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 Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:16 am
 (Lines by kaname423, Colors by Elyessi)
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:34 pm
Table of Contents / Rules / Contact Information
ToC
Staff Post
-Cert, Link to Official Uncert & Inventory
Table of Contents & Rules
News/Updates
Basic Info
RP Log
Art (Official and Non)
Growth Requirements
Rules
Do not post in this thread unless you are staff, myself, or invited first. By posting this I am agreeing to follow ToS and shop rules, so I would invite the reader to do the same.
Contact Information
I am always open for plotting/rps! That being said, some ways you can contact me are listed below;
PM
Discord: PaintedMoose *1121
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:41 pm
Mino'aka
Race: Hapuna
Gender: Female
Pronouns: She/Her
Fiancé: Olokun
Physical Description: Mina is on the shorter side for Hapuna ( just a little over 4'0" ) and prides herself on her shiny scales
Three Descriptors: Stylish, Ambitious, Romantic
Personality: While not entirely vain, Mina does care a great deal about the image she presents to others. She wants very badly to be seen in a glowing light so she does her best to make herself as presentable as possible. After all, when disguised as 'Hokuloa' the same light that brings close can also be used as a 'weapon' when reflected off her scales! So, as much as it is a point of pride, it's also practical or so she tells herself.
As much as Mino'aka loves being the center of attention she's a very goal oriented girl and doesn't wait around for others to take the lead. In fact, she's become very adept at setting out on her own! She may come across as air-headed like some of her friends, but in reality her intelligence is just hidden behind a flamboyant attitude. More often than not she'll use that charisma to get what she wants and further her own objectives in life.
Mina is a hopeless romantic. For all of her determination and grit, she's still just a young girl with a blossoming heart. She's a bit of a gossip, likes to stick her nose into the 'romantic woes' of others, and usually has an opinion to solve everything even if it isn't warranted! In that regard she can come across as silly, but to her it's just a part of being alive. There is no greater force in the world than love to her, and to that end why shouldn't it be encouraged?
Interesting Facts:
-Likes to 'disguise' herself with a mask and call herself Hokuloa (a variant of Venus) to 'solve crimes and save others from terror'
-is actually pretty athletic and enjoys playing a variety of games
Theme
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:43 pm
History
Growing up as an only child afforded Mino just the sort of attention needed to blossom. Her mother is a strong willed woman who is constantly at arms with her more exuberant daughter while her father is much more passive. Mino has seen more than her fair share of marital arguments between the pair, usually over how little her father makes, but she does her best not to let it show how much it effects her. Her mother's overly critical attitude has pushed her into being the best version of herself that she can be and more often than not it isn't a version that her mother wants to see.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:43 pm
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:45 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:31 am
Prentice Growth Form Character Name: Mino'aka
Class Promotion: Mage [Sorcerer]
Current Location: Matori
Journal: x
Growth Point Links:
[5] Defenders of Justice - Olokun
[5] Run Free! - Ninaeleth
[5] A Local Disaster - Olokun
[5] Back Alley Potions - Olokun
[1] Solo x
Class Affinity/Choice Solo: 4
Growth Blurb: Now that she's officially settled in Matori, Mina has started gathering allies and taking the underworld by storm! She knows she's in over her head now, but as long as she keeps trying then she feels like she can really make a difference in taking down crime.
Physical Description:
Taking inspiration from this and this. I'd definitely like her to have some sort of armored pieces for protection.
While her hair should stay long, I'd like to sway out the bow for hair sticks instead, but maybe with a bit more flare? Maybe with some little dangling heart charms or something.
Keeping her ears pierced but feel free to play around with the style of jewelry.
Body Type: Lean muscle
Preferred Artists: Anyone!
WIPs: Sure!
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Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:33 am
Youngling Solo 1
As much as she enjoyed exploring Mina adored her time in Haukea all the same. It’s vibrancy never ceased to amaze her and since it was a hub of local trade to Kahikina she got to see all kinds of people. Of course, she was never allowed to branch away from her mother in thicker crowds; the woman made sure of that one! She kept a sharp eye on her daughter, chastising her when Mina so much as looked somewhere she shouldn’t, and it would inevitably start an argument between the two. Why couldn’t she just UNDERSTAND? There was so much to see, so much to DO, that had NOTHING to do with staying home and safe!
“What have I told you about staring at those ships, Mino’aka? They’re nothing but trouble.”
