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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Nov 27, 2023 17:42:26 GMT -5
Ak’ka opened her mouth to protest, pullin’ herself into a sitting position, when the tear in her injuries stopped her. Her muscles pulled and everything ached, despite Taki’s healing and the smokin’ of herbs to ease the pain. Man, you’ve really done a number on yourself this time, Bonegrinder.
Years ago, an injury like this would’a been nothing to her. Either the Beast had weakened her more than she thought, or Ak’ka was getting older. Forty, or thereabouts wherever she was in age, was pretty damn ancient for orc-kind. In their culture it was an honor for someone to go out in a blaze of glory in adolescence or adulthood, so when you met an orc with gray in their hair or lines around their face like she did, ya had to stop and question how, in decades of battle and abuse on their body, they’d managed to survive to reach that age. It meant if you ended up on the other side of them in battle, you should probably piss yerself in fear. But it also meant their bodies might start eventually succumbin’ to the monster that no one but the elves could combat - age.
Ak’ka’d always been pretty youthful and sturdy even when she passed her thirties. But maybe life was finally catchin’ up to her.
She didn’t like the feeling.
“Alright, thanks.” She relented, because what else could she do? She wasn’t so prideful she couldn’t accept help. And if she resisted, she’d only make her recovery time longer. “Yer a pretty good gal, Taki, for helpin’ out someone like me. That’s a debt that won’t be forgotten, ya hear? You can call on me whenever ya need.”
It was all she could promise, but when Ak’ka the Bonegrinder made a vow like that, she meant it, as if she’d made the promise in blood. Taki’d proven herself good, and an act like that didn’t go unrewarded, no matter how much she insisted she didn’t need one.
With that, Ak’ka flopped onto the bed and tried to find some kinda sleep.
Rest was tough, especially with the pain in her leg wakin’ her intermittently. Or maybe it was the nightmares. Tough to tell, but either way she woke up a few times in the night in a cold sweat that froze to her face. Luckily, Keiga was there with her. He didn’t need to offer much physical comfort, but he did press his muzzle to her ice-mangled arm every time she woke up. A reminder he was there. It did calm her enough to put her back to sleep, which… had never really happened before. Usually she just touched it out ‘til she found an uneasy rest. This was different.
Whatever it was, her waking didn’t really bother her as much as it usually did, and soon enough she rose with the sun through the window. Even with a mangled leg, her body still felt well enough for her to get through her usual morning routine… and she was pretty damn frustrated she hadn’t been able to move so far. Surely a bit of exercise wouldn’t hurt. With a grunt of effort and a stubbornness only someone like her could muster, Ak’ka pulled herself off the bed and stood, hobblin’ towards an empty space on the ground.
Alright. That was squared away.
Now she just had to figure out how to do this while not hurtin’ her leg further…
That was how Taki would find Ak’ka later, workin’ up a sweat with some push-ups with her injured leg tucked over the other so no weight was on it. She paused when the orochi opened the door, pullin’ herself up and stretching her arms. Just cus everything ached didn’t mean she could neglect her body. “Mornin’. Rested alright.” She grunted, moving to sit on the bed. “Breakfast smells great… but ya ain’t gotta go out of your way to cook if yer too tired.”
Keiga nodded as Taki mentioned that he’d have to go out to procure his own meal, and disappeared for a bit - leaving healer and mercenary alone for a minute.
Ak’ka’s condition as Taki examined it was pale, a bit clammy from all the exercise she’d done. Her body hurt, but she could ignore the pain. It was leagues better than it had been after her injury. She huffed out a laugh when Taki asked whether they should wait or get started.
“D’aw, yer bedside manner sure knows how to make a gal feel special.” Ak’ka pulled herself up as best she could. “Gonna swallow the bitter pill first. Get the tough outta the way before the good.” Besides, that would give Taki a chance to sit and eat to recover her energy after healin’, too. Ak’ka shifted the blankets off her leg. It was lookin’ better than it had yesterday, though maybe with a tiny bit of infection and swelling from all the accelerated magic that had helped it along. But otherwise, far better than it was when Taki first started treating it.
Still, she toughed out the healing with gritted tusks. Say what you will about Ak’ka, but her pain tolerance wasn’t lacking. It helped that she had good food to look forward to, as well.
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Post by Shitakibo on Nov 27, 2023 19:27:07 GMT -5
Taki was as gentle as she could be with her exam, noting the reddened patch. Without much in the way of warning or indication, she took a long, thin needle from her kit and slipped it carefully under the infected skin after dabbing it lightly with disinfectant on a swab. With firm hands, she lifted the warrior's leg and bent the knee to elevate it, while taking a clean strip of linen and folding it into a thick rag. As she pulled the needle carefully back out, a thin stream of mostly clear liquid followed. She massaged the muscle, pressing any remaining fluid out and examining it for a moment before adding it to the growing pile of contaminated tools. With everything else in good order, she put her medical supplies away and stepped out of the room to dispose of the swab and linen, put the needle in a cleaning solution, and wash her hands. When she returned, she set up the trays for the pair to eat.
