|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:15 pm
Winter was fast approaching and never was it more apparent than today. The rain carried a chill that should have kept Zev indoors, but since he’d already been couped up for nearly a month an exception had been made. He was allowed to go out, for a brief stint, if he had a ‘chaperone’. Or, as Zev was quick to point out, a ‘babysitter’.
Still, he was in ‘good’ health and eager to go. His father had already bundled him up to the point the boy had trouble lowering his arms, but Zev put up with the fussing. Well, mostly. He did a fair bit of groaning and squirming, but today was a big day! There was a new shop opening close to home; a bookshop and one that specialized in rare finds at that! Now fully dressed, the child stood in the doorway to his home, anxiously looking up and down the street for the poor sod who was watching him to appear.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:22 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Valerian was still getting accustomed to Belrea. While he was happy to spend time with his mother's relatives, the boy was still at odds with the idea of a city. How could so many earthlings live together in such a crowded place? He truly missed the quiet of nature, their isolated home back in the forest was so much nicer than the constant stream of background noise as earthlings came and went along the streets. His antsy behavior must have been noticed because his family had recommended him to a bookstore in what was supposedly a quieter area, giving the boy some hope that he could finally take an afternoon to simply read the day away, but of course there was a catch. Somehow his excursion had evolved into babysitting, Valerian being voluntold to help out with some child of a family his grandfather worked with.
But Valerian was mature and despite some initial protests he finally relented and so here he was approaching a house, a paper clutched in his hand to navigate him to the address, and it wasn't long until he spotted a moving bundle swaying outside. There was a youngling beneath all of that, correct? A soft sigh left his lips and he forced himself forward, the teen raising a hand in greeting as he approached. "Zev, right?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:23 pm
[2/10]
“Yep!” He raised a hand to wave, but his little fingers were only visible when Zev raised his arm high enough that his sleeve fell on his wrist some. His clothing, while of a quality made, was clearly purchased in the hope that he would have grown into them by winter. Zev had not. “And you’re Valerian, right? Papa said I should give you this.”
He dug around his belt for a pouch and handed it up to the older boy. Inside were several coins and a small piece of paper with the words ’For your troubles and a book, within reason, for Zev’ written on it. And once that had been accomplished Zev raised his other hand, occasionally flexing his fingers while he waited. “I can’t cross the street if I don’t hold your hand.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:24 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Yes, that's me." Unfortunately. Though Valerian couldn't be upset at the boy. It was just strange to be babysitting like this. He was so accustomed to just dealing with Eujanie and her antics that a polite youngling was completely baffling. "Do you get cold easily? It seems like a lot." He mused, not able to hold his tongue as he looked over the bundled youngling and took the pouch. Valerian quickly skimmed over the message, nodding and tucking it into his own pockets. At least that worked out. He had some spending money of his own, but he appreciated the generosity. He just hoped the youngling truly enjoyed reading as much as he did, not that he would have to worry about Zev escaping dressed as he was. There was no way he could run without tumbling and rolling down the street instead.
Blinking, Valerian glanced at the hand and waited a moment before relenting and grabbing the boy's fingers. He wasn't rough, just a gentle grab so that the smaller hand was secured in his own so that they could venture forward. "That okay?" He asked before glancing across the street, making certain the crowd was somewhat calmer before taking a few steps forward to lead the way. He had looked over a map before arriving so that they could get there safely and not end up in some dangerous street instead. "So you enjoy reading then?" He asked after a moment, trying to avoid senseless silence while also trying to move as slowly as possible to give the boy plenty of time to keep up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:25 pm
[3/10]
Oh, they didn’t tell him? For a moment Zev was quiet, unsure if he should say something or not, but…Well if he didn’t then Valerian might let him do more sooooo…. “I just wanted to be comfy…erm, comfortable.” Making sure to pronounce every syllable, just like he’d been taught, Zev bounced on the balls of his feet and beamed up at the leafling like the good little boy he was.
“Your hand feels like Colm’s.” Giving the other boys hand a squeeze, Zev checked both ways, even after Valerian had started walking, and did his best to keep up. “He’s my biggest brother. I’ve got two.” Filling silence came easily to a boy who spent most of his time reading aloud in his room and making up voices for people on the street below. He’d been fully prepared to do that here, but the question about reading got him. “It’s a lot of fun. If you get a good book then you can go places in your head that you can’t with your feet. Do you like reading, Mr. Valerian?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:26 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Valerian frowned, feeling concerned but brushing it aside as the youngling seemingly bounced to life. Was there something he was missing here? Maybe it was a city thing to simply keep their younglings protected. Living out in the wilderness had taught him to be a bit tougher than others, at least it felt that way after experiencing the more cozy city life in Belrea. Out here it felt like others would panic if they had to survive on their own for a few days, let alone even just one afternoon. There was a system for everything with others knowing how to do some tasks while the rest filled in the blanks, trading services for services instead of simply raising their own food and working on their own homes. Not that the village didn't have certain aspects, he wasn't a blacksmith or anything like that for example, but it did feel a bit more divided here with everyone learning a different trade for survival. Then you had the solid buildings, all with their cozy fireplaces and all the blankets on a plush bed...that much he had learned after staying here when he was accustomed to furs and a more homemade type of situation for his room in Tale.
