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 Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:44 am
[1]
By the time her wounds had been treated and bandaged enough time had passed that the sun was starting to rise. Mino’aka didn’t remember the trip to the clinic anymore than she remembered drifting unconscious, though she was sure she did. She didn’t feel rested, but the passage of time was enough of a tip that she rolled with it. Her ribs were wrapped in gaze, some deeper scraps had been stitched and her arm was wrapped up tight against her chest. The sling was something she would have to get used to and if the healer was to be believed as long as she didn’t strain her arm she wouldn’t have to use it for long.
Worries about her own health and recovery paled to the anxiety she felt knowing she was going to be escorted home. She hadn’t dared dissuade Oly as he started to walk with her, but that didn’t mean she could look at him either. Mina found her eyes drifting to the ground, passing buildings, birds…her own nails. Whatever it took not to have the conversation she knew was incoming.
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:45 am
[Corny via Discord]
The morning air was crisp and clean after the riotous storm. Oly took a deep breath of it, savoring the fresh scent after staying in that stuffy clinic that smelled of antiseptic and blood. He'd had plenty of trips to clinics himself considering his training and work, but it was another thing to be the one visiting and waiting. He had sat near Mina's bed most of the night while she rested, pulled between nodding off for a few minutes and then jumping up to pace and take time to think. There was a lot of thinking to do.. or was it really not that much?
He had already felt the anxiety tickling his chest once Mina had first woken up that morning. So much to say.. but what was there to say? How did he say it? The fact that they had only met gazes once, when Mina had first woken up and was still figuring out what had happened, didn't help his jitters at all.
So, the silence spread between them as they walked.
Gods, he hated it. He hated it so much, he finally cleared his throat to get himself started. "So, uh, now that I know.. things... what'll you do now?" He turned his head slightly so that he could look at her. "You're not planning to stop your work, right?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:47 am
[2]
It was a little hard to walk a gracefully as she was accustomed to when her body hated her this much. What bits of her that weren’t bruised were sore causing the Hapuna to limp along, but at least the clinic had been kind enough to provide her with a cloak to hide her armor. Or, what was left of it. She wasn’t really sure where her pauldrons were and her whip…Well, it would be better just to have it replaced all together.
She didn’t want to look at him, but avoiding eye contact felt rude, given all he’d done to help. And it wasn’t just last night; Oly had been a constant for her during the entirety of her time in Tendaji. So…she supposed she owed him this much. “I’m not.” Mina answered quietly. “Well, I should say I don’t want to but…it’s a bit silly, isn’t it? Thinking one person can change things.” She sighed. “I’ve been offered a position to guard a noble’s wife and I liked the idea of it, but…I didn’t want to give up on this. And then last night happened…”
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:48 am
[Corny via Discord]
Oly gave a weak smile. He would carry her all the way if he could.. that wasn't going to happen though. Mina's pride was wounded enough without out his well-intended chivalry making it worse. At least she was willing to look at him now.
"Silly isn't the word I'd use," he mused gently. "Ambitious, but not silly. All it takes is one person to set things in motion. But, a guard position?" He looked forward again, uncertain of what his expression would show. "That would be really good for you. Experience, income, consistency, all that. As long as the woman is nice, of course. Hard to guard a complete bi-" Oly bit his tongue. He was starting to ramble. Delaying. He had to ask while he had time. "And, what about your not work things? Are you.. planning to stop those?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:49 am
[3]
“…I took a job in Oba a few weeks ago to help with security at a wedding. One of the guest’s has a wife from the Kahikina and he reached out to me. He hopes that she and I can become friends, with the bonus of keeping her safe.” At first Mina had been adamantly against it, just because of the sort of clientele that had been at the wedding, but this man had been blindsided. He’d attended with his father, the man had been arrested and once his son was clear he’d reached out. Worried or not, she couldn’t very well fault him for something his father had done.
“As for the rest…I don’t plan on stopping.” She thought about dodging it; about lying to him, wording something so it sounded better but Mina was tired of hiding. And she didn’t want to lie to Oly of all people. So, when she turned her eyes to his, her emotions were bare. “If I take the position I won’t have as much time to do it, but…I don’t want to stop. Not yet.”
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:50 am
[Corny via Discord]
Security at a wedding? That must have been quite the event to warrant hiring security! Maybe he would have to ask her about that later. "And he thinks you both being from Kahikina will make it easier for her to accept having you around." Well, it did make sense. It would take more than a shared homeland to build a bond though. If the guy was expecting a bond.. how long was he planning to keep Mina there? He pressed his lips the slightest bit, but Mina continued talking...
