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 Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:43 pm
While life in Oba was more accommodating to Asa’s condition than Jauhar had been, it didn’t come without its pitfalls. If exposed to the dry air for long periods at a time he would often become overcome with a harsh, dry cough and a wheeze that simply wouldn’t abate. As such he spent a good chunk of the day in shadier areas or under awnings, which kept the worst of his symptoms at bay. Sometimes, however, he would get called out to tend to patients at home that couldn’t make it to the clinic and the walk back was torturous.
Even with layers of thin, cooling cloths wrapped around his head Asa still felt as if he were being roasted alive. At first it had been embarrassing to see the way children would run past him, squealing and laughing without a care in the world, while the Zenan native drug his feet. So, naturally, when he spotted a fountain that wasn’t haired over with animals and children Asa made a straight path for it.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:44 pm
[Sabra Knight]
Technically Omari wasn't supposed to wander away from the dancing school while his mother attended to meetings. Technically he thought that as long as he stayed within the city limits that meant he wasn't truly wandering too far away. Didn't he have to reach the desert before anything dangerous happened anyways? As it was Omari was restless and wanted to go and explore a little bit while his mother dealt with some important people. The boy felt old enough to manage and he had slipped from the double doors of the manor before wandering aimlessly until he spotted a fountain. Thankfully it was around the corner from the school and so he wasn't too worried when he walked towards it. A pair of dumplings were in his hands, courtesy of a vendor nearby, and the boy found himself fixated on a stranger who seemed in some dire rush to get to the fountain.
"Are you okay?" Omari asked as he caught up to the stranger and kept pace with him until they both arrived at the stone edges of the structure.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:51 pm
How was he so out of it that he hadn’t noticed the child until he spoke? Asa visibly jumped when Omari started talking and his little reaction caused the Zenan to stumble. The act itself was enough for his composure to fall for a moment, allowing several dry coughs to escape, causing Asa to stop just short of the fountain. When he inhaled he found his breathing wasn’t exactly deep and had an audible wheeze to it.
Still, when he looked at the boy his smile was calm, if not tired. “Yes, it’s just been a long day.” He moved a little bit forward until he was able to sit on the stones surrounding the cooling water, and Asa’s shoulders slumped. “Thank you for your concern. That’s very kind of you.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:12 pm
[Sabra Knight]
Oh no! Omari's gaze widened with concern when he listened to the iceling's wheezing. Was...was that a normal thing for the northern races? He was thankful that the man was able to make it to the fountain and a smile crossed his lips at the thanks. "You're welcome! I know long days can be bad." He replied with a frown before thrusting one of the dumplings towards the stranger. "Warm dumplings always make me feel better. Do you want some water too?" Maybe he just got a lot of dust in his throat from the desert? At least the fountain was here so they could both get drinks! What could be better than some warm dumplings with refreshing water after all?
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:17 pm
“Ah, thank you.” He didn’t want to worry the child further by saying he really wasn’t in the mood to eat. The thought of anything going into his stomach at the moment made Asa feel queasy, but he smiled at the kind thought nevertheless. “Water would be nice...” It would have been better if he had a cup or a bowl with him, but as it stood Asa simply cupped his hand to dip it into the fountain. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to soothe his sore throat. “It’s a little warm to be out and about with dumplings by yourself, isn’t it?” He posed it as a casual enough question, but Asa was concerned about the fact that he didn’t seem to see anyone else around with the boy.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:01 pm
[Sabra Knight]
Omari's crimson gaze lit up as the stranger drank some water. Hopefully that would help him! If not then he would have to drag him towards his mama since she was close and surely would know what to do. After all she probably had dealt with sick people before! She had managed to watch over him the last time he got all sniffly too though a healer did give her the herbal teas for him. "You think so?" Omari blinked as his attention fluttered towards the dumplings in question. "I always enjoy them so I didn't think about that. Is it too warm for you? Is that a problem?" His mouth curved into a frown, his sorrow showing as he felt he had made a mistake. Why didn't he think about that? Maybe the stranger just needed something cold like the water? Was that it?
