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 Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:54 am
For the past few months Callum had stationed himself within the small settlement of Mez that sat just on the edge of Sauti's border with Zena. It was one of the few settlements that hybrid had yet to visit within his home nation, but one with the most promise. So far his welcome had been just that; welcoming. Other settlements and wandering tribes wanted less to do with him, but the citizens of Mez were a little kinder than most. In exchange for protection against bandits trying to make off with their lumber and coin, the residents provided Callum with food and shelter. For now it was working out, and that's all he really needed.
He was surprised to find some many Ice tribesman in the area at first. After asking a few questions Callum came to find out that the area supplied building materials not only for Sauti, but for many in the neighboring regions of Zena as well. They were an industrious lot, that was for sure, and maybe that was the reason they didn't pay as much attention to his weird looks. They were simply too busy to care.
Callum was hard pressed not to become attached to the area. When he had first drifted in he had been skinnier than ever before, with an infected wound discoloring his side. The hallucinations were vicious they had caused him to lash out, which was dangerous at first since he still held his blade. Their healers tended to him, and he owed them a lot for that. He owed them even more for the fullness of his stomach.
At the moment he was helping to transfer stones and some other materials into a buyers cart. The man was elderly and since his lazy sons weren't in the mood to assist, Callum had taken it upon himself to do the deed.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 5:16 pm
Tugging with half-hearted impatience at the lead of the large, dark-furred mammu, Nimueh made a face and finally dropped his arms and, not for the first time, glowered sulkily up at the creature. After traveling for weeks under the weight of heavy wood beams, and packages of exports from Zena, the creature that served his family's business had decided it had had enough of lugging things around, thank you very much, and was obstinately refusing to budge from the stall of a familiar stable that was located at the edge of town, near the inn Nim had been staying at. He would've preferred if it had been throwing a tantrum - at least, then, he could try and lure it with food, or try and make peace with it. However, instead the damned thing was wholly apathetic to him - as if he was no more than a fly buzzing about it - his complaints unheard.
Kicking hay at the beast, Nimueh gave it one last look before stalking away from it, briefly tipping sideways due to a rush of vertigo, before recovering - one hand settled against the doorframe of the stables. Once outside, squinting against the sunlight, Nimueh peered out into the street, considering his options. Every day he spent here, he dwindled away his profit - this had been HIS first trip, by himself - his first sole venture, selling his own exports and goods. And due to a stubborn mammu, he was bleeding away all his gains. Unless he found some sort of work for himself, day to day, to exchange for his room and board...
Shaking his head, Nimueh chewed his lip thoughtfully, peering down the road. Further along the way was a cart, which seemed to be exchanging some products - he doubted aiding there would help, but if he at least showed that he was strong enough to work, the shop keepers may consider offering him some work to do - right? Decided, Nimueh willed the remaining dizziness away and lifted his chin, jogging down the way to where the work was being done. As an Alkidike by blood, Nimueh was tall - his legs long and muscled, and though lean, he was still considered massive to many earthlings, half-blood or no. Smiling toothily, Nimueh looked between the two, hands held up hopefully, "Need an extra hand, or two?" He hoped the impish grin would make the offer more enticing - his hands hovered over the stones, but he had long since learned not to touch a tradesman's property without being given permission. Some tended to be rather finicky about handsy halfbreeds.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 7:49 pm
For what felt like the hundredth time, Callum listened patiently as the old man explained how to lift with his legs and not his back. At this point the man wasn't even looking at him, and Callum highly suspected he was just talking to keep himself company. It wasn't as if the merchant was being ignored either; evidently he just liked to keep his chats personal. A one on one affair.
It was a great strength building exercise, though. Callum was holding each stone longer than he should have just to give his muscles the work out they sorely needed. This was also the reason for the old man's lectures, but Callum just nodded along through them. He smiled nicely, piped in a few words, and otherwise completely ignored him. It felt rude, but honestly, he was just tired of hearing it.
As he heaved his current load onto the cart, Callum leaned over onto the stone and looked towards the speaker. At first he had thought it was just another resident, or a traveling merchant, but this one...This one was way too familiar. Solid gold eyes. Blue skin, Alkidike markings, dreads.... It couldn't be, could it?
"Hmm? Wassat?" The older man moved around on his cart, leaning up against the side and taking a break from reorganizing his purchases. "Your new, aint'cha? Well, ain't gonna turn down help." He smiled and waved him closer. "Come on then, help an old man out and I might have somethin' for ya."
Callum just...stared. He was trying to splice the fuzzy memories of a boy from his past with the young man in front of him, and it was taking his full concentration. When had he gotten so damn big? Had it been that long?
