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 Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 1:43 pm
As his usual, Oserys had managed to escape some of his chores. So now he was walking along a side path with a piece of long grass in his hand as he picked away at it. Each little piece being tossed to the ground as he hummed to himself. The boy seemed more interested in daydreaming that being productive. In his opinion there was nothing that was really worth putting in so much effort. He'd rather laze about or wander aimlessly. The more he walked the more leisurely his pace became. So long as he was out of sight of his family then he could take his time and enjoy the day. His eyes were focused on the grass as he tried to see just how small of a piece he could pick off and toss away.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 2:02 pm
A beautiful day to go out and about. Ezili had decided that she was going to test her limits by sneaking out and around the ranger patrols that her papa had set up throughout the forest. She was being so sneaky that she hadn’t even told Zeri about anything before gathering a little satchel of supplies, some food to snack on, flint and steel for fire making and even a bit of rope and netting in case she needed to set some traps along the way. It was kind of boring though considering she made it all the way to the edge of the forest without any issue, the grassy fields of Sauti greeting her as she emerged into sunlight that had been blocked by the ancient trees that towered behind her. “Well, I’m glad I set some traps to mess with them.” She nodded as if speaking to the forest as if the trees would be proud of her. “They should be better about patrolling!” No wonder bandits still managed to sneak in on occasion! Though she also respected the rangers, she also had higher expectations since she knew her older sister and father were nearly impossible to slip past. The rest of the rangers then should follow their example and be able to find her instead of letting her slip through the trees without any worries.
But then came the question of what to do now? She had nothing fun in mind minus messing with some of the patrols, the field was nice and all but did she just want to gather flowers and head back home or something? “I suppose…oh?” Ezili blinked as she realized that she was not exactly alone. There was someone else walking around out here! Smirking, Ezili decided to creep up behind the boy and watched as he plucked some grass. “I hope you aren’t using grass to make a decision. I tried that as a youngling and the flowers are horrible liars about things.” She advised as she peered over his shoulder, her teal gaze bright and mischievous.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 2:27 pm
Oserys continued on his way, taking one lazy step at a time and letting his feet take him wherever. In truth he had no real destination in mind. He only knew he'd get there when he got there and the return trip home would be just as relaxing. Still, the boy was horribly unobservant. Proof made when the voice that came from behind him caused him to startle. The grass was dropped and he jumped a little before turning his head to look over his shoulder at who spoke. "O-oh. I didn't know there was someone else here." Had he passed them and simply not seen them? He blinked a few times trying to remember. With how beautiful the girl was he doubted he'd simply walked on by without knowing. She stood out against the dull colors of the grasses. With a smile he shook his head a little. "No decision making here. I was simply trying to see what the smallest piece I could rip off was." The veins in the grass made it hard to get anything smaller than the tip of his nail though. "Should I ask what lies flowers have told you?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:06 pm
"Oof, hope I didn't ruin some important decision by startling you." Ezili teased as she watched the piece of grass float down towards the ground. Did it even work like that with grass pieces? She knew you could pluck flower petals for answers as a game, but honestly even if grass was a way to make a decision it still wouldn't be the best. At least that was Ezili's opinion after being betrayed before with such games.
