[Jauhar] First Star I See Tonight [Lerin/Ziari] FIN

[Fluffesu]

Tngled Puppet

The settlement of Neued proved to be far larger than his own home village. Lerin knew this, of course, as this wasn't the first time he'd been through the area. But as his silvery gaze scraped up and through the dense treeline, toward the array of homes that littered the canopy overhead, he couldn't help but remind himself that it had been quite an unusually lengthy amount of time since he'd last visited. Last time he'd been here, there certainly hadn't been any Obans living on the forest floor. There hadn't been any Matorians, either, and he certainly hadn't come as an 'escort' to a pretty Fire girl.

Many things were changing. Even if Lerin's own village remained in its sleepy and unimpressive state, the rest of the world moved on. he didn't think he minded change, even if it felt like he didn't experience it exceptionally often.

The evening found him sitting outside the canopy inn he and Ziari had managed to come across their first night into Neued. A great majority of the settlement was run my Shifters (like his own family), and so Lerin expected on some level, that the people here would have the same racist tendencies of his family.

As shocking as it was, they didn't.

Lerin had come prepared for some sort of altercation regarding their sleeping arrangements or maybe a debate over purchasing supplies (again), but consistently, at every turn, there were none. He and Ziari were permitted to stay in the inn, in separate rooms, or course, for as long as they could afford. Just like everyone else. They all lived together, these people that had once been at war, in some semblance of peace. It was mesmerizing.

From the outer balcony of the inn, Lerin looked to the mingling groups below and watched.  

[Tangled Puppet]

Though Ziari had only been in Jauhar for a few weeks, she was already fast adjusting to life up in the tree tops. It was so much different than the homes back in Oba. There was something fantastical and adventurous, to her, about sleeping up in the trees. She definitely liked it and could get used to it in the long run — though she had no clue what other areas would have in store for her, as far as living went. So, when they had found a place to stay, that first night, up in the canopy, Ziari had been more than happy about it. What was even better was that, at night, there was enough space between the canopy above them that she was able to stargaze. The night sky mesmerized her like nothing else could. There was a certain calmness that came over her when she gazed up into the endlessness that was the sky.

When she stepped out onto the balcony, Ziari expected to have some alone time to reflect and figure out what her next step would be. However, her eyes fell instantly fell onto her current traveling partner’s back and she stopped in her tracks. Crossing her arms, she tilted her head and watched him glancing down to the forest floor. Curious, she finally moved, wandering over to him and bumping shoulders with Lerin. “Evening,” she said, giving him a warm smile as she looked down below at the people still milling about. “People watching?”  

[Fluffesu]

Tangled Puppet

Lerin started at the abrupt and unexpected contact, not so much that it was disruptive, but enough that it nicked the former silence of his observance. His slightly widened gaze swiveled from the people below and back to Ziari, much in the same way a prey animal forever warily glanced about. But the next moment, his posture relaxed, and his expression softened. Ziari was a welcome disturbance. "Yes," he admitted, as he glanced toward the ground far below. "The last time I was among so many different strangers of so many different races, we were in the midst of a war... You can imagine that no one felt especially lenient toward anyone else. I suppose I just figured that's how it always was..."

Such did not seem to be the case, in this place, and he hoped he didn't sound especially ignorant to the woman next to him. ...Whose people had caused that war.

At that belated realization, his cheeks flushed, and he stammered out what he hoped was a passable explanation. "Not that I want it to be," he assured. "But it is so unfamiliar... My family would never welcome all this mingling in our village. I like it. It makes everything look... not so uniform."

He turned away from them, then, putting his back to the drop below so that he could give his full attention to Ziari. "But I hear it is very crowded, almost always, in your lands. Are there always many races in Oba, as well? You might be used to all this.."  

