❣ ⚘ ❣ Table of Contents ❣ ⚘ ❣ Current Things ❣ ⚘ ❣ Chrysanthe ❣ ⚘ ❣ Relationships ❣ ⚘ ❣ Rps & Adventures ❣ ⚘ ❣ Inventory & Art ❣ ⚘ ❣ Reqs ❣ ⚘ ❣ Extra ❣ ⚘ ❣ Old Journal ❣ ⚘ ❣ The Story So Far...
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
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Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Posted: Sat May 23, 2020 6:01 pm
Name: Chrysanthe Nickname:Chryssa; Chrys, and even Golden Lily Stage: 4 - Sniper Race: Water/Wind Gender: Girl 3 Base Traits: Spontaneous, Rough, Stubborn, Loving Personality: Chrys was one of those very eager children, who would always be the first to act on a random idea. As she grew up that attitude stayed with her where she would listen more to her gut than taking the time to make a well educated decision. Sometimes the results can be a bit more disastrous due to her habit of just jumping in blindly while other times she continues to keep relaying on her sheer luck and skill.
If if something happens she has learned to just bounce back. Stubborn as she is, Chrys would rather just push away such a disaster and try again later. Her determination is key when accomplishing a task while at the same time it could run her ragged because she refuses to let things go so easily. As a child her mother tried to restrain her to being more girly and feminine but despite her best efforts Chrys was much more a tomboy. Even today rather than being a dainty girl, Chrys prefers to rough and tumble with all of the boys. She is always eager to prove herself, especially to her family.
Description: Known as a golden child, Chrys is just that. The girl seems to glow with a golden gaze and golden waves of hair. Even her skin which is wind colored seems golden when the sunlight hits her tanned arms just right. The spots and two-tone from her Matori heritage only help with that fact. Other than that the girl is rather petite with sharp features.
Connected to Moose's Harrgit [x] (She is his younger half sister.)
Anora and Delwyn Farys were a match made by the Gods themselves.
The pair had been close as friends in the settlement of Tind, and through the years a romantic relationship was formed. Anora, who had always been an opinionated sort, told Delwyn from the start that if he wanted to marry her he had better give her a daughter. What man wouldn't make that kind of promise to wed the woman of his dreams? It seemed a small price to pay, since he already planned on a big family with Anora. Surely somewhere along the line a girl would come into the mix.
-From Hargritt’s Bio
Even though her first few pregnancies resulted in sons Anora had remained calm. She truly loved her growing family after all and her husband was the light of her world. She kept praying that the next would result in a daughter as that was her dearest wish. After all had she not married the man based on this promise of a girl?
Yet after the fifth son Anora began to lose hope. Such a loss resulted in the fight between husband and wife and for a while between the two things became tense. However, as a few months passed Anora seemed to rethink the situation as she did truly love her husband. Things seemed to come to terms and life moved on…
More pregnancies would arise resulting in yet more sons. However, some of these sons seemed to have neither trait from the parents. Anora would claim that it was due to their grandparents traits being passed down through them. One son would look more like her great uncle even who had passed away while others had traits from here and there. Truthfully Anora had just lost track of which son came from which father as she had begun sleeping around in secret. If her darling couldn’t give her a daughter then she would sleep with other Sauti men, many who looked similar to either her family or her husband’s in hopes of keeping her trysts a secret, but yet even they could not give her a daughter.
Eventually her desperation allowed the appearance of a Matori Merchant to sway her heart. His handsome looks along with a silver-tongue convinced Anora, who like most in Sauti knew little of the strange Matori race that had recently appeared, that Matori men only gave birth to hybrid daughters. His own family as well were full of women while he was the only son – another factor that allowed him to push her into agreeing to have an affair with him. Despite the risk of having hybrid children to give away her adultery Anora’s desperation and desire drove her to bend to the Matori’s will. And while perhaps the Matori didn’t mean to really give her daughters, but his ‘spring fling’ did leave Anora with a growing belly. Eventually she did give birth and to her utter disappointment the woman found herself holding a boy baby. However, one turned to two and Anora finally found herself holding his twin - a baby girl! Finally after years of trying the woman had a precious daughter...
To her dismay her son, Hargritt, had discovered her with the Matorian during the affair but she had quickly spun a tale that it was for a potion – a magical potion that would allow her husband to give her daughters should she first sleep with the Matori. Later, though it would be revealed that her daughter was obviously a hybrid with her strange appearance.
Anora would stand up to her husband then. He hadn’t kept his promise and so to save their marriage she had taken things into her own hands. And here she was - a gorgeous daughter. How could he ignore them? Delwyn’s heart was broken that day. He had spent years denying any hint that his wife had cheated on him, but he couldn’t ignore the obvious traits of the baby. A Matori was obviously their father, but yet he would take up the role. Despite criticisms from family and neighbors the Sauti man refused to deny his wife of so many years her place in his family.
That is not to say that his spirit was not daunted by the new baby. Living proof as they were of his wife’s treachery Delwyn’s heart was always one of gold and he could not fault Chrys for how she was born. In fact, he took her as his own and raised her with the brothers. Such firm love could only silence those in public while he was nearby. It didn’t stop other children from mocking Chrysanthe about their strange appearances. Even some of their brothers were cold and distant.
And as she grew, Chrys picked fights left and right with those who judged her for her mixed heritage. Her gruff exterior was to cover up the burning shame that she felt from her mother's actions. She hated her mixed blood and was distant from her mother who she blamed for her pitiful existence. Eventually when the stress of it all became too much Chrysanthe left home. She snuck away and traveled across Tendaji until tales of airships from a new world crossed the land. Tired of being judged as a hybrid, Chrys decided to go to a new land where she could simply be seen as a foreigner. Even if for a while no one could judge her for having mixed blood and to her surprise hybrids seemed to be much more welcomed in Belrea.
It is there that she is currently living as the new land has become so much more of a home to her, Chrys even becoming a sniper on a merchant ship where she became involved with its captain. Her only hope for her family back home is that they are doing well while she balances out her own family on The Misty Maiden.
Posted: Sat May 23, 2020 6:04 pm
❁ Relationships ❁
Family:
Mother: Anora; the woman dotes on Chryssa and rarely lets her out of her sight while growing up. At first Chryssa enjoyed the love, but then as she grows will find it a bit suffocating. Father: Delwyn Farys - He intimidates her but later on she'll do her hardest to stay true as his 'daughter' and impress him. Mothers brother: Yuuria
Brothers in order of eldest to youngest. 1: Merritt: Four years older than Harrgitt(Excitable, easily frustrated, tempered and stubborn) 2: Silas : - Three years older than Harrgitt (Joker, always smiling, left home young) 3: Harrgitt 4: Devos - Sturdy lumberjack like fellow. Stern, business like; not loving nor unloving (too manly foir caring of lil sisters) 5: Tevra 6: Yrine 7 and 8: Tryn and Bryn 9: Tivis (12 years younger than Harrgit) clings to Harrgit.
Class Quest Solo:[Solo]Chrysanthe has constantly battled with trust and reliance issues because of her childhood. After being born from someone's betrayal it was always hard to trust else fully and to trust them to actually care for her. Confronting Tyri with her feelings is a step forward as she has never laid out her heart to anyone like this before now and she is beginning to believe that Belrea truly has become her new home. But Chrysanthe is also going to explore towards the new islands to find out where her heart truly lies and to see if this next adventure solidifies the feeling that Belrea is where she belongs.
