EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Hmm, I think could have guessed that." S'nashi commented. "Ahnasha has always been obsessed with hunting, ever since she was allowed to use a bow. Once she finally decided to settle down, it only makes sense that she would find some way to make a living with it."

Gwindir stroked his beard, thinking about their plan. Being a merchant, any and all details of business were familiar to him. "You're going to Senchal? I suppose you could obtain moonstone there, though it might be easier to get a supplier in the Summerset Isles, or Valenwood. It is more heavily mined there."

Ahnasha nodded, having to think quickly to provide an explanation. Luckily, she had learned something from all of her parents' teachings. "True, but like I said before, we have a contact there. One of our friends in the hunting club put us into contact with her, so we can get a good price."

Gwindir returned her nod. "Sensible. At least you have a plan. I...hope it all goes well for you. Just remember that you still have your family if it doesn't. Now Fendros, why don't you tell us more about yourself, just in general? We didn't get to meet our daughter's husband before the marriage, but we can at least get to know you there. From what Ahnasha said, I doubt you ever imagined yourself with a Khajiit."

Vasiq, who had left to gather the ingredients from Shevari's home, did not take long to return, allowing his fiance to start on the meal. There was quite an interesting mix of aromas in the air from the variety of styles in which she was cooking.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha was quick to add on to Fendros' answer. She knew that it was true that Rhazii was the result of a drunken night, but she didn't want her parents, of all people, knowing that. She would much rather make it seem more innocent. "Yeah, it did take a bit of alcohol to actually get him talking to me." She said with a lighthearted chuckle. "His parents...aren't the most accepting of people. They're from Morrowind, and are pretty traditional. The bad kind of traditional. I don't like hiding it, but they don't know about us. They would never accept me being Khajiit. Fendros, though, he just needed a bit of encouragement to get to know me. Obviously, he's nothing like his parents in that regard."

Despite the fact that she was admitting to lying, Ahnasha's parents gave no protest to it. They had both experienced bigotry as a result of their relationship, so they could sympathize personally with the desire to keep their "marriage" hidden from Fendros' family, for the reasons she had described. "Well, that's unfortunate." S'nashi commented. "But at least you have a good life without needing them. What kind of shop are you going to be opening?"

Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

Fa-Val-Kul

~| Day 3, 19:55-19:56 GST |~
~|Location: Mos Eisley, Tatooine|~

Vebra’s knocking was answered rather quickly. Although, as soon as the door opened, Fa found herself staring ahead at the torso of a hulking being. As he was pretty much directly in front of her, she had to crane her neck back considerably to actually make eye contact. Off the top of her head, she had no idea what he actually was, if he was even a he. Fa thought she could remember seeing something like him in a spaceport or something, but she had never spoke to one, and certainly had never bothered to look into what they were. Regardless, she guessed, and indeed hoped, that this was one of Lyric’s Jedi. Having someone of that size on their side came with some advantages she could think of pretty readily; some definite disadvantages as well, but they could work around those.

Fa let down her hood so the Jedi could see her face clearly, in case Lyric had given his Jedi any physical descriptions. Of course, someone would have to be exceptionally inattentive to mistake Fa for anyone else; she would not be surprised if she was the only Tiss’shar in this sector. ’Looks like that old master did actually radio ahead’ She thought to herself before she responded. “Yeah, we were ordered here by…well, you know who.” Fa answered, as she did not know who they were in the presence of, literally. She tried to peer around the massive Jedi into the building, but he was wide and close enough that she could not get a good look inside. Honestly, she had a hard time imagining how he managed to get through the doorway in the first place.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

For both Gwindir and S'nashi, the sour mood they had been in had not entirely passed, and likely would not for a while. But, since this was perhaps the only chance they would get to be with their daughter, they could make an effort to have a normal dinner.

"Hmm, has Ahnasha not been teaching you about the Khajiit?" S'nashi commented. "Sweets area part of our culture; I would be surprised if he didn't have a sweettooth. Why don't you make him the sweetfish fillet, Shevari?"

"Of course." Shevari answered, nodding affirmatively.

"I think I'll have the same thing, if that's alright." Ahnasha added. Shevari already had the ingredients for what she had intended to make for the others, so she wrote down a few additional ingredients on a sheet of parchment, then handed it off to Vasiq to go collect.

