A childhood already fraught with Alternian misadventures leads Alexin Flynnt to seek the companionship and advice of Keionx, a storied troll with important perspective. Together, Alexin delves into the meaning of rebellion and the Queen's command, and emerge with important revelations.
Only TanuKyle and DraconicFeline may post in this thread! Please quote the mule when you're finished with this growth RP. Thanks!
TanuKyle
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 9:42 am
Alexin adjusted their shirt nervously, and let Splitch preen their hair even though it was making it messier, because it made all of them feel better. Splitch had been injured in the adventures that led them here, and whilst enough time had passed that they could fly properly now, they tired easier, and Alexin didn't want them straining the injury site too much. Anyway, now that Alexin was growing up, Splitch was less fussy about going everywhere with them. In fact, Splitch was mostly content to let them out on their own all of the time, spending their time guarding the treehouse that Alexin had claimed as their own in the swamp, and spent time trying to rebuild.
They hadn't been great at it, but it was a functioning house now, with a simple pulley system to get things or people up and down even. (Stairs had proved to be very difficult to build, though there was a line of planks up the tree you could use to climb if you had to.) The use of which, Alexin noted, had probably contributed to the recently defining muscles they were getting, though part of that was probably to do with the growing thing, too. They were healthier than before too, though still slender - they'd never be a powerhouse, but they could actually lift a sword now, do something useful in a fight instead of running, distracting and inevitably getting the ones they cared about hurt.
Talking about ones they cared about...a slight blue flush settled on Alexin's face as they finally finished adjusting their shirt to their satisfaction. Eventually they'd decided on dressing semi-formally, but still casually for this evening. Of course, Alexin's version of casual was probably still fancy for most trolls. Despite now living in a swamp, they still had a very definite opinion on being smart and presentable at all times - even if their sense of fashion was a little...unusual. Tonight they were wearing a sleeveless collared shirt in black with their sign repeated on it in blood-hue embroidery, scavenged from an old shirt by virtue of cutting off the arms which no longer fitted, and layering it with a vest underneath so it could be worn with the top few buttons open.
Paired with black slacks with a cerulean trim, it was all very neat, very smart...with the possible exception of the bright red combat boots poking out from underneath the slacks. It was still Alexin's favourite colour, the neon red that shouted danger, even if they liked it for slightly different reasons, now.
Anyway, they were ready. Alexin had been thinking things over lately, and in the end they'd decided to seek advice from their most trusted friend to sort out the tangle in their head. Slightly distracted by thinking, they found themselves at the door of said troll quicker than they realised.
Keionx happened to be home - her new, swamp home. She was resting, remodeling, repairing - anything but the training she had done since early that evening, and the swamp-related work she had done for most of the week. She had actually just come out of the bath she had drawn for herself when the knock came. Fortunately, she was decently clothed for the time being, having dried herself off and stepped into some light clothing - a short skirt and a teeshirt. She hadn't yet figured out what she would wear over it to support her symbol, but a towel, taken from her old hive and hemotyped, lay draped around her neck.
She opened the door, and she wasn't sure who she expected to find on the other side. One of the officers perhaps, to talk to her about her training ideas? Vremea? Miache, here to make sure that she was clean and presentable?
"Oh! Alexin!" She smiled, delighted to see them. Her dear friend was a welcome surprise. She ran her fingers through her thick, easily tangled hair in an attempt to tame it into something less crazy. "Tis been a while... Wouldst thou like to come in?"
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 2:24 pm
DraconicFeline
It had been a while, and Keoinx was looking much better. Healed and well-rested for starters. Alexin smiled at her, tension ratcheting down a few notches.It was good to see her doing better.
"If you wouldn't mind. I've been.....thinking."
That was one way of putting it. Other versions included stressing, freaking and being generally confused and upset. They took a breath to remind themselves that Keoinx could - and would - help them sort this out. Right?
"...I could use some advice."
