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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 7:46 am
✦Table of Contents / Rules / Contact Information✦
ToC ✦Staff Post Cert, Link to Official Uncert & Inventory ✦Table of Contents & Rules ✦News/Updates ✦Nyko Basic physical info, personality, etc. ✦History "Why focus on the past when the future is so much brighter?" ✦Relationships Family, Friends, Lover(s), Enemies, etc. ✦Familiar(s) ---, ---, ---, etc. ✦RP Log ✦ Battle Log ✦Art (Official and Non)
Rules Do not post in this thread unless you are staff, myself, or invited first. By posting this I am agreeing to follow ToS and shop rules, so I would invite the reader to do the same.
Contact Information I am always open for plotting/rps! That being said, some ways you can contact me are listed below;
✦PM ✦AIM: ScootersMcGee
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 7:48 am
✦Updates✦
September 10, 2016 - Nyko officially joins the shop!
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 7:55 am
✦Nyko✦
Name(s): Nicosia - (NIK oh SEE eh) // Nyko Race: Water Gender: Male Description: He has a few scars, though as they are all located on his back they are kept secret from the general public.
Romantic Status: Single Partner: N/A
3 Base Traits: Ambitious, Passionate, Boastful Personality: Nyko sees little outside of the scope of his own aspirations. Since he's had so very little in his life to claim as his own dreams of wealth, and power consume him. His confident, nearly mulish nature pushes him forward even when all odds are against him. If a plan doesn't work out one way Nyko will beat his head on a wall in an attempt to find a solution. To him there simply isn't any other way, but forward; if his dreams don't pan out, then what else is there for him?
He's a charming little devil whose passion can quickly become infectious. His emotions are so intense that not only do they spread to those around him, they nearly consume Nyko in the heat of the moment. When angry he'll lash out (either by throwing a punch, screaming, tossing a vase, etc), when sad he isn't afraid to outright sob, and so forth.
As much as Nyko likes sing his praises to the mirror, he much prefers basking in the admiration of his many followers. The worst part about his talent is that he's fully aware of just how good he really is. So long as none of his associate's aspirations run parallel to his own then Nyko will cheerfully offer whatever help that he can; but the moment someone else tries to steal his spot light then his over-inflated pride rears it's ugly head. That being said, when it comes to his singing, Nyko is extremely touchy. Other things in life he'll accept constructive criticism for, but vocals...not so much. He will automatically stub up, or flat out attack anyone with a well meaning comment. After he's calmed down and thought it over he may come around, but initially he'll be a beast. In his eyes singing is all he has, so to hear that he's not good enough; well, that just isn't acceptable!
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 7:56 am
✦History✦
Nicosia was born as a happy 'accident'. His mother conceived him late in life, long after having risen two children into their teen years. A former slave, Zarna was one of the lucky few to have been owned by Oban masters who actually cared for her, and thus allowed her to stay on as a hired servant long after slavery was made illegal. Initially Zarna had planned to live the rest of her days serving the former masters as best she could while living in relative comfort; that is, until a whirlwind romance with a drifter led to an unexpected pregnancy.
The baby boy was named Nicosia by the masters, and around any Oban the name was used. Zarna, however, called her son Nyko; a moniker that was reserved for close friends and family only. It became a little game for the growing boy, and a quick way for him to tell friend from foe, since only those deemed safe by his mother would know to use it.
For many years Nyko lived a life similar to his elder siblings despite his 'freedom'. His mother was paid in food and shelter for the both of them, leaving the pair virtually destitute. While the masters were kinder to their servants than most they could still be just as cruel, and were often aloof, openly passing up the Matorians in their home unless it benefited them.
As soon as Nyko was old enough he was put to work along side his mother in the kitchen. Despite the hardships of their life, his mother taught him to always make the best of what they had. She often sang as she worked; a trait that her son was quick to pick up on. Eventually Nyko began to make his chores into mini-performances, what with his constant bobbing and dancing while prepping for meals.
Unfortunately, his masters didn't appreciate that much enthusiasm in their servants, especially not while entertaining guests. When he was ten Nyko was belting out lyrics as loud as his little lungs could go, despite his mothers numerous warnings, when his master burst into the kitchen, cheeks mottled with rage, and told Zarna to prep her son for a lashing. Nyko didn't understand why his mother tied him to a post out back, or why she cried while she was doing it. Despite his pleading she wouldn't release him, even when the whip came down.
After that Nyko was never the same. He no longer viewed his 'masters' with the same sort of reverence that his mother did. What coins he managed to find on the street or abandoned in the wash Nyko stock piled, instead of handing it over as Zarna had told him numerous times.
He started singing with more fervor than ever. Even if he was forced to keep his voice to the servant's quarters, it was better than staying quiet. To him it was a way of rebelling against the tyrants that kept his family in poverty. It was because of them, after all, that his mother couldn't leave to see her eldest children in Matori. How could she, when she had nothing to her name save for the clothes on her back? Even if they, or any of the other servants, left they would end up on the streets. While Nyko was sure he could make something for himself he wasn't so sure about his mother. Years of hard work weighed heavy on the older woman, and time was cruelly ticking on.
While Zarna has had many a talk with her ambitious son, none of her wisdom seems to have taken root. Nyko refuses to entertain the thoughts of living this life any longer than he has to; he just isn't entirely sure how to shake things up yet.
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:03 am
✦Relationships✦
NPCs Zarna (Mother): An older woman who inspires as much love as she does exasperation in her son. Thessia (GF): Makes him feel all warm inside
Friends Sajahka: Bff since he was smol. The only person whom Nyko truly trusts. Screw him!
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:04 am
✦Familiars✦
It is unlikely that this section will ever be filled as Nyko is not a fan of animals nor does he have the patience to deal with them.
