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 Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:11 pm
A lovely afternoon. Somehow Nadiya had managed to slip out of babysitting and was instead wandering along the cliffs near her home. I'm sure Ahren will be fine. A slightly malicious smile crossed the girl's features as she continued along. Her older brother had taken care of their siblings so many times before he left to go be a merchant. It was only fair that when he was home for the week that he helped her out on occasion.
"He'll probably make me run errands for him later." Pouting the girl continued to walk up along the shore, "I just hope the house is okay by the time I return." Instinctively her gut clenched. How many items would the triplets break today? As long as Ahren left his cart locked up then surely everything would be fine...
As the waves crashed into the shore the girl found herself reaching into her bag for a small wooden flute. While it was older the faded designs spoke of love and care. Whoever had crafted the instrument before Nadiya had received it truly cared about their art, "Let's see..." She tapped her fingers lightly against the instrument before raising it towards her lips. Even with no one around to listen to her play the girl found that the waves made good company. No matter what they never protested her music and instead only clapped along the shore in appreciation. With that amusing thought in mind she slowly began to play a melody of her own making...
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:35 pm
Matori might not have been everything Dexurn had dreamed of, but it was still magnificent. He couldn't deny that he'd delighted in seeing the lush vegetation, and that his heart had skipped a beat upon sight of the deep blue ocean. This was what he'd missed out on growing up in Oba. Heavy sands, cool air, and splashing shores...
The ocean was where he was again today. Lugging his newly purchased shield around, he was doing his best to get used to the added weight. Despite everything rallied against him, he was determined to make it work. He spent some time swinging the shield around, doing his best to not let it throw him around instead, with varying results.
Shaking sand out of his hair, he paused when the sound of music reached his ears. His head perked slowly. That sounded really pretty. Hooking the shield over his shoulder, he lugged it along in search of the source of the sound. When he did, he stopped a respectful distance away, letting the young lady play a little longer. "That's lovely," he managed to compliment bravely with a little smile.
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 10:01 am
What if another people lived below the waves? As Nadiya played she could imagine graceful creatures with long, gleaming tails dancing to her music. Perhaps our cousins? Maybe that was why the Matori appeared so different from others in Tendaji. Their features belonged more to the ocean than anyone else.
Her thoughts and music both trailed off as sudden noise gained her attention, "Oh thank you." Nadiya automatically replied before taking a shocked step backwards, "Who are you?" She scanned around the beach and sighed in relief when she saw no others, "You don't know my family do you?" Frowning she walked up to him and stared intently as she glanced over his features. He doesn't look like anyone I know. Ahren also never mentioned having a companion with him so surely she was safe. Right?
"I suppose this is alright then." The girl smiled wistfully, "I was just worried you were one of my family members. Music doesn't sit so well with them as a line of work so I have to keep this on the down low." Noticing the shield Nadiya's smile widened even more, "Oh! Are you an adventurer? Is that why I don't know you from around here?" She was beaming as she looked him over again, "I'm sure you have some exciting tales then!"
After a moment's pause the girl flushed, "Sorry, my name's Nadiya by the way. You?" I'm always getting carried away aren't I? Sheesh.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2016 4:07 pm
Initially, Dex thought all was well. Then the girl seemed to jump out of her skin, causing him to jump back with surprise as well. He started to apologize, but he suddenly came under hard scrutiny. Cheeks heating up with embarrassment, he ducked his head slightly and tried to hide behind his shield.
Just as quickly, the mood changed, and he had to shake his head to clear it. "I.. don't know anyone around here, except my friend I came with." He glanced down at his shield and chuckled softly. "I-I wouldn't call myself one of those. Just.. I came from Oba, is all." Well, the reason was much deeper, but he didn't want to bore her.
Oh, right, who he was. He finally let the shield drop to his side, feeling better now that the girl was calmed. "Nadiya, my name's Dexurn. I didn't mean to disturb you... The music was really nice, is all."
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 2:01 pm
"You sure?" Nadiya peered forward as the stranger spoke. Surely she would have seen him before if he had come with her brother. The girl pursed her lips before pulling back with a sigh. I probably seem silly. Plus, it wasn't like she had some instinct to run or that she was in trouble. The stranger probably was just that, a stranger. Nothing more and nothing less. Meaning that surely he wouldn't be the one to rat her out. He didn't even know who she was after all!
