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 Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 3:35 pm
There was a ENORMOUS amount of excitement just waiting to burst from Xewai's chest as he happily began to load up his long, handmade canoe with supplies. Today was the first mission he had been given to do on his own in weeks! He couldn't understand why the rest of the Buhawi were cringing when they read the request. When he looked it over, it was so fancy his eyes just widened in awe! Someone so eloquent wanted to hire them! It would mean a good deal of income, wouldn't' it? Or maybe not, since Xewai's prices as a guide were pretty cheap, considering his age and experience on being alone. Of course, he really didn't read too much into it, he just saw that someone needed a guide, and he was always willing to help!
Hahaha! Everything would be FINE! He knew it would be! After all, there was no danger in a simple boat ride through their homeland was a piece of cake! He knew these shores like the back of his hand, and new the BEST places to go for fun!
But darn... He was looking a little raggedy, wasn't he? He couldn't help that he'd often forget that money should be used for clothing every now and then. Xewai wore the same torn rags and ropes around his arms and waist since he was a child. What could he say? They were the last remnants of his mother and father.. BUT at least he didn't stink! He spent all morning scrubbing his little canoe from top to bottom, making sure there was no remnant fishy smell around. And he had washed his clothes over and over and over again with sweet smelling soaps to make sure he was clean and presentable when the fancy woman arrived.
It was almost time for her arrival, so he did the very last bit he had planned and put up a HUGE paper umbrella in the back of the canoe, with bright colored fish all about on a soft blue background. It was so gaudy and gauche that most of the higher class would have been put off by it, but he was so so sure the lady would love it. HE loved it! It was so bright and happy! Plus since it was so big, the fancy lady wouldn't burn! His own skin wasn't so fragile anymore after wearing his suit all the time, but a fair lady? She might burn...
Now everything was ready! Xewai stood at the front of the dock with a super wide grin. He was SO so so SO excited, he hoped she'd arrive soon!
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 5:56 pm
Cerith hated Matori. She hated the salty sea air and the persistent sound of the waves; she hated the skittering creatures and the palm-shaped greenery, and the sand, and she hated the Matori. She hated how many seemed to be at home here in these literal backwaters, dressed sparsely and working with nets to reel in fish, wives settled along the docks of the bobbing homes, sewing and weaving with cappa grass and imported thread and cloth. The first time, nearly a decade ago, that Cerith had attempted to strike out into Matori she had become overwhelmed with the sights and sounds, much in the same way she was now... and back then it had been enough to driver her away.
Oba was home, like it or not; the sun oppressive, but familiar, the people strangers yet understandable. Here, with their simple lives, the Matori were unknown elements; not like those of her kind that still persisted living in Oba, among their fellow slavers. Like she had.
Her kind were a bitter lot, either resigned to the status quo or stubbornly trying to overcome it. Matori blacksmiths opened smithys and fought, openly, for custom against Obans - taking with them skills that they had learned while enslaved at those very same anvils. It very rarely went well for them, as Cerith had witnessed. In the past few years, the young swords woman had made a decent living in Oba, skirting the border of Jauhar, where Obans were more open minded for the sake of trade. Here she could employ her skills of both passable swordplay, and companionship, and for a long time it had worked.
It was the Oban tournament that finally planted a sense of unease and listlessness. Ten years of freedom, and she'd done little with it beyond a small dwelling on the second floor of an inn, where she had her own door key and belongings. Other than the brief run in, years ago, with her twin brother, Cerith had avoided Matori like the plague, knowing it was a fool's errand to return there.
But despite everything, something tugged her there; to a place she had no hope of traversing on her own, not without becoming discouraged as she had before.
And so she'd hired a guide. Oh, but that wasn't all; she'd hired a BUHAWI. The irony of it wasn't lost on her, but rather than amuse her, Cerith felt humiliated. Stepping through the small settlement towards the dock, she heaved a sigh and wrinkled her nose, peering around for her 'guide'. Dressed in bright reds and browns, Cerith could almost feel the prickle of disapproval from the Matori around her, even if they remained blessedly silent.
Resting her wrists against the familiar curves of her swords' hilts, Cerith raised her chin and swept her gaze over the dock - stopping at a waif of a boy, looking far too happy for his own good. 'Gods above, don't let this be... dammit.' There, clear as day nested in his hair, was the cyclone. Grunting to herself in displeasure, Cerith picked her way through the crowd, stopping a few feet from the boy. "You can't be serious."
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 6:41 pm
Despite the less than stellar expression he recieved from the young woman before her, Xewai beamed at her and bowed low. She was upper class, right? She LOOKED upper class! And they liked respect and submissiveness. As long as they weren't Oban demanding it, he was more than happy to behave in such away.
"Good morning, Miss Cerith!" That was her name, correct? That's what it said on the request paper after all. "My name Xewai of the Buhawi, and I'll be your guide to Matori! I fixed my boat up just for you, and we'll be heading out whenever you're ready!" He looked down at her hands to see if she had any bags with her, but it really didn't seem like she had much.