"Everything's looking good so far. The swelling and infection aren't anything serious, so your body should fight it off. I'll keep an eye on the area over the next few days, otherwise your recovery is coming along nicely. A few more days and you should be okay to walk with a cane or something similar to help with the pressure. Until then, either myself or Keiga will be about to help you move around. If you'd like anything to help stave off the boredom of sitting about all day, please just ask." Taki said as she sat down to her breakfast. Breakfast consisted of smoked links of sausage, a savory rice porridge with roasted vegetables, and chunks of pan fried potatoes seasoned with herbs and spices. It was simple, hearty and full of flavor while not being hard on the stomach. The warm meal helped with the cool morning that greeted them, something Taki knew was important for keeping sickness at bay. There wasn't a ton on the agenda for the day beyond checking Ak'ka's condition and a bit of healing magic likely to happen at lunch time.
Keiga came slithering through the door a short while later, his body thick with a meal about a third down. Squishing through the door, the Tidal Serpent settled beside Ak'ka and lay his head on his tail. Taki finished her breakfast, leaning back in the chair for a moment while she let the food settle.
"If you need to get around for anything, or you'd like to soak in a bath, let Keiga help you get about. Otherwise, if you need anything, let any of my companions know and they'll either get what you need or come find me. I'll be stepping out for a while to tend to the chores and stop in around lunch."
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Dec 2, 2023 10:15:12 GMT -5
Ak’ka was no stranger to injury and the infection that usually came along with it. In her clan, it was mostly just taken care of by pourin’ a little liquor on it to burn out the disease, slap some cloth on it, and call it a day. And if ya didn’t wake up the next day, well, then ya just weren’t strong enough to hack it. It was a pretty damn harsh life in the mountains, mostly cus the mountains themselves were rough. Meant that its people had to be the same way. Point being, the finer details of injury treatment were lost on the half-orc. She wasn’t squeamish, so she didn’t need to look away while Taki did some fancy shit with a needle, but she sure as hell was weirded out.
At least it didn’t seem like it was gonna fester. She knew the sickness from infection was severe but there was about fuck all she could do about it if it set in after she left Taki’s place. She wasn’t no healer. ‘Course, she could always do the old tried and true and pour the contents of her flask on it but she was pretty damn sure Taki wouldn’t like that if she heard what kind of ‘home remedy’ Ak’ka normally used.
She grinned when she received the ‘all good’ from Taki. “Sweet. A clean bill of health. Thanks, doc.” It definitely wasn’t a clean bill of health, but to Ak’ka, the go-ahead to move around and the assurance it ‘wasn’t that bad’ was basically fine. “Breakfast smells great… I don’t do well sittin’ around and doin’ nothing, so if ya don’t mind I’d like to walk around after I eat. I got a tree somewhere I could probably use…”
She looked around and until she saw her six-foot pine tree, along with some of her other big bags, propped against the wall.
“Yeah. A tour would be nice, you seem like you got a pretty sweet place around here.” It was nice to see that a fellow traveler and vagabond had made such a nice place to rest their head when they were tired.
She nodded her thanks as Taki dispensed the food - still as grand as her last meal had been, which Ak’ka was grateful for. She dug into the meat and potatoes, wary of the vegetables but was hungry enough to throw those down too. And they were pretty damn delicious as well. She leaned back and patted her stomach, havin’ finished her meal a bit quicker than her host.
“Thanks a lot.” She grumbled, still awkward ‘bout expressing her appreciation. If she was feeling well enough, maybe she could pay Taki back by huntin’ for some small game in the area, paying back what she’d eaten. She could handle wrestling some squirrels and shit. That moment Keiga came back in, lookin’ satisfied at a meal well enjoyed. While Taki relaxed, Ak’ka stood, makin’ her way over to her tree.
“Man, you’ve been workin’ pretty damn hard the past few days. Gimme some shit to do and go take a soak yerself, Doc. I like the work. Least I can do to pay ya back for yer healing. Even if ya don’t need it, I still wanna.” She grinned. “I’m feelin’ like a damn spring chicken thanks to yer healing, and with Keiga’s help we’ll get it done for ya.”
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 2, 2023 10:46:55 GMT -5
Taki stopped mid stride and turned, looking at Keiga first, then to Ak'ka with a smile that was difficult to read. Keiga understood it, and stared incredulously at Ak'ka as the words left her lips. There was rarely a shortage of work to be done around Taikyaku-no-Seishin, and offering your help wholesale could lead to some intense labor. Pondering the situation a moment, the shaman nodded and chuckled softly.
"Alright... there's a sizable pile of dried firewood that needs to be split and put away. While I don't have a properly sized splitting axe for you, the one I have would serve as a large hatchet. Let Keiga do all the moving things from place to place, and he'll show you how the workflow goes. You'll probably be faster than I am, so this should be a great exercise for both of you."
"Taki... do we HAVE to?"
She gave the serpent a tough but kind stare for a moment.
"You don't have to do anything Keiga, but if Ak'ka would like to help out as an expression of gratitude, I would also be a poor host to turn it down... plus, I will be in the garden if something happens or I can send Kamina with you both in case I'm not nearby."
"Do you always have to make sense?"
"No, but it'd be difficult to discuss ideas and make plans if I spoke nonsense."
Keiga let out a heavy, hissing sigh and conceded. Taki ran her hands over the scales of his muzzle and smiled, knowing this was going to be some of her last moments with her companion. The winter was harsh on all her exothermic companions, Rina and Shion both would begin their torpor the night of first frost, Hanehiko had been out filling her fat reserves in preparation for the coming cold, even Kamina was spending more time indoors. Only Yukina enjoyed the winter, and she would be by far the most active of the bunch for the next few months.
