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 Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 3:17 pm
It was still strange to be back in Jauhar, after leaving it for so long - and yet the sights and the sounds were so familiar, that at times it felt like stepping right back in time. This, it turned out, was both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, he found that a small part of him truly had missed this place - and, now that he was an adult, he could venture around the settlements as much as he liked, and truly take in the myriad of strangers that passed through it. On the other hand, at times he feared stumbling into his mother - that is to say, his first adopted mother Elsheba.
It had been over a decade since they'd been seperated, and at times he missed her - but then common sense kicked in, and he remembered just how she'd treated him as a child, and then anxiety seized him. One glimpse of an alkidike in the crowd, and he tensed, breath coming faster, until he could confirm it wasn't her - and, even then, with his hair now straightened, he felt like shriveling up in shame as they passed. It was hard not to feel embarrassed of his behavior. Elsheba had been a good mother and had kept him alive and taken care of him, but she had been strict and, in retrospect, had instilled in him many of the beliefs he still fought today about hybrids. After Callum confided about his own upbringing and the treatment he'd received as a child (not the origin of his neck scar, specifically, but Nimueh could guess), Nim couldn't help but feel like he was blowing things out of proportion when it came to Elsheba.
So, despite the influx of Alkidike traveling as the seasons warmed, Nimueh agreed to head down to the market. More merchants were passing through between Zena and Oba than there had been in a while - Corine needed groceries, and Eema had certain food cravings that were difficult to soothe. Besides that, Zenan merchants might be carrying packages or letters from his mothers!
With his shield tied to his hip, Nim craned his neck to peer over the milling crowds which, thankfully, were free of telltale antennae for the time being. "Mm. I don't see the guy from last time." He announced mournfully, huffing out a sigh. One old Oban had promised to bring more of a Matori treat, which Eema had decided was now her favorite thing in the world.
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 3:39 pm
While Eresin was off with his uncle, Talisia was roaming the markets. Ever since she had heard about the reappearance of her twin the girl had been determined to track him down. The whole time a flurry of questions, ranging from innocent to more depressing, haunted her. Was he alright? Did he eat well? Was he happier now? Was he even looking for her? Did he want to be found? Did their mother still have a hold over him? And magic? Really? What was he even doing out of Zena? Let alone being alive...she had thought him dead that night...it was almost as aggravating as losing one of her dear friends in Oba. Could she not keep track of anyone ever?
Such thoughts continued to pester her as she kept up her search. "This really is getting no where." Still as a man told her about another ice hybrid in the area the girl couldn't help hoping. Perhaps it was Ciaran? Pressing through the crowds, Talisia kept an eye out for any hints of another hybrid. However, when she saw blue skin the girl's expression shattered. She should have mentioned to the older man that it was a shifter hybrid that she was looking for. Unlike her Ciaran had much more of a shifter's appearance than that of ice. Not to mention that he also wasn't an Alkidike. That made a big difference from who she truly was searching for.
Yet, would it hurt to ask another hybrid for help? Perhaps he had seen him. "Excuse me!" Reaching out Talisia tapped the arm of the other hybrid. While he was much taller than her, the girl had to stand tiptoe to get a good look at him. "Sorry to bother you, but have you seen any other hybrids around here? An ice and shifter one to be more precise..." Not used to just boldly approaching strangers the girl had a light flush on her cheeks, but she was determined. If she didn't ask now then how could she even begin tracking him down?
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 3:59 pm
As much as Callum had truly enjoyed his time in Zena, he couldn't say that he disliked the change in temperature. Jauhar's rainforest was much more suited for his particular choice in wardrobe, that being a pair of lower slung capri pants barely held together with loose stitching. It made him feel perkier somewhat now that he wasn't bundled up like a newborn mammu, but Callum knew this would be relatively short lived. Soon enough they would be returning to Zena, and only due to the wee little bundle coming with them would he happily take up those atrocious boots once more.
Callum stayed close to his lover, and yet, not too close. He had a tendency to wander in markets. There wasn't a bauble that he wouldn't inspect, nor a salesman that he wouldn't talk up; in so many aspects Callum was a social nondwa, fluttering his wings here and there to see what kind of deals he could schmooze up by batting his eyelashes the right way. He was doing better about toning it back, however; he'd learned his lesson on flirting back in Zena.
His sword rested easy on his hip as he walked from stall to stall, completely missing the fact that he had left Nimueh behind until he turned around to see his lover had disappeared. Well, not entirely; Callum could see him over the heads of several others so with a little quirk of his lips he moved back through the crowd.
