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 Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:45 pm
swa▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
swagg♔┊Solo
guillotineguilloThe Duties of the Last Son
“Pekelo. Come here. Now.”
Ah, he knew that tone. That voice that was prepping for a scolding, and maybe a whack across the back of his hands for breaking the rules again. Though this time, he swore he had no idea what was going on. From what he remembered, he did absolutely everything that was told of him today.
Spread fertilizing across the seabeds, clear out pests, trim the bits that were becoming overgrown. Heck, he even ran a delivery to the restaurants at the village center, just like he said he would! It made no sense why they would suddenly call his name and demand he come into the family gathering room of their cave. He had plans! He was supposed to go see Ahio today!
Not that he would tell them that. They were already too nosy for their own good.
“I’m here, mom, what is it?” Keeping himself from rolling his eyes was beginning to get harder and harder. The old coot liked to demand so much of him these days, it was honestly driving him absolutely insane! But that ever-looming threat of being sent into the caves kept him on his best behavior. The dark of the caves was something he always loved exploring but risking his life for adventure was completely different than being forced down there as a punishment.
One was a lot more frightening. You didn’t get a chance to prepare for that sort of punishment.
“Take a seat, my child.” … Alright, this certainly was unexpected, but he did what she asked, taking his place on a cushion of moss before her. “Now… As you know, our family has a long-standing history of being one of the best farmers down here in the depths. Do you know why that is?”
“Because we actually know what we’re doing and tend to the plants with actual attention?”
“No – Well, yes, that is true, but there’s another secret to our success. One that you, as the youngest child, have the honor of carrying out.” Nope, he did not like the sound of this at all.
“So… What is it exactly? Gotta go fight a giant beast and slay it to bury and fertilize our soil down here? Ooh! Or maybe go to the shallow areas to scavenge for new seedlings to plant? OOH! Or maybe, maybe it’s going on a sneaky trip to go steal trade secrets from other villages! I bet I could---”
“Be SILENT, boy!” Pekelo immediately shut his mouth, but continued to grin. This was the day he had been WAITING for! A day to finally go and prove himself that he was more than just a daydreamer! From the beginning, he had done his best to prove that he could balance his personal desires with his work on the farm, and he just knew today would be his reward for it! ”Your siblings have all gone off to fulfill their own roles. Your eldest sister will be taking over our farmstead, once she and her mate are settled in. Your brother has gone off to join the hunters, a noble role indeed. You. You, my dear boy, will fulfill the most important role of all. You will be married into a prominent family, so that you will bring stronger bonds to help support us through time and time again.”
… Pekelo would have to admit, marriage was one of the very last things that would have ever crossed his mind. To his own surprise, he wasn’t exactly worried about it.
Everyone in the whole village knew how close he was to Ahio, the son of one of the most prominent trading families belonging to the Kawena. They were one of the first to establish trade with those in the sunlight, and for all things considered, they were an excellent match. Some would have even already assumed they were in a relationship. Had bets been placed, they were the most likely in the entire village to wed.
”We have chosen your intended. A young hunter named Vaiarii. He and his famil—“
“Wait, wait wait, what?! It’s not Ahio?! Who the heck is Vaiarii?! Why are you picking some stranger for me?!” His eyes went wide, and he nearly shouted at his mother, hopping to his feet at the sudden realization that he wasn’t going to marry who he thought he was.
His mother seemed to have expected such a reaction, and allowed him to shout for the moment, before giving him a stern look that quickly had him settle down.
”I know your infatuation with Ahio, and we had all thought he would have been a good match too, one day. But look at him, Pekelo. He lacks discipline! He’s unreliable, has no future within his family’s company, and not a day goes by without hearing about him causing trouble for someone! Unlike you, child, who has given your all into your work and respects their family traditions. He is unsuitable for you, in the long run. And Vaiarii’s family is well known to keep their mates well fed, safe, and content. We are looking out for your future, and the future of this entire family! And your role is to add to that prosperity!”
