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 Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 3:53 pm
What was this little box? Anahita frowned as she twisted a small wooden box in her hands. Had this been hand carved as well? It looked like someone had managed to carve a kinfa figure along the top of the pale wood box, the detail actually fairly nice for something that was unpainted. “Strange.” She murmured as she gently shook it around, listening closely to make certain that it wasn’t some awful prank. Ezili might be in Matori staying with their grandmother, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t find some way to mess with the family from across the continent. There was one time she somehow managed to get a trader to pass along a box of frogs, the poor ranger who accepted the package not knowing what they did until the dozens of frogs spilled out and started ribbiting throughout the night. She had put a sleep spell on them so that they wouldn’t make a fuss until emerging from the box, the colorful little creatures mostly harmless but definitely a surprise for those not expecting to see them hopping all over the place! And now Anahita found herself in possession of a smaller box that had been left by her family’s home with just her name stitched into a ribbon that had been tied around it, so obviously she was wary of whatever could be inside.
“Maybe I’ll just pocket you for now.” Anahita decided. It didn’t look like the outside of the box was dangerous and she hadn’t heard any suspicious noises for it to blow up into anything crazy if she simply carried it around. Now to just grab her bow and go to the training area so that she could shoot out some of her frustrations. Anahita wasn’t exactly certain what had ruffled her today, but coming back home after over a month away on an escort mission to only return to rumors about family members had definitely decreased her mood. “I suppose everyone just goes where they please and see whoever they want without warning.” It would be a blessing if the little box tucked in her satchel was not a prank from Ezili, that was the last thing she needed when she was already feeling frustrated.
[Anahita 1]
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 3:16 pm
“You did what?!” Lautaro felt his cheeks flame as he looked at his younger twin sisters. He knew that they had mentioned getting a present for Anahita as thanks for training him, but to just drop it off without warning! She probably thought it would be strange, no? Though it wasn’t the first time that he had secretly given her gifts over the years, it was the first time that his name would be attached to it!
“What? We said we would do that.” The twins replied in unison, their brilliant azure gazes blinking up at him innocently. “Is there an issue with you giving her a gift? Haven’t you…”
Lautaro quickly raised his hands, one in front of each twin to cut off their sentences. “It’s just that she just came back and I haven’t even gotten to talk to her yet, but you left a mysterious package for her? I hope she doesn’t take it the wrong way.”
“What’s the right way?” The girls questioned, both tilting their heads even as there was that familiar spark of mischief dancing across their expressions. “Did you need a moment first so that it could be more roman-”
“Nope.” Lautaro held out his hands to shush both of them. “Stop right there, both of you. I’ll be back later.” He had to go to the training grounds and hopefully not think about this for a bit. Even if he had discovered a talent with kinfa and flying there was still a lot of work to do on his own archery skills.
[Lautaro 1]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:01 pm
Thwack. Another arrow went straight into the target. Anahita found her gaze drifting towards her satchel bag, the little box still sticking out just slightly, but her arrows kept flying true despite her lack of focus. It was only when she heard footsteps from behind that the ranger twisted away from the target and changed her position to aim towards the person walking towards her. “Oh, sorry.” Anahita lowered her bow as she recognized Lautaro, the poor guy stumbling backwards at the sight of her. Had she been that scary of a sight to twist around like that?
[Anahita 2]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:01 pm
Lautaro had hoped to give Anahita a day or two to rest before seeking her out, but honestly it shouldn’t have surprised him that she was already at the training ground. Yet he was very much surprised especially when she twisted around and aimed an arrow right for him! “I’m a friend.” Lautaro managed after a moment, his cheeks flushed as he took a step back. Truly though he was less afraid of the arrow than he was from the fact that he had noticed a small box peeking out of her satchel on the ground there. Was that the gift? Did he even address it? Or maybe if he was lucky then her finger could slip from the string and just let that arrow fly…
“No worries. I’m guessing you’re all on edge still from traveling.” He managed instead, offering a sheepish smile as Anahita lowered the bow. “Glad to see you made it safely home.”
[Lautaro 2]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:01 pm
“Thanks.” Anahita smiled as she relaxed a bit more. “I honestly did mean to take the day to unpack and settle in more, but I decided I would rather shoot some arrows instead. Would you like to join me?” She asked, curious to see how far along Lautaro had come since their initial training sessions. Apparently he had taken to the air but she hadn’t gotten to see much of him because of how busy her escort missions had kept her as of late. Here’s hoping rumors aren’t just a bunch of lies. She knew how insecure he was about his klutzy nature, but if this was his true skill then it would be nice to see him blossom in his own way.
[Anahita 3]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:01 pm
“Sure.” Lautaro shifted so that he could unhook his own bow from his back. “Though I have to wonder what would have gotten you to come out here instead of resting?” He couldn’t stop the question from blurting out, his curiosity growing as he noticed the little signs of frustration that he recognized from Anahita. Was it his gift? A knot of dread twisted in his stomach and the man couldn’t help peeking towards her satchel once more. Subtleness most definitely was not his forte, that much was true.