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:05 am
✦RP Log✦
Prentice [Oba] So, ah, how's the escape plan coming? - Saj [Oba] "Shopping" - Arima [Oba] The Dinner Party - Aaricia [WE/Matori] Creepy Crawlers - Saj [WE/Matori] Mysterious Wreckage - x
Stage 2 [Matori] Gym Class - Sajah [Matori] Meeting of the Queens - Sajah/Leukos [Matori] Adjusting - Dexurn [Matori] Rainbows After the Rain - Aaricia [Matori] Filet-O-Fish - Sajahka [Matori] Break My Thunder - Sajahka [Oba] Support - Aaricia
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:07 am
✦Craft Log✦
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 6:06 pm
✦Art✦
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 1:13 pm
✦Class Affinity Solo✦
Hours slipped away from Nyko like grains of sand between his toes. Instead of assisting with cleaning the young cook had spent much of the night in the garden with Aaricia; talking, laughing, and occasionally dancing in the moonlight. With the dinner party behind him he was able to truly bask in what it meant to be 'free'. For all his complaints about his masters and their foppish lifestyle, Nyko admired them for it. They could invite as many souls as they wanted into their home, and watch while those eyes took in the sheer grandeur of a noble's life.
Nyko had spent the entirety of his life on the outside looking in, with hopes of one day being a man that others would envy. Spending those hours with Aaricia made him that feel just like that; like someone of wealth. They were both looking for more, and had found kindred spirits within each other, which only served to bolster Nyko's sense of worth. One day he knew the sun would shine for him, and not the Masters of Oba. All he had to be was brave enough to make it so.
The rest of the night passed rather uneventfully. Nyko had seen Aaricia back to the party, and had waited impatiently for morning's light. He tapped his foot restlessly against the ground, far too wound up to sleep, but smart enough not to wake anyone else to keep him company. With his bare feet against the stone barely any noise was made, though not from lack of trying.
Nyko was fidgety.
If he left now he might be caught, but if he missed his chance he could still be caught and -
"Nyko?"
Turning his sharp amber gaze, the young waterling caught sight of his mother. She was fully dressed, which wasn't...entirely out of place, considering the ever changing needs of the masters, but it was early enough to draw suspicion. Especially when he was so sure she would have already been in bed...
"Why aren't you asleep?"
Nyko couldn't say which one of them asked the question first. After the dinner party the masters never called for them until the following day, and not a moment before the sun was at it's highest point in the sky. Zarna was supposed to be asleep! How was he supposed to sneak out if she-
"The mistress wishes to see you," when Zarna spoke she didn't meet his gaze. Her eyes, so light and golden, usually struck him with maternal warmth but he couldn't see them now. When Nyko reached out to her Zarna took a step back, and motioned with her head for him to follow.
This wasn't good. Nyko wasn't as adept at hiding his emotions as Sajahka, and thus all of his tension showed. He kept looking over his shoulder as they traversed the halls; looking for someone, anyone, to create a distraction. If he got out now then maybe he could meet up with Xewai. It would be hours before the designated rendezvous, but surely the other would be able to work something out...?
And before he knew it Zarna was opening the chamber door for the masters private suite. Nyko followed her inside, never noticing the four armed guards until the door slammed closed behind him.
A voice spoke his Oban name, dragging out each syllable in "Nicosia" like a lover. On a chaise lounge sat his mistress, legs perfectly folded under the layers of her skirt while she sipped wine and beckoned him closer. Whatever hesitation he had was nixed the moment a guard placed the point of his sword against Nyko's back.
"Nicosia, what am I to do with you?" She clucked her tongue like a bemused mother before taking a sip from her goblet. Many had commented on Geneva's beauty over the years, though Nyko couldn't fathom why. She had sharp, pinched features with skin that looked like curdled milk. Maybe she had been a beauty in her youth, and the others were simply being kind. Clearly she still thought herself a magnificent woman, for as soon as she lowered her goblet Geneva made a show of licking her lips free of wine.
Nyko's disgust must have been clearly visible, because in an instant her 'sultry' look turned to one of broiling hatred. "When you were smaller your impertinence was amusing. I didn't see any reason to put out your fire so soon; but then you grew into such a disrespectful young man." Geneva motioned to the nearest guard to step closer, and he helped the older woman to her feet. "I've always cared for Zarna's children. Your mother is a beloved member of my house and I-" "Beloved?" Nyko barked. "If you loved her at all you wouldn't treat her like a slave!"
"Nicosia, honestly. Slavery is behind us all; I pay your mother, as well as yourself and the other servants of this house with free lodging, food, and clothing. I think this is more than fair, don't you?" Geneva stepped closer to him, but was careful to keep her distance. She had known him long enough to see when the boy was getting riled up. "I pay you a fair wage, and this is how you thank me? By stealing from me?"
Nyko furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about? I never-" In an instant the same guard at his back yanked his arms behind his back, and placed them in manacles. The metal bit into his wrists, causing Nyko to cry out. It was too tight, but the guard didn't seem to care. "What are you charging me with?" He bellowed. "What proof do you have?!"
"You're wearing it." Geneva stepped closer then, and lifted up one of Nyko's earrings with a passive hand. "How could a servant, who is never paid in coin, possibly afford jewelry? And of this caliber? I know you've been taking what you find lying around, Nicosia, but you forget; all that is within this estate is mine. And just because I cannot see you at all times, do not think for a second you're ever truly alone." Her hissed words rang in the hollows of his heart. This whole time...all of his plans...how much did she know? Was Sajahka in danger because of her? What if she had her men charging into the streets now towards his masters home and-?
"Zarna, step forward." Geneva beckoned, and the older matori obeyed. Nyko had assumed because of her silence that his mother was no longer in the room, but Zarna's presence said it all.
She knew.
She knew her son wanted out, was planning on leaving, and she had told. At the very least she didn't know the whole plan; how could she? Only Nyko truly knew Sajahka's secret language, and that in itself had saved his friend. That and Nyko's relative silence on the whole thing. His excitement, however, had been painfully obvious. She knew he was leaving, she just didn't know how, but she knew when.
And now it was all ruined. "Were you planning on taking more before leaving, Nicosia? All I've ever asked of you is to apprentice yourself to your mother, learn to cook as she does, and serve my house. Many more would kill to have your life, to have the comforts I provide, and yet you see fit to throw it all away." She shook her head.