Strolling out into the brisk morning air after putting the dishes up to be washed later, Taki headed into the Workshop to retrieve the simple but sturdy axe she kept around for taking down dead trees and splitting wood. She brought it over to an area with a large, flattened stump that had several weathered and worn axe marks on it's face alongside newer ones. She propped it up on a curved driftwood log that served as a bench, then headed to the garden to begin the chores she needed done.
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Dec 3, 2023 8:52:25 GMT -5
Oh, Ak’ka recognized that shit-eatin’ smile. It was the look of someone who’d just been offered a free meal and was about to get her money’s worth. Ak’ka didn’t mind the labor. Really. Since she was old enough to walk she’d been put to work or training or battle some kinda way. Some folks thought rest was the best medicine. For Ak’ka, it was good, old-fashioned, repetitive n’ mindless exercise. Based on the sudden apprehension in her new buddy, though, Keiga knew exactly what was about to happen, and he was not looking forward to it.
Taki immediately gave her a task to work on, which she was pretty damn grateful for. And it wasn't some stupid low-effort chore either, like washin’ dishes or some shit, which the half-orc appreciated. She needed to move her muscles, and choppin’ firewood was as good as any. In the harshest, snow-capped peaks of Winter’s Crown at the World’s Edge they didn’t have much to even harvest for wood, but she was familiar with it. Warmth of any kind was precious up there.
She pat Keiga on the back and laughed.
“Ah, don’t worry ‘bout it. I really only say I need help as a courtesy. You mostly just gotta sit there and make sure I don’t keel over again.”
She turned to Taki then, raising an eyebrow.
“Who said anythin’ about needing an axe?” RRRRRRRRRIP!
Any confusion Taki might have felt at Ak’ka’s statement would immediately be cleared up the second Ak’ka made her way to the clearing where the firewood neeed to be chopped. The ten-foot tall mountain of a warrior, built like a shit brickhouse and with the hands to match, simply just walked over to the pile, held a log in the air, pried her fingers into the wood until it started to give, and…
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRIP!
The two half-chunks were thrown in a pile and tossed aside like they meant nothin’.
Ak’ka waved at Taki before the shaman left. This job was gonna be easy as pie! She didn’t even have’ta stay standin’ for it when her leg was botherin’ her.
“Don’t worry, doc. I got this from here. I’ll come grab ya when I need something else to work on.” Then she moved to the pile and grabbed another log, givin’ it the same treatment as the others.
The work was mindless, which Ak’ka was thankful for. Meant she could just… breathe, focus on the sharp chilly air of the retreat ‘round her and the shifting trees. She could focus on the wear and tear of her muscles - an ache she didn’t mind, ‘cus it meant they would grow back stronger and better for it. She could focus on her new companion, who was watching her to make sure she didn’t pass out again. Just grabbing the logs, tearin’ em up, throwin’ em in the pile, repeat. She turned to Keiga with another log in her hands, before splittin’ it with little effort.
“See? Ain’t so bad, is it? Work is pretty good. Yer lady Taki probably finds peace in meditation ‘n all that esoteric shit I don’t understand, but this. This is what helps me. Calms my mind when I need it to, but keeps the body sharp. I ain’t ever want it to go dull.”
She ripped another log and tossed it in the pile. This process would probably go on for hours or until she ran outta wood, whichever came first.
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 3, 2023 10:44:21 GMT -5
Taki watched for a few minutes, almost in disbelief, at the raw power of the warrior. She'd seen creatures of immense power and strength, but it wasn't common to find such strength in another person... to say she was mesmerized put it mildly. With a sharp exhale, she cleared the distraction from her thoughts and set about tending to the garden. First, she walked the beds and checked the condition of their soil. Next, she took a small bamboo rack, with ceramic cups full of dark, moist soil and tiny seedlings to a sunnier spot on one of the benches that surrounded the inside of the greenhouse. Once done, she checked over the stores and separated groups of produce to be preserved before expiring.
Her storehouse was unique, featuring a double walled construction with ventilation pipes that extended deep under the earth and were fed by fresh air from outside. These pipes served two purposes, regulating the temperature of the air between the buildings, and reducing humidity. The inner building was made of a solid crystalline structure of dense gemstone, with an intricately carved entrance of the same material. It was hinged downward to the floor of the outer building via a system of pulleys, weights and springs. Designing this structure had been a portion of her Thesis into the field of Arcanatek Research, and it's construction had given her many practical skills she imparted into Shuchu's design.
RRRRRIIIIPPPP..... RRRRIIIIIIIPPP.... RRRRRIIIIPPPPP...
The sound invaded her thoughts, even within the chilled confines of the storeroom. Taki sighed softly, emotions stirring within her she'd only wondered about... Her mind wandered, considering what a life might be like with Ak'ka. Would they travel the world, roaming and nomadic, much as her previous life had been? Would they settle in here at her home, adopting pets, helping farmers and keeping the monsters at bay? Somewhere in between? She shook her head, such thoughts were for younglings with dreams of love and adoration... but these emotions were tangible, real, gave the shaman pause about who she was and how she saw others.
Taki's family had left no room for notions of love, joy or kindness. Her father had been one of the tribe's head warriors, something akin to a human general, and his older brother sat on the tribe council, similar to a senator or advisor. They, and the council, had arranged for this uncle to wed to Taki when she was but a hatchling... which wasn't unusual as a custom, but rarely was done within one's own family. Had her uncle not been a terrible person, who treated others as little more than objects, she might have at least publicly tried her best to be peaceful... but she could not ignore the gentle spirits recoiling from his presence, running or cowering each time he passed. She tried her best to appeal to both her family and the tribe, but the council had bent their ear to his manipulation. Even her own father and mother insisted she stop protesting and accept the 'great honor' being offered.
