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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Mar 18, 2023 22:33:08 GMT -5
It's a bright and sunny day when Zarius and Askr arrive at the port on the edge of Darkveil City. The wind was blowing the ash and soot from Mount Drakolt north and westward, making for the perfect conditions for a very rare clear sky hanging above the masts of various ships moored in the harbor. The mission the fellblood had invited the young swordsman on was a simple one. Escort a noble from Darkveil City to Zeinav City by ship. Simple. Well. Except that the noble they were escorting was Zarius' mother. Zarius had planned on asking Caedes to join them, but the changeling was still nervous about meeting the fellblood's parents after the whole debacle on the Night of the Red Rogue. Despite Zarius' reassurance that everything was fine, the assassin made other plans to excuse himself from being available for this particular mission. Fair enough, being trapped on a ship for a few days with his mother might not be the best way to introduce Caedes anyway. Askr was more than capable of being an asset for this task, and really, the kid was going to meet the family anyway so why not under these unique circumstances. It was a rare thing for Zewala Rha'Esandi to leave the family estate in Darkveil, but after hearing about her dear friend Madam Mohurk missing her back in her home town of Zeinav City, she managed to convince her husband to arrange a ship. Zarius had helped by offering to personally serve as a body guard for his mother. Anyone who tried to target the noblewoman would regret such a poor choice. Zarius glances about the various ships docked at the wharf before he picks out the one they will be responsible for protecting while out at sea. The vessel was of modest size, big enough for a crew of ten and well equipped to keep its few passengers comfortable during the journey. Though it was not specifically designed for combat at sea, the vessel was armed with a few canons off to either side of the top deck. The ship was meant for speed, so with any luck they would be able to outrun trouble rather than risk sinking from an all out ship battle. Next to the ship is a carriage which two other familiar figures standing guard near it. One is Snow, the catfolk archer who often works along side Zarius and the other is Eirynor, the half-elf swordsman who also works as the bartender at the Rookery. The fellblood leads Askr up to the side of the carriage with a smile on his face. "Good to see you both, I hope you do not get sea sick easily.""I think the heat will kill me before the nausea will," Snow admits with an awkward smile. They weren't too keen on going to Zeinav City. The Ash Lands were hot enough as it was, Zeinav was so much worse for someone with a natural fur coat that never comes off. Eirynor glances at Askr and gives a silent nod of acknowledgement before stepping around to the carriage and opening the door for its occupant. Stepping out of the carriage is a female fellblood with the same charcoal grey skin as Zarius, though most of it is covered by a beautiful layered dress well suited for the heat of the Zeinavian desert. She has some gold jewelry with small red gems hanging from her neck and horns which swoop backwards gracefully. Long curly black hair cascades across her shoulders and back with the ends just tucked into a shall draped across her arms. Her solid amber eyes are haunting, though her lips curl into a pleasant smile as her feet gently touch the ground. "Thank you, Eirynor," she says with a nod to the tall half-elf before taking a step over to Zarius. "I appreciate you making time for my silly request.""Of course," Zarius responds with a nod of respect. "I would be a terrible son otherwise."She smiles and then turns her attention to Askr. "Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Zewala Rha'Esandi."
Description: A local noble is in need of an escort from one city to the next. With the world getting crazy, all kinds of dangers have become more common on the open road. They are willing to pay good money to anyone who can transport them to their destination. But be careful, their fears are valid, for bandits, wolves, and all kinds of creatures of the wild lurk right around the bend. All you need to do is make sure they get from their home city to the neighboring city alive, and unharmed if you can manage.
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Post by Askr Mimameith on Apr 3, 2023 13:44:27 GMT -5
Askr has worked a plethora of odd jobs in his short life above the depths of Devil's Ridge.
Such is the way of the livelihood he's been dragged into-- a sword-for-hire has countless uses, countless potential loyalties, bound by coin and the willingness to raise a blade in the name of their purchased allegiance. He's lifted his blade to protect people, lifted it to destroy them, stood alongside trade routes to give anxious merchants the steady presence of a potential guardian, no matter if danger actually deigns to wander their way-- if Solars are attached to the request and his captain asks it of him, it is a mission he will take on.
And yet, amidst all the jobs he's taken before, something like escorting someone of great repute is... certainly different.
It is the kind of work entrusted to those who have proven worthy of trust-- trained bodyguards, knights, those who are equipped to guard and have the loyalty and moral merit to have a noble's life left in their armored hands. Most mercenaries have a sense of loyalty as fleeting as the moon-- as far as Askr has seen, some are the type to turn on their employers as soon as higher pay is tossed their way. It is not overly common, but it is a possibility-- there is no goodwill to burn if the bearer of that will perishes, after all. And yet, despite all of these things, here he stands by Zarius Rha'Oriyn's side on the docks of Darkveil City, ready to protect Lady Zewala Rha'Esandi in her journey to Zeinav City.