"M-mistress, if I may," Zarna's voice was a bare squeek, but it was enough to draw all eyes to her. She waited until Geneva nodded before continuing. "Please, I beg of you, punish the boy, but let him stay. He is young, and he will learn. I will be harder on him, I will-"
Geneva held up her hand, commanding silence from her 'servant'. That same hand came to rest comfortingly on Zarna's shoulder. "Shh, old friend. A mother's influence can only go so far. You have done your part, and I now I will do mine." Turning her attention once more to Nyko, Geneva sighed, "Since your mother has been so faithful to us, I will give you another chance. Admit to your theft, accept your punishment, and dedicate yourself to me. If you do these things I will allow you to stay."
"Please Nyko," Zarna's voice was barely above a whisper, but he heard it as clearly as if the woman were shrieking. "Stay. This is the only safe place for you. You have nothing; you have no skills save cooking, and where will that get you? The streets are no place to live."
"SHUT UP." Nyko bellowed. He pulled at his chains, meeting nothing, but resistance from the guard at his back. "BOTH OF YOU JUST SHUT UP." He didn't know emboldened him, or what really, what he was saying. Nyko just knew that he was pissed. His smoldering gaze turned to his mother, and he snarled, "One way or the other you were going to keep me here. You both were." There was no sense playing it easy now. Nyko had never been submissive, and now that there was no chance of him leaving, at least, not alive....there didn't seem much of a reason to hold back.
"I am more than what you want me to be. I can SING, and one day, I'm going to be known all OVER Tendaji. They are going to know my name from Zena to Yael, and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it!" He didn't realize how loud he had gotten until he was screaming. "And guess what? I DID steal from you. I took little forgotten coins from around the estate to buy myself some earrings. BIG WHOOP. WHO CARES. You just hate the fact that I was smart enough to save, and hoard it back from you. You HATE the fact that if I became famous and started making money, none of it would go to YOU because as much as you wish it weren't true I am not a slave."
Before he could finished the last word Geneva's jeweled hand slapped his mouth, silencing him more than any amount of shouting could. Nyko didn't stay quiet for long, however; he remained vocal in his protests as he was dragged outside into the open air courtyard and chained to the beating post. He screamed for his mother to wake up, to see what was happening, but Zarna remained quiet. Nyko remained resolute when the first whip lashed across his back. The second strike, the third, the fourth and the fifth; each time he was told to give up his foolish dreams and accept his lot in life.
Each time he cried, he screamed but Nyko never gave in. And finally, when he was told once more to give up his foolish ideas of being a minstrel Nyko did the one thing to seal his fate;
He flipped Geneva the finger.
And with that his torture resumed.
(WC: 1832 - 6pts)
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 12:08 pm
✦Prentice Class Quest Solo✦
((The Buhawi have given Nyko so much more than his freedom; they've given him an idea. It's always been his dream to shine bright as a famous singer, but now that he's seen just what teamwork can accomplish Nyko has decided that's what he wants. For what is success if you have no one to share it with? This is the start of his band; the beginning of the rest of Nyko's life and the moment where he realizes family is more than shared blood. It's a group of individuals that you can trust and share your victories, as well as your downfalls, with. And that's exactly what he plans on building.))
So much had happened in such a short span of time that Nyko often found himself at a standstill. Freedom was a new concept for the young man, one he had wanted for so long, but had never actually thought through. Now that it wasn't a dream anymore, but rather, his reality...Nyko felt overwhelmed.
His first few weeks of 'freedom' were spent in a healer's hut, so the full grasp of what this new life could mean for him didn't hit Nyko until he was released from the healer's care. He was given a jar of salves, orders not to overdo any physical exercise, and more or less sent on his way. At that point he could only watch as the healer turned away from him, keen on attacking other aspects of her work, without so much as a backwards glance to him. Frankly, it felt odd. For a moment he contemplated asking her if he could help her, or if she wanted him to run any errands for her; something. What was...what was he supposed to do now that he was free? What was Sajahka doing? Nyko had wondered vaguely about what his friend got up to while he was laid up, had even asked him a few times, but now Nyko wondered if Sajah dealt with this same sense of loss that Nyko did. That general fear of 'what's next?'.
The Buhawi had been beyond supportive to the both of them, and while Nyko would be forever grateful to them he knew this life he had been introduced to was only temporary. He couldn't stay here; rather, he didn't want to. If he stayed here it wouldn't be any better than being back in Oba. Sure, he would be able to sing freely here as opposed to his master's home, but his desire for fame and wealth would never be satisfied. The glory that came with having so many nobles looking up at him for once!...how could he ever remain here if that meant giving all of that up?
And yet, staying with the Buhawi reminded Nyko of some very important information. Working with a group was much more efficient than working by yourself.
After all, there was no way he could have been able to escape on his own. Well, he might have been able to in time, but the chances of success would have been so much smaller. And not to mention harder. The Buhawi had seen to his wounds, were reuniting Sajahka with his family, had provided a safe haven for them...They may not have been entirely blood related, but if Nyko had to give an example of a real, working 'family' then this would have been it. They genuinely cared for each other and that was something he wanted to bring with him into the outside world.
Nyko played with the salve as he sauntered down closer to the coastline. He watched passively as the waves crested upon the sand, lapping at the earth as if it were precious nutrients. There was so much beauty here...and yet Nyko went no where near the water. He wasn't accustomed to swimming, and honestly the possibility of being swept out into the ocean was frightening. Better to stay back, contemplate his life and watch than to be fish food. Still, the ocean provided him with thought. A boat stocked with fishermen was within sight, pulling up the days catch by hoisting a large net onto the deck.
One lone fisherman might be able to bring in a decent enough haul, but with others..."That's it," Nyko murmured. Then, much louder, he shouted, "That's it!" With what could only be described as a maniacal cackle he began to pace in the sand. "If I'm by myself I'll never get very far. Not at first, anyway, BUT if I have others...if we can make a band..." Of course he would never be truly alone; Sajahka would be with him. However, his friend wasn't musically gifted, and Nyko would need back up. Musicians, maybe even dancers. PRETTY ones, not as pretty as him, but people that others would want to see.