It had all come to a head when she openly and publicly refused a drunken advance, tossing the swollen reptile across a table when he'd tried to reach into her dress. Afterwards, the council exiled Taki and she set out on the path she walked now. A closeness of family or bond of love hadn't entered her life until much older, and much of that had come in the form of her companions. While she found it easy to care for another, it was the caring of a teacher, mentor, or healer, not that of a partner or family. She put her notebook away and headed out of the storeroom, which made the sound of Ak'ka working nearby even more resounding in the outer chamber's mostly empty space. She leaned against the outer wall, sighing heavily at the wash of emotion and confusion...
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Dec 10, 2023 12:58:07 GMT -5
Completely oblivious to Taki’s inner turmoil, as Ak’ka was pretty much as dense as a bag of bricks, the half-orc spent a few hours just rippin’ the ever loving shit outta logs. Like she told Keiga, she needed the exercise for her body. Even gettin’ older and a little less durable, Ak’ka was no slouch. She was a livin’ weapon, scourge of the orc clans of the mountains - tearin’ up a couple of logs was nothin’.
The injuries did leave her kinda tired, though.
When she was done, Ak’ka sat on the choppin’ log, heavin’ a breath. She was the kinda gal to keep movin’ til she couldn’t no more; injuries were limitations to be shrugged off, not somethin’ that stopped her completely. Maybe it was ‘cus she was still weak from her capture and escape from the Citadel a little bit back, the fight where she’d earned that nasty scar on her shoulder and the Beast that simmered under her skin. Nothin’ ain’t felt right since then. Not that she thought it made her weaker, but…
It felt like every wakin’ moment was an uphill battle, a war in herself, wrestlin’ control from the Beast. With every passin’ second it thrashed against the cage, demandin’ to be set free, to rip and tear and eat.
There was a reason most folks didn’t survive the werecurse. There was a reason even after the initial bite, most succumbed to the monster. It took so damn much of her energy just to fight it off, to stay in control. She wasn’t gonna let that motherfucker win.
Still. Left her a bit winded after her chores.
She sat for long enough that Keiga picked his head up, concerned. He slithered over to where she was sat, resting his head on her shoulder. He hissed, words that she felt in the rumble of his concern rather than understood in words. “Are you okay? Have any of your wounds reopened?”
“Ah, I’m fine.” She assured him, wavin’ a hand in the air. Everything still felt in working order as far as she could tell, and that was good enough for her. “I just. Ugh. If yer gonna be travelin’ with me, I guess it’s only fair ya know. For the past couple’a weeks, I’ve been’ battlin’ a werecurse. Fucker’s been fighting for control since that asshole Ursain bit me in the bottom of a prison. I ain’t lost control but once. And it wasn’t for long.” She explained, thinkin’ back to her spar with Javal in Frostgale. She couldn’t hold back the Beast’s bloodlust, not when her adrenaline was already high. Ak’ka wasn’t gonna make that mistake a second time.
“I say that ‘cus if yer gonna be comin’ with me, and I lose control, you’ve got my full permission to stop me no matter what it takes.” She said, voice low and gravelly with all the seriousness of the grave. Waited ‘til Keiga nodded; satisfied when he did, and pulled herself to her feet with a groan. “Alright. Good. Now, can ya take me to wherever the doc got off to? I’m ready for another job.”
She followed the serpent all the way to an odd building whose purpose Ak’ka couldn’t even begin to figure out - magic and science and spiritually and the like all lost on her, where Taki clearly favored them. Not wantin’ to intrude on whatever business Taki had inside, she settled for cupping her hands over her mouth and callin’ out, “Oi, Taki, at a stoppin’ point? Figured now would be as good a time for lunch as any, and more chores if ya got ‘em.”
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 10, 2023 15:56:32 GMT -5
"Oi, Taki, at a stoppin’ point? Figured now would be as good a time for lunch as any, and more chores if ya got ‘em.” Ak'ka called from outside. She took a few deep breaths, trying to set aside the wild tug of emotions. Opening the door, it was apparent she was flustered by something. The usual vibrant blue of her scales shimmered with iridescent colors, her 'cheeks' in particular displaying a deep purple with streaks of greens and reds. She looked to Keiga for a moment, trying to keep her wits from spilling all over the courtyard.
"Ummm.... we can take break now for lunch if you like... I'll have to look around for another chore... and I would like to check your progress before we strain it further." Practically staring at the floor, she managed to reply in a soft and uncharacteristically shy tone. Taki fought hard to focus on anything but Ak'ka, standing before her like a mountain of strength and stalwart toughness. She could feel warmth under her scales, knew full well she wasn't able to hide her embarrassment for all to see. She was also keenly aware that any of her companions noticing would mean a lifetime of jests and joking...
"I'll go get things ready, the two of you go ahead and wash up... take a breather... I'll bring something to get you started as soon as I can." With that, she spun on her heel and darted back into the storeroom. While she didn't slam the door, or even close it all the way, it was enough that there was anything between her and the wash of childish emotion wreaking havoc on her usually tranquil thoughts. It took a few minutes for her to calm down again, after which she put together a tray of crackers, cheese and sausages. She paired this with a fresh brewed herbal tea, sweetened with Flitten Honey.