"Ah, well that's not as fun." Mused Ezili with a pout as the game was explained. "As for lies? Plenty." She shook her head, eager to converse with someone especially a cute boy who wasn't involved with the rangers. They would definitely have dragged her home and told on her papa by now, so this was definitely refreshing in comparison. "Like you know trying to decide if you should go left or right in the forest once. The last petal told me left and I nearly fell off a cliff when I walked blindly forward. Then there was one time I was trying to hide but I was instantly found at the other spot when I tried using a dandelion for directions..." She pursed her lips and shook her head. "Needless to say, never rely on flowers to guide you unless you want to go diving into waterfalls. Though speaking of guidance, are you lost? This is a strange place to be wandering near, I hear that there's bandits and dangerous beasts in this forest." That much wasn't a lie, Ezili knew it to be true since she had dealt with bandits and beasts both before...she just didn't tell her parents about it for fear of being stuck at home under careful watch again.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:16 pm
He grinned as she said it wasn't as fun. Lifting his right hand he pointed at her as he spoke. "More fun than doing chores though." Which he'd gotten out of by sneaking off. As the lies were explained to him he nodded his head, his face looking like he was in serious thought. Finally he commented on the flowery directions. "Sounds like you should have done the opposite of what the flowers suggested." Maybe that could be a way to do that going forward. Whatever the flowers indicated then one should do the other option instead. "Of course, diving into a waterfall sounds refreshing. Might be good for cooling off." At the question of him being lost he took a second to look around at where he was. It wasn't an area he'd been to before but he didn't feel as though he couldn't find his way home. "Not really lost. I'be not been here before but I think I could manage to get back home if I needed to." Beasts would be an issue if he came across them. He wasn't equipped with a weapon or anything of the sort. He didn't think a small knife for widdling would do much good. Bandits likely wouldn't find him of any interest since his pockets were empty and he didn't dress fancy. "Are you a bandit?" He leaned forward to ask her with a mix of seriousness and curiosity.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:37 pm
Ezili tilted her head as she listened, pursed her lips before nodding as if to say fair enough. If she had a choice between wandering around and plucking grass or doing chores then that grass looked awful tempting, that was for certain. She knew that there was a village nearby, but she hadn't been out this way often enough to really know anyone who lived in it. Since their home was in the middle of Sauti and Tale she usually went to Tale with her family whenever they felt like going shopping, not Sauti. Maybe they should have gone to Sauti more often, she thought with a small grin. This one seemed amusing enough!
"Well, if you ever want to try just let me know. I'll let you test the waters first." She teased with a grin, her expression bright and playful in response to the suggestion. "As for the other thing, I'll keep it in mind. It's not as if I knew the flowers were going to deceive me back then." She added, shaking a finger at the stranger. "Wouldn't you want to give them the benefit of the doubt first? Now I just make my own insightful decisions since I've learned more over the years, it's best not to keep repeating mistakes after all." If she didn't then she would be the fool! It was one thing to be tricked a couple of times, but another thing entirely to keep falling for similar trickery.
Ezili opened her mouth and then closed it thoughtfully. "Do I look like a bandit to you?" She asked, leaning towards him with interest. Did she look dangerous enough? She did have a hunting knife on a hip, the blade a precious gift from her parents for her last birthday, and she had the tunic and leggings of a ranger since she had planned on exploring today so maybe? "If so aren't you worried I'll carry you off and do whatever bandit things I want?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:49 pm
Telling a liar apart from the rest could be hard if one didn't know what to look for. And since flowers didn't have a face to judge it would be hard to know if they were misleading or not. So Oserys nodded his head. "Good to learn from those lessons. Maybe not the best thing to take directions from a flower." He crossed his arms over his chest just so he could use one as an elbow rest while the other put a hand to his chin as if in thought. "Could you then take directions from a leaf? Whichever way it points when it lands is the way to go?" He might try that next time he wanted to get out of doing chores. As she asked him if she looked like a bandit to him he smiled. "I wouldn't know. I've never met one. Is there a certain way they are meant to look?" And was there an age limit? Could a youngling be a bandit if they were born into a bandit family? His thoughts paused as she then mentioned him being worried. His arms fell to his sides as he tilted his head at her, appraising her appearance. "Can you carry me off?" He wasn't very big but she didn't look much bigger than him. "And what exactly are bandit things? Stealing from me? My pockets are empty." He smiled happily at that.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 6:01 pm
Ezili raised a curious brow, her amusing growing by the second. "I suppose you would have to try it and see. I could only learn from experience, myself." She expressed with a grin. What would happen if he used a leaf to direct himself? Would probably just run into a patrol who would escort him to safety. At least that was what Ezili predicted, especially the longer she studied the other teen and found no reason for anyone to take him as a threat. Based on his actions and words he seemed completely harmless. Fun to tease but definitely harmless.
"Dangerous, potentially pretty but definitely strong." Replied Ezili with a sincere nod, even though it was hard not to laugh. "You really don't think I fit the bill?" She placed a hand on a hip, her fingers tapping against her side as she waited for the answer before another question threw her off guard. Did he truly think she meant to carry him off? Ezili pursed her lips and frowned as if considering things. "I could try." She finally reasoned with her head held high, as if daring him to just push her into doing it. "And it's not always about money. They can tie ya up and make you do things for them! It would be chores all the time with no escape to pluck at grass unless that's what they wanted of you."