"Don't mind that one; he tends to just stare off like that..." The old man leaned over, tried to whisper and failed miserably. "...think there's something wrong in that head a' his. Too much sun."
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:35 pm
Honestly - for a long moment Nimueh didn't spare a glance for the person who was assisting the old man. His gaze was cemented on the man - growing old in Zena had taught him that many businessmen and traders disliked feeling unimportant, and surely offering assistance, only to turn his shoulder to the man would be insulting. Rather, Nimueh stood, patiently, until permission was finally given - not only that, but a hint of a reward made his eyes light up. Smiling somewhat sheepishly, Nimueh chuckled then knelt to reach for a stone - hefting it in his arms with apparent ease. His own musculature wasn't prominent at rest, nor was it bulky, but flexed as his muscles were with the lifting it was clear he was well built for the work. After all, his new profession was as a woodsman and carpenter, back home in Zena - so it was natural that he'd be used to hefting a blade, or lifting chunks of felled tree. "Yes - my first time here, actually. Though... I may need to stay a time. My familiar doesn't seem to agree that it's time to head home..." Now, he seemed to blush a subtle purple at the cheeks, embarrassed at the admission of weakness, of his own inability to control his family's creature.
It wasn't until Nimueh had deposited the first stone safely in the cart that he realized the person beside him had grown still, their work temporarily abandoned. He straightened his stance, shoulders pulled back, a picture of faux confidence - chin raised as he turned his attention properly to the earthling. Posturing wasn't really his style, but after a childhood of quailing away from those who looked down on half breeds, his adopted family had quickly sought to correct such behavior. If this person was staring at the strange looking halfbreed, he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of curling up and staring at his toes, as he still sometimes felt like doing --
Only... they weren't. This person wasn't a wind earthling, as he had guessed - they were... well...
Unique, as he was. Not that it explained the staring, of course. Nimueh stared right on back, the smallest feeling of recognition tickling the back of his mind. He had, after all, only been a child - he had doubled in age, and then some, and his life before the invasion was so long ago, to him. Before he could put his finger on it, the old man noticed his attention had been drawn away; his stage whisper snapped Nim from his thoughts, where he physically jolted, grunting in acknowledgement before finally ducking to lift another stone.
He hadn't forgotten the stranger - far from it. He watched him, as best he could, from his periphery - taking in the curves of his figure, the long hair, the crystals - the strange scar at his neck. The crystals and scar tugged at his mind especially, along with those bright eyes, urging him to remember - but he shooed the thoughts away stubbornly. Much as he'd like to correct the old man - to scold him for such rude words, he instead bit his tongue, and reminded himself that he needed the charity in order to afford his stay. If he returned home, having squandered his means, he doubted his adopted mother would be especially impressed.
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 12:51 pm
"Bad lot, that." The older merchant bend his knees so that he could properly grasp the stones the lads were hoisting up for him. While he wasn't lifting them himself, he did shift them near the head of the cart, maneuvering the heavier bits around the lighter pieces of lumber to balance the load. "It doesn't respect you; that's the first thing that's gotta change. See my girls?" He motioned with an age splotched hand to the team of Quhar heading his cart. "The one on the left is an old grouse. I had to wrestle her down just to get her in a bridle. A 'course, we were both a might bit younger in those days." He chuckled. "She 'members, though, and she's been teachin' the young'lin' too. No one messes with Big Papa." The old man thumped his chest with his fist, then immediately seemed to regret it. He rubbed the sore place with a wince, murmuring something about his body betraying him.
Callum wasn't as quick to move away as he should have been. Once he'd been caught, the lad had been too enraptured by those golden eyes to look away. They were just as glossy now as they had been then, which served as further proof to identify the other hybrid. Even his posturing seemed like something the boy would have done; although this time, it was much more impressive.
He tucked a long strand of platinum hair behind his ear, and knelt to hoist another stone onto the cart. Except this time Callum wasn't as prepared. His mind was too distracted to notice the lack luster hold he had on the heavy rock, nor was he concentrating enough to maintain a proper hold. As he made the moves to sit it onto the wooden cart, the stone slipped. Hurriedly he tried to fix the situation, but instead found himself falling back onto the ground. It was only by the grace of Bergchi that when Callum fell the stone landed between his legs, and not on them.
"Graces, boy, are ya tryin' ta kill yer'self?!" The old man scuttled off the side of the cart and stood over Callum.
Callum was too shaken up to do much more than laugh. It was a nervous response, one that was accompanied by shaking hands running through frazzled hair.
