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 Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:28 pm
Prentice Solo 1 When Xenia awoke, surprised at first to find that she’d fallen asleep, a hand appeared to smooth errant curls away from her face. A soft, salty breeze ghosted over her as details started to eek into her consciousness. She knew she’d gone to the docks to visit a friend, and perhaps she’d stayed too long. The sun had set hours ago from the look of things; the sky above was littered with stars and the only light was the moon itself. There was something inherently peaceful about being out here.
Turning her head, Xenia looked up at a smiling face. The two of them had set up a picnic of sorts aboard the merchant’s vessel hours ago. “You should have woken me up.” She murmured, reaching up to cup the other woman’s face, feeling her hand shift as the other smirked.
“Why? You’re even cuter when you’re sleeping.”
There were times when Indra was the most mysterious force Xenia had ever come across, and in an instant, she was nothing more than a warm touch to sooth her worries. It made little sense to her how this person could be so many things, and yet it just attracted Xenia all the more.
She’d shown up in the fog a few weeks ago with a ship full of traders, and had stayed in Yael ever since. It had been hard to avoid the group, especially given her father’s penchant for travelling abroad. They’d first met when Xenia was seeing her father off on a trip. Indra had been the first to approach, and Xenia had to admit, she was nervous at first. The other woman was older than her; not by much, but enough to make her more ‘mature’. Indra was matorian, that much was obvious by her features, with a scar that kept her cheek from fully flexing when she smiled. At first she’d only asked where Xenia was headed and if she could escort her. On pure instinct Xenia had agreed, and it was in that moment they became inseparable.
Maybe it was because Indra was so exotic that Xenia couldn’t get enough of her. She lived aboard ’The Whispering Witch and made her living transporting rare goods that no one else would touch. When prodded Indra would only say their cargo was ‘beyond value’ and maybe ‘a little cursed’, though Xenia knew she only said that to tease. Still, passing rumors in dark alleys about hexes and such was enough to keep the general populace away from their vessel. Indra recounted countless stories of sea battles, territorial disputes and tavern brawls any time Xenia asked, which was often. She liked those moments the best. Indra’s eyes would glow like bits of sunlight trapped in the water’s reflection, and more often than not, she would get so into her stories she couldn’t control her vocal volume. More than once they’d been asked to quiet down and on one occasion asked to leave. If she were with her family she may have been appalled or embarrassed. But with Indra? She was having a blast.
“My Aunt’s going to be worried.” Xenia pushed herself up with a yawn and shifted so she could roll her shoulders. As nice as it had been to wake up on Indra’s lap the moment was quickly fading. If her family knew where she was, who she was talking to, it would be all over.
“Why? I’m not a murderer.” Indra jabbed, flashing a toothy grin when Xenia whipped around to glare at her. “What? I’m not.”
“I told you to stop saying that.”
“You asked me too. Besides, if your sister is stupid enough to think someone’s a murderer just because they want to spend time with you then she deserves to be made fun of.” Indra moved a little so she could stretch her scarred legs out onto the deck. Unlike the yaeli beside her, the matorian cared little for modesty. Xenia had never seen as much flesh on any one woman until meeting Indra, and her muscles...
“She is stupid” Xenia huffed. She scooted around so that her back was against the railing, and drug her knees up to her chest. “But…if I could just introduce you two…”
“You know why we can’t, Xenia.” Indra slipped her arm around the smaller yaeli’s shoulder and pulled her close. “You said it yourself; if your family knew me, the real me, then they would call the guard to lock us up.”
And it was entirely true. Because it wasn’t Indra’s scars or her way of life that would give her a bad name on Yael. It was the simple fact that her ship was entirely filled with pirates who frequently raided Oban vessels.
When Xenia had first heard about it she’d been appalled and wanted to leave, but Indra made a solid case for herself. Oban traders had made their living for years on the backs of Matori slaves. Even now, with slavery years behind them, many still took advantage of the more impoverish Matori villages. By taking their goods back Indra and her crew were restoring balance, even if it wasn’t entirely ‘legal’. Of course the military didn’t see it that way, and any day now word of their deeds would reach Yael’s shores.
One day very soon she would have to go and Xenia...wasn’t so sure if she could handle that.
[915]
[3]
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Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 7:22 pm
Class Choice Solo - Assassin Over the past week Xenia spent more and more time with Indra.
In all actuality she was supposed to be helping her Aunt out at the store, but considering how busy the woman was a quick lie about ‘aiding a friend’ in the city was all it took to get out of work. Instead of spending her days at the shop Xenia stayed on Indra’s ship, learning as much as she could from the Matorian about her world and what it took to survive there.
It was hard at first. Xenia knew nothing about rigging a mast, the proper way to tie knots, or anything seaworthy, really. She knew plenty about nature and how to survive the harsh landscape of Yael, but when it came to this she was as fresh as a newborn babe. Indra took pride in teaching her, however, so Xenia was all for it. Anytime she could spend with her ‘friend - no, girlfriend - was welcome.
And then Indra wanted to show Xenia how to handle a blade.