[Tangled Puppet]

“Crowded? It can be, yes. It depends on what town or city you’re in. My home had lots of people.” Ziari chewed on her bottom lip as her gaze lingered on all the different people below them a bit longer than Lerin’s did. “There are...different races there. But the majority are Obans. And most of my past experiences with Matorian was...well...not the best.” She crossed her arms back over her chest and let her eyes falls shut as she sighed. “I had a nanny, of sorts, who was Matorian. I loved her and my family treated her well. But she was still a slave. I hate what my people did to other races — that they caused the war. No one should be kept as a slave.”

Shaking her head, Ziari glanced up at Lerin, giving him a sad smile. “It is nice to see so many different races comingling and getting along so well. I admit, I was a bit worried about this place after you village. It is a relief to feel welcomed.” She paused for a moment, wondering if Lerin would accept an invitation to join her for some stargazing. Before she could talk herself out of asking, she spoke up. “Enough of that talk, though. I was actually just coming out for some alone time — to look at the stars and think. But...I-I wouldn’t mind if you joined me. I mean, only if you’d want to.” A slight blush crept up onto her cheeks, deepening the already dark color of her skin.  

[Fluffesu]

Tangled Puppet

Right... That slavery business had been something the Oban people were known for. Lerin knew that much, and he also knew it had been their way of life for hundreds of years. It certainly sounded absurd and almost unfathomable to him, but he couldn't imagine why a young girl (like Ziari had been at one point, and still was to some extent) would bat an eyelash at a country wide tradition that had been in place for centuries. He could hardly stand up to the traditions of one small, unimportant village...

"I did think most places would be very similar to my home, regarding their tolerance for outsiders, but I am pleased to see that isn't the case. At least, not here, it isn't. It is more beautiful for it in my opinion." Lerin loved his home, of course. Jauhar was a beautiful place to live, and he was grateful for his family for taking care of him well enough that he was able to venture even this far now, but-

"Oh." Ziari wanted to be alone. "I didn't mean to be intrusive. If you wish, I will leave you to your-"

He stilled again, blinking back at her warily as he tried to decipher what the best approach would be. On the one hand, if she wanted alone time, he should give that to her. On the other, she'd invited him to join her. There was no telling if it was out of a sense of necessary politeness or if it was a genuine one, but... Well, Ziari could send him away whenever she'd had enough of him. She didn't look especially opposed to the idea, at current. "I would be honored to join you," Lerin agreed with a nod.  

[Tangled Puppet]

Ziari’s smile, this time, was happy as it curled her lips up and she moved away from the edge. She hesitated a moment before reaching out and taking Lerin’s hand in hers. “I’ve been coming out here most nights. There’s a lovely sitting area not far from the inn. I’m sure you’ve seen it, though.” She turned away from him as her fingers slipped between his and she started to move off in the direction of the area, pulling him gently along with her. Once there, she let her hand slip from his and she sat down on one of the benches that allowed for more than one person to sit. “Join me?” she asked, patting the place next to her as she looked up at Lerin.

She didn’t wait for him to sit before she started talking again. “Your home is beautiful, Lerin. Albeit it was a little scary at first — some things still are. But the trees and the night sky and just...everything. It’s so fascinating. So much different from the desert I’m used to. I love it here.” As she said this, she leaned back, gaze dancing up to the sky to take in the stars twinkling above them.  

[Fluffesu]

Tangled Puppet

In this instance, his choice seemed to have been a good one. Ziari's smile looked real and true, like she was genuinely pleased he'd agreed. Good. Few outcomes would've been more acceptable. So when her hand reached for his, he didn't shy away, but instead allowed his fingers to thread through hers, and he trailed after her as she moved. The sitting area she spoke of wasn't an entirely uncommon area in Shifter settlements, and he had seen it, had even sat here himself once or twice over their last weeks here.

There didn't seem much reason to be ashamed of joining her now, and he took up a post at Ziari's side on the bench without the need for her prompting at all.

