|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2023 6:03 pm
Changes
It had been several months since Aleksi last saw Shierra, the pair going their separate ways at the airship dock, and now he was finally arriving at the very same docks she had supposedly returned to all those weeks ago. While he had mentioned wanting to visit before, it had taken some time since he had business to wrap up in Belrea and the days had flown by to the point that he was afraid she had nearly forgotten his promise. Aleksi hadn't sent actual notice of his arrival, just some teasing hints here and there through his letters to Shierra who was back in Matori, and he had been rather eager to surprise her with his appearance. Now though he somewhat regretted not telling her in advance of his decision to actually visit her home, Aleksi realizing that the man staring back at him in the mirror was not quite the same as before. Something about the pollen which had lingered across the docks in Sauti had altered his appearance almost overnight with his skin, hair and even his crystals changing in color. "You would expect it to hurt or something, but if anything I was simply irritated all night from itching." He mused, blinking at his reflection before shaking his head with a sigh. Well it was only a matter of time before testing Shierra to see if she still recognized him. What if she had also changed? Now that would be another test for him, especially considering he had just crossed an entire ocean to visit her!
Where would one find her, as it was? He knew Sald was the town where he had been sending his letters, the place near the Oban borders apparently home to Shierra's family but other than that Aleksi had no idea about where her home was actually located. Was it one of the huts along the outer areas of town or rather one of the many townhouses along the busy streets where travelers and locals alike mingled to gather supplies and make sales? "A challenge indeed." He mused, twisting back and forth before settling on the nearby tavern to see if someone inside would perhaps know something about Shierra.
[Aleksi 1]
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:26 am
After the ruckus in her own home, Shierra had stepped out to get some fresh air. It seemed as though everyone in her family had changed in some way! Well, not her father... and not her. Was she relieved or disappointed though? The young mage bought herself a muffin and a coffee from the local bakery and sat outside to watch the commotion as others reacted to their various changes. After a moment, she looked down at her cup with a little smirk as she pulled a small pouch of cream from her pocket to add into the hot drink. It was good.. but not the same as the kind she'd gotten over in Belrea. Of course, she would never admit that half the difference was the view. Who would have thought that would affect the taste of something?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:17 am
"I almost believed it was some sort of hidden requirement for Belreans to change when they entered Matori, but it appears that pollen affected quite a lot of people." Mused Aleksi as he settled into a chair next to a familiar hybrid. At first he had been worried that he wouldn't find Shierra in this place but thankfully the village was smaller than a Belrean city with enough merchants knowing about the family who lived just outside of town, their dancing school making their names well known about the population. So it was only typical of him to act all casual after chasing her across town, talking to so many locals to try to find her even, his hopes raising and dropping every time he thought he spotted her until there she was emerging from the bakery. It was like the heavens moved, sunlight framing her face like a halo as he watched her emerged from across the street, with Shierra totally oblivious to the fact that he was standing there completely in awe of her appearance. It had been a few months, but how could he forget how beautiful she was? Aleksi let out an amused chuckle, blaming his father's romantic plays for inspiring such embarrassing thoughts, but it was true that he was delighted to see her.
Would she recognize him? Perhaps. There was part of him that hoped she would, the cocky expression as he settled down and looked at her drink fairly similar despite his altered coloring. "They do have coffee here. That's a blessing at least." The ocean was nice, the town was quaint but there were quite a few differences from his Belrean city where there were a plethora of shops and taller structures with so much more in between. Aleksi truly didn't mind that much especially since Shierra was here which was more important than any of those details, but it was definitely an adjustment from the home he knew.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 6:28 pm
Shierra picked at the muffin idly, mind getting lost for the hundredth time in thoughts of what she'd had back on Belrea; and not just the coffee. Though she had gotten back in time to save her job, it didn't quite feel like it had been worth the rush. She had certainly missed being around her family though. What would it be like to bring the technology of Belrea into their home? Things would be so much more convenient for her parents, at the least. How nice it would be... The voice immediately caught her attention. Not that she would ever admit it, but her heart skipped a beat as her eyes rose to see... Aleksi?! She couldn't help staring for a moment. If it hadn't been for the voice and that cocky grin, she would likely have overlooked him in passing. To cover the flutter that persisted in her chest, she cleared her throat and looked back out toward the town. "I didn't remember giving you permission to sit there," she said coolly. "It's only polite to ask. Perhaps I was saving that seat for a friend."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:37 pm
"Did I take your breath away with how handsome I was?" Teased Aleksi after a moment, their locked gazes making his own heart flutter in his chest. How he had missed that face over the last couple of months apart, truly. Though it was hard to take him seriously with how relaxed he appeared as he leaned back in the seat, an eyebrow raising at the implications that he needed permission to sit down. "Thought I would be more than welcomed at this table or did you move on already? I hope not, my heart simply isn't prepared to handle that pain." He commented softly with a gasp, his gaze widening almost like an abandoned duruf at the very concept of Shierra moving on. As playful as the expression was there was an actual moment of his heart twisting, the actual thought worrisome despite his confident exterior.