“Aww, come on! They’re not even close! Just the little ones are here.” And in truth she wasn’t wrong. The bigger ships were much further out to sea while the smaller vessels were being used to navigate the harsher environment of the reef. While Mina had grown used to seeing Aishans from time to time the ones that lingered near the dock were new. They weren’t as tall, nor did they seem to have the same long whiskers on their head like the Aishans did. And when one turned, she could see his eyes and they looked just like hers!
“Mama, look! That man looks just like papa!” Naturally he barely looked like him at all! The only resemblance was his golden hair, and beyond that he might as well have been a stone! “I wonder where he’s from. Can we ask?” She started to slosh through the shallows toward the dock when her hand was snatched, and Mina was tugged back into the reef.
“You will do no such thing! There is nothing that man has that you need. It doesn’t matter where he’s from, anyway; soon enough he’ll be leaving, and it won’t make a lick of difference to you.”
“Hokuloa could ask him…” She groused.
“What was that?”
“Nothing!”
Her mother didn’t know about her ‘alter ego’ and Mina wasn’t keen on sharing it. She knew the older Hapuna wouldn’t approve. She was already bitter that Mina chose to spend so much time away from home when there was plenty to do here. There wasn’t a day that didn’t go by that the two of them weren’t butting heads over something.
When she was a little minnow, it had been easy to believe that the reef was her entire world. At the time it was endless, an ever-expanding landscape of fun and relaxation! As Mina grew, however, it all started to sink in. It was nice, but it was boring too. There was something inside of her that kept tugging the Hapuna to go further and further out until she eventually started branching out deep away from the sun’s warmth. The journey was always terrifying, but oh so rewarding. Every time she did it Mina felt like the bravest girl in the world, so, when her mother had turned her back, she scuttled off after the blonde man.
She swam up to the underside of the dock and grasped the slick wood with her hands. Waves lapped up against the shoreline around her, bouncing the little one too and frow with the current. If she craned her head just right, she could see him speaking with a few others sort of like him, but also very much not at the same time. One had darker hair and crystals like a cave while another had eyes as bright as a Moakai’s antennae. Now that she really got a good look at him Mina could see that he wasn’t nearly as old as she’d assumed. He was just taller than any Hapuna she’d met, but he was young, possibly around her age! There was an ugliness about him that resided strictly in the fact she wasn’t used to earthling appearances, but he also…had an undeniable charm. Especially when he smiled.
THAT’S the kind of boy she wanted to fight for. When he reached over to pat his friend on the shoulder, she could see the muscles in his arms move and Mina couldn’t help giving a little squeal. Instantly, she clamped a hand over her mouth and hid beneath the dock.
“What is it, Ira?”
“I thought I heard a girl…” She could hear his ‘boots’ clomping on the wood above her and Mina did her best to remain quiet. If she peeked just hard enough, she could see him through the cracks. “Guess that trip took a lot more out of me than I thought.” He laughed and oh, Mina could have squealed again! It was wonderful! “Come on, lets get moving before the captain comes looking for us.”
As his group started to leave Mina chanced another look. He was far from the first ‘crush’ she’d ever had and wouldn’t likely be the last, but he certainly WAS the most unique. He didn’t have a fin one on him! No gills and his scales were so plain except for a few on his shoulders. She wondered what he would have looked like if all his scales were that bright of a pink? He would have been a real dream boat then~
She was content just to hang there and watch him all day. Might have if her mother hadn’t appeared and tugged on her ear fin. “Mino’aka! How many times do I have to punish you before you learn?!”
“MAMA! Let me go!”
“You just wait until we get home!”
With one last look back at the dock, Mina floated along behind her mother as the older Hapuna drug her away.
[956]
[3]
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Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:10 pm
Youngling Solo 2
That was far from the last time Mina had caught herself spying on the earthling boys. She’d since learned that they were traders from a far-off land and were here to broker trade deals with the locals. They hadn’t expected to see the elidae, but thankfully it hadn’t scared them off! If anything, it gave them more reason to stay and Mina found herself all the happier for it.
Her mother wasn’t as keen on her newfound ‘obsession’ though. She was constantly chastising Mina for peeping on them whenever they came closer to shore and asking questions about the earthlings.
“If you were meant to know these things then you already would! Now get back to your chores before I give you more!”
