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[center][h3][color=D2691E]Farim[/color] & [color=E77298]Anastasia[/color][/h3][/center]
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[color=D2691E]Part 2[/color][/h3][/center]

[color=D2691E]Time:[/color] Nightime
[color=E77298]Location: [/color] Lover’s Lake
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[color=E77298] “Yes. To us and our hearts!”[/color] She clinked her drink against his, then brought it up toward her face. As the rim of the cup touched Anastasia's lips, she hesitated for a moment, studying the swirling liquid within. Then she took a small sip, her eyes narrowing with curiosity as the taste unfolded on her tongue. Her expression went through a series of reactions. First, there was a crinkle of her nose, then she let out a burst of laughter after swallowing. 

[color=E77298]"Oh, this is like drinking a forest! …A muddy forest, but not bad at all!" [/color]She exclaimed, her laughter echoing in the night. Eagerly, she took another, slightly larger, sip. This time, the taste seemed to befriend her taste buds.  She leaned against Farim’s arm as she asked, [color=E77298] “What did you think?”[/color]

As the liquid touched Farim’s own lips, he could not help but think back to some of the herbal medicines and remedies his brother Dali would insist he try. He could tell his senses were already starting to warp slightly - and the telltale taste of hallucinogens hung on his pallet. All the same, with a slight scrunch of his face, he downed the drink in rather uncouth speed. Farim blinked his eyes a few times and looked at the Princess with a grin.

[color=D2691E]”It certainly packs quite the punch. There are such earthy tones and ingredients in this. I feel like this is definitely some of the good stuff.”[/color] The arm that Anastasia leaned against found it self holding her hip as looked around to see what sort of things he could see now that his mind was open to the spirits - or at least that is how Roman seemed to portray this particular beverage when he heard it described.

[color=E77298][i]“It reminds me of dirt![/i]”[/color]Anastasia eagerly exclaimed with a huge smile. She threw her arms in the air as if this was an accomplishment to be proud of.
Farim couldn’t help but giggle at the silly nature of the woman in the moment. He held a hand up to his mouth and felt the giggling fit continue for a few moments, leaning into her as if to use her body as a small pillar of support. [color=D2691E]”I suppose that is not too far off. Something about the way you said it was just too funny!”[/color] He stifled his giggling before thinking of another comedic comparison. [color=D2691E]”I would have to say it reminds me of having to take medicine when we were young. I remember hiding from the nurses back home when they wanted me to take some kind of medicine for my cold. I think I stayed in that laundry basket for 6 hours!”[/color] He placed his finished drink on the table nearby. [color=D2691E]”So what do we do now?”[/color]

[color=E77298] “Dance with me, silly!!”[/color]  Anastasia exclaimed with a playful giggle, dropping her emptied cup and seizing Farim's hands. With the upbeat rhythm of the music fueling her enthusiasm, she twirled him around in a whirlwind of laughter and movement. Taking his hand in hers and wrapping her other arm around his waist, she danced with him in a joyous and carefree manner.  

With another giggle, Farim joined in the woman’s whimsical display of dance and joy. He held her hand above her head so that when she twirled, he held her steady. Once she finished he himself took large steps around her with slight kicks and stomps similar to how one might do a joyful dance back home. But with the shifting of the songs being sung, Farim couldn’t help but falter and slow his movements to give proper attention to what was happening on the center stage.

It wasn’t long before their dancing slowed as Anastasia’s attention suddenly fixated elsewhere, even as they had been spinning around. Moving much slower now, she returned her gaze on Farim, [color=E77298] “Look at Mina Blackwood… Gorgeous redhead from Varian. Something’s wrong. You can hear it in her voice.”[/color] she murmured, her voice tinged with concern. Roman appeared to be comforting the girl, but Anastasia's sympathetic frown deepened as she observed from afar. However, her ability to comment further was cut short as an unmistakable silence fell over the crowd with the end of the song.

[color=f26522]“Brothers, sisters, friends, and strangers. Our next song is meant to be somber, is meant to give reflection and remembrance to our ancestors! ...You and I are the culmination of all our ancestors’ hopes and dreams. What they worked lived and died for…Listen to our song, dance if you want, but we beseech you to take this time and remember those who came before you. Tell the others here your favorite stories of them, tell them who they were and laugh about it. If you still carry grief then express it one last time and let it go, the dead can not carry grief with them so neither should you.”[/color]

Anastasia's gaze drifted to the flickering flames of the fire as bags were thrown into it, causing the colors to shift and dance before her eyes. Entranced by the mesmerizing display, she found herself unable to pull her eyes away as the colors seemed to blend and warp, and the flickering flames took on a surreal glow. Her surroundings appeared to shimmer and distort, and a sense of disorientation washed over her. Fighting to maintain her composure, Anastasia clung to Farim's arm, her grip tightening as she struggled to make sense of the swirling images before her. 