Since there was going to be a wait before dinner, Gwindir decided to ask one of the many questions he had formed. "So, how, and when, did you two meet?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

While Shevari's nervousness did not diminish entirely, the fact that the mood was not so entirely severe as it was before did help her to become somewhat more at ease. She clasped her hands together and spoke with some measure of excitement when Fendros asked about their business. "Oh, it is more of a...restaurant, actually. I'm a chef. I've been cooking all my life, ever since I was old enough to use a fire. It's always been my dream to make a living of it."

Vasiq added on to Shevari's answer as he went to grab some necessary ingredients for his fiance. "I'm going to be dealing with the customers and handling more of the business side of things. Shevari will be doing the cooking. We're calling it the Sugar and Sap."

Shevari rubbed the back of her neck. "It's kind of misleading, honestly. We're not going to have either moon sugar or Hist sap, but...I like the name. Anyway, what would you like? I can cook recipes from all over Tamriel. I don't have all of the ingredients here, but it wouldn't be much trouble to run home and get what I need."

"Nonsense, I can go get them." Vasiq interrupted.

Shevari smiled. "Thank you, love. I could make a Khajiit meal, like maybe a sweetfish fillet with caramel pudding and Elsweyr fondue, without moon sugar, of course. Argonian dishes I know very well, of course. I make a really nice hackwing roast, maybe with a side of fishy sticks and venomroot tea. Oh, Dunmer cuisine I also really like, though I don't have too many ingredients from Morrowind. I do know a trick with potatoes and dragon's tongue nectar to emulate the taste of ash yams, though. If you want something from far away, I have been working on my Nordic cooking too. I think I have everything I need for some horker stew, just not enough for everyone. Or, if you want to try something with more of a Redguard flavor..."

As Vasiq passed by Fendros, he chuckled and leaned in to whisper to him. "She can go on like this for quite a while."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gwindir gave a brief nod to Fendros. "Yes, Shevari was about to cook dinner for us all. We should have enough for all of you to join us as well." He answered, though Fendros' story regarding the fire did seem to have him concerned. Finally standing up, he walked over, knelt down next to Rhazii, and rubbed the top of his head. "By the Eight, that fire sounds like it was terrible. But you look like you're a tough little cub, aren't you? I'm sure you'll grow up to be just as strong and healthy as any other Cathay, maybe even moreso."

Ahnasha was glad that Fendros was able to come up with something quickly, and as he spoke, an idea came to Ahnasha, something that would let her explain away a detail that her family had not yet noticed. While her father spoke to Rhazii, she made her own comment. "Yeah, it was easily the most terrifying night of my life. I ran back as soon as I could, and the guard couldn't keep me out of the building. I was the one who found him, and I had to put my hand through the flames to get him. Most of it didn't get too badly burned; the fur has even grown back, but one of my fingers..." She began, holding up the hand with the missing finger. "The healers couldn't do anything for it. They had to remove it."

"Divines, what a tragedy." S'nashi exclaimed. "I'm just glad you are all okay. I...well, I would say to be careful, but I know you would do anything for your son."

Ahnasha looked down, rubbing her own hand. "Yeah, that night was what started my thoughts on coming back here to all of you. It gave me...perspective on what you must have went through."

Shortly afterwards, Vasiq returned with the pink-scaled Argonian woman in tow. She looked at Fendros and Ahnasha nervously as she introduced herself. "Um, hello. My name is Shevari. I'm Vasiq's fiance."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

With that matter settled, Vasiq exhaled deeply, then stood up from the table. "Well, I guess I'll head down and tell Shevari she can come back up. It is...good to see you again, sister."

Ahnasha stood up as well, though it was mostly just to stretch her legs and attempt to clear her head. Sitting at the table, she felt like she was being interrogated. Gwindir remained seated, but turned his attention to something he had noticed before, during his first meeting with Fendros. He looked at Rhazii, staring particularly intently at his face. Rhazii's burns were not quite as obvious as they used to be, but they were still plainly visible.

