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 Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 6:11 pm
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Footsteps softly treading upon the ground, the sweet scented wind rustling golden hair and bright amethyst eyes gazing in front of her, a female emerged from the Loka Nei Forest. Her normally mischievous face was caught in an uncharacteristic faraway look as she walked a path she hadn't touched in seasons. Her new fiery red mellon sat on her shoulder, perplexed at her unusual silence all day long. But he didn't know, and she didn't care to explain. Suddenly her gaze snapped into focus as a figure appeared in the distance. She had almost reached her destination, and her heart fluttered in her chest in anticipation. Wait it's...it's gone. Erylia's pace quickened into a jog, causing the poor mellon to sudden cling to her shoulder else be flung off in the sudden change of speed. It had been the first time she had really gone out in seasons, her mission for Dylana aside. When had the lighthouse been destroyed? The female made quick time in her new pace to reach the heap of rubble, her heart sinking. Majority of her memories of her mother had been in Headquarters. The entirety of her childhood had been spent inside it's halls. And now...there was nothing. Slowly the female sat, a heavy sigh leaving her lips. For even now, the female didn't cry. She almost never did, even as a child, and now was no exception. "Well...so much for paying respects." Erylia mumbled, her mellon looking up at her in confusion.
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:44 pm
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 Criofan didn't really come out to this end of the Isle that often anymore.
He lived near Tuatha'Ri Lake, much farther from the Headquarters--or the old location of the headquarters, anyway--than it had seemed to be before. The area was fairly peaceful and was a hub of activity all the same. Considering how many people looted out here, too, or at least were given permission to gather up the remains of the Headquarters, Criofan wasn't necessarily inclined to keep any of his stashes near the old location anymore.
There was one he had remaining near the Headquarters, and as it was a smaller horde, he was wondering if, at this point, it would be better to just consolidate and stick it in his house. There was probably enough space for it, now, and the stuff there wasn't enough space for, he could just ... give to Texas or something. He trusted that the man wouldn't give it away, probably because he thought material wealth was a silly thing to waste.
He came by this area to check on that particular stash, a satchel over his shoulder to carry some of the small amount of things he had stashed back with him. Carrying a large amount would look conspicuous, so if he was going to move the whole stash, he would have to do it in several batches. There was no way he was letting anyone get suspicious of his stash and even get a chance at getting at it.
It was a fairly normal reconnaissance trip... that was, until he spotted someone on the horizon.
Criofan needed to duck. He glanced around the environment, taking in what was around. The Headquarters area was pretty dead and flat, now, but they were fairly close to the forest still and he could likely duck under some bush if needed. That wouldn't be a problem. Still, did she see him already? He glanced back to the woman, eyes taking her in a little closer on the second glance ... and a frown forming on his face as he did, before it widened into an o, eyes widening in surprise.
Was that ... Erylia?
No, it had to be a warm day...
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:43 pm
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Great, now she was staring at him too.
He certainly was not suffering the effects of a mirage. As much as it was warm, this wasn't one of the deserts he had once read about, and he was plenty hydrated. That was why he had some water in the satchel that he had been sipping from. As much as he mentally wanted to think that there was no way this was anything but an illusion--or maybe he didn't, secretly glad for some confirmation that she had not been lost to the ages--he knew that there was no way this was anything near an illusion.
This was Erylia, in flesh, staring at him like Kheliot stared at him whenever Zaria ran over to hug him as tightly as possible. And ... right, a lot had changed since he had last seen her. ... A lot. He was pretty sure he hadn't even had one kid when he had last seen Erylia. When he had last seen Erylia, theirs was a dating arrangement that seemed to drop off the face of the planet faster than he could figure out how to snatch Magnus' alcoholic stash.
He could use some spirits right now.
Not that Kheliot was truly his child; he was a stepchild, really, though Zaria was his own, a mistake she was caused by a thing of a past and a thing of mistaken things he had gotten himself into when the presence of Erylia was one that was a distant, albeit still painful memory. It was strange to see the source of all of those memories, both painful and agitated and enjoyable and insane standing in front of him, and Criofan the Charming was at an unusual loss for words.
So he lifted his hand and offered a wave.
'Twas a start.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 3:43 pm
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And she waved back.
Well, that was a start.
Criofan lowered a golden hand, shuffling his feet as he mentally tried to puzzle out what exactly he was supposed to be doing in this situation. Criofan had never really met up with someone after being away from them for many seasons. That was just something that never really ... well... happened. Generally the people he associated with, he associated with either long term or as short term as humanly possible. There was no real in-between, no real old friends or old flames until now. What was appropriate behavior?
It was strange to be hesitant for someone like Criofan, but as he got older, he had become more calculating, more measured in his actions. He was not the same level of spontaneous he used to be, and perhaps that just came with age. There was definitely part of it that was linked to settling down, though, roped in by a daughter that was so out-of-control half the time that she was still hard to manage as an adult. All he wanted to do in the morning most of the time was sleep...
"Yes, how long has it been? More than a few seasons I'm sure."
That was a bit less of an understatement.
"What brings you out here? Certainly, you can't want to admire the," he paused, looking around her and over her shoulder, "heap of nothing that is remaining of the Headquarters, it's actually been pretty cleaned up by now."
Small talk, dodging the point.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 2:59 pm
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As much of small talk as it was, what she was saying was giving Criofan a bit of a read on how she was doing, or at least, how much she knew. She seemed to be aware of the hurricane, and that meant that she likely hadn't gone anywhere... at least, off the isle. But she was not aware of the damage either, so either she was hiding away or maybe she had gone somewhere else, and someone had already informed her of the damage that had occurred.