And he was talking to someone? At first Callum could only recognize pieces of the voice until he got closer and a burst of glee filled him. He slipped through the crowd, popping up just close enough to his lover so that he could see both forms. "Talisia?!"
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 4:24 pm
For a few moments, Nimueh's words floated in the air, unanswered, until he turned and realized that Callum had flit away from his side once again. Shaking his head fondly, the Alkidike set a hand on his hip, weighing his options. He could venture off to a booth and look for his own goods to purchase, or wait until Callum was finished bartering and returned to his side once again.
At least, those were the options, until he felt a tap at his arm that nearly startled him out of his skin, had it not been accompanied by a soft, albeit unfamiliar voice. Turning, Nim looked down at the petite woman, only to pause. Even after all this time, seeing another hybrid still made him freeze in place, as if he was spotting something rare that would disappear as soon as he closed his eyes! Besides that, her skin (a similar shade of his own), paired with her long, silver curls made him instantly think of his future child - until he realized how shallow the thought was. Beyond her blood, this woman looked vastly different than himself and Callum as far as body shape and features went, and with this realization his quickly cleared his throat and turned to properly greet her. "Any other... no, I can't say that I-- ahh!!"
This time, when someone else popped up beside him, Nimueh jumped, clasping a hand to his chest on instinct, tangling his fingers with the myriad of strings and necklaces there - only to see that it was his lover. "Aisha, you scared me Callum!" He grumbled accusingly. Cheeks flaming, Nimueh disentangled his hand from his neck, glowering briefly at his partner, before realizing just what he'd said. 'Talisia? The Talisia, Callum's friend?' This caused him to look between them, blinking as he stilled his racing pulse, and instead gave in to his growing, careful curiosity. It was hard not to be anxious, to finally meet someone Callum had told him so much about. He scooted back and away from the woman, letting Callum have space to greet her properly.
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:41 pm
Talisia looked up towards the other hybrid with expectancy. Her gaze was shimmering and she bit the inside of her cheek with nervousness. What if he had seen him? She was so close to her twin, she could feel it. But how was she supposed to handle meeting him? Yet, as her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of another - a very familiar person indeed - Talisia found herself facing another reunion. "Callum?!" The girl's gaze went from a mix of emotions, including surprise and then anger before even a bit of glee, as she studied her friend. As Nim scooted back her immediate reaction was to take a step forward and then for anyone watching the girl's hand automatically raised. What next?
The sound of her hand smacking flesh was the answer to that question, "You!" Face flushed Talisia stared down her best friend, "Idiot!" Another smack followed, this one with less fervor as she began to rain a series of smacks on his chest, "How could you?" Tears gleamed in her eyes as her smacks slowed down to just a few slow hits, "I was there for you in Oba and then you just disappeared! The girl told me you went to one of those places and then when I couldn't find you there I feared the worst! Yet here you are in Jauhar looking as well as ever!" Normally so collected it was strange to see the girl almost in tears as she smacked Callum one last time, "I can't believe...you're here."
All the anxiety and worry from hearing about her twin had built up inside of her. Along with the tight knot in her chest from also worrying about her dear friend who had been with collectors the girl was a bundle of raw emotions. It was those emotions that she hit Callum with, "You're awful. Going to a collector instead of relying on your friend. What am I, nothing to you?" She protested faintly before glancing away. There was no way she was about to cry! She just needed a moment to recompose her mask....
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:19 pm
Callum's eyebrows rose with an amused snicker. Was he really that frightening? Or had his lover been so wrapped up in conversation that he hadn't seen him coming? Most likely the latter, though either way it brought a smile to his face to see the larger man so flustered, but it wasn't his lover's reaction that caught him; it was Talisia's.
Or rather, it was her slaps.
The first smack caught him by surprise. Callum couldn't even flinch; he just stared at her wide eyed, mouth slightly agape as if the very idea of her hitting him was impossible. "I-" Smack! That one caused him to grimace, as if the shock of the first had finally worked it's way through. This wasn't how he'd thought their reunion would go! Callum's panicked gaze shifted from her to Nim, as if asking for something akin to assistance from the other, before her words started to make sense.
And his heart dropped into his gut.
Callum reached up to grasp hold of Talisia's wrists, although he let her hit him as much as she wanted to. "Tally, you shouldn't have gone there. What if they had taken you too?" He knew what he'd walked into, but her...? Just thinking about his friend being near that place made him ill.
When she was spent from hitting him Callum wrapped his arms around her, and held her tight. "You know better than that. You're my best friend, but I just..." Laying his head atop hers, he gave a silelong glance to Nimueh and knew this conversation would be better off in a less public place.