Maybe he could build a group for others like himself. Young musicians who want more out of life, but never really knew where to start. If they could make a worthwhile performance than surely they would rack in the gold, and in no time they would take Tendaji by storm! Soon enough they wouldn't have to wear rags and old hand me downs; Nyko could see it now. An entire group of fresh faced young minstrels covered in gold and bright, luxurious costumes.
It was everything he had always wanted, but more! More because by doing this he wouldn't be alone, and neither would the others.
"We'll...we'll make a band, a traveling troupe and we'll go from town to town, city to city and put on big shows with lots of people watching us-" Nyko was gesturing as he spoke, throwing his hands up into the air, carelessly dropping his salve into the sand. He was unaware that the fishermen had stopped their work just to watch him.
Because what was better than success? Sharing that success with friends. Nyko could build his own family, like the Buhawi; a family that wouldn't rat him out like his own mother, and one that would appreciate the finer qualities of music.
Surely Sajahka would see the brilliance in that?
All he needed to do now was to relay his master plan to Sajah and set about filling in the open positions. Maybe some of the Buhawi themselves would want to join, or others in Matori...or maybe someone from Zena might want in, who knew!
The world was looking so much brighter, and who was Nyko to deny fate? He let out a whooping call once more, and tore off through the sand, eager to find Sajah to relay the news.
(1000 WC)
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Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 2:33 pm
✦Stage Two - Solo One✦
"It was all reduced to rubble And then again to ash To the blinding burning light It's no use to fiiiight There's no one out theeeeeere
There was no signal from where you were All failed contact, no life disturbed Hovering aboooooove, hovering aboooooove, gravity's luuuure"
There was a low crooning rhythm in the tavern that night. After a long day of 'training' or whatever one wanted to call balancing on bamboo shoots, all Nyko wanted to do was get out. He donned his finest wardrobe - perhaps the only one without a patch of some sort - and snuck away from the Buhawi camp in the middle of the night. Perhaps 'sneaking' wasn't entirely the right word, for he certainly wasn't subtle, but without Sajahka on his heels the others tended to let him do as he pleased.
At first he'd only intended on visiting a few bars, get a little tipsy and go back, but who was he kidding? Nyko never half-assesd a party in his life. After the first bar he was sauced, after the second he had a girl on each arm and at the third - well, the third is where things got interesting.
When he entered the shady little establishment several pairs of grubby eyes turned towards him. He stopped, only to wonder why they were looking at him like that, when it occurred to Nyko that he was possibly the brightest thing in the room, even when compared to the lovely ladies on his arms. "Maybe we should go somewhere else, Nyko."
"Yeah, I don't like it here; it seems...dirty."
"Shhh, shhh, ladies. It's not as bad as it seems." The singer's skin was wonderfully warm from the amount of alcohol coursing through his system. He led his little group to a smaller table near the back of the bar, not because he didn't want to be seen, oh no, but simply because it was the only one small enough so that his honey's wouldn't be too far.
He had just settled into his seat when the elderly bar maid - was she still a maid, at this point? - sauntered over to their table. She knocked on the wood twice, drawing his attention away from exploring Leftie's mouth with his tongue.
"You sure you wanna be here, sparkles? This isn't exactly your crowd." She motioned over her shoulder with one over sized, meaty thumb at the general riff-raff scowling at their little group.
Nyko leaned across the table for a better look, his hair pooling on the worn wood beside him before scowling and leaning back. "And what's my crowd, hrm? Up until a few weeks ago I was some Oban's b***h, and tonight I'm just out having some fun with a few friends; so, if ya don't want my coin-"
"Urm," Rightie tugged on his arm, "about that-"
"-somewhere else, somewhere that actually wants to make some money-"
"-you don't have any coin, Nyko."
"What?! Oh, oh yeah...." He had been using his good lucks and charm all night to get his drinks. If anything the girls had paid for more tonight then he had. Nyko leaned back into his chair, fumbling with words when the proprietress had had enough.
"If ya can't pay then you can just get out-" "I CAN SING." Nyko blurted out, slapping both of his palms ontop of the table. "You've got a stage, I can see it; give us drinks and I'll sing all night."
"....all night?"
"Until dawn."
We have the force to fight We have the blinding light We have the will to wiiiiin Forever we'll defeeeeend
Knocking out the sun With a runaway transmission A force that can't be heard Coming in loooouuuder than woooords
As tough as it was to sing through a growing hangover Nyko accomplished the impossible At first he feared being literally thrown off stage by the hulking band members, who were staring at him as he approached as if he had grown a second head. They didn't look too fondly on the glistening fish who was making waves through their water, not that he could really blame them. He supposed he would be upset if someone else usurped his stage too. However, the moment he started singing, they picked up the rhythm and music was made.
At first it was amateurish at best. It didn't draw the immediate response that Nyko craved, but he forced himself to focus. He drug the music up from his very soul, through a haze of alcohol and began to recant a tune he'd heard more than once during a military rally. It was something used to inspire troops; to remind them of the strength they carried inside, and Nyko had felt an immediate connection to it. It had always been as if this song were calling out to him, telling him to push through his struggles and stand on his own two feet. To own his life.
Even if that meant singing in a bar.
Throughout the night more and more patrons made their way into the dingy little bar, drawn in by the projecting timbre of Nyko's voice belting out through the front door. It was...honestly more intoxicating than the actual drinks themselves. Or maybe it was the drinks keeping him going; after the first few had been purchased for him Nyko didn't keep track of the rest. Occasionally he would hold one aloft, murmur some sort of 'thanks', take a swig without really tasting it and continue on through the night. He stumbled on a few notes, even stumbled on stage a bit, but after a few laughs he kept himself upright and going.
