Good luck! 

Yes Arinth!! I'm doing NaNo and powering through my story. Wanna do some story swaps at some point?

Woo! Wowow how was Amsterdam? I was gonna add, once you've posted in your intro thread, I'll drop Arkin in as well, unless you want Arinth to just tell gou to join the scouts and come find me. You are a scout, right?

Arkin was not prepared for the sudden shift of Arinth's weight. Arkin knew how to handle a bigger man in a fight, but in an unexpected lean, he was worse than useless, and they both went towards the ground. Arkin managed to twist himself back to upright after a few undignified stumbling steps, but Arinth didn't quite make it. He sat up fast enough though, and Arkin quieted his cackles to listen to his answer. 

It was an operation to get Arinth back onto his feet, but they managed it, and Arkin tried to focus on what he was saying. He knew a guy. Alright. Sounded fair. Arkin let loose another laugh at the idea that he was gonna let some guy Arinth knew draw on his skin. He spread his hands in a 'you know best' gesture and bowed a little shakily for Arinth to lead the way. 

Arkin was sure he hadn't met this man before, though he certainly recognised the look of a fighter when he saw one. Then again, it was hardly risky to assume anyone in the Citadel could fight if they had to. Arkin glanced around the arrangement in the tent curiously as Arinth spoke, digging a flask out of his coat. He sipped as he squinted at a back corner of the room, trying to discern whether the light there was from a candle or some other candle it had stolen it from. 

He glanced back when he felt the two men look at him. He grinned, vanishing his flask as quick as a gleeman. "Just a little something to take the edge off," he winked. 

The man scowled at them for a moment longer before he rolled his eyes and jerked his head, inviting them deeper into the tent. "Well it's your own flaming fault if you wake up in the morning with a dragon fang on your arse then," he said. He turned, arms crossed over his chest. "What'll you be getting then?" 

I am obsessed with the Adventure Zone, but I haven't found any other actual play podcasts yet to binge on, though I hear about Critical Role all the time. I should do it? 

I love it!!

It was dark out, and after the brightness of the tavern, Arkin's eyes were as useless as a harp in an officer's tent. He didn't let that stop him. He could follow Arinth's blundering blindfolded, and the dim light from the tents and the rest of the Citadel was more than enough for Arkin's deft footwork. He tripped over a small stack of something, but righted himself quickly. He burped a little and took off after Arinth again. 

The big man wasn't made for running. He was leaning over his knees, panting, and swaying just a little. Unable and unwilling to stop a laugh from escaping, Arkin bumped into him. He'd been intending to help him upright, but he ended up hanging on to Arinth's arm and laughing like a lunatic. 

What was going on with Arinth? He was a fun enough fellow to be around, Arkin knew, but rarely had he seen him in such good form. Especially not since their return from Tanchico, and the mountains of paperwork Arinth's promotion had led to. But here he was, grinning at Arkin like a fool. 

Arkin let him talk. Embraced the darkness. It was true. Those memories, those nightmares. They came, whether Arkin wanted them or not, and he wasn't sure he didn't deserve that torment. He'd survived. He knew Arinth felt the same. Arkin was struck by his words. Honouring them? Was that why it had felt so hard to escape hose dark moods? That guilt and the fear. Honouring the dead? Wishing he'd done more, knowing he could have done more. Jehryn flashed across his vision, a dark shape lying cold, bandages lying on the floor of an alley, empty buckets and screaming Seanchan. Arkin swallowed, hard. Jehryn. But, Arinth was right. Jehryn wouldn't have wanted this. None of them would have. 

Arkin smiled back at Arinth, clasping his hand as the man stood, straight backed. "We didn't survive that hellhole just to lose ourselves to this." A touch of freedom rippled through Arkin's chest, a loosening of something he hadn't even known he was holding tight. 

Wait. Tattoos? Arkin laughed. "Like the Sea Folk have?" He didn't even bother thinking about the idea. Of course they would get tattoos. But the more he let the thought linger, the more he enjoyed it. That battle had left scars, ones you could see, and ones you couldn't. Why not make a mark of their own? They were taking back their memories. "Where are we going to get them this time of night?" 