Physical Description: An outfit heavily inspired by this reference and this one too. The girl is definitely ready for some traveling and will have a lot of Belrean inspiration in her attire. Please feel free to use a lot of the accessories such as a dagger on her thigh, some form of choker necklace (please don't use the previous necklace from her art as she is leaving it behind), earrings, etc. Can keep some pink accents in the coloring and keep the tips of her hair dyed but can style it more like that. ((would love if a golden butterfly pin/clasp with delicate pink and teal jewels could be incorporated somehow))
Crossbow - inspiration picture, feel free to play with the actual design!
Body Type: Chrysanthe is still slender but she did develop some more curves and has a slightly pear shape - kinda like this.
Preferred Artists: Kana Full or Collab, Scar Full or Collab WIPs: Sure! heart
Chrys had a complicated childhood due to her mother's affair. Born the only hybrid in a family full of wind boys, Chrys often felt that she was somewhat of an outcast. Thankful that her father accepted her despite not being his true blood, Chrys did her best to be a good daughter and dealt with her mother's doting nature. Her mother had always wanted a daughter and a daughter she got. However, Chrys was far more a tomboy and preferred to play rough with her brothers instead of dressing up for her mother.
Eventually as she grew older, Chrys decided to leave home and to find her own place in the world. Being a hybrid had caused a scar on her heart, mostly because she blamed herself for ruining her parents' relationship by existing, and she hated being judged by those of pure blood. Then when Belrea opened up to the world the girl found hope for a new life. Taking an airship she traveled Belrea before being taken in by a Geian who ran a bakery. It is there that she now lives in a small apartment above the bakery and works during the day.
It had been three years since she moved to Belrea and Chrysanthe still loved living above the bakery. The little apartment that she inhabited was always neat and tidy, her small collection of clothing tucked away in a dark cherry wardrobe with golden vines that trailed around the edges - something which apparently had been a bridal gift for the owner’s mother a long time past - and the only other really bulky things in the room was a writing desk, vanity and her bed with a traveling trunk at the edge. Surprisingly Chrysanthe had managed to find matching furniture over the years and kept with the darker wood color accented by golden designs, some of which she had etched and painted herself along the wooden surfaces. There were even little shelves hanging about the walls with trinkets gathered from various locations, mostly the cities whenever she traveled through Belrea during her first year here and some more recent ones thanks to a visit to another friendly bakery up north that had provided a bunch of apples for their own fall lineup. Her favorite piece of furniture in the room was the vanity with the bronze mirror hanging above, the ability to spin it always amusing her whenever she found herself truly bored and just wanting to poke at something, and while Chrysanthe wasn’t that vain of a person she did enjoy being able to see her reflection before heading down to work in the bakery. The last thing she ever wanted to do was to come downstairs a mess when they needed a presentable server to charm the customers. It was nice knowing that she could figure out how to twist back her wild golden curls on her own instead of waiting for someone to pamper her and to braid the strands. She had cut her locks far shorter than ever before once she arrived in Belrea but over the last couple of months had allowed it to grow a bit longer, the curling edges gently brushing against the tops of her shoulders whereas before it had hung just below her chin. So many changes had been made when she left Sauti and admittedly her hair was something that she did sometimes miss. It would be nice to grow it back out but the young hybrid had been daunted by the idea of spending so much time taming those curls. Thankfully Tyri had noticed Chrysanthe’s habit of twisting the stray strands around a finger while working and had taken the time to teach her how to style her hair. Chrysanthe had picked up on basic designs but still struggled with some of the more elegant styles which was why Tyri was here helping with her hair once more before a major event in town. They had things to do and Tyri wanted them to both look nice today, especially since they were representing the bakery and cafe to so many people!
“Just a little twist here and here…” The geian woman chuckled as she watched Chrysanthe’s stiff posture sitting before the vanity. “I’m not going to murder you, I promise.” Her own pale green hair was pulled back in a series of braids that laced together into a larger braid that went all the way past her waist. It was the best style to work in the bakery and allowed Tyri to keep her beautiful hair long. Chrysanthe had considered what it would be like to grow her own hair out that long but shook off the thought quickly. Even if she did learn to style it better the hassle would be too much! Just imagining how heavy the braid was made her shudder. When you practiced archery every bit of balance mattered and it would take a lot of effort to try to find her center again if she did such a thing. Mostly it was the work to get it tamed - but still! She couldn’t help fidgeting in her seat at the thought of it and winced whenever the geian whacked her on the shoulder with the wooden comb. “Stop moving so much! I swear I don’t understand why this is so hard for you, but then again I never had children for a reason.” She constantly teased though Chrysanthe knew that the woman had lost a lover years ago and refused to move past their death, her solace coming in the various forms of her growing numbers of cousins and nephews and nieces in her family down south that sometimes came to visit in the city. At some points Chrysanthe almost felt like a daughter to the woman….before more apprentices had rolled into the bakery in the last few months to make her feel somewhat forgotten. But then there were moments like these still that made Chrysanthe feel a lot better about their relationship. Perhaps it was just something in her own heart that she had to overcome since Tyri always seemed to treat her the same as before, especially now whenever she was fighting with Chrysanthe’s hair. A daunting task indeed for those not accustomed to such wild curls.
“Haha.” Chrysanthe rolled her eyes before sitting straighter. “Is it really necessary to make the iron that hot?” She questioned with a slight raise of her brows as she watched the menacing metal that rested along the edges of the vanity, the heated portion raised by the iron holder that it rested in. Apparently it was a good tool for curling ones hair or even straightening it out but Chrysanthe shuddered to think about what would happen if it touched skin. She had burned herself plenty of times in the kitchens while prepping goods for the bakery and did not enjoy the experience at all. What would it be like if she accidentally got burned on the back of her neck or ear? Even a fighter like her dreaded the thought! It would be super painful for sure. Still, Chrysanthe trusted Tyri and forced her body to still. It would be okay! Why wouldn’t she trust Tyri? The baker was experienced and had steady hands from all of the work in the bakery that required such delicate details and careful movements whenever actually baking. Chrysanthe still had not witnessed Tyri ever burning or dropping anything in the bakery which was a feat in itself. Seriously, how in the world did she manage that? Surely the woman had made some sort of pact with a spirit or baking or something! Plus her baking was truly like magic in itself with how delicious everything always came out. Chrysanthe had never been disgusted by anything that Tyri produced and enjoyed every bite. She wasn’t a picky eater for certain but even Chrys had things that she didn’t always like but the woman could somehow make the most bitter of vegetables taste delicious. Chrysanthe was working hard to experiment in the kitchens and despite working with the baker for the past three years she still had burns and other similar accidents on several occasions. It was frustrating because she wanted to do at least one thing that was unique and impressed Tyri. Eventually! One day she would figure out how the woman made her croissants and other breads so light and fluffy! Was it the butter? Maybe the way she kneaded the dough? She had even tried spinning the dough with various kitchen tools and tossing it up into the air before catching it on the tray. What was she missing? Chrysanthe’s thoughts jumped back to reality as soon as the heat from the iron caught her attention. “Oh.” Her golden gaze widened as she stiffened and waited for Tyri to finish working on her hair. It would be over soon she just had to sit still….she could do this! At least that’s what Chrysanthe kept silently repeating as she utilized all of her training and focus to not squirm against the sudden heat. It would not burn her, it would not burn her….