Still, she couldn’t stop Mina from getting closer. One evening the little Hapuna found herself on the shallow end of the reefs, looking out toward the soft glow of their fire. The earthlings had made a camp a little way inland, but close enough to get to their boat if need be. They were a loud bunch and sometimes a few would stumble out onto the sand singing songs that made her laugh. She would wait for the chance to see Ira again, but sadly, he never came. Evening after evening, once her chores were done, Mina would come back to the shoreline hoping to catch a glimpse of him before she would be called back home. All she wanted to do was talk! But all the other men were so much older, and Mina just didn’t want to deal with that. What if they turned her away just like the elders did?
And then one evening her patience was rewarded.
Mina was ready to call it quits when she saw Ira coming toward the shore. He carried a bucket in his hand and right before he got to the water’s edge, he crouched down. For a moment she simply watched to see what he was doing. The earthling pawed around the loose sand for a time before pulling out a few shells. He would dust them off on his pants leg before tossing them into the bucket and beginning his search anew.
“Don’t you have shells at home?” Maybe it wasn’t the right thing to ask because as soon as she DID he jumped. The boy landed flat on his butt in the sand, his eyes whipping around to the reef where she waded. At first Mina had been floating along, but now she stood in water that came up to her hips. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to make you fall.”
“I-It’s okay, I just didn’t know you were there.” The embarrassed earthling gingerly picked himself up and dusted the sand off his breeches. “Do you usually stalk people?”
“I wasn’t stalking you! You just happened to be where I was.”
“Uh huh. So why have I seen you before?”
“What?” Mina’s cheeks flushed. She’d been caught!
“Every time we come down to the dock you’re right there! I thought maybe your parents were nearby but now I’m not so sure. What’s the matter? Don’t they have BOYS back home?”
Mina felt her cheeks puff up. “Yeah, but not UGLY ones!” With a final stomp of her foot in the waves Mina turned her back on him and dove back under the water. What a jerk! Every question she’d thought about asking him fled her mind now that her ire had been raised. Who did he think he was?! Just because he looked a little different from the boys back home didn’t mean he WAS any different! He was just as annoying as they were!
[609]
[2]
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:19 pm
Class Choice Solo - Sorcerer
Mino’aka pulled her chair up a little closer to the tiny half desk in her room and eagerly looked down at the sheet in front of her. It had been ages since she’d tried writing home. The last few letters she’d sent to her mother were never reciprocated and while the first might have been explained away with courier problems, the second, third, fourth, and fifth were…Well, she was probably still cross then, wasn’t she? When Mina left it had been in the middle of a fight with the older woman about what she wanted out of life and despite her father’s mediation the damage was already done.
With those memories still floating through her mind, Mina decided to write to him instead. Maybe this way someone would finally be able to read it?
Dear Papa,
How are you? This is the last time I’m going to try reaching out and if I don’t hear back from either one of you I’ll just assume you don’t want to talk to me anymore. I’m sure Mama’s still mad, she was always good at holding grudges, but I’m hoping that you’ll understand. I didn’t want to leave like that. I wanted you both to see me off on my journey, like everyone else at the dock, but she’s always been good at testing me.
Even now she could hear her mother from across the hall as Mina shoved clothing into a knapsack. She was angry at her for deciding to leave on a whim, called her foolish for not having a solid plan, called her dreams childish…Why would she ever stay around a woman like that? It wasn’t good for either one of them.
I can do magic now! I never knew I could before. I’ve been training with my whip everyday and when I go out on patrol it’s my go to helper. The other night I lost it, though, and I was almost taken down when a beam of light shot out of my fingers! It’s going to take a lot of practice to be able to do more and to have any kind of accuracy, but it’s a start. Every night since I’ve been able to tap into my magic a little more so I’m hoping to afford a tutor soon. Or at the very least to get my hands on a book.
Last night I stopped a thief from taking everything the bakery owner had and he gave me a reward! I didn’t even ask for anything, but now my room’s covered for the rest of the month. Can you imagine it?! I think the more I work with my magic and my whip the better fighter I can become. I know it’s not the kind of life you and Mama wanted for me, but it’s mine. I’m happy here, Papa, but I wish I could have been happy back home too. I miss the reef, I miss you and my friends…It’s not the same here. I love it, Ir really do, but it just makes me wonder.
Take care of yourself Papa. Even if you never write me back know that I still love you so much and I hope you still love me.
