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 Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 2:19 pm
[1]
It wasn’t often that Siel visited Pua, but in recent years having the company of other Elidae-hybrid families had given him a sense of community. With their Aishan partners visiting Kiros and training their children under the guidance of Esena, their non-Aishan lovers had taken to building bonds of their own. For instance Siel knew he could count on Mara, an ex-Oban militant, to come through with her amazing bread and Viras, a Geian scholar, to keep him up to date on the goings on outside of their home. It wasn’t much, but at the very least it gave Siel someone to speak with that wasn‘t the occasional Elidae visitor or a Kahi merchant, if he got a hankering for visiting some of their villages.
Ever since returning from Belrea he’d taken to spending more and more time in Pua. If for no other reason than it put him closer to Kiros, which meant closer to Esena and any potential blooms. He should have been working – he'd brought all the materials to restring his lute – but Siel just sort of found himself spacing out. What were they telling Quiana? It had already been a few weeks since they’d approached Esena so maybe...
“You’re doing it again,” Viras groused. The Geian was a taller sort of man, with broad shoulders and a strong nose.
“Sorry. Just a little worried is all.”
“Look, when I said you could wait here I didn’t mean sit by the window and whine all day. You said you could help.” Viras motioned to the set of identical twins who drifted between chewing on their own toes and those of their siblings. Maybe being here wasn’t the best idea? It just reminded Siel of when his kids were little and what might be awaiting them if things went the right way.
“Okay, yeah, sorry.” He apologized quickly and much to his friend’s pleasure the hybrid dipped down to watch the little ones so Viras could actually work for a change.
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Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2025 4:40 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Quiana had already had her daily earful from Chantara about her insanity for such a spontaneous idea, and yet the Elidae still went to Esena to see if the tree would actually go along with their prayers. While her more nocturnal friend tended to linger behind once the great tree came into view, the herbalist still at odds with most because of her strange habits and abrasive nature, Quiana was thankful to at least have some company on the way towards the edges of Kiros. She knew that she couldn't ask Siel to come with her every time that she went to check around Esena, but it didn't make her heart sting any less when she realized that he couldn't share in every part of the process like pure Aishan couples could. At least Pua was thriving now and she knew that he could find company there while she wandered through the midst of Kiros, checking to see if any of the young mystics had news for their family. It had been a few weeks now, the family just settling into their old home that was more isolated from it all, and yet Quiana could already feel the stares as others watched her approaching Esena day after day. Are they seriously asking again? Nothing yet, so surely they'll leave soon or give up at least...right? Such whispers only made her hold her head higher as she walked past and waited near Esena for any updates. As if she would bow down to any such pressure! Being stubborn was one of her strongest qualities, after all.
Of course it did admittedly take a lot of resolve and commitment to try to keep that haughty, elegant appearance as a mystic told her the news. It appears that Esena truly favors your family. There are blooms! Quiana wasted no time in seeing the little buds and then turning and briskly walking through Kiros, her skirts swishing about her ankles as she kept her head held high still, and then the Elidae promptly broke into a run as soon as others were out of sight. She had to tell Siel! He was in Pua....so she had quite a bit of running to do then! The usually more relaxed Elidae couldn't help the grin that brightened her features as she kept moving, her muscles straining as she continued racing so that she could get to her partner as quickly as possible.
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Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2025 4:49 pm
[2]
When the door to Viras' home opened both of the men turned, but it was a different Elidae all together who stepped in. The woman was a little shorter than Quiana, with a wider frame and soft eyes. She waved to Siel as she came in and dipped to kiss her partner's cheek before taking up one of the babes on her hip. "You should get your things together, Siel, " Hanna muttered. The Elidae rubbed her nose against the little ones, eliciting a squeal from the child who happily slobbered her in turn. "I saw a certain someone running toward the village when I was coming in and-"
"Oh! OH!" Siel hopped to his feet and for a moment all he could do was stand there, the nervous energy causing his limbs to shake. Viras raised a brow to first his friend, then his mate who just shrugged with a knowing smile. Siel politely - but quickly - thanked them for letting him stay before saying his goodbyes to their children, scooping up his boots and sliding out the door.
