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 Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 2:43 pm
[[Cornetified via Discord]]
[1/10]
Sitting outside of one of the little shops, Nok was idly drawing random shapes into the sand while he waited. He had given his shopping list to the employee, and they were fetching the requested items. After all, he didn't dare go inside the building himself! Even sitting next to the building gave him chills. He felt a little guilty letting others take the risk for him, but they never seemed to care.
The waiting was just as difficult. He had to be there for when the employee finished, which meant everyone and their keldari was walking by! He had his hood pulled up over his head as much as possible to avoid eye contact, lest an accidental look entice someone to attempt a conversation.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 2:44 pm
Xenia wasn’t looking forward to winter.
It was among her least favorite months, owing of course to her smaller stature and lack of natural insulation. No matter how well she might bundle up before leaving her home the young yaeli would almost always be in need of more layers by the end of the day, much to the chagrin of her family. More clothing meant higher expenses and while her parents could provide for their girls well enough Xenia knew they weren’t the wealthiest family on Yael. In fact, most of her clothes were hand me downs from her elder sister, which normally would have sufficed, but not this time around. Oh no! Xenia had worked hard all summer at her Uncle’s shop and saved as much as possible so that she could buy the very best this winter.
Boots as thick as a stump, skirts lined in fur, and a cloak so heavy she would be muscled by spring!
When the time came for her little outing, Xenia had hoped that her sister would get to come with her, but that didn’t pan out. She had her own life to attend to; plans had been made, Xenia should have told her in advance, so on and so forth. In the end she just gussied herself up, and set out on a solo trek into town.
She hadn’t been out for very long when she spotted the thief. Hunched over, hood pulled over their head, looking shifty as ever….Xenia scrunched her brows. Definitely a boy, from the looks of it, and that meant she could do little to stand against him. Maybe if she were taller, tougher, but the young yaeli took after her petite mother. Still, if he was up to something nefarious, surely the shopkeep should know?
Xenia hurried past him, hoping to look as ‘normal’ as possible, while doing the exact opposite. She strode into the shop, careless of what it was they actually sold and made her way to the shopkeep. Xenia looked over her shoulder, glasses dipping down her nose before giving the worker her full attention. “That man over there...he’s not trying to steal from you, is he?” She whispered, only raising it when she dared.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 2:45 pm
[2/10]
[Corny via Discord]
Nok paid little mind to the boots that hurried by him. His glowing gaze gave the slightest shift, but, if anything, he tucked himself into his cloak and hood further. He wished the shopkeeper would hurry up...
The shopkeeper looked up at the hurried steps and gave the girl a warm smile in greeting. Pausing filling the bag, his brow knit and he leaned over to see who the man was. Smirking lightly, he adjusted his own glasses and shook his head. "Ah, that's just Nok. He's just waiting for his shopping is all." He tucked another length of fabric into the bag and sighed, not bothering to keep his voice down at all. "An odd bunch they are, but good folk just the same. Nothing for you to worry your head about, young lady."
Ears twitching at the sound of his name, Nok turned his head slightly to peek out from under the hood and into the shop; just enough to get a look at the feet of the people talking. The shopkeeper and the boots that had just walked by. Why were they talking about him? His fingers left the earth and doodles to slip around the handle of his dagger. Was Boots a threat? They were quite small, but that didn't mean the wearer couldn't be dangerous. Fierceness came in many sizes, after all.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 2:46 pm
“An odd bunch?” Xenia murmured, taking a moment to readjust her glasses before turning back to the boy. At the very least he wasn’t a threat, which was good, but Xenia wasn’t exactly at ease. She should be happy enough with the answer, walk out and finish her shopping. However...Xenia eased her way away from the shop counter, moving a little closer to the door and inevitably, the hooded figure.
The way his fingers moved up to the dagger...it made her skin p***k. This was the kind of boy her mama wouldn’t want her talking to and yet...If he was such a ‘good kid’, shouldn’t he be acting like it? “You shouldn’t do that; it gives a bad impression. Like you’re going to rob someone.” Her voice was small, much like her stature, but to the point, nevertheless. Xenia dipped low enough to bend at the knee, hoping to catch a look at his hooded eyes. Really, the girl was far too curious for her own good and prudence was not with her today.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 2:47 pm
[Corny via discord]
[3/10]
The shopkeeper turned to watch the pair interact, amused by the girl's curiosity and curious himself to how Nok would react. Though, it might be better to hurry up with the checkout and let them be on their way...
Nok stiffened slightly. Boots was coming toward him again. He was giving the bad impression? "You talking about me," he huffed in reply. "I don't like it. How do I know you not planning to be thiefing me?" Thiefing? That didn't sound right. What was the word? Thief.... "You might be thinkin' to rob me," he said quickly, giving up on figuring out the word he wanted.