Oly felt the heat rise in his chest and water subtly pooled in his eyes without falling yet. After a couple more steps, his forward momentum ceased entirely and his gaze shifted to the ground. He stood still for a silent moment, thinking and breathing deeply. "I'm still upset that you weren't planning to tell me about such a big part of you.... but I get it, too. I'd do just about anything to keep you safe if I could." His hands clenched into fists as the lump rose in his throat. What would have happened if he hadn't run into her? What if he'd ignored the odd figure in the rain? It was horrible to think about. Then again, what would have happened if he'd been there from the start to back her up? Maybe she wouldn't have gotten so hurt, or maybe they both would have been bleeding out in the storm.
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:51 am
[4]
“That’s the hope. I told him I would need time to make my decision and I wanted to meet with her first.” Having a spouse say their partner was kind sounded sweet, but sometimes their view could be extremely biased. She might be a lovely woman to him and an absolute devil to anyone else. “He does some trading in Oba so there would be a few trips, but mainly I would be working in Matori.” He may not have cared either way – especially if he was still upset with her – but maybe…maybe Oly would have liked that better? To have her closer? She’d certainly thought of it before even considering the position.
Not that she could very well tell him that at this moment.
Because when she caught his eyes and saw the moisture building there her heart dropped. She’d done this to him. This poor, sweet, brave man was in pain because of her. “Oh Oly…” Mina raised her unbound hand and very nearly touched his arm, but hesitated before letting it drop. “I thought I was doing the right thing, but seeing you like this…I can’t stand it.” Tears started to bubble at the corners of her own eyes. “I’m so sorry. I wish I’d told you from the start.”
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:52 am
[Corny via Discord]
With a deep breath, Oly tried to blink the tears away. It would be mostly in Matori? Did that mean..? For a guy who usually had his head fairly square on his shoulders, he felt like his brain was turning into oatmeal. "It's a whole other life, Mina. I didn't expect to know everything about you right away, but something like that.. I mean, what if there's something else even bigger?" With a small growl, he rubbed his hands roughly over his face. Seeing the similar tears echoed in Mina's eyes only added to the hurt. He didn't want her to hurt.
When his hands came down, a pained grin showed under wishful but uncertain eyes. "You- You're a hero, Mina. A real one. You're amazing and strong and have so much drive to do right, but you're still so kind and wonderful and you're about to get an actual job protecting someone and-" his steps finally slowed down to a stop, "and..." Mina had said she didn't want to stop her non-hero activities.. but how could he compare? "and I'm really glad to hear you'll still be in Matori.. but.. I'm just.. me. I train as a past time. I work catching fish. You didn't tell me about that part of yourself because you were scared for me." The realization of the unfamiliar issue struck another stab into his chest. Insecurity. "What if I just become a burden on you?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:53 am
[5]
What if there’s something else? Something bigger? Mina’s heart felt as if it were fading. Even the ground didn’t feel solid under her feet. “There isn’t; that’s everything.” The words felt so hollow after everything they’d gone through. Would he believe her? Why should he? What if he never trusts me again?
With a light wind tugging at her hair, Mina came to a stop beside him. If she kept walking she could let him go and at this point he’d probably let her. Maybe that was for the best? If they separated now he could find someone who wouldn’t make him question himself like this, and yet…she couldn’t find it in her to move.
“…The worst thing about compliments is that it’s easier to give them then it is to receive.” After a moment, Mina took a breath and continued. “When I hear you say those things about me it’s wonderful, but I don’t feel them about myself. I’m just me; I do what I do and I do well because I have your support to keep me going. Whether you knew I was Hokulua or not, having one person standing by my side meant the world.”
And when she looked at him…Spirits, her heart just broke. It broke because it was so full and fragile and warm and – “I kept the truth from you and that was wrong, but Olokun…I never kept it from you because I thought you were a burden. You could never be one. I’ll always be scared for you, even if I was a seamstress or a shell farmer because I care about you not because I think you’re a liability.” This time, when she reached for his hand, she committed to it and gently held on. “I care about you. The fisherman with the hair as bright as daybreak whose smile keeps me coming back to the docks day after day after day. And I understand if you never want to see me again after today, but I can’t…I just…I can’t leave with you thinking these things about yourself when you’re so much more.”
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 7:40 pm
[Corny via Discord]
The flicker of doubt was subtle in the back of Oly's mind, but it was there. Was that really everything Mina had to reveal? How many secret lives could one person have? If he'd been so oblivious to one, then what if...? Gods, two little words could cause such an immense spiral of pain. 'What if?' Granted, it wasn't as though they were living together. They weren't even officially a pair. Could anyone have expected him to see it? Was he really just that blind?