*hugs and sits on Arinth* Everyone still interested in a few days of bandit-hunting? 

I don't remember you, but hi!

Oh, I'm still here and I forgot to touch this thread XD

Arkin grinned menacingly at Arinth's words. No causing trouble? "Oh of course not. We're on our very best behaviour, are we not?" he asked, still grinning. Still, Arinth had a point. Arkin glanced over the other Banders who had made the trip. Most of them joked and lounged about with a kind of reckless bravado the Band managed well. Still, there were plenty of them casting nervous glances at the black-coated men, and the strange golden eyes of the wolfkin woman. 

Arkin dealt with the Black Tower folk in the same way he dealt with most people he assumed vastly outmatched him. He ignored them. No point worrying about someone who could likely as not kill him. Arkin couldn't stop them going crazy, much as he couldn't stop them from throwing him over the mountains or turning him to a fireball if they wanted to. Best not to think on these things. 

The nervous Banders didn't have long to worry about it though, as the woman, who must be the leader of the Wolfkin, stepped up and started speaking. A couple of hours, with some wolves. Alright, that sounded perfectly doable. Another grin spread over Arkin's face. The black-coats wouldn't have their powers for much longer then. He could almost see the relief in the tense faces of the Banders. 

He himself was somewhat more nervous about the wolves. He knew these were not wild wolves...well, they were...but they weren't hungry, at least. But killing machines who might go mad at any moment were far more simple for Arkin to wrap his head around. Wolves could run him down and eat him no worries. And where there was one wolf, there were always others. He scanned the treeline again, eyes and ears sharp. If anyone in the Band could spot the wolves, it was him. 

His ears practically pricked up as the wolf woman asked who wanted to try crossing into the Stedding. Him! He wanted that! As much as he had travelled, it had primarily been to and from large cities. His forest experience was fair, but he had never strayed so far from a city that he could come across a Stedding. 

He glanced up at Arinth, grinning, and scanned across the other Banders, none of whom seemed overly keen to be the first to go, though markedly more so than the Asha'man. 

Throwing his hand in the air, Arkin ducked and weaved his way up to the wolf woman. And the wolf at her side. It was huge. All wolves were, he supposed, but still. Arkin was not a large man. This wolf could eat him for its midday meal. Still, it didn't seem to be hungry right then, and Arkin wanted to walk into the Stedding. "I'm sure it can't be too strange for regular folk!" he said, laughing. 

Welcome!! You've come to the right place! Come say hello in aaaaaall the social groups!

Hey new people! Come join us for a drink in the Band and we'll help you through the post-WoT haze.  :p I just started a re-read half on audiobooks. I don't usually do audiobooks, but I wanted to do a puzzle and read, so audiobooks seemed a sensible path. I am obsessed with the voices now, especially my new all-time favourite Aludra. That had me in stitches. I don't know what I read her voice like, but it wasn't that accent. 

I will always love Mat, but Lan has always been my favourite character. It's been so fun meeting everyone over again in this re-read though! I like Nynaeve and Moiraine more and Faile and Min less this time around. And Tallanvor is the best. Excellent choice. 

Have an explore around the social groups and say hi to your new nerd-family! Anyone who's made it through the series has plenty in common with everyone here so don't be afraid to start a conversation! And the roleplay side is always looking for more people if you fancy giving that a go (shoot me a PM if you have any ideas!)

Not Even the King - Alicia Keys

What does the shiny new name mean?!?!?! Must know!!

BEST GIF

Haha the stone head that was sad he didn't get to do his intimidating line! He says it to Sarah and I guess Hoggle since he's there

It explains why the shots can be a bit funny hahaha. It's the best remembering there's a little man crouching behind him in those scenes XD

<3 Ludo

Also, are we going to talk about Michael Moschen? Skip to like, a minute in to see the poor dude trying to blind contact juggle behind David Bowie - my favourite thing in the Labyrinth haha

We need to talk about Michael Moschen XD

Milk bottles! I didn't realise it was a Henson trademark though?!

Yay!

Oh I am so glad those are in the same post. What a pair we make, Chae

Beat me to it! 

They were just citizens of the Labyrinth trying to go about their every day lives XD