"I've not seen too much beyond my home," he admitted conversationally. "But from what I have seen, I am inclined to think I enjoy it best here. Maybe it's just familiarity, but it is beautiful," Lerin agreed. He folded his hands in his lap, careful to not overstep any personal boundaries in light of their new position, and tilted his head back to gaze upward, as well. "Do you know why all the inns around here have these sitting areas?" He prompted after a moment.

He pointed upward with one long, silvery finger, though a frame of branches and leaves toward where just the barest upper rise of the moon cold be seen through the foliage. "It is because my people worship the moon as our goddess. Though there is protection in the trees and the cover of darkness, we do not ever want to be far from her, if it can be helped."  

[Tangled Puppet]

Ziari chewed on her lip at Lerin’s question and was about to answer that she didn’t know when he continued to speak. She followed the direction his finger pointed, her gaze falling onto the moon as he explained. She tilted her head. “She is beautiful, that’s for sure. I do not blame you for not wanting to be far from her.” Ziari let her eyes fall back down to Lerin. “Obans worship many different deities. There seems to be one for almost everything. Sometimes it is all too much to keep up with. I admit I have not been the best at that growing up. My parents worshiped daily and quite frequently. But once I became older, the habits of my youth died and were replaced by other activities.”

She gave a small shrug before looking away from Lerin and letting the quiet stillness of their surroundings relax her even more. There was something about this place that calmed Ziari’s nerves. She had half a mind to abandon her traveling plans and set up a home in the jungles of Jauhar. She knew, though, that she couldn’t do that. Something inside her needed to travel — to experience whatever she could manage to squeeze into her life. “Have you...thought more about what I asked you when we first arrived here?” She finally broke the silence, the question referring to her asking him to travel with her — out of Jauhar and into the different lands beyond the jungle.

Fluffesu

 

[Fluffesu]

Tangled Puppet

Lerin's gaze lingered on the pale crescent overhead, and he raised a hand to finger lightly through his inky locks. His parents- not just them, but their entire village- were rather... strict in their prayers. There were still times for other things, of course, but he'd never had much opportunity to 'replace' his goddess with outside activities. And he didn't expect it to be especially well-received if he tried. Not that he could imagine a reason not to be dedicated to her! Just... He hummed softly.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that," Lerin decided after a moment. "I'm sure your gods have many, many devout followers, and, though I am not a god, I would think it ought to be more encouraging to see young people striking out on their own, rather than relying on them for good things, or cursing them for unfortunate things." He turned to smile at her, head tipped ever-so-slightly and hair spilling over his shoulder. "You're a brave girl, Ziari. There aren't many people who are like you." Not many that he'd met, anyway.

Lerin, himself, was not like her.

He eased back against the woodwork of the bench and tucked his hair behind his ear, gaze diverting back to the ground at her next question. He had considered her offer, of course. The idea of travel and adventure sounded so wonderful. It had even been something he thought he'd do on his own, maybe. At some point. Some day. But he didn't know if now was the right time. He didn't want to be too hasty.

"Yes, I have though about it," he admitted, thumbing the loose fabric of his sash. "And I think it might perhaps be alright if I joined you as far as Tale. I have traveled to that region before, and it might be beneficial for both of us to make that voyage together... But I don't know if it would be wise for me to go farther than that. By then, you might have found someone more suited to your adventures."  

[Tangled Puppet]

Ziari flushed at Lerin’s words, heat coursing through her entire body as she opened her mouth to deny his words. She wasn’t brave. At least not in her eyes. There were plenty of others out there that were doing things much more dangerous than she was. Shaking her head, she sunk back against the bench, letting her eyes fall shut. “Brave.” She gave a small huff, a smile curling up the corners of her lips slightly. “I’ve never really associated myself with that word. It warms me to think that someone else thinks so — even if I don’t.”

