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 Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:32 pm
Summer has always been a powerful season for children. The magic of a warm breeze meant endless days of play, for those who didn’t have to help with chores, and nights of star chasing. Countless festivals roamed the land bringing troupes and bizarre creatures along that would only fuel little imaginations.
Calliana adored summer. For the time being she was out of her lessons and free to roam about the fields with her friends as she pleased. Four little geian girls wandered with Calliana in the evening din, empty jars in their hands and hearts at the ready. They were close enough to town that they wouldn’t get in trouble for being out so late, but still ‘old’ enough to take life into their own hands! Somewhere out there was Casimir, who had declined coming along, but at least she wouldn’t get in trouble for not inviting him.
They were already on their way out into the field proper when Calliana dropped her jar. Thankfully it was made of a thick, hearty glass and didn’t break though it did roll a ways away. With a yelp the little one too after it, “Go on ahead! I’ll catch up!” She called back.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:33 pm
[Corny via Discord]
Getting his land legs back was always an amusing endeavor. Mako ran as quickly as he could, wobbling every few steps. The ship had docked late that morning, and the boy had run off as soon as his chores had been done. As much as he loved his sea home, he had to admit to enjoying the stops on dry ground. It was a change of scenery, and, most importantly, a change of people. Mako was mild mannered but quite adventurous. Seeing different people in different places broke up the usual routine just enough.
A bit of uneven ground sent his still wobbling legs flailing, and he tumbled to the ground with a laugh. He panted happily and flipped to look at the sky. The sun was setting, the air was warm, there was a cool breeze... It was perfect.
Was the breeze carrying voices? He perked up and raised his head to look around. It took a moment, but soon enough he noticed another youngling running in his direction, plus a few other small forms beyond that. Immediately curious, he sat up and watched. The other didn't appear to have noticed him yet. Were they chasing something? He couldn't tell. Just to make sure he wasn't about to be run over, he raised his hand and waved a little.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:34 pm
Violet curls bounced around her shoulders as Calli ran. She raised a hand to keep hold of the flower crown she kept atop them, worried it would come flying off, but that hand stilled when she saw a boy just laying in the way! She came to a gradual stop, her eyes scrunching as she took it in. “Why are you laying down like that? Are you okay?”
He looked a little younger than herself, or at the very least he was just smaller, but he didn’t look hurt. What if he’d fallen off a wagon or something?
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:35 pm
[Corny via Discord]
The look he was getting made Mako c**k his head slightly. Why was she staring? Of course, he couldn't help a little staring either, but for different reasons. It wasn't often he saw a Yael on Belrea, and something about her was different. Another hybrid? "Huh?" He glanced at the ground as though he had to remind himself that he was sitting there and then started laughing. "Yeah, I'm fine," he chirped pleasantly. "Just taking a break 'cause I'm still getting my land legs back. Where're you going?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:36 pm
[3/10]
Had he hit his head? A part of her wanted to check it out for herself, but Calliana always really wanted to get back to her friends. If he wasn’t hurt too bad then she could just leave him, he’d get back, right? But maybe…Ugh, why couldn’t she just have found her jar!
“Land legs? Like, they don’t normally look like that?” Even as she spoke Calliana was looking around her. For a moment she simply stood with one hand on her hip until – “Oh! There it is.” Walking away from the boy, she crouched to pick up jar and smiled. “I’m going with my friends to catch fireflies. We can help get your land legs back, but I’m not waiting here for them; you’ll have to wobble with us until we get them.” She had priorities, after all.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:37 pm
[Corny via Discord]
Mako frowned slightly and looked at his legs. "I guess they always look like this," he murmured, now wondering is his legs did indeed change between being on the sea and being on land. He'd never bothered to pay attention before!
"Oh, fireflies! I bet that'll help. Thank you for letting me come." He grinned brightly, and eagerly but carefully rolled onto his knees to stand up. He did wobble a moment, but soon enough was stable. "Aww, I don't have my own jar." He pouted for just a second, and then shrugged amicably. "Guess I'll just give you mine!"
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:38 pm
[4/10]
Oh, okay, so he was just weird not broke. That was a little easier to deal with. For a moment she just watched him to make sure the younger boy didn’t fall back over. She thought he might and even went so far as to hold out an arm to stabilize him which…he didn’t end up needing but since it was already out…”Here, take my hand. That way if you start to fall I can catch you.”
As long as he didn’t spit in it she wouldn’t mind.
“We’ll just take Vivika’s. She and her sister have like, four, so she can share.” Now that it was all settled Calliana smiled and started to walk back to her friends. “What’s your name?”