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 10:09 pm
Once again focusing on the work, Nimueh wrinkled his nose as he lifted, automatically resenting the lecturing. Even if the merchant was right, Nimueh would rather not bother with taming a beast at all. He wanted to rely on his own strengths - even if they were tempered by his lack of balance, dizzy spells, and poor eyesight. Despite that, he realized he couldn't cart lumber across a country on his own - it simply wasn't feasible, and the mammu was, sadly, necessary for that work.
As he mused, he continued to work - pleased that the other man had continued as well, after recovering from his own moment of hesitance. Perhaps, Nim thought, he had taken a moment to steel himself after the rather insulting way the old man had referred to him? Nimueh would have been hurt, then furious, at such words. But it wasn't his battle, in this case - if the other hybrid had been more obviously hurt, maybe, but as it was he wasn't going to belittle the pale man and act as if he needed to be defended.
Just as Nimueh thought of these things, depositing one of the lighter chunks onto the cart, the light-haired man fumbled with his load, sending the rock bouncing off the back of the cart. For a horrible, gut wrenching moment Nimueh expected to hear a sick crunch of the rock crushing the man's leg - or the shriek of pain that such a weight would surely cause. For a horrifying second that seemed to stretch on for infinity he stared, shoulders tensed and wide eyed, down at the blonde.
But soon enough, time resumed. Nimueh took a shuddering breath, shoving the small wedge of wood onto the cart, then knelt over the blonde, ducking down to hurriedly lift the offending boulder from where it had fallen. Once it was shoved onto the cart, with little attention paid to it, Nimueh stood over the blonde, eyes raking down to his legs to look for any possible injury, as if unconvinced that he was truly unharmed. Finally, though, the tall boy forced himself to calm - and instead held his hands out for the blonde to take, so he could help him to his feet. "Perhaps, my friend, it would be best to take a break?" He asked, raising his eyebrows, lips spreading into a playful grin. Was this man truly as scattered as the old man had suggested, just moments ago? Maybe... although if that was the case, why would the merchant even let him help him with his goods?
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 10:42 am
"I think I would like that very much."
Callum looked up to Nimueh and tried his best to give a carefree smile. From the way the other was looking at him, Callum figured he must have looked like one very large, unsightly idiot. It made his normally pale cheeks flush coral with color. Pulling his feet in towards the boulder, Callum reached up to take the other's hands and pulled himself back onto his feet. A pull on his back caused Callum to lean forward, using Nimueh as a brace while he reached back on reflex. That would be his luck; bruise his arse after flailing around like a lout.
He hadn't even noticed how scrapped his hands were until the rough fibers of his pants caused the grazed flesh to burn. Which brought him to the conclusion that if he was bleeding, no matter how minor, he was bleeding on Nimueh. Callum let go of him as if he were on fire, and looked him over. "I didn't get any on you, did I?" He reached around once more, though this time it was to bring a bit of cloth from his hip pouch. "Here, let me clean your hands. I promise you, I'm normally more focused than this, but seeing you again has me a little off kilter. It's been a long time since I've seen a friend, much less one from so long ago." Callum turned Nimueh's hand in his own, careful to only hold the appendage with his fingers so that his scraped palms wouldn't continue to infect him. "Although, I'm sure you don't remember me. You were a lot smaller then."
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 7:19 pm
Painted Moose sorry for the wait, the last few days have been nuts ;3;
As he cleaned his hands, Nimueh puzzled instead over the words, tugging his eyes from their joined hands to instead fix him with a confused look. Meet him ... again? "It's fine, really - but who..." He wanted to question whether or not they truly knew one another, but honestly Nimueh was aware how... unique he was. How many hybrids of his appearance would their be, after all? So in the end he instead shrugged his shoulders, smiling somewhat shyly in embarassment. "Was it ... during the Alkidike invasion? I don't remember much from that time, I'm sorry." Not that he had amnesia or anything - but even if he remember bits before that time, with his mother and aunts back home, the actual invasion was a haze - so much had happened so quickly, that now it was all a horrible blur.
Who was this though? Someone from the camp, or from his short time living in Tale with his grandfather?
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Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 12:44 pm
Scarlett Arbuckle Totally fine! I've had the same luck, apparently. xD
He chuckled and shook his head. "Don't worry about it. You were young, and I'm easy to forget. Not you, though." Callum pointed towards his face with one long, angular finger. "Those eyes of yours are just too bright to forget about. Still as brilliant as ever." Using the same strip of cloth he had used to clean Nimueh's hands, Callum wrapped his scraped palms. He tied little sloppy knots over the crystals that covered the backs of his hands.