At Lerin’s next words, Ziari perked up. Her eyes flew open and she leaned forward again. “Really? You’ll go with me?” she asked, her small smile from just moments ago bursting into a full blown smile. He may not have promised to stick with her for the long run but he had said he’d go a bit farther with her. She’d take it. It meant that she would have a little more time with him — to learn more about the man that intrigued her like no other had in a long while. “Thank you, Lerin,” she said as she leaned back against the bench again. “I think it will be fun...traveling with you. I enjoy spending time with you.” As she said this, Ziari scooted over, closing a bit of the space between the two of them and leaning over so that she could absently lay her head on Lerin’s shoulder. “I’m glad that we met.”  

[Fluffesu]

Tangled Puppet

'Dangerous' wasn't necessarily anything Lerin associated 'brave' with (though, to be fair, she wasn't exactly playing it safe, either). Ziari was out on her own, doing new things, exploring lands she hadn't before, protecting creatures that needed her... Maybe it had always been that way for her, so it didn't seem like anything that merited praise in her eyes, but to Lerin, this type of adventuring was outlandish and unheard of. People did not just choose to leave their countries and their families.

He wondered if her parents had agreed to this, or if she'd set out without care of their permission. But it didn't seem his business to ask, so he just nodded in agreement that he did think she was- even if she didn't.

Lerin couldn't help but smile in the face her of positivity. The journey would be an experience for both of them. He was still sure there was someone else out there who would be more suited to keeping her safe in her travels, but so long as she wanted his company, he might as well enjoy it and appreciate the opportunities presented. Heat crawled for his face as she scooted nearer and leaned against him.

He wasn't opposed to the contact, of course. But it was unexpected. "I should be thanking you," he murmured in response. "It is not very often I have the chance to travel very far from home. It does make me a bit nervous," he admitted. "But I think that there probably isn't a better reason than for you, and there probably isn't another person I'd rather be with." Though initially hesitant, after little more than a heartbeat, Lerin looped an arm over her shoulders, brushing his fingers through her dreads and hugging her to him.  

[Tangled Puppet]

Ziari felt the heat in her cheeks and closed her eyes as his arm went around her shoulders. When he pulled her even closer, she felt her heart stutter and skip a beat. She took the opportunity to twist slightly in his hold, half burying her face against his chest and sliding an arm around his front, so that her land laid against his stomach. It had been a while since Ziari had been held — by a significant other or family — and it had a strange sort of comforting quality to it. Though at the same time, because it was Lerin she was leaning against, it also stirred something else inside of her.

When his fingers brushed through her dreads, Ziari couldn’t help but let a small shudder travel through her body. She could definitely stay like this forever, but knew that eventually they would have to move. For now, though, she enjoyed feeling the warmth of Lerin close to her, keeping her eyes closed as they sat in a comfortable silence and she mulled over the words he had said.

It didn’t take long for a small voice, in the back of her mind, to make itself known. The urge to move ever so slightly and place a kiss against Lerin’s jaw became strong. For a few days now, the more time they spent together, the more and more that same voice popped its head up. It wanted action and was tired of Ziari wasting time. She had controlled it for the most part, letting it be satisfied by dreams. But between Lerin’s words and him pulling her closer tonight, Ziari’s tiny conscious of a voice was finally winning out. She didn’t want to move too fast, however. For all she knew, Lerin might not want to kiss her or think of her like that. So she settled, for the moment, pulling back slightly and glancing up at his face. Taking a deep breath, she leaned forward, lips brushing against his jaw line in a feather light kiss. “Lerin?” She let out a small sigh before continuing. “Can I kiss you?” The question whispered and had she not been so close to his ear, he might not have heard her. Her fingers clung to the cloth around his torso, waiting for either the rejection she feared or yes she so hoped for.

Fluffesu

 

[Fluffesu]

Tangled Puppet

Lerin did not anticipate much more proximity than what he already had, because what he had was probably very near the closest he'd been to Ziari in all their couple weeks together. He liked to think they were fairly friendly at this point and generally open. There wasn't much he needed to hide from her. So their relationship was entirely platonic, but it was comfortable, and Lerin was perfectly fine with that. The thought of 'more' didn't even cross his mind to want.