It is... strange that Zarius asked this of him. He does not entirely understand why such trust has been placed in him for a mission of this nature, considering his first meeting with the fellblood was marked by steel and cinders, even if such a thing is in the past, but he will not question it. He will not disappoint.
He refuses to disappoint.
Askr lurks by Zarius's side, practically standing in the comfort of the taller man's shadow-- he is quiet, as usual, his lips drawn into a thin line, his expression as illegible as ever as he stares out over the water, his body still as stone. He remains silent even as Zarius chats with Snow-- he has nothing to contribute, after all, nothing more than nods of acknowledgement for both the catfolk and the silent man he's with. It is best not to speak if he has nothing useful to say.
Even so, he takes the chance to observe from within that bubble of silence-- the conversation between Snow and Zarius falls into the backdrop as he watches Eirynor open the door to the carriage, allowing a woman who bears a very clear resemblance to Zarius himself step out. She is a vision all in gold and scarlet and smoke-black, her regal form adorned in clinking jewelry, her eyes glinting with an eerie sense of knowing.
Like mother, like son, it seems.
Askr watches her carefully as she approaches, listens carefully in turn as she chats with her son-- her voice is smooth, undercut by a quiet cheerfulness, gaining a cordial edge even as she turns to him. It is hard to guess what might be going through her head as she looks at him-- it is hard to know what she knows, to know if Zarius has told her anything of him before. He does not know what to expect.
"...hello, Miss Rha'Esandi," he says anyway, his voice as monotonous and quiet as ever, even as he looks up at the warm expression on Zewala's face. "I am... Askr. It is nice to meet you as well, ma'am."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Apr 5, 2023 16:26:11 GMT -5
Zewala's smile was...different than Zarius' or Eameia's. It was warmer, genuine, and welcoming. In general, the feeling about her was different. Zarius, even when he's not trying to be, often comes off as cocky, intimidating, or forcefully confident. Eameia shared some of these traits, but could also come off as conniving and judgmental. Zewala just didn't have these qualities. She wasn't meek by any stretch of the imagination, clearly carrying herself with confidence but a more quiet self-assured confidence. She was more approachable and had an air of gentle grace about her.
There's something about Askr that piques her interest. The flawless complexion, the sparkling gold of the eyes, the metallic sheen to his long hair, and the quiet monotone of how he speaks, all in all Askr was just stunning, which raised a few questions which she would not voice out of respect for Askr's privacy.
She acknowledges Askr's introduction with a polite nod then looks at her son.
"Shall we depart?"
Zarius nods and escorts his mother up the gangplank and up onto the deck of the vessel. Eirynor falls in behind them with Snow saddling up next to Askr as they trail after them.
"Do you like ships, Askr?" Snow asks as they board the ship.
The catfolk is much more of a social butterfly than the silent and stoic Eirynor, and admittedly they sometimes succumbed to the feline curse of curiosity. They didn't know a lot about Askr and hadn't really had a chance to socialize much since the deal was struck between Zarius and Captain Oleeae. Zarius also hadn't really explained the whole situation to them.
Once aboard, it doesn't take long for the crew to get the ship out into open water, rapidly leaving the docks of Darkveil behind and setting out across the ocean. The route they are taking will follow the coastline down around the Ash Land peninsula known as the Obsidian Spear, and then into the protected bay Zeinav City sat on the shore of.
On the deck of the ship there is a table with a set of chairs and a sun shade tethered above it to keep the rays from the sun at bay. Zewala takes a seat at this table, breathing in the sea air deeply. It had been a long time since she last left Darkveil, and even longer since the last time she had set foot on a ship. Though she does not feel ill, she does knit her fingers in the skirt of her dress, a bit anxious about being out in the open.
"Mother."
"Hm?" She looks at Zarius.
"It will be alright," he reassures her.
She smiles, a bit embarrassed. "Yes, of course."
Zarius glances back at Eirynor who gives a nod before the tall half-elf takes a seat at the table as well while the fellblood turns to go speak with the captain to ensure everything is up to his standards. Before he steps into the captain's quarters, he calls to Snow and Asrk.
"Familiarize yourselves with the spaces on the ship and then keep a keen eye out for any other ships."
Snow stands at attention and salutes. "Aye, aye, captain."
The fellblood gives the catfolk the most unimpressed look he can before he shakes his head and disappears through the door.
