Time Heals All Wounds //Laeghton&Cady

[Lord Laeghton Mercer]

Laeghton had well known when he'd risen to find Cady that she wasn't going to be happy to end up in his bed, with him drunk and opium-induced, but he went anyway. He thought himself kind of moronic sometimes, delving into situations where he had absolutely no place, but he did it anyway. If that made him enemies... Hell, it didn't matter. It wasn't like that was going to determine his eventual eternity. He was going to save the damsel in distress and be done with it all, not caring what effect it had on either him or his conscience.

When he had Cady in his arms, she woke enough to understand where she was and who he was, and he wondered shortly if he'd been in her nightmare. She didn't seem to like him much now, and he thought bitterly that if she were scared of him now it served her right to be saved by him. That was his alcohol speaking; normally Laeghton wasn't so bitter. But he couldn't help that the alcohol was making him almost annoyed by the task at hand. He shouldn't be. Laeghton sighed. As she was freaking out, he gently kissed her on the forehead and continued to try and calm her. "I will not," he stated shortly, and laid her on his bed. When he laid down beside her, mind and body throbbing, he wondered how much she'd hate him for this.

Just as he was about to sleep, he caught her words and smiled. He waited until she had fallen once more asleep and wrapped himself around her. He'd suffer whatever consequences she'd put him through; he just needed to make sure she was alright. He didn't know what he'd do if ever he let her get hurt.

There was a stirring in the middle of the night, and Laeghton thought he was dreaming when he felt himself turn over into an empty bed. But he rubbed his face and opened his eyes, to no avail, considering how dark it was. But as he felt around for his dear, sweet Cady, he wondered where she'd gone now. Back to her room? Did she hate him that much? He didn't want to go back for her. And he wouldn't. Because his head was throbbing from the ridiculous amount of opium and brandy he'd consumed and if she didn't want him around, he shouldn't force her to be around him. Tired and in pain, he went back to sleep.

But by morning's faithful light, she'd returned. He awoke with an awful headache from the alcohol--nothing that opium wouldn't cure--and realized that Cady was once more curled up beside him and holding onto him. He smiled a bit and turned over so that he could hold her small frame until she woke. It wasn't long until she opened her eyes as well, and he said, "Have I given you nightmares, then, princess?" He meant the term as one of endearment, and grinned. "I thought you left me last night." After that, his face was more somber.

STATUS complete TAG Lady Cady ATTIRE I'll get to it.
LYRICS Past the Point of Rescue; Hal Ketchum NOTES no notes
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Cadence Black]

Cady knew from the moment that she came back to Laeghton’s bedroom chamber that it was a bad idea. Yet she couldn’t imagine actually not returning to his bedroom after he had been kind enough to check on her after her nightmare. She didn’t want to tell him what it was about however she had a feeling that wasn’t going to be the end of it. Laeghton would probably want to know what had caused her to get so scared in a dream that she had actually screamed. Damn Thornton. Damn her bastard of a father who was about to sell her to a man like Thornton. She slowly entered his bedroom chamber carefully not wanting to wake him up once more. If he had the liquor and the opium in him, he needed to sleep most of the aftermath off. He would have a big head ache in the morning and she wanted to be there to help him take care of himself. She knew that it would be difficult since he was a grown man and a Lord, but he had invited her to stay here for a reason.

His words of confidence about not dropping her earlier and his scent filled her brain and Cady couldn’t help, but smile at him as she climbed back into his big bed and snuggled closer to him. She ignored her conscience screaming at her mentally that what she was doing was improper and inappropriate for two people who were not married or even betrothed.

Cady woke up a few hours later sleeping through the rooster announcing that it was time to wake up a long time ago. She yawned gently stretching out a bit before glancing up a bit and seeing that she was being watched. Smiling she slowly leaned up to kiss his lips gently.

“Good morning,” She greeted him with a smile before grimacing at the nickname of princess. She knew she was technically still one, but she didn’t want that reminder in Solraya or even Avonderre. She just wanted to be Cady and she was with Laeghton, “You’re lucky you’re so handsome I’ll let that slide just this once my dear. I could never leave you, I just was a bit upset yesterday afternoon and I do apologize for my behavior. If you wish for me to leave your lovely castle, then I understand. I do ask for your forgiveness. I also must thank you for being so kind and taking me here so I was alright. I only left to get some warm milk so I could sleep better, however, I didn’t need it much since I had someone warm and gentle to sleep with.” She told him softly with a smile running a finger down his cheek and snuggling closer to him once more.