Initially.

But when Ziari shifted nearer still, dropping her head to his chest and fingers falling low against his stomach, there was a very brief instant of confused, blankness in which he did nothing but blink. Then, a very unasked for (presumably by both parties) tendril of heat snaked from his throat to low in his abdomen. His fingers tensed against Ziari's shoulders, and Lerin thought for sure that he probably ought to never move again, ever. It wasn't that the contact (or response, even) was unwanted, so much as unexpected, and he couldn't really be sure how to progress from-

'Can I kiss you?' If he was blushing before, it was nothing as compared to now, with the tickle of her breath close against his ear and her fingers still on his surely-noticeably-heated skin.

Lerin swallowed. "I-I've never..." He hadn't ever kissed a girl before. Not because he wasn't friendly or because he was adverse to such a thing, just... That it hadn't happened that way. He'd never felt especially close to anyone after his best friend had moved away, and he'd never really wanted his mouth that close to anyone else. Never mind the more recent thoughts that since he was eighteen and still hadn't that he probably wasn't very good at it, and it was likely that he ought should just not, ever.

But she'd asked, and Lerin wasn't generally one to refuse things that were asked of him. Even if Ziari hadn't posed the question herself, he couldn't help but think that of all the Shifter girls Lerin knew, of all the girls back at his home village that would've been 'suitable' for such an adventure, he still might like kissing Ziari the most.

With his heart pounding loud enough that it seemed very likely she'd hear it if not feel it, Lerin tipped forward the scant span of centimeters that separated the two of them and brushed his lips just lightly against hers.  

[Tangled Puppet]

When Lerin first spoke, Ziari deflated some, half expecting him to tell her no. She tried not to let the disappointment show too much but she did feel her grip on his clothes loosen slightly. She wouldn’t push him if he wished not to kiss her. That wasn’t how she operated. Unless he was interested — as much as she was — she would not force it.

So when he began to lean forward, closing the small amount of distance between them, she was caught off guard. Her heart leaped up into throat and her breath caught as his lips brushed against hers. Ziari’s eyes fluttered shut as she shuddered and kissed back. She kept it light at first, not wanting to delve too eagerly into it and scare him off — after all, he’d seemed a bit reluctant at first. She brought her hand up and cupped his cheek as she deepened the kiss a bit. Finally, she forced herself to stop, wanting to give both of them some time to catch their breath and let their beating hearts rest for a moment. She didn’t pull away completely, though, and instead rested her forehead against his, their nose brushing slightly as she smiled happily. The urge to kiss him again was fast on her heels and she gave another small peck, her lips lingering against his briefly, to satisfy her for at least another moment.  

[Fluffesu]

Tangled Puppet

He still didn't expect 'more.' Maybe he never would. It just wasn't programmed into him to expect that things might go farther than initially anticipated. So Lerin didn't think there'd be 'more' than just what he'd been willing to do, himself. A touch. Just a brush of his lips to hers in the most chaste and feather-light way imaginable. And that wold be it. They'd scooch apart and resume the type of companionship they'd had for the past couple weeks. Just like that.

But Ziari was so close. And his fingers were still in her hair, and now her fingers were on his face, and she was so warm and so soft and tasted like the forest fruit they'd had at dinner perhaps just an hour before. None of this was objectionable, if also not anticipated.

He didn't have anything to base this experience off of. From where Lerin sat, with Zi still very close to him and smiling, he thought for sure it must have gone well from everyone's perspective. She looked happy. He was happy- kind of absurdly delighted, actually. It probably didn't mean anything, and he really oughtn't take it to, but Lerin smiled back, pale lashes flicking shut as he leaned into Ziari's touch.

"You know, I, ah... I hadn't kissed a girl, before," he admitted after a moment. "So I'm happy the first time was with you, of all people."