"Colm?" Valerian blinked with surprise before nodding as Zev offered an explanation. "I see." So the boy did have older brothers. None of them were about to take him to the store? There was a pang of something akin to pity in his chest at the thought, but Valerian didn't dwell on it despite softening towards the boy a bit. "I do enjoy reading. I collect scholarly tomes so I can learn more about herbs and healing. Though I like to write my own journals by studying plants and discovering all that I can about them." He smiled at the thought, pausing as he let a group of rowdier earthlings rush past and angling his body to protect Zev from anyone that could potentially bump into them. "Do you like a certain type of book or will you read anything?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:26 pm
[4/10]
Zev nodded his head happily. “He’s really smart and he helps me with my studies like Papa does.” There was a swing to his free arm that released some of the energy he’d had pent up for so long. While he still got tired easily and didn’t have enough spunk to run or wrestle around with Arden, Zev had plenty enough to walk. It felt soooo good to be stretching his legs after all that time in his bed! The air was cold, but fresh and it didn’t make his skin itch.
“Is that because your name’s Valerian? Like Valerian root?” The name was common enough in his household, as was it’s use. “Oh, are you studying to be a healer? If you’re already writing your own stuff then I bet you’ll be a good one.” Because only the intelligent people got to write books, right? Right. His eyes widened when he was blocked and for a moment Zev didn’t know why until he heard and saw the rougher folk. When it clicked what Valerian had done he looked up at the older boy with just the brightest smile. “Right now I’m studying Yaelish so I’d like to find a book written in it. “
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:28 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Oh? That's nice." Valerian nodded thoughtfully, pondering the option of studying. "I heard that school is common here. I'm assuming you attend then? What's it like?" He wanted to keep up casual conversation but was honestly also interested in the concept. There were schools back home, but he had never been given the chance to attend one. The local village that was even remotely close to them didn't really have an academy or anything like that and Valerian couldn't imagine leaving home to go all the way to Oba or something. It was much better to be homeschooled in that situation, Valerian relying more upon books from traveling merchants and scholars than anything else. Survival knowledge was also important, both of his parents had been very helpful in teaching him everything he needed to know for life in the forest and such.
His lips twitched upwards with amusement, the teen simply nodding. "Yeah. It's fitting, right?" He supposed it was part of what inspired him, the teasing actually turning into an interest when he embraced his name and the flower it referenced. "Thank you." He truly appreciated the optimism, even if it came from a youngling. "I'm doing my best to learn all that I can." As the group continued down the street, Valerian guided them in the opposite direction where the bookstore was slowly coming into view. "Yaelish? That's interesting." He had read some on local cultures, focusing more on nearby countries and Belrea but never Yael. "I hear that they're full of supersticions. Do you think something can be learned from those stories?" As he spoke he helped Zev across the curb, up the street that went straight towards the bookstore. The two story building was nestled in between others, the windows stained to prevent too much light from fading the books inside and a little wooden sign was etched with a book and script for the shop's name.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:29 pm
[5/10]
What was school like? It should have been an easy answer, but because there were so many responses fighting to come out first Zev had a hard time choosing what to say first! “Uhm, well, it’s nice. The one I go to teaches us our numbers, reading, history, art; that kind of thing. When you’re older you can take more classes and if you’re really smart you can go to the Academy.” He didn’t think he’d ever get to go because of how much he missed, but it was a dream nevertheless. It was hard not to romanticize something that was always talked about with such respect by his professors.
“Maybe! My Aunt and Uncle are half-yaeli so I thought if I could read Yaelish then maybe they would want to read with me. My grandfathers even bought me a book all about the legends of Yael, but…well, they can’t read Yaelish, so…I mostly just end up telling them about it.” Zev couldn’t kept the pout of his tone, even as they cleared the curb, but once the bookstore came into sight his mood picked back up.
“What kind of school do you go to?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:30 pm
[sABRA VIA DISCORD]
That sounded like a lot. Valerian was honestly impressed if not overwhelmed by how much Zev was listing off. They had so many different classes! For the first time there was a pang of envy, Valerian wondering what it would be like if he had access to such a school. But then he was reminded of the crowded city streets, the thought making him frown as he tried to ponder the pros and cons of everything. "I heard about the Academy from others, it sounds like an amazing place." He admitted with a small smile. "I'm hoping to visit it one day, maybe even before we leave for Tale." He honestly didn't know how often he would visit Belrea in the future, this trip alone had been a hassle especially for others in his family. But after surviving one airship Valerian felt a little more comfortable about the concept of flying overseas. So maybe he would visit again in the future, at least once more.