Sitting back in her seat, Mina gave the letter a good once over before folding it neatly into a sealed package. She’d added a few other things as she went, mostly trinkets from the places she’d been, in the hopes that if the letter didn’t help then physical evidence might. Her mother would be the hard sell, but maybe Papa…well, he was such a wet towel compared to her. To this day she couldn’t fathom how a pair like that managed to work, but they made it happen.
When she had her bundle all ready to go Mina hopped up from her seat and slid into a pair of cute slip on shoes. After admiring her own beauty for a moment longer than necessary, the young Hapuna scuttled out of the room and out toward the courier’s office. She knew the way well enough that she didn’t even have to ask anymore which was a blessing considering how packed the streets were. With spring so close many were understandably excited to see the village’s tourism rise and were preparing for the crowds. For her part Mina was also preparing just in a security sense instead of financial.
The courier’s office was a modest building near the edge of town that had its own Xaraan stable in the back. She could already see a number of young riders suiting up for the last round of the day, and when she saw one face in particular Mina started to run. “Zara! Zara, wait!”
Zara was a gorgeous Matorian girl who was easily the tallest woman Mina had ever seen. Her hair flowed like fresh water when she let it hang, but when she worked it was always pulled back into a severe bun. When she turned toward Mina her heart stalled, then outright stopped all together once she smiled. “Oh, hey Mina. Another letter?”
“Yeah.” With her cheeks warm from a flustered blush, Mina dug through her satchel and produced the letter as well as the proper coin. “Um, when you get back, maybe we could get something to eat at that new café? The one the Belrean opened?”
“Sure, sounds nice. I’ve been wanting to try it for a while.” Zara pocketed the coin and slid Mina’s package in her letter bag. When she turned back to the Hapuna the light hit her golden eyes just right and Mina could have swooned. “I might be gone for a few days, but I’ll hit you up when I get back. Don’t go with anyone else, okay?”
“Y-yeah, okay.” As depressing as the letter had been to write getting to see Zara was all it took to bring Mina’s mood right back up. The Matorian just had a way about her that made Mina envious. When she saddled up her Xaraan it was a with a practiced confidence that made Mina envious. Up there, sitting so far above the ground, she didn’t look any bit of her youth. She looked like a goddess and honestly, Mina wasn’t sure if she liked watching the show or if she wished it were her.
She stayed there a while longer until Zara and her coworkers left through the Southern gate. Even though she was waving like crazy Mina didn’t think she’d been noticed, but oh…What if she were a rider instead? She could learn it if she tried! But still…her work with magic and the whip would help her Zara so much quicker than trying something she could never be.
When her heart started to settle Mina turned back toward the road and meandered back to the inn at a slower pace. What was it with Matori and all its beauty? Everyone she passed had a general air of grandeur about them, even those covered in grime and the scenery was spectacular as well. Why hadn’t she come here sooner?
You’ll have to fight harder now to keep it this way. And the hardest part would be hiding her ‘secret’. Yet, it was still something Mina wanted to accomplish.
[1210]
[4]
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2023 11:36 am
Prentice Solo
One of Mina’s more recent jobs had been with Nin and a smugglers ring of illegal Xaraan races. While she’d come to understand that the races themselves could be a fun event it was only if the animals were properly kept and these most certainly hadn’t been.
After the raid the young Hapuna was doing her rounds through the compound when she noticed a small Perzi kitten hidden away in a back cage. It looked painfully thing, shuddered with illness, and had such a lifeless look to it that her heart immediately broke. At the time it had been the first instance of Mina seeing such a creature so when she saw it’s white complexion, translucent crystals, and wide eyes she’d thought the poor thing was already lost. Still, when it looked up at her and a mewed she didn’t hesitate to take it.
After some healing and a lot of cleaning she even came to find out the Perzi had a moon shaped mark on his forehead. Artymus, is what she called him, and from that point on she had her first ‘partner in crime’. As much as she would have rather left the Perzi back in her abode he seemed keen on following her on patrols and in all actuality was a breeze to train. He had his moments where caution won out over her bravery, but on the whole he was there for Mina in a way no one else had yet to be. She had friends, certainly, and allies to call upon, but having the steady presence of another at her side meant the world to the Hapuna. Every day he walked with practiced confidence at her side, and at night Artymus would fight just like a creature twice his size only to end up snuggled in her lap by dawn.
