|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 9:08 am
 Jela sat nervously twiddling her claws as she waited for Dakota. She'd done a little research once the other Imp had agreed to go out with her and found this nice little tea shop in the town around Asterion.
She glanced over at the grandfather clock in the corner and took a deep breath. Dakota still had five minutes to show up. She was panicking over nothing. Dakota had said they'd come, and Jela had been sure to email her the details a few days ago. It was so hard sometimes...trying to arrange times to meet up between her being at Leviathan and Dakota being here on the coast.
Jela fidgeted as sweat went down her back, despite it being air conditioning inside the shop the humidity was killing her and she wondered how Dakota tolerated it. It was just so...muggy! She missed the cool temperatures of Leviathan's valley...even if it was dark at four in the afternoon.
Her ear flicked as she heard the bell chime that was on the front door. Was it...Was it Dakota!? Trying not to be too eager she turned her head hoping to catch sight of the pale Imp.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 12:50 pm
Dakota had taken their time. They weren't nervous, nor did they feel a need to rush! They had fussed with their clothes, but purely because it was hot! They needed the thinnest clothes possible! By the time they left their dorm they had a loose green shirt with grunge splatter that hung off a should, tiny brown shorts on (smaller than their usual attire!), and knee length boots. And, of course, they were adorned in their usual piercings and jewelry!
They carried their tail as they walked, eyes lost as they watched the clouds. They arrived almost exactly ten minutes late, but it was often expected for Dakota to be late. It wasn't lack of interest to be there; far from it! They simply took their time! That, and they were so easily distracted by the world around them. During the travel they had stopped at least ten times, having spotted various cute markets and some animals along the way!
They arrived with their tail firmly in their arms. Pale green eyes skimmed the location, practically lighting up when they locked on Jela, who seemed to have noticed the bell chime upon their entrance. Oh, good, Dakota had gotten the meeting right! Giving a tiny wave, they were briefly interrupted by the host before gently reassuring them that they actually were meeting a friend. It probably seemed forever as they wandered, slowly, to Jela. Finally, they grabbed a seat across from Jela and flopped down, putting their tail in their lap and letting it wrap around their legs, as usual.
"Oh." Came the tiny and whispered response as their eyes drifted to the clock. "I'm late." Their voice touched on disappointment before their usual smile touched their features. "I'm sorry. I saw the cutest vespercat. And the market down the street are selling cute necklaces." Their eyes rolled up to view Jela, face automatically warming into a sweet and vaguely distant smile, often reserved for their best friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 1:08 pm
Jela's eyes never left the other as they sat down and arranged their tail. So delicate...she felt her heart skip a beat in pure joy as she watched Dakota.
"It's okay!" she said quickly assuring the other. "I was uh...really early." she said her tail flicking slightly behind her, her face changing from, what others perceived as an annoyed expression, to a gentle smile. "Maybe we could go look at them after tea or coffee? Whichever you want to order!" she said trying to not make the other feel pressured into their drink selection. "They also have some little sandwiches and cakes and things like that." she said one claw tapping the menu on the table. "If you wanted to get a little something to eat." she shrugged a bit, indicated that either was fine with her. "Order whatever you like." she said with a nod and another smile.
Jela bit her lower lip eyes flicking down and then back up to Dakota's. She hesitated over saying this, but it was true, and...to be fair Dakota wouldn't read that much into it, even if Jela wanted her too. Just something she was going to have to work on. "I missed you..." she said one clawed hand reaching out and gently touching the back of one of Dakota's her eyes soft and full of affection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 1:36 pm
Dakota smiled at the reassurance, genuinely pleased. The last thing they wanted was to inconvenience the other, especially since Jela had taken time out of her day to travel to see her. They nodded at the early comment, a knowing look touching their eyes. When wasn't Jela either on time or early? Even on the days they weren't planned to meet, Jela seemed to arrive just when Dakota expected them to. It was nice having someone so reliable, and briefly it reminded Dakota just how tiring someone like Jela would normally find someone like Dakota to be. And yet, Jela never seemed impatient with them.
"Oh, can we?" Their voice lifted, once more vaguely hinting at excitement. Their tone was always so soft and just barely hinting at their feelings. Often, Dakota had found others saw them as unsettling. Their distant smiles and voice reminded them, typically, of something not entirely tangible. They had, for a long time, tried to alter themselves, but meeting Jela had eventually soothed the worry Dakota had held. They were fine as they were. Jela thought so, so obviously it was true.
"Oh..." How many times had they said 'oh' by now? They examined the menu, a little claw tapping at an mocha iced coffee listing. "I think I'll get that... maybe a small salad.... what do you like?"
They had been lost in the menu, one hand propping their head up and the other resting on the table. Their eyes flicked up when Jela's touched the back of their hand, returning the affectionate smile with their own soft one.