"But I suppose if I'm not welcome here then I can go sit at the table over there." He gestured towards an empty table, the hybrid shifting slightly as if he would truly stand and walk over there. "Though once I get coffee I'm not certain where I should go next. If I'm not welcome...do I go all the way back to Belrea? I wonder if that'll change me back or if I won't be recognized back home either." Now that would be a shame, not that he believed it would be a permanent situation considering how he planned on arguing his identity with plenty of personal information to prove that it was truly him and not someone else. Though couldn't that be a story? A new identity gifted by some strange pollen when he visited a foreign land...hmm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2024 7:06 pm
Shierra sipped at her coffee while making sure she looked as calm as possible. She'd gotten one shot out, but now needed a moment to absorb what was right there. She could hardly believe that Aleksi was actually sitting there. Right there on the other side of the little bakery table here in Matori! He'd.. felt enough.. to come all this way... Had it truly been so real for him, too? At the threat of leaving, she snapped out one hand to point it firmly at Aleksi, and then twitched her finger in a downward motion toward the seat. "You keep your backside right there," she huffed with a snort. "I didn't say you weren't welcome. Just that it would have been nice of you to ask." She looked over at him and felt that flutter again; her eyes taking in the new appearance as well. Damn. "You're lucky you didn't get a fireball to the face for such audacity. Especially seeing as how you seem to have gotten yourself a new look. Almost didn't recognize you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 6:40 pm
"Yes, ma'm." Aleksi settled back in his seat, crossing his legs and leaning backwards as he situated himself. "My apologies." He continued, that crooked grin lingering as he looked over Shierra. She truly hadn't been changed by the pollen like he had, not that it mattered she was lovely no matter what appearance she sported today, and despite his teasing he truly was happy to see her. It had taken a couple of months to sort out his own business in Belrea, but the man had pulled through with his promise to follow her overseas. How could he not visit after everything?
"Would have been a shame to blast my new face, right?" He continued before looking around the little café where they were settled, Aleksi waving down a waiter and ordering a cup of coffee for himself. "So this is Matori." He mused looking back over towards Shierra. "Do I get to ask for a tour of the area? Or will you leave a lost city boy to wander around aimlessly?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2025 6:43 pm
Shierra snorted, but the subtlest nod betrayed her inner thoughts. It really would be a shame to mess up that face... "Yup. No place like it, either." A warm smile curled her lips. She really did love it here... and it was all the better now that Aleksi was there. "You're welcome to ask," she said playfully, meeting Aleksi's eyes over the rim of her cup. "It would be mighty interesting to see how you handle wandering around, though."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 12:19 pm
The gleam in his gaze acknowledged that subtle nod, but Aleksi said nothing while the slight smirk of his lips spoke volumes instead about his amusement. "Is that so? You've raised my expectations, I hope Matori can meet them after hearing you praise it so." He teased as he drank his coffee, enjoying the dark and bitter blend as he tried to adapt to the new time schedule after flying from overseas. It was a bit different, at least it felt that way with the way the sunlight shimmered across the ocean in the distance, because his body for some reason still felt like it should be sleeping instead of enjoying a mid-morning chat with Shierra.
"I'm curious about what that means as well." Admitted Aleksi, taking another sip of coffee before turning his gaze from the ocean and back towards Shierra. "I can only hope to entertain you though since I would like to have a place to stay other than the beach while I'm here." Or should he have looked into an inn? But he much preferred the bolder approach of trying to see where he could stay based on Shierra's opinion, especially if it was closer to Shierra...the true reason behind his visit to this foreign landscape.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:06 pm
Shierra hummed softly as she took another slow sip of her drink. "The key to enjoying someplace new is to not expect the same thing you get at home. Almost everything is different here. It was quite the shock for me when I crossed to Belrea." She sighed heavily and shook her head. "But, at least you'll have me to keep you from doing anything to dangerous. As fun as it would be to just let you wander on your own, I also can't allow you to get hurt while on my home turf." A.. place to stay? She gave him a slight side-eye. "You didn't set up anything yet? Don't sit there expecting you're gonna come sleep at the foot of my bed." Her brow knit the slightest bit with thought. Their second home was way out in Oba, and a private getaway was next to impossible with family around anyway. An inn would get costly quickly. There was plenty of room back home... but her parents would ask so many questions.... but he had come all this way... "You got two choices if you don't want to stay on the beach then. Pay coin for an inn, or pay with answers while my parents interrogate you to stay at my house. Luckily, most of my siblings already have their own places, so they won't be as bad."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:17 pm
"Is that so? But what if you're accustomed to getting everything you want?" Aleksi joked with a glance towards Shierra as he sipped on his coffee and enjoyed the Matori view. "I'm relying on you and your protection. Does that mean I don't have to be on my toes to entertain you this time around?" Aleksi teased even more, recalling their first few dates together and how Shierra held his life in her hands if he failed to meet her expectations each time. It was a bit dramatic but it made for fun banter, and he enjoyed acting as if his life could end at any moment if he messed up around the other hybrid. It had been fun though to show her around Belrea and he could only hope that she would be alright showing him some of her home now instead.