Snow chuffs a laugh then looks at Askr with a toothy grin on their face. "I hope you don't get sea sick easily."
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Post by Askr Mimameith on Apr 14, 2023 17:27:59 GMT -5
For all the ways she is similar to her child, Zewala is still hardly entirely what Askr envisioned when Zarius had mentioned having a mother.
It has been some unfathomable amount of time since Askr last saw his own “mother,” since she whispered a promise of return before ascending that cavernous road back to the world above. His “mother” had been sharp– the line of her jaw, the lids of her eyes, the slope of her nose, the edges of her permanent frown, no warmth locked in the moonlit silver of her hair or the cold green of her eyes. Her voice had been stern, commanding, always laced with an undertone of exasperation that Askr could not understand, and her touch was scarce and frigid, fingertips like the bite of snow. She had once been Askr’s only frame of reference for a “mother,” the only outline he could know.
This is the second time that outline has crumbled before him. It had for the first time in the heart of the Ice Fields of the Frost Gale, when Mister Caedes– Miss Mei had hastily pulled together a facade, hiding him away behind a false name and the guise of a beloved son. It had been a ruse, the lie spoken as easily as a body takes a breath, but it had seemed so believable to the people around them that it left cracks in his understanding all the same, left him with the belief that perhaps a “mother” was not defined by harsh lines and coldness.
Zewala Rha’Esandi is warm. There is a knowing in her gaze undercut by something gentle, a sincerity to her serenity, a seeming softness to her smile. She is not defined by sharp lines and edges and the brittle cold of winter– she is flame amidst the cold, warm and low and approachable, and Askr is not the best at discerning true intention or the verity of an expression, but something about this feels inexplicably real.
He stares after her for a moment before falling into line behind her and Zarius and Eirynor, ready to lapse into silence and do as ordered– when Snow moves to walk beside him, their feline eyes glinting with quiet interest as they lay forth a question. He gives a tilt of his head, electing not to answer until they’ve made their way up onto the deck, standing at attention by the rails.
“...They are… ships,” he says, unsure of how to answer. “Transportation is transportation. Though I am… not overly familiar with them. Captain Bleier prefers land travel.”
He falls silent, then, watching as the ship’s crew gets the ship moving out into the open sea, as Miss Zewala sinks into a chair at the table on the deck, followed by Zarius and Eirynor both– he does not hear the exchange that takes place between them, but he very well may not be meant to. He speaks when spoken to, answers when addressed– it is not his place to involve himself in a conversation he is not intentionally a part of.
Askr’s posture stiffens as soon as Zarius’s voice sounds, laying forth his orders before he slips through the doors to the captain’s quarters– all Askr can do is nod, expression unshifting, understanding glinting in eyes of molten gold.
“Yes, sir.”
He’s quick to start walking, ready to glance through the different platforms and nooks of the ship as he has been told, but as he takes his first step, Snow’s voice sounds once again, their tone shaped by laughter. Askr tilts his head, staring up at them curiously as they ask their question, unable to conceal the slight edge of confusion that worms its way into their gaze.
“I do not believe I have ever been sick before,” he says in response. “How does one get… sea-sick?”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Apr 17, 2023 15:53:44 GMT -5
“I get that. I prefer traveling by foot as well, but considering how hot it is I’ll welcome a sea breeze,” the catfolk responds in a playful tone.
It was almost like Snow was trying to counteract Askr’s lack of energy with more energy than is normal for the upright feline. It was the perfect textbook example of an extrovert trying to make friends with an introvert, and was pretty funny to observe.
“Oop, wait up!” Snow tails after Askr as they go about checking the ship over and getting their bearings.
The crew give nods of acknowledgement to the pair but other than that mind their own business as they focus on ensuring a safe journey.
“Uh, I think it’s a vertigo thing, when your inner ear and what you see do not match up and your balance gets wobbly which makes your stomach turn,” they explain. “I’ve only been seasick once and that was because the ship was being tossed around by the waves like a stick in a river.”
“If ye do git sick, make sure ta puke over the rail o’ ina bucket,” comments one of the crew as they secure some of the cargo.
“Oh, yes, of course. We’ll do our best.”
The crewmate nods. “Weather’s been pretty decent lately, pray ta Salina fer clear skies an’ calm seas.”
Snow flinches a bit. “Uh…yes, of course…”
News of what had been discovered in the Arid Mesa had made it as far as Darkveil, but there were still many who chose not to believe that the gods were dead or that the adventurers present had even faced Ziev themselves. The Crown had done a good job at silencing informants across Charon in the cities where they have more control, leaving Scern’s disciples to spread the word through the countryside to the best of their limited abilities.