“Don’t worry.” Tyri chuckled once more, the sound warm and reverbing throughout the smaller room, “I wouldn’t want to hurt my best apprentice. You work too hard for me to just burn you and toss you out that window.” She teased with a click of her tongue as she finally started in on Chrysanthe’s longer hair. Her hands glided through the curls, the brushing from earlier having gotten rid of all of the normal tangles, and soon enough she had straightened out most of Chrysanthe’s hair like some sort of hair stylist expert. “I’m thinking if I tie it back in a tight ponytail we can curl the ends again, I left some of them untouched since your hair is so naturally curly. You know how many girls would fight to have such natural waves and curls?” Was the geian more of a mother or an older sister at this point? Truly Chrysanthe couldn’t tell but she was ever thankful for the companionship of the woman who had given her both work and a home in Belrea. When Chrysanthe first ran away from Sauti she had been lost and confused, her frustrations about a nonexistent Matori conman and father darkening her spirit, but coming to Belrea had given her a breath of fresh air. She had never felt happier to be away from everything else. It was a shame too because Chrysanthe found herself very happy to have a mother figure in her life and had her mother not ruined their family dynamic by breaking the trust of her Sautian lover then perhaps Chrysanthe could have still been in Sauti and surrounded by older brothers who loved her instead of the disdain of most. She knew that she had some brothers who loved her regardless of her blood father but others had truly hated her and the strain that her existence had placed on their family. The thought made her stomach tighten into an uncomfortable knot and Chrysanthe had to focus on her reflection and the movements of Tyri in the mirror. “Cute, right?” Tyri interjected as she noticed that Chrysanthe was focused on her reflection and how her hair was being styled in a high ponytail that curled at the end. Once the geian finished with the iron she placed it aside, the cooling metal a lot less intimidating than before, and after another moment of fiddling with her apron she produced an intricate pin made of rose gold metal with gemstones.
“It is.” Chrysanthe found herself gasping even more whenever the pin was clasped around the base of the ponytail, the shimmering metal beautiful in the early morning sunlight. “Where did you get such a beautiful piece, Tyri?” She asked as she blinked and studied the design the best that she could in the mirror. It was almost like a butterfly with aqua and pink stones that shimmered like diamonds, the stones making up designs on the wings while the metal curled beneath the insect like delicate vines. She absolutely adored it. Even if Chrysanthe was a bit of a tomboy she did have an appreciation for things like this and loved the colorful insects that fluttered from flower to flower during the warmer months. The gardens in the park near the bakery had quickly become one of her favorite places to visit whenever she first settled into the city and she even attempted some sketches of the creatures as they hopped from flower to flower, the large bushes full of fragrant flowers of the lightest purple one of their favorite spots by the main fountain. Another thought quickly came to mind and she shook her head, “I’m just borrowing this, correct? It looks pricey!”
Tyri chuckled as she backed away and studied her work, “I don’t think it really suits me though. You definitely shine better with it than I ever could, Chrys.” She tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully, a very dramatic gesture for the woman, before nodding firmly. “Yep, it definitely fits you far better than me. I think you should keep it.” She winked lightly, “Plus consider it a bonus for how well the bakery has been doing lately. You even went and got me those apples from the nearby city and everyone loved the little cakes that you baked from them - that Sautian flare you bring to my shop is always a delight.” The geian woman walked away before Chrysanthe could protest more and studied the bed thoughtfully. Chrysanthe followed her gaze towards the small bed that she had pushed up against the wall, the pile of feathered pillows almost making a nest that completely covered the piece of furniture along with a series of vibrantly colored and patterned quilts that she had accumulated over the years. Somehow there was just enough clear space for an outfit to be laid out, the lacy dress definitely a drastic change from her typical wardrobe of leather pants and casual tops. It was pretty, the cream material swishing lightly with the edges of lace barely touching the floor as Tyri picked it up. “I thought this would be really nice on you for today and look…” She held out the dress and twirled it around to reveal that it actually was cut in the strange high low fashion that Chrysanthe had noticed becoming popular in Belrea. “You can wear your usual leather boots that I had cleaned up and there’s a corset that fits snug over the top of this dress itself. Of course there’s another layer here because layers are all the fashion but the cut should allow you freedom of movements since I know you loathe the tighter dresses with their long skirts that can easily trip you.”
“Just call me a doll while you’re at it.” Teased Chrysanthe as she finally stood from the chair and approached Tyri so that she could take the dress from her, “It’s really not that bad I suppose.” She commented as she studied the design and trailed a finger across the light material. It would do good to allow her to dress up while giving her freedom of movement as Tyri promised. Should she bring a bow or just a few daggers in case of emergency? Not that there was a lot of fighting at events like these but Chrysanthe hated to go anywhere without a weapon. Her gaze flickered towards the series of daggers and her crossbow that sat on top of the travel trunk, their closeness a comfort to her. Traveling through Tendaji and camping in the wilderness as a young teen had given her the habit of keeping something sharp nearby at all times. Who knew when a wild animal or bandits would strike after all? It was far safer to be prepared and it looked sexy to have a knife on your thigh. At least that’s what Tyri would tease whenever she first learned that Chrysanthe constantly had a weapon tucked away on her body somewhere. You wildthing you. The Geian had teased her and even now Chrysanthe knew that her employer was thinking of the comment whenever she moved across the room and started to strip down so that she could lace the holder against her thigh and slide a dagger into place. It was one of her favorites with a handle that had a folmar, the feline predator that roamed the Belrean mountains, and the beautiful beast was poised to strike with its tail curling down to where the dark iron blade began. Tugging at it to make certain that everything was in place, Chrysanthe slipped into the dress before glancing towards the dreaded corset. Her waist was thankfully naturally slim though years of staying at the bakery had filled out previously flat areas, something Chrysanthe realized with a slight flush as Tyri helped to faston the corset laces. “Seriously I don’t understand how women wear these willingly over here.” She protested as Tyri stepped back with a playful whistle to compliment the younger hybrid’s appearance. The caramel corset was nice though and even Chrysanthe had to admit she enjoyed the golden flowers that decorated the leather. On the positive aspect if someone tried to stab her it would be harder to pierce the thick leather that protected her ribs and supported her chest. She reached a hand towards her leg to check on how easy it would be to get her dagger before nodding. It was perfect. She could definitely make do with this getup in case of emergency.
“Just wait until I leave the room before you practice fighting something.” Quipped Tyri lightly as she handed over some lace gloves towards Chrysanthe. A final touch to Chrysanthe’s own outfit that almost matched Tyri’s own lace gloves and dress. The geian woman was personally dressed in one of those dreaded dresses that Chrysanthe hated with the layers of skirts, her open blouse revealing Tyri’s endowments and her curvy frame. The leather corset that Chrysanthe was subjected to was not on Tyri’s dress as she just wore a ribbon one that loosely clung to her sides, the darker teal ribbons spiraling down against the mint and tan colored fabrics. Her own hair had been curled and was loose for once, the long waves reaching down way past her hips and swishing everytime she moved. It was proof that they were not going to be baking today as the cafe and bakery were both closed because of the afternoon event. Tyri enjoyed making connections and had begged Chrysanthe to join her in some sort of showcase that would allow other bakers to trade recipes and to try samples from the stores. They would also be open to the public so that the bakeries could advertise their business with the samples before the evening festivities began. Apparently it was like a fair but not really….Chrysanthe had never opted to go until this year when Tyri forced the issue. It was high time that she stopped hiding in the kitchens and started showing up at events with her mentor so that she could learn more about other Belrean bakeries and the like. Or rather in Chrysanthe’s recent worries to get her out of the kitchen to make way for the new apprentices that Tyri had now. Both were sweet but at the same time the hybrid couldn’t help her jealousy. They were Belrean and knew so much more about the area since they had been raised here. She had even seen a letter saying that Tyri would have a niece joining them soon enough to learn the trade, another moment of uneasiness settling over Chrysanthe when she thought about how Tyri would be delighted to have real blood relatives in her life up here instead of just during the holidays. Would things be the same then? Should she care so much if not? Chrysanthe closed her eyes and focused on the fair to try and ease the worry knotting at her heart. Apparently there was supposed to be a bit of everything at the fair to showcase talents from all over. Highly sought tailors and seamstresses would be there, academy members with their research, blacksmiths, artisans and so many others would be there to share their work with the public. Tyri had worked hard to publish a recipe book that had spread to bookstores and had been invited to attend and so here they were. Apparently looking really nice was also part of the whole event and Chrysanthe found herself thinking more and more about how much of a trap this whole affair was. Even if she looked nice she still didn’t do this type of thing for fun! And she did look really, really nice today - something she was realizing the more and more that she looked at the mirror to study Tyri’s work on her hair and makeup and the new outfit that she wore.