"Did you? Should I visit more?" They briefly extended a claw to skim across Jela's hand in greeting, returning their gaze back to the menu. "I missed you, too." And they did. Perhaps they didn't mean it the same way Jela did, but they truly enjoyed the others company. Jela was comfort and honesty. She was a dear friend, and Dakota wasn't sure what they'd do now that they now experienced such a friendship if they were to suddenly be without her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 6:05 pm
Jela smiled and nodded. "Of course we can. I don't have to be back to campus until tomorrow, so I don't mind spending the rest of the day with you."
Jela glanced back down at the middle, having to move slightly because of her chest. "I was thinking some of the tea sandwiches and maybe a pot of herb tea. The reviews on the website were all pretty high of their lemongrass blend."
Jela shook her head, strands of hair getting her face, which she reached up and swept back over her forehead. "I know it's a long way to travel, and expensive. I don't mind having to come see you and working around your schedule." She colored slightly at the gentle caress to the back of her hand.
When did Dakota become her standard of everything good in the world? Awhile ago she supposed, maybe the instant she gave them that white rose at Hunter's Jubilee? She'd meant every word she said. Dakota really did seem the embodiment of innocence and purity, and she loved them for that. Jela froze up a moment, she hadn't expected that train of thought to lead to THAT thought. Was it true though? ...Yes...but no need to say anything about it now. Time to just relax and have a quiet day with her...best friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 11:13 am
Dakota smiled lightly at Jela's options. Perhaps they should have picked something less... generic? Yet, it was a hot day and Dakota wanted nothing more than their standard, generic, drink. It wasn't like they couldn't come back! It was right by their campus, after all! Maybe next time they'd come by when it was colder? Their eyes drifted back to Jela, a tiny and thoughtful frown crossing their features.
"Mmm. Was the travel inconvenient?" That had crossed their mind earlier, honestly. Perhaps making Jela come all this way had been a burden. Maybe next time Dakota could stop by and make up for it? They were working on a scarf for the winter, anyway. Maybe around then? They leaned back in their chair, hand slipping from Jela's as instead they leaned back to touch a nearby plant, a gentle smile crossing their features. That reminded them!
"What is your favorite flower?" Their soft and distant voice barely carried as their head turned away to examine the other plant before glancing back at their friend. The scarf would do nicely with a personal touch on it! Maybe a tiny design of flowers? Something that would, without a doubt, scream Jela.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 12:14 pm
Jela shook her head. "Not at all. Just the wait at the portal station was horrible, but it always is, and then having to wait for the train in Hyperes." she shrugged. "Pretty standard all things considered. Least I wasn't trying to travel with pets or anything." That sent a little pang in her heart. She hoped Hellebore was okay. She knew Anemone would be okay...she'd left them food and water and they were a salamander after all, low maintenance. She'd had to beg her roommate though to take Hellebore out once in awhile and take him for his walks.
"I should bring Hellebore sometime...let him play with...Mute?" that was the name of Dakota's fennekit wasn't it? She was pretty sure, but just to check. "They always seem to have fun together." she smiled a bit.
Jela blinked. Her favorite flower? She had so many! "Uh...hmm..." she went into thinking mode which utterly changed the soft expression on her face to one that was slightly harder. "Well...I like lilacs...and blue bells...and so many! It's hard to choose!" she said with a laugh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:13 pm
Dakota nodded here and there as they listened, tail tip twitching in a soft rhythm. The portals! They had forgotten about those, honestly. It wasn't like Dakota traveled much. They were content in one place, the kind to settle for years. The question had risen a few times of where they'd call home after they graduated, but often Dakota would shove the thought away. Graduating was a scary thought, honestly. It meant they'd find a house and settle down, while Jela probably found their own home as well. They'd focus on their careers and then.... and then what? Part?
They were brought back by Jela's question, eyes vaguely lighting up. Mute! They hadn't brought Mute over this time, mostly because the little fella was sleeping when Dakota left. "Yes, Mute would adore that. They hummed, eyes lifting as someone began to approach their table before they stopped to probably grab a pad and pencil.
It was when Jela tried to settle on a flower and laughed when they glanced back over, thoughtfully nodding. They could knit a lilac pattern, absolutely. "Would you wear something with a flower pattern?" They questioned, briefly remembering the scarf they had given Jela awhile back. Their first present to Jela had been one! Perhaps Jela was tired of receiving knit goods? How many sweaters, gloves, socks, and scarves did she have? Maybe.... Dakota could try a hat? Oh, the horror! Hats were not their forte! But it'd be better to try then cause Jela to grow bored by the present they offered... right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:24 pm
"I know Hellebore would too..." she would have continued but just then the server finally decided to show up and take their orders. Once she'd finished that small task and no longer had a menu digging into her stomach, she looked back over at her companion and rested her chin in a huge hand.