"You said you were going to be in the area for a few days, right? At least until your mammu decides to move." Callum teased. "I've got a camp on the edge of town that you could stay at until you leave. A lot cheaper than paying inn fees every night, that's for sure."
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2015 9:08 am
His father... Nimueh briefly closed his eyes, exhaling sharply from his nostrils. Once he'd composed himself once more, he ran a hand through his dreads and finally looked at Callum once more, assessing. He remembered it now- but vaguely. He recalled being excited to have found someone else who was different, like himself - he remembered feeling solemn. They had talked of something that, at the time, had felt infinitely profound - but now he could barely remember. It could have been a talk about the weather for all he knew - and any details had been long lost.
Callum continued, gesturing to him and recalling him in such... favorable terms - Nimueh couldn't help but flush, blue skin tinging purple from his cheeks to the tip of his long ears. Abashed, he looked down - watching as those hands as they tied the strip of cloth. It was, in the end, the crystals that jogged his memory just the slighest bit more. They'd spoke about their lots in life - their mixed blood. Callum had admitted to a weakness - or, at the very least, had been overcome with emotion, though at what Nimueh still couldn't remember. Back then, a grownup (in his eyes) crying had been strange - he'd never seen anyone cry who wasn't a kid his age.
That memory elicited the same response now - a sort of protectiveness that made no sense, seeing as they were still strangers to one another. But he didn't have any ties to that part of his life, and yet here was a walking, talking memory.
Still trying to overcome the pleasant embarassment he felt at his eyes being described as 'bright and brilliant', Nimueh grunted noncomitally and tried to conceal how interested he was in the suggestion. "I'd be a fool to say no to such a friendly offer." He finally responded, overcoming his moment of shyness to instead grin back, gesturing to the cart. "While you get over your near death experience, I'll finish up here. I'm Nimueh, by the way. "
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:44 pm
Callum flexed his calloused toes against the hard packed terrain and lifted his right foot to roll his ankle until it gave a satisfying pop. The action allowed his calf to peep out of the slit in his pants before lolling back inside of the material. He could feel the soft weight of his braid shifting from side to side behind him, and the action seemed to bring him around. It kept him grounded, and reminded him that while he might have had memories of the boy, time had passed. A good chunk of it.
His already chipper demeanor brightened considerably. He gave into a grand bow, complete with once again taking Nim's hand in his own. The exception this time was that Callum kissed Nim's palm before shifting to stand just inches away from the other. "It's a pleasure. I've got a few errands to run, but it shouldn't take long. Wait here and I'll be back for you." Callum grinned and stepped back, his hips swaying unconsciously as he went to explain the situation to the merchant.If anything the older man seemed to be just fine with Callum leaving. He wasn't sure if that was because he wouldn't have to pay the boy, or because the clutzy one wasn't going to be sticking around.
Either way, Callum was down a full days work. He turned around to salute Nim with two fingers, before sauntering off to the village, completely forgetting to introduce himself in the process.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:55 pm
And here, Nimueh had thought he would simply let the other stroll off before getting back to work. Instead - instead -- to tell the truth, his brain seemed to blank out at the rather dashing gesture, and the heat in his cheeks that had only just faded flared back to life anew. Unconsciously his shoulders tensed up, and he leaned back the smallest fraction, innately aware of the small space that was left between them as Callum leaned in and spoke. Forcing a weak smile, Nim nodded, tucking the kissed hand against his chest, marvelling at the tingling of his skin as the platinum blonde sauntered off to speak with their temporary employer. Nim followed him with his eyes, head turning to watch him go - and fighting not to focus on the alluring sway of the older man's hips.
Callum turned around moments later with a cheeky salute, and Nimueh jumped again, guiltily tearing his eyes away and ducking down to scoop up another boulder, horrified to be caught staring so shamelessly.
They'd had a brief, but interesting introduction - he'd found someone from his past, someone who most likely had no answers as to what had happened to his family, but still - there was a connection there. The only connection from those days that Nim had. The conversation had been friendly, the other man excited and pleased to see him again. Nim had never had much interest in ... people, or other teenage exploits - a kiss on the hand had no business in making him react like such a blushing maid! Beyond that, it was... disrespectful to be ogling someone who was being so kind to him like a slab of meat!
Shaking his head of the fog, Nim mentally fumed at embarrassing himself with a simple hormonal response to what was, quite possible, just a friendly greeting - for all he knew, it was a local tradition. Getting back to his work, Nim tried to push the incident from his mind, and focused instead on loading the cart to the old man's satisfaction.