With the fluctuating crowd he'd almost forgotten about the girls. By the time morning's light hit the stage Nyko was sick. He'd already gotten ill once or twice, but like a true performer he'd worked through it. Long before the proprietress had even told him he was free to go he'd already slumped down on the stage to sit in the incoming sunlight. It burned through his closed eyelids, causing his stomach to roll once more and this time, when he got sick someone was stepped up to hold his hair back. "Shhh, shhh, just let it all out." At first he didn't focus on the voice; it was too much all at once for his exhausted mind. When he'd properly expelled all of his stomach contents Nyko looked up, blinking at first then frowning.
"Leftie?"
The girl furrowed her brows and leaned forward to pinch his cheek. When he squawked she did it again. "I told you my name five times last night, Nyko. It's Thessia. You're a mess, you know that? A riot but a mess."
He couldn't figure out why she was being so gentle when she helped him up when it was clear all she wanted to do was pinch him again. So, he asked her as much, and her answer surprised him.
"Honestly, I was going to leave you behind and go on with Lyza to another bar, but I've never heard anyone sing the way you do. Even half sauced you have a beautiful voice. I guess I just wanted to hear it again; sober, this time, after you've cleaned up."
"Does that...are you asking me out on a date?"
"Suppose I am."
Nyko couldn't help the stupid grin that claimed his face in that moment. He leaned against her as they walked, barely paying attention when she asked what direction she should take him. "Over tha-" Wait, he couldn't have her bring him back to the camp. Furrowing his brows, Nyko just murmured, "Nowhere, here is good."
"Fine, we'll sit here. Outside the bar like a couple of bums until you can walk." She huffed, clucking her tongue in an irritable manner, but Thessia did help Nyko to sit, which was more than he could have done on his own.
And he was able to snag a fairly healthy look at her rack.
Some days Nyko could forget he was still in Matori, and others he was painfully aware of just how things had stalled.
When life was high so was he. In those moments of passion between Thessia and himself, those days where his training really seemed to be paying off, those weeks where plans were finally coming together...it was beautiful. Words held far more power in those stretches of time than ever before. "We're going to make it; it's really going to happen." If he closed his eyes he could see it like reality, stretching out in front of him, with crowds of glorious, glowing eyes all watching him from below...
And in a flash....everything would stop.
The whiplash was enough to leave him frustrated. Nyko didn't understand why they were still here, still in Matori, when it was so obvious to him that they should have left months ago. True to himself, he didn't keep those concerns quiet; rather, he voiced them all to Thessia whenever they sprang up in his head, even if the poor girl was trying her best to focus on work.
Occasionally he would stop by the little tailor's shop where Thessia held her apprenticeship, and spend the afternoon with her. Traffic wasn't as heavy in the off hours, especially with the Dretch threat still lingering, which meant he wouldn't be shooed out by the shop's owner. He was still labelled a 'distraction'; if only because he was a flashy piece of flesh that happened to like nibbling on the help. As such Nyko had been given a 'job' while he was there. Any time he stopped by Nyko was tasked with cleaning up, and while the duties were menial, they were by no means difficult. They were tasks the ex-’servant’ was completely familiar with, though the process of getting paid for them was entirely new, and spending a little extra time with Thessia was always a welcomed bonus.
Especially on days when his frustrations were at their peak.
"It's never going to change, you know," Thessia sat up on her stool, and hiked her latest project further onto her lap. Her calloused fingers nimbly weaved the needle through a collection of rich blue fabric, the very same fabric that Nyko had encouraged a customer to try out not three days ago. It was validating just knowing that someone was actually listening to his advice. "You're playing straight into his hand, and you don't even know it."
Nyko craned his head to better look at her. The shop was empty, save for the two of them, so he'd started the process of gathering scraps of material from the workstations to deposit in the ‘wastebasket. Most would be converted into clothing for their less picky clients; those who focused more on fishing and keeping their families fed than fashion.
Of course Nyko been ranting as he worked; he usually did, but this...Furrowing his brows, Nyko straightened his posture and, still crouched, scoffed. "What are you talking about? Sajah's pissing me off, yeah, but the way you talk it's like he's evil or somethin'."
Thessia arched her brow, turning her warm, golden eyes on him. They were so close to his own in hue, but somehow, on her, the color seemed to come alive. When she stared at him like that through her mound of curls, hunched over but still trained on him, Nyko felt his insides melt. His frustrations usually slipped away in those moments, but the conversation at hand was getting too risky for that. Especially when, instead of responding, she snorted and turned her attention back to the material. "Hey, HEY, what was that?!"
In a huff, Thessia 'slammed' her work down onto her skirt and sat up, dark curls bouncing all around her finned ears. "Don't be stupid, Nyko! He's using you! Sajahka knows that you're naive and he's playing on that to keep you here."
"I am not-"
"Don't even. You trusted him blindly to lead you to freedom, right? Trusted his connection to some people you've never met to take you away from one situation into another." She waved her index finger at him, "That seems pretty naive to me."
"That's not being naive; it's called trust. I trusted Sajah to help me, and he did. He could have left me to rot in that cell and saved himself, but he didn't-!"
"So now what? Sajahka saved you from that cell and where did he take you? A small, isolated village in Matori where you've done...what, exactly? What tutors are here that can show you the proper way to carry yourself in a performance? What crowd is going to be drawn to a remote place like this? There is nothing here for you, so why are you still here?"
Nyko was already on his feet by the time she posed her final question. He'd been crossing the space between them, keen on getting in her face and defending his friend, but by the time he made it to Thessia the boy came up short. Was she....was she onto something? He scrunched his brows; an external sign of the synapses in his brain overheating from the amount of thought needed for all of this. Sitting down and tackling issues with logic had never been his strong suit; Nyko was a creature of passion, and thus, was quick to stalk away from her with a frustrated growl.
"We're here because we have no coin to - " Nyko stopped himself and huffed. That had been the initial concern, but that wasn't the problem anymore. They had more than enough to fund their travels. So then...what was the real issue? "...you think he's grown attached to Matori?"
"Not Matori, baby, but someone he met here." Thessia raised her hands, making a little hole with her right hand, and by taking her index finger she-
Nyko's face immediately colored. "So what! Even if he was that close with Leukos, why would that stop him from leaving? It's not like that a*****e's gonna stick around long anyway."