Those who were there, who experienced those horrors of fighting a god of immeasurable power and learned of the supposed truth, haven’t spoken out much for one reason or another. Snow and Eirynor had barely talked about it themselves and for a while Snow had just assumed it was all some crazy nightmare. That wishful way of thinking didn’t last long as the fellblood eventually did sit them down to talk about what happened.
It was real.
All of it.
Though even Zarius’ recollection of the events were blurry at best. During their conversation about all that had happened, it was one of the few times Snow had ever seen the fellblood troubled and at a loss for explanation or guesses of what comes next. It was the first time he’d seen the fellblood look…lost. And it bothered the catfolk deeply.
After they have completed touring the ship, the pair return to the top deck. At this point, Zarius has finished speaking to the captain and is sitting at the table with his mother and Eirynor. They have a little domino set out and are setting up a game when Askr and Snow emerge from below deck.
“Ah, Askr. Come here,” Zarius waves the mercenary over. As he approaches Eirynor gets up from his seat and goes to keep watch at the bow of the ship while Snow goes to the aft. Zarius gestures to the open seat. “Do you know how to play?”
Zewala smiles brightly at Askr, eager to do something to distract her from her worries. "We can do a practice round. That way Zarius can use it as an excuse for losing," she teases.
"Mother. Please."
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Post by Askr Mimameith on Jun 22, 2023 4:51:48 GMT -5
Snow is something of a vexing individual.
It is not a difficult thing to achieve, really– Askr cannot help but find a wide variety of people strange and incomprehensible, because that’s simply what they are. Mister Caedes is unusual in myriad ways, from the fluidity of his form and identity to his mannerisms– Cyran is strange in how easily he shifts from slitting a throat to offering gentle words of comfort, compassion and killing intent bubbling to the surface with equal ease. Nyr is strange because he is soft and kind and contradictory. Mister Zarius himself is strange, too, in more ways than Askr is capable of counting.
Snow is odd because of their gentle persistence, because of the energy buzzing through them as they talk– Askr does not quite recall if this was how they acted back when they first met, when he’d obediently followed Zarius into the Rookery for the first time. Given, he had more significant things to focus on in that particular moment– he’d been a bit occupied with wondering over what Zarius’s intentions were.
Still, they are awfully chipper. It is difficult to match that.
“I see,” Askr murmurs, nodding to himself at the catfolk’s explanation. Organs are curious things. It is astoundingly common for them to refuse to work in tandem. It is a miracle they ever function at all. “I do not expect it to be a problem. For me.”
It is difficult not to notice the way Snow wilts at the crewman’s comment, at the way Salina’s name still flows easily off of his tongue; Askr may not have the specifics, but it is easy to guess why they flinch. He still remembers the day one of Captain Bleier’s men had stumbled drunkenly into her hideout late in the evening, face streaked with grime and dried tearstains, his voice strained around the slurring of his words–
“The gods are dead. All of ‘em. Have been.”
It is not information that many people have coped well with. Askr does not especially care either way– the life or death of the uncaring deities above plays no part in his life, and it had not once in the unfathomable stretch of time he spent below the earth, beyond their gaze– a stretch of time he knows now must have been years. He had not yet learned to make room for them in his life by the time word traveled to Darkveil, had not learned to adopt a sense of faith like Freyja or Aaranay or Teth with her prayer beads and quiet whispers to Avasha, and he suspects he never will, now.
Captain Bleier had been particularly affected, though. He remembers that much.
Askr opts to remain silent as he follows Snow around the rest of the ship, letting the catfolk talk to their heart’s content as they wander past all of the vessel’s little fixtures– he comments when necessary, gives nods of acknowledgement and pays attention where it is demanded, but quiet is his first language, and he remains committed to it. He expects to remain silent for much of this journey– Mister Zarius will no doubt be busy talking with his mother, and Miss Zewala will likely have no interest in him. He expects nothing different.
…those expectations are quickly dashed as soon as he and Snow emerge from the lower deck, only for Zarius to immediately call him over.
He blinks for a moment, lashes fluttering in a moment of cluelessness before he gives a nod, a soft “yes, sir” and makes his way over to the table where Zarius and Zewala are sitting. He swings one arm around to his front, the other at his back, adopting a soldier’s attentive stance as he awaits whatever request he’s given–
“Do you know how to play?”
…or, that.
