanos or his mother had been slaves to some human man that beat his mother to death, "I'd still rather be a dwarf..." she muttered mostly to herself.

"I guess I stay here because I'm a glutton for punishment. I was born here," money wasn't a big problem. She could make the trip and attempt to find work quickly, "People here know me...and after so many years, they don't treat me as badly as they used to," mostly because their actions didn't get the results that they used to. Lillian didn't break down and cry when they called her names anymore. Instead of getting angry and trying to fight back when they smashed up her store, she just fixed it silently and went back to work, "It's not so bad. I've lived here long enough to know how to deal with these people. They only treat me the way they do because they can get away with it and because I used to fight back. But since I stopped fighting, they've calmed down a bit."

Lillian would like to travel though. She'd been to an elven city before, but it wasn't that great, "I'd like to see the ocean one day though. And the desert. I bet you've seen everything traveling around, haven't you?"
 
Standing in the door frame he shook his head chuckling as she muttered she would still rather be a dwarf. After explaining how the people here had calmed he knew that feeling he took a deep breath. He took a deep breath the elves now felt the same way about him as the did about him. There where a select few who still remembered but for the most he was once again a Drow. He could no longer enter any elven city except for the one he no longer desired to enter.

"I have seen most of the bad this this world has to offer and most of the natural things in it. " He had still yet to see most of the good things in this world it had been a long time since he had seen the good in the world. He took a deep breath wondering just how long he wanted to stay joined at the hip with this young elf but she seemed to nice enough. "There is city ... It is a long travel but most of the cities population is half-elf. It is not a marvelous city but its better than this one, and you would be accepted there. "
 
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