"Hard to set up a room when you've just recently arrived. I did stay at this little tavern last night though so I suppose I could survive there. I could always travel back there again but if you're offering your bed then how can I refuse?" Another tease since he could technically stay out in an inn, but that would mean he wouldn't get to spend as much time as possible bothering Shierra during his stay. "An interrogation? What do you think your parents will be asking?" His gaze gleamed with interest, a mischievousness there as usual while he pondered his options. "It might be worth it though if I can wake up every morning to your lovely face. Do you think they'll ask when I plan to show you a ring? Is that a thing in Matori? Belreans are all about showing off those rings for engagements and the like. Or do Matorians go straight into asking how many grandchildren we're prepared to give them?" Perhaps it had been a bit too long since he had seen Shierra, but Aleksi truly was feeling a bit more daring today. It was always fun to tease and see if he could get a flush on those cheeks or suffer some form of injury...the perks of gambling with his words around his companion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 9:11 pm
A ruby side-eye squinted over at Aleksi. "I can assure you; if you want this to be like home, like Belrea, then you will be sorely disappointed. Of course, if you open that thick skull of yours a bit, then you'll certainly enjoy your time here. ..Especially since, I suppoooose, you won't have to worry as much about keeping my interest." She smirked playfully. "Just remember, everyone already accepts me as I am here. No need for me to hide when someone pisses me off too much." So he really had only just gotten into town. What luck that he had bumped into her here so quick. Was it really luck though? Her cheek twitched with Aleksi's suspected questions. A bold little s**t today! "While I'm sure it would be a pleasure for you, my parents will have rules. You'll be thrown out on your backside before you wake up next to me in their house." As for rings... "Well, my father did give my mother a ring. It's not usually necessary around here. Just depends on the person." Would.. he get her a ring if he was interested? That fluttering thought got the faint heat on Shierra's cheeks. Gods, this conversation had escalated the thoughts in her mind far too rapidly. "Anyway, do you need to get anything from the inn before I show you where you'll be staying?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 9:41 pm
Aleksi raised a finger and tapped his skull. "Don't you worry, I'm keeping notes especially now that I can focus more on studying instead of teaching." He smirked at the thought, the hybrid already relaxing more as he leaned into the shift in their positions since this was Shierra's turf and not his own. "I'll do my best to keep up with everything." Including noting her warnings about how she didn't need to hide herself here, not that he had noticed her hiding herself in Belrea. But maybe she had been holding back more? Not blowing him up over every silly thing he said or attempted? Which would mean he was probably lucky his teasing hadn't ended up in a surprise bonfire on the beach. He had no regrets though especially not when that faint flush appeared afterwards, the hybrid fully embracing the risk for the reward he got.
"But I will get the chance to sleep there then? That's what I'm seeming to understand." Replied Aleksi, that smirk still on his lips as he listened to Shierra's words and enjoyed the flush that his own had caused to darken her cheeks. "I'll keep that in mind then since it's basically part of Belrean culture so it's only fitting. Sounds like your father must be a romantic as well. Here's hoping we can get along and I don't get kicked out." Aleksi took a final sip of his coffee and readjusted his legs as if prepared to leave whenever Shierra was finished with her drink. "If milady will escort me to the inn then I'll gladly grab my belongings and walk them to wherever you're putting me for the next night and however long going forward." Though perhaps he could reign in his excitement a bit more, Aleksi noted as he prepared himself for the Matori adventure that now awaited him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 6:22 pm
"See that you do," she said firmly with a hinted smirk. She had no doubt that Aleksi would keep up in Matori. Shierra was actually excited to see how he would adapt to the new environment. Matori didn't have many of the advances that filled Belrea, but it wasn't like they were still just hitting stones together here! Shierra nodded and drained the rest of her coffee back. "I can assure you, you will be comfortable and safe during any time in my home. Your only risk will be in your own head as you adjust to being here." Sleeping in a new place could be a challenge. She had been entrusted at Aleksi's cabin though. "Alright. The walk will give me a chance to get more used to.." she paused and gestured at Aleksi, "whatever this is that happened to you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