“Add to the prosperity?! That doesn’t even make sense! We’re cave dwellers! We barely have any resources to prosper off of to begin with! And, it’s not even fair! Lele and Kolo both get to marry who they want, just because they are older? So, what, am I just the means to an end?! Is that why you even had me, when we all know that having more kids just adds more burden to our community!”
”That’s exactly it.” His mother’s cold tone froze Pekelo in his tracks. She had finally said what he always felt was true, and it felt as if ice was being shot into his veins. “You should know your place, Pekelo. And you know what happens to those who go against the wishes of their elders. We all know you like those forbidden caves, perhaps you’d like to go down there permanently.”
That’s all he was to him. A means to an end. The only purpose he served was to fulfil those duties as the last son. Pekelo wanted to vomit, a bile coming up his throat at the realization that there was no escape from this.
Pleased by his silence, his mother swam to his side, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
”Don’t worry, little one, this is for the best. Not only for our family, but for your future. Nothing is stopping you from still being friends with Ahio, after all. But your loyalties will be to your betrothed, and to his family, as well as ours. For now, up until you are to move in with him, you will continue to work the caves. We’ve also have something you will most certainly liked planned for your… Further education. You will become one of the most important assets to your mate. Now go, run off and do what you need to do. And be sure to tell Ahio too. Best not to let the boy have any more hope than he should.” She let go of him, and then with a wave of her hand, dismissed him, returning to her place at the head of the living area.
And he did as he was told, closing the door behind him. He made it as far as his own little room before screaming angrily and darting out of the house instead, heading to the one place he knew he could be free.
Word Count: 1277
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 2:37 pm
swa▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
swagg♔┊Solo
guillotineguilloA Familiar Bundle, a Traditional Power
“… So this is what she was talking about.” A few weeks ago, Pekelo’s mother had broken the awful news to him about his engagement. While the thought still stung, life seemed to move on, whether or not he wanted it.
As much as he loved Ahio, he couldn’t shake off his duties, one of them being attending this class. Or session. Or whatever it was.
The cave was surprisingly brightly lit, a glowing, teal green pool of what seemed to be a heavy saltwater mixture. He had seen it before these pockets of Brine, and had known them to be poisonous to all who found themselves with a gillful. There were others in here with him, surrounding the pool, sitting on soft moss cushions while seemingly waiting for something.
He too found an empty spot, and sat patiently for this ‘lesson’ to begin.
Eventually, a time-worn looking old Kawena came in, their movements slow, steady, and with purpose, as they took a seat at the head of the brine pool.
“Thank you, everyone, for joining us.” Their voice rang out through the room, silky as the finest of sands and with a kindness that almost seemed palpable. “You are all here to learn one of the most vital skills our communities rely on. Healing, and the magic that comes along side learning the skill.”
Ah. So that was the skill his mother spoke of. Something so mundane, nothing like the hunting his intended did, nor the adventuring his Ahio was hoping to do. Pekelo supposed then it was fitting in a way… He already grew medicinal plants, why not learn how to apply them to their actual, practical use. Even if he decided to run away, or accept his fate, healing would be useful. He could tend to his intended’s wounds, or make money healing those he met on his travelers.
Pekelo decided, he would not leave in a huff as he was prone to do whenever his mother suggested something.
“This magic, this healing, it is far more than simply making the unwell well once more. It’s about survival, about skills that will help you and yours with what little we have here.” With the wave of their hand, the old Kawena ran their magic through the brine pool, and slowly it seemed to grow clear. Soon, they had an entire sphere of purified, fresh water between their palms, the salt from the brine condensed into a single stone. He looked on, wide eyed and amazed by it all.
An aide came by, passing each person in a small kit, filled with herbs, bottles of brine, and other trinkets for the class. Pekelo immediately recognized a particular bundle of moss and coral that were found among it all.
