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 Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 6:41 pm
One would think that being a smaller tribe would bring the alkidike together as a group, but it had only served to divide them further. Some had remained on the fringes, scoffing the changes and others had clung to them with a fervent desperation. Then there were those like Ai who hung around waiting for something to click and sway their opinion.
Akacia's words hit home with her. Even if she thought Vilasini weak and Xai to be strong, her mothers had always been a fixture in her life. Now one was left alone in Chibale, the other was dead, and her traitorous sister was whoring herself to an Oban. Things had irritated her as a youth, but at least there was a comfortable routine. She had always been in Jauhar, surrounded by sisters, and the familiar presence of Aisha.
"There is, and maybe one day I'll show it to you." There was a side of Ai that was guarded from all, especially those that would mock her for it. It was what had kept her sane thus far, however, and was a treasured aspect of her psyche.
Ai made her way to a shelf that held a number of assorted food stuffs in a variety of covered pottery. Selecting a rather large bowl, the young woman slid it from the shelf and hefted the heavy container into her arms. She moved it towards an internal fire pit, whose base contained a rather large metallic pot. It was into this very pot that Ai emptied the containers contents. Once done she sat the bowl to the side, keen on starting up a fire, when her attention went to Akacia instead.
A quirky grin took it's place on her face, and Ai rose up from her crouched position with a puffed exhale. "It does, but Syn isn't one of them." Making her way closer to the pair, Ai stepped close to the other alkidike and held her arm aloft. The keldari extended his dark head, undulating against her fingertips as he descended onto his mistress' arm. He slipped himself around her forearm just once before making his way onto her shoulders, resting his head against Ai's collarbone, orchid eyes trained on Akacia.
"When I'm feeling particularly anti-social I bring Syn with me. Most will give me a wide berth once they see him laid across my shoulders." Which was wise; Syn may have been trained, but he wasn't tame by any means. He only followed certain orders given by Ai, and if pushed too far he would even turn against her. If another attempted to discipline the keldari then they were asking for a nasty bite.
She gave his scaly hide a little pat before turning back to her work. Ai struck up a fire quickly, stoking it to life within a matter of moments and was soon tending to her meal with a long, wooden spoon. "Do you have any familiars?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 5:33 pm
Akacia blinked, her thick brows shooting up as her eyes widened. "I would never ask something so personal of you," she admitted at Ai's claim that she might one day show Aka her 'important something.' The words, while surprising, also made her feel strangely... honored? The woman hardly knew anything besides her name, and yet even the notion that this might one day occur, in time carried a peculiar weight with it. "Still, I would feel deeply humbled to know what it is that still makes it worth carrying on."
Admittedly, the preparation of food seemed less important than the slithering beastie still eyeing her. Aka would've severely preferred to not have any creature sharing her living quarters. How some sisters managed it was well beyond her. Particularly when the creature was of the mindless serpent variety. If she was going to have a pet, it would be one that understood loyalty. Certainly never something so sneaky and untrustworthy as a keldari. Aka grimaced as Ai collected the serpent from the rafters.
"Unfortunately, no," she grunted stiffly. "I haven't the patience for caring to anything of the sort. I am not a reliable caretaker, I'm afraid." But perhaps she could ignore it, so long as it remained glued to Ai's frame. Meanwhile, whatever she was stirring in her bowl was starting to smell decidedly not terrible. Like pets, Akacia had little patience for cooking. Anything she couldn't peel and eat immediately was much too time consuming.
She straightened, and dipped her head in Ai's direction. "You seem to be a very talented young woman."
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 7:16 am
"It's not-" Ai found herself at a loss for words. How was she to explain that so long as she wasn't ridiculed over her treasure then she didn't mind sharing it? Akacia made it seem as if it were something prized and sacred, which in a way it was. Maybe one day she would show it to the other alkidike in the hopes of earning the fervere that was so readily given.
It felt strange for her to hear such a response about pets, though Ai did understand her feelings. She had been with Syn for a while now and the keldari was just beginning to learn to follow simple commands. Still, he gave her much needed company, so in the long run Ai didn't mind that he was useless. He was neither alkidike nor elarian, so he wasn't up to their standards, and so long as Syn gathered his own meals then she would allow him to stay.
"Talented?" Ai made a soft of 'pfft' noise, and tilted her head to look to Akacia, surprised to find her so close. "Thank you, but your praise would be better spent elsewhere." She raised the wooden utensil to tap it twice on the side of the pot before lifting a fully spoonful to Akacia. The mix was a hearty broth couldn't with bits of fresh meat, evidently from an earlier kill made by Miira, and chunks of a darker vegetable. "Try this and see what you think."