“I’ll make certain to do a few spins on the way out.” Replied Chrysanthe finally as she found her voice again and turned away from her reflection. “I suppose I should leave my bow behind and just keep to the bare minimum, right?” Her painted lips pouted at the thought almost childishly. If there was one thing that Chrysanthe had never stopped since coming to Belrea it was archery. The girl had inherited the love of the bow from a brother and it had been her safety throughout the years. If she hadn’t learned to fight at a young age then Chrsyanthe would be scared of where she would be at now. Going to Matori and Oba had been a bit of a rougher experience and honestly when she first arrived in Belrea she had been expecting more of the same before being surprised with kindness and hospitality from others instead. She knew that the country was not perfect by far and that trouble would always lurk around the corners but it felt far more welcoming than the others she had visited. How could she hate this place? It had given her a great friend and even a home. Chrysanthe’s gaze softened at the thought as she bounced towards Tyri and took the older woman’s arm, “Drag me out now before I change my mind. Quickly!” Seriously! If she hesitated now she truly may not go! Chrysanthe was desperate to flee from the depression that sought her out once more. Even in Belrea it seemed that there was a darkness in her spirit that she could not shake away just quite yet. Chrysanthe was determined to not let any of that show today when Tyri had opted to invite her to tag along instead of setting up the stall and staying at the bakery. They would have fun for sure! She would do her best to enjoy everything and cherish the memories from today no matter what. That much she promised herself when she had first agreed to participate in the events today.
Laughing, Tyri tugged Chrysanthe along after her. They walked down the flight of stairs that ended up in the entryway of the kitchens in between the main shop and the actual workspace for Tyri and her employees. At first the cafe had been smaller but over the last year they had hired at least three other workers to help with baking and a new kitchen had been built in one of the older buildings next to the bakery that Tyri had purchased. With a couple of new servers for the cafe itself Chrysanthe had found herself with more and more free time lately. It seemed Tyri was doing just fine and honestly that had started her worries as the young hybrid wondered if that was a sign that perhaps change was coming. Change meant replacing the old or growing so much that you couldn’t help but to spread out yourself more and forget others….She quickly shoved the thought aside because she refused to allow such thoughts to ruin today’s excitement. It wasn’t a lie to say that she did look forward to what the fair had to offer and that there was genuine excitement in her smile as she walked along with Tyri. Even if Chrysanthe didn’t want to admit to it she was genuinely intrigued by the idea of seeing what everyone had to offer. Apparently there would even be a lot of people from the capitol as well as the local towns! Some would even be coming from the far northern and southern areas too! If anything the crowds definitely proved that there was something going on in the middle of town. Chrysanthe listened as the clipping noise from the heels of her boots hitting the cobblestone path became covered up by the talking from the crowds. Her gaze narrowed as she pressed slightly closer to Tyri’s side protectively, “It really is a popular event.” She mused as she glanced about warily. How many were here to participate and who all was here to try and snatch someone’s purse or do worse today?
“Sure is! We have a sample booth that the others are already working on and while I’m at the meetings with others I thought you could browse around. Are you certain that you don’t want to sit in on the meetings with me and learn a bit?” Tyri seemingly pouted at Chrysanthe as she tried to con her into participating in the afternoon’s meetings between famous chefs and bakers in Belrea. Apparently the recipe book had been such a great hit that even Tyri was popular and invited as a participant to share ideas with those from the Academy.
Chrysanthe pursed her lips, her nose wrinkling at the thought of sitting still for hours at a table. “I think I’m good.” She replied finally after a moment, “I’ll probably get too distracted trying to sit still. I learn much better from experience and not from discussions.” Strike now and learn later...that was her motto for sure. Her temper was far too short and her attention span way too nonexistent for such a formal event. It had already proven disastrous for her to participate in a debate because whereas Tyri could be playful and flirty about debates, Chrysanthe found herself expressing her feelings through bolts. Bolts which would conveniently embed themselves from her crossbow and into the wall right next to someone’s face. A good way to chase out troublemakers from the cafe but not always the best solution. Still it didn’t stop the edges of her lips from twitching upwards into a smirk at the memories. Trying to focus on what Tyri was speaking again, Chrysanthe found herself nodding as they walked along and the geian pointed out various stalls. “I’m guessing weapons will be somewhere else, correct?” She asked as her mentor pointed out yet another crafting stall, the beautiful embroidery enticing but not necessarily Chrysanthe’s favorite thing. She would much rather check out the various food stalls or better yet some of the weapons. Maybe a new crossbow or something more traditional again? Her fingers itched to hold an actual bow of wood once more. It had been a while since she fought with normal arrows like she had back in Sauti before latching onto the crossbow.
“Yeah. You can probably go around towards the western block of town. I think that’s where they normally set up.” Tyri pointed out the direction before stopping at the front of a larger building which Chrysanthe recognized as the event hall. A lot of the main celebrations in town were held inside whenever the weather was bad and many patrons had asked for the cafe to cater food here before for weddings, birthdays and the like. The last time she had come inside was when there had been this extravagant wedding which stretched from the main ballroom of the event hall and outside into the gardens that decorated the back courtyard. Thankfully she had only been in an outfit provided by the cafe and had convinced Tyri to allow her to wear the men’s uniform instead of the cutesy dress that the others preferred. It was hard enough carrying food as was so why make it worse with a skirt that you’d have to fiddle with the whole time? Plus Chrysanthe had punched someone in the face for trying to look up said skirt the last time she ever wore the ridiculous outfit which definitely helped her case in trying to wear pants instead. Once a troublemaker always a troublemaker, right? Thankfully they hadn’t gotten into too much trouble for the man’s broken nose especially once the full situation had been explained. If anything it just kept most men away from the short tempered hybrid with the mean right hook. You did not mess with Chrysanthe and expect her to just take it sitting down. Even now she was tense as she glanced about the area once more before letting go of Tyri’s arm. “You sure that you’ll be okay?”
“How many times have I done this without you?” Replied the robust geian woman with a loud laugh, “Seriously just enjoy yourself and stop being so uptight, Chrys.” Tyri reached out and bopped the girl on the nose, her grin only spreading as Chrysanthe brushed her hand away. A moment later she had dug into her skirts and brought out a small coin pouch that she pressed tightly into Chrysanthe’s hand. “If you see anything and I mean anything that you like please treat yourself. I appreciate all of your help and want you to have fun and relax today, okay? Don’t even worry about the stall and just go and see all that you can while the fair is in town.”