While her color had returned mostly to normal, she still held a streak of purple on her cheeks as she walked into the house to set the tray down. She nodded politely to the pair before heading into the kitchen to keep herself busy and distracted. There, she split a pair of bread loaves before spreading on a creamy mixture of vinegar, egg whites, salt, garlic and herbs from her garden (garlic aioli). Using a device she kept in a cabinet, she sliced up a block of cheese that was partly coated in wax. After wiping it down thoroughly, she then sliced a roasted shoulder of beef into thin strips.
Setting a flat iron skillet on the stove, she lit a fire and let it warm as she chopped up peppers and onions. Taking a small slice of butter from the cold-box, she melted it over the hot surface before tossing on the vegetables. Using a flat metal spatula, she spread them out evenly over the surface to sauté. Opening a cabinet door next to the sink, she turned a rack of jars containing dried spices and seasonings until she found one that seemed to be some sort of blend. She sprinkled a generous amount over the sizzling toppings, tossing them as they cooked before adding the strips of meat.
Within seconds, the flavorful aroma wormed it's way through the house to tickle any noses inside. As the cooking was finishing, she split the pile into an even pair of portions and layered cheese over the top. Using a metal cover for another of her pots, she let the steam melt the cheese into the toppings for a few moments. After piling each prepared loaf with the steaming toppings and gooey cheese, she cut them into sections about the width of three fingers and arranged them in a circle on a tray. She finished the dish by adding in some fried and salted potatoes that she'd sliced thinly and kept stored in a sealed container in the pantry. Their salty crispness paired well with the savory, hearty flavors of the sandwich, so the shaman hoped anyway...
She carried the tray in and sat down with the pair, after setting out a plate for each of them.
"You don't have to be shy, enjoy." She said as she sat across awkwardly, a bit too focused on the chips she toyed with before eating them one at a time. Was this how someone experienced affection towards others? Why now, after so much in her life had been distinctly lacking such thoughts or feelings, was she feeling this way? All she had to do was see this through, and Ak'ka would be back to her own life... hopefully without the shaman making a fool of herself or offending someone who could probably mash her into a fine paste... She shuddered in her seat at the thought of the Orc's powerful hands... 'GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF DAMN IT!!' her thoughts screamed at her, but her body was having none of it.
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Dec 16, 2023 12:43:25 GMT -5
Took a few minutes for Taki to emerge from the inside of that weird construction. Ak’ka tapped her foot against the ground while she waited, scannin’ the home that had become her temporary shelter while she healed. It was a real pretty place… peaceful. It was perfect for a healer to rest her head after long periods of travel. Between her house and Shaa’s, it made Ak’ka wonder what it might be like to own a place of her own. But she wasn’t the kinda gal to settle down.
There was no home left for her after hers had been destroyed.
She brightened when Taki emerged, only to pause. The lady was all kinds of purple, when she’d been pretty normal colored earlier. Ak’ka tucked her hands in her pockets, rocking on her feet while the woman spoke. Unlike before when she’d been all confident and shit, her voice could only be described as shy and demure now. Did something happen to make her upset? Or was she comin’ down with something? Utterly oblivious to anything and everything, Ak’ka leaned over and put the back of her hand against Taki’s scales.
“You alright? You look like yer comin’ down with a fever.” She knew shit all about how orochi worked from a health perspective, but she did know that Taki had been working herself hard and using a lot of her magic to keep Ak’ka upright. “If you need ta lay down, I can get you to a bed…”
But Taki was already moving on, making her way to the kitchen with lunch. Ak’ka turned to Keiga, thick brows furrowed. The serpent knew Taki way better than she did - if anyone could tell if she was gettin’ sick, it would be him. “Somethin’ the matter with her?”
Keiga just stared at her.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that either Taki was in a real bad way, or she’d done something to upset her host. Maybe she’d accidentally implied that Taki’s place was a damn mess by asking to constantly do chores? Or maybe she’d asked for too much food? Yeah, that was probably it. Whatever she was bothered by, Ak’ka wasn’t the typa person to beat around the bush about things. She resolved to talk about it when Taki returned.
Didn’t take more than a few minutes for her to return, bringing out a plate of warm food to combat the cold. Ak’ka sat down, grabbing one of the sandwich slices and grinning. Man, Taki was no slouch as a chef. Ak’ka didn’t usually bother with food but some folks found it important to enjoy the finer things of life, like fancy meals and shit. She doubted she’d get the chance to eat like this on the road, so she may as well enjoy it while it lasted. Shoving half of it down her mouth in one bite, Ak’ka haphazardly wiped crumbs on her skirt and put her hands on her knees as she stared Taki down.
“Did I do somethin’ to offend ya? Some orochi custom I broke or summat without realizing it?”
Yep. Even with words, she packed a punch.
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 16, 2023 16:09:16 GMT -5
The color on the shaman's cheeks flared again, the intensity of Ak'ka's stare and the sheepish look on her usually serene features would turn to embarrassment as a little spark of lightning flew through the room giggling. She buzzed around the table and stopped next to Ak'ka to lean casually on her shoulder. Kamina whispered in her ear, grinning deviously as her gaze followed Taki's wild emotional one.
"That's no upset look, you've done nothing wrong... she's got a crush on you..."
Unable to contain her enthusiasm, Kamina danced around the room giggling excitedly. Taki shot up from her chair and bolted after the Pixie, who took off down the hallway.
"Come back here little lady, what in the realms is wrong with you!?!"
