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 Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:04 pm
[Enya 1]
Waiting on the dock was admittedly more awkward than Enya would have imagined. Leaving her family behind was harder this time than it had been when she left Kiros, mostly because she’d had to say her goodbyes in person instead of a letter. It made it all the more real, and Vetra…As conflicting as her emotions had been around the other Elidae she still had a hard time saying goodbye.
While she’d expected to find a few other Aishans making the trek to Tendaji, had even hoped of seeing the Vandrea she would be traveling with, she hadn’t expected to see another familiar face. “Ilsa?”
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:05 pm
[Ilsa 1]
When it was time for her family to return to Chibale, Ilsa found herself a little mournful. She’d made some true friends here and her training had been impactful, maybe even more so because those training her had measured her on skill and not blood. There had been moments when it was harder because of her heritage, but overall…Well, she would definitely make it back one day.
As she waited for her mothers to get their passage in order, she turned to a familiar voice and smiled. “Enya? What are you doing here? It’s so late; and you have baggage?”
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:13 pm
[Enya 2]
“I’m going to Chibale!” She held up her arms, each with a bag a piece and grinned. Even if it didn’t truly reach her heart she knew she had to fake it to get by. If she let herself think about it too much she might gave and go back to Zinris or maybe even Kiros. For now though her mind was set and she needed to stick to it. “With a friend! You haven’t seen a Vandrea around have you? I’m supposed to be meeting her here.”
Honestly it was a little concerning, given the time of night and the fact she hadn’t seen Seiong yet. Did that mean they wouldn’t be leaving until tomorrow? Or had she been ditched all together? “What about you? Headed back home?”
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:14 pm
[Ilsa 2]
“I am. My mothers are getting our affairs in order so we’ll probably be on the same ship.” She motioned to a set of crates that weren’t covered in shipping line and sat atop one. “You’re welcome to wait with me until your friend comes. As long as you’re waiting here she’ll be able to see you.” As if anyone could miss her. Despite the foreigners milling about the docks no one was quite as pale as Enya, nor did anyone have that sort of hair and eyes. She definitely stood out. “Is this your first time visiting Chibale?”
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:15 pm
[Enya 3]
“Was it that easy to tell?” Enya grinned and took a seat next to Ilsa. “Originally I was just going to spend some time in Zinris and going back home to Kiros. Well, but then I saw you and I heard from a few others how beautiful Jauhar is so I thought – well, why not? Better to go while I’m young and able to move around y’know.” She couldn’t imagine doing such impulsive trips like then when she was older and really, there was too much work she needed to do on herself before going back to Kiros.
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:15 pm
[Ilsa 3]
An Elidae, in Chibale? Would they allow her to get close enough to Aisha to make her prayers known or would they keep her at an arm’s length, like they did her mother? Some of the older Alkidike weren’t as keen on Ilsa’s Elarian mother being near Aisha whereas the others saw it as a sign of unity among the sister tribes. I hope for her sake they let her. Ilsa could imagine how hurt this bubbly soul would be if they treated her with the same passive malice that had been shown to her growing up.
“If you don’t mind cramped quarters I could ask my mothers if the two of you could stay with us. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind having guests.”
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:16 pm
[Enya 4]
“If you really don’t think they’d mind then that would be perfect.” She wasn’t sure if Seiong had any family in Chibale to stay with or not, but even if she did Enya would make sure the offer was extended. Having a contact they could trust would be so much nicer than trying to navigate her way around blind. “We’ll take care of our own meals so they wouldn’t need to worry about that and I can help out with chores. I’ll help out anyway I can to repay the kindness.” Even if it was just sharpening blades or cleaning floors; whatever she could do to help while they visited.
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 2:39 pm
[Ilsa 4]
“It’s alright, really,” Ilsa gave a soft laugh and smiled. “You don’t have to worry about it. We don’t get many visitors so the company is payment enough.” Relations between her mothers and others in Chibale were getting better, but so many were still so quick to judge them. Time was making it better, though, and Ilsa hoped one day they would be able to mingle among the Alkidike as freely as other sisters.
“So, out of curiosity, was the ship you took here mainly Aishans or Earthlings?”
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 2:46 pm
[Enya 5]
“Aishans.” Enya stretched her legs out infront of her and settled her trident against her thigh. The massive weapon’s pronged tips were wrapped in cloth to appear less threatening, though she doubted that worked very well on the elderly earthlings who had shuffled away from her earlier. “Mainly Elaria, but a few Elidae were among the crew. I’ve seen a few earthlings mingling around docks before, though, so I wonder if this ship is one of theirs?”
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 2:47 pm
[Ilsa 5]
“If it’s the same ship we took to get here then it is. The Captain is a Matorian named Bubble and…well, you’ll know why when you see him.” She gave her stomach a few taps before raising her hands and mimicking the flesh expanding. As sweet as the man had been he was a larger sort of fellow whose love of the sea only rivaled his love of sweets. “The ships not meant for Aishans though so watch your head.” She’d learned that the hard way. How many times had she woken in the middle of the night to head up onto the deck only to slam her head into a beam?
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:07 pm
[Enya 6]
A ship that wasn’t meant for Aishans? Well that would be…new. She hadn’t questioned it when she’d made the trek from home, but now Enya was left wondering if the quarters would even fit someone of their stature. Even finding a seat at the tavern she’d stopped in had been difficult! And it wasn’t as if she had much experience with earthlings to begin with so, as embarrassing as it was to admit, she’d caught herself staring at the wait staff more than she should have.
“Just for a few weeks though, right? It’ll be worth it when we get to Tendaji.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:14 pm
[Ilsa 6]
Ilsa nodded, although…a thought had been plaguing her for a while now. Ever since she’d seen Enya on her own without her shadow Ilsa couldn’t help pondering why. “So, is Vetra coming later or…?” The entire time she’d known of the two being in Zinris they’d been joined at the hip so not seeing the other Elidae now was beyond strange. Maybe she was taking care of business back in Zinris? But, really, what business could she have? It just didn’t settle well.
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:17 pm
[Enya 7]
“Actually, she isn’t coming.” Enya answered a little too brusquely. She wasn’t even conscious of the way her posture stiffened or the near indignant turn to her head. “She’s taking an apprenticeship in Zinris and I’m going on my own. I can do that, y’know; take care of myself. Just in case you were wondering.” Just because Vetra was the stronger of the pair didn’t mean that Enya couldn’t hold her own in a fight or navigate a hostile situation. That’s why Ilsa was asking, right? Because she thought Enya couldn’t handle herself without Vetra to care for her.
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:18 pm
[Ilsa 7]
Now that was unexpected. Eyes widening, Ilsa turned to give Enya a quick look and noted the way the Elidae had virtually puffed up. Had something happened between the two? And what could it have been, if she was this keen on leaving her behind? “No no, that’s not what I meant. I know you can take care of yourself. You two just seemed so close and I just…Are you okay?” Because, in all honesty, from an outsiders perspective she looked anything but.
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Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:17 pm
[Enya 8]
Am I okay?
Enya wasn’t sure how to answer that. She wanted to be excited for this next step in her life, but part of her worried that by leaving Vetra behind she was closing that chapter off for good. But, maybe that was for the best? She couldn’t be the partner that her friend wanted her to be, and yet…it would have been almost too easy to fall into her arms.
“…I don’t know.” Enya murmured. She looked down at her hands and reached to clasp them in her lap. “Is it okay not to be?”
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