“It’s basic self defense. You really should know how to use one.”
“I just...I don’t know. I’m not much of a fighter.” Of course she’d seen her mother use her crossbow on more than one occasion, had even practiced with it herself, but to actually be the one pulling the trigger? That had never settled right with her. Papa had his whip, but really, it was just for small corrections to wild beasts and he’d never actually been much of a warrior either…
Indra wanted to teach Xenia everything she knew about dual blades. Learning how to balance one sword was hard enough, but controlling two at once seemed impossible.
“All you have to do is try a little harder, kitten. Just lift your arm like this - no, a little higher - there you are! You’re getting it!”
Having her girlfriend’s arms surrounding hers, forcing her to stand in the best stances, was thrilling, but when Indra came at her full force in practice Xenia couldn’t keep up. She was knocked down more in those first few days than ever before, but every time she fell she got back up. Maybe it was in spite, to show her sister that she was making the right choices, or maybe it was something deeper than that. Her entire life Xenia had always been the ‘mousey’ sister; the quiet one, the smaller one, the ‘weaker’ one. And now? Even when she hit a glancing blow to Indra’s blades she was met with praise and Xenia didn’t ever want that to go away.
“You’re getting pretty good.” Indra took a step back to inhale and smiled, flashing a hair lipped grin her way. Her breathing was as ragged as Xenia’s, and as much as she wouldn’t admit it, she knew she’d given the matorian a work out that evening. “I think it’s about time I gave you a little something as a reward for all your hard work.”
She turned to walk away, but not before planting a little kiss to Xenia’s forehead. The young yaeli waited eagerly for her girlfriend to return, but when she did the ‘gift’ wasn’t anything like what she’d expected.
“I know you said you wanted to be a cartographer when you grow up, which is smart, but I think a little extra security would do you some good. You’re not as weak as everyone thinks you are, Xenia; I’ve known that from the beginning.” Indra held two scimitars up for Xenia to take, each as bright and shiny as the other. They were far heavier than her practice blades and with much more detailing on the hilt.
If she took these she’d never be able to show her mother. Her parents would ask so many questions about where she got them, how she bought them, who sold them to her, etc. It would be a nonstop interrogation until inevitably she was forced to give them up. Or maybe...maybe she just never needed to tell them.
Almost a little too eagerly she took the swords. “You’re too good to me, Indra.”
“I know, kitten, I know.”
[691]
[2]
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:57 am
Prentice Growth Solo [[Indra's deeds have finally caught up with her and with some cunning words she's convinced Xenia that she's in too deep to do anything other than go along with her. By choosing to follow Indra Xenia is accepting that her reputation is ruined, as well as any chance she has to tell her family the truth. At first she's appalled by the deceit, but even Xenia knows that in order to get to the truth she'll have to go along with things, for now. In time she'll come home, but for now, she's choosing life on the sea.]]
Xenia had always known that Indra’s time on Yael would be brief, but she’d never expected things to end so quickly.
They were peacefully meandering around the docks when one of her shipmates caught up to her. He’d been frantic, hurriedly pulling at her elbow, demanding that they leave right then, and Xenia couldn’t get an answer as to why. Indra just...started to run. It was only on a subconscious level because for all her desperation to get away her hand never left Xenia’s and for a moment the little yaeli was scared.
And that fear only intensified as they ran.
“What do you mean an Oban ship was spotted? Why would that be such a big deal?!” Xenia tried keeping up, she really did, but she was stumbling over her own skirts more than anything. She’d lost her shawl a few streets back and her hair hung wild around her head.
“Because if they catch us we’re dead!” Indra snapped. Almost as if on cue the older woman pulled Xenia down an alleyway and ducked, moving her hand to cover Xenia’s mouth. When she peered around the corner Xenia knew why they’d hid; there were already Obans on the dock. They looked like they were asking questions, but she still -
Only when the Obans left did Indra let go.
“I-I’ll go find Papa, he can help us, we can hide all of you.”
“Xenia, we’re wanted by the military, where do you think we can go? Besides, kitten, you’re part of this too.”
“How-?!”
Indra leaned forward and snatched Xenia’s chin with her hand. She yanked the small, mousey yaeli to her side and stared straight into her spectacled eyes. Not once in their entire relationship had Xenia been afraid of her girlfriend. Of course she’d known the other woman was dangerous, had known she wasn’t exactly a ‘model’ citizen, but still…
“Oh love, you were the best kind of cover up. All I had to do was get you to like me so no one would suspect why we were here. The daughter of a quiet, respectable family vouching for a ship full of thieves? Well, it just makes things so much easier.”
Xenia felt her heart drop. “You used me?!” She pulled away from Indra and tried to stand, only to be yanked back by her hand into her ‘girlfriends’ lap. “Let me go! I’m going to get the guard!”
“And do WHAT? Get yourself imprisoned? If you haven’t heard, kitten, they’re looking for you too. You’ve got nowhere else to go, so you might as well stick with me.” Indra lifted her hand to toy with one of Xenia’s many curls, her scarred lip twisting into a sadistic grin. “You said it yourself; if there was any way you could help our cause, to finally stick it to Oba once and for all in this fake ‘peace’, then you would. Are you backing out now?”
