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 Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:24 am
Illian was silent as he moved to sit with his back towards his brother after pocketing the salve. The last time someone had touched his hair.... He swallowed back bile and hoped that the Matorian wouldn't comment on his brief look of sickness. It was only Istanell after all, his brother wouldn't harm him.
"Fishtail?" He asked, finally, once he was sure his voice wouldn't betray him. "I know you would, and I'm sure that with time, everyone would be able to get along but my obligation is special. She's been through a lot and I think you would overwhelm her."
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Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 4:15 pm
It was a good thing that Istanell couldn't see Illian's face, the older shifter probably would have taken it the wrong way and been very hurt by his behavior. He couldn't really understand how he would ever be able to overwhelm anyone, but he knew he had to take Illian's word for it... it was a separate part of what had become Illian's life and it made Istanell sad. It was a part of his life he didn't want Istanell knowing much about, he felt. Five years... five years of secrets his brothers would undoubtable try and hide from him because they had all faced horrors. And would he be able to share his struggles? "She is lucky to have you."
He smiled down at the top of Illian's head as he braided, making fast work of it. "When our mother first tried to teach me how to do the fishtail braid..." He was glad to finally have something to speak about, though mention of his mother always left a sad note in his voice. It was rare for him to bring her up to anyone besides his brothers, though. "I couldn't grasp it at all. Over and over she would show me, but every time I somehow messed up the order in the weave." Unlike his father, their mother had endless patience when teaching. It was a good thing, too. "It wasn't until Uncle showed me... He took my hands and moved them through Inca's hair, doing the work for me but making it easier for me to understand anyhow." Sometimes that was all it took, just doing something a different way.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 5:02 pm
"I'm lucky she likes me." Illian murmured, knowing just how much pain he'd caused her at one point in time. "She made the balm. I'm hoping...one day she'll become a healer. She has the mentality for it." Kadan had many good qualities to her, steady hands and a warm, if scarred heart. Illian really hoped that with time she'd be able to interact with the world again, as her own person and not as a former slave.
He listened as Istanell told him how he wasn't able to do a fishtail braid as a child, and couldn't help but snort. "It's a hard braid to learn." He said, "I used to have a lot of trouble with it too, and I know I'm out of practice with weaving any sort of braids." He sighed, "I'll get to practice soon enough again, wont I? We'll find our little brothers and we can be a- a family again." He swallowed hard. Yes they'd be a family, one that had possibly grown apart, each with their own little personal secret that they wouldn't be willing to share with the rest.
Illian didn't want any of his siblings to know just what he'd had to do to survive.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 5:39 pm
Istanell wondered what life would have been like had he not been the eldest. He didn't think he had the mentality or bedside manner to ever be a healer... but what would he have done differently with his life if so many choices hadn't been made for him? He guessed he would begin to find out, already he'd decided to throw away the sword, though he knew it would be wise to keep all that he'd learned from it and remember it well. "I used to think healers had it easy... that somehow it was less somehow than being a warrior..." It was weird, admitting that out loud. Their mother, after all, had been a healer. "Hind sight is a funny thing. Having to see all of those people suffer... and judge whether you can help them or not... that takes a very unique sort of strength." He thought of Incanthis for a moment, sighing softly. Soon they would find him, with any luck.
Istanell considered Illian's choice of words, his fingers pausing near the end of the braid before he finished. "Even in our forced separation we've always been a family... but it will be good to all be together again." If they all ended up together again. Istanell had no word of the younger three... but that was not an idea he liked to entertain and certainly one he wouldn't bring up. "I will be glad of having competent company able to braid hair again." Istanell suddenly laughed, thinking back of the atrocious mess his hair had been the few times he'd let V'Rin try his unskilled hand at braiding. With all of his skill in rope work he'd been unable to garner the same results with hair. Istanell had finally sworn him off from braiding, more than happy to braid his own.
It was odd being able to laugh, he felt almost guilty about it. His laughter died down and he rested a hand on top of Illian's head for the briefest of moments. "It's finished. I think you should check on our Matorian friend, I'm not much help in that area." For how often he got wounded one would assume he'd have more knowledge of identifying wounds on others, but it simply wasn't so. "I will go for supplies." His fingers slipped to his money pouch and he bit down on his lip. "Unfortunately I don't have much in way of payment and I'm in no condition to swipe anything." He left the question of money implied, already feeling awkward enough having to ask his younger brother for hand outs.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 6:53 pm
"As did I, until I watched some of the training that they had to do." Illian replied, "It does take a lot to determine who lives and who dies, and even then, you have to ration your ability so that every has a chance." He hoped that he'd never place a healer in that position. Of healing him or seeing to someone else. He was glad that there was a priority order where it was almost always the ones injured the most were seen first.
"What was the saying, 'Distance makes the heart fonder'?" He asked, "I hope the others have forgotten whatever petty strife there was between us." Illian knew that he was cold towards his brothers, even now he still was fairly aloof with only Istanell there to absorb his ill humors from. "We'll see how competent I am brother." He said with a soft laugh, the sound so faint it was more breath than anything.
As it was pointed out Illian found his gaze drifting over to Jelanii and he nodded. "I will and thank you." He fished around in his pouch and pulled out a few silver and copper coins as well as some tiny polished stones and gems. It wasn't much but it should cover the cost of the supplies as well as more water and a bit of food. Istanell would have to haggle to make it stretch, but he was sure his brother could do that.
He handed the funding over without a second thought and stood, easing out a cramp in one of his calves. "I doubt we'll be far from here when you return. Be safe brother, I'm sure there'll be more of these stubborn Obans roaming about."
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