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 Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 4:13 pm
Leukos felt his smile broaden even more at the mention of magic. "What? Whoa... that's unbelievable! I've seen how hard the magicians in our troupe have had to work to master magic; there's no way my meager talent can come close to that! How lucky you are!"
He could sense his friend's hesitation as he continued speaking, the way his posture changed ever so slightly. Something big, perhaps as big as their encounter, was on his mind. Leukos knew that in the years since the end of slavery in Oba things had not miraculously fallen into place perfectly for the freed Matori. They were still seen as second class citizens by many; he had experienced this discrimination on more than one occasion based solely on his birth. Though the law now forbade it, he didn't see how the last vestiges of the industry couldn't be alive and well in shaded secrecy. And for Xewai to still be fighting to free those who are trapped, truly he was a far more noble soul than himself, who now spent his life performing fanciful tricks for mere entertainment... But he expected no less from his old friend.
At the mention of a mission, Leukos felt his heart drop. Of course he would be leaving. Xe had his own life now, other people he cared about. It wasn't just him: it never had been. But accepting someone had to leave... and watching them go... were two totally different beasts.
He put on a brave face for Xewai; he could tell how sensitive the boy still was. "It's ok. I'm... I'm ok. It would be selfish of me to keep you here, there are too many people depending on you. It wouldn't make sense... you're a hero after all! And I'm just a circus boy." He patted him on the arm affectionately, smiling again to reassure him. "I'll be alright."
After all... he had grown used to watching people leave.
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Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 6:43 pm
Why did he have to be the one who caused Leukos to seem sadder? Though Leukos tried to hide it, just the tone of his voice was enough to tell that he was feeling distressed, and he whole heartedly understood. They had just reunited! They had just found each other after so many years, and yet he couldn't stay... But he'd be Damned if he'd let this be the last time they met each other.
"Leukos..." Xewai took one of his hands between his own, giving his knuckles a quick kiss, just as he used to as a child. Nothing romantic, just a promise. "It is not selfish of you at all! Okay, maybe a little selfish, but understandable! And I can stay for a while, for tonight. I'm no hero, and you are not JUST a circus boy. You are a STAR. An amazing performer who can capture the hearts of an entire audience with a single smile! I came here because I was stressed, because I panicked too much about my mission and needed to relax... This tent, your team... You. You calmed my heart and mind enough so that I can think!"
He could not stop himself from kissing Leukos' knuckles once more, wanting to promise him the world if he could.
"I know where you are now. I know you are safe and that this circus is your home. It's not like when we were children when I had no idea where you were! I am not leaving, please know this.. Okay, I AM leaving, but I'm going to come back! And... And when I get back, you can take a vacation! You can come with me to see the Ocean! And stay with me for a few weeks in my home! We won't be apart, okay? Not for long. Not this time!"
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 3:03 pm
As Xewai took his hand and quickly kissed it, Leukos felt himself in the shoes of the small boy he had once been, full of naivety and a heart ready to love openly. The encounter should have made him uncomfortable now that he was older, but when it came to Xe, he seemed to be able to make an exception. So Leukos let the boy hold his hand longer and accepted the praise he piled upon him, letting his prideful personality be rekindled. He was pretty amazing after all.
Leukos felt himself nodding to Xe, his words sinking in. This time would be different! He wasn't being taken away to a secret location, and Xe was able to move around freely in a land unfettered by the chains of slavery anylonger. He'd be able to come back! And in the meantime, Leu had his work to keep him busy. It wouldn't be forever.
He had always avoided his homeland out of fear of the unknown, of seeming like an alien to his own people. But with Xewai helping him out, maybe it wouldn't be that bad? "Yes, you can finally show me this Ocean you always spoke so highly of, I'm sure it's wonderful! The troupe will miss me, but I'm sure they can survive for a time... I'm looking forward to it! I want to know everything you've been up to all these long years." He stood up, lifting Xe with him. "And since you're here, I can show you what I've been doing! Not just anyone gets a behind the scenes look at a world renown circus after all!" He impishly smiled and gave him a sweeping bow, offering Xe his elbow to lead the way.
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 6:47 pm
Xewai watched with glee in his eyes as the other's body language changed and he just smiled. How could he not? Leukos believed him. Every word he said was true, but it meant nothing of his dear friend didn't believe any of it. But he did, and his heart just began to soar.
"Yes! Yes, you will LOVE the ocean! I'm sure of it! And we will be together... You'll learn everything and SEE everything! I even built my own hut a few years ago, all by myself! And a canoe! I'll take you to see the waterfalls, that just.. They flow so lovely, kinda like your hair, just on and on and beautiful... It's wonderful!" Soon enough he was on his feet again, arm and arm with Leukos and just... excited.
"Show me everything. I want to know all about your life, Leukos! Wow, you're really world renowned too? Hehe, now I really feel like a simple Island boy!" There was no hesitation in taking his friends Leukos, and bothered to stand up on his toes to kiss his cheek, a sweet little kiss of gratefulness that he had not simply abandoned him when he said he had to go.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:06 am
Leukos shrugged his shoulders at the Matoran's remarks, offering a conceding smile. "Weellll, I might have exaggerated the whole "world renown" bit: but we are working on that! Gonna really get our name out there, maybe even travel into other lands soon. Wouldn't that be something!" What he wasn't prepared for was the sudden kiss on his cheek, throwing him off kilter again. Their interactions had always been limited by a lattice fence as children, but since Xe didn't have that problem anymore, it would appear that the true extent of his physical expressions of joy were able to manifest. If this was how Xe showed friendly affection, it would definitely take some getting used to!
And so the tour began with much bravado. Xewai really was lucky: since this was only their first night in the city, he didn't have to worry about the troupe dismantled the tent and packing up all the supplies. Everything was left up in all its splendor for the next couple of days. So Leukos toted him around camp, showing him every corner of the grounds. He told him what all the supplies were for, embellishing the experience with any humorous stories he could think of related to each item. He introduced Xe to his colleagues (any who weren't already tucked away in their trailers anyways), enduring their sidelong looks and gossiping as he would move on to continue the tour with "his newest little plaything". To heck with them anyways, they could cluck to each other all they wanted! He wasn't going to let anything else get him down the rest of the evening, not during the precious hours he had left with Xewai. He even got permission to take him up into the rafters of the tent, enjoying psyching him out about the long fall to the ground on more than one occasion as he nimbly balanced on the tiny catwalks. Then he introduced him to the whole menagerie of animals they kept in their company, giving extra time to his two performing partners, talking to Xe as he groomed them.
As the sun began to set, he made their way back to his trailer, so he could show Xe the inside and change into his civilian clothes before dinner. As he stripped down to change, it never even crossed his mind that Xewai might be surprised or uncomfortable; he was so used to disrobing in front of others it didn't even give him pause any longer. He showed him his selection of different costumes, the makeups he would sometimes apply, and the many accessories in his arsenal (a collection he was quite proud of). He grabbed the oud on his wall as they left, and after they had enjoyed dinner with the whole troupe, he played a song he had been practicing for them, belting a tongue-in-cheek bawdy song to accompany it. After clean up was done and all the other crew members had shambled off to bed, he laid next to the dying campfire under the stars with Xewai, gently strumming his oud to no particular tune, talking about everything and nothing.
And he was happy.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2016 8:40 pm
Going on the tour with Leukos felt like he was in a whole 'nother world. It was so hard to believe that there was anything in this world besides his work. He knew there was, but it was still hard to believe... The constant murmur of jobs and missions hardly left room for relaxation, especially not in the middle of a mission. But the lights and the people and Leukos made any guilt he may have felt slip away.
Arm in arm with Leukos felt so perfect and natural that any glances he received was returned a warm and excited smile. What little time they had with one another couldn't be filled with any sort of doubts or stresses. Just happiness and a sense of belonging.
The one thing that caused just a small hitch in Xewai's breathing was meeting the creatures from Leukos show. Memories of snaptrotters and sharp claws always surfaced whenever a creature with threatening teeth were involved... Yet here, with Leukos and seeing his immense trust as he brushed and tended to the beasts calmed his heart. Maybe they weren't so bad.. Maybe he really, truly could one day have a pet of his own, one that wouldn't sink their teeth into the soft, delicate flesh of his neck and drag him out to drown. Quickly shaking his head, Xewai banished the thought, refusing to let such thoughts cloud his mind.
Before he realized it the land grew dark, and he found himself in Leukos' trailer, watching him with interest as he went on about his costumes and accessories and make up. His eyes never left his companion, even as he stripped. It was just skin and flesh, the same as he had himself so there was no flustered glances or hot cheeks. No, only adoring smiles and endless attention to give.
Xewai made sure that once they laid near the fire that he was within reach of Leukos. His fingers couldn't help but wander over and play absently with strands of the other's long hair while he laid on his back, watching him and only him.
But it couldn't last. It never did. Foot steps began to approach, and with them the young Buhawi member sat up. It was Gobi, a towering man with heavy layers of muscle and a scruffy beard in his late forties.
"Xe, we have the signal... We move at dawn." That was it. It was happening. It was REALLY happening... His first orchestrated mission, the first lives that were on his hands to rescue. No, he was wrong, Leukos was his first... But this time, he would not fail. He gave Gobi a quick nod before the man vanished around a corner, waiting for him to finish up here. Over and over again in his mind, Xewai couldn't stop the question Why now..?
Now, he was ashamed to look at Leukos, ashamed to let him know it was time, and ashamed to have to leave him again, even if it was just temporary.
"Leukos...?" For the first time, Xewai hated his voice in it's meekness and it's cracking. How could he say goodbye when his heart was just cracking after a hole had just been filled?
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 1:16 pm
The tune he had been strumming was cut short by the sudden appearance of a large burly man Leukos did not recognize. His first instinct was to stiffen and tighten his grip on the oud, ready to use it as a weapon if the man came any closer with malicious intent. But he relaxed when the stranger spoke words directed at Xewai, putting his instrument to the side and sitting up, weaving his fingers together and twidling his thumbs, avoiding eye contact. But as soon as he came he was gone, leaving Xewai and Leukos alone again.
A heavy silence laid between them, firelight dancing on Xe's back as the boy sat facing away from him. Finally he heard him say his name, a plaintive mew laced with regret and sadness. Leukos had tried to forget about his inevitable departure the whole night, Xewai falling back into his life so naturally that it felt like he had always been there. But he knew he couldn't ignore it any longer. Unable to bear the hell Xe must be experiencing, inflicting upon himself, he scooted over and wrapped his arms around his waist, creating a safe cocoon with his legs for the poor boy.
"It's ok Xewai... it's ok. We knew it couldn't last forever." He leaned his forehead against the back of his head, speaking into his curls. "It was wonderful having you all to myself again, but you have to go.... people are depending on you. They need you more than I do. I have my freedom, now you need to help them find theirs too..." He tried to be strong for Xewai, but felt his voice crack at the end, a lump settling in his throat. He swallowed back any tears that tried to escape, smothering them with his willpower. Crying wouldn't make this any easier.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 11:00 am
"It can't last forever... No.. But forever is much longer than one night, one week, one month..." And it was true. forever could feel like it could fit in one night, or it could feel like it would never come. And that was just something they would have to accept for now. Leukos was right, there WERE people depending on him, and there was no way in hell he could fail them.
Still... His heart was aching and cracking, and the moment that Leukos placed his forehead against his hair, and his arms reached about him to rest on his waist, he broke.
It was a soft, quiet sounding sob that came out, and he couldn't really understand why he couldn't control them. The hands on him were real, the soft breath against his neck was real, and he could feel the rise and fall of the other's chest against his back. It terrified him to think that come their parting, he would open his eyes and find that all of this was just fake. That his mind, in it's stressed out and panicked state, drafted an illusion so real that it could break his heart. No. It wouldn't be true. He knew it just... Just couldn't be true.
Within his arms, Xewai turned, kneeling between Leukos' legs to wrap his arms around the other's chest, pressing his cheek against a well formed shoulder. It was tight and desperate; every single emotions he felt right now was coming out in this single embrace because he just knew there was no telling when they would see each other again. After a few moments of just memorizing his dear friend's heart beat, he pulled away just slightly, enough so that he could gaze into the other's eyes and press an gentle touch to the other's cheek.
"I will help those who need it, and be back here to see you quicker than a single turn of the moon. And we will leave from here arm in arm, hand and hand, this I promise you. "
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 10:54 am
Leukos was shaking from the effort of holding back his own tears as Xewai clung so desperately to him, knowing that if he cried, it would just make letting go of him that much harder. But what if this was it? What if he never got to see him again? There were so many hurdles and dangers in the world; to have made it this far safely, especially in Xewai's dangerous line of work, was a miracle. The moment he walked away, fate could simply snatch him up and snuff out his light, leaving Leukos in the dark again. It had been easier when he thought that flame had already died out. He didn't want to feel this much pain. He thought he had raised a thick enough shield around his heart to keep it from breaking anymore; yet just seeing Xewai's tender smile again had smashed a hole in his defenses. Dammit. Dammit. The world was far too cruel.
Xewai shifted in his arms, making him come face to face with it all. He was so delicate, like a baby bird; how could he be strong enough to make it out there? Leukos pressed into the slim hand against his cheek, closing his eyes, just listening to him. It was a promise that he knew Xewai would fight tooth and nail to keep... but his promises had been broken before.
No. Stop it. That's not fair. We were both younger; things are different this time. Stop wallowing in your own agony and man up. You need to be strong right now.
He smiled for Xewai and reached up to cup his face, wiping Xe's tears away with his thumbs. "That's enough crying now Xewai; it doesn't suit you. Your face was made for smiles. You're gonna go out and kick a** at what you do, and I'll be waiting to hear all about it. That's a promise." He took his hand and locked pinkies with it, kissing their linked knuckles, smiling at the fond memories it brought back from their childhood. He stood and held his hand to help Xewai up, giving him one more tight hug. "It's time for you to go now, you've already spent enough time here with me.... Till we meet again Xewai." He gave him a gentle push in the direction his large companion had walked off in, crossing his arms so Xewai couldn't get any more hugs in. It had to be done. He had to let him go. He bit his lip and sucked back any more traitorous tears. No more.Kapoodles You can get one more response in if you want, then these boys will have to part ways!
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:29 am
"I... I will see you soon, okay? I promise... I promise to the moon and back." The small kisses to his knuckles was enough to gently piece back together his heart, just enough so that he could break away from Leukos properly this time. It was for the best that Leukos pushed Xewai away; were he given the chance he wouldn't have let go. And if he had not closed off his arms, the young man would have found his way back into them, always asking for one more hug, one more touch, one more delicate moment before he had to go until the sun was high in the sky. The barrier put up between them was enough for him to simply give a glance over his shoulder, then head back to his base.
A small prayer was whispered to Ubeli'ae, praying for nothing more than the mission success, and that when he was able to return, Leukos would be willing to see him again.
MissMisnomer I blame the delay of this on the economy. biggrin Officially marked as fin!
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