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:05 pm
It’s definitely a problem. “No, no, it’s no problem at all.” Still, Asa made no move to eat it and if anything he seemed to settle himself atop the fountain wall. There was still a rasp to his breathing, but in all honesty there was little he could do now beyond resting. If he strained himself then it would get worse, but not until he started to do something stupid like running or using too much magic. “I just hate taking your dumplings away from you. Are you sure you wouldn’t like them back? Growing boys need all the strength they can get.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:16 pm
[Sabra Knight]
"If you're certain." Omari pouted before starting to eat his own dumpling. "I'll eat mine first in case you change your mind." He murmured in between mouthful of dumpling. After another moment the youngling paused and tilted his head so that he could study the stranger. He really was out of place all the way out here in the desert. Certainly some foreigners did come through but Omari had never seen one that seemed like this before. "I'm Omari by the way." He finally stated with a smile. "I'm from Matori usually but Momma owns a school nearby. Are you from far away?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:22 pm
Asa reached up to gently grasp the edge of the loose scarf wrapped about his head. With a slight tug he pulled it free allowing the spray from the fountain to gently mist over his ears. At first the chill was enough to put a shiver against his skin, but after a moment it felt refreshing. “She does? What does she teach?” If she owned a school in Oba then the chances of her being Oban were high, especially considering the child’s unique appearance. Asa was far from an expert in hybrids, but those eyes...they were very telling. “I’m Asa.” Even years after the fact and it was still difficult not to give his full title as a way of introduction. “I was born in Zena and it’s very far away from here.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:35 pm
[Sabra Knight]
"Ah." Omari nodded. "She teaches dancing. Though she doesn't teach as much anymore since stay in Matori a lot." He replied honestly before reaching over to steal the second dumpling since he had already gulped down the first. Even though it was warm the boy loved the taste especially how the variety of spices mixed in with the meat always made his nose tingle. After taking one bite he reached over to let some of the fountain mist to touch his own skin and a faint shiver went down his spine. It was surprisingly cold compared to the oasis water. Was it because the water came from beneath the ground? Omari blinked as he glanced over towards the stranger. "Asa from Zena." He repeated finally almost as if in awe. "Is Zena very cold? Is that why you think everything is too warm here?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:36 pm
Dancing? Obans had schools for that? Asa could only imagine his father’s disgust at the idea. Dancing was a vital skill for those in Zenan’s upper echelons, but tutors were personally hired for those that could afford it. An entire school dedicated to it would have been laughable, but Asa personally found the idea endearing. How freeing it must be to just lose one’s self to the music without fear of keeping to form…
Seeing the way the boy practically inhaled the dumplings brought a smile to Asa’s face. The audacity of children never failed to surprise him. “Most of Zena is covered in snow year round. During the spring some parts of the south thaw just enough to see the ground, but it’s brief.” Dipping his hand in the fountain, Asa washed off his fingers and lifted his damp fingers up to his face to flick the beads of water onto his skin. “I suppose so.” He laughed a little, another cough slipping through, but even it lacked the power of its predecessors. Still, he dipped his hands back in the water for more water to drink. “The heat doesn’t agree with me. What about Matori? Is it as warm as Oba or is it cooler?”
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:00 pm
[Sabra Knight]
The youngling's gaze widened with disbelief. "Really? So it's like how the desert has sands but colder." He commented after a long thoughtful pause as he tried to imagine what a landscape would look like. How did anyone survive there? At least they had the oasis and cities in Oba to keep supplies and give people shelter! A hint of a shiver trailed across both arms and he had to resist the urge to cross them as he imagined the cold from so much snow. He had seen snow maybe once in his life but even that had melted away within a few hours in Matori. The hybrid boy shook his head before glancing back towards Asa with a frown. "Why not go back to where you are more comfortable then?" He blurted out before flushing at his own slip. "I mean...everyone has their reasons but I would hope that you find a place to make you happy and comfortable." He managed before giving a small nod. "It's warm but the ocean is there so it's cooler at nights and not that dry. We don't get snow though."
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:05 pm
Honestly, having never thought of it like that, the older Zenan’s eyes widened. “Yes, I suppose it is like that.” After all, desert had its own extremes in temperature with being severely hot during the day and near frigid at night. The only exception was that Zena was never warm; it went from tolerably cold to deadly with no inbetween.
Ah, if only things were that simple. If he were able to return to Zena with a clear future ahead of him and a place for his family to thrive he would do so that night. As it stood, however… “My sons are too young to travel.” While not entirely false it was much easier to explain than the truth. His boys could surely survive on the road, but giving them stability away from the strife of a family that would rather see them dead than alive was better. “Someday we may return but for now I think it’s best if we stay here. I’m fine so long as I stay out of the sun.” Which was, admittedly, extremely difficult.
“Maybe I should go to Matori then; it sounds lovely.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:25 pm
[Sabra Knight]
"Aww, well then I hope that things work out so that you can return." Replied Omari with complete sincerity. The stranger had seemed so delicate that it was honestly surprising to imagine him as a father but the youngling was polite enough to keep his mouth closed. Just because Asa wasn't a tank like his Papa it didn't mean he couldn't be a father as well! He glanced up towards the sky with the burning sun at the mention of it and a thoughtful expression crossed his face. If he needed to stay out of the sun then he should go inside! Omari's gaze narrowed as he glanced about before the next comment caught his attention. "It is! You should definitely visit." He chirped before standing up to stand in front of the iceling. The youngling chewed on his bottom lip almost shyly before finally offering his thoughts. "Would you like to get somewhere away from the sun? My mother's school is nearby and there's plenty of shade there."
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:30 pm
[8/10]
It would be nice to go back to the estate. As freeing as it was to travel with Ygraine, the Zenan native had thought about his home more and more since his sons had been born. It was as much their birthright as it was his and having the luxuries he’d never been able to fully utilize at their disposal would have been ideal. Still, maybe it was for the best that they never returned and it stayed a distant thought. They may have been dirty little wildlings, but they were happy.
As much as he’d rather not trouble the boy further the sun was still troubling him. At this rate he was likely going to have to hire a carriage to take him back to the inn, which would take all his funds for the day or send for Ygraine which would only cause her to worry. Still, doing so would be much more preferable than passing out in the street… “If you wouldn’t mind escorting me I think that would be wonderful.” It would also ensure that the boy made it back to his mother safe and sound. Though, with as spry as he was, Asa knew he would likely make it back just fine on his own.
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