[Lautaro 3]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm
“Curious are you?” Anahita simply chuckled though since she wasn't upset at him asking. Anyone else she might have pushed away since she figured they were just being pests, but she knew Lautaro was just genuinely concerned about her. “I just felt restless after hearing some news, nothing to harm the rangers though. It’s just personal issues, truly.” She shook her head before pausing as she noticed he was staring at her bags. “Something strange about that box?”
[Anahita 4]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm
“Doesn’t mean it’s less important.” Replied Lautaro quietly. “I can always listen if you ever need an ear.” Though he looked away after a moment, his cheeks feeling flushed again as he realized how bold his words might actually be. Who was he to offer her a listening ear? Surely she had plenty of people to speak with, especially considering how many looked up towards her in comparison to him. He was almost glad of the box as a distraction, almost. “I uh….well, I guess it caught my eye. May I ask what the box is?”
[Lautaro 4]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm
“Hey.” Anahita rested her bow on the ground so that she could take a step closer towards Lautaro, her hand reaching out to gently tap him on the shoulder. Sometimes he was like a skittish creature, ready to dive into one of those bushes instead of being around her. At least that was the feeling she got with how his gaze was shifting about her today. Was she truly that intimidating? “I appreciate it.” She flashed him a genuine smile before looking back towards the satchel with a soft sigh. “I don’t know. I was afraid to open it in case it was a prank from someone, but maybe I should go ahead. What do you think? Promise to keep it to yourself if it’s something embarrassing?” She teased before moving to pluck the little box from her satchel so that she could hold it up in front of Lautaro.
[Anahita 5]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm
“I promise, but uh…” Lautaro struggled for the right words to use. Did he just blurt out the truth? “I guess we’ll see what’s inside first though.” What if it wasn’t from the twins? He truly didn’t know and now he wished he had gotten more details from them before running over here. “Want me to open it for you in case it’s a prank?” He knew her younger sister was quite fond of them and one time when they were in a class together she had opened something which exploded in pink powder. She had been dyed pink for the next couple of days before it finally washed away completely. That much Lautaro remembered, including how heated Anahita had been towards those who dared to laugh at her that day too.
[Lautaro 5]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm
“How could I do that to you?” Anahita shook her head against the temptation. Poor Lautaro had to deal with enough as it was! If it was a prank from Ezili then so be it. The hybrid braced herself as she finally moved the latch and opened the box. However, what was inside had her baffled. “A beaded bracelet?” It was lovely with the leather cords wrapped tightly around the blue and green beads with specks of gold in between. But it wasn’t something that she had expected, that much was for certain. Nor did it seem like something her mother would have just left behind for her…not like this.
[Anahita 6]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm
“Ah.” Lautaro watched as Anahita plucked the bracelet out of the box. That was definitely the work of the twins. “I think I can explain the mystery.” He finally managed with a sheepish smile towards Anahita. “My sisters told me that they wanted to thank you for those training lessons….they’re very supportive of me as you know so….I’m guessing that’s the gift they made for you. I hope it’s alright that they did that…I should have said something.” At least there wasn’t any embarrassing notes inside, that was his true fear. What if they had wrote some sort of mushy note to try to pose that it was from him? Thankfully they didn’t seem to think about that option so he seemed to be safe, as long as Anahita wasn’t offended by the gift that was.
[Lauataro 6]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm
“So you let me think it was a prank this whole time? Other than that, how could I be upset at a gift?” Teased Anahita lightly even as she carefully tugged the bracelet around her right wrist. “It’s lovely though. I appreciate them thinking of me like this.” How was it fair that he got the adorable younger siblings while most of hers kept her on her toes running about the forest and other areas? Still there was a smile on her lips as she held up her wrist for Lautaro to inspect the gift. Despite her earlier frustrations her mood was already lifting from such a nice surprise and pleasant company. “They did great, but now I truly do owe you some training time to repay the favor. What do you think? Want to shoot some arrows together?”
[Anahita 7]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:02 pm
If he could melt into a puddle then he would. Despite Anahita simply teasing him, the ranger couldn’t help but to feel completely flustered. Why had he hesitated so much to take credit for the box? Was he truly so afraid of her thinking that he might have a crush….oh most definitely. Even he didn’t know how to navigate the way those butterflies fluttered in his stomach at the sight of that smile. Just good friendship feelings, that’s all. He reinforced before taking a step closer to look at the bracelet, a small smile on his own lips. “I supposed they did a good job, didn’t they?” He mused before nodding at her question. “Sure. As long as you have the time then I don’t mind. You know I can always use the practice.” He joked as he took up his own bow and prepared himself for another round of target practice with Anahita helping him to adjust his arms and aim accordingly.
[Lautaro 7]
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