Hold on. She thought she was just her? His cheeks darkened with a smattering of bashfulness, delight, fear, and embarrassment. Her words as she continued on were a balm on the burning in his chest. Could he really make that much of an impact for her? Could he trust what she was saying? He wanted to. His brow furrowed warily, the contradicting feelings battling in his head.
Then he saw and didn't stop the gentle grip on his hand. He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. Gods, her words sounded like she meant them. Please, say she really meant them... He didn't dare open his eyes yet, or the tears would truly fall. What did he really think of himself? "The last thing I want is to never see you again," he replied softly. He raised their joined hands and held them together over his chest. "Just... you are real, right? Up to now.. that was still real, right?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 7:48 pm
[6]
Her palm, calloused and bruised from the handle of her whip, felt so small compared to his own. She didn't dare look down at them, though; what if she did and in that moment he turned away? It could be over, just like that, and she'd...Mina didn't know what she would do.
She only took in the sight when he brought them up to his chest and she felt the warmth of his heart. "It's real, all of it." I'm real; I'm real and I'm here and I-
-I think I might love you.
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:11 pm
[Corny via Discord]
Perhaps he shouldn't have believed her. Maybe he should have dropped her hand right there and walked away. It would have been safer to leave the complications behind. Easier to just go back home and not worry about secret lives and burdens. Maybe find someone else who he wouldn't also have to fear for, knowing they weren't out there at night looking for bad guys to defeat. Just let go and walk.
There was no possible way he could do that though. Oly's grip on Mina's hand gently tightened. "It's so real for me, too." He bowed his head to gently kiss her fingers. ...oops. Face dark with fresh bashfulness, he took a step back and rubbed at his face again with his free hand. For some reason, his other hand was unwilling to let go of Mina's. He wasn't exactly trying hard though. "We should.. really get you home.." His eyes flicked open, granting him a jarring reminder that they were still just standing in the middle of the road.
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:21 pm
[7]
That was blood loss making her dizzy, right? It definitely wasn't the rush of heat causing her ears to flutter. She hadn't expected him to keep holding her hand let alone to kiss her fingers. For a moment all Mina could do was stare and hold her breath, but when she could finally breath again she started to walk. Still holding onto his hand, of course; it would feel odd just to let go now.
"Maybe we could...start fresh? From the beginning?" She subconsciously took a turn, headed back to the boarding house she'd been renting a room at all these weeks. It wasn't far so hopefully she wouldn't tire out before they got there. "My name's Mino'aka; I used to live with my father and mother in Lokelani, but my mother and I don't get along well so when I could...I left. I'm also an only child and I love mushrooms."
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:46 pm
[Corny via Discord]
It sounded like an odd idea. There was obviously no way he could start completely fresh, but this was a second chance. Maybe this really was the best way to go forward. He pressed his lips together thoughtfully. Still, his expression relaxed when Mina started them off. Had they ever actually had such a conversation? "Sorry to hear you and your mom don't get along... but I'm glad it brought you here." Okay, just a little more sappiness, but that's it!
'Okay. My turn.' "My name is Olokun, but most call me Oly. I've been in Matori my whole life, but sometimes I'm in Oba because some of my family works there. I've got a twin brother, though we don't much look alike, and we're the youngest out of seven kids." His eyes glanced over, unable to help his concern. She needed to rest... "I'm a fisher by trade and part time.. I guess you could call it muscle for hire. Move heavy things for old ladies, keep watch on a rowdy crowd, walk people home..." He couldn't help a slight smirk at that. "Nothing wild."
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:58 pm
[8]
"Thank you, but it's alright. We just had different ideas on where my life should go and if I'd listened to her I never would have come here." Maybe that would have been the safest route; for everyone. She could have stayed home, found a nice partner, a stable job and added to the community. Instead, she was moving one foot at a time hand in hand with an earthling and trying to remember to breath through the ache in her ribs.
"Seven?" She couldn't help baulking at the number. Hearing that he had a twin brother was enough of a surprise, but having such a big family on top of that..."I'm sorry, that was rude. It's just hard to imagine having such a large family. " What would a twin brother look like? He'd already said they weren't identical so maybe Oban skin with blue hair?
"You make a fine escort." She offered a wan smile. The longer Mina walked the harder it was getting to keep her posture straight and after their talk the weight of it had leeched much of her strength. Just a little further...
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