"Yeah, but right now he has everything he wants. Something sweet to nibble on, a 'songbird' to bring in the gold, and a comfortable little place to call his own. If he leaves he runs the risk of having that all taken away from him. Why else do you think he holds onto your gold, Nyko? I thought it was supposed to be split between the two of you, but he doesn't think you're smart enough to control your half?" Thessia clucked her tongue. "What do they call someone like that? Someone who wants to use your talent without paying you....hmm, sounds like a master to me."
Nyko wasn’t sure what was making him the angriest; that Thessia was questioning his best friend like he was a criminal or that it was making sense. She was stroking a raw nerve in him that had been left exposed for far too long. Leukos aside, Sajahka had acted strange since the moment they got there. They should have spent two weeks in Matori, let alone months! And what had he done every time Sajah assured them they would still go, that they would still make plans? He’d smiled, nodded his head and believed him. He’d swallowed so many lies that his insides were burning.
“I have to go talk to him. If even half of this is right then I-”
“You’ll what? Yell at him, walk off and come crawling back in the morning?” Thessia set her project aside and stood, moving to close the physical gap between them. “You want out, right? Then let’s leave. Just the two of us; we’ll go somewhere so far away that he’ll never be able to bother you again.”
“He’s persistent as hell; if he wants to track us, he can and he will.” Nyko snapped. He accepted the hands that went around his waist, but he didn’t move into her hold. There was still too much fire in his eyes to be held back, and no amount of coddling was going to wear it down.
“He can’t fly,” Thessia pointed out. “We’ll go to Belrea. They have entire districts there for performers, and people will come from all over to see the talented foreigner. You can have a real tutor there, so that when you come back here you’ll have so much coin that you can choke him with it.”
That...did sound nice. No one in Belrea would know him; there wouldn’t be any questions about where he come from, what kind of upbringing he had and if he wanted, he could completely reinvent himself. But Belrea? That was so far away! They barely knew anything about the continent, let alone how safe travelling by air was and he hadn't even mastered swimming yet, how the hell was he was supposed to handle flying-?! And yet...what choice did he have? He wasn't strong enough to fight his master's men in Oba if they found him crossing through the country into the rest of Tendaji. Matori was too...rural for his dreams and Yael wasn't much better. Something that drastic though and without Sajah just seemed....wrong, but so did a lot of this.
“I...still need to talk to him.” Thessia didn’t argue him; instead, she just nodded her head and motioned toward the door. She was so intense at times, and just like that, supportive as well. Nyko wasn't sure if it was part of her own harsh upbringing that had made this woman so strong, but he knew that if anyone was going to be able to get him through the rough trials ahead, it would be her.
There were times that he wanted to scream at her, but instead of taking it, she stood toe to toe with him. Whatever she gave he returned, and in that they were able to air out a lot between the two of them. He was nervous about talking to Sajahka, scared even, but with Thessia at his back Nyko felt himself stand a little taller. Surely she wouldn't be pushing him to do this if she knew it would turn out bad? Or, rather, worse than it already was?
He took the hint and after placing a chaste, albeit hurried, kiss to her forehead Nyko left. He needed to sort this out with the one man who might have some answers, and by the goddess, if he didn’t then Sajah had better have some pretty good lies to cover himself. Nyko was a man on a mission, and nothing was going to stop him from getting to the bottom of things.
Whether he was prepared for the fallout or not. If Matori had done anything for Nyko it had given him a few more muscles and the freedom to grab life by the balls, no matter what.
Hope you're ready, p***k. I know I am.
[1818] [6]
Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
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Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 6:08 pm
✦Stage Two Growth Solo✦
Procuring passage from Tendaji to Belrea hadn't been easy, and yet, Thessia made it happen. The pair traveled deep into Oba to the coast with the hopes that larger cities might lure in the kind of ship they would need for the voyage. In truth, the two only had rumors to go on as to where the Belreans typically landed, if they chose the same spots at all. Flight between the continents was still fresh enough that there were no set routes, and as such, landing could be varied at best. Weeks of waiting (and working, since rooms didn't come cheap) had produced a single vessel; a researching expedition, nothing more, but one that had begrudgingly allowed the pair to come aboard for a one way trip. Naturally the trip hadn't come cheap, and it took nearly everything Nyko had just to get them to the grand city of Zenner.
Talking about leaving Tendaji and flying to Belrea was one thing; to actually be standing in their cities, gawking at damn near everything, was another concept entirely. Never in his wildest dreams had Nyko ever imagined traveling to a city that stretched so far into the sky. The combination of near gargantuan structures and naturally high elevation the boy was often at a loss for breath, but that didn't stop him from opening his mouth every time something exciting happened. As far as they knew, this was the only place in Belrea that regularly scheduled travel to Tendaji, and thus, it was something of a marvel to see the amount of airships both leaving and returning to Zenner overhead. Several of the native lighting and Geian populations would point out the vessels as well, joining the matorians in gawking at the sight. It was spectacular, ethereal and...
....horribly expensive.
Tendajian coins, as it turns out, are valued differently on their home continent as opposed to Belrea. The newness had been quite valuable at first, but as it turns out, a sudden flood of visitors from Tendaji had dropped the coin's worth exponentially. Some had assured them that it would level out with time, but for now...what little they had wouldn't go nearly as far as what it might have if they'd simply stayed home.
After paying for food and lodging, their savings continued to dwindle. By the time Thessia was even able to haggle passage for them to Valmon, the Belrean capital, they were down to almost nothing. She continuously assured him that it would all work out; that once they reached the capital they could find temporary work doing something until he was discovered. And yet, the longer they stretched their finances the more Nyko worried. It had seemed grand enough to shout in someone's face that he was going to Belrea to become a star, but how could he if they were sleeping outside every night?
After two weeks in Belrea he was starting to smell, and his stomach ached. They were getting no where fast. A few labor jobs here, a cleaning position there; whatever they could do for the night to get food, but how long could they keep this up? Nyko's feet ached from the travel, and while he hoped getting to Valmon would be worth it, honestly, the 'newness' of Belrea had already worn off for him. At least when he'd been a slave he could count on a meal and someplace to sleep every night...