“...Play?” he asks, tilting his head, his stance relaxing just so. “...what… are you playing?”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Jun 25, 2023 11:24:05 GMT -5
"Dominoes!" Zewala's chipper reply is like a bell ringing over the waves. Despite her age, there's a childlike excitement to Zewala, infectious and innocent. She gestures to the seat adjacent to hers, encouraging Askr to take a seat.
"It is fairly simple, you will get the hang of it in no time." Zarius reassures the young man as he starts to organize the pieces.
While Zarius sets up the game for them, Zewala leans forward and props her elbows up on the edge of the table, folding her hands and leaning her chin atop them while looking at Askr intently.
"So, young man, what is your story?"
"Mother, please do not pry."
"It is an honest question, you tell me so little about all your new friends."
He gives her a bit of an unimpressed look, though the slightest hint of a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. "You do not need more information you can leverage against me."
Zewala gasps dramatically and puts a hand to her chest as if offended, but the warm smile never leaves her face. "I would never! Can a mother not be interested in her child's chosen company without being suspected of any ulterior motive?"
"A mother, yes. My mother, no."
She chuckles. "It is all in good fun." Turning her gaze back to Askr, she rests her chin back in her hands. "Thank you for watching my son's back. It is reassuring to know he has allies who he can count on given he has a habit of getting himself into trouble."
"I do not get myself into trouble," he retorts as he finishes dividing up the game pieces and sliding them across the table to each of them. "Trouble just happens in my line of work."
His mother leans over towards Askr and lowers her voice but not enough to actually make it hard for Zarius to hear. "When he was a child, he would sneak out with his sister and go running around all of Darkveil. Our poor guards had to chase them down constantly to ensure they did not get hurt or whisked away in the night. This one time, they snuck their way into the back of a bakery and when Eirynor tried to collect them to bring them home they attempted to dump a bag of flour on his head. Well, it did not go quite as they planned and all three of them returned home covered in flour. They were leaving little white trails everywhere they went throughout the house."
Zarius gives his mother another unimpressed look. "Really? That is the story you share?"
A wide grin spreads across her face. Challenge accepted. "I could tell young Askr about that time you swallowed a ball bearing."
The male fellblood's posture goes stiff as he sits straight up in response. "NO."
His mother laughs. "He thought he was going to die."
"I was six."
"You were eight," she corrects. "It was right around the time your father was going to start teaching you to handle bladed weapons. You were in the armory without his permission again."
The tension in Zarius' body relaxes, accepting that his mother would not likely drop the subject now. "I was not in there that often."
"Oh, we caught you sneaking in there plenty of times. Your father was so anxious and did not want to discipline you in case you started showing more interest in weaponry."
Zarius sighs. "I have no talent for that way of fighting."
"You know very well it is not a matter of talent. It is fine to admit you simply have a preference."
"Anyway, back on the topic of playing this game..." Zarius then goes on to explain how to play the Charonian version of dominoes to Askr with his mother interjecting with the occasional extra bit of information and tips.
They start a practice round so Askr can get the hang of it, though Zewala does speak up again as they do.
"I still would like to hear more about you if you do not mind, young man."
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Post by Askr Mimameith on Jul 23, 2023 19:09:26 GMT -5
A long moment passes where Askr does nothing at all.
He merely stares at Zewala as she gestures to the seat beside her, soft lashes brushing his cheeks as he blinks, as if trying to process her offer and the possible motivations behind it. But after a few awkward minutes slip by, he gives a short nod and stiffly moves to take a seat– his back straight as a rod, knees together, shoulders squared, his hands folded in his lap, focus honed and ready to listen to any further instructions. He keeps his attention on the way Zarius organizes and arranges the tiny rectangular pieces– the presumed dominoes–, wanting to be sure he understands this as well as he can.
But then Zewala leans in, face cradled atop her folded hands, interest flickering to life in her eyes as she asks Askr what his story is, only for Zarius to quickly cut in and insist she need not pry. They banter back and forth for a moment, leaving Askr to glance between them and follow the exchange– though he’s caught… quite off guard as Miss– err, Mrs. Zewala turns to face him once again, her expression perhaps softening as she… thanks him.
Thanks him for being there to watch out for Zarius, for being someone he can count on, as if at the beginning of all of this, Askr had not turned a blade on her child, intent on following through on an order to take his life. It is unlikely she knows that part. Even so, it is strange that she would thank him, strange she would believe that there is anything worth thanking him for. Zarius is a capable man with many capable allies– Askr is a mere construct with an array of swords to his name, a sufficient weapon when one is needed.
Despite this, he dips his head in an awkward half-bow half-nod, his flat tone lined with as much sincerity as he can manage as he speaks.
“...You are welcome, Mrs. Zewala. Mister Zarius has been very good to me. He deserves whatever aid I may give.”