"Oba?" Nadiya sighed wistfully, "Even if you don't think it's an adventure I'm sure it was exciting! At least..." The girl paused as she surveyed the calm waves and the deserted beach, "Compared to here." Even if the Obans were supposed bigots and previously had enslaved her people Nadiya would still love to see their land. So many travelers came through those cities and the desert must be majestic! She shook her head. To go to Oba would mean that she would be agreeing to help her brother with his trading business. Just the thought made the girl's stomach sour. The last thing she ever wanted to become was a merchant.
Smiling at the compliment Nadiya glanced up towards Dexurn, "Nice to meet ya. I'm Nadiya, though I wouldn't say my music was all that great. Just a simple melody really." She wiggled her toes in the sand shyly. She had gotten so excited about his shield that she had almost forgotten he had caught her playing. My first real audience....in a way. The thought made her almost laugh, "So why are you here then?" Nadiya tried to brush away the topic of music, "Do you have family here or do you trade? Or are you a guard for a merchant's caravan? Or are you just passing through as a wandering shield?" Once again the girl's imagination had gotten away with her as she spurted questions towards Dexurn. There were just too many possibilities after all!
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:31 pm
Dex's brow knit slightly. Matori wasn't all he'd thought it would be, but he was enjoying it better than Oba... "Depends on what you think is exciting, I suppose," he replied. "THe excitement there isn't always a good kind."
Seeing her shier demeanor as the music was discussed, he couldn't help smiling lightly. Even he could tell she liked music, but something was holding her back... But then the questions started up again, and he ran a hand bashfully through his hair. "N-No, I, um.. N-nothing that exciting. ...I was.. hoping to find family here... but I didn't..." He looked at his shield and blushed again. "I just bought this after arriving here in Matori. Not good enough to actually guard anything with it yet." ..If she was looking for excitement, he figured that Nadiya would probably be better off looking the other way!
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 1:03 pm
"Still..." Nadiya bit her lip as she pouted towards Dex, "It's better than nothing, right?" Almost like an innocent child the girl had to turn her watery eyes away from the stranger. It was to be expected that someone with actual experience outside of Matori would view things in such a way, but Nadiya still had hope. If I had the chance to explore and even if I had to fight here and there...it still would be something. Much better than just having to babysit all day and then be lectured by her family about the importance of finding a real occupation.
"Find family?" Her watery gaze lit up as the wrong idea crossed her mind, "You want to have a family here? Did you have some girl who had your heart...or are you looking to find the one?" She flushed lightly, "I can understand that being with one of your own kind and having that connection must be important to some, but love can be anywhere~ It doesn't have to be here, but if this is what you wanted then I'm sure you'll find someone." Trailing off she flushed even more as her thoughts settled, "I mean....oh. Were you looking for actual family here?" She frowned slightly, "Parents, a lost sibling, someone else?" While that didn't excite Nadiya nearly as much as romance the girl still felt the potential for an emotional reunion. That would make a good tale!
"Oh." She looked at the shield and then back to Dex with a smile, "Still it looks pretty impressive. I'm sure you'll improve and then be able to guard whoever you wanted with ease." Especially if he had someone in his heart to guard. The thought made her smile happily. Now what wouldn't she give for someone like that?
"If you need help I live in this area, so I can always try to find leads if you need." She nodded firmly, "Family is very important after all despite how annoying they sometimes can be." She laughed softly at the thought of her own blood, "Do you at least have a place to stay?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 1:19 pm
Dex looked off to the side slightly. Some of the excitement may have been worth it, but other times.. he would have preferred nothing. Nadiya seemed so excited though, he didn't want to discourage her. Maybe she would have better luck than he had?
Have a family? Find a girl? Dex's face turned dark violet as Nadiya rambled on so blissfully, and he partially tucked his shield between the girl and himself again. Was she talking about Shade? B-b-but, Shade was just a friend! Was she talking about herself?! But they'd only just met!! Ack, this was overwhelming!
It took him a moment to find his voice again. "F-family of- of a friend," he finally managed to squeak out. He did want a family for himself, but surely it was too lofty an idea to find himself a girl and have a family like that! "Th-thanks, b-but I mean, I did f-find them. Th-they're j-just not around anymore. I mean, they're gone. There's no one to find now." He nodded slowly. Voicing it made him sad, but he couldn't look back on that... "Y-yeah. I'm with a friend at one of the inns. She's been traveling with me since Oba. Wanted to come here, too."