"Crush! Crush! Taki's got a Crush!!" The little pixie sang merrily through the halls, her laughter punctuating Taki's hissing protests. As they neared the end of the hallway, Taki grinned, thinking she had the pixie cornered. She stalked forward with a wild grin, her colorations flickering as wildly as her emotions.
"It seems we need to have a talk little lady..."
"Oh? About what? Did I do something to upset you?" The pixie did her best to look sweet and innocent, making big eyes at the shaman while fidgeting.
"In fact, you did just that... Those feelings were mine to express in my own way... it was not right of you to expose them." As she said the words, the storm calmed a bit within. She understood her companion's kind intentions, and Fae nature, but this was already a confusing and difficult set of emotions to deal with.
"I... I'm..." Kamina nearly broke into tears at the realization that Taki was in fact upset, not just playing along. The shaman gently scooped her up as she was starting to fall, embracing her gently.
"You weren't trying to be mean, and for that I am not mad at you little one... but you must let others express themselves in their own way, it is not our place to share the feelings of others. What if you were wrong about my feelings? How do you think that could go?"
"Ummm... probably very badly."
"Indeed, while in this case you've got the understanding to be fairly sure in your guess, it is still just a guess. Such things can bring trouble to a situation if shared carelessly... and I apologize for lashing out."
"It's okay, I'll try to be more careful about sharing my guesses."
"Sharing them is fine, but perhaps start with the person you're making a guess about? This would both check your accuracy and gain their permission in sharing it or not in most cases."
"Alright, I'll try my best!" The pixie said, wiping her face on Taki's hand before buzzing off down the hall to go gossip with Rina. As Taki was walking back down the hall to the dining room, she could hear the pair giggling and whispering excitedly. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, steadying herself for the likely difficult conversation ahead. She walked back into the room and returned to her seat before saying anything.
"My apologies for the outburst... though, what she said is in fact the answer to your question... I find your presence fascinating in a way that I've not experienced before. Something about your demeanor, your imposing disposition, and the way you plunge into every act of life... it has stirred this shaman's heart in a way that I've only experienced from afar..."
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Dec 17, 2023 9:30:46 GMT -5
Of all responses Ak’ka was expectin’… that was not one of ‘em. She stood, dumbfounded, starin’ at the little pixie who was giggling like she’d just shared court gossip or some shit.
“What… she wants to crush me…?”
Apparently she didn’t understand this, either. “Look, Taki, if you wanna spar with me, there’s no need to be shy about askin’. But even though I’m a bit out of it, don’t think you’ll be able to crush me that easy!” But that only seemed to make it worse, Taki bolting out of her chair to chase after the little sprite, and leavin’ Ak’ka utterly confused as to what the hell had just happened.
She turned to Keiga.
“It’s not that hard to ask for a spar, is it?”
Again, Keiga stared at her.
Wasn’t her fault she wasn’t picking up on the very obvious signs. The Bonegrinder had been alone for almost all of her life. When you were the leader at the top of the mountain, there was no room for anyone else. She knew her old man had been in love with her Ma, but those feelings were lost on the hulking woman. Hard to know love when the only one who’d ever given it to you had died when you were twelve. Hard to recognize someone liked ya when most people ran from you screaming in fear.
She still hasn’t even put the pieces together when Taki returned, scales still a deep shade of purple. Dense as a bag of bricks, the Bonegrinder was. Ak’ka waved a hand. “Nah, don’t apologize. I didn’t think it was too bad. Don’t feel ashamed about wantin’ to fight…”
But then Taki explained what she meant, and for the first time Ak’ka found herself at a loss for words. Her brows furrowed, starin’ down at her thick, calloused hands. Weren’t the kind of princess hands anyone dreamed about holding, that was for damn sure. “Oh. Like… in a positive way?”
She’d sure as hell never been called fascinatin’ before.
“Uh, I ain’t ever been told anything like that before.” She admitted, rubbin’ at the back of her neck. For the first time, Ak’ka wasn’t sure how the hell to navigate this battlefield. She knew war, death , the battlesong. She knew tearin’ things apart, not building them up. “Listen, Taki… I’m, uh, real flattered. I still don’t know what a crush is supposed to mean but I guess it’s somethin’ nice. And, well, that’s not meant for people like me I guess. People’ve feared me, spit in my face, cursed my bloodline, but never really liked me. Until a few years ago I ain’t ever even had friends. I’m happy to be, uh, fascinatin’ to anyone before, but I just… don’t know how to go about returnin’ feelings like that.”
She stared down at her hands, feelin’ like this was a battle she wouldn’t be able to win.
“I’m sorry.”
Ak’ka really was the worst. Here she was, fuckin’ up a real adult friendship. Desperate to help, do somethin’, Ak’ka perked up. “But, uh, I care about ya and want ya to find happiness. If yer lookin’ to get out there, I can be - be a, what’it’called… a wing woman! Yer a real wonderful gal, Taki, and you deserve to be happy. I just don’t know if I’m the right one to give it to ya. But I wanna help… I’ll even ‘crush’ them if I gotta.”
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 17, 2023 18:07:33 GMT -5
What else could have been said or expected? The warrior had stumbled into a stranger's home after some wild fight that nearly cost them dearly... It wasn't her fault the shaman had much of herself still to discover, nor was it ever her intent to push such feelings onto someone who she barely knew... It was all quite a lot for Taki, whose emotions typically were as calm and steady as a mountain... Ak'ka was right though, some day the shaman might meet someone she could bond with in such a way... perhaps that also meant Ak'ka might some day find a family to call her own as well. She stayed quiet a moment longer, sorting through her feelings and thoughts before replying.