Siel slung his drum over his back and ran. There were a few confused glances tossed his way as he made his way through Pua proper, but his eyes were trained on the main road and it's wide expanse. Somewhere out there Hanna had seen a familiar face and she - there!
"Quiana!" She was still so far away, but surely she could hear him, right?!
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 9:46 am
[Sabra via Discord]
Her heart was racing, the thudding momentum vibrating throughout her entire body, but Quiana didn't stop pushing herself. She was so fixated on just making it that she nearly kept going even as Siel appeared before her, the Elidae nearly not realizing that she was finally there until she skidded to a halt just past her partner. "Siel!" Quiana grinned as she twisted back around and reached out for him, the Elidae not even playing coy as she wrapped her arms around the hybrid and gave him a hug of excitement.
"I don't think you need to guess, but if you want then I can let you...." She started after a moment, her cheeks still flushed from running and the exhilaration. Sure, they had come here on a whim and she had kept her head up against all the whispers that were against their hopes but it didn't stop her from having some type of doubts. The fact that they were actually getting blooms then? It was hard to even try to contain her happiness, the Elidae not fully knowing what to have expected from Esena after already having four children by her roots.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 9:55 am
[3]
"Quiana! Qui....Quiana?" Siel had been so happy to see her that at first he didn't register the fact she wasn't slowing down until the Elidae sailed past him. He'd even held his arms out, ready to receive her but when all he got was air the hybrid blinked a few times. "Where-omph!" Siel barely turned around before he was swept up into her arms and once the shock wore off he embraced her in turn.
"Is it happening?! Is it?!" Siel could see just enough movement out of the corner of his eye to know they weren't entirely alone, but this was a public road. Not that he cared. Instead of fussing with it his eyes looked at Quiana and Quiana alone as he took her hands in his, his body jumping up and down in excitement.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 11:11 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"Sorry, sorry." Quiana apologized with a laugh as she realized what she had done now that the Elidae was gaining control over her breathing again and focusing on Siel. "It is!" Another laugh escaped her lips as she jumped up and down with the hybrid, the Elidae not even caring who was watching in the moment. They had blooms again! So much for those snooty Sisters that had questioned her prayers from the very beginning! Now they would be the parents of six beautiful children, and she couldn't wait to see how much chaos they could bring to the world. At least that was the joke, the lively family always bringing happiness to Quiana every time she watched them all as they grew together.
"Oh, we should plan more! I know we came here for blooms, but it's actually happening!" She gushed with another laugh, the Elidae shaking her head as she stopped bouncing for a moment to look over her partner. She had been contemplating things and knew that he had been making friends here in Pua which made her wonder..."Do we want to raise them closer to this community or stay on the outskirts?" The question blurted from her lips, the Elidae truly wondering what would be the best path forward for the first years until they ventured overseas to see more family in Matori.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 11:18 am
[4]
"Is it blooms? Or bloom?" With scant information to go on Siel was just bouncing with her momentum. Only when she stopped did he and several strands of hair had fallen out of his hair bangle.
"Might be nice to try something new? There's more of us now and it would give them, all of them, a chance to connect. Not that they can't where we are now, but I dunno, it feels right?" There would be other Aishans to help guide the little ones, more Elidae that were accepting of their family and more earthlings to balance out both sides of their lives. It wouldn't be a perfect transition, but maybe it would work out.