“How are you feeling? I found the brandy and the opium last night. You scared me.” Cady said with a soft sigh. She worried about him already and those two items put together were not a good combination with a man that didn’t handle confrontations and problems well.

STATUS completeTAG Laeghton ATTIRE Yup.LYRICS Everything I Do; Bryan Adams WORD COUNT 518 NOTES notes here
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Lord Laeghton Mercer]

Laeghton Gale Mercer was not the same man when he was drunk. He was harsher, more bitter, and just generally rougher when the alcohol controlled him, and it simply wasn't the man that God had set in place to take care of his sheep. No, he was a terrible person when he was like that. In fact, that had been the reason, along with Wren Rae's disappearance, that Laeghton had twice tried his luck with death. But neither ropes nor poison had been able to kill him, and that was when he'd known he had to move on. God, as much as he'd tortured Laegh, wasn't going to let him leave.

It was actually the pain from his alcohol that caused Laeghton to start on the opium. It dulled all physical pain. It was easy enough to find; most physicians kept some and it was something that could be smoked. Of course, sometimes it had other side effects, other than just dulling pain--it was an exotic drug, after all--but Laeghton rarely experienced those.

But when he woke to see that neither his brandy bottle--empty though it had been--nor his opium were where he'd left them, he knew who'd done it. The sleeping woman at his side, of course. He scowled but knew where the rest of it was. And really, he didn't need his liquor this morning; that would only make his headache worse. He would have some of the painkiller instead, perhaps smoke it with tea this morning. Of course, he was not nearly as bad about using those things as he'd once been, but yesterday's events hadn't made him feel very good.

He turned to face Cady, and smiled wearily as she woke, and kissed him. Ah, how sweet. Perhaps he'd been all wrong. Was he still in her good graces? He chuckled at her words and kissed her again. "Me? I'm not near as handsome as some of your court men elsewhere. Not in Solraya, at least." he smiled. He wanted to call her princess again, just to tease her, but he daren't do it again. "I'm so glad you're not trying to kill me. You're going to have to pardon a lot of the things I say, though. I'm afraid half my words have been drawn from the bottom of a brandy bottle. But I'm glad I can at least offer you comfort of some sort." He grinned and ran his hand down the length of her arm, taking hold of her wrist and then bringing it up to his lips for a gentle kiss.

He stared at her through tired eyes. "I know," was all he said. Of course it had been her. There were all of four servants and Wren Rae left in the house, after all. He yawned and then figured he really ought answer that original question of hers. With a sigh, he said sleepily, "My head hurts something terrible and I wish you'd not taken my pipe. You'll make me find another." He was somewhat cross at himself for not putting it away, and this hangover was making him ill-tempered.

He just needed something to dull the pain.

STATUS complete TAG Lady Cady ATTIRE I'll get to it.
LYRICS Past the Point of Rescue; Hal Ketchum NOTES I would like to apologize for my extensive research and inclusion of opium. Without anything to do for a couple days, I've been watching and reading Dorian Gray excessively. He's an opium addict himself and I was absolutely intrigued by the use and legality of it in Dorian's day. Thus, Laeghton's slowly turning into my favorite literary character. Again, my apologies.
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Cadence Black]

T he more Cady laid next to Laeghton in his warm embrace wrapped around him, the more she thought it was not the best of ideas to get rid of the opium. At the time, she thought it would be the best idea at the time, but the more she remembered about opium, the more she realized it could help with Laeghton’s hangover in the morning. She wanted to help him, but she also feared that if she gave him some then it would only ignite his desire for it. She was here to help him heal himself from the drugs and the alcohol. Cady agreed to those terms and that is what she had told Queen Danielle when she asked her if she could be with Laeghton. Well she had told the young woman that he was in need of her services more in a personal reason. She agreed to all of that before she had started to fall in love with the older, yet wiser, kinder man.