Chyrsanthe’s lips pressed into a fine line of protest but she knew better than to fight with Tyri. A soft thank you barely left her lips before the geian woman was through the large doors of the building, the ornate wood closing with a gentle click of the bolts, and then she was alone. Or well as alone as one could be while surrounded by a crowd of Belreans with a few foreigners here and there walking about. Funny how even Chrysanthe was starting to think of people from her own home, the main continent, as foreigners lately. Belrea truly had become her home in the last couple of years and she felt far more comfortable speaking to a lightning or geian than she did any other race. She was also fluent in Belrean something that she proved as she joined in on some playful commentary by a pair of younger boys that were watching her walking around, “Save those for a girl your own age!” She called back with a grin, her gaze glittering with amusement as both teens flushed and quickly darted away through the crowds again. Even if she had a Sautian accent at least she could understand most things by now. She had a lot of practice bantering with Tyri and the kitchen staff, especially when they were on a rampage against Tyri for pulling off yet another prank in the kitchens against them. Even if she was a motherly woman and very kind at heart it never stopped her from pulling some sort of stunt to frazzle her staff when they least expected it! She was a monster like that after all. Friendly, warm-hearted but with a horrible playful streak that could give anyone not accustomed to her ways a lot of early gray hairs. Maybe it was a good thing that Chrysanthe had picked up the idea of dying the tips of her hair from that lightning performer because at this rate she would be one of those with the gray hairs from Tyri’s nonstop antics. Such a thought made Chrysanthe double check the coin pouch gifted to her just to make certain that there were actual coins and not rocks inside. Tyri was not that mean but it never hurt to check just in case….
[WC: 9018]
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 11:18 pm
❁ A Fair and a Dilemma Part 2 ❁
After picking up a few pastries for herself, a small satchel at her side bulging from the small treats purchased here and there, Chrysanthe finally found her way towards the weapon stalls. Elegant swords of different materials and shapes greeted her, their gleaming surfaces both distracting and enticing, but after a quick peek she forced herself to walk away. She already had several daggers at home so why get a sword or another knife? Tyri had gifted her a cutlery set for cooking as well which Chrysanthe cherished and refused to part with anytime soon. That much made it easier to pick through the blacksmith’s stalls until she finally found one that was full of various archery supplies. Arrows with colorful feathers at the tip immediately caught her gaze and Chrysanthe found herself reaching out a hand to trail over one of the display pieces. “Beautiful, right?” A lightning man commented from behind, his brilliant purple gaze gleaming as he watched her. “The feathers come from Kahikana. They have a lot of exotic colors there almost like they’ve got their own color palette from the gods that we’ve never seen before.”
“Is that so?” Chrysanthe chuckled as she ran a finger over the delicate feathers, “Or it could be a brilliant dye that colors them so vividly.” She studied the arrows a moment longer, appreciating the craftsmanship that made the arrows so unique. The feathers were one thing but the actual shafts were light and had etchings along a few of them to truly mark them as a set. She wondered how the bolts looked and glanced over her shoulder, surprise lighting up her features as she realized the man had gotten much closer to her while she had originally expected him to walk away.
“What do you think?” He quipped back with a raised brow, “Do they seem dyed? I worked hard to get them from a merchant ship that swears they go back and forth to Kahikana quicker than others. If Ephrym is lying to me then I’ll have to have a good long talk with him when I see him next. The last thing I would want was for his lies to disappoint a pretty customer.” A grin crossed his fine features as he spoke, the sharpness of his cheekbones catching Chrysanthe’s attention as she slowly glanced up past a few spiked crystals of deep green to study those playful eyes again. The lightning race was so intriguing with those vibrant orbs and split pupils. It was truly unique and something she had never seen before coming to Belrea. Chrysanthe rarely got the chance to truly study them since she mostly worked with geians at the cafe. There was a new girl who was lightning with teal eyes and curly orange hair but she was too shy and usually darted away from Chrysanthe. The delivery boys often lingered though so that Chrysanthe could notice their eyes and she couldn’t help but to think of their bad flirting whenever the man smiled at her. It didn’t matter if he was truly cute or not because she was not about that life. If he thought she was going to melt into a puddle like that then he was vastly incorrect about the type of girl he was dealing with!
“I suppose not. Wouldn’t the dye have bled out in the heat?” She shrugged her shoulders as she took a step to the side, “Is this your store then? I’m looking for bolts or maybe even some more traditional bows if you have anything good, even better if it’s foreign made.” Would he have things from Kahikana that stretched beyond some fancy feathers? The new islands were still strange to Chrysanthe and not many knew a lot about the underwater races to the southern seas. Whoever the merchant friend was he must have traveled swiftly for there to be so many feathers and other materials already in the weaponry. Slightly impressive, I guess. Not that she would admit that outloud!
“Smart observation.” The man chuckled before pondering her request, his fingers tapping lightly against the edge of the wooden tables. ”We do indeed have some bows and I’ve carved a few out of the wood from Kahikana. Their trees have a strange silvery bark apparently and my friend brought back a few pieces for me to work with.” He shrugged his shoulders before glancing over Chrysanthe once more, “Would a lady like you be interested in archery or do you have a friend that is interested?” He finally asked as he drifted from table to table until ending up towards the back of the makeshift shop, the rarer bows kept at the end of the tent for safe keeping.
“I am interested, sir.” Replied Chrysanthe with a slight roll of her golden gaze, “I happen to be a proficient sniper but I do miss the traditional bow. I was hoping to find a sturdy one to purchase so that I can pick it back up again now that I’ve mastered the crossbow.” She was a great sniper for sure and even had a spark of magic to enhance her bullets, a discovery that had startled Tyri but delighted Chrysanthe. Fortunately she hadn’t set the bakery on fire that time since they reacted quickly enough to the damage caused from the bolt that had gone off in a heated argument against a rather rude customer….if one would even call the b*****d such a thing. Chrysanthe had a few select words for the ruffian but had kept her mouth shut, her bolts speaking far more fluently than she ever could on that day when he had tried to start a fight with their staff at the cafe. Needless to say they had to repaint the wall but didn’t have to worry about that a** causing any future trouble in the store. Thankfully it had also helped out a girl whom he had been harassing and her family fully supported the cafe now, their wealthy status bringing in even more customers and helping to spread the word of their cafe by catering to larger events. Actually it also happened that the wedding she had participated in was for the girl a year later whenever she had actually found a suitor more to her liking much to Chrysanthe’s happiness. Though now that she thought about it why did Chrysanthe always end up getting into fights when Bryn was involved? Even if indirectly? Actually why did that family tolerate her when she was so reckless? She supposed that saving their daughter from that ex-boyfriend really did the trick and thankfully she hadn’t maimed anyone...yet. So positives!
A chuckle left the lightning’s lips as she started to pull out various bows and bring them towards her, “Normally I’m not so willing to share my wares but you seem to be telling the truth. How could I deny a pretty woman a good weapon? If you’d like there’s an archery target set up behind this tent and we can try out a few of the bows. If you’re really a grand sniper and impress me I may be tempted to give a discount.” He studied her a moment longer before giving a decisive nod, “That sounds like a good plan for me if it works for you.”
Chrysanthe frowned. Was he just messing with her? “I suppose…” She began after a thoughtful moment, her teeth biting into her bottom lip as she studied him in return. Why would he lie? What would be waiting for her behind the tent? Would it be a trick? But surely not since there were so many people out and about around them. “Why trust me with such an important weapon if I haven’t done anything to prove myself?” She finally found herself asking as she tried to wrap her mind around the weird situation.
“I’m a good judge of character and I won’t lie - I’m weak to foreign ladies.” He gave a shrug of his shoulders, “If it makes it more believable we can exchange names. I’m Sulien, a blacksmith from the capitol who specializes in special makes. I prefer experimenting to just making gold so enjoy.”