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:30 pm
"Nonsense," Akacia retorted, flicking her hand dismissively at Ai's commentary about where she chose to spend her praise. She didn't have many options in that department as of late, considering how Aka had chosen to distance herself from the other Alkidike. "Right now, it seems to me that no one is more deserving than you." Of its own accord, the beginnings of a smile crept across her face. "You or the Elaria brats. I think you know which I prefer."
If she hadn't been sure before, she decided she liked Ai now. She'd probably like anyone who would listen to her prattle on about the things she disliked and then feed her afterwards. Something about that just seemed intrinsically right. Akacia beamed.
Whatever Ai made did smell good, and the heat of the room dragged the scent all around them, wrapping her up in it. Not only there, but heat crept to her cheeks as well. They were close. And the whole act was weirdly civil and domestic. But for now, that didn't necessarily seem bad. She leaned forward, taking a taste of the broth that the other woman offered her. It didn't taste like anything they'd had on Chibale (likely because the ingredients were completely different). This too was strangely okay. "It's pretty good, actually," Aka admitted, sounding a bit surprised. "You've definitely got more a knack for it than I do. Everything I pick up around here always ends up tasting... funny."
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 11:22 am
Ai couldn't help the little smirk that lit up her face. They had different views, but not so far off from one another that they couldn't find common ground. It made her feel as if she could begin to trust Akacia, which warmed her considerably.
She snorted on a little laugh. "Did you think I would feed you mud?" Ai dipped out another spoonful, this time for herself. It wasn't her best, but the filling nature of her concoction, as well as the cacophony of tastes on her tongue, put her at ease. "Miira taught me a lot; neither one of us likes the idea of eating a cold, bland meal after a hard day, so we take turns. There are bowls on the shelf if you want a bigger portion, or I could just continue to feed you."
It was such a playful little jab that Ai couldn't even believe it came from her mouth.
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:36 am
Akacia couldn't rightly say what she expected. Not mud, definitely, and she snorted at Ai's commentary to the contrary. A lot of the wildlife and shrubbery here was different than what she was used to, and Aka wasn't on especially pleasant terms with 'different.' She ate out of necessity, but never particularly expected herself to enjoy roast serpent, bony fish, or rock critter more than what she'd had at home. So, yes, she was surprised there was a dish laden with a great variety of Yael's 'finest' that didn't taste like cultureless dirt.an
"I didn't know what you had in there," Akacia admitted. "Still don't," she added as she peered past the other woman and into the pot of broth. "But I must admit I'm grateful, and I-" Her teeth clicked shut and her dark eyes widened a half fraction at the tail end of Ai's words. "Feed-?" It was nonsense, she knew. But on some completely irrational level, not wholly unappealing. Queens and deities were fed by their servants. And while she couldn't classify Ai as such, it was still appealing on that particular level.
But no. She wasn't about to admit that. "I think I can manage on my own for the time being." She tousled her fingers through the tight crimps of her dreads, lightly dusting her hands across her cheeks as she did to dissuade any color from rising there. "But maybe next time. For now, I should just thank you for having me, at all. It's an unexpected pleasure."
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Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 1:53 pm
Fluffesu Short post is short, but wrap up perhaps in your next post?
Her joke seemed to have gotten a good response, one of which that brought a genuine smile to her face. It wasn't as if she wouldn't commit to it, had Akacia agreed, but the pause of thought was what she found to be most amusing. Ai reached for a set of bowls, as well as two carved wood spoons that resided on the shelf just behind her. She sat them next to the pot, then began to ladle out a bowl full before handing it to Akacia. "True sisters are always welcome here. If you ever have need of me, or this place, then you shall have it. But for now, eat, before Syn gets to it."
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 10:00 am
Ai's admission that she didn't even know exactly what she was feeding her guest brought a bubble of much unasked-for amused laughter rising from Akacia's throat. She covered it with a round of coughing directed into the back of her hand, because, really, it shouldn't have been funny at all. Generally, if Aka was informed of such a thing before eating, she wouldn't feel especially inclined to partake. But she found she didn't mind with Ai, and she didn't feel ill yet.
She accepted the meal with a grateful inclination of her head and spooned a bite into her mouth while waiting for Ai to finish dishing out her own helping. She likely wouldn't ever admit to needing anything she couldn't provide for herself, especially not the services of another sister or their home. Or their food. She took another bite. But maybe if Aka, on a whim, decided she'd prefer companionship on a hunt or patrol, or if she was feeling especially complaintive and aggressive toward the other race of females that inhabited the island, she might not mind seeking Ai out.
At least now she had a vague idea of where to start looking for the other woman, if she ever felt the need.
Elaria, snake familiars, and unsuccessful training practices aside, perhaps the day wasn't as much of a waste as she'd originally feared.
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