"Oh, I see. That's an interesting twist." Valerian acknowledged as he walked up the first step and helped Zev to get over the next few so that they could open the door, a bell chiming their entrance into the shop. "Maybe you could try to teach more of your family one day, just in case your Aunt and Uncle aren't around to share the stories with you." He offered before pausing at the next question, a hint of a flush on his cheeks as he quickly focused on the first bookshelf they saw within the store. "I was taught at home, we don't have many schools like you do in Tale." He admitted after a moment, slowly loosening his hold on Zev's hand. "We need both hands to explore, but just stay close. Okay? We can take it a bookshelf at a time." That way they could browse and then maybe buy some tea or coffee from the little counter by the register. There were some tables set up as well on the first floor, a place for earthlings to mingle and read.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:31 pm
[6/10]
Zev hadn’t thought of it like that before. So much of his family was scattered across the sea that he’d taken for granted that they were here, but what if one day Casimir and Calliana decided to leave as well? What if they never came back? Would he…would he ever be able to follow them or visit if they decided to live in Tendaji or Yael? That was…Maybe…maybe he shouldn’t think about it right now.
“That’s okay. I do most of my lessons at home too when I can’t make it to class.” Admittedly he was barely paying attention to Valerian now that they were finally at the bookstore and boy were his eyes wide. Zev’s little chest was inhaling and exhaling so fast his heart nearly stopped. There were rows and rows of books, some were even on high pedestals behind glass!, and so many more were behind a counter. “Wha – Oh, okay, yeah yep. Just…don’t go too far, okay? It’s really big in here.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 11:45 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"Hmm." Valerian frowned slightly at the response, curious about the meaning. Why wouldn't Zev be able to attend class? Maybe he was sick on occasion? It wouldn't surprise Valerian if the system here was more rigorous when it came to attendance and such, but sickness surely was an acceptable excuse. "Don't worry." Valerian reassured the youngling as he reached for a book to tug free from the shelf. "I'm not going to leave your side, just stay close since we can't hold hands in here." He could only imagine the mishap that could occur if he tried to tug a book free without another hand to stop others from tumbling forward onto Zev or something like that!
"If you see one that you can't reach but you want to look at it, just let me know." He twisted the book he had chosen in his hands, the design of plants interesting enough as he flipped through a few pages. "I honestly don't know where to look for Yaeli tomes, so we may have to ask for someone or just take our time seeing what we find while going through the shelves." Valerian tucked the one tome under his arm, curious to see what he could study on Belrean plants, and started to glance about. Where would they put some storybooks? This appeared to be more of a research section, not much on fantasy or folklore aspect which is what he assumed Zev would want instead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 11:51 am
[7/10]
Zev nodded his head and started to look around. He made sure to clasp his hands behind him, as much as he could anyway given the girth of his coat, so as not to touch anything he shouldn't. His eager eyes took in the variety of titles, some that looked fancier than others and anytime he found himself drifting just a little too far from Valerian the boy would scuttle back.
And then he saw something on a tall shelf. It was displayed in such a way that the front was facing him and the language...wasn't one he was familiar with. For a moment the boy simply furrowed his brow, cocking his head to the side as he tried to make out the words, but... "Mr. Valerian? Would you mind getting that one down for me, please?" He pointed up towards it. Unbeknownst to him it was an older book, just out of his price range and written in Zenan with the title 'Drizzdyn's Guide to Aerial Combat' written in golden calligraphy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 1:59 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Honestly when Valerian had heard he would be babysitting, he had not expected such a polite and calm child. It made the overall experience fairly enjoyable, the pair just looking through and seeing whatever books that they could find. Thankfully Zev didn't seem to want to dart away, rather he was always scuttling back towards Valerian whenever he decided to take a few steps in the opposite direction to check out the next thing that caught his attention. The very sight brought a small smile to Valerian's face before the sudden request had him stopping, the teen putting back a book he had just skimmed over so that he could look at the one Zev was interested in.
"I don't mind." He frowned slightly, studying the scene before deciding to try and reach for the book. It took a bit of effort, the teen straining on tip-toe but eventually he managed to tug it free. "I don't think this is in Yaeli, but it does look interesting. What do you think?" He asked as he handed the tome to Zev, curious to see the youngling's reaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 2:08 pm
[8/10]
He took a step back, then two more and a third to give Valerian the room he needed to work. At first he worried that they might need to find an adult, maybe one with a ladder, but when the Talean got his hand on the book Zev's wonder grew. Before he could stop himself he was reaching up for it, making grabby fingers before Valerian had even gone flat foot on the ground, but he caught himself. With an embarrassed flush, Zev hurriedly put his hands to his sides and waited 'patiently'.
But oh there it was and now he could hold it and it was heavy. He walked over to the nearest surface, in this case a little table with a singular book on display, and sat it ontop to have a flip through. "It's definitely not Yaelish, but I don't - wait, I know that one! This word right here - see it? - it says Zidel. It's Zenan! Like me!" That's all it took. Zev was hurriedly picking the book back up, fumbling a little and getting a better grip on it. "I want this one! I - Erm, Do I....Do I have enough to buy this one?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