“Sounds fun.” Chrysanthe glanced around one final time before shaking her head. She could fight if something did happen and it wasn’t like they were eating anything so she didn’t have to worry about any strange concoctions messing with her. The girl had learned about such things back in the mainland and made certain to never lower her guard even now. However, sharing names and trying out a weapon surely would be fine. “Chrysanthe.” She offered as she moved forward to trace a hand over the bows, her fingers lingering over a particularly elegant looking one with etchings that looked like swimming fish, the waves almost rippling like real water in the sunlight with the silver lining. The wood itself was pale, the outer bark whittled away to reveal the pearly like interior of the wood and she found herself delighted with the craftsmanship. Even the handle of the bow felt nice in her grip when she closed her fingers around it, the coolness of the bow seeping through the delicate lace of her gloves. “May I?” She finally asked as she peeked towards Sulien.
“Of course, Chrysanthe.” He smirked as he tried out her name, the word almost sounding playful as it left his smiling lips. “I promised and so if that’s the bow you like then feel free. I will have to be impressed by your shooting of course before I dare part with it.”
“And for a good amount of coin, I’m certain.” Chrysanthe quipped back as she was not even worried about the shooting aspect. Even if she had been using a crossbow more lately it didn’t mean that she had lost her touch with a traditional bow. Aiming was similar and it was all about balance and reflexes in the end. Crossbows just gave her more flexibility since she didn’t have to waste time drawing out the string like with a bow. Far easier to chase off intruders with a crossbow instead of having to appear with a bow in her opinion. This should be easy enough, right? If anything she was confident and so Chrysanthe picked up the bow and a quiver of arrows and followed Sulien outside. As promised they entered a smaller area and she found herself studying the target. “So do I just shoot?”
“I would assume that’s how archery works.” Sulien replied with a chuckle, his expression not even faltering when she shot him a sharp look of obvious annoyance at his joke. “But yes go ahead. I’m serious that if you’re impressive enough I won’t worry about the cost. We’ll make it work out if you really want the bow.” He gestured towards the target before lounging back against the wall, his arms crossed as he looked between the girl and the target. “Do a series of shots and if you can throw in any tricks that’ll be great.”
Of course he didn’t warn her that he was a mage either. Chrysanthe’s first strike was perfect, a bullseye, but then the target started to move on its own! “Are you serious?!” She cried out as she glanced over at the man, his wink only infuriating her more. Of course it couldn’t be that simple! Of course! A few select curses in Sautian made their way out of her lips before she raised her bow in determination again. The crossbolt would have been easier but she could do this! A few shots skimmed over the floating target but Chrysanthe continued calling out, “Again! I can do this!” If anything she was determined and skirts be damned but she would dart about the whole area to chase down this target and prove that she could hit it and whatever trickshot he asked of her! Sulien’s mirth started to fade as he realized how serious the hybrid was and eventually a whole hour had passed before both of them were panting from the effort of both shooting and moving the target through various hoops. The man had even set it on fire at one point to try and throw off her aim with the dancing flames! Chrysanthe had squinted, her teeth biting into her bottom lip as she took a long moment before finally darting forward and letting out a series of arrows coated in ice to protect their precious feathers. One, two, three! And then just like that she managed to hit another bullseye. Raising her fist in celebration the hybrid glanced towards Sulien with a glower, “That good enough for ya?” She taunted, “Cause I can keep doin’ this all day! What ‘bout you?”
“I think….I think I’m good.” He finally managed as he waved his hands towards her, “You win, you win. No more tricks.” He lowered his arms and took a step forward, Chrysanthe lowering her bow in victory before movement caught her attention. Gasping, Chrysanthe barely managed to tumble forward and shoot an arrow into the damn target before it flew past intent on knocking into her.
“Sulien!” She cried out with fury before twisting into a crouch and raising the bow towards him, “Really? Are you tryin’ ta kill me or test out the bow?” What was his play here? Why make her go through so much trouble just to test out a bow? Even if it was gorgeous it didn’t mean she should be killed for it! What was the purpose in all of this? Some sort of strange test to play around with potential customers? None of it made sense at all! Why had she agreed to it again? Damn her competitive spirit! What would Tyri say if she had failed and just died here? Was that even possible? Would he have killed her just now? Chrysanthe couldn’t think straight as her heart raced in her ears, blood pumping viciously through her veins as she studied the lightning man intently. What now? Should she fire an arrow to buy time to run away? Archey she knew well, brawling she could handle but magic? That stuff intimidated her and made her want to disappear! If he was some sort of crazy strong mage then she was in trouble! Going out here had separated her from the crowds and maybe she could call for help but what if he somehow took her voice or made some sort of barrier? Dammit why am I so dumb?! She should have never agreed to this stupidity! Frustration and exhaustion both flushed her cheeks as she tried to look for an escape route, an easier way out rather than having to run past him into the tent and back into the crowds.
But just like that the mage was plopping onto the ground with a laugh, “Good, good! I’m so glad I finally found someone!” He managed as he laid back to Chrysanthe’s complete and utter disbelief, her golden gaze narrowing as he seemingly relaxed on the ground. “Don’t worry! I’m not out to murder anyone today. I just wanted to test you and see if you were up to the offer.”
“I’m sorry, but what?” She still didn’t lower the weapon and stayed crouched, prepared to run at any moment as she tried to comprehend what the mage was going on about. What was a blacksmith with magic doing out here testing people? It made no sense...what was she missing here? So many scenarios ran through her mind but none of them seemed to really click. Hadn’t she just come here to try out a bow and purchase it? I suppose you really can’t trust a good discount after all. She mused with a chuckle of disbelief. “Care to explain what you mean about all of this mess? I really don’t understand how throwing a flaming target towards my face is not tryin’ to murder me.” Now that she was catching her breath Chrysanthe was regaining some composure, her accent softening as she focused on Sulien.
“Well I would have stopped it but I had no better way to test your natural reflexes. Needless to say you did good, Chrys! Hopefully I can call you that, right?” He twisted and propped up on his elbows in the grass so that he could study her better, “I was not lying about giving you the bow for a good deal once you impressed me and I do have a merchant friend who goes to Kahikana. He was hoping to find someone to help on the next trip and wanted me to test out their abilities while he’s in town getting ready.”
“Are….are you serious? A test?” Chrysanthe let out a laugh, disbelief making her lower her guard as she finally plopped down on the ground with a soft groan, “I’m working as a baker not as some sort of merc, you know. The hybrid shook her head, her once perfectly styled hair now a mess of curls once more as strands escaped the ribbons that Tyri had worked so hard on tying into her hair, “It’s such a waste to even ask - there’s no way I’ll go.”