... Or that a hurricane had occurred, at least.
Nostalgia was definitely something Criofan would have connected with the Headquarters, if it wasn't a hole in the ground at this point. Barely anything was left. It was actually pretty ... depressing. They needed to do something with this location, perhaps, or something to honor the memory of what the Headquarters once was. Maybe they could put some kind of market here?
Perhaps he could take a bit of the profits from the market...
Distracting himself was not going to accomplish anything, and he should know that as well as anyone. Wrenching his brain back on topic, he offered a small smirk at her comment, crossing his arms and leaning back a bit. "I am well, thank you. I think life's been treating me fairly alright. I got through the storm with fairly little damage, and everyone I know is doing alright." Including his family, brothers, nephews, lover and children and all. Of course, he was leaving that last bit out. Maybe it wouldn't come up. It had been a while.
Oh, who was he kidding...
"Where have you been?" Cut to the chase, at least.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:00 pm
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Criofan wasn't stupid; he immediately caught on to how strange her answer was. It was rapid. It contained no signs of the typical self-absorption he had seen so much in her. It was gentle, a tone he wasn't necessarily used to from her even when she had been pouring her heart out before. Then, rather, she had seemed rather chaotic, perhaps somewhat insane to people who didn't know her, overwhelmed and perhaps even controlled by what he could probably chalk up to hormones.
But he appreciated it either way.
Maybe she had grown up.
Still, he wouldn't be sure of that until he heard a response from her, waiting quietly as she exhaled. Was she going to respond or was she just going to avoid the subject as she seemed rather inclined to do? He was somewhat inclined, as well, not really wanting to talk about the very clear awkward penguin in the room, but mostly, he wanted to know ... where had she gone.
Apparently that was to a cave. Criofan couldn't help the rather derisive snort he gave at her response, brow quirking as she continued on in an attempt to explain herself. Well, at least she admitted it was rather stupid. Yes, packing all her valuables and disappearing into a cave. Brilliant idea. Bravo. It was admittedly a strange one for someone who was typically so inclined to lavish and luxurious environments--as was he, which was why he lived where he did--but he supposed he could understand why someone who was running away would pick the first thing that came to them as a good idea.
Not that that really ... justified it.
"So you became afraid of reality and fled into a dank, dark cave for a few years? Not one of your smartest decisions." He'd probably call it the dumbest, but that wouldn't help them get back off on the right foot. "I must say, I'm impressed. You don't seem any worse off. In fact, you seem to be a bit better off, if you acknowledge that was no doubt a dumb decision."
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:53 pm
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She accepted that it was a dumb decision, and that was probably most important. Even if she had disappeared, she was at least aware of how stupid of a decision it was now, choosing to hide herself away from the world in a secluded cave. Of course, turning into a hermit would leave someone with plenty of time to introspect and learn about themselves. It seemed like that was what she did to at least some extent. What else could she do in a damn cave for three seasons?
Not much, that was for certain. Criofan certainly would have been bored out of his mind. Calmed as he was, he was still not necessarily someone for outright boredom, and concentration was only utilized when there was some kind of reward promised on the other side. He could see no reward in cave-living, unless the reward was how to get out of living in a cave...
"The world did keep moving without you," said Criofan, honestly, even if Erylia might not appreciate it. She did give a small hint at their relationship, but he would deal with the monster that was that a bit later on. "It continues to move no matter what happens. Maybe people miss one another for a while, and maybe some take disappearances or deaths harshly, but if one doesn't move on, they get lost in the past." Or they turn into Magnus, but his issue seemed to be a different one entirely.
Not important.
Her question was admittedly a loaded question, and his instant response was, "A lot." He was one of the people who had their lives move on without her, easily. This certainly came back to that "relationship" thing. Hm. Well, they could start off easy. "I have a much more comfortable collection of wealth now. I moved out by the ocean in a separate house near brothers Texas and Magnus," to support his own burgeoning collection and family unit, "I've been keeping my ear to the ground and finding out whatever I can about anything I can. It keeps me busy." Though not as busy as his daughter could keep him.
He wasn't sure when would be an appropriate time to broach that topic, so he did not do it just yet.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 9:32 am
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Of course her collection hadn't grown at all, she was living in a cave.
Criofan kept that snarking to himself, though. Erylia didn't exactly need it from him, considering she seemed to beating himself up enough already. Good, perhaps that was what got her to actually come outside and smell the roses, as it were. Unfortunately, in her case, it was sight the debris that once used to be the Headquarters ... but beggars couldn't be choosers, could they? Especially beggars that had hidden themselves away in a damp, dank cave for multiple seasons thinking it would solve anything.
Of course, Erylia should have no doubts: He had very much remembered their agreement. She definitely owed him an entire room full of valuables he had been itching to get his hands on in the back of his mind for seasons. It should be said that Criofan never forgot anything to do with valuables, and there was not a doubt in his mind that he would bring it up later. Right now, though, he knew he wasn't going to get anywhere on her good side if he just demanded a treasure room now. Better to get her adjusted first and then ask for the keys later.
Hopefully her treasure hadn't been locked inside the damn Headquarters.
"It is, I think." Never mind the trading he was involved in. Or the family he was currently failing to mention. "But your Mother? No, I haven't heard much of her. I suspect she disappeared about the same time you did and never really came back." At least, that was the last time he could remember hearing anything about a "Tartara" from anyone, including Erylia. "I couldn't tell you why."
Criofan shrugged his shoulders, with a small frown. "Sorry I can't be more helpful there."
Tartara Seabreeze Since you're back, I figured I'd reply to this now. XD Feel free to take your time replying.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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