"Nim, do you mind if we put off shopping for now?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:19 am
For a long moment, as the two earthlings looked at eachother, Nimueh wasn't sure what would happen next! But Callum getting smacked not once, but numerous times definitely wasn't what he had expected. Initially, he made a motion as if to move forward and intercept, but instead stopped short when Callum reacted, tugging the girl into his embrace, watching as their conversation moved on, and the bits of information trickled into place. There was no jealousy here, just two friends overcome with emotion - but Callum's sudden concern alarmed Nimueh. 'Collector?' He thought, dimly. Through a foggy haze, he could swear he'd heard something like this before... when... oh.
Back in Zena, that night that Callum had gotten blindingly drunk and nearly attacked a barmaid out of jealousy, he had spun a story about Obans throwing rich parties, about taking some sort of flower that made him forget... about these 'collectors'. The thought had given Nim a horrible feeling in his stomach, but half-drunk himself he had allowed the knowledge to float away, and had instead focused on his own insecurities and jealousy.
Now, to be reminded of it - no, to remember the story, and now see how concerned Callum was at the idea of Talisia in such a place, that sick feeling returned.
Watching Callum, the alkidike nodded. The marketplace was swarming with people, some of whom were staring at the reunion nosily. Nimueh moved ahead and forged his way through the crowd, giving the two smaller hybrids room to follow behind once they'd overcome their initial swell of emotion and tugged themselves apart enough to follow. Away from the marketplace, outside the ring of trees that the shifters called home, were well worn paths that cut around the settlement, leading to more private trees. Under one such tree, which had no home attached to it, Nimueh finally stopped, feeling it was private enough that they wouldn't be disturbed.
Maybe it wasn't the best idea to interrupt and ask about the collectors, with Talisia already so upset, but he and Callum had both learned that keeping such thoughts bundled up inside led only to getting themselves worked up, and shooting to wrong conclusions. "Callum, when you mentioned this place before you didn't seem worried - but ... now, you do." He pointed out, shifting uncomfortably, crossing his arms more to give his hands something to do, rather than to try and look stiff or intimidating. "Should I be worried that you were somewhere like that...?" This came out quieter. He wasn't mad, but rather worried. It simply felt sick and wrong for a group to fetishize hybrids, when some hybrids went through so much in their lives because of it - but what Callum was suggesting felt somehow more insidious. Were there people there against their will?
They were bringing a child into the world, a hybrid child, and the realization that such places existed terrified him. And it terrified him that Callum had ever been alone in such a place in the first place.
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 6:24 pm
With her hands going limp, Talisia just stared at Callum through blurry eyes. "Then you shouldn't have been there in the first place. I heard about the dangers!" She protested, but her voice seemed to soften just a bit. "I was so worried...why wouldn't I? Someone else was with me and the fire made it easy to walk away as well." Needless to say she hoped that the place never was rebuilt. No one should find themselves in such a place...the thought made her own stomach curl again.
At least he was here now. The thought along with his arms being around her made the first tears fall. Ever so quietly she let out a sob before just clutching at her friend. As she managed to get her breath back, Talisia skirted alongside Callum and after his friend. Though admittedly had she not been so emotionally drained the girl would have questioned it more. Who was the tall stranger that she was following?
As they finally found some distance from those gawking at the market, Talisia took a step away from Callum. In an attempt to calm herself the girl had wrapped her arms tightly about her waist. It was rare for her mask to slip so easily and shame along with frustration burned her cheeks a deep violet. At the other hybrid's question, Talisia nodded. "You should be if you care about him. It's an awful place..." Glancing towards Callum, the girl sighed. "Though I suppose it was the past. At least he's here now and not there." She offered a wicked smile in an attempt to cover up the newest flood of tears, "If he goes back the building won't be the only thing I'll be tempted to set on fire."
Still, as she tried to calm her racing heart the girl glanced towards the taller male. Had Callum just called him Nim? Frowning slightly Talisia studied the other hybrid, "I'm sorry to have caused a ruckus like that. You don't even know me nor I you. Which by the way, may I ask?" Her cheeks still flushed with emotion Talisia offered a small teasing smile, "I'm Talisia and unfortunately for my heart was a close friend of that guy over there. Still am despite the constant strain of worry...at least until he finally makes my heart give out. Bless you if you've been traveling with him for a while as well."
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 7:27 am
Scarlett Arbuckle Everyone is currently pink.
He rubbed little circular patterns onto her back while murmuring comforting thoughts. Callum knew what she had seen; and yet, they had lived through two vastly different experiences. Whatever she had endured rested on her mind much more heavily than his did. Callum's memories were clouded in a haze of drugged mead, and the ones that remained were simply a part of his past now.