"How long did you wish to be about miss? Just for the afternoon? Maybe overnight? There are some VERY lovely Beach-side Inns on our itinerary! Some lovely places to eat, the most BEAUTIFUL harbor you can imagine! Let me know where you'd want to go, and We'll be on our way!" By the look of things, he was fairly certain the woman REALLY didn't need a guide. She could take care of her self with those super fancy swords on her hips. Then again, what did he know about fancy? Nothing really.
"I take it you still live in Oba, correct? Oh! You must be used to the sun by now then, so if you'd like, I can take the umbrella down." It really didn't matter to Xewai what a person wore. Even before the war, when he was still just a little info runner, he knew that good people came in all shapes and sizes. And really, if people liked the cities of Oba, who was he to blame them?
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:07 pm
Cerith may have felt distant from these local Matori, but still when he swept into a low bow she felt a swell of embarrassment heating her cheeks, drawing out a hiss of surprise. Was he joking, or simply being glib? She honestly couldn't tell if his happiness was a facade, dripping with sarcasm, or completely honest, and the inability to see through it frustrated her. There was no way he was really this happy, right?
Unfortunately, with his introduction there was no way she could just dismiss him. He knew her name, and had confirmed he was the Buwahi here to escort her... which only made her feel more and more unhappy with the situation at hand. At length, he mentioned an umbrella, and Cerith cast her eyes in surprise at the assembled parasol. The shade was, admittedly, more than welcome; though she'd lived in Oba most of her life, the direct sun of the Matori waterfront was foreign to her, and Oban local or not she wasn't immune to sunburn. She still remembered her first trek here, when she had been burnt to a crisp, an experience that had earned her a number of new freckles and peeling skin, and a week of utmost discomfort.
"...No. No, the umbrella is fine." Cerith responded, finally, moving to the edge of the dock and peering down at the canoe, where it sat floating. She'd never been in a boat; and hadn't swam in years, not since she'd been taken from Matori. But even tadpoles learned to swim, she thought dryly. "I just want to get to Setal, and get out as soon as I can. I don't think my business there will take long." No, she was just reuniting with her family; it wasn't something she wanted to draw out. She'd deliver herself long enough to tell them her piece, then leave them alone to their happy little lives.
She drew back from the canoe and crossed her arms, turning to stare down at the boy, who looked like he'd have been about the same age as her younger twin siblings. The ones who had been infants when she was taken.
"Look, this isn't a pleasure trip. I can't stand this place, and I'd rather not dawdle more than necessary. I don't need the tour." It wasn't usual that Cerith spoke so plainly, but then again she had little reason to buddy up to a Buwahi, of all people. She had no reason to impress him, or even to be pleasant.
Was this what the 'secret society' had turned into? Glorified tour guides? The thought made her smile to herself, though humorlessly.
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:05 pm
"Good good good! I put some nice cushions down too, and the weather is absolutely gorgeous so this will be a pleasant enough ride! Much better than the larger charter ships! Quieter, less people and all that." Before she was ready to climb into the canoe, Xewai ran around to do a quick inspection of his vessel once more. It was resting on the doc just close enough so that here was no risk in the woman getting herself wet getting in. And of course there was the extra little makeshift life preserver (a strung together ring of coconuts that floated when the person couldn't) tucked neatly under his own seat. He was prepared, and even brought a few skins of water, just in case!
The woman's stare didn't quite unnerve him, only triggering him to grin just as earnestly as before. Maybe she was one of those really tough ladies who was all not fun and games. That was okay, some people were like that. But he honestly looked quite surprised when the women mentioned she did not like Matori. Who wouldn't like it?! It was truly an paradise once you got away from the Oban side!
"Really? What's wrong with Matori?" The young lad asked as he got into the boat, holding out a hand to assist in her getting it. It was more of a way to keep the small vessel steady, rather than thinking she needed it. "There's so much beauty hidden there! And it's peaceful and quiet... I'm sure even Jonal himself would be able to find respite there!"
It was kinda ironic to hear the young and energetic lad speak of peace. He hadn't stopped talking since he met his patron!
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 1:36 pm
Cerith stayed back, watching as the teen checked his vessel one last time. He reminded her like a tiny koi in a pond, excitedly flitting about, nibbling at fingertips, and the image brought a twitch of amusement to her face, pursing her full lips to resist the urge to laugh; no doubt she’d look rather silly laughing when he was just going about his business. The urge quickly dried up when he spoke, and Cerith shot him a reproachful look as she took his hand, climbing with waning confidence into the unsteady vessel. But, true to his assessment, the canoe was sturdy, and with his aid she didn’t so much as lose her balance.
Shakily, she lowered herself to sit on the cushions he was so keen on, tugging her hand away sharply to instead brush a stray curl off her bare shoulder. “Plenty. I don’t expect you to understand; I’m sure to you, Matori is a paradise. But no amount of gorgeous weather, or ‘hidden beauty’ is going to change that for me.” Her words came out a little harsher than intended, voice tinged with something of a challenge.