[305]
[1]
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Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2024 11:53 am
Stage 2 Solo 1
Mino’aka gingerly tucked her nightgown around her legs as she sat down at the writing desk. A swollen moon took over much of the sky and cast its light upon the ocean below. With the way the boarding house had been rebuilt many of the rooms now had large, bay windows that overlooked the water. It had been so long since she’d been able to fall asleep with her eyes on the sea that Mina would often cat nap pressed against the thick glass and wake at odd hours of the night. More than once a member of staff made a passing comment about her – usually with a lighthearted laugh – but she couldn’t bring herself to show more than a flush. There weren’t many things that reminded her of home in Matori so when something tugged at her heart she leapt with both feet.
Once her arm had healed enough to support the effort, Mina decided to write home. Not once had her parents responded to any of her other letters, so in her heart she knew this would be the last and with that in mind she took her time crafting it.
Hello Papa,
I miss you. I don’t know if you’re not writing me back because you don’t want to or if Mama’s keeping the letters from you, but I wish you would say something.
I’ve thought about coming home more times than I’d like to visit, but I know if I do she wouldn’t let me leave. She would put a chain around my leg and make it so I could never leave the house again! I know she means well, really I do, but Papa I’m happy here. It’s hard work and there are days when I just want to give up, but I really feel like what I’m doing is making a difference. I’ve been working with locals to stop smuggling rings, I helped to lock up criminals in Oba and I’ve been offered a position to guard a merchant’s wife. It’s more than I ever could have dreamed of and I just…I’d really love to share that with you.
Mina took a moment to compose herself. The little Hapuna leaned back in her seat, and reached up to dab away the tears collecting in her eyes. Even if he never go the letter just getting it out after keeping this buried inside her for so long felt good. Maybe, just maybe, this might be the one to reach him?
I also think I’m in love. I don’t know for sure, it’s all very new, but he’s a good man. He’s a fisherman named Olokun and I think he likes me too, but we haven’t said anything. You’d like him, papa; you really would. There aren’t many like him and I’m so lucky to have him in my life, even if it doesn’t turn into anything special.
Take care of yourself, papa. If I don’t hear back from you I won’t write anymore, but I hope…I hope you’ll send something. Even if it’s to yell at me I just want to hear from you again.
Love,
Mina
It was a pathetic attempt to get back in his good graces, that much she knew, but how could she not try? Despite the strained relationship with her mother Mino’aka had always adored her father. Knowing that he might be hurting because of her, or worse, that he thought she wasn’t even trying to talk to him wouldn’t stand. She just hoped that maybe one day he could accept the life she’d chosen for herself and still choose to love her.
[603]
[2]
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2024 8:07 am
Stage 2 Solo 2
There wasn’t a part of her soul that had expected anything back from her parents. As much as she would have loved to hear from them, when Mina let that last letter go she was resigned to knowing this was it. She’d had a few days to process it all, to let her melancholy consume her, until reality settled in and she got back on with her life.
So when the sweet, older woman who ran the boarding house handed her a letter Mina nearly fainted. It couldn’t be for her, could it? Surely not; surely not. For a long while she simply looked down at the folded parchment, so worn from sea travel and calloused hands. Everything about it seemed so off from Matori that she knew it had come from the Kahikina and for that alone she felt like crying.
She’d rushed upstairs to her room, nearly flinging her satchel of fruits in the process, and before she even fully shut the door Mina was tearing through it. Her fingers couldn’t unleash the letter fast enough. What would it say? Was it from her father? Or…her mother? Either one’s fine… Even if she secretly prayed for the former. Any news is good news! Or so she desperately wanted to believe.
A knock at the door behind her caused a frustrated screech to come out and in a flash Mina was whipping it open, nearly shrieking out a, “What?!” at the poor little thing outside. It was the old woman’s grandson – a hefty, if helpful young man – who cautiously held up a bag.
“Y-you forgot this…downstairs…?” His voice wobbled.
Mina sighed and collected herself long enough to apologize, even going so far as to tell him he could pick a treat from the bag, before closing the door again. With all of that taken care of, the Hapuna finally unfolded the text and started to read.
Hello sweetheart,
Your mother told me I shouldn’t bother writing back to you, but I can’t keep away forever. When you left it hurt us both and even though she won’t admit it I know it stuck with your mother more than she lets on. If she had it her way we would forget about you entirely, but I know that’s just the heartbreak. She loves you, as do I, and that’s why I couldn’t just not write back.