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 1:31 pm
Nadiya grinned at his reaction, "Oooooh?" She peered closely at him almost as if to snatch the thoughts from his mind, "Perhaps I was right about something?" She flushed a little herself from the teasing, "It would be awfully romantic to have an ocean side meeting with someone you loved." She breathed thoughtfully into the air as her gaze flickered towards the waves. Even if she did find adventure the girl's heart would always have the ocean. Eventually I would always return here as well. Maybe not for long periods, but at least here and there. Nadiya smirked before snapping to attention. This isn't the time to be writing my stories. I must really appear foolish.
She glanced towards Dex, but his stuttering responses were too adorable. i]What a lucky girl for him to have such a reaction! She wondered what lady he must have had in mind to create such a flush, "So..." Her amusement died out as she reached out as if to comfort him. All of her younger siblings had gotten her into the habit and so despite his height difference, here Nadiya tip toed to reach his head, the girl found herself touching his cheek. Often it was that movement with her sincere gaze that could stop any crying child. "I'm sorry to hear that." She moved her hand to pat his shoulder before pulling away without a second thought, "Did you not have any of your own family either?" Now that was a depressing idea. An orphan out in this world who had someone to call family, but then had lost them before he even began. If she wasn't so suddenly conscious of her previous actions the girl may have hugged him for comfort.
Still Nadiya took a step backwards as the friend was mentioned, "It just happens to be a female 'friend'?" She raised an eyebrow as if testing him, "And nothing during any of your travels has stirred anything?" Surely, that was the reason for the blush! A feeling of regret almost surged before she shook it off. Her time would come surely, but she definitely wasn't one to take someone else's other half! Nope~ She smiled faintly, "So your friend likes to travel then? Or is she also looking for family here?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 1:55 pm
An ocean side meeting with someone he loved... Dex could only blush hotter. Could Nadiya really be talking about herself so soon?!
The sudden change when she realized what he'd meant help him calm down a little. At least she could see how unromantic that situation was. Then she was reaching up to touch his cheek, and the heat rose again. He was still getting used to others comforting him, but at least another Matorian doing so made sense. "I.. My family was in Oba, but.. they're lost to me, too." He was going to cry if she kept up those questions...
All at once, they were back on the subject of him and a love interest. He was going to cry just out of his emotions being pulled back and forth! Was anything stirred? He shook his head roughly. He.. wasn't sure how to respond to that. But then simpler questions came. "More like she's leaving family from there. Maybe looking for new family here. I'm not sure. ...She had the bad excitement in Oba, and wanted something new. We just traveled together is all.."
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:30 pm
"Oh no." Nadiya's heart went out to Dexurn. It was such a sad tale and hearing it made more puzzle pieces fall into place. No wonder he wasn't much of one for excitement or Oba. I suppose even I wouldn't want such a tragic story for myself. Just a touch of trouble here and there, but always with hope in the end. She wasn't much of one for writing a tragedy and much rather preferred her romances.
She wanted to hug him, do something to make him feel better, but the girl was afraid if she touched him again his face might truly melt off. The thought despite her sorrow brought a small smile to her lips. That smile grew even more as a mischievous glint entered her gaze, "Oh?" The girl tilted her head away and peered at him through the corner of her eye, "Sounds rather convenient. She is looking for a new family and you need one? You sure there's not a fate involved in this coincidental friendship?" She placed a hand on her hip as she fully turned her stare towards him, "Is it that you don't want to risk a friendship by embracing her? Because it sounds to me that there's already a new family forming on the horizon~" She paused before glancing back towards Dex, "Unless...you've tried already and it was just not meant to be? Or rather yet you just don't have feelings for her in that way?" She frowned slightly as she took a step forward, "Did you meet someone else to confuse your potential feelings?"
There were just too many options in this romantic tale! Nadiya smiled in delight, "There really are so many options. Aren't there?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:55 pm
Seeing the playfulness continue to retake the girl's expression, Dex took a step back. He'd wandered into all sorts of trouble with this one... "Coincidence is all," he replied, unable to meet her bold eyes. The more Nadiya spoke of a relationship with Shade, the more uncertain Dex became. They were just friends, right? She.. wouldn't see him like that, and he didn't see her like that, right?