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 6:11 pm
He nodded his head at the idea. "Might try it some time." A leaf giving him directions would be an interesting adventure. At the very least it may lead him somewhere he'd never been before. Maybe even a waterfall. As she described what a bandit was meant to look like he squinted. "That could be almost anyone." So then how did one bandit know another from the crowd? Or was that the point? One could usually tell a hunter from a farmer based off looks. Same for a blacksmith. "You kinda fit the description you gave. Definitely have the pretty part down. You could be dangerous.." Oserys motioned to the weapon she had. The knife was bigger than the one he had on him so it made her more dangerous than him at the moment. "I'm not sure if you're strong or not." Which led him to the bit about being carried off. She said she could try but he gave her a bit of a skeptical look. "We're almost the same size. I might be too heavy." And since she was a girl he didn't want her to hurt herself trying. The explanation about being tied up and being made to do chores made him give a mild look of horror. His tone dropped a little. "Do you think my family might be bandits then? I always have to do chores. Though I can escape all the time.." So maybe they weren't. A smile spread over his lips before a chuckle followed. "What would you do to me then if you were able to carry me off?" Since he had no money he was curious what it was she wanted to make someone do.
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Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:28 pm
"Oh, if you do then I would love to watch or at least hear about it later." Ezili commented with a grin before the commentary made her laugh. Oh! Thankfully, Ezili wasn't one to be bashful and instead she leaned into the compliment. "Just pretty, hmm? Thought I might be more than simply that." She joked lightly before shaking her head. She was half-tempted to try to lift him and at least twist him around for a moment with that type of answer! Ezili glanced down towards the knife tied at her hip and gave a slight shrug. Living in the forest meant that you should always be prepared, right? Not that this guy would understand having a knife was a simple survival thing for those living within the forest. Everyone in her family had some sort of weapon even if it was just a small dagger, just in case of emergency.
The tone of horror perked her interest and swinging him was almost forgotten as she found herself completely distracted. Why was he so scared of bandits suddenly? Oh. Ezili's teal gaze gleamed with mischief as the other teen expressed his fears. "Maybe, maybe they just let you wander to test out the area. Like right now you could be indirectly scouting for them before they drag you back for more chores." She placed a finger on her lips, looking around as if seriously trying to make certain that they were alone while she played the part of the distressed rogue. "They may report me back and then try to track me down...get rid of competition, ya know?"
"As for what would I do to you then?" She continued, a devious expression crossing her delicate features. "I could think of a few things, I really hate having to do chores so the extra hands could be useful. Instead of plucking grass for fun, I could have you plucking wheat and helping to harvest it before running all sorts of errands and then having to clean everything that even got a bit of dust on it. I do so hate dusty surfaces." She explained, her nose crinkling at the thought before she waited for his reaction to her demands. Out of all the things for someone to be scared about it seemed chores really did a thing for him!
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Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2023 4:44 pm
He thought about it and looked around for a leaf. Only he didn't find one already on the ground so he couldn't pick it up. "When I do it I'll let you know where it takes me." It would be interesting to find out where such an adventure took him. That may be what he did tomorrow. At the mention of his family letting him out and about to be a scout he furrowed his brow. Oserys thought that might make sense if he actually spoke about what he saw when he was out. Typically his family didn't ask him questions either. They just scolded him for skipping out of chores. "Nah. They wouldn't do that." The windling smiled as he shook his head. "They never ask about my adventures so I'd make a poor scout if no one knows what I see." When she started to list off what she'd make him do he once again had the look of horror. He didn't want to be carried off to do chores when he'd escaped doing them in the first place. So he took a step back from her, looking at the girl with a wary expression. "I'd rather not.."
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:52 pm
"You better." Alinta nodded firmly, sealing the deal. How could she not want to know considering how unlucky she had been with a flower? What if a leaf was the answer after all? Not that she would admit such a thing because of how childish it felt. Honestly, the fact that he was willing to do such a thing kind of both amused and interested her. He definitely was far more easy going or at least more gullible than half of the rangers who questioned her every move back home.