“No, I just thought…I didn’t know that would mean leaving…” But what choice did she have? If she stayed she would be hung for Indra’s deeds and honestly, if things were really as bad as Indra said they were, then wouldn’t it be the right thing to fight?
Of course everyone wanted to believe that Oba had put it’s terrible past behind, but from the way Indra talked these atrocities were still going on. Of course slavery was gone, but if the Matori were still being taken advantage of then wouldn’t it be best to put her skills to use helping them?
“You still lied to me. You told me you loved me and then you said all those things -”
“It started out that way, but I do care for you, Xenia.” She didn’t know why she flinched when Indra cupped her face with her hand, or why the feel of her lips on hers made Xenia sick. “Come with me. See for yourself how bad things really are, and if you want to come home later, I’ll make sure you get back.”
The thought of leaving Yael permanently had never once crossed Xenia’s mind. Of course she’d wanted to travel; as the child of an explorer why wouldn’t she? The temptation to see new and distant worlds was always there just begging to get out. And yet...being forced out didn’t settle well with her.
Still, if she stayed…You’re already in too deep. You have to go. There was no way she could stay, but maybe, just maybe, one day she could come back with answers.
With a shaky, teary nod Xenia allowed Indra to pull her to her feet. Once the pair was sure the coast was clear they ran for the docks, and Xenia didn’t look back.
[807]
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Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2022 10:52 am
Stage 2 Solo 1 Life aboard ’The Whispering Witch’ was becoming more bearable the longer Xenia was exposed to it. The ship was docked in Jatine and though its crew spent a great deal of their time in Sulburi finishing up various jobs there were times that Xenia found herself traveling back to it’s hull. She’d gotten used to the riggings, to its terminology and repairs just as any sailor would. Seeing it from a distance, nestled among so many other large ships, one might have even thought it was a respectable vessel. If it had been docked at a respectable port then that might have worked, but these docks were smaller in number and hidden in a cove. The only ones who knew of it’s existence were those that dealt with the underground and no decent sea dweller would be caught dead here.
With the sea hair jostling her curls, Xenia padded down the cliffside toward the sea. Shipments were hauled down a pulley system to the plants below, but dockhands were encouraged to walk down the thin, well worn stone steps that had been carved out onto the side of the cliff. A chain was nailed into the stone so that one had something to hold onto, though even it had pulled away at parts. One might have thought going down was the scariest part, especially after a storm when the stones were slippery, but it was meeting someone coming up that truly terrified her. When they’d been on their way to Sulburi Xenia had to pass someone and that was an experience she never wanted to relive.
“Come on, kitten, you aren’t scared are ya? Show some backbone and hustle.”
On impulse Xenia whipped her head around and glared at Indra. The matorian’s scared face looked at hers with that same hair lipped smirk of hers that had once curled Xenia’s toes. Now it just made her want to vomit. “Well? Need me to carry you?”
“It’s slick. I’m trying not to fall.” As much as Xenia tried to pretend she was tough in all reality she was small and the swords at her side weren’t made for her. They were Indra’s hand me downs an as such weighed far too much for Xenia’s petite frame. It was hard enough to run away from trouble with them strapped to her hips let alone shimmy down steps with so much slime that even turning her ankle might kill her. “Although…” Leaning her head over, she took a good look at the harbor. “If I angled it just right I might die on impact-“
“Don’t even try it,” Indra groused. How many times had she tried running away now, only to be brought back and punished? It wasn’t even that Indra truly loved her at this point. They needed a scapegoat; a figure head in case they were caught and Xenia just happened to be that fool. Without her any flack they took from the Oban navy would come back onto Indra. The crew had been easy enough to win over, once she’d spent some time with them, but Indra had her cronies and those were the ones Xenia had to watch out for.
Every night she went to bed next to the matorian and every night she slept with a hand firmly clutched around a dagger.
Xenia started moving again and was pleased to find that the steps were starting to dry some. It wasn’t by much, just bit by bit, as if the water running down the cliffside hadn’t quite reached this side. “You do realize that all the credit for your work has been going to me, don’t you? Wolfsbane, I think, is what they’ve been calling me? Like those purple flowers whose toxins-“ Her words slipped away as she started the descent to the next level. When she looked up she could see the smirk on Indra’s face shifting into a bitter scowl. “It must burn, doesn’t it? To have the very thing you’ve been trying to manipulate take all your glory away from you.”
In an instant Xenia felt a boot come down on her face and kick back. If she hadn’t been holding onto the chain she would have instantly fallen hundreds of feet. On impulse she screamed, her sweaty palms grasping onto the harsh chain for her life. When Indra pulled her boot back the broken remains of her glasses fractured and fell toward the sea. “Do you really thing you’re that important? I could go to any village and find another naïve girl just like you. Tell her some sweet words, give her a few gifts and take her away. Just. Like. That.”