“You sure about that?” Sulien raised an eyebrow, “It’s not a forever thing, you know. Just one trip down there and back to be one of the first to truly explore the new islands. Maybe a year at the most if not less? Others are going in but my friend wants to race them and go even further than others. It’s possible that they may meet hostels but the risk is worth the reward if he can get rare goods to trade in Belrea. It’ll start up his merchant business and help you out as well by sharing in on the loot.” The mage gave a slight shrug as he finally set back up, his legs crossing as he looked about them. “You seem to have the spirit for adventure and definitely have the skills to keep the crew safe. Obviously you won’t be the only one capable of fighting but it will help to have someone who can shoot an arrow or two. It’s hard to find good fighters who don’t want to backstab you so why not consider hiring a baker who kicks a**? I’m sure he would appreciate someone who can cook as well. Either way I did promise you that bow so let’s wrap this up and you can think about this offer of mine. I’ll be in town for the rest of the fair this week and my friend isn’t sailing for another month or so. Think of it like a fun vacation, yeah? Adventure, new lands and what not always seem to entice people especially those who seem to have traveled before.” He gave her a knowing look since it was fairly obvious that she was not from Belrea and that also would explain why he had noticed her in the first place. Chrysanthe could only shake her head at his antics but her fingers did tighten around the bow thoughtfully. Maybe….maybe it would be possible to take a vacation for a year or so to explore the new islands. They weren’t that far away from Belrea….oh was she truly considering this? Spirits! What would Tyri say? Would she let her go? Wouldn’t she want her at the bakery? There was still so much to learn here! But if it wasn’t forever then perhaps it would do good to stretch her legs for one final time before settling down. A final test to see where her heart truly lay? Either way she was determined to keep the bow that she had practiced with and so Chrysanthe followed Sulien back into the tent and bartered with him to leave with not only the bow but a quiver of arrows and new bolts as well. She was even more surprised when he gifted her a crossbow for amusing him for the afternoon, “I was pretty impressed so take this as well. Consider it a buy one get one special, Chrys.” He winked playfully as he handed the package to her. Chrysanthe could only shake her head before thanking him and heading back into the crowd. Talk about a surprising turn of events! What would she do? Should she even bother thinking about this silliness? There was no way that she would go, right? No way at all! Tyri would probably laugh at the whole situation and she could not wait to tell her about the crazy day that she had. It was a good thing that Chrysanthe had bought some pastries and she eagerly popped one of the delicate puffs filled with cream into her mouth as a snack. It was always so light and refreshing, especially when you got the berry at the center which was just tart enough to balance out the sweetness of the treat. Enjoying that treat, however, did little to ease the small knot that had started forming in her chest. Why was the idea of traveling overseas into the unknown bothering her so much? What was going on with her lately? The bakery had just expanded and the cafe had more workers...was she not needed here any longer? Was she running away because she was afraid that Tyri would grow tired of her now that she was no longer needed in the shop? Anxiety knotted her chest even tighter and suddenly Chrysanthe found her eyes watering. These thoughts were all so stupid but honestly they had haunted her lately when she noticed that Tyri had picked up two new apprentices to help about the bakery. Maybe it really was time to move on….as heartbreaking as that thought was. It was just so hard for Chrysanthe to truly trust anyone to take care of her - even Tyri who she saw as both mentor and mother.
Once the meeting was over she would just enjoy the rest of the day with Tyri and then tell her tomorrow or so. Maybe even towards the end of the week since there was still time to reflect on things. Honestly Chrysanthe wasn’t certain of what she wanted at this point now that the mage had gotten the thoughts of a new adventure into her head. What could be waiting for her overseas in Kahikana if she did decide to go? Would it be something truly worth pursuing? Or would she be content never knowing while staying at the bakery to only be replaced by another when her usefulness was over? Spirits how she hated herself for this but the worry would simply not go away. It had just been hidden waiting for the perfect moment to strike once more. But surely she could shove it away for the time being even if just for another day. Chrysanthe just wanted one more day, one more afternoon to spend laughing with Tyri before facing whatever future lay ahead of her this time.
[Part I and Part II Total WC: 9018]
Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 7:25 am
❁ Acceptance and Growth ❁
Chrysanthe did not sleep well the night of the fair nor did she sleep well for the next two nights while the fair was still continuing in town. Eventually the hybrid’s exhaustion began to show itself whenever she stumbled in the kitchens or sat zoned out in full view of the entire cafe staff with a worried Tyri constantly watching. It had gotten to the point that Chrysanthe was almost dozing in front of an oven whenever Tyri jumped her. “Chrys!” The geian woman quickly exclaimed as she tugged Chrysanthe backwards and saved the pan that had started to smoke, “What is going on with you?” Her pale blue gaze narrowed in frustration and worry both as she turned a motherly glare onto the girl.
“I...I’m sorry.” Chrysanthe shook her head, “I’m a mess right now. I’ll leave the kitchens.” She darted away, unable to confront the woman who had somehow snuck into her heart over the last couple of years during her stay in Belrea. This was all so silly! Why was she so torn up over everything lately? New apprentices, changes in the bakery and now this ridiculous offer to go overseas! If she left...it would probably mean that she would never return and Chrysanthe didn’t want that. I also don’t want to stay put either. Wasn’t it best if she left before they asked her to leave? With all the recent accidents in the kitchen caused by her own recklessness it would probably be soon enough. A heavy sigh left Chrysanthe’s lips as she flopped onto her bed, tears burning her golden gaze. What was she doing with her life? She had felt like an outcast in her own family, blamed herself for her obviously mixed heritage that proved her mother’s infidelity, fought with purists, fought with anyone really, lost sight of a con artist “father” who had mislead her mother in the first place and now she was a whole ocean away from it all but unwilling to accept the fact that this place would surely fall to pieces as well. Wasn’t that her whole life after all? Stay for a bit and then move on to the next destination. This time though she felt so anxious about it all and was starting to believe that perhaps she was actually scared of losing this place. She had grown to like it here and had actually allowed Tyri to weasel her way into her heart somehow. Crap, crap, crap! What was she going to do about this? Maybe flee in the middle of the night? But if Tyri did really care and if Chrysanthe could just place her faith in the woman instead of relying on her own made up doubts….another sigh left her lips as she clutched a pillow to her chest.
She finally left the room again to head down towards the kitchens but found herself stopping on the stairs, her lips pressing into a tight line as she held her breath. Voices were coming from downstairs and Chrysanthe expected some sort of bickering or gossip about her recent failures. Instead she heard concern and warm comments that made her heart twist in a strange way, “Tyri…” Chrysanthe finally called out softly before coming downstairs to study the geian woman and her niece that sat at the table there, “Can we talk?” Anxiety made her fingers curl into slight fists but she did her best to keep a straight face despite the terror she felt. She would talk to Tyri and face this. How could she run away from such a sweet woman who had nothing but kindness for her?
“Sure.” Tyri smiled and patted the table, “Gielle can run along to set up her room while we talk.”
“Okay!” The girl beamed before giving a small grin towards Chrysanthe, “Nice to meetcha!”
Waving as well, Chrysanthe watched as the younger geian bounced away, “She’s excited...I suppose that means I won’t be needed as much anymore.”
Tryi’s expression fell at the statement, “What do you mean by that? It’s not like I’m replacing you...Chrys….are you worried about that?” Tyri reached across the table and grabbed Chrysanthe’s hands, “You do know that I consider you the daughter I never had, right?”
“You….you truly mean that?” Her voice was soft and she was so afraid to look up into that blue gaze again. Could she finally believe in someone? Tyri had never lied to her before….well when it was something actually important anyways and not some silly prank. Was it finally time to just open up and to put her faith in another person? To rely on them to help her out when she needed and to provide shelter when she returned from far away? As she studied Tyri one final time and reflected over the last years and even today’s events, Chrysanthe found her courage to try again. “I’m so silly but I was worried….and I also had someone approach me the other day…” Chrysanthe finally explained the whole situation to Tyri and they talked for most of the afternoon, some crying and other times laughing, until eventually the woman was pushing Chrysanthe back upstairs.
“We will always be here for you, silly girl! That’s your room and I’ll never give it to anyone else, okay? Just go and explore.” Tyri chuckled, tears in her gaze, “I’ll miss you so much but at the same time I refuse to hold you back. If you feel homesick then consider this home and I swear I’ll hunt you down if I don’t see you in the next couple of years again. Plus, I hear they have amazing spices and herbs over there so I want a lot for my baking!” Despite the teasing and the threats from the other woman, Chrysanthe felt a heavy weight lifting from her shoulders as she prepared for one final adventure overseas into the unknown.