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:39 pm
[Corny via Discord]
Mako looked at the extended hand curiously, and then smiled again. "You're nice." It wasn't a hard decision to make. Inviting him to go play and helping him walk? He sure was lucky! He took her hand and they headed off in the direction of the little bodies in the distance. From here, none of them looked like this girl. Strange. He did feel more stable with the extra hand.
And they had an extra jar for him? How lucky! "My name's Mako. What's yours?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:40 pm
[5/10]
“I know.” Calliana preened. When she threw back her head the rows of curls bounced around her ears and her golden eyes sparkled. Most of the locals they passed didn’t give her a second look, but those that were traveling through the area did pass a curious gaze at the pair. Calliana, who was used to the attention, used it as a point of pride. Why wouldn’t they look at her? She was pretty! Her fathers said so all the time.
“My name’s Calliana, but you can call me Calli.” Turning back to him, she paused a bit and thought on it. He wasn’t pure Geian, but it was rude to ask. So, instead, she said, “I like your ears.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:41 pm
[Corny via Discord]
Mako chuckled lightly at the other's confidence. "Calli. Okay." He couldn't help noticing the returned attention, and raised his free hand to touch his ears. "Thanks! They look like my papa's!" He hesitated for just a moment before cocking his head. "Are you from Yael? I've been there before.." He pursed his lips slightly, his mind on the same track. He wanted to ask, but asking outright was not polite! He didn't want a smack to the back of his head later!
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:43 pm
[6/10]
“Your papa’s huh? So your other papa is Geian? Or do you have a mama?” Or maybe he only had one papa? Families could get confusing sometimes, but Calliana was nosey enough to ask. After all, the door had been opened so it would be RUDE not to keep going! “I was born on Yael, but I’m not from there. I’m from here.” Figuring that out had been a point of pride for the little hybrid and one she was only to happy to correct.
“My Azusa and her wife live on Yael. My Papa is from Sauti annnd Baba is from Zena, but he was born in Chibale.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:44 pm
[Corny via Discord]
"Other papa? No, just one papa. From Matori! My mama is Geian." He couldn't help the delight he felt as Calli elaborated on her own background. Then she was listing a lot of names and places and... it was all quite confusing to him. "You must have a really big family," he observed in awe. "My papa's side is small, but I got lots of aunts and an uncle on mama's here. I only got one brother though. His name's Ronan. He's back on the boat with mama and papa." His legs fumbled a slight bit, but thanks to the support he was easily able to catch himself. "Getting my land legs back!" he said excitedly. He certainly didn't want to stumble while chasing fireflies.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:45 pm
[7/10]
They had already bypassed the area where she’d initially dropped the jar and while her friends were still some distance away at least she could see them now. “I do, but that’s okay. Just means more gifts for my name day.” And if she didn’t then there were some really guilt trippy letters that would be sent out. She knew some of her siblings lived further away from her and some even had kids, but really, it was just rude not to send gifts!
When he wobbled she couldn’t help clucking her tongue even though she did stop to help him. “You keep stumbling around like that and I’ll have to carry you.” Honestly, maybe she should? It might make things a little easier. "How come Ronan isn't out here to help you walk? Or can he not walk at all?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 5:23 pm
Mako gave a soft exclamation of delight, with a hint of jealousy. If all the people Calli had listed gave her gifts, she must get a lot of them! "We travel most of the time, but there's always something waiting for us at grandma and grandpa's; especially if we missed our name day." The whole crew would usually chip in to get something for the younglings aboard as well, but space was limited so it was never anything big. "You don't need to carry me," he assured with a chuckle. "It's a lot better than it was earlier!" His grin widened at the mention of his brother. "I finished my chores first, so I got to get off the ship first. He'll need a little bit to get his land legs, too, but I'm always around him anyway. It's nice to see new people."
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2022 12:39 pm
They were close enough now that Calliana could hear hear friends voices on the wind. She still couldn't make out everything they were saying, but the girls were laughing about something and jumping around. The first blips of firefly glow were starting to dot the horizon and she felt her blood thrum because of it. "Is your brother going to get mad if he can't find you?" It was an actual worry; they were close enough to town for adults to find them if they really needed to, but far enough from the main path that the fireflies would show up. By the time she'd asked the question the little Geian girls had turned their attention to Calliana and her new friend. "There you are, Calli! We were starting to worry." One of the girls approached the two, quickly followed by the rest and her curious eyes turned to Mako. "Who're you?""This is Mako. He helped find my jar and I told him he could catch fireflies with us." She straightened up, looking for all the world like the little leader she was. "Isn't that right, Mako?"
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