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 Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:10 pm
"So you understand why I can't go back ho- Ouch! Kennet!" Xilarn snapped as he yanked away from the other male, shooting the hybrid a dirty look through narrowed eyes. With a huff, he rubbed at the new cloth covering the still-tender scratch along his jawline. He'd had worse in his months of being alone in the forest, so he wasn't entirely sure why he was pitching a fit when someone he considered a sort of 'friend' so much as grazed it. Grazed it with good intentions, even.
He didn't know what he came here expecting to get. Reassurance? Confirmation that he'd done that right thing? Confirmation that he was currently doing the right thing? Kennet was willing to argue with him at every turn, so Xil could at least expect the truth from him, if nothing else. He sighed and leaned back, his shoulder bumping lightly against his companion's.
"They've already taken over here, as well... It's pretty hopeless."
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 2:36 pm
"Oi, quit with the sour look, alright?" Kennet snapped, shaking his head. He hadn't so much as smoothed the cloth upon Xilarn's face when he jerked away, almost causing the cloth to go askew and leave part of the scratch uncovered. The hybrid sighed and shrugged his shoulders at how much of fuss Xilarn had made, and gazed to him thoughtfully. He was going to have that attitude? Really? Mmm, is it wasn't as if he could really blame him, it was getting pretty gnarly around Jauhar...
"Nah, not yet, we've still got some fight left in us, Xil." He said, leaning his shoulder against Xilarn's. "We're gathering the troops and heading to Tale, soon, according to my dad. ...I really want to stay here and fight for my home directly, but most of my neighbors have fled to the isles instead and I don't want to be the only solider in Andile left to greet the army..." He paused, glancing towards the trees as he thought. "...And I don't want to leave you here."
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 3:32 pm
So, that was it, hm? Anyone who hadn't been captured was either fleeing to the Alkidike isles or heading into the neighboring country of Tale, leaving their homes behind to the invading menace. Xil never would have thought he'd understand what it was like to not be able to safely return home at his leisure, but... Well, it was what it was. He wasn't going back, either.
He tipped his head just enough to the side to spy on Ken from the corner of his eye. It was strange how much the simple contact soothed him. He'd basically known right from their first meeting that Kennet had no qualms about being in his personal space. It had been downright offensive and inconsiderate at the time. Xil couldn't even muster the wherewithal to complain about it now. Instead he braced his palm on the ground behind Ken, leaning into the touch with a soft sigh.
"I've already decided that I'm not staying here," Xilarn muttered in response. "There's no reason to. I wouldn't be fighting for my home like your people. I'd be... I dunno. I don't even know what I'm doing anymore."
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:04 pm
Kennet leaned a little further in as Xilarn leaned back, but kept himself from the temptation of laying his head upon the other's shoulder. While it was true that Kennet enjoyed physical contact, he was already fond of Xilarn, and by fond, he felt a certain level of affection for him. He sighed at Xilarn's words and moved his arm over his thighs and towards Xilarn's hand, but stopped just short of reaching over to him.
"So, you'll be going to Tale, too?" He asked, gazing up towards the other. "...Would you want to come stay with me? At least you'll have somewhere safe to stay."
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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:52 am
"I didn't say anything about Tale. Don't jump to conclusions," Xilarn admonished only half-jokingly, giving Kennet a pinch on the arm closest to him as retribution for the hybrid's thoughtless words. Teasing aside, his lips quirked into a grimace. "If that's where Juahar's war party is headed, I have no business being there, either." He didn't know what the group was planning to do once they were all together, and frankly, it wasn't any of his business. If they were going to fight, that was fine, but there was no reason for him to be engaged.
Mostly no reason, anyway.
It was... disappointing that Kennet would be joining them. Even more so that he actually wanted to face a troupe of Obans. He could be hurt, captured... He could die. Xil pinched his tongue between his teeth, turning his head carelessly away from his companion. "It'd be nice to know what you're getting into, but I can't. It's not my place."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 5:52 pm
Kennet made a frustrated face as he was pinched but waved it off with the pursing of his lips. Well, he said he wasn't going to stay in Jauhar, so where else was he going to go? Back to Oba? Uh, no, not with his brother out for his head.
Or, not on Kennet's watch, more like it.
The hybrid changed his pose again and leaned backwards, his hands extending forward in a stretch, while he listened to Xil speak. He enjoyed his voice, aside from other things he'd never dare mention, and only leaned into a proper posture when Xil finished speaking. Something about how Xil had spoken made it seem as if he were concerned, or interested in the war for his sake alone. A smile crept it's way onto his face, only to be replaced by a smirk.