Maybe just this once if he wanted it to help him with the morning after he had been drunk, she thought and she nodded in satisfaction. She would ask him in the morning realizing that was probably a really dumb idea, but she wanted Laeghton to be content with her and not displeased. She already had gotten him drunk, or was the reason why he had gotten drunk in the first place.

When she had woken up and kissed him, she watched him smile
at her before kissing her once more. Cady smiled and kissed him back again gently not wanting to hurt him or cause him any more pain whatsoever, “No believe me you are the most handsome man that I have ever come across and I have seen men from all over the lands. The men in Tyrian and Solraya have nothing compared to you. They are pigs and nothing else. You are not one otherwise I would not be here right now in your bed and in your home. You have brought me more than comfort, you know. You have made me feel special and welcome somewhere. I feel wanted and that means a lot to me. I hope I have done the same and I ask you to be nothing, but honest with me.” She told him softly as she felt his hand trailing down her arm and kissed her wrist gently. She could feel her heart skip a beat and she leaned over to kiss him once more and rubbed his back gently using the palm of her hand.

Frowning a bit at his words about his pipe, Cady sighed and sat up in the bed, “I do apologize I just thought I was helping you. You did ask me to help you Laeghton, that’s why I’m here. However I did not throw away your pipe. I will go fetch it for you but you have to promise me that this will be the last time you use this. This drug could kill you, the liquor could kill you someday and if I lost you when I just found you…I cannot even fathom the thought of it when I have deep feelings for you.” She told him softly with a sigh before getting up from the bed and his warm embrace.

“I will be right back.” She told him leaning forward to kiss his forehead and headed back into her bedroom chambers to grab her night robe. It was just breaking dawn outside and the servants would be up soon. She went down the stairs and into the kitchen unhooking the wine cabinet doors and bending down to the secret drawer she had found and grabbed the pouch of the drug and his pipe. Shaking her head, she hide them in the pockets of her night robe and poured some cold water into a pitcher, grabbing a goblet for him along with a washcloth for his forehead. Cady slowly balanced everything in her arms and headed back to Laeghton’s bed chambers and went over to his nightstand to where he was laying there.

She poured some water in the goblet and handed him the goblet, “Drink this, you needs lots of water.” She ordered him as she then placed the washcloth in the water and rung it out before folding it up and placing it on his forehead. Slowly sighing, she took the pouch and the pipe from her pockets and placed it next to him.

“Would you like for me to stay here or leave you be?” She asked him softly.

STATUS complete/in progress TAG tagged charrie ATTIRE link to outfit
LYRICS Everything I Do; Bryan Adams WORD COUNT number NOTES notes here
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Lord Laeghton Mercer]

Laeghton had heard it said that opium was some sort of mind-altering constituent, but it had never done anything serious to his mind that he knew of. In fact, it had helped his mental state after his two failed attempts at suicide, and eased the pain of his alcohol problem. It kept him from thinking too often about his physical disabilities, his one blind eye and deaf ear--those things that made him unable to see the light of a better future or hear the calls of a god that followed him always. They were a perfect asset to his pessimistic personality, a perfect anecdote.

He thought he could feel the love radiating from her. For her to so innocently place her trust in an older man who was addicted to more than his fair share of substances was impressive, and endearing. His heart warmed all the more, knowing that he had been given by God the charge of taking care of her. Making sure she didn't fall prey to all the terrors that had already befallen him. He was wise for a reason... It had just taken a half-useless face for him to realize that. He sent up a silent thanks. He didn't need both eyes to admire her beauty.

He laughed it off. She was gorgeous, no doubt, but he... well, no. He was really nothing special. He felt too old to be handsome in any way. Intelligent, perhaps, but not attractive. In fact, his first wife had detested him so much that she had refused to share his chamber after they were married. He sighed. "Be honest, though. It pains you to look at me... I'm not handsome." He laughed wearily, his tone coming off in an almost bitter way. His head hurt something terrible and he could go for a good dose of opium and a ride about his estate right now. He looked over at Katie, a lustful youth gracing his old eyes. "If I were really handsome, you'd be more than just in my bed," he laughed wittily, wondering if it wasn't just a bit uncalled for, "But really, Cady, you're the wonderful one. You've saved me from myself." And he meant it. He kissed her once more, this time with just a bit more passion to let her know how much he meant it.