Sighing as she settled herself, Cerith instead turned her eyes towards the water. Out across the crystalline water were other boats; fishermen with nets cast, hats shading their sun worn faces and shoulders; other pleasure boats further out, where she could see figures swimming alongside them. They looked to be Obans; out enjoying the vacation spot of Matori. The people here were just as helpless as they’d ever been; with the influx of ex-slaves returning home in the past few years, places that had been small villages were bustling with renewed growth, but resources were strained by the booming populations. Plenty of returning Matori were as unused to the waters as any foreigner, and that limited the amount of food; trade was booming, but it only served to remind them that they had to cut through Oba to even reach their northern allies.
And therein lay the crux of it; after this king died, what would happen? Would the next monarch respect the treaty, or would the Matori be enslaved again? How could they all happily rebuild here, when it was an undefendable place; without even a militia to guard them?
Shaking herself from her sudden mood shift, Cerith propped her arms on her legs and looked back to her guide, tilting her head and softening her expression from its earlier defensive scowl. “You know, I always thought your group was more… I don’t know. Secretive.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 7:02 pm
Xewai just couldn't seem to wrap his mind around why someone would dislike his homeland so much. She was older than he was, maybe she had been one of those Oban sympathizers from when Slavery was still a thing.. Or maybe she was just a snob, he really didn't know, and he really REALLY wasn't going to judge.
He also wasn't one who thought too much of politics or economy in relation to the hard won freedom, so he couldn't see the financial struggle of those in this small town. He knew of his job, of the tasks he was given and his small self-sustained village to the east. And with that simplicity, he was content. He would be the first to admit he was young and naive, but there wasn't anything wrong with that some sort of optimism, was there?
As soon as his guest was sitting down, looking as lovely in the canoe as she did when she was on shore, Xewai picked up his Oar and began to paddle. Each movement of the oar showed off just how strong his body was, his muscles rippling curiously under his wetsuit. He truly did seem as nothing but a scrawny runt most of the time but damn could he prove otherwise!
"You would be correct, Miss Cerith, were this several years ago." He briefly turned around from his paddling to give her a smile, before continuing onwards. "After the war, the Buhawi did alot of work still, saving those whose masters refused to release them, or reuniting long lost families. But years passed by and that work wasn't really needed anymore. We still have our hidden village, and we still have the occasional mission where we are to save someone from some black market masters, but... It's a peaceful time. With peace, there is no real need for secrecy, and it's pretty easy to get in contact with us. And we still want to keep our original mission close to our hearts. You know, to guide and protect people. So we do what we can."
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 9:45 pm
At least the kid had a good head on his shoulders. As annoying as it was for him to spout off about how great Matori was, he at least wasn't trying to correct her, or tip her off his canoe for her words. He just focused on his work, moving smoothly through the water as if moving on a cloud.
What she didn't expect was him to be so forthcoming. For one, she never expected a Buwahi to openly admit he was one - though, times really had changed, hadn't they? As he rowed, Cerith couldn't help but to stare at his shoulders, as if hoping it would burn into his skin if she stared hard enough. The Buwahi... operating in their secretive little village, working to 'guide and protect' people... ha. To still keep their base secret meant someone at the top must know what they were doing, at least.
"You really think it'll stay peaceful for long? Really?"
Cerith asked, leaning back somewhat in her shaded seat, watching the reflection of the sun and the sky in the water that skimmed by.
[4/10]
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 1:21 pm
When it came to the Buhawi, there was nothing in the great wide world that could bring him more pride besides the sea herself. They were hard working and noble and selfless and he tried to entertain the fact that maybe, just maybe, he was too. Even if rowing a small canoe wasn't as adventurous or grand as many other things he would someday be doing, it still had it's purpose, and it still helped people. That was what mattered most.
"Peace is... Hrm..." He thought for a moment, looking for the best way to answer the question presented to him. "Peace is subjective, I think. There are different levels of peace. There is Peace that ends a war, Peace that ends fighting, you know? And then there's Peace where there's no longer a struggle. I think that life is always going to be a bit of a struggle. Someone is always going to try to do something that's awful to another person. Someone is always going to be out there and struggle to gain power to have the ability to tell other people what to do. Peace can last if one takes the time to define what their peace is."
The boat rocked a little as a larger ship passed them by, but it wasn't enough to dip them inte water too low or splash them. Just enough that it was a better idea to stop rowing than to fight it. After a minute or so Xewai dipped his oar into the water once more, smiling.
"My peace is defined by whether or not there is someone out there who is suffering and I can help them. So No, I don't think we're at peace right now, in the strictest thought of the word. But for the Buhawi? Countless numbers of our pathways and caves on the roads we took to freedom are now abandoned. We see the Matori out and free, making their own life, for better or for worst. We're not turning people away from our service because we don't have enough hands, or it's too dangerous to operate. It can function mostly out in the open, and for the Organization. I think that's peace. What would you define peace as, Miss Cerith?"
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