"Hmm...Do I own anything with a flower pattern?" there had to be something. One claw tapped against the side of her head. "Gardening gloves...but those really don't count...oh! I have some socks that have flowers on them and some..." she blushed slightly and trailed off, she didn't think undergarments were exactly what Dakota had in mind when they'd asked the question. Trying to hide how flustered she was she continued, "Yes, I'd wear something with a flower pattern." she said with a nod.
Her tail twitched as she watched the other. It was so strange to see their hand still for once. Usually they were full of two clicking needles and an ever increasing swatch of knitted yarn. "This is nice..." she said after a few minutes of silence. "The tea house," she said one claw motioning to their surroundings. "Very fancy...I don't now if there's a place like this up at Leviathan...sure there is but I don't go out much really..." she admitted and then stopped realizing she was rambling. It wasn't like silence was uncomfortable with Dakota, but it seemed like it would be bizarre to be out in public and not talking to each other. "Anything you want to talk about?" she asked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 11:18 am
They weren't a talker. Oh, it wasn't that they disliked the conversation Jela brought up. Actually, they adored it. It was more that Dakota enjoyed listening. It taught them much about others, and often the more you listened the more someone revealed who they were. They had, during Jela's rambling, nodded here and there and given a gentle smile to confirm that they were interested. An ear twitched when Jela abruptly changed the subject about flower patterns, a vaguely curious light flickering in their eyes before they glanced outside when Jela gestured.
Dakota didn't go out much, either. The weather around Asterion often was unfriendly towards Imps, and so instead they'd wander their dorm. When they did go out, it'd be in as tight and small clothes as absolutely possible, and even then sometimes it was unbearable! Still, they did enjoy the shops around their campus; especially the markets!
And then Jela caught Dakota off-guard. Their head turned to look back at the other Imp, blinking back. Did they have anything they wanted to talk about? Now that they thought about it, wasn't it Jela who often steered the conversation? Did Dakota even have anything they wanted to say? No, not really. They enjoyed listening to Jela more. They tapped their claws together in thought, the sound close enough to knitting to ease Dakota.
"Um." Suddenly, it dawned on them. Something was happening at school! "This year, a lot of students at Asterion are imbuing stones, so there's be a lot of room changes to accommodate." Oh. That was.... boring. Now Jela was going to think they were horrible at conversing. Well, to be fair, Dakota never claimed to be good at it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 12:07 pm
A puzzled expression crossed Jela's face. When she'd asked Dakota for a topic of conversation, that hadn't really been what she'd expected. She'd expected knitting patterns or a new color of yarn, or perhaps a trivial fact that would seem unimportant to anyone but Dakota. Soul Stones though? Well that was something to think about. She supposed it was mostly the third and fourth year students...individuals who were nearly done with Uni and ready for the next step. While Jela was rather advanced in her own major due to some of her projects at the Academy in her mid and late teens, and her professors were all very impressed with her work and interested in her experiments, she wasn't sure how she felt about kids quiet yet. Of course she wanted them...as an orphan she'd always missed that aspect of hers and Dakota's culture...that expansive ever growing ancestral home filled to bursting with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and cousins of varying degrees, but a family of her own? It seemed so big without that bustling mass of individuals behind her. She wondered how Dakota felt about family...and kids...
"Hmm..." she said her mind still clicking over her thoughts on the subject. "Some sort of social experiment or couples settling down?" she asked the scientist in her taking over while the rest of her sorted out her feelings on the subject. "If it's couples settling down, good for them. Nice to know people our age are finding a little bit of happiness." she said with a nod. "Sucks to get kicked out of your dorm room for a baby, but not the worst thing." she said trying to be a little playful. She wasn't entirely sure she came across that way, but she just rolled with it.
"What are your thoughts on it?" she asked in an almost coy way. She didn't know how Dakota would react to her just flat out asking them how they felt about kids, but the pair of them could always work around to the subject. It was something they'd never discussed before after all, in fact Jela had never pried into her companion's personal history at all...she didn't even know if Dakota was an orphan like her or maybe had a family...a wave of panic washed over her, what if she'd brought up a painful subject! She wanted so much to abort the whole topic but it was too late now as she saw Dakota start to answer her question.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 8:51 pm
They noticed the puzzled expression, head slowly tilting to the side. Their claws gently tapped against the table as a need for some sort of clicking sound became increasingly needed for the Imp. They really should have brought their knitting, but for once they wanted to show they could be without their needles.
They blinked at the question, thoughtfully glancing out the window. How did they feel about it? They never really thought about it, honestly. Kids? They thought it was silly to have kids now, mostly because they were so young, but then again, what was so wrong with that? Wouldn't it be better to have a child while young so you could keep up with them? Besides, babies were adorable!