Tried?! Now the poor shield bearer was in a tizzy and took another few steps backward. "N-no! She's not- We're not- ..Darn it, you're confusing me!" Not thinking about the way he'd said that, he turned away and rubbed a hand over his face. If this gal and Shadiya should meet, he would have to hide from them for days. The two would surely have a grand old time together.
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:24 pm
Nadiya wiggled a playful finger towards him, "Everything begins somehow. In any story even the smallest coincidence can always turn into an act of fate~" Teasing this one was entertaining, especially with that lovely way he blushed. Leave it to me to become distracted by a rather attractive face. Maybe her father's presumption about having too much free time to create illusive tales wasn't that far off, but Nadiya couldn't stop her mind from spinning the stories. Dexurn, especially, proved to be a very inspiring muse.
"So you do seem to be having second thoughts!" Triumphantly Nadiya twisted in the sand as she did a victory jump. It was almost childish, yet pretty adorable the way she smirked at him afterwards. Still seeing his inner conflict made her pause, "I'm sorry." Nadiya reached out to touch his shoulder lightly, "I was just excited by your potential tale is all. Is it really that confusing to think about your feelings? I mean...don't you have any attraction to this girl at all?" Blinking she pursed her lips to the side thoughtfully, "Or is there another girl who already holds your interest? I'm sure you'll be fine and things will work themselves out. What happens, happens right? Unless...you know...." Here she trailed off and flushed lightly, "Girls don't really appeal to you?"
That was another thing she had overlooked. Talk about a twist.
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:45 pm
Fate. Fate. What was fate? Fate wasn't a real thing. Stuff just happened. His eyes shifted off to the side, trying to keep both feet on the ground, and his head above his shoulders. Passing out would do no good.
Second thoughts? When were the first ones?! This girl really was pulling him in multiple directions. "Yes, confusing are feelings! I mean, feelings are confusing!" He wasn't sure if Nadiya was super innocent, or if maybe he was the naive one. ..Maybe a bit of both. "Some, fine, but not like that. She's just-" Wait, was she asking...? A tremble went down his back, and he took another step away. His voice softened as he shook his head. It's not that girls aren't appealing. I just came over to say your music was nice. I'm not some romantic story or adventure hero. I'm just me; nothing special. S-sorry for bothering you, but I should go..."
Of course, as nervous as he was, his hands chose that moment to go weak. The shield slid from his grasp, and slammed onto his toes. He hollered out from the pain, hopping back with a foot in his hand after yanking it free of the weight. He dropped back onto his butt, holding the ailing foot up to his face for a closer inspection. "..Looks like I'm really just a background character in the story.."
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2016 1:03 pm
Raising a hand to her lips, Nadiya tried to hold back the laughter. He truly was being adorable with all that flailing around! Not that she would dare call any adventurer cute, but truly the other Matori had her interest. I suppose he really doesn't have much experience with these things at all then. Her gaze gleamed with silent laughter as she watched Dexurn gather his thoughts, "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to offend you." She managed to get the words as she regained herself, "It's just I'm in love with stories of action and romance so hearing that you're living such a life inspired me."
"I'm sure you've still seen more than me." She whispered under her breath. As he took a step away the girl moved almost as if to reach out after him. Oh, look at what I've done. I'm chasing him away! As her hands brushed air the girl nearly jumped at the clatter of his shield, "Oh, no!" While the spectacle was quite amusing, Nadiya's guilt moved her forward. "Are you alright?" She asked, her voice quivering with a mix of amusement and worry. As he inspected his foot the girl moved to sit on the sands next to him, "I really didn't mean to confuse you so much. I think you just doubt yourself more than you should. From what I've seen you look pretty solid for a hero...just perhaps one in training?"
She leaned back against the sands with a sigh, "I do tend to come on too strongly when I'm inspired. But I could think of a ballad for a hero torn in love~" She raised back up and shook her head, "Not that it's about you directly of course! It's just that speaking to you inspired me, so don't feel pressured if you don't think you're ready for love just yet." She smiled wistfully, "Though it is an amazing experience I'm told."
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