"You're quite right Ak'ka, and thank you for your kind words. I would gladly accept your friendship, and I wish you to also find such happiness in life. Life wasn't full of such joys for me, even from the first moments... I was given a place in my tribe and expected to strictly adhere to it... When my oddness was discovered, that path changed, but was even worse in treatment from others. Many terrible things happened which led to me being exiled from the tribe, barely a teen tossed out into the wilds of the Bamboo Forest. Not that any of this matters anymore, but it also meant love and family were always an alien concept... something meant for other species, other peoples... there is no Orochi word for Family, Love, even ideas like kindness and caring are seen as lesser traits... for the life of me I cannot understand why I wish to tell you these things, share my life with a stranger who stumbled into my courtyard with a busted leg... but I know that if I fight it, force it aside, or ignore it, the emotions will grow, and fester, and I would not want to become someone bitter... someone whose own actions have stolen joy from their life."
Taki looked haunted, saddened and strangely at peace as she nibbled lightly at her meal again. Confronting her past, her own choices, and where it had led her was not something she often found time for. The shaman was no stranger to intense training, focus, and often busied themselves both near and far in an effort to benefit others. This did have the unfortunate side effect of not giving her many opportunities to turn that powerful insight inward though. When she did, it was often with the same focus and discipline put into her external life. This however was something externally motivated, someone outside of her life stirring long stagnant emotions to the fore of the shaman's life.
While her blush had faded to a light streak, she did her best to keep her attention on the food at hand. Ak'ka didn't share her feelings, so the shaman tried her best to think of them as a friend, a companion, something they might travel with on adventures some day. Soon enough the food would run out, and they would have to go through the motions of checking Ak'ka's condition. She sincerly hoped her leg was in good shape and hadn't taken on any further swelling, but they'd find out soon enough.
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Dec 23, 2023 21:18:01 GMT -5
In the long silence that followed Ak’ka wondered if she’d finally fucked something up that couldn’t be repaired. She’d broken bones and muscle, ripped apart flesh and drank the blood of her enemies. But it was the first time she’d broken a heart.
But then Taki spoke.
Ak’ka grimaced - Taki’s take wasn’t a kind one. One of isolation and exile. It was a harmony that kit close to home. Not exactly like her situation, but… it struck a chord with her. The half-Orc reached for a flask tucked in her pocket and took a long swig, mostly lookin’ for a way to occupy her hands and keep her mouth shut while she listened.
When she finished, she wiped at the corner of her mouth and sighed.
“I get it.”
She sighed.
“I ain’t sure what oddness yer talkin’ about but I wasn’t exactly loved by my tribe either. My old man wasn’t exactly the strongest leader of the Mortak. When he disappeared for a couple’a years, his brothers wrote him off as dead - and when he came home with me, a half-breed - they wished he had been.”
Meant she had to fight for every scrap of respect, struggle to hold her own against every tribesman who so much as looked at her funny. By Orc standards her da might not have been strong, but he damn sure made Ak’ka was, for her own survival. And only his death - the passing of the only person in the world she’d ever learned to care about - finally earned her respect. A reputation forged in the cold of blizzards and the ivory of broken bones.
No room for love.
“It sucks.” Her voice was almost a growl. “Sucks, not knowin’ how to hide yer fangs and scales from the world when it’s all ya know. Even though I left I ain’t ever learned how to feel. I’m just used to shovin’ it all aside.”
She tried for a small smile that probably looked more like a grimace. “Sounds like yer old life ain’t given ya much chance to learn how to feel things. Even if ya ain’t used to it - and I’m real flattered that, uh, I could help in that department, I guess - don’t mean it’ll be the only time. If it’s happened once, it’ll happen again. And now that you’ve conquered the beast, it’ll be easier the next time. And the next time.”
She shrugged, takin’ another bite of her food with a little more gusto. Taki was a real smart lady with her words and introspection, a quality Ak’ka lacked. But that was a good thing for the orochi. Meant that she wouldn’t fall to the same curse - the burden of havin’ one’s feelings looked away behind layers of ice, until all you knew how to find was the cold rage. Taki had wonderful things in store for her. Maybe one day, Ak’ka would find them too.
“Before ya know it, it won’t be so bad.”
They finished their meal in silence - Ak’ka only lookin’ up every so often to make sure Taki was alright. The shaman’s face was still purple but she didn’t look like she was gonna cry, which was good. Ak’ka’d never learned how to deal with tears, either. Not when they froze whenever she touched them.
When they were done, and the food cleared, Ak’ka propped her leg up on the table for Taki to look at. Even with all her walkin’ and putting weight on it, it still looked leagues better than it had when she woke up. “Ain’t lookin’ too bad.” She noted while she let Taki poke at it. “Uh… I just wanna let ya know I don’t need to stick around if yer uncomfortable with me here. I don’t want to upset ya in any way.” Not when she’d been so kind to Ak’ka.
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 27, 2023 15:15:25 GMT -5
Carefully examining the warrior's injury, Taki barely caught the last statement. She pondered the idea of being uncomfortable for some reason with Ak'ka's presence, though could find no real reason for such a thing. No, that was the opposite of Taki's issue... She was more comfortable with someone here to care for, talk to and be near than she had ever experienced before. She smiled softly, caringly at the thought as she gently passed her hand's over Ak'ka's injured leg. A gentle warmth radiated from her hands as she cast another round of healing magic.