[color=E77298]“ …[i]Whoa[/i]...”[/color]


In Farim’s eyes, the world began to shift slightly. Every little detail he could perceive became exaggerated to borderline uncomfortable levels. The feeling was just as chaotic as it was unsettling, but after a brief pause to acclimate, the man continued listening to both the song and his dance partner. He took note of the way she looked at his cousin, chalking that little nugget of gossip away for now. But Anastasia was right, something wasn’t quite right about the way Mina was behaving. [color=D2691E]”Hmm perhaps she is reacting poorly to the-”[/color]

It was all he could say before he saw [i]him[/i]. In a far more pristine image than he had ever been used to, a man walked into Farim’s sightline wearing common clothing with a simple yet beautiful necklace adorned with a blue crystal. This same necklace is the one Farim wore, so he instinctively grasped it as he fully realized he was hallucinating the spirit of his long lost friend. [color=D2691E]”M-Malik?”[/color] Farim meekly chirped. The spirit seemed to notice the young shehzade and saunter over to him with a smile on his face. Farim’s grip on Anastasia likely tightened as he took in the clear and lucid reality that his dead friend had just spoken to him. 

[color=E77298]  “Did you see the pretty colors…”[/color] Anastasia’s gaze shifted to Farim as her voice drew off. Subsequently, she followed Farim’s line of sight to an empty spot on the ground, then back to him, then repeated the motion, before asking, [color=E77298] [i]“Huh?”[/i][/color]

[color=D2691E]”These drinks sure are….potent.”[/color] As much as he wanted to look at Anastasia, his gaze simply fixated on Malik’s ghost who simply shrugged. [color=teal]”It’s about time you noticed me, dummy! I’ve only lived in your necklace for the past few decades now.”[/color] Farim rubbed his eyes with one of his hands and looked over to the princess. [color=D2691E]”Are…are you seeing things too?”[/color]

There was a dramatic silence before she informed him, [color=E77298]  “I see pretty swirls and colors.”[/color]

Farim’s eyes blinked for a moment and he looked at with growing concern. [color=D2691E]”Not…people?”[/color] The man turned once more over to the seeming carefree spirit looking at the pair. 

[color=teal]”Habibi, you are not feeling well I presume. You normally don’t see me so clearly. But yes I promise you are not losing yourself just yet. Try not to scare the pretty lady with your looks, friend.”[/color]

He looked back at Anastasia with a bewildered expression. [color=D2691E]”I…see my friend who died when I was a young boy…and somebody else?”[/color] Farim’s eyes squinted as he began to make out another shape approaching him. One far more feminine in build and taller in stature than Malik’s spirit - and something about this apparition was different than Malik. This one contained a more distant feeling, as if there was not nearly as strong of a connection between Farim and them. He began to worry if this was another one of those scandals like the other night. [color=D2691E]”Annie, is this supposed to be happening?”[/color]

[color=E77298] “Uhh…”[/color] Anastasia peered in the direction of his gaze once more, but found she was still staring at an empty spot in the woods. Concern etched her features momentarily, but she quickly masked it with a reassuring smile that played at the corners of her lips. [color=E77298] “ Do not be alarmed, but the drinks are totally drugged. But! I promise we’re okay. Just move with me. “[/color] Her tone was gentle yet firm. She gently adjusted his positioning if he so let her as she guided him. She paused once his back was to the dreaded spot in the grass. [color=E77298] “There. Keep your eyes on me instead. You’re safe with me.”[/color] 

Farim had been through hallucinations, and he had seen dreams - or what he thought were dreams - involving his long lost friend and himself having long conversations into the night. The visions he began to see now began to dawn a reality on him that he did not truly like, and an uneasy feeling hit his chest. [color=D2691E][i]It really is him. All this time, it’s been him…[/i][/color] If this magical potion truly did “connect us to the spirit of our ancestors” as Roman had claimed earlier, this entire episode would make sense - if not for the additional specter still making its way towards Farim and Anastasia.
But his nerves and shaky demeanor settled as the soothing voice of the princess guided him to a better state of mind. He was alive, and with her, grounded in this place, and merely observing the passing of spirits. While he wasn’t entirely calmed, he did as she requested, letting her guide his stance and keeping his eyes locked onto hers. [color=D2691E]”I…I feel like something bad is happening. I do not know why. But I trust you. I have no concern over the drug…but these visions … are quite uhhh …. realistic.”[/color] He blinked several times as if to dispel the drug's effect on him, to little avail. Then he heard the other voice speak.

[color=gold]”Oh, hayati (my life). Look at how much you’ve grown. I am so happy to be seeing you in such good health. And with such a beautiful woman no doubt!”[/color] It was then the color drained from Farim’s face. [color=D2691E]”M-Mother?”[/color][/color]