"I suppose it is settled, then. At the very least, we will have today." Gwindir said with a sigh, obviously disappointed. "Anyway, about my...grandson. Rhazii, I noticed those marks on his face. He looks like he is scarred; what happened to him?" He asked, looking at Fendros. Obviously, the truth was not an option, but Ahnasha did not know if it would be suspicious to suddenly interject.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

For a duration just long enough to be awkward, there was silence between everyone at the table as they all came to terms with the situation, as it had been presented. No one actually seemed satisfied with the way everything had gone, but at the very least, they all knew it could have gone far worse. Ahnasha's family were going to lose her once again soon enough, but they at least had the peace-of-mind to know that she was safe. Ahnasha regretted that she now had to keep up a lie, but her family was at least not outwardly angry with her.

S'nashi was the one to break the silence. "Well...at least I can know you are safe, and have a good life. That is really all a mother can ask for in life. I wish we could keep you here with us, but if you are happy in Bruma, then I will be happy that you are there. Just...can you at least stay the night here with us? And your husband and son? If I am going to lose you again so soon, I at least want to be able to spend that much time with you." She asked.

Ahnasha looked to Fendros questioningly. Off the top of her head, she could not think of a reason they could not stay. She had told Meesei of her intentions earlier that day, so it was not as if they would be missed if they did not return to the ship that night. Their sleeping arrangements might be crowded, but that was nothing new for them. "I think we can." She said, but she decided to wait for Fendros' answer before giving a definitive yes.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Tell us what?" Gwindir asked with some suspicion almost immediately after Fendros spoke. Ahnasha nervously paused indecisively. She did not want to lie to them, and it was evident that Fendros felt the same way, but she was terribly afraid of admitting the truth. She knew them; they were devout followers of the Eight, even her brother. There was no way they would be able to see her as anything but a monster, and there was no telling what they might do in response. Although it would probably cause problems later, and Fendros was likely going to be angry with her over it, she had to lie.

"That...we have already settled down somewhere else. I knew you would want me to return home, but I have a life of my own now, in...Bruma. We have friends up there, and it is where Rhazii has grown up. We are, um, starting a shop. We have the building and everything, we just need to finalize a few things. That's why we're going to Elsweyr, to secure a supply of exotic goods. Something to...set us apart from the others." Ahnasha explained, hoping her nervousness would be seen as natural for the situation.

Ahnasha's mother and brother seemed to accept the explanation well enough, though her father had something of a skeptical look on his face. If he did have doubts, however, he did not mention them. Vasiq, however, did manage to speak up. "So, this is it? Again? We aren't going to be able to see you again after just having learned that you are even alive?"

"I can visit, occasionally." Ahnasha answered defensively. "And we can exchange letters, once we get back." She added. That much, at least, was true. Even if they did not actually have a shop in the city, Ahnasha could still head into Bruma periodically to send and receive letters, as long as they actually ended up returning to the clan after this mission. She just hoped that Fendros was not too angry with her for refusing to tell the truth.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Once Ahnasha had composed herself enough, she tried to find some way to respond. Although, she did not know if there was anything she could say that could even come close to excusing her actions. "I...mother, I'm...so sorry. I had no idea; I knew it would be painful, but I thought..."

"You were a fool, Ahnasha." S'nashi interrupted rather harshly. But, after a moment, both her expression and voice softened. "But, you were young, and I think we were all fools at that age. You have grown so much since you left; it is almost hard to believe that it is still you. You're bigger and stronger, and it looks like more mature." S'nashi chuckled, even as she continued to cry. "I mean, just look at you. The Ahnasha I knew never would have considered settling down with a family of her own, but here you are with a polite, handsome husband, and a beautiful son. I think all that matters is that you have finally come home. No matter what you did, or how long it has been, you and your family have a place here."

Ahnasha could not express how grateful she was to hear those words from her mother, but even so, it also seemed that another worry had come to pass. It seemed that her mother thought she had returned permanently, but that obviously was not an option. "I...can't stay, mother. I'm sorry. We are passing through Leyawiin on the way to Elsweyr, and...we have to leave with the ship."

S'nashi did nothing more than lower her head in silent disappointment, but Gwindir was more vocal in his objections. "Surely, you cannot be serious, daughter? You have only just returned to us minutes ago, after nine years of a feigned death, and now you are saying we will have to go through losing you all over again?"

Ahnasha hung her head in shame, turning slightly to look at Fendros beside her. She did not want to tell them about her lycantrhopy, but she had to say something to put their minds at ease.