For Alexin, this was a big thing to admit. They were used to knowing they were right, knowing the most about a subject and knowing they were in the right too. This...this had been a big shakeup for them. They just hoped Keoinx wouldn't judge them too hard for not being who they thought they were - not being the one who knew best, who could always provide answers.
Keionx had already stood aside to let them in. "Advice?" She closed the door behind them, fiddling with the towel thoughtfully. Advice, huh. Well, she supposed she'd be the one to ask. Wasn't it always the people who had been the most confused that gave the best advice? Or something like that?
But, what might Alexin need advice on? Something about the Initiative? Their decision had been, after all, a sudden one. Keionx decided to approach this like a hero should. "Of course, Alexin!" she said, "Whatever you need!"
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 2:30 pm
DraconicFeline
(finally!)
As their friend answered, Alexin coughed, using the time to slyly wipe their eyes. Yes, they knew they'd come to the right person, but it was just a relief, to hear Keoinx answer the way they thought she would. Just. Such a relief.Eyes still a little watery from their rollercoaster ride of emotions, they grinned at Keoinx.
"You're always there for me."
The grin faded to a softer smile, something less likely to be found on Alexin's face usually. Somewhere in the swamp, a bird called, reminding Alexin of their lusus, and in turn the basket they'd insisted on 'helping' pack.
"I brought food if you wanted to um, find somewhere to eat and talk."
Keionx smiled back. Of course she was - she always would, and always would be. Alexin was a good friend, after all, and she had hoped that they would stay that way even after... all of that.
"Oh! Most excellent! How didst thou know that I was hungry?" she joked. It was true, though - she had finished her exercises and her bath, and after that came... food. She put on something quick and easy, a vest with her symbol on it. Not too flashy, but protective against some of the nastier things. "I know of a good place, where we can talk too." it was private - no one lived nearby yet, and the bridges had just been repaired by her hand. ”Shall we go?”
-----
Swamp lights – both natural and artificial – glowed in the nearly-skyless dusk of the swamp. The air hung as thick as the leaves around them, echoing with strange cries and rustles. Surrounded by as-yet-empty restored hives, the place was quiet, overlooking what could be generously called a 'meadow'. Plants ringed it, some flowering in glowing shades, and above them danced light-bugs of lovely hues.
It was a far cry from the chilly Busthind caverns that Keionx had grown up in, or from the lush forests that Alexin had called home. They were, indeed, both a long way from home, and they couldn't go back. They'd been warned – Royal troops lurked there, ready to pounce on them if they showed themselves in their own personas. Go out in disguise, or be extra cautious was the rule.
They, the two friends heading out on this fine evening, were in exile, far from all they had known. Though they had joined the rebellion of their own will, everything had happened far faster than either would have liked, the decision to join essentially made prematurely by that fateful explosion not, yet, too long ago.
Keionx thought about it often - That was why she spent so much time building. It took her mind off of it.
The bridge was sturdy enough to sit on, and they could eat and talk there just as well as some of the old wooden chairs laid out on the platforms in front of the empty hives. Either way...
”This is it – what dost thou think? Tis a good place to eat and talk, is it not?”
Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 8:12 pm
DraconicFeline
Alexin smiled more easily, reassured by the presence of the troll they considered their closest friend. The blueblood had never been...brilliant, at friendships, even before the whole fiasco, and now in the swamp they were somewhat of a recluse.
As they were led to the eating spot however, they decided if they were missing out on pretty places like this with awesome company, they might be less of a recluse. Alexin sat on the bridge, putting the basket down, and opening the top so that the pair of them could eat.
As they munched, Alexin almost said something multiple times, but chickened out last minute.
"Hmm?" Keionx turned to Alexin, eyes bright and friendly, all openness and willingness to listen. She waited, all through Alexin's stumblings until it became clear that nothing was forthcoming. She would have to draw it out now.
"Alexin? What is it?"
