Just one kiss...

[thedagda]

*Glancing around the crowded Scamps, Essa sips from a goblet of wine contemplating the travels and scars of her past*

"Oh Miss Hedessa, we need help to..." *her mind blurs in the many requests for help as she grumbles to herself* "They always tell me they need someone young, willing, and able...they need someone old enough to know better.  They want someone to do their dirty work!"  *sighs* "But at times that one kiss for doing what was asked was well worth it...if only Larry woulda shaved first."

*she rolls the wine on her tongue as she stares absently at the patrons of the Scamps* "Essa c'mon, we gotta help these poor buggers" *shakes her head slowly recalling the memories, thinking to herself* "How could I ever let that crooked grin get to me, missing tooth and all?  He talked me into venturing into swamps, caves, stinky places a woman of my quality has no right going."

*she eyes a patron up and down for a few moments drawn out of her thougts, a smile creeping across her face* "He will do...for now." *sighs as she watches him stumble back to a table of his comrades, and falls back into her thoughts*

"Angels!"  *takes a long drink as she let's the thought linger* "Essa, we have to go mining...Essa, we need sand....Essa, there's a customer, wake up!...Essa, wake up the sun has past it's peak long ago!" "As if I'm some sorta creature built by gnomes!  Sheesh..wadda they expect from me?  A girl needs her beauty sleep after all! Go, go, go..that's all they want from me.  Why can't we just enjoy the wine..what more do they want?  I bring them the greatest gift, and they snub their noses or tell me it's like water!  WATER!!!! They go through their lives talking of love and marriage and have the gall to call My Mistress's wine water!"  "Oh Essa, love is what is most important in life....  Essa, without love what would we have?...Essa, marriage is sacred, I'm married, I can't have fun." *snorts as she recalls the past* "If only they would open themselves to what could be..the fun they could enjoy.  They put their blinders on and trudge along...if only they would drink the wine and relish with me the sweet escape...live life to what could be. "

*sighs  as she stands from the table catching the eye of a patron with a wink.  A nod and a smile before strutting off*

[thedagda]

*Taking a seat by herself in the corner of the Wild Surge, Essa drains a goblet of wine oblivious to the patrons around her as thoughts of the recent past press in on her*

"We're goin' minin'.  C'mon Essa we need ya fer swamp divin' and troll slappin'!....I ain't going if she is!" *the memories blur together as her anger starts to build once again, the gathered group splintering and going their seperate ways, the tears, the bushy mustache quivering in anger* "..dragonlover.."

*she waves for another goblet of wine and the bottle, breathing deeply to calm herself, she slips back into her thoughts* "never gave me a second look and still has the nerve to advise me...I would say you'd do your goddess more good if you gave heed to the proverb regarding catching more flies with honey than with vinegar...jumping from that flirty elf to a dragonlover without a second glance for the best right infront of him!"  *she drains the fresh goblet and refills it quickly, as she takes a sip, letting the flavor dance on her tongue a flickering candle flame catches her attention.  Staring into the flame, a small smile starts to creep across her face.*

"Perhaps an apology he will get.  He does keep me from getting scars, he is not completely without his uses."

*Giggling, Essa stands slowly and joins in the revelry, drinking and dancing until the last of the patrons stumble from the establishment*

[thedagda]

*Packing a few miscellaneous items and many bottles of wine, her thoughts slowly drift to the past as her hands repeat the lovingly, tender procedure of wrapping and packing the wine, she has performed countless times over the years.* "So this is what you wanted?  Did I make your dreams come true?" *Sighs and mumbles to herself* "That's what I shoulda asked him, but no!  I had to untie him...and the party at the temple was just starting to get rolling. " *Shakes her head and stops from wrapping and packing the last bottle to uncork it. Glancing around quickly for a mug before tipping the bottle back to take a long drink.* "Now he's married..they all get married..fools. Wait!  Essa you foolish girl..it's you!"

*A smile tickles her lips as she takes another drink* "They settle for anything knowing they can't have me to be their one and only."  *Gently setting her pack on the floor, she slides down next to it as she takes another sip from her bottle.*  " A few more moments won't be troubling.  I'll still get there sooner or later."  

*She rests her head against the wall behind her, letting her thoughts drift back* " Gotta dig sand priestess, it'll do ya good."  *she takes another sip and tries to sort out her jumbled recollections*  "Priestess, your hose is torn....Priestess, your hair's a mess.....DUCK!."  *She groans as she pushes herself up*

"I need some time to relax..best get on the road to Katherian.  If only I could be something more for My Mistress..she has given so much to me..my beauty alone many would kill for."  *shrugs and drains the wine bottle before heading out*  "Guess we shall see what the future holds...I should hire someone to record it for me so I can read it when I'm old and wrinkly." *giggles* "Yeah, like that's ever gonna happen!"

[thedagda]

*Muddied, bloodied, and exhausted, Essa slides down the wall of the Tower Academy and gazes about the numerous victims of the tsunami.  Taking a long sip of wine, almost as if out of habit rather then want or need, her mind wanders recalling the recent past.*
"Essa, we gotta help the town folk...Essa, get your bandages....Essa, we ain't got time to drink!"  *groans softly and takes another drink* "I never shoulda left Katherian, everyone wants something from me.  Wake up..be responsible...be nice to the shorties.  I give and give and give..and yet they just want more.  The Queen of the Gypsies, let alone...well..me..looking like this..."  *she shakes her head and studies the faces of those closest that need attention.  Mixing a salve of aloe and ginseng she drifts back among her thoughts.* "Is this all for not?  Are we trying to stopper a cask with a blade of grass?"  *Glancing over as a refugee gasps his last* "I wonder if he had a home in Hemp..or just one of the many looking for help...leeching..begging."  

*Quirks a brow* "Wonder if it'll be for sale if he did have a house? Bet a girl could pick up some cheap property after this is settled. "  *Another quick sip from the bottle and a groan as a yell brings her back to the present* "Essa, he's bleeding out!  Get over here!"

[thedagda]

*Laying in the dark of a room in The Caring Hope Inn, Essa's red, swollen, sleep-deprived eyes flicker back and forth seemingly searching for something in the dark.  Gritting her teeth against the pain and memories of the nightmares, she mumbles softly to herself reliving recent events.* "You're a hero...you helped save Hemp..why'd ya do it?" "I ain't no hero, hero's don't do stupid things.  I shoulda just stayed in Katherian, far away..safe...never knowing the pain.  But, I know what I felt, behind the storm..pain. And now it won't go away."
*Grinds her teeth to keep from screaming against the memory of the pounding pain of her nightmares.*
"I had to try to take it in didn't I?  Wouldn't that lessen the storm..help save The Scamps..the guild..the city...me.  She says she can help me, save me from the nightmares.  Says I shoulda given the pain to her on the docks. I thought it was some trick, a delusion...or is it penance.  I just want her to take it away, I can't sleep, pray..I can't even drink it away for a night..the pounding never stops when I sleep."

"If it's true you get to know equal amounts of pleasures and pain..Hemp best make ready for another storm."

*She glances over to the door as Jaelle, Ben, Kyle, and Sala enter.  Listening to the details of what's to come, she scrubs at her  eyes, muttering.* "Why do I get myself in these situations."