And then, with the persistence of a dying mule, he'd made it. Spread before him was the largest largest city in this sprawling, mountainous land, practically glowing in the night air. He could see individual balls of light moving like torches or candles; maybe even magic, if the sporadic shooting bulbs were anything to go by. Nyko hadn't seen anything like it since his days in Oba. It was enough to give rise to his exhausted soul. Maybe...maybe it really had been worth it. All of the fighting, the fussing, the disappointment...maybe Thessia was worth believing in, after all.
They slept outside that night; cuddled together for warmth, with one of Thessia's skirts carefully tucked around them. The pair may have been exposed, but they were far from cold. He kept her close, tucking her in next to his heart and held her as if she were the last vestige of Tendaji left to him. And, if he were honest, she was. There was no family to go back, no home, and now, without Sajah....no reason. All that he had left was Thessia, and while Sajah may have wanted to use his voice to bring in coin, Nyko would gladly give it to the woman in his arms just to keep her fed. He ran his fingers over her curls, smiling a little when even the light touch ended with his fingers caught in their web. Nyko tugged a little, willing his digits to escape the bouncing prison, and yet, they remained trapped.
So, he gave in and kept one hand cupped around her head throughout the night.
The following week brought a little more promise than the first two. Thessia took up an apprenticeship with a Belrean tailor and Nyko....more or less threw himself out to every theater he could find. Time and time again they dismissed him. Most had been polite enough to turn their back on him, but one had outright dismissed him on appearance alone. "We run a respected establishment, sir; please, do feel free to return after you've procured a bath and shaved that mess off your face."
It was enough to leave him fuming in the street. How dare they! Not a one, not a single one, had even allowed him to sing so how could they just- It was like they didn't even care! The fact that he was foreign and likely someone who could draw in a crowd didn't mean a damn thing to them! They were too hung up over his musk and that....
...was certainly a problem.
It had been a topic he'd needed to bring up to Thessia, but she'd agreed; they needed someplace more permanent to stay, even just for a month. So, they scrapped together the last of their savings, rented an apartment, and a few bath oils for the pair of them. It was a necessary expense, more so after Thessia burst through the door one night with exciting news; "One of our clients is Golden Gilly's assistant - stop picking at your nails, this is important - and she said she could get you an audition! Golden Gilly is huge here! She's got one of the best theaters and if you could apprentice with her we'll have it made!"
As it turned out, Golden Gilly was somewhat of a Valmon legend; she was a shrewd, angry little lighting woman who would just as soon dismiss someone for wearing the wrong shoes as she would help them, but that just made her assistance all the more valuable. If you could prove your worth to her then you truly had something of worth! Nyko and Thessia both scrubbed themselves raw preparing for their meeting. This had to go perfectly; which was why, despite having a few jewelry pieces herself, Thessia gave them all over to Nyko. He needed to shine in more ways than one to get that woman's attention.
Walking into the theater, after hours of course, was terrifying. Dressed in his finest clothes as he was, Nyko knew without a doubt that he looked every bit the performer, but how was he supposed to make her see that? Someone like Golden Gilly would be able to asses him in an instant, and regardless of whether he knew her name or not, he couldn't deny her presence in Valmon. if he didn't impress this woman today he was finished in Belrea without ever beginning!
Even with Thessia's hand clutching at his Nyko still found his arms quivering. Every bit of the grandeur around him reminded Nyko of his master's home and it felt as if the walls were pressing in one him; collapsing in until his breath was catching inside of his heart. It's not the same, this isn't the same, you can own this place, you can make it yours! The hall was just as golden as it's mistress; every last vestige was decorated in bright, luminescent metal, no doubt crafted to echo, and while bronze may have been the preferred ore it was clearly not hers. The floors were lined with rich, thickly woven rugs in subtle colors so that all the attention was drawn forward to the gilded stage.
And on his descent towards that ethereal goal, they found her.
Golden Gilly sat demurely in the front row, with her legs neatly tucked side by side and a fine, ermine fur draped around narrow shoulders. Even in her advanced years the woman dripped with class and regality, the likes of which Nyko hadn't seen since his time with Oba's elite. For a moment it gave him pause, caused him to take a half step back, but when she turned her sharp green eyes on him he could move no further.
"You're the boy, yes? This Knee-co Timara was telling me about." She dragged the words out of her mouth as if saying it all was dreadfully boring. Those horrid emerald eyes bore into him, taking in his appearance from fin tip to the stitching on his shoes. Whatever she saw was worth only a cluck of her tongue, and a wave toward the stage. "Well? Get on with it. I don't have all day."
Thessia gave his hand a supportive squeeze before stepping back and breaking contact. He ached for her in an instant, but he dared not say it. Gilly was still watching him, waiting for the moment he would inevitably disappoint her, and he couldn't let her see that weakness. Instead, Nyko took a deep inhale and moved toward the stage.
There's nothing to be scared of. She's just some old woman who can make or break your entire career. No pressure.
He didn't start breathing properly until after he'd ascended and looked out over the empty seats. It was easier to ignore Gilly if he did that, but in that same sense, by ignoring her he couldn't focus on Thessia. There was no one to keep him grounded in that moment, and when Nyko started to sing, he was singing to no one.
The song was mournful; something deep and profound that he'd never truly understood. Half of the words were beyond his limited intellect, but the tone...he'd always felt like it called him home. Problems aside, it brought him back to the old days where he would sit upon his stool, laughing in the kitchen with his mother on one side and Sajahka on the other. Life was so much simpler, and beautiful in those days. Now it seemed like everything was failing him, falling into a pool of chaotic mess and-
-and his tone started to shift, just like the song.
Things were building into a crescendo. Higher and higher and higher until his voice was practically vibrating against the walls themselves. He remembered the beatings, the whips that left scars on his back, the prison, the sand in his wounds, laughing on the beach, laying with his head on Sajahka's chest, cooking for Thessia... and suddenly there was light.