He kept a supportive hold on Talisia while they walked. His mind wandered back to those desert streets. If he told Nimueh the truth, the entire truth, he would only worry. And yet, Callum knew what would happen if he kept those memories hidden. As much as he didn't want to tell his lover his hands were tied.
When they stopped he gave Talisia a supportive squeeze before letting her move off on her own. His hands, now completely bereft of purpose, found themselves reaching up to clutch his amulet. It was one, if the only, nervous tick Callum ever allowed himself without feeling shame. He ran his thumb along the underside of the pendant in a repetitive sort of motion that helped him to think of the proper way to explain this.
"When I left Sauti...I wasn't in a good place." He had just left Nimueh behind, and had been so sure he would spend his life alone. At the time falling in line with the Collectors had filled a hole, but now he felt like a fool. "I didn't have enough coin for a room, so, I slept on the street. A very kind woman offered to take me into her home. At the time it felt right; she was covered in gold and in my eyes she might as well have been the sun. In exchange for a place to sleep and food to eat I...entertained." Callum clenched, then flexed his toes in the dirt. How did he explain to them that it had been what he needed? That he craved that sort of false positive attention just to get through the day? "I forgot their names, but the leaders were a pair of Oban nobles called the 'Collectors'. As you can imagine they had a very large selection of unusual guests. Most were hybrids, others had deformities of some sort, but they only ever really wanted the pretty ones. They bathed, dressed us, put collars around our necks, and sent us out to entertain their real guests. The other nobles. I'm not...I'm still not sure how much time I spent there. The drugs made you sick so you had to keep taking them-" Callum shook his head. "We could leave whenever we wanted to, but the ones that stayed have been there for a very long time. The parties don't last forever, and-" Was he trying to justify what had happened? To give them a better reputation than the one Talisia painted?
"Anyway, that's why I never plan on returning to Oba."
Their child would never be exposed to that kind of place simply because they would be secure enough not to get suckered in. Callum had been weak, vulnerable. He could only hope that their child would be so swamped in love and support that they would never feel the need to go to a place like that.
And like any practiced actor, Callum wiped away the gravity of the moment with a simple smile. He still had his concerns about what Nim would think, but for now - "Of course, introductions! " After having Talisia handle hers, he turned to his larger lover with open affection. "Talisia, this is Nimueh. He's my lover, and I his."
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:47 pm
Nimueh didn't know if he should be concerned that she had burned a place in Oba to the ground, or thankful. That being said, he wasn't willing to excuse how willingly the two were moving from the topic. He gazed at Callum, aghast as he spoke, feeling his shoulders bow up with tension as his explanation wore on. Drugs, to keep you there - Obans truly were more fiendish than he'd ever have thought from the stories... and though a part of him mourned that he would never explore Oba, and see the natural formations there or in Matori... he mainly dismissed of the thought, and decided that there was plenty of world to explore, excluding the two.
After all, he didn't want their child there - no more than he wanted Callum to return to such a place. It was far from the end of the conversation, as far as Nimueh was concerned, but for now he was willing to shelve it - if only because he didn't want to paint his first meeting with Talisia in such a negative light.
His hands, which had been tightly clenched at his sides, slowly eased, but he still stood with a marked stiffness, which he was unable to will away as easily as Callum could (or, at least, could pretend to).
Nimueh would have introduced himself, but the way Talisia spoke made him choke back a soft laugh, despite himself, turning a fond look towards his smaller partner. Missing the opportunity to gracefully announce himself, he was thankful (and, honestly, rather giddy) to have Callum introduce him to his friend in such a fond, sweet way. "Not the most graceful of subject changes, but..." Smiling, albeit somewhat shyly, Nimueh bowed his head in greeting to the smaller woman, ducking a bit farther than normal if only to be polite. He'd been told, back home in Zena, that a properly respectful greeting brought you close to, if not lower, than the level of the one you were saluting. A hard enough task, with his extra height.
"It's nice to finally meet a friend of Callum's...! He's told me about you and..." He wasn't sure what else to say, so instead he straightened up and offered a helpless shrug of his shoulders, and a crooked smile.
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:27 pm
As Callum explained Talisia's gaze hardened. "Hard to leave when in a fog." She protested softly, but that was all. She just couldn't imagine hybrids willingly allowing such things to take control of their lives. It was a act of desperation that those damn nobles were taking full advantage of. Who would refuse an offer of food and shelter in such harsh world? When you were lost and alone without anything to go on....was that how Callum felt? It sent a stab through her chest. She had been right there and yet he had suffered so much....what kind of friend was she?