“Then why haven’t you?” She may not have been able to see Indra clearly now, but Xenia didn’t care. Blind hatred for the woman spurned her into spitting harsh words toward the blue blob above her. “If I was that easy to get rid of, why haven’t you done it yet?! Why can’t you just admit that you’re over your head and you need me?”
“NEED YOU? How stupid can you be?!” At that the matorian started to laugh and her cronies, who had been a few steps behind her, did the same. It didn’t take long before a good majority of the crew to join in. The humiliation burned, but Xenia held her ground. “I’m keeping you around because you’re entertaining. At least, you were. You’re starting to become more trouble than you’re worth.” With that, Indra dropped down to the next level and leaned nose to nose with Xenia. “Move.”
The rest of the trip down was met with quiet contemplation. Occasionally Xenia would hear grunts from behind her or words spoken between the crew, but the pair of ‘lovers’ remained quiet. Something she’d said had struck a cord in Indra; much in the same way Indra’s words had hit Xenia. She’d been too cocky with her assumptions that the matorian valued her life. At any moment she could raise her hand, strangle her, and be done with the obstacle in her life. Once upon a time Xenia might have thought Indra was acting purely on a twisted sort of love, but not now. Now she could see exactly the sort of keldari that curled up next to her on a nightly basis.
They were almost near the bottom before Indra spoke to her again. “That Oban you set free…why did you do it?”
“…She needed my help. I didn’t want her to die there.”
“You knew I would punish you.”
“I did.”
Instead of Sariza being locked in that room it had been Xenia and she’d been nearly starved for two weeks in her place. In the rare moments that Indra showed up the punishments were worse, but she suffered through it, knowing full well that each day Indra was mad was another day that Sariza hadn’t been found.
“We could have been set for life. If we’d managed to bring the girl to those nobles then you could have seen your family.” That was the lie, wasn’t it? That if their next big job paid off Indra would allow Xenia to go back and see her family. In all actuality Xenia knew the moment she stepped foot on Yaeli soil she would likely be tossed in a prison cell for the rest of her life. At least now her parents could pretend she was exploring the world instead of the real horrors she was committing.
“It was worth it.” Stepping down onto the planks was enough of a relief to make Xenia sigh. Her hands ached from the near-death grip she’d kept on the chain ever since Indra’s boot. The little yaeli massaged the palm of her left hand with the thumb and forefinger of the right while looking up at her lover. At times like this she could see glimpses of the woman she’d thought would always be there for her. The subtle, contemplative look she tossed down at her, the spark in those molten eyes…Where had it all gone wrong? Had Indra always been this way or was it the sea faring life that had ruined her? Was there something Xenia could have done to help her?
“I hope it was. You’ve cost us more than you know and for that you’ll be sleeping below deck with the cabin boys. Let’s hope the rats don’t run off with those curls of yours.”
And just like that, whatever spark may have come back was lost. The dark waves crashed around the docks just the turmoil inside of Xenia’s heart. At this point she didn’t even care if she got away; Indra had already proved that if she did another girl would have to take her place. She needed to end this in a much more permanent way. Question was, could she do it? Seeing the cronies as they passed Xenia was reminded that it wasn’t only their ‘captain’ that needed to be disposed of and it was all going to be a lot harder than simply wishing.
[1510]
[5]
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:08 am
Stage 2 Solo 2 Dear Alfina and Caolan,
Where do I even begin? Words can never accurately describe what it feels like to leave you behind. When I left everything felt like a whirlwind that didn’t stop for anyone, least of all me. I made a lot of poor choices that hopefully you’ll never follow and with any luck Kitya is being a much better example for you to follow than I ever could have been.
I don’t know what you’ve been told about me or why I left. You’ll be much older now, far older than you were when I last saw you, so I thought you deserved the truth. When I left it was because I fell in love with the wrong type of person. Mother and father have no doubt warned you to stay away from strangers at this point and rightfully so. All those stories mother told you about spirits snatching you up? They’re true, but the wraiths don’t come with horns and scary smoke. They have kind words, tender kisses and promises of a future that will never be. I wanted so badly to believe that someone saw me as something I never was that I sacrificed my family to get it. In my vain attempt at pursuing romance I was trapped in a smugglers ring and now I’ve gone too far to ever come back.
I’ve tried writing this a hundred times and failed. It’s hard figuring out exactly what to say when there was so much left unsaid. I never wanted either of you to think I didn’t care for you or that I left because I didn’t love any of you. Being your big sister was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I would be by your side right now if I could. The sad reality is I can’t even tell you where I am because this letter could be tracked. I’ll never be able to tell you who I with, what the name of the crew is, where we’ve gone…It’s just too risky for us all.
How tall are you now? Did Caolan finally out grow you, Alfina? Hopefully you’ve been marking it all on the doorframe so I can see it when I get home! I don’t doubt that the two of you have surpassed me by leaps and bounds. I’m too much like mother to ever get very tall, but with any luck the two of you are more like our father. Have you been keeping up with your studies? Being good kids? I know things have to be hard after what happened, but I hope it hasn’t been so bad that your childhoods were tainted. That’s what I feared the most; that my actions harmed you. If they have know that I am so, so very sorry and that I hope your adulthoods are better.
Alfina, I’ve sent a little gift for you. Inside this parcel are some spices from Oba and a book of recipes. I’ve asked different tavern cooks and street vendors to write down all of the best snacks I’ve been able to eat so that you can practice your skills. I don’t know if you still like to cook or not, but I thought it might still be something interesting to try?
Caolan, For you I’ve included some of the best paints from Zena! I’ve never seen colors like this in my life and there’s a silver that practically glows like a shifter’s eyes in moonlight. With any luck you’ll find them acceptable to your no doubt soaring talents by now. Maybe I’ll even hear about them from across the ocean?
I don’t expect either one of you to think highly of me after what I’ve done or even to remember me. You were so young when I left that I don’t expect much, but I think of you often. I remember the way you used to cling to my skirts and hold onto my hand when we went out to the point that I couldn’t get anything done! It was frustrating at times, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. They’re some of my fondest memories and spirits be, if I could relive them…
Your big sister is trying to set things right and to live her life with purpose. A lot is no doubt being said about me by the city guard and rumors are a powerful force, but don’t believe what they say. I never left because I wanted to and I am going to find a way to fix all of this. You’ll be proud of me one day; you just have to wait for it to happen.
With love,
Xenia.
Looking down at the parchment filled Xenia with such a sense of longing that she could barely breath. Even now, years after leaving them behind, she could still see her younger siblings bright eyes staring up at her. Would they even recognize her if they saw her now? Would they even care? Gods, she hoped so. Hearing a noise, Xenia jumped and looked over her shoulder. She’d been fearful that Indra would catch on but thankfully the matorian had yet to wake. The yaeli hurriedly blew on the ink, willing to dry faster before folding it and stuffing it down her blouse. She needed to hurry up and send it out as soon as possible so that Indra couldn’t stop her.
[901]
[3]
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 1:28 pm
Stage 2 Solo 3 Xenia laughed and grasped the lapels of the woman before her to pull her close. This wasn’t her first night away from Indra’s tight hold; if anything she’d grown rather promiscuous during her time in Oba. Once she’d let go of any sort of morals that held her back and accepted that in the eyes of her Gods she was truly damned Xenia felt much better about her baser leanings. She wanted to be loved, to be held in a tender embrace and told she was worthy. If Indra wasn’t going to do that then why not find someone who would?
She could count the amount of ‘encounters’ she’d had on one hand, but it was still far more than she’d ever expected! Xenia had always been raised as a ‘respectable’ young woman, one who would save herself for marriage and live a happy, quiet life. Then Indra came along and ruined it- “Mmph!” The young woman she’d taken to the back-alley bit Xenia’s lip to draw her attention back to the present and she felt herself moaning as the other woman started pressing kisses down the side of her neck. It was such an uncouth, undignified reaction that she almost felt ashamed.
Almost.
Xenia had no idea who this woman was. She had no idea what her name was, how old she was, where she lived, what she did, or even if she was married…All she cared about was how the warmth of her tongue ring felt sliding over Xenia’s fevered skin. She’d picked her solely because of that bit of metal. The woman was a server at some back water tavern and had a face that looked like melted butter. In all honesty Xenia could have done better; knew she should have had some scruples. She wasn’t entirely ugly, but still…Then the woman had licked her upper lip with that tongue ring and Xenia was sold.
The other woman – some breed of Oban hybrid – lifted Xenia’s small frame atop a nearby crate and started pushing her skirts up her thigh. Hands drifted where hands ought not to be, especially in public, and Xenia just didn’t care. At some point she would have been embarrassed. Certainly her first stolen kisses with Indra had been done in the dark and hidden away from view. They were special, intimate little things that any crisp maiden could have kept locked away. Now that Xenia had matured, she simply viewed them to an end. On the rare occasion that she and Indra were intimate that’s all it was; a transaction of flesh.
“You smell so sweet, Francesca,” The other woman murmured and Xenia knew she was thinking of someone else. A current lover? Past? Did it matter? She’d obviously made the choice to get this over with so it wasn’t as if Xenia was forcing her. So, instead of fighting it, the yaeli hmmed and allowed it to continue. At least, she would have if the woman hadn’t done it a SECOND time and then looked up, a sense of understanding eclipsing her features.
“Sorry, I-“
Xenia silenced her by bringing her lips down and kissing her. “Shut up.” The words were soft and whispered, but no less commanding. The hybrid nodded and slipped her arm around Xenia’s lower back, pulling her closer. A warm Oban moon watched over them that night and when Xenia looked up she could have sworn she saw the same stars she’d seen in Yael so many years ago. She could distract herself in moments, but all too quickly the trappings of her situation would come back to claim her.
It was a never ending cycle that she desperately wanted release from.
[614]
[2]
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 2:31 pm
Stage 2 Solo 4 Among the crew of ‘The Whispering Witch’ were orphans Indra had picked up along the way and conned into joining up. They were given food, shelter, and protection in exchange for their eternal servitude and honestly, for a woman who claimed to have an everlasting hatred of Oba for that exact reason Xenia found it horribly hypocritical.
They were jostled around by the older crewmates and screamed at each time their little arms couldn’t keep up. How many times had she seen a whip come down on the back of a boy whose legs gave out trying to keep up with the rigging? A girl, beaten so heavily her face wasn’t even recognizable, simply because she’d asked where portside was? Now that she’d started sleeping below deck with them Xenia could scarcely fall asleep at night. The swinging hammock wasn’t much of a bed, but it wasn’t the issue; it was the scarcely hidden tears. Occasionally she would hear one of the orphans hop up from their bed, scuttle to the others and try to comfort them when the pain was just too much. As much as Xenia wanted to help she knew it would only make things worse for them. The one time she had applied ointment to a busted lip the child had been hit in the gut for theft.
Night after night she tried to pretend it wasn’t going on, that she could just close her ears to it all, and then Xenia just couldn’t. When some of the more seasoned crewmates saw her getting up they murmured things like ‘best get back to bed, miss’ and ‘Cap’ll hurt ya real good’ but she kept walking. The cabin kids didn’t even get a hammock to sleep in. The poor wraiths slept on rat eaten pallets in the corner of the ship, jostled back and forth by the waves, with little more than their body warmth to give them peace. That first night they hadn’t wanted her near. They were frightened and rightfully so. The only time she had ever been around them they had been punished! Tonight, though…tonight Xenia had brought her blanket with her and squeezed in between them.
The little yaeli scooched her way in between little scarred bodies and made herself at home. There were five little ones, ranging from seven to thirteen, and each a different race. When they looked up at her they were uncertain, but when she tossed her blanket over them, instructed those on the edges to snuggle close to keep the warmth in, and sleep they did. How could she write sweet letters to Caolan and Alfina while these kids suffered like this? Her parents would have been ashamed!
It took a while for Indra to figure out what was going on, but one harrowed morning a foot kicking her shin was what woke her. She fought it at first, though the tapping simply wouldn’t stop and she had no choice. Xenia opened her eyes with a groan only to see the familiar legs of her ‘lover’ standing before her.
When the children woke and saw Indra they shifted from adorably sleeping into a panic. They scurried away like rats, running to every end of the hull to avoid her.
“There are easier ways to wake someone up. Breakfast, for starters,” Xenia groused and held up a hand. Despite their mutual hatred of one another the matorian reached own to take it and pulled the yaeli to her feet. Her back ached some thing fierce. Sleeping curled up in the corner of a cold hull was doing her absolutely no favors after months of being nestled in a soft, warm bed next to….well, a blue speckled keldari. “Are you here to tell me what I shouldn’t be doing again? About how I’m coddling them or something?”
“Actually, we’ve landed in port.” Indra held out a satchel of gold. “I want you to come with me. We’re going to buy material for bunks.”
“Excuse me…are you ill? Poisoned?” Even as the older woman was walking away Xenia trailed after her, doing her best to tame her curls. In the end she had no choice but to wrap them up in a silk scarf. “The last time you saw me taking care of them you made me drink seawater for days.”
“Yeah, well, you could have told me how much more productive it would make them.” Her gruff voice was almost…appreciative? Surprised? Xenia couldn’t place it. If it wasn’t sarcastic, flirty, or outright cruel she barely heard it out of Indra’s mouth. What was this and where was her matorian devil? “They’ve been learning more, picking up sword skills easier and whining so much less that I almost thought they’d all died. It’s…actually really nice.”
Imagine that she was grateful. It was such a different emotion that Xenia could scarcely believe what she was hearing. In fact, she had to take a minute to stop and blink, just to make sure she wasn’t dead. When Indra caught sight of her pinking the skin of her forearm she rolled her eyes and tugged the yaeli up onto deck. “What? Just wanted to make sure I was hearing you right. I can’t believe you actually listened to me.”
“It wasn’t you it was Skibbs. He said all of this was your doing and that I might want to treat you – how did he say it? – like I actually loved you.” She groused. Ah, there it was, her ‘sweetheart’. “So, how about it? A little daytime date?”
It was strange enough to hear Indra’s first mate say nice things about her, let alone to have him suggest something so frivolous. The older man was known for his strict no-nonsense policies so this…was just as weird as Indra going along with it. “What do you want from this? What’s your angle?”
“What? Can’t I just have a date with my girlfriend?”
“No,” Xenia enunciated the short syllable and glared at the matorian. There was no such thing as something for free with Indra.
“Fine. I want you to keep an eye on them. They trust you so if you can keep them working then I’ll keep all of you ‘happy’. Got it?”
“Got it.” If that was all then…she could do that. Make sure five kids were fed, slept on clean blankets, and treated with love? She could manage that. They were all so touch starved anyway that even if she screwed up it would still be leagues better than anything they’d been given before, poor dears.
As she walked along behind Indra she couldn’t help the little skip in her step. This was the first time in a long time that Xenia was being given license to do something good. She didn’t know how, but she would talk Indra into buying new clothes for them too, since so many of the children were outgrowing the rags they’d shown up in. Bars of decent oat soap, a comb, something for the lice in their hair…Oh, if they could stop itching then they really WOULD be happy!
“If I’d known this was all it took to make you happy I would have given you a kid a long time ago. You could always spend a few nights with Skibbs.”
Annnnd just like that Xenia’s lip curled. Leave it to Indra to ruin the mood. “If you ever-“
The matorian just laughed. “As if! Even if he wanted to I wouldn’t let him get within touching distance of you. Besides, I doubt he could even perform. He’s practically ancient.”
Xenia doubted he was that old but having Skibbs touching her like that…with the intent of making a child…Gods above, it made her sick. Xenia had never liked the idea of a man being intimate with her. She’d had several boys flirt with her growing up, not nearly as much as Kitya mind you, but enough to make her curious. She’d even gone out of her way to kiss one once….just once. The result hadn’t been fun for either party.
“You could have a baby for us both,” Xenia piped up, positively grinning when it was Indra’s turn to glower at her. “Imagine how cute you’d look with a little belly. All of your scars would radiate warmth and you could even wear a soft dress when you put your feet up.”
“I’d rather choke and die.”
I’d rather you did too. “Well, at least we’re on the same page. I know some women don’t mind carrying for their partners, but I’m not one of them. I don’t mind looking after our foundlings, but that’s it for me.”
Besides, any child that was brought into this relationship would be cursed with whatever hellish void they called ‘love’. She would never condemn a baby to that. It would be just another tie to Indra and that was the very last thing that Xenia wanted to be left with when she slip the woman’s throat. She’d just have to settle for being ‘Miss Xenia’ and scrub those little rascals clean so that one day, when they were free from the ship, they could have homes of their own.
[1528]
[5]
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 11:56 am
Stage 2 Growth Solo [Up until this point in her life Xenia has lived in a fog. She knows she's committed crimes as part of Indra's crew, but she's always believed she was 'better', that it was just them and she was just being drug along. Now she's tossed those childish beliefs aside. If it means fully embracing life as a smuggler just to end the world of Indra she'll do it and opening this new chapter in her life, the very one that means she'll eventually end up taking a life, she'll gladly do it.]
Staring down at the blades in her hands brought a myriad of emotions to Xenia’s psyche. Her very first swords were hand me downs from Indra and symbols of a life she’d never chosen. Shackles, even, in a different form. They were heavy things meant for a woman twice her size, but she’d learned. Xenia had practiced everyday until her arms felt like they would rip from the socket. Every time she messed up Indra’s hateful words spurned her into getting better. Spite was a powerful motivator; even more so when one had a goal.
Xenia could no longer afford the ignorance that kept hope alive in her chest. That little bubble that if she fell asleep she would wake up in her family home, safe and happy, with her parents to care for her. Once she went through with her mission there would be no going back. A part of her had always known that to be the case so she’d put off getting swords of her own for as long as she could. Now that she knew Indra was involved with a plot to take down an Oban noble family…well, that had been the final straw.
It might have been enough just to alert the military or even to enlist Sariza to help her. Valek, maybe, even Kitya…If she was honest with her older sister then maybe she would be able to do it. Xenia didn’t want that, though. She had been the one to contact Indra, she was the one who had supported her through all these years and so it was her that had to be the one to make the final mark.
She had to kill Indra and it was going to be with her own swords. A pair of bla and blades made to fit her smaller frame hung just right by her side. After all the training she’d done with the heavier weapons lifting these felt almost like packing sticks. It would no doubt make her faster and more lethal. She was getting closer and closer to Indra by the day so this would be it. After having these swords made Xenia knew she wouldn’t be going home. She could make a life for herself on the seas as a trader, but only after she’d taken everything away from Indra. It was petty, but Xenia was far beyond any “moral” codes at this point.
The yaeli wanted her lover to hurt just like she hurt. She wanted the matorian to scream for it all to be over long before Xenia ever contemplated it. Two swords, as small as an Alkidike’s dagger, would be the very thing to flay Indra’s skin like fish scales and the thought alone gave Xenia so much comfort that she almost felt guilty for it.
Almost.
She didn’t even care if she was killed in the process or if she was finally caught by Oban port authority. Let them come! So long as she had Indra’s blood on these blades…it would all be alright.
[505]
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Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2024 2:26 pm
Stage 3 Solo 1 Xenia ran the blade of her dagger just underneath her left index finger before flicking the dirt out. She’d nearly cleared them all by the time Indra decided they were done discussing business on the dock. While she wasn’t entirely sure why the other woman had decided to stop here, to prattle on the way she had, Xenia knew it was about supplies and that was good enough for her. For all the Matorian’s faults keeping up with goods wasn’t one of them. She had a head for keeping track of things; which was exactly why Xenia hadn’t bothered with them. As much as she wanted to hiding those sorts of things from the other woman she also didn’t want to get caught.
“-about these?”
“Hmm?” Xenia looked up, noting an irritated looking Indra staring her way. She motioned to a few crates and the dockhand nervously wringing a cloth in front of him. Was he intimidated by Indra? Or the dagger she’d been so casually flicking about? “What?”
“The beets, you idiot.” Indra seethed. “Pickled beets or pickled cabbage. Which one?”
While she subconsciously bristled at the tone, Xenia’s exterior was as cool as the water surrounding them. “How can you expect me to choose, love, with choices like that?” When Indra was ready to snap she added, “Beets.” Before flicking out the last bit of dirt onto the deck.
After that it was more of the same. The Whispering Witch was in stark need of repairs they could no longer patch so they were forced to dock for at least a week which caused an itch of unease to spread among the crew. As a rule they rarely docked anywhere for more than a few days – with some exceptions – and they longer they stayed the easier it would be to get caught. Still, they weren’t much better off days away from land with a leaking vessel so here they were. It was as good a chance as any to replenish supplies, let the crew stretch their legs – or someone else’s- and gather a few ‘good’ souls to her cause.
Not that Xenia had had a chance to do that. Indra had been at her side the whole way. There was something about the Matorian that made Xenia curious. What had caused her to be this clingy? Was it something she’d done? Was it something someone else had done or said? She was still her spiteful, hateful self and yet there she was. Pursing her lips, she’d trailing along beside the other woman, accessing everything she dropped coin on to both learn how the operation was made and also to pick up on anything in Indra’s demeanor.
When more than half a day had paused she dared to ask, “Why did you want me to come with you? You obviously don’t need me.”
“You’re the Captain; you should be here.” Indra shifted her coin pouch into her gnarled left hand, then started to count as they walked.
“In name only. You had little issue working in my hand before today.”
“What are you getting at?” Indra snapped. Xenia’s eyes widened. Even with Indra’s poor temper she’d never been this on edge. Except…when they were being chased. And spirits above, Xenia shouldn’t have gotten that excited.
“…You want me to cover you. Someone’s here, aren’t they?” When Indra made no move to correct her, Xenia pressed, “Who is it? Who followed us out here?”
After all, they’d come all the way to the Kahikina just to avoid the heat. So either someone had found their ship on a fluke or they’d been chased. Who do I need to find to get her thrown away? Maybe this was her chance. It was early still, her private crew was still so green around the edges but maybe –
“Corvin’s ship was spotted this morning off the bay. It’s a miracle he hasn’t seen The Witch yet, but it won’t be long.” Indra said through clenched teeth. The fact she’d admitted to it, hadn’t thought to keep that information from Xenia, meant she trusted Xenia could do little with it. And that much was true. The Privateer had little love in his heart for anyone and even if Xenia sought out help from him – well – he’d just as soon hang her with the rest of the crew.
He was in the business for coin and spirits above, Corvin was one of the best. If a ship came across his boots they never slipped away. Now it looked like they were next. This was bad; really bad. For as much as Xenia wanted to end Indra’s career her own was wound so tight that explaining her story to anyone sounded like a fool’s wish. What can I do?
She needed to inform Illapha as soon as she could. Get the word out. Anyone on the crew that was loyal to her would need to get prepared and if they wanted to end this it would have to happen soon.
“How long until we’re able to leave?”
“Shipwright says another two days; I’m on my way to push it to one.” Indeed, Indra’s steps had gotten faster the longer they’d walked and Xenia was having a hard time keeping up. The Hapuna they passed all gave the pair a wide berth. Foreigners in this area was still rare enough that they garnered a fair bit attention, but the look of them – each with their own fair share of scars, weapons and general expression – caused a stir. “We’re leaving tomorrow night; with or without the ship.”
“Without the ship?” Xenia hissed. “Are you mad? Where would we go?”
“We’ll hide out on the island if we must. Or we’ll take another ship. It’s better than getting caught.”
While there was some truth to the words the idea of it – just leaving the ship – didn’t settle well with her. How long had she spent prying up floorboards just to stuff weapons for the coming coup? All of that time memorizing the layout would just go to waste! “What if we had some of the carpenters help out? They’ve been drinking for days; let them sober up and get back to work.”
“Go round them up then. Get them on it.” Indra gave Xenia a hard look before stopping all together. She wasn’t sure about what she was seeing in those eyes, but Xenia knew Indra was searching. She’d always been on the hunt for something – always looking, looking, looking and never settling. What she found now must have been better than what her gut was telling her because she huffed a breath before continuing her way.
Xenia waited a beat, content to just watch her before heading off in search of the taverns. Convincing some of Indra’s men to do work under her name was going to be hard, but Xenia wasn’t the same simpering girl she’d once been. If they didn’t want to listen she would cut off a finger or two, maybe an ear since they clearly didn’t use them, and see who followed. Honestly she was hoping that as soon as she mentioned Corvin they would jump to their feet, but she wasn’t so sure she’d get that lucky.
[1204]
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