He falls quiet after that once again, listening to Zewala and Zarius chat back and forth about the latter’s childhood– about all the manners of mischief he had gotten into when he was still little. It is a difficult thing to imagine, really– Askr knows Zarius to be cool and composed, capable of caution and patience. It is strange to imagine him swallowing ball bearings or trailing flour through a house or worriedly weeping over his theorized impending death, but he doubts Zewala would lie about such things. She does not seem the lying type.
As the topic shifts once again to dominoes, Askr returns to focusing on the instructions he’s been given, playing along in the practice round perhaps a bit slowly, but still attentively. He is so focused that he’s almost startled when Zewala leans in once more, interest in her tone as she asks once more about Askr– about anything he is willing to share.
Ah. Well…
He’d best not disrespect an implied order.
“...I am a mercenary,” he begins after a moment, ready to list off things as bluntly and succinctly as possible. “I do not know how old I am. I do not have a father. I do not know where my mother is. And… I like milk. Milk is good.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Jul 26, 2023 22:05:30 GMT -5
Zarius indeed had not told his mother of how exactly he and Askr had first run into each other. It was not significant information to share at this point. Askr had already given up on pursuing killing the fellblood and was aware of the attempts to manipulate and use him. As far as Zarius was concerned, the matter had been resolved and all that anyone needed to know was that he trusts Askr not to make another attempt on his life.
Though, even if he had shared that tidbit of information, Zewala was not one to hold a grudge over a misunderstanding and she often worried about her children. Even her highly capable oldest.
Growing up the way all her children had was not as easy as some may assume it to be. Sure, they did not struggle with poverty as other families did, but they had many enemies who would happily go out of their way to cause hardship for them, or worse. There was always the worry that news would reach her of one of her children falling victim to some assassin one day. She can't help but feel regret about the life their children live because of her and Anselm's own life choices. Perhaps they would have grown up more normal had they not let their own ambitions take priority.
Askr picks up on the rules pretty easily and they get well into a practice round before Zewala asks her question.
Zarius does shoot his mother a look, but does not interject as Askr does give an answer. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't equally as curious about Askr.
Zewala tilts her head, curious about how Askr could know so little about himself. Then she chuckles a bit at Askr's declaration of liking milk. Well, at least the young man knew that much.
"It is good to have things in life that you like. I am a fan of Vaha Fruit myself, which we should be able to get during our visit to Zeinav City!"
"We will see, but this trip is supposed to be quick and discreet."
Zewala puffs her cheeks a bit in a pout before looking back at Askr. "Have you been to Zeinav City before?"
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Post by Askr Mimameith on Aug 28, 2023 18:52:16 GMT -5
As soon as Zewala declares that it is a good thing to have things one likes in life, Askr gives a short, obedient nod– he has discovered there are quite a few things he likes since he stepped out into the world for the first time. Milk was one of the first. He’s developed more of a fondness for it since he started visiting the Rookery more frequently, too– he tries not to be of any inconvenience when he stops by, but sometimes he’ll wind up with a glass of milk being presented to him, anyway, one with cinnamon and nutmeg and the sweet taste of something apparently called a coconut lingering within it. It is good. He looks forward to it every time.
He has never quite heard of Vaha Fruit, though, and though his expression does not change, he cannot help but tilt his head a little bit when Mrs. Zewala mentions it. She must catch him doing it, too, because she is quick to ask if he’s ever been to Zeinav City– a question that makes him… pause.
“I have only… briefly been to Zeinav City,” he says, thinking it over. Most of the trips he’s taken there have been for the sake of work, and it’s very rare that any of the actual jobs take place within the city limits– usually they’ll meet up with their employer in the market district or otherwise, get their information, and head out somewhere else in the desert to handle the deed before returning for their pay, all before returning to the Ash Lands for some rest before the next job calls them elsewhere with the promise of clinking coin. “I am… more familiar with the Oasis. The White Sand Sea. Sometimes the Coast.”
He shifts a little awkwardly in his seat, not knowing how to continue, but knowing that may not be a satisfactory answer. One of many things he has learned is that short, blunt answers often do not satisfy people. It is… difficult to know when it is appropriate and when it is not. Sometimes people want him to talk more. Sometimes people want him to talk less. He is not very good at discerning the difference.
“...I have not been above ground for very long, ma’am,” he admits after a moment, staring at his lap. “I go where the Ring of Cinders goes. Or where Mister Zarius goes. I am… learning. I am not very good at it.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Aug 29, 2023 22:09:19 GMT -5
"Oh!" Zewala's eyes light up. "It has been so long since I have been to the Oasis. I wonder how much it has changed over the years."