"It's not your place? Oh, come on." He said, rolling his eyes. "Seriously, we need the muscle, and you've got the muscle. It'd be amazing to have you there, Xil."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:31 pm
Without entirely meaning to, Xilarn leaned over to press his shoulder reassuringly to his companion's. As much for himself as for Kennet. Leaving his side would be... probably the worst thing that had happened to him since actually departing from the safety of his home. If he did go to Neued (which he wouldn't), it wouldn't be because he gave any amount of rodent's bums for the safety and security of Tendaji. It wouldn't be because he cared if they lost their independence or Oba gained a few extra slaves, and it obviously wouldn't be for his own well-being.
"I guess I could send Gadot..." He murmured thoughtfully to himself, fingers haphazardly reaching out to rub at one of Kennet's teal-tipped fingers. Of course, that wouldn't do him much good, either, considering Gadot could be lost just as easily- probably more easily than Kennet. It wasn't like he could relay messages, and he wasn't a particularly well-trained or trustworthy beast.
He sighed dejectedly. "Better not. I still think..." He huffed softly as he turned his head to glare off into the trees, posture stiffening away from any contact. "I just- Is it really better for you to fight?" Xilarn questioned lowly, dark lids dipping to half-mast. "You aren't obligated to. You could... stay. With me. And we could go... anywhere else. Anywhere that you wanted."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:47 pm
Kennet allowed his shoulder to press against Xilarn's without fuss and felt his chest flutter at the sensation of Xilarn's body touching his own. It was something he had little experience with, but enjoyed. Idly, he hoped that Xilarn was feeling the same fluttering feeling as he was, even if it seemed unlikely.
Or was it?
"Well, I know I'm not obligated." He replied, reciprocating the gentle finger rub. "But it would look terrible on my record if I didn't, you know? Besides, my idiot brother would never let me live it down, and he's like a rabid animal when he's angry... Imagine living with that sort of person every day. It's.."
He paused, really focusing on what Xilarn was saying. Was he really saying that? He wanted him to stay here, with him? And they could go anywhere? Was this... No, no, it couldn't. His shoulders gave a shrug upwards at the thought, and he looked Xilarn straight in the eyes.
"...It sounds like your really concerned about me." He continued, lowering his gaze. "I appreciate that, if you are. ...I don't want to leave you here. This whole situation really sucks."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:33 pm
Xilarn's brows pinched together, his teeth grinding audibly as his face scrunched up in... disgust? Disappointment? Dissatisfaction? ...Embarrassment? "No, that's- I'm not," he corrected firmly. Forcibly. Kennet was a grown man, and he didn't need anyone to be concerned about him. Especially not an Oban. If his brother was really as bad as Ken said, he could only imagine what that other's twin would think of that.
But still, wars were dangerous. And it just wasn't reasonable to allow his best friend- his only friend go off onto the battlefield alone (family be damned). He wanted to help. Well, maybe 'help' was too strong a word. he just wanted to keep Ken safe. On the other hand, Xil was positive he'd be the first killed no matter which side he fought on. A lot of good he'd do Kennet as a corpse.
If only he could make his companion see reason.
Unlikely.
"Please," Xilarn grumbled, the word falling from his lips with about as much enthusiasm as one would have about getting his own arm cut off. "I don't think I'm being unreasonable. I just want you to be safe and happy, and I really feel you can be without engaging in a war. There are plenty of places that haven't been touched by Oba yet. We could just... go there... and-"
And what? Well, he hadn't really gotten that far yet.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:53 pm
Of course he was wrong, how dumb could he be? Kennet straightened his posture and put space between them again out of embarrassment, his face flushing slightly. UGH, why did he have to have feelings? Why couldn't he be like his dumb brother and not pay any care to the feelings of others?
Wait, what was he saying? His brother was terrible person because of that. He was letting himself get lost in another flurry of emotion again, but he couldn't let Xilarn know that. He had to calm down, somehow. He turned his gaze away, his thoughts moving towards the subject of going somewhere, other than here, or to Tale, and eventually felt he was ready to reply without saying something else utterly idiotic.
"Maybe after the war we could do that, you know?" He said, the nerves in his voice fluctuating. "I hear Sauti's a nice place, my dad's been there with friends. Or to see friends. I don't know."
He held his breath and clutched his fists at his sides. No, he had to keep calm. No... NO.
"LOOK, you sound concerned about me, and I don't care what you say to deny it!" He exclaimed, the heat in his face rising. "You want me to be safe and happy, and to stay with you, which doesn't sound too much like the opposite of caring, so why don't you just admit it? Admit that you care!"