The sudden appearance of a face made Nok jump, and his fingers tightened around the dagger handle. However... "Why is there so much hair?" he asked, instantly confused. The girl was quite petite, but those curls! "You live in town. Too much hair for forest. You'd catch on every branch." He shook his head, eyes still on the violet curls. He could tell he was a little taller than she was, though he remained in a crouch, and guessed that the clothes bulked her against the cold. How was she moving in all those layers?! Wait, first things first, that absurd hair...
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 2:48 pm
Xenia brushed a handful of curls away from her face, and attempted to tuck them behind her ear. However, the act was in vain; almost as soon as her fingers pulls away the curls bounced back into her line of sight. With a huff, she pushed them back once again, careful not to repeat her past mistake. This time Xenia kept her hand in place, holding them back as one would a curtain.
Thiefing? The young yaeli furrowed her brows, and decided not to comment on the weird...word? Phrasing? Honestly, who taught him how to speak? “I’m not here to steal from you. I’m just shopping is all, and I’m not the one skulking around in a hood.” It wasn’t even raining! And if he was cold then surely his midriff should have been covered as well, but he seemed just fine exposing it. Her papa often did the same thing, since cloth tended to sit ill around his crystals, but at least he had sense enough not to wear half clothes.
“I don’t live in town; I live close to town.” Xenia bristled. Next he would want to touch her hair just like everyone else, and ask if a family of birds lived in it. “And if I wanted to go further into the forest, which I do, I just have to do this-” Xenia sat her basket down, and fumbled around the pouch strapped to her hip. She pulled a long, thick length of black ribbon out, sat back as straight as she could and started the process of bundling up her hair. By the time the teen was done her arms ached, several curls bounced their way to freedom, but it was pulled away from her face into something resembling a bun. “-see? What about you? Your hairs pretty long; doesn’t it ever get snagged?”
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 3:05 pm
[Corny via Discord]
[4/10]
Nok's brow rose. "I don't skulk," he huffed. "Just sittin' here waiting for the shop." He sat back and gave the shopkeeper within a pointed look. Well, tried to. The older man was too busy snickering and packing the bag. Nok pressed his lips slightly and gave the ceiling a peek. It better not cave before he got his things...
Not in town, but close... Interesting distinction. His eyes narrowed slightly, watching the girl attempt, and perhaps he could use the term loosely, to put her mass of hair up in some sort of fashion. That was just too many curls. He could see every twig catching them, making her jerk back every couple steps. It would take forever to get home! It wouldn't take him long to get home. He was ready to go home. Hopefully the shopping bag wouldn't be too cumbersome...
His mind drifted during the styling process, quickly flicking back to attention though when he heard the girl speak again. Observing the results, he cocked his head slightly and wrinkled his nose. It didn't look ideal, but it was better than before.
"Mine?" He looked down at the ends of his wavy hair that he could see, paused a moment to give it consideration, and then snorted. "It's long, not poofy like yours. And I have hood cover. Nothing to snag when it's covered." He cocked his head again and shrugged. "Well, guess it can't be too bad, if you've survived this long. Can it braid? Might be better?"
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 3:05 pm
“It’s better if I don’t try to braid it. It’s so thick that if you do too much with it you’ll make a knot and then it has to be cut out. Unless it’s really tight, little braids, but those take a lot of work.” If she’s survived this long? What a weird thing to say. What did her hair have anything to do with surviving? Maybe where he came from they had some sort of curse about curls; it wouldn’t be the weirdest superstition she’d heard over the years.
Xenia sat back until her butt tapped the little stone stoop outside. With a little fluid motion, she gathered her skirts together in one hand and sat down to give her calves a break. “When I’m out with my papa we’re usually in caves so there’s nothing to worry about, but with mama I pull it up and put a scarf over it. “ Her glasses slid down her nose when she raised her hands once again, this time to mimic the action of wrapping a bit of silk around her head. It was never as pretty or ‘elegant’ as what her sister could come up with, but Xenia didn’t mind.
She didn’t need to be like her sister; not when she could be herself.
“So...you don’t live in town either, do you?”
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 3:07 pm
[Corny via Discord]
[5/10]
Nok cocked his head again. That was a lot of hair to attempt braiding. It would take ages! Still... Well, it wasn't his head. It wasn't his business if it got caught on things. Still... it would be an interesting challenge to take on.
His brow rose when the girl seemed to settle herself on the step near him. Was she planning to stick around? She was launching into another tale... Caves? That was unexpected. "I like caves," he murmured out loud to himself. Caves were contained, and made of nice, sturdy rock. "Scarf with just your mama? Does your mama make you hide it, or is it 'cause she knows it could catch things?"