She props her chin in her hands and gets a distant, dreamy look on her face as she reminisces on memories unspoken.
Zarius tilts his head a bit. "I was unaware you had been there before, mother."
A toothy grin spreads across her face. "Oh, yes. It is an old haunt of mine and your father's. We spent many moonless nights counting stars. The sky is so vast in the desert, and when the wind is still, the waters would perfectly mirror the sky. It was very romantic."
"Ah," is Zarius' only response.
He's not very experienced in romance, but the description his mother provides does sound pretty nice.
Zewala looks back over at Askr, listening to him explain how he hasn't seen much yet. She watches his eyes drop, and her expression shifts to one of sympathy.
"There is no shame in that. Everyone learns at their own pace and what matters is you keep on trying your best. You will find things you are very good at and other things you are not. Zarius trained under his father for years to learn how to wield all types of weapons, but he prefers to fight without them. And do not get me started on the arcane lessons."
"Mother," Zarius interjects.
It's awkward to sit at the table with his mother disclosing things about his childhood to another adventurer. At least Caedes wasn't around. The smart-mouthed assassin would be certain to pry for more embarrassing information.
Zewala does not relent though.
"Sweetheart, you made for a terrible magic student."
Zarius sighs. There was no winning in this conversation.
"Point is, Askr, you have time to learn so many things. Like how to get utterly defeated in a game of dominoes." Her smile widens into a light-hearted teasing grin.
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Post by Askr Mimameith on Sept 3, 2023 23:37:05 GMT -5
Askr cannot help but tilt his head as soon as Mrs. Zewala describes the Oasis as a location that carries so many fond memories for her; there is a strange, faraway look in her face, her gaze pinpointed elsewhere, like she’s seeing things neither he nor Zarius can, the smile on her face loose and relaxed at the edges. It is a strange expression, but decisively a happy one– she has said as much, after all, and she clearly seems happy about reminiscing over those trips with her husband, about stars shining in the sky and glinting on the water. It sounds… pretty.
He is still getting used to the idea of associating good memories with a place, but he understands well why she speaks so fondly of the Oasis. Askr is unfamiliar with the stars and the way they settle on the water, but he is familiar with its marketplace, with the apothecary at the edge of it, with the smiling apprentice sometimes behind the counter.
“...I like it, too,” he says after a moment, his tone shifting, not devoid of its usual monotone, but somehow… shier, some of what might have been shame shifting into something somewhat softer, his gaze lifting. “Someone very important lives there. In the Oasis. I get to visit him sometimes.”
He does not elaborate further, but that softness lingers in his expression as Zewala continues talking– it is strange how she continues to bring up the ways her son has fallen short or failed or embarrassed himself in life, but… there is a strange, almost comforting feeling that comes from it. Askr cannot help but feel guilty, but it is… nice to know that Zarius, who he has only ever known as infallible, powerful, all-knowing, immovable… is capable of mistakes, of errors, of being not good at things. It makes him feel closer to earth– within Askr’s reach.
Not that Askr should be reaching for him, but…
“Thank you, Mrs. Zewala,” he says. “I believe I understand. Though…” he pauses, tilting his head, not unlike a confused puppy. “Am I… meant to lose the dominoes? Is that the point? I may have misunderstood.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Sept 6, 2023 20:08:30 GMT -5
Zewala smiles as Askr talks about having someone important to him in the Oasis. "Visiting people important to you is nice. You should make sure to go as often as you can." Her eyes drop to the surface of the table before her. "Do not wait too long like I have."
Zarius glances at his mother. For as powerful and fearsome of a spellcaster she is, it's moments like this where her fragility manages to poke through the veil. He reaches over and gently sets a hand on her arm.
"Everything will go well, Mother."
The woman's gentle smile falters a bit, uncertainty and anxiety flickering across her face as she fiddles with one of the domino tiles between her fingertips.
She perks back up at Askr's thanks. "You are quite welcome."
Her smile returns, bright and full as she covers her mouth to hide a giggle. She clears her throat and regains her composure before addressing the young mercenary's questions.
"Just do your best and have fun. Win or lose, that is all that matters."
With the pieces set, the trio plays a practice round of the game so Askr is familiar with the ruleset they use. Zarius gets up from his seat a few times to hover over Askr's shoulder and provide help if he gets stuck.
It's a tough game given Zarius is a strategist and his mother is surprisingly shifty. There's one moment during the practice round where Zarius stops mid-explanation to call out his mother for swapping some of her tiles with his while he's not at his seat.