“I know this, this… It’s from my family’s caves, I’ve packed some of these myself!” Somehow, it excited him to know that, a feeling of pride welling up in his chest at the thought that things that he had worked so hard on were already being used to help people. Forget everything that had to do with his mother’s plans, he just wanted to know more about that!
”Indeed you are correct, young one. Your family has done much in the way of providing for this community, but the farm is only so good as the people who know how to integrate their herbs into our own magic. The way we combine both is essential to our lives down here in the caves. I know your family well, young Pekelo. Your father before you, and his mother, then her father, all have learned their magic from me, and you shall do the same. And I know that you shall do well. But do well to understand this, we will not give special you special treatment. The skills you learn here could be the difference between life and death. No cutting corners here.”. The old Kawena seemed to be entirely serious about this, but smiled. And Pekelo could not help but smile himself. They seemed to be exactly the kinda person he rather liked.
“I understand, and I assure you, I will give it my all!”
”Good, good. Now pick up your kit, let's get started.”
Word Count: 706
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2020 9:13 am
swa▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ swagg♔┊Growth SologuillotineguilloYou, Me, and He!A week had passed since Ahio had the relative safety of the caves in favor of returning a lost child to the surface.
Pekelo knew the time estimate for his return was a couple of months but… A week already felt like a year. And in that time, he felt incredibly listless. Sure, he had his classes to learn magic, and the farm still needed tending to, and the occasional meeting with his intended but when free time rolled around, nothing seemed to matter.
Their little secret cave was empty now. Not in the literal sense but there was no livelihood! No laughter, no voices ringing out and telling stories about their days. Not a single whispered word seemed to travel around the room at all, and part of it was Pekelo’s own silence. He couldn’t seem to bring himself to speak at all when inside that cave… There was no one worth speaking to, certainly not himself.
No, Ahio would scold him for thinking that way. Being in this strange, depressed state made no sense for himself, and he knew it. Between the both of them, Pekelo was supposed to be the endlessly motivated and excited one! Yet here he was, buried under layer after layer of blankets, hiding away from it all.
But he knew he couldn’t keep this up. There were still gardens to tend to, and magic he could improve on.
There was no point at all in sitting here and moping about! Especially since a few months apart certainly didn’t mean the end of the world!
Ahio would come back with details about the surface, about how harsh it was, or how to cope with the changes! They would share everything they had learned while apart and become better for it.
But… Then that left the issue of Vaiarii, his intended….
Vaiarii wasn’t a bad man. He certainly had his looks going for him. And was skilled at an hunting. It was a fact that neither himself nor Ahio were any good at fighting or defending themselves...
An idea started to hatch in his head…
Yes, yes, they didn’t need to get rid of Vaiarii! They could turn him to their side! They could somehow convince him to be the protector they needed, the guardian that could keep them both safe while they decided to go to the surface. With Ahio’s experience already, and Vaiarii’s skills in fighting and taming creatures, they could do this! They could escape and live happily up on the surface!
“Alright!” Thinking it over and over seemed to motivate him, making him stand up and stretch from his place in the cave.
Maybe one of the first things he should do was bring Vaiarii here, to the secret hide out!
… Maybe not. This was his and Ahio’s favorite place after all, and no one else had ever been here before. It was best to wait until his best friend made it home.
But for now, he could focus on becoming friendlier with Vaiarii! And he had the perfect plan already!
The first thing to do was maybe… Set up a date for the two of them. A little one on one time where no parents were involved. Show that he had some sort of actual invested interest in his intended, even if it were for different reasons than simply because their parents told them to!
Excited, he darted out of the caves, back towards his home. There was planning to be done!
Word Count: 583
Quote: After his best friend, Ahio leaves for the surface, Pekelo is faced on figuring out how to deal with his betrothal to Vaiarii alone. But in his loneliness and worries for the future, he realizes there doesn't have to be just one or the other when it comes to the both of them! He now plans to convince Vaiarii to run away to the surface with him, instead of humbly accepting their roles down in the caves.
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