He thought about running his hand along her again, but thought better of it before he regretted something.

When she returned with his pipe, the smile grew upon his face. He looked at her with pitiful eyes and replied apologetically, "I can only promise I won't drink anymore if you won't ever leave me like that again. I have a mental trigger when people leave me," he reminded her gently. "But I make no promises about my pipe, and you'll have to forgive me. It has no side effects. It just dulls the pain." He was being honest, and that was what she'd asked for, wasn't it? He couldn't stop this addiction, he just couldn't. Alcohol was one thing. He resorted to it mostly when in depression. Opium was something he could use whenever he pleased with no problems.

She tended to him well, and he shivered under the cover of the linen. But it did feel nice, he admitted. He drank as she bade him but when he was through, he immediately resorted to his pipe. After preparing it, he inhaled all that one breath would allow, and breathed it out with relief written all about his face. Hell, that felt nice.

He turned back to Cady, relief flooding his body. "No, stay. Sit with me. Lay with me. I don't like being alone." He almost commanded it, but he meant what he said. He could not trust himself when he was on his own, as it were. He looked her in the eyes and reached out to touch her hair. "You're so very perfect, Cady. My Cady," he added the last bit with a whispered eloquence, knowing that he wanted her for his own one day. But he had to wait until the time was right, until she understood how much she meant and knew that she wanted to be his. He took some more opium and sighed. And... Oh yes. There was indeed another side effect.

Lust.

STATUS complete TAG Lady Cady ATTIRE I'll get to it.
LYRICS Past the Point of Rescue; Hal Ketchum NOTES Oh, were I ever to get to study Dorian Gray....
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Cadence Black]

Cady only knew so much about the slowly popularity of the drug opium. She had only some knowledge of the bad habit only from her dear friend and physician Elias Drogo. She had inquired him about the issues that he had been dealing on a visit and he had informed her of the drug and certain side effects from it. She knew that it could cure hangovers very easily and quickly, but wondered why he would get access to it and why he would be lying to her about the dosage and the effects. She could not help, but ponder how much of a naïve person she actually was. She was half tempted to roll her eyes, but she had learned quickly that any kind of negativity could trigger Laeghton to do something he could regret later on. She could never forgive herself if he did something else dumb because of her.

No one was perfect, but to Cady, Laeghton was an amazing man and nothing could ever change her mind.

“Stop it please; you are the most handsome man in the whole entire world.” She remarked rolling her eyes at him ignoring his pessimistic comments. Raising an eyebrow at his next comment, she smirked and bent down in front of him her face in front of him kissing him gently on the lips teasing him a bit, “Oh really my lord? Now I must know what you mean, so you could demonstrate for me since it was obvious yesterday what you were hiding.” She said kissing him once more as he kissed her a bit more passionately. Grinning against his mouth, she returned it timidly opening her mouth a bit more before pulling away with a smile.

Cady shook her head gently before climbing back on the bed and sitting next to him trying to ignore the smell of opium that was quickly filling the room as he smoked his pipe. She tried really hard to not cough as the smell was horrible, but deciding to suck it up to talk to him more. It was obvious that he did not want her to leave him just right now, “I did not save you Laeghton, and I cannot take credit for that. I just encouraged you, it was all you.” She told him softly rubbing his arm gently as she glanced over at the doors of his bedroom chambers as she heard movement and noise on the other side. The servants might be up and getting prepared for the day.

Listening to his bargain, she had no choice, but to agree with him right now. She wished he could get rid of the opium once and for all, but the liquor was better than nothing right now. Cady let out a soft sigh and nodded, “I understand about the liquor and I thank you, but why not the opium? Forgive me, but I have no knowledge other than what Master Drogo told me the day he took care of me after I was attacked in the village a month or so ago. I do appreciate for your honesty though and I won’t leave you until I have to.” She vowed to him silently rubbing his arm once more as one hand trailed down across to his back reaching underneath his nightshirt and rubbing his bare back gently.
He was grateful for the remedies that she had treated him with and she smiled at him, kissing his cheek once more reaching over to take a drink of water from his goblet her throat dry from the inhalations of the smoke that was rising around them. At his pleads with her to stay she wanted to do nothing more and she would never leave him until the day called for it. When Cady heard her name, she glanced over at him and blushed a bit when he called her his. He was hers as well, nothing could change that.