I’m glad to hear you’re taking care of yourself. I have to admit, when I learned you’d not only left home but the Kahikina completely I worried. If you had just gone off with your friends to explore or ‘save the world’ then maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad, but Mina…Darling, did you have to go so far? What made you think that was smart, to get on a ship with people you’ve never met and live in a city with no prospects? It hasn’t escaped my attention that you would have had no place to sleep, no coin to eat with and honestly dear, how much can heroism pay? You’ve not talked about it, but I have to ask – how are you getting by? I hope by now you’ve put that mind of yours to work but I just…I worry.
She was good at that these days; making others worry with her life choices. Mino’aka sank down onto the bed and lowered the letter onto her lap. If she was so smart then why hadn’t she noticed how much her ‘crime fighting’ would hurt those closest to her? Her mother, father…Oly…they’d all had to sit back while she took one risk after the other. At least her parents had known it was her and not an alter ego, but honestly, did that make it any better?
I know I’m sounding like your mother and that’s probably the last thing you want right now. It just felt as if I should say something now, before it all gets swept away again or I lose you completely. I won’t ask you to come home; partly because I know you’ve got your own life now and because I know that even if you didn’t you wouldn’t. You get that from her, you know. And this young man you seem to care for? My sympathies go to him for choosing such a stubborn partner.
Still, I wouldn’t mind seeing those closest to you one day. Whether it’s by you coming here for a visit or maybe one day I’ll come to you. It breaks my heart that you couldn’t find the support you needed here, but I’m comforted to know you have it there.
She didn’t know how long she sat on the bed just pouring over his letter. There were pages and pages of stories about neighbors, little things he did during the day, new recipes her mother had tried, etc. To so many it would seem like rambling, but from a man who rarely spoke up it was gold. It was as if he were getting it all out too, just as she had in her initial letter, to a child he might never see. And spirits, how she loved him for it.
That night she fell asleep with his words pressed close to her heart. Having him so close meant the world to her and knowing he hadn’t written her off completely gave Mina the peace of mind she needed to get the first full night’s rest she’d had in weeks.
[908]
[3]
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Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2024 3:15 pm
Stage 2 Solo 3
The early morning fog clung to the docks as Mina strode past. Instead of her usual armor she found herself in a lovely little dress that gave shape without losing any sense of modesty. Lengths of orange and pink, mauve and purple, with bits of red shimmered down to her feet as she nearly glided across the well-worn planks. She’d twirled her hair as best she could and arranged it with little pins atop her head, just as Mina had seen some of the more affluent ladies do in the market. Her meeting for the day wasn’t set to happen until daybreak but seeing as she’d barely been able to sleep Mina had decided to set out a little bit earlier.
Along with the accessories came the hint of a limp and a certain stiffness in her left arm. The sheer sleeves of her gown were nearly enough to hide the bandages, but once anyone came to close, they were painfully obvious. It wasn’t how she wanted this meeting to go; not by far. Today would determine her future employment and coming around as battered as the last fish in a barrel just wouldn’t do. What if he decides not to hire you? What then? At that point she wouldn’t have many options. The odd jobs she’d taken thus far were enough to give her a bed to sleep in and food in her stomach, but she couldn’t build a life like that. Mina wanted her own home, clothes that weren’t hand me downs from well meaning strangers, and jewelry. Not an opulent amount but a few pieces here and there so she could look her best! Was that so wrong? To want nice things?
As her eyes drifted out over the water she felt a pit of darkness growing in her stomach. Don’t lose yourself; you can’t let your nerves get to you. Mina closed her eyes, took a deep breath and counted back from ten before reopening them. It barely helped, but it was enough to get her back to walking, this time with the intent of going further into the village.
She was sure the man she was supposed to meet would stand out, and she was right. Even though there were a fair amount of Obans fluttering about the central trade area no one could compare to him. He was a taller sort of fellow with the sort of physique many would envy and many more would lust after. Mina herself had caught herself looking at him a little too long a time or two, though she was quick to divert her attention. His skin was lighter than most Obans she’d spoken too, though no less warm in hue, and his hair reminded her of a full-bodied wine. When he noticed her approach his face lit up with a subtle sort of smile and those eyes, so full of promise, glowed.
“I’m glad you could join me, Miss Mino’aka. I was worried I had gone to the wrong place.”
“No no, you’re at the right spot, Lord Maru. I can promise that what Deska’s lacks in presentation they more than make up for in taste.”