After a while, they play a few more rounds until the waters get a bit too rough and they nearly lose the game pieces across the deck of the ship.
Though their game comes to an end, the journey is far from over, an unfortunate fact for Snow who starts to feel queasy and is found draped over the railing of the ship by Zewala who encourages them to rest before they lose their lunch.
Zarius looks to Askr after they secure the chairs and table down below deck.
"Well, I apologize for my mother's cheating, but I hope you had some fun regardless."
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Post by Askr Mimameith on Sept 18, 2023 13:57:08 GMT -5
Askr does not consider himself someone very good with emotions.
They are difficult enough to recognize within himself– he has a loose grasp on bits and pieces, a tenuous understanding of the flutter of joy, the pressure of stress, the hollowness delivered by what he has learned is despair. He could not tell you of their intricacies, of their causes, of how deep the waters run and from where they flow, but he has gotten a decent grasp of them by this point, enough to not let them slip entirely through his fingers without understanding what they were. Even so, he is… not very good at understanding those feelings as they flash across the faces of others, and as Zewala stares at the table’s surface, for a moment, all he can do is blink.
The reassurances Zarius offers her are gentle, soft, a quiet promise that things will go well– so the look flashing in Mrs. Zewala’s eyes must be… doubt. Fear…? Regret, possibly. Askr nods to himself, taking note, remembering how her own habit of looking toward the table mirrors his own.
“Mister Zarius is correct,” he echoes, giving a stilted nod. “I am sure your meeting with your important person will go well. And… you will get to see her more, I am sure.”
There is some sort of triumph to be found in the way Zewala’s smile returns to her face, the way light floods back into her eyes, even though Askr does not understand quite why she is trying so hard to conceal what might be laughter behind her hand. He does not think he said anything funny, but he hardly has a good grasp of the concept to begin with, and a smile is a decidedly good thing, so he is not bothered by it.
What he is bothered by, albeit only slightly, is how… strangely difficult dominoes proves to be. For a practice round, he finds it difficult to stay on top of the game, though he is quietly thankful for the guidance Zarius gives him when he gets stuck– which… happens more than once. It is a difficult game to keep up with, and he only gets more confused when Zarius chides his mother for tile-swapping.
Even so, it is… confusing, but not bad. It is an enjoyable kind of not-bad.
It lingers in the back of his mind as the game wraps up and they start to secure some of the furniture below deck so the rougher waters cannot claim it. It is almost distracting– to the point where he nearly misses Zarius’s question when they’re finished getting everything settled.
“I… think I did have… fun,” he says slowly, almost uncertainly. “...Mrs. Zewala is very nice. I hope she and her important person are happy to see one another. How far out are we?”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Sept 24, 2023 20:05:26 GMT -5
"Thank you for your kind words, Askr. You are very sweet." Zewala smiles at him with an odd fondness.
Below deck, Zarius finishes tightening a rope around the furniture to keep it from sliding around in the hull. He listens to Askr as the young mercenary aids him.
"Good." Zarius response is curt and accompanied by a nod. He looks at the young man as he stands back up, rebalancing himself as the ship sways from the waves outside. "My mother is easy to get along with most days. She can be a bit much after she has had a bottle of wine in her, but compared to others she is incredibly patient."
Gods knows his mother could handle her drink a lot better than any of her children. They were all lightweights in comparison. Not that Zarius often drinks anyway out of sheer caution. The last time he drank was less about relaxing and more about taking the edge off of the frustration he felt. It did little to aid in that unpleasant situation.
"It will still be a fair while before we arrive in Zeinav City. If you tire, do make sure to rest."
He claps the young mercenary on the shoulder before heading back up above deck to keep watch as the ship cuts through the waves.
Some time passes before the barrier islands protecting the bay around Zeinav City come into view just off to the starboard side of the ship's prow. The trip has been relatively uneventful, but that hardly helps things be any less tense as they approach the barrier islands which are prime locations for concealing ambushes by opportunistic pirates.
They’ve been lucky so far, but now would be a true test of that luck.
As the ship passes between two of the islands, Snow's ears perk up as the catfolk catches a noise off the port side. Though really, all of them could easily hear it as a blast of canon fire goes off. Just shy of the ship's hull the cannonballs land in the water.
Warning shots.
"WE GOT COMPANY!" The captain shouts as the crew scrambles to their positions while two small and fast vessels appear out from behind the islands and start approaching their vessel. The two ships move to cut off their path and flank them on either side.
Zewala looks around a bit concerned but is relatively calm when Eirynor starts to escort her down below deck for safety.
Zarius looks at Askr. "Be ready for anything."
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