By the time the cart was full, and the old man had given him his payment, Nim had decided to try and forget the childish incident and simply act as if it hadn't happened.
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 5:39 pm
There was always that rush Callum got after making his mark. It electrified his heart, pushing his nerves to the extreme and giving his saunter a little pep. Not that he needed anymore reasons to feel giddy. Life was great! He was back in Sauti, Ming'we was here and now he'd met back up with someone from his past-
In an instant Callum's blood ran cold.
What the hell was he doing? Nimueh was still just a boy! An older boy, maybe, but still far too young for Callum to even look at, much less get that close to. Slowly the platinum hybrid brought his jaunty stroll to a halt in the midst of busy stalls and hurried negotiations. He bit his lip and tapped his hands on his hips while he thought it over. At best Nimueh would think he was a whore, and at worst...he wouldn't even be there when he came back. It wasn't even the most provocative thing Callum had done, but getting that close to Nimueh had been wrong. Thrilling, but wrong! He had been old enough to worm his way into a married woman's home when Nimueh was still with his father.
Maybe the explained the way Nimueh had been staring at him when he was leaving? Was he that horrified? The thought clung to Callum with each stop, his feet dragging all the more the closer he came to finishing his errands. A few strips of dried meat there, some roots, some food for his kinfa, and fresh meat for Nimueh. The least he could do was spare the boy from eating the rations Callum called dinner.
When he returned Callum had two full satchels slung over his shoulders, and a nervous smile on his face. He was more than a little surprised to see that Nimueh had stuck it out, but free lodging was a pretty good incentive. "Do you want to go get your things first? Or I can go ahead and show you the camp. After getting a good look at it you might decide to stay in the inn."
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 4:04 am
Had only Nimueh known the sorts of doubtful thoughts that were shooting through Callum's mind, he would have shooed them away instantly. Unfortunately, Nimueh was far from aware of such troubling thoughts and he had decided to ignore the event had occurred at all. Better to just dismiss it than to contemplate it too much, get too attached, and then be disappointed later, right?
Time had passed quickly while working, and thankfully he wasn't waiting long with his own thoughts before Callum reappeared. Quickly standing from where he'd settled to sit, Nimueh greeted his friend with a nod and a smile. Callum's words, however, made the young hybrid snort, giving a shake of his head as he took a few easy steps closer to the shorter man, setting one hand on his hip while the fingers of his other hand toyed idly with the strands of cord and mismatched crystals that hung from his neck and shoulders. As if he would change his mind now. Not only were these lodgings free, but they also had Callum there, and even with Nimueh blubbering at their first conversation, he wanted to get to know his acquaintance better. He hadn't talked with many people outside of Zena in... a long time, and it wasn't a chance he wanted to give up. "No - that's fine. Anything of importance is here." He patted the small satchel at his hip, which contained the profit from his trip.
The bigger question was why Callum felt his lodgings were inadequate all of a sudden. He'd felt they were fine enough before - had something happened to change his mind? In the end, Nimueh shrugged his curiosity away - if it was an issue, he hoped Callum would say so, and that would be the end of it.
Taking a few steps closer, to follow Callum, Nim looked at the shorter hybrid and grinned. "Do you have more friends at your camp? Would they be... alright with me staying?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:58 am
Oh no.
Ignoring Nimueh was going to be a lot harder than Callum had anticipated. He had never been more jealous of crystals in his life.
Bergchi must surely hate him.
"No, it's just me and Faulina, so you don't have anything to worry about." He smiled easily. "She's my kinfa. She's still young, though, and the only time she shows her hateful side is around females." Hoisting his satchels a little further up his shoulders, the young swordsman crossed the craggy terrain, sliding easily down into a lower ravine where his bare feet connected with the hard packed earth. The nomad led the way between walls of stone, where the passageway because almost too narrow to pass, but on the other side lay a clearing. The stones seemed to sweep into the air like an ocean wave, creating an overhang just perfect to keep the sun's rays off a sleeping kinfa.
Faulina lay nestled up among his minimal belongings, with her little head tucked underneath her left wing. When Callum whistled three times, paused and whistled again she seemed to come alive. The little pink kinfa began to chirrup, and flew up to meet them. "Come on down here, you silly thing." She landed after two neat circles on top of his right shoulder, forcing Callum to extend his right arm just enough to compensate for her size. The bird seemed to take Nimueh in critically, but upon deciding he was indeed not female she continued her happy chirping.
"This is Faulina, and this is my camp. There isn't much here, but the location is safe from raiders so I've got that going for me."
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