"We just need to convince the older ones it's a good idea." After all, some of their children were social and some preferred their space. Pua would give them a lot of things, but privacy it would not.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 1:25 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Blooms." Quiana replied, the Elidae holding up two fingers to show Siel. If they had gotten more than two then surely the others would have chased them out of Kiros! The very thought amused her though, Quiana laughing more at the idea than being fearful of it. How could anyone protest when Esena had blessed them? The Elidae's lips curved upwards, her smile only pausing at the thought of moving to Pua. Siel was right and she had even brought it up herself, but part of her thought back to the little hut that she had lived in for the majority of her life with her grandmother. Leaving it now....her antenna flicked slightly as she looked around the area, the Elidae noticing the pairs of curious eyes that peeked at them from those conveniently wandering along the edges of the smaller settlement. It would be a bit noisier and nosier for sure, but it would be something new and now there were other families for her children to connect with. Other hybrids that they could learn from and teach some things to themselves...especially when there were still some purists that didn't want to accept this reality in the world. It would be worth the sacrifice of leaving behind her family home, surely. And it wasn't as if the place would be gone, she could go back whenever she wanted and maybe Chantara could make use of the home since she was the only one living near it.
"Yeah, I think something new is good." Quiana admitted after a moment, flashing Siel a smile despite her moment of hesitation. "We'll just need some good bribes when convincing the older ones though. But maybe they'll like the chance to connect with more families? It'll give them more competition instead of just messing with their siblings." She teased lightly. "But where do we even begin?" They would have to find a home or build one from scratch here....the settlement was still so very new, after all.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 1:32 pm
[5]
"Only if you're sure," He gave her hands a squeeze. It wasn't as if they were abandoning her childhood home, far from it, but leaving that comfort for something new would be just as daunting for her as it would be for their children. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel pressured into trying it just because he wanted to.
"I think you mean other targets for Tsisia that isn't Quetzal." She'd set her sights on the younger girls a time or two, but her brother seemed to be the girls favorite victim. Maybe making some friends would do her good? At least to let some of the energy out before coming home.
"Maybe we could ask around and see if anyone in the village would mind helping us build a home? We're going to be neighbors now so they might accept a few trades." Siel grinned, "Helps that I know a thing or two about building from my baba. You just tell me what you want it to look like and I'll make it happen."
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:09 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Quiana squeezed Siel's hands back, the Elidae nodding as she worked through her conflicting emotions. "It'll be a new adventure, just a bit closer to Kiros than I first thought." She joked lightly. It would take time for her to adjust to a new place, but at least it would be in a familiar setting and even then they weren't planning on staying in Pua forever. She still wanted to experience the world and show their family everything that existed outside of this Aishan island.
"Yeaaaah." Quiana drawled out her answer with a soft sigh. "Maybe he'll find some friends to bond with, even if they might start as fellow victims." There was a small curve to her lips though despite the sigh, the Elidae hoping that eventually the siblings could grow beyond the pranks and such. Maybe one day.
The Elidae nodded. "I can ask for some favors as well from Sisters that I grew up with." She tilted her head back on her shoulders to try to stretch a bit as she relaxed more, her muscles finally catching up to how frantically she had rushed over here. It also gave her a moment to think about how many favors she could pull in and what she had to trade. "I have some jewelry and the like still that I can barter with, including some treasure pieces from my sister, and I'm sure Chantara will lend some help to get things going." Maybe she relied too much on her childhood friend, but if she was willing to help then why not? Chantara had never said no to earning favors and wanted to get the best help for her family. "As for the design...maybe a multi-story home in one of the giant trees? We could have a walkway twisting around the outside and leading to different rooms to give some privacy, instead of it all being connected? Though that might be too dangerous considering our pranksters." She had noticed larger trees on this particular stretch of island and some had actually built their homes inside of the trees. Quiana had also heard about others who built homes on the outer branches, similar to the stories she had heard about the earthling countries in Jahaur and Tale. The thought had her purse her lips, Quiana torn between all of the ideas running through her head. "But being on the ground works too if we want to keep it simple like most here, I'm not picky as long as we can have some privacy on occasion." She teased, thinking about how little of that they would actually have with so many little ones running about their family now.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:18 pm
[6]
Siel sometimes wondered if Chantara would have been happier if he'd never come. She kept an aura about her that seemed aggrieved with his wilder antics, and yet the Elidae had never failed to be there for their family. In many ways she reminded him of his baba, but given the age gap he thought it best not to tell her.