He shook his head lightly. "Nope. We live out there," he said, pointing in the general direction of where his family was located, deep in the forest.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 3:08 pm
“So do I.” Xenia beamed, “My papa knows all the best ones to go to, and he’s taken me a dozen times. I could show you sometime, if you want...if you ever come back to town.” She didn’t want to put much stock into him coming back, but making a new friend was nice. Since she spent so much time isolated with her family and out in the woods Xenia’s pool of confidants was depressingly small. To have someone else to talk to….it was pretty nice! Even if he didn’t seem entirely on board.
“My mama’s a huntress and any time I go with her she wants to make sure I don’t get stuck.” The dejected tone Xenia used implied it had happened a few times. She shifted her knees and stretched her legs out. No one was passing by, and it didn’t seem to hurt anything if she worked out some kinks. Despite the worn, layered nature of her skirts the boots that popped out were well cared for, and well designed.
“I live in the woods too but I’ve never seen you. How far out are you?” She’d always thought they were pretty far out there so that papa’s animals could live in peace, but if he was further….Just how wild was this boy? “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. You know, just in case you’re still worried about me thiefing you.” As much as she wanted to tease him, as she did her sister, something held her back. Xenia just wasn’t so sure that pushing her luck like this would be the smartest choice. Her eyes peered at him from under the rim of her glasses, curious but withheld. What kind of home did he have out there? How many members were in his family? Just how far was far?
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 3:09 pm
[Corny via Discord]
[6/10]
The girl’s eagerness piqued Nok’s interest, making him raise his head the slightest bit. Show him? He pursed his lips slightly. It would be nice to see more caves, but it would mean seeing this girl again. This would take some consideration! He seemed pleased to hear he wasn’t the only one that considered such big hair a hazard, though! “See? Mama knows hair is catchable,” he stated with a simple matter-of-fact tone. Not trying to rub it in, but making it clear he was right.
His eyes darted to the boots that popped out, leaning forward just slightly for a closer look. How did she keep them looking so nice? The passing glimpses he had gotten of them earlier had not shown the care they received. He looked up again at the question of his home, eyes narrowing slightly. Why did she want to know more? “Out there,” he repeated only, gaze shifting to the boots again. His family was rather secretive, and he wasn’t about to go telling just anyone the details of his home! “You go in caves and hunt with them boots?” he asked. “The ‘far’ caves you said before?
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 11:31 am
"Of course I do! They're just new, is all. If I go out somewhere really far then I wear different ones." After all, she liked to keep the boots her papa bought her as clean as possible for as long as she could before they inevitably became broken down.
"So, I've got a question." Xenia busied her hands in her lap by smoothing out imaginary wrinkles. Without some kind of book to look through or a map to fiddle with she got antsy. "If you and your family aren't exactly...sociable, then why do you come into town? Why don't you have someone who can run your errands for you?" He seemed like he got along just fine on his own, but the whole process seemed unnecessarily stressful!
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:21 am
Wow! More than one pair of boots! It really made sense, but he had only ever had one at a time, as could be noted by the sorry state of his current pair. "My new boots are next," he found himself offering, poking a finger at one of the holes forming near his toes on one foot.
Question? Nok cocked his head slightly. Most people just ignored him, but this girl kept pressing. It was strange, but, he didn't mind as much as others in his family would. "We can't make everything. They make nice things here to use." He peeked back into the shop, but the shopkeeper seemed to have gone to fetch another item from the list. "Why?" he asked. "No one else likes coming, and no one here gonna go out to our place."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:29 am
[7/10]
"I could!" Xenia offered with a smile. "I always go out to the woods for one thing or another, so if you let me know where you live I could run your errands. Maybe once a month? Or we could meet halfway if you aren't comfortable with it." It would give her an excuse to explore areas of Yael she hadn't before, and maybe learn a little something about a new section of people. She often forgot just how superstitious and isolated many families in Yael were compared to her family. Sure, her mother had her setbacks but on the whole, because of her Papa, they were seen as 'progressive'.
"Though...it's probably good for you to come into town every once in a while. Just so you can talk to people." Thinking it over for a moment, Xenia reached out to poke his knee. "What if you met me at my house and I ran your errands for you, but, in exchange, you had dinner with my family? that way you can socialize but you don't have to be exposed to a bunch of people at once?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 8:37 pm
Nok pulled his head back with surprise, brow rising up under his bangs. The offer was certainly as enthusiastic as it was unexpected. "No!" he gasped out. "Everybody would be angry if I showed a stranger anything." The very idea practically gave him a stroke! With how forward this lady was, he couldn't be certain that she wouldn't decide to bring friends along one of those days. That would be a mess.
Then the offer shifted with a poke at his knee. "I don't mind town that much," he murmured, hand rising to scratch at his jaw. Talking to people was completely different though! As it was.. she was an odd one, but this lady wasn't too bad to talk with. It was certainly more interesting than scribbling into the ground. Meeting he family though... would they be as interesting as her? As nosy, too? "Is.. your family nice?" he asked hesitantly, showing that he might actually be considering such a blasphemous idea as getting to know someone outside of home.
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