“I hope you’re right. I rode all night just to make sure I wouldn’t miss our meeting and the trail rations we had along the way weren’t nearly enough.” Maru reached for the door, then pulled it to himself to allow her to go in first. It was comical, honestly; to see a man of Oban nobility act so gallantly around a nearly destitute foreigner.
His words, though, are what caught Mina as odd. “You rode all night? I thought you said you had business in town. If it was out of the way I could have come to you.”
“It’s okay; really. I decided to take a few days ride with a few personal guards to…clear my head. My father’s trial has been…difficult and I needed the air.”
Ah yes, his father. The man who had been taken away in chains, screaming and raving like a mad man during the wedding chaos. Mina found her heart breaking for this poor man, especially when she caught look of the torn look he carried as they made their way to their seats. When they sat and placed their orders, the noble Lord Maru taking his time pondering over the smaller menu, she took the time to study him. Truly study him. If she was going to work with his wife she would surely be at Lord Maru’s side as well and with his father’s history…
Well, Mina wanted to make sure he wasn’t wrapped up in those sorts of things as well.
“Did Lady Usai come with you?”
Maru’s lip curled into a little smirk and he leaned back in his seat. “She did, but she’s back at the inn fast asleep. I just wanted to make sure you were still interested in the position before introducing you.”
Or, as Mina heard it, ”I want to make sure she’s safe around you”. That sort of forward thing was commendable and having him so worried over his wife was exactly why they were meeting in the first place.
When his eyes caught onto her bruises, even the wrap around her arm, his eyebrows pinched. “What happened?”
“I was jumped during last week’s storm. A group of smugglers didn’t take kindly to a midnight visitor. I stopped them, but I was injured in the process.” Something about hiding the details, even from this man, wouldn’t have set right with her after the conversation she had with Oly. She wanted to be as upfront as possible, and if that meant owning up to some of her poorer decisions then so be it.
Maru pursed his lips, but ended up settling for a ‘hmmed’ nod. “I assume you’re well enough to be out of bed? I’d hate to think you were risking your recovery to come here.”
Mina smiled. “I’ve been able to move around and do light work for a week days now. The worst of the damage was to my arm, but my neighbor is a healer who has kindly been using her spells to help.” Without that old woman Mina might have had some lasting damage. In all honesty she hadn’t known just how deep the cut had gone, or what it had ripped into, but she could tell as soon as she’d touched Mina’s skin. ”Such a stupid, stupid girl you are.”
“So, with that in mind, will you be able to work? To protect Usai?”
He asked it in a casual enough manner, but Mina caught the glint in his eye. That hardness that had taken the soft red of his irises into a near flame. Whether he liked Mina or not was irrelevant; this was the sort of man who wasn’t about to play with his love’s safety.
“Lord Maru, I can say with all certainty that by my report date I will be in peak condition. Your wife’s wellbeing will be my top priority.” And she meant it. Over the course of their dinner a few conditions were discussed, as was the eventual meeting with Usai herself, but Mina found herself thinking back to the way her life had gone. In less than two weeks the amount of gold she would skyrocket and if Lord Maru was true to his word she would be living at the estate with them in her own separate quarters. She would have her own leisure time, of course, and she could pursue her own hobbies, relationships and friends. He just wanted her close so that if Usai had need Mina would be there, which didn’t sound like a terribly difficult thing.
“Do you ever plan on returning to Oba?” She’d very nearly chosen not to ask at all, but Mina had told Oly she wouldn’t be leaving Oba. So, if one day they decided to go, so would she and that…Spirits, she didn’t want that.
“Not as much. We’re in the process of moving to Matori completely. I’ll still have to handle the estate, meetings with the royal family, our business ventures; but I don’t see why all of that couldn’t be accomplished from here.” He jabbed at a piece of fish with his fork and pushed it around the plate. “I have no intention of ever living in that manor again and I will not raise a family there. It’s bad enough my wife had to live in the same halls as that man.”
That man. So he wouldn’t even refer to him as his father anymore? Mina could hardly blame him. There was so much that had happened that night and it wasn’t even that far gone that she was sure it was still hard to adjust.
The rest of the night was pleasant enough, and after promising to send Mina details of her initial start date the two parted ways. She saw the way he carried himself, the weight Maru put on his shoulders while trying to keep it from his wife and she wondered…just what sort of woman could cause a man like this to act that way? How could she inspire that kind of love?
[1537]
[5]
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