[991]
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2024 3:22 pm
❁ A Conversation with an Old Friend ❁
The last thing that Chrysanthe had expected was to sit down at a table with Tyri to discuss her life today. Still, the golden hybrid couldn’t help but to feel a deep appreciation for Ephrym’s stunt since it had allowed her to reconnect with the woman who had basically saved her life when she first arrived in Belrea. If anything, it felt like the woman was a second mother to her and more than the first ever had been since she saw Chrys as she was and not as some sort of doll to dress up. She had been the one to teach her how to bake while giving her a chance at a new life in a foreign land. Chrysanthe had no idea where she was going to even live when she first arrived in that Belrean port, the foreigners only giving her brief glances before going along their way. At least in Belrea she knew that while she stood out, it was more so for being a foreigner from Tendaji instead of being an odd hybrid living in Sauti. Even there maybe she would have been fine if her family wasn’t so large and well known in that smaller community, the judgmental stares she received growing up still sometimes haunting her today. Now though the only stare was from the geian who was studying Chrysanthe as if trying to check over her for any signs of injuries or sickness. “You’ve gotten a bit scrawnier since going away with that captain.” Commented Tyri, placing a glass of water in front of Chrysanthe and pushing another pastry her way. “I’ll have to load ya up with a full basket of sweets before ya leave here.” The baker clicked her tongue in disappointment as she settled back in her chair, the familiar blue gaze somehow warm despite her criticism. It seemed that much hadn’t changed over the years with only the wrinkles around the eyes giving away that anything was different with Tyri since Chrysanthe had left the bakery all those years ago. She even kept her green hair in those tight braids that twisted together into a thick braid that went down her back, the geian adoring having longer hair and keeping it tidy to avoid any strands getting in the way of her baking. She had tried to get Chrysanthe to try the same but the golden hybrid much preferred shorter hair, especially now that she was constantly sailing around the ocean, and so the short curls stayed with only a little braid in her hair to appease Tyri.
“Is that so?” Chrysanthe shook her head even as she accepted the pastry, the woman pulling off flakes to slowly nibble at as she looked around the bakery. “I still can’t believe you’re actually here.” This was a port that they visited at least once a year, if the voyages went well and nothing deterred them from the schedule that was. “Is this really permanent for you?” She was still shocked that Ephrym had actually found Tyri here and worked out a way to reunite them as well. Out of all things…the thought brought a soft sigh to her lips. He was so worried about her, but who would ever worry about that ridiculous man? Even after nearly dying in that storm so many years ago the fool was still as reckless as ever when it came to himself, but so damn considerate of everyone else. It was truly frustrating even if it made her heart flutter a bit to think of how much he did for her.
“Mmhmm. I moved here to help my brother out with his horde of children.” Admitted Tyri with a small smile. “I might not have a lot of children myself, but I did become their mother since they lost theirs at a young age.” She gave a slight shrug as she wrapped her hands around a cup of tea. “You know me, a softie at heart who can’t say no when others need some help.”
“Very true.” Chrysanthe gave a soft chuckle. “I guess I’m attracted to types like you, else I would have run away from Ephrym a long time ago. Even if I look a bit scrawny, it’s not his fault. It’s my own for not taking better care of things that I should have been more focused on.”
“You’re blaming yourself, eh?” Tyri shook her head. “No one can ever expect the path that their children choose, they just have to keep an eye out if they need support and the like. Some children can become bitter enemies of their families, at least yours is just taking a bit of a chance at adventure as reckless as it was. I’m sure they’ll return home soon enough, it’s a shame that I never got the chance to meet them but that once when they were toddlers.”
“You think so?” Chrysanthe twisted another piece of the pastry. Even while she was slowly eating more food, the hybrid was also partly playing with the snack while thinking. “I don’t want to continue moping around Ephrym since he has so much on his shoulders already, but part of me wonders why I didn’t do more as a mother. I was too busy being the sniper, helping out with the crew more than helping out with my own children. I taught them how to shoot and fight, but never coddled them like others would.”
“Would they be able to survive if you coddled them?” Tyri asked after a moment. “It’s nice to think that you can smother someone in love, but you’re living on the high seas and dealing with dangers left and right. Don’t think your family has such luxuries, right?” The Geian chuckled. “And if you do then I need to sign up for that crew. It would be a nice vacation to just travel the world and enjoy life on all those islands ya visit.” She watched as Chrysanthe played around with the pastry, the baker reaching out to smack at her hand as she flicked a piece across the table absentmindedly. “Ya better be eatin’ more of that since I don’t want the next breeze to blow you down the street on my watch.”
“There have been dangers, yes.” Replied Chrysanthe with a slight pout as she was chastised again. One would think that she was a girl and this was her mother or something! Sheesh. Still, there was a smile on her lips as she resumed eating while thinking about Tyri’s words. Was it better to just let them grow up on their own like this? Even as dangerous as it was? Ephrym had mentioned having faith in their children before, but it was so hard to imagine them being so far away and in such dangerous waters on their own. She was someone who chased after action and hated waiting around, so it was very tough to be patient and not get consumed with worry at the moment. “I’ll take a whole basket of sweets so don’t worry. I’ll do my best to gain back a few pounds too.” She added after taking a bite and thinking some more. “I suppose dwelling on things and just talking about it over and over won’t change anything either…but that’s easier said than done.”
“I know.” Tyri’s expression did soften at the admission. “I worried over you for weeks after you sailed away, but at the end of the day you made it through. And here we are, having a meal together after years apart.” She smiled. “You taught your children how to survive so I’m sure you’ll be sharing a meal together again one day as well.”
“You really like to make me sound like some worrying fool, don’t you?” Quipped Chrysanthe though she couldn’t help but to smile again. “You truly worried for that long?”
“I lit a candle every day until I got your first letter.” Tyri replied. “Perhaps you could do the same until you see yours again too.”
“Maybe.” Chrysanthe nodded. “I know Ephrym wanted to visit some sort of trademark in the near future for good fortune. A waterfall where we can toss something to wish for luck and good will for those in our hearts.” It was something he had brought up recently to try to encourage her that everything would be alright at the end of the day. Not many went that way because of superstitions, but what could possibly happen? They had already survived so much and Chrysanthe truly wasn’t that invested in spirits. She had already fought against so many odds and refused to allow anyone to control her life. She could only hope that her children kept the same attitude and fought against any obstacles that appeared in their own adventures as well.
“Just be careful there. I’ve heard some strange rumors that some earthlings who made that hike came back looking different or something.” She shook her head. “Nothin’ that harmed anyone, but more so that they just had some weird traits like feathers in their hair or glowing eyes. Strange, right?”
“Very, but I suppose we’ll see. I want to toss in a coin for my children so that Endellion will come home safely one day.” Chrysanthe was stubborn like that and even if there were some weird rumors about spirits or some journey making them change, it was better than simply sitting around and hoping some news would show up after all these months apart. “It’ll be an adventure, that’s for certain though.” Traveling to an island rarely seen because of how mysterious those waters could be in the southern sea, finding their way once they got on the island and then returning safely home…it would truly be a test, but Chrysanthe wanted the challenge so that she could clear her mind and try to focus on the path ahead instead of dwelling on the past.
“I believe in ya. That is as long as you make sure you start eating and sleeping better.” Teased Tyri quietly. “Speaking of adventures though, it’s been a while since your last letter. You have to fill me in on all these sailing stories and fights with beasts and pirates alike.”
Chrysanthe chuckled. “I have lived quite a life over the past decade or so. Let me tell you some of my favorite moments and how Ephrym nearly got us killed at least three times in less than a month before. We ended up sinking another ship that very month, getting quite the bounty for those scoundrels as they got caught swimming to port…” And so they sat there, enjoying the rest of the morning together while Chrysanthe waited on Ephrym to return so that they could go to that festival and then make plans for their next journey to wish for good fortune and plan for the path forward.
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