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 3:54 pm
DraconicFeline
]
How could they even begin. There was so much on their mind, so much they wanted to talk to Kei about. Everything was a jumble of feelings and memories and panic and - they breathed in, then out, dispelling the panicky feelings for now. It was just. Everything.....everything was different.
“Everything’s….different, now.”
Then, as if speaking those words had broken the dam, a veritable torrent of words flooded out.
"Not just - like. IT's not just the big things. It's the little ones. Shoes don't fit, I've had to get new clothes or tailor them up and supplies are different, life is different, the water tastes funny even with purification tablets, Splitch is still recuperating and what if they never get better, I built a house Kei, a house! I would never have dreamed I could build a house even with help - and I just."
Keionx understood. She understood completely. She had been wandering, and so she was used to strange supplies and funny-tasting water, and that was fine. The building, too - she'd done that in Chittentown. For her, it was the conversations she heard while outside, the squelch of the swamp, the oppressive sense that she was a tiny, naiive fleck of dust in the face of something far bigger than she'd ever comprehended... "Aye." she agreed. Everything was different. She was a criminal, for gogsakes. Somehow, a criminal. But she hadn't done anything wrong.
"Tis... a lot to take in." She looked out over the swampland scenery for a moment. Everything was different for her. Everything was different for Alexin.
Both things were her fault. "I'm... sorry." she said softly, "I didn't think it tw'ould... go this way."
Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:27 pm
TanuKyle
Alexin paused as Keionx spoke.
"....You're sorry?"
That. That was not what Alexin had been expecting. It...it had probably been difficult for Keoinx too, hadn't it. They smiled weakly...Keionx was always there for them, even when things were hurting her. Tears threatened again and Alexin turned to Kei, looking at her for a second. Then, building up all their courage, they hugged her tight, burying their slightly damp face in her shoulder. Still they pulled back a little, making sure she could hear them.
"You don't need to be sorry, Kei. Following you has been the best thing I've ever done."
Because it had been really. It had opened up so many possibilities to them - oh closed some, sure, but this...rebellion, inevitably doomed even as it might be without an heiress, it felt right. They were doing the right thing, and all trolls would die eventually.
Alexin sounded... surprised? As if they were not expecting an apology, not in a million sweeps. After all they had said, the little inconveniences of the swamp, the hive they had built for themselves, the life they'd had to leave... and they didn't expect an apology?
Keionx blinked... and was hugged -- Out of the blue (pun not intended) hugged.
Following you has been the best thing I've ever done.
Keionx hesitated a moment, eyes pricking with something more than the bright lights of the lightbugs and the smell of the swamp, and then returned the hug. Her powerful arms encircled Alexin tightly, all strength and warmth and closeness. It was an awkward hug, perhaps, but it was one that beastdad would have been proud of.
There was a question on her mind that she wanted to ask now. Several, really, that nudged at her mind.
She lifted a hand to Alexins head and stroked their hair gently for a moment, sniffing a little herself.
Those questions could wait for a little bit.
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 4:15 am
DraconicFeline
Alexin didn't get much physical contact, really. Splitch was a fussy lusus true, but being so large meant that mostly it was hair-preening or Alexin on their back - talons and huge wings didn't make for good hugging limbs. So the hug, the hug was nice anyway, but recieving a tight, warm hug from the object of one's affections was even better.
Eventually Alexin pulled back from the hug, giving a watery smile.
Hugs always had to end eventually, if only so that one could breathe, and see. Alexin's face, that smile of pure and amorphous feeling - so honest and true and needing - tugged at her soul. It was like starlight trapped behind rainclouds, or a lanternlight cloaked by paper. Gently, she brushed a hand against their cheek, brushing away some of the blue-tinted tears staining it.
"Thou art... inspiring. Dost thou realize?" Keionx said softly - which was saying a lot, considering the natural resonance of her voice. "You made thy decision, and regret nothing of it... I wish I could be as brave as thou werst... and as thou are, now."
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