Her sorrow, however, was displaced as shock took over. "Lo-lover?" Talisia's gaze widened as she glanced between the two men. Companion, friend....but lover? Surprise flushed her cheeks. "Since when? Callum!" She lightly smacked at him, more of a playful gesture as the surprise turned into happiness. So her friend had found someone! A little knot was in her chest, but mostly she was just happy for him. It seemed he had found some light in his life after all. I'm so glad!
"He has? Probably all silly stories." She teased before jumping in at his pause, "And it's a pleasure to meet you." Talisia laughed before moving forward to wrap her arms around Nimueh in a hug, "I'm so sorry that your first meeting of me was witnessing that mess." After a squeeze the girl took a step back and wiped her eyes, "It's been a rough time and to finally see Callum again...I'm thankful...to meet both of you here. Though..." She glanced back towards Callum with a small glare that quickly turned into a playful statement, "I hope that he's not been making so much trouble then. But what brings you both to Jauhar?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:54 pm
Callum didn't care for grace or fluidity when it came to the subject change. It simply needed to happen in his eyes, at least for this meeting to go as pleasantly as he wanted. This was honestly the first time he had ever had a monogamous, steady lover, let alone one he could introduce to anyone so proudly. Nimueh's crooked smiles melted his heart, and he just knew Talisia would adore him.
His friends shock was enough to put a grin on Callum's face reminiscent of the cat who got the cream. It wasn't that he had tried to hide Nimueh away; rather, nothing had become 'official' until after he had last seen Talisia, so when she smacked him once more he couldn't help laughing. It was just too priceless! "I've missed your sweet affections, Talisia. No other friend smacks me around quite like you do."
Callum moved a lock of curled ivory hair behind a glittering ear as he watched the two of them. He hadn't realized just how important this meeting would be until Tally hugged his lover. There was no hesitation there; no suspicion, dislike...just pure acceptance and he loved her for it.
Although, when she did move away from him Callum snaked his way in. He looped his arm with Nim's and leaned against the taller man. "What if it's trouble we've come here to make?"
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2016 3:22 pm
Honestly, Nimueh wasn't sure how to take Talisia's evident surprise, but in the end he opted with being pleased by it. If she was so startled, it meant that Callum had never introduced a beau to her before, and it was a pleasant revelation. Her evident pleasure, however, warmed him to the tip of his fingers, and so when she hugged him he didn't recoil as he might have with other new people. Instead, he gave her a quick squeeze in return, laughing softly and steeling a glance Callum's way. "No, no-- it's... it's good to know he has a friend who cares about him so much." He answered, honestly.
Once the hug was dropped, he moved back again. What were they doing in Jauhar? He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from shouting the news at her, and instead looked to Callum again - only to snort, loudly, at his phrasing. Maybe Callum hadn't meant it that way, but with the feel of his comfortable warmth snaking around his arm, Nimueh was more inclined to think it was said that way on purpose. "Yes, knowing you they will be trouble..." He murmured in response, giving him a fond nudge with his elbow. That said, Nimueh shot an inquisitive look at his shorter partner, silently asking if they could tell her the good news.
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 6:33 pm
"Good." She truly couldn't stay so angry at Callum. At his laughter the girl just lightly flushed before looking away. Jerk. Even thinking the word had a fond ring to it. At least he was her jerk. Nim seemed to be a sweetie as well. She was glad that he had forgiven her for such a shameful breakdown earlier and the fact that he returned her hug meant a lot to her.
Though she had to raise an eyebrow as the two of them seemingly hinted at something.
"Trouble?" Talisia peered between the two men with a slight frown, "What sort of trouble could the two of you create?" The word they seemed to ring a bell in the back of her mind, but honestly the girl knew little about the world of the Alkidike so the thought of anything relating with family went over her head. Honestly she was glancing around to make certain there weren't a horde of angry villagers or smoke rising from the trees. "I know Callum sometimes is good at stirring a crowd, but..." Trailing off into silence she just stared at the two thoughtfully. It was a patient stare that demanded answers.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 8:35 am
Callum sniggered at the way his lover spoke. While it was true, they would be a handful even if he was not, he was mostly amused by the phrasing. The man was almost tempted to keep the suspense up until Talisia figured it out herself, but his normally patient persona didn't carry over into this.
"It's not a crowd you need to think of. Instead, maybe ponder something a little smaller." She wanted answers, and Nimueh obviously wanted to give them. So, what better time than the present?
"We're going to be fathers." And now that it was said there was a fear of rejection in him, only because Tally knew him so well. Would she see him as someone unfit to raise a child? If she did it would only be out of love and concern for the poor thing, but he hope fervently that she would share in their happiness.
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