"It's cute." They stated, finally. "Even if they are young, it's cute to see people settle down and have kids. Or, even just have a kid by themselves. I bet they're really happy."
It also never occurred to Dakota that, someday, maybe, they'd have kids! Their eyes drifted back to the window as they clearly became lost in thought. What would they be like as a parent? Smiling, the Imp looked back towards Jela, tail tip twitching in their lap. "Besides, most of us are from the Cache. It must be relieving to finally have family."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:13 pm
"Can only hope at this point. Kids from all sources are a lot of work." she tapped two of her claws together. "But I suppose it's worthwhile..." she mused a bit, then shook her head, it was still a LOT of work a daunting task requiring Years of commitment!
The comment about most of them being from the Cache caught her off guard. Most...? Did that mean Dakota was or wasn't from the Cache like her? She was honestly afraid to ask and decided it was probably best not to. She couldn't help but nod a bit and decide to agree with the other's sentiment. It was nice to see the awkward no-family assortment of traits they'd all started out with finally settle down within race or out and start having kids. "Yeah, I guess it is..." she said softly.
Of course further conversation was derailed with the arrival of their order and Jela busied herself for a few moments handling her finger sandwiches and tea, thoughts of a future family gone for the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:03 pm
It seemed Jela wasn't as open to the idea as Dakota was, or perhaps she had more reservations? What was it like, anyway, being a parent? Sure, some Nightmares sent their stones back to the bank to be adopted, or only awoke them to help further their race and would give the child to the academy in the end, but that never seemed an option to Dakota. If they were to have a child it'd be because they wanted to raise them. A family was important, in Dakota's eyes, and the orphans from the Cache were robbed of that chance. Sure, the academy acted like one big family, but it wasn't the same. There was something comforting knowing your parents were yours, and only yours. That they chose to create you and wanted to give a bed and warm food to you.
When their salad arrived they grew distracted, eating slowly and with interest as their fork rolled vegetables over and inspected it. Perhaps, once they had their own home, they should start growing their own food? A salad from your own garden probably tasted best, and a part of Dakota wanted to take responsibility for their food. The silence between the two was not unsettling. Dakota was neither afraid of or relished in silence. They simply existed, and as a quiet soul themselves it wasn't like the peace between the two could unnerve them. That couldn't be said for most Nightmares, however. Plenty of people had grown uneasy when Dakota allowed the conversation to die down and be replaced with a comforting blanket of tranquility. It seemed, usually, people needed sound or they'd become overly aware of themselves. For some reason, that frightened them.
Yet, this time, the silence fueled a thought for the Imp. Their head raised, claw tapping the table to pull the menu closer and flip it over. On the back was the tiniest add for a local pet store, ears flicking.
"What do you want to be when you graduate?" The questioned, eyes rolling up to view Jela. They always wondered that, pondering where Jela's future career would take her and how far away they'd be. Would they continue to be friends, or would it simply teeter out? Would visits turn into calls, and calls into apologetic letters once every few years? What were they going to become?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:42 pm
Had her answer upset the other? That hadn't been her intention, children of her own just honestly wasn't something she'd ever put much thought into before and she absently wondered if she was a disappointment to her race because of it. Of course, there had to be career driven individuals. How else would the cartel's exist without someone to buckle down and take time to develop their goods, get them out there, and push push push until they'd made a name for themselves, but they'd still had families...for support and love and encouragement.
She sighed very softly and poked at her sandwiches. Her eyes unfocused a bit and for anyone who knew the signs, Jela was actually close to tears. The old wounds of being alone in the world and never knowing if her stone had been imbued because she'd been wanted...or because it was necessary. She had always hoped it was the former. She wanted her parents to have loved each other with the kind of wild abandonment that the movies and cheesy romance novels tried to push. She was really too old to believe that kind of thing anymore, that was the kind of romance that teenagers dreamed of, but still...It also didn't answer any of the questions about what she wanted for herself. Of course she wanted to be successful and live comfortably, but romance, a family? She glanced over at Dakota, so quiet, serene, the eye in the center of the storm. She wondered if she could make Dakota see that what she wanted the most...was them. Their companionship, their soft smiles, their love? That was a good place to start for now.
Dakota's question caught her off-guard and she jerked her attention away from the half eaten finger sandwiches to her dining companion. "Hmm? Oh! Uh..." she stammered as she tried to switch back to normal and cram all the childhood hurt back in it's box. "Well, I've kind of been hoping to maybe get picked up by a lab when I graduate...I'd like to continue my work in hybridizing flowers. Although opening a florist would be nice too...keep a greenhouse and a lab in the back and work from there." she smiled a bit. "Wh- what about you? What do you want to do?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