Speaking of gullible...he truly was considering the option of bandits, wasn't he? Then he seemed to deny it and Ezili had to admit that she was a bit disappointed while also relieved. It was one thing to mess around with someone and another thing to worry that he honestly felt his family was full of bandits after a simple conversation with a complete stranger. "Alright, I'll give you that. Unless they truly don't care since they just want you around for chores." She teased lightly, though she did frown at the words. Did his family care so little to not ask? Even her mama and papa as busy as they could be often checked in on everyone to see things like what skills they were learning and if they had anything interesting to share. Then again the deep forest could be very dangerous so perhaps families were different out here in the normal villages and the like.
"Oh? Now you're taking me more seriously?" Questioned Ezili, a hand on a hip as she took a step forward towards him instead. "Would be a shame if you tried to run away now. I'm very quick on my feet and fast at tying knots. I really hate dust...the more I look at you the more it looks like you would be a good dust wiper. What is your name even? Something that suits the person to do all my future chores, I hope."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 7:34 am
A frown formed as the girl mentioned that his family only wanted him around for chores. It did feel like that sometimes. He often got lectured about leaving before they were done and sometimes he was even given extras as punishment. Oserys would usually run off half way through his chores but there were days when he'd complete them. Usually those were the days he had more than his fair share. While he didn't like to do them he didn't want someone else to have to make up the work he'd been given. "Maybe they really do only want me around for that.." His shoulders lifted up slowly and stayed there for a moment before dropping down. "You probably still couldn't carry me though." He pointed out with a bit of defiance. The boy pushed his lips out, effectively making the duck face, when she mentioned dust again. "I'm really not a good duster." The sneezing and coughing that he did when he was put in charge of that, or when the hay was just a bit too dusty was ridiculous. "My name is Oserys." He didn't think the name fit anyone made to do chores. "And the name of the would be bandit?" He motioned toward her with his right hand, indicating he was curious to know what to call her.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:20 am
Ezili quirked an eyebrow. "Do ya really think so?" She asked before shrugging again, a bandit wouldn't care about personal issues...right? "Maybe that's just how they handle things, you're not the only one doing things around home...surely?" The hybrid studied him thoughtfully with a small frown before her expression turned into aggravation again and she crossed her arms defiantly. Why couldn't she carry him? She had carried sacks of potatoes and other heavy things before while setting up for some good ole mischief with her siblings! "Yer pushin' it." She warned, picking up on the attitude and directly quoting what she had witnessed from some of the other rangers who hated having their abilities questioned.
"And I'll never know that for certain. I would tell a potential bandit kidnapper that I also am horrible at chores, a good way to try to get them to leave me alone." Quipped back Ezili, before pursing her lips at the request for her name. Did she come up with something more badass befitting a bandit or simply leave things be? It would be a shame if he didn't have her name and did get lost in the forest one day though. Since he had entertained her so far it would be a reward of sorts for the interaction. "Ezili, sometimes Lizzy as a nickname." She finally stated with a nod. "Maybe you should just get kidnapped in all seriousness by bandits, if thinking of your family brings such a reaction. Is it truly that bad back home?" She found herself asking, teal gaze curious and perhaps a bit concerned despite her own playful antics.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 12:00 pm
"We all do chores.." He shrugged his shoulders again. Oserys thought it was a bit useless to keep doing the same thing over and over again each day. The hay didn't really need moved from one stall to the next and then back again. "I don't mind feeding the animals or watering crops but the other things are kinda.. pointless." Oserys sometimes wondered if it was just meant to keep him busy. "I mean does the firewood need to be moved to a different location everyday?" What was wrong with the spot it was put in the day before? He didn't really want to think about it. Oserys chuckled a little at the attitude. "No really.. we're about the same size. You could get hurt." While he wasn't big or overweight he didn't want to chance squishing the girl. "Well, I suppose lying could get one out of it if it were to be believed but I'm never tasked with dusting because I miss spots all the time. Too busy daydreaming." He brought his hands up to put air quotes around the last few words. "I like your name. Has a nice flow to it." Oserys nodded his head in approval. Ironically the name made him think of the color of her hair. When she suggested he get kidnapped for real he just looked at her. "Was that an offer to kidnap me?" The boy laughed a little as though it were a joke.
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