“I’m not perfect, no one is my Laeghton. In fact I’m going to call you Laegh; it’s my special little name for you. I can say it in all kinds of ways you know.” She said with a smirk on her face teasing him once more winking at him playfully.

STATUS complete/ TAG LaeghATTIRE already have it
LYRICS Everything I Do; Bryan Adams WORD COUNT 708 NOTES Lots of teasing going around, sorry this is so late! COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Lord Laeghton Mercer]

Even if he was absolutely nothing else, Laeghton Mercer was loyal. He tried, and usually failed, to be a good Catholic, but of all the commandments, he'd always found the ones that involved fidelity to be the ones that most tapped into his personality. They were his strongest morals. Yes, he tried to follow all the others, but he had a taste for alcohol and opium, and he knew he didn't always love everyone he came across--though, that one he was beginning to get better at. It was just Tyrian; if they didn't exist, he'd have no one to hate.

If, indeed, she wasn't lying--which he knew she was--he didn't really care. He didn't get much flattery, really, seeing as his part of the kingdom was worse for wear since he'd come to power here. Not much worse, and it wasn't noticeable on the surface, but worse all the same. It was poorer than Solraya, and not as well kept. He was more than certain that there were illegal gambling tables somewhere in town, which sometimes he wished he could inhabit. But he wasn't special. Nor good. Try as he may, Laeghton was still simply Lord Avonderre. When Cadence leaned down to kiss him, he smiled and closed his eyes. To her comment, which he rendered uncharacteristic of such a naive girl, he took a short pause before replying. "You caught me," said he. "But I don't know how much you'd enjoy that. I'm a little intoxicated, after all." He would try and discourage her behaviour, else he may fall for it. And right now, he wasn't in a position that would catch him if his morals fell out.

But that wasn't to say that he didn't enjoy her kisses, because he did. But he could quickly see that she was a stranger to the ever-present aroma of opium, too, and she didn't like it. No, it wasn't the best smell, but it was what Laeghton needed right now. She'd get used to it eventually. "Don't tell me that," he said rather bitterly. "I can't do anything myself. Hell, I can't even run the town that was my godsend for life. I can only help others. I can't help myself." He knew it was true and he wished she'd stop denying it. He sighed and turned to her, careful that his one good ear could still hear. "You're here to make me better. It's your job. Take the credit for what you've done; I don't want it. You've been good to me... You've also damned me to another heartbreak if you leave me."

He was silent for a moment. He'd heard of the Drogo man, a local one. Well, why couldn't he stop? That was a terribly complex matter. It wasn't just the addiction, though that was part of it. The other parts were, respectively, his father and his wife. His father had taken up the drug as well, and he couldn't bear to part with something that so reminded him of his father. On the other hand, his wife had hated it. Thus, he continued. Anything to make her suffer in his presence was welcome. To Cady, he didn't make such an explanation. "It's a drug, Cady. I can't live without it. And... it reminds me of my family." That was all the explanation he was willing to give, as he was beginning to feel his heart grow weak in its remembrances.

He sighed as he felt her tender touch. He enjoyed it, he did, but he had to hold off. If she'd marry him one day, she could have him, but until then, he was intent on keeping the few commandments he had yet to break. He smiled softly at her words, too. That was also what Wren Rae called him. At all his prior thoughts, Laeghton began to feel his depression lingering above him. He missed his father. He missed the Wren Rae he'd known. And he missed, above all, the days he'd been so sure that God favored him.

"No one," he repeated. He wasn't sure about the way that tasted. "And you know," he started again, trying to brush off his past memories, "I'm going to call you Cadence. I couldn't bear to part with one syllable of your name." He smiled, offering his glistening eyes as his only hint of grief. With another smoke of the pipe, he thought he could hear his father's voice beckoning him.

STATUS complete TAG Lady Cady ATTIRE I'll get to it.
LYRICS Past the Point of Rescue; Hal Ketchum NOTES Woohoo! Opium inducement!
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras