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 Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 8:58 pm
Nimueh still couldn't believe they were stupid enough to do this. Of all the awful things he'd heard about Obans... from the cryptic descriptions from Elsheba, back when he was a youngling, to Callum's descriptions of what had happened to him here, he still couldn't believe they were going there. Willingly. WITH their children in tow. So he was allowing himself to stew in his grumpiness, glowering at Callum the entire trip down - when he wasn't trying his best to make it seem fun, if only for his son's benefit.
Poor little Sol's agoraphobia had made the trip hard for the little boy, and Ygraine hadn't made it easy to keep him calm, between her teasing and impatience. Both children were grumpy, and Ygraine had finally given in and cried the night before out of homesickness, demanding to go home in what could only be described as a full on temper tantrum.
He was tired. So, despite Callum's itch to get to Oba as soon as possible, they both knew they needed to stop. To take a break in Jauhar, to let the children calm down. It wasn't unwelcome though; they could come back through and visit Callum's grandmother, staying in her nest and letting her spend time with her great-grandchildren. And then there was the subject of Eema, the surrogate mother of their children... should they try and seek her out, and give her the chance to see the children she'd helped create?
With the kids up in Corine's nest, sleeping the day away, and Callum training in the woods (hopefully not being mauled by menzuri, like last time), Nimueh decided to retreat to the edge of town by the bustling Shifter marketplaces, sitting and watching the crowds of locals and foreigners alike, and it had been too long since Nim had been able to just sit and people watch. Zena was too cold for it, and with the kids underfoot he'd never had the time to just... sit, and absorb it all. He had half flopped against the base of a tree, clad in a pair of trousers, boots, and the countless twine and crystal covered necklaces that speckled across his neck and shoulders. He had to shed his thick Zena layers, and after so long in the cold, he felt self conscious back in barely nothing.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:59 pm
The tall hybrid youth was walking around doing a errand for his Fathers. It was his turn to get a few weeks worth--more like a few days worth, with how he and his brothers ate--of food for the house. He shifted the carrier on his back a little higher as he looked over his list. He nearly got it all. He just needed a little more. He blinked when he heard a few whispers. Looking up he followed the point of a few giggling females to a odd looking blue male. Blue...solid colored eyes...he blinked as his mind flashed back to when his elder brothers were still around. They heard of the foul news and he had feared that his nephew at the time was lost to them in the same manner. The youth slowly walked forward. The name left him as soon as he thought it. "Nimueh!" he felt his throat get tight. He cleared it before he spoke next. "Its me...Drexl...you...probably don't remember me...we played as younglings. You were..." he took a silent breathe. "You were being raised by one of my elder brothers. Its...really good to see you."
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Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 3:57 pm
He had been living here for a few months, so while it wasn't unusual for the people here to recognize him, he had still kept to himself. So the odds of someone knowing him here... and having an interest in speaking with him was very slim. When he heard someone calling his name, Nimueh instantly looked up, a flash of confusion crossing his features, until he saw who it was who was addressing him.
The man who stood before him, dressed like a native Jauhar dweller, was as strange and out of place as Nimueh often felt in the parts. It was always a joy to meet other hybrids... a quiet reminder that people like himself existed out in the world, and flourished despite everything. But as Nimueh took in the man, with his ashy pale skin and bright green eyes, a flicker of recognition floated into his mind. Before he had realized it, he had scrambled to his feet, listening with growing realization as the person explained himself.
...Drexl. In the course of Nimueh's life, the days he had spent in Tale had been few... and yet after the almost solitary way he had been raised by Elsheba, it would be impossible not to recognize the brothers who had been his companions back then. While they hadn't been the first children he'd played with, they had been the first friends he could remember that he wasn't intimidated by. Kind though his alkidike aunts had been, his growing unease with his sisters had made it difficult to relax in their presence.
After all this time, Nimueh had just about forgotten those times. The time spent running about the nests and trees, goofing off while the adults plotted ways to repel the nearing Alkidike invasion.
Eyes lighting up with recognition, Nimueh's mouth dropped open, before he regained himself. "No... no, I remember. I do! Drexl." Awed by the reunion, Nimueh wasn't sure just what to do with himself. "I... it's been years." He admitted, wincing. He hadn't even thought to return to the west to visit. Even now, staying in Jauhar, the idea of seeking out his aunts and Elsheba was impossible.
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Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 4:18 pm
Drexl chuckled deeply as he took a few steps forward. Setting down his pack the paler hybrid blinked a little at their height difference. He still had a few lengths yet to reach. He disregarded that in favor of throwing his arms around the other hybrid in a long overdue hug. "Good." He pulled back, sitting down as he waited for the other to retake their seat he started talking. "As you can see, we're not in Tale anymore. Dad and Pop moved here after...well..." he gave a wan smile. "Wars are horrible." he left it at that. He looked at the ground a little before he changed his tune. "We met other hybrids! There's a family of a Alk Mother and a Shifter Mother and their triplets..." he smiled gently. "Lixes, Inali and I are good friends with their only son...I haven't met his sisters yet...but I working up the nerve for it." He leaned back as he looked the other over. "I want to become a Rider...what about you?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 4:36 pm
Nim was expecting a line of questioning along the lines of 'why didn't you visit or come back?!' but, instead, Drexl surprised him and focused more on catching up. Thankfully. He was sure those questions would come, and soon, but for now he returned the hug with an awkward pat of Drexl's shoulder, then leaned back, smiling at the only slightly shorter man with bright eyes, smile only dropping slightly when the war was mentioned.
It was very rare that Nimueh found someone almost his height, other than his mother... and it was a very, very welcome change. "I'm...well." Nimueh dragged his thumb down and hooked it in one of his necklaces, lifting it slightly by way of evidence. After all, his shoulders and neck was utterly wrapped and covered in an assortment of crystal necklaces of all shapes, colors, and sizes. "After the war, I was ... taken in by an Alkidike and her wife in Zena. I do some trading, here and there... Traveled a bit." Nimueh released his necklace, and rubbed the back of his neck, almost shyly, with one hand. More hybrids? As a child, it had felt like he was alone among many, and yet as the years passed, and he saw more hybrids from day to day, he felt bolstered and more confident to know he wasn't alone.
"After what happened, I didn't think hybrids would come back to Jauhar for a long, long time. But... here we are." Nim admitted, somewhat sullenly. Considering his recent realization in Andile... it came out a bit more bitterly than he had meant it to.
"But Aisha, a Rider! Is there a familiar you train for it?" Nim leaned back, watching his... uncle?... in awe. He had a companion in his raptrix, Morrigan, and he couldn't imagine riding her into battle. Training her to move where he ordered, to trust his safety to her. He could barely trust her not to tear his arm off when playing fetch!
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2016 11:43 am
Drexl listened nodding here and there. "Zena..." he heard of the cold north. "The one place Dad doesn't want to go near." he laced his fingers together as he absorbed all his nephew had to tell him. "It sounds like you've pretty much been well. The spirits were watching over you...good." he smiled softly. They listened to the hushed prayers of his childhood. Even as he got older he would mutter a soft wish here and there. It was comfort for him. He sighed. "For a while, Dad and Papa kept us inside. Now that we're older we're building up respect for the family slowly." he drummed his fingers together. "Or...well...we're trying..." He chuckled deeply. "Yeah. I'm in the process of doing little things to prepare myself. There's an older batch of Riders around here who are hesitant to teach me...but that's Dad's fault." his smaller parent was a terror to many of the warriors around here. Drexl couldn't blame them. "Though, they say I have to find my...partner. On my own. A beast I can trust everything to." he sighed. "Wherever that is...." he was looking. Just hadn't found the beast yet.
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2016 11:45 am
It... honestly was a surprise to Nimueh that someone from so long ago had been thinking of him, all this time. It... was more than a little sobering, to be honest.
Drexl continued speaking, and here Nimueh furrowed his eyebrows, tilting his head and shooting him an inquiring glance. He wouldn't ask, at least out loud, what Drexl meant by 'building respect for the family' but... it was concerning, to put it simply.
"I'm not the best judge when it comes to beasts, but... I did adopt a raptrix pup when I was younger. It can happen when you least expect it, but maybe seeking out younger ones to bond with might be something to try?" Morrigan, his raptrix, had little respect for him and often took off on her own to hunt, but she always returned to his side. Before her, he had never imagined trusting a familiar as he did her. But her headstrong ways most likely wouldn't mesh with a rider, someone who had to train with their familiar so heavily.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:06 am
Drexl nodded. "There's rumors of a small beast from the island territory being seen around here." he pointed out as he drummed his fingers along his knee. "I was thinking of tracking it down one day soon." he sighed as he looked the other over. "So...do you have any family? You know...beyond us." he smiled. He was curious. Surely he had nephews and nieces by now? He knew that he and Lixes were too young still, but Nim was older than they were. At least that was what Drexl was led to believe. "Is it okay if I tell Lixes I saw you? He'd be excited about getting to know you again...then again...he's excited about everything." he chuckled.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 5:17 pm
Family! In the excitement of reuniting, he had somehow forgot to mention them! He really should be embarrassed that it slipped his mind, but Nimueh wasn't a social creature and he'd never really had someone to share news with, his adopted mothers aside.
"I...yes. Yes, I have a son and a daughter; Sol and Ygraine. My partner, Callum, and I are taking them down to Oba for the tournament, and it's all-- a bit much for them, I think. They haven't traveled since they were very small, you see." It was impossible NOT to feel giddy to share the news, and yet a tendril of anxiety nestled at the back of his mind. Drexl may not have dreaded hair (neither did Nimueh, either, not since he had been turned away from Aisha), but he had been born of Aisha, just like Nimueh had been.
So Nimueh couldn't help but to prepare himself for he inevitable question; had he prayed to Aisha?
He was incredibly thankful when the topic was turned briefly away from the children, "Of course, I don't mind. It'd be ... nice to see him again, too."
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 4:30 pm
Drexl let out a happy little cheer as he leaned back. "Awesome! I'll tell Lixes your around...if he finds you expect him to flat out tackle you in hugs and general affection." he knew from day to day living with the more energetic sibling. He paused as he heard 'partner'...did that mean? Okay, 'Callum' was most definitely a male's name. He looked shly down at his feet. "Hey...Nim...how did...uhm...how did you know? Like...Callum sounds like a guys name...and uhm...your both guys...and...ah...I can't ask Dad this cause it's weird you know?" he seemed flustered. "I like this guy, but he's...well. I mentioned him earlier. That only son of the Alk mixed family...yeah...him." he blushed brightly as he fiddled with a necklace around his neck. The arrowhead. "I...I don't know how to confess to him. I want to...and...I wanna make him safe and happy...but..." his voice failed him as he lost his nerve.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 5:38 pm
...Or not! Nimueh was surprised that the topic didn't spiral down that rabbit hole, but pleased at the same time. He relaxed, and laughed softly at the reference to his other uncle. They'd been so young when they were friends that he'd forgotten about many of their eccentricities, but it was still very nice to hear he was doing well, and was happy.
But then Drexl went quiet, and Nimueh was concerned... until he began speaking. Oh? ...Oh! The hybrid flushed, then raised a hand to tug, self consciously, at his necklaces, humming thoughtfully. "It's... well. I really enjoyed spending time with him. We traveled together for a time and... when it was getting close to the end of the trip, I found I didn't want to walk away from it. I was terrified I was never going to see him again." Nimueh thought for a long moment, then released a breath, looking at Drexl with utmost sincerity.
"In the end, I was more scared that I'd never get a chance to tell him how I felt. So I confessed, and he turned me down. It's always a risk that... your feelings aren't going to be returned. In my case, he had time to think and eventually changed his mind but... but it might not always go that way, Drexl."
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Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:32 pm
Drexl sighed. "So, trust to Fate." he leaned his chin in his hand with a nod. "Alright." he smiled softly at the male. "So...what else have you been up to?"He was curious. He missed the other and wished to make sure that he was okay. He glanced over to a few passerby's, shifting he looked for a small little protector. A little beast that he knew was from the Alk homeland. It was rather protective of those with Alk blood in them. There was still a few who made their life a bit...harsher than it had to be due to their mixed bloods. He looked back to his nephew. "Have you seen Dad and Pops, yet? I'm sure they'd love to see you."
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Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 6:19 pm
As much as Nimueh wanted to reassure Drexl, or promise it would go well, he simply couldn't, not in good conscience. So instead he offered a weak smile and a helpless shrug of his shoulders. "A bit of travel. Getting things ready for when the baby comes, but... for now it's playing the waiting game."
...Ah. His 'grandparents'. He hadn't known them very well, even back then... they had their own children to tend to, and with the alkidike extremists it had been a very stressful time. That and... he felt guilty. All this time he hadn't sought them out... had they wondered how he was? Ducking his head, Nimueh grunted softly, evading the question as he dragged a hand through his dread-free hair. "I don't know... Drexl, it's been years. And I don't... honestly know what happened to Pop-- Samoset-- back then. I wouldn't know what to say."
[7/10]
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 5:15 pm
Drexl grew quiet. "What happened to your Pop...that's...not for me to say honestly, Nim." he looked at his hands. He and his family had come to terms with the rumors of the twins for some time. They were just that however to the youth, just rumors. He would always hold to hope that his elder brothers were alive somewhere out there. He would always hope. Giving a sigh and a shake of his head, he stood. "Come with me. I want to show you something."He would show Nimueh a place the youth could run to if he ever needed to get ahold of either of his Uncles.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 9:35 pm
Nimueh couldn't meet Drexl's eyes when they both grew quiet, shifting uncomfortably. At times, he couldn't help but feel that it was his fault... that maybe if he'd only paid attention, he would know where Samoset was now.
After a moment though, he blinked and watched Drexl, furrowing his eyebrows. O...kay? Nimueh nodded and stepped after him, making it clear he was ready to follow.
[8/10]
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