"We could always put netting below the walkways, just in case." It was starting to sound similar to some of the designs he'd seen in Jauhar and from her description Siel could get an idea where to start. He would need to ask a few people for help - those with carpentry knowledge, mainly - but it wasn't beyond their means. They could make it work, and it would give him a much needed distraction from the blooms he couldn't visit.
Two blooms. Siel had known of sisters who had visited for years with no luck, but Esena had blessed them six times now.
"I don't know what to start on first. Do we tell the kids? Do we start asking around, since we're already here or do we celebrate?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:53 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Quiana's gaze brightened with Siel's suggestion. So maybe it was possible to make her idea come true? "We would just have to make sure to check the netting on ocassion…just in case." Not that she would expect any of their children to actually sabotage the netting, but it would be a good idea to just make certain there weren't giant holes in it later on if they truly did this. "There could be netting and maybe even the stairs could be twisted within the natural branches for extra support before going into the tree itself for each floor? Then a giant platform with arched windows around the top just for the full family to enjoy maybe." She mused quietly, trying to envision this tree house as they talked about things. Okay, maybe they could have fun with this building idea. That was if even half of their ideas could be possible.
"Let's do everything." She grinned playfully as she bumped against Siel with her hip. "Maybe we could ask around, get some treats and then share those with the children as a celebration?" They could have more personal celebrations later, but it would be nice to share the good news with the family first.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 3:01 pm
[7]
Siel nodded. "Of course. We'll have to 'accidentally' fall off the bridges a time or two just to make sure it's sturdy." He would never advocate his children testing the nets out that way, but honestly once they were sure it was safe enough what harm would it do? It sounded like fun; just not the kind of fun they would do around company.
"Maybe we should make an announcement first? Since I'm preeetttyyy sure we've had an audience this whole time." And only when he turned away from Quiana did he catch a few slower moving, very subtle Pua villagers who happened to be milling around close enough to overhear. A few had the good graces to look ashamed when they were caught, but a certain couple, an Elidae and a Geian man, had the audacity to outright smirk.
"WE'RE HAVING BLOOMS! TWO OF THEM!" Siel called out with a laugh.
"WE KNOW." Viras called back in turn, only to be elbowed by his partner.
"Congratulations!" Hanna smiled and waved back to the pair.
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Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 5:06 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Most definitely." Agreed Quiana before their audience was finally addressed. A laugh escaped her lips at the exchange, the Elidae waving back towards Hanna as she looked over the pairs and others lingering along the edges who finally waved back too. "Hopefully you'll be okay with a new family living here!" She called out without hesitation, the Elidae's expression bright even as she peeked back towards Siel with a light shrug. They might as well dive right into things since they were already out here, right? Pua existed and there was no reason to hide their children from the community here. At least it could give them a taste of the Aishan heritage that Quiana tended to skim over in her love of foreign lands.
"See...there's a cluster of trees by the cliffs over there. I think I see a large one near the middle, maybe it?" She nudged Siel lightly as she nodded towards the landmarks towards the other side of the settlement. It was close enough and yet still a bit further away as to not impose directly on anyone else's home. Maybe she could see if anyone had claim to that and bargain for it? And if no one had claimed the area yet then that was even better for them.
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Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 5:16 pm
[8]
Whatever murmur had been there before turned into excited chatter. Siel wasn't nearly arrogant enough to think that the entire village would be talking about them - or maybe he was. It was still small and they were a pretty amazing family soooo yeah. This was BIG BIG news.
News he would have to write a lot of letters about and hope that at least half of his family actually received them.
"Let's check it out." Siel tossed up a hand to wave back to their onlookers and started walking. "See that flat spot there, just around the backside? Sienna would love that for a garden." Not that she didn't have a dozen smaller patches scattered around already, but maybe their daughter could make a larger, more sustainable one here? That way even if they traveled the villagers could come to pick off it.
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