Life wasn't great; his had never been easy, and it wasn't going to get easier. There was no way it could. It had been weeks since he'd had a proper meal and he could very well die in a ditch tomorrow, but he wanted it all to be worth it. Nyko wanted to show the world that he wasn't just what they thought he was; he wasn't something to be overlooked and thrown away. There was no way to place him into a box and to label him as anything other than what he was.
His voice gained confidence and soon enough he was lowering his eyes to look directly at the women in front of him. Thessia was biting at her lower lip in anticipation, and Gilly...was a challenge. Her brows were furrowed, pulling close over her tight skin, and every bit of her body looked tense. He couldn't tell what she thought about him, and he couldn't change that. What he could change, however, was the image he projected to her. He may have arrived looking every bit the scrappy, waif of a traveler, but that wasn't Nyko. Not in the slightest.
He was so much more.
His performance was over with a flourish, and the high that always swamped Nyko after singing gave his body another round of chills. It was as if no matter how many souls he had in his soul, so long as he was capable of this much, he could live.
And that sentiment evidently transferred well to Gilly.
Slowly, methodically, the mistress of song herself rose to her feet and clapped for him. Her face showed no hint of a smile, nor did her posture show anything resembling approval, and yet, Nyko knew he had done well in her eyes.
"Your form is amateurish at best, and will need work, but I'm willing to take you on. You'll live here; we have quarters for the performers, and when you're not performing you'll be expected to attend lessons or to rest. Your half-dead look is fine enough now, but I won't have you parading those gaunt cheeks in front of our guests." Golden Gilly lowered her hands and motioned for Thessia, ushering her forward. "You can stay as well- Nessa, was it?- though you'll have to work too, girl; we'll find something for you, I'm sure you can scrub something. Of course, after your fee is paid."
"Our fee?" Nyko questioned. He moved closer to the edge of the stage before lowering himself just enough to hop off the edge and onto the floor. "What fee?"
A sharp smile crept onto Gilly's face. "You didn't think my services were free, did you? There's the admittance fee, and your monthly upkeep; the monthly dues will, of course, be taken from your performance earnings but the initial fee-" She held out one perfectly shaped, callous free palm. "-is due today."
Nyko paled. "Tamira never said anything about money! We don't have anything like that!" This...this wasn't happening! The adrenaline from his performance was being refashioned from a happy sort of high to pure panic. How could this happen? How could his dreams of having money be taken away simply because he didn't have any? What was this?!
"Of course you do, Nyko! Miss Golden Gilly knows we're...a little strapped," Thessia looked to Gilly, who gave a subtle nod, "but she still needs her payment, and when I mentioned your earrings-"
Almost as soon as the word was said two actions happened; Gilly flexed her fingers and Nyko covered his precious earrings. "No way! You can't have them."
"What's more important to you, boy? Your past....or your future?"
Just thinking about giving them up was damn near causing Nyko to panic. He couldn't be without those earrings; they meant the world to him! Every little scrap of coin he'd managed to scrounge up from around his master's estate had gone into buying them. They were the chunkiest, gaudiest things he'd been able to get his hands on. Nyko knew they were valuable; they were the purest of gold and the weight often caused his ears to ache. However, the emotional value of them was far more than anything Gilly could have given him.
Or was it?
She was offering him a new world in exchange for the remnants of his past. He'd been beaten for these earrings, and bore the markings of a whip to prove it. Even as a slave he'd worn them, however, proudly sporting the one bit of finery that a boy like Nyko could have pulled together. They had always looked out of place, much like him, but that never bothered Nyko. 'Starter jewelry' is what he'd called them; a gateway into something more.
And now he had a chance to see if they really were.
"....You told her about them?" He looked to Thessia, who had the good graces to look ashamed. She nodded her head, and he felt a flash of anger. How could she?! Other than Sajahka and his mother, she'd been the only other person who knew their true worth. And it seemed like it didn't matter as much to her. "Will I be able to buy them back from you? Once I've earned enough?"
"What I do with those earrings after you relinquish them to me is none of your business. I may keep them or I may melt them down; neither will concern you."
So this was it then; the past or the future. They had no way of going back to Tendaji now even if they wanted to, and it wasn't as if Nyko had anyone to take him back there. Aaricia maybe, but she had enough to worry about without him showing up. Besides, looking around the gilded hall once more, Nyko was shown grand images of packed seats and of his voice, carrying out across them into the ether. If he listened to her then he could have a name like 'Golden Gilly' and become a legend in his own right.
What choice did he really have? He couldn't provide for them where he was now, and he'd come this far for his dreams, had shattered a friendship for them, so there was no going back.
Gingerly Nyko plucked the earrings from his ears and handed them over to her waiting palm. Gilly closed her claw like fingers around them like a vice, effectively sealing the jewelry away from him. "Go back and pack your things; you'll move in tomorrow."
Thessia squealed and excitedly ran to him, throwing her arms around Nyko's neck to pepper him with kisses. He vaguely heard her saying how 'proud' she was of him, and what a good thing this was, but it felt like a hollow victory for him.
When he sang he was so full of confidence and vigor that it was easy to forget. But now, all Nyko could do was remember.
And wonder what else he would have to lose just to make it big.
[3,073] [In a lot of ways Nyko has distanced himself from the 'servant' boy in Oba, and yet, in so many ways, he's forever trapped there. The reality of his situation has hit him; that no matter where he travels until he starts to get steady work he'll forever be poor and now, with Thessia, the pressure to get things settled is on.
Thanks to a songstress by the name of Golden Gilly Nyko has the chance to better himself; for a price. It's either his earrings or his career. The earrings are a symbol of everything he was (tacky, shiny, bright and in your face with no real purpose) as well as a reminder of the life he's left behind. By giving them up he's opening himself up to study under Golden Gilly and have a chance at being the singer he's always wanted to be. And yet, the choice weighs heavy on him; how much more is he going to have to give up just to get there? He's willing to try, willing to put in the work, but it will open up a new chapter in his life that is filled with more introspection than the other two stages.]
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