"You bring me no discomfort Ak'ka, as I said, you're welcome to stay and rest as long as you like. Feel free to get about, see the area, keep Keiga by your side and he'll gladly bring you home if you get turned around. Your leg should be ready in another day or two for one big round to stitch the bone back together. Until then, rest, and don't worry yourself over this shaman's errant emotions."
She cleared the table and washed the dishes, setting them in a rack to dry before returning to the table. Settling into her chair, she gave plenty of thought to what other chores she might need done. There was an endless supply of things to be done, but most of it was not heavy work, just tedious things that were a part of any household. If only Ak'ka had been around a little over a year ago, she could have been an amazing help with much of the building... alas, Taki had been mostly on her own in putting this place together. Many of the farmers, carpenters and other tradesfolk that she helped through the earliest days of her adventuring had supported her effort. Between teaching the shaman the skills she needed to assemble such a building, to putting their own touches on the things around her home, she was grateful to all those who'd been a part of it's construction. Lost in thought, she looked out the window and noticed several shoots of Bamboo that had grown to a harvestable size.
"If you're still up for some activity, there's a section of Bamboo outside that needs to be harvested. It won't be quite so brute force, since we won't be uprooting the shoots... but it still is quite a bit of physical effort, bringing down the shoots safely and stacking them to be processed. You'll have to be careful with your leg, but I know Keiga is a marvelous help and knows the task well."
Taki gave the big serpent a knowing smile, having thought of months of harvesting the bamboo crops almost on a weekly basis. Before she'd had the strength, coordination and number of limbs required for such a task, Keiga had been invaluable in making sure the harvesting was done safely and efficiently. She'd made it a point to instill as much of her own qualities and skills in her companions, doing all she could to ensure they each had the ability to grow into their own beings.
Keiga had been one of the most helpful and intelligent beings she'd come across, but he was also hesitant to keep to one place for very long. She'd done all she could to travel and be active, but her life was still in part sedentary and affixed to this place. It was a home she grew and molded with her own hands, magic, and the kindness of those she'd shown kindness to. What surprised her most was her joy and happiness at the bond he was forming with Ak'ka. The two shared a wanderlust and understanding that she'd only been able to observe, in this situation and a few others. A love of living life on the move, battling both nature itself and the beings that shared it with them.
Keiga himself was keen to it as well, would throw themselves into the fray with a kind of glee Taki only experienced in tiny bursts. She almost burst out laughing as she recalled a good memory... one she felt should be shared with all.
"Also, if you'd like to hear a tale about Keiga that might give some insight as to their personality, I'd be happy to share."
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Post by Ak'ka the Bonegrinder on Jan 10, 2024 8:51:55 GMT -5
To her surprise Taki wasn’t too keen on kickin’ her out; still, Ak’ka wasn’t gonna take advantage of her host’s generosity, especially after accidentally causin’ her so much emotional turmoil. She nodded, glad to hear at least that it would only take about two more days to be back in working condition. She didn’t much like bein’ stuck still. “Gotcha. I won’t overstay my welcome then and get outta your hair once I’m fully healed. I need to get back on the road again anyways…”
She didn’t work as a merc for the money, but the thrill of it. But as practice for the day she’d finally get revenge on the fucker that took her and her own from her - the mage that buried her in the ice and destroyed her clan. As nice as this little break was, she couldn’t let it soften her edges. She had a vow to keep.
“Don’t mean I don’t appreciate all you and Keiga have done for me.” She rubbed at the back of her neck. “I just like the road. It’s the right life for me.” It was the only life for her, now. And the longer she stayed still, the more antsy she became. Best for her to take off and get outta Taki’s hair as soon as she could, for both their sakes. It was the kindest thing she could think to do, even though Taki insisted she wasn’t gonna be upset by Ak’ka’s presence. Unfortunately, Ak’ka did gentle as hamfisted as she did everything that wasn’t a solid punch.
Taki continued on, thankfully; talkin’ bout more work for Ak’ka to keep herself busy. Ak’ka brightened. Now THIS was a language she could speak! ‘Course, that work was essentially… what sounded like weeding with extra steps, but that was fine. Gave her the chance to stretch her legs more, and do some heavy lifting. She rolled her shoulders back, testin’ her muscles. They were a little stiff, but she ain’t had much opportunity to use or stretch them. Moving earlier helped, but it would be good to really push her limits.
Keiga, on the other hand, looked like he absolutely remembered the task in question, and he’d rather not.
Oblivious to the knowing look shared between the two, Ak’ka smacked a hand to her knee. “Hell yeah. That sounds like my kinda work. That’ll kill an afternoon.”
She was movin’ to stand, to help take care of lunch plates and get to work, when Taki started talkin’ again. She stopped, tilting her head to the side. A story about Keiga? Well, she hadn’t been expecting that offering.
No one was more surprised about the bond between orc and Serpent than her. People and animal alike weren’t none to keen to get close to someone that could snap their spine with the strength of her pinky finger - meeting a kindred spirit, one who loved the road and battle as much as her… a damn surprise, for sure. Their closeness and ease around each other made it easy to forget she hadn’t known him all that long, really.
Ak’ka sat back down, glancing at the serpent, not bothering to hide her curiosity. “Sure. I’d love to hear a story.”
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