Again, he held his breath and shut his eyes tight. Damn it, damn it, damn it, he'd done the exact opposite of what he wanted to do! Stupid, stupid, STUPID! He gripped the sides of his head and heaved a sigh.
"Frick, I'm sorry. Don't pay any mind to that, okay? I'm just stressed and..." His voice trailed off into silence. "...You know."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:23 pm
After the war... His lids slipped shut, thick dark lashes painting over his cheeks in somber acceptance. 'After' defeated the whole purpose of everything. By the time 'after' rolled around, it could be too late for anything. 'After' was a blight upon the world. Xilarn didn't notice the way Kennet moved away from him. He didn't notice the way his companion's voice wavered or the tension that wracked him. Preoccupied as Xil was with 'after.'
He wouldn't win this argument. That was becoming painfully obvious. Kennet had obligations to his home and his family and that trumped his own safety in ways Xilarn didn't really understand and doubted that he ever would. He tipped his head up, lashes flitting open as he turned somber clay orbs back to the hybrid male. He opened his mouth to respond.
But his lips promptly snapped shut as he was berated with what sounded suspiciously like accusations. His eyes widened a fraction. "I- I do care about you," he admitted stiffly. "You're my best friend... Probably my only friend, so... so yeah. I want to keep you safe. I don't think that's wrong."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:36 pm
Best friend. Oh, OH, okay, okay. Kennet's body relaxed all at once at Xilarn's words and allowed his hands to pry away from his hair. He hadn't totally made an a** of himself and hopefully he'd be able to control himself from here on out. It wasn't a good time, not that there would ever be a good time. Like Xilarn had said, they were friends and nothing more. He could deal with that.
"O-oh, okay. I just thought, uh." His voice trailed off again and he leaned back. "Nevermind. I understand. I want to keep you safe, too. Which is why I think you should come with me to Tale. That way we can stay together."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:37 pm
Xilarn's head tipped. He didn't know precisely why, but he found himself intrigued by whatever it was that Kennet thought. He had to know Xil cared about him. Had to. After all the time they'd spent together? He was just as much Kennet's best friend as Ken was to him. Xil had no doubts about the truth of that. Unless there was something more-
Except that was ridiculous. A bright flare of red swam over the Oban's cheeks at the thought, and he turned his head to cough awkwardly into his fist to hide the blush. More? More than best friends? Anything more than that would be boarding on something that required a little more intimacy, and that... just wasn't possible for them. probably never would be. Friends was dangerous enough in this war-torn world, so lovers was completely out of the question. Even if... Even if Ken did have smooth, tanned skin, tight cords for muscles and if the barely concealing loincloth was any indication-
Xil coughed again, twitching his gaze away with an almost ashamed flare of blood to his cheeks... and lower.
These thoughts had no business being in this conversation- in any conversation they'd share, probably. "R-right," he croaked out, voice suddenly tight. He tried to refocus on the subject at hand. "Yeah, if we're together- Wait, no! That's ridiculous! It's not safe for me there. We'll both be in danger!"
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:55 pm
Kennet watched Xilarn carefully and almost echoed his posture. Maaan, he'd gone and made him nervous, from the looks of it. How was he supposed to... Un-nerve things? Was that even a thing he could do? He hunched his shoulders, his gaze sheepish in nature, and placed his face in his hands. This... This was so awkward!
"But isn't that a point in of itself? We'll be in danger together!" He exclaimed, flailing his arms a bit. "We can protect one another while we're there, too! I... I don't want to leave you alone out here! What if something happened to you while the army moves up north? It doesn't sit well with me at all!"
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 7:16 am
"No," Xilarn argued fervently as he shifted into what was hopefully a less awkward position. "Ideally, neither of us will be in danger, but-" With a small hum, he quieted for a moment, letting the thought sift through his muddled mind.
But it seemed unlikely that neither of them would be in danger. Kennet was apparently adamant about his place in the war, and Xil didn't actually have anyplace safe he could go. Even if he did choose to leave Ken by himself, he, personally, was not in any less daunting a situation. His gaze flicked to the mud, roaming over it with a quiet groan. "If- If," he reiterated firmly. "If we did go together, it's not like you'd be able to leave my side. I couldn't wander around any enemy camp unattended without some sort of ramification, so I imagine I'd be more of a distract-" He broke off sharply, unwilling to admit that he might've believed his presence was anything like Ken's was to him. "-disturbance... Than any sort of help."
He rubbed at the corner of his eye. Was that awkward enough for everyone? Maybe, probably. He didn't know. Gods, this shouldn't be happening now.
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