Fendros nodded. Her words made sense, perhaps he wasn't placing himself in his child's shoes well enough. After all, she had a Bosmer father. She would be in a better position to understand the truth of it than Fendros was. In fact it made him curious to know what her experience was with that matter.
He looked at her again, his face less on the brink of breaking down, but still not exactly joyful. "Did you have any issues like that with your father, Ahna? In adolescence or otherwise? What did he say?"
"I think that would save me a lot of time. Thank you." Ariel smiled and nodded. Her heart was warmed at the generosity of the people she had met so far. If all was to continue as it was, she might have a small network of friends by the end of the first day. What luck!
As soon as Meesei said 'buildings', Janius' head bowed forward and he let out a hearty laugh. That was a bit more drastic than he had expected. Perhaps not quite as mortifying. "Oh, that is such a wonderful mental image." He said, before taking another sip of his drink, "How did your father the shaman react to that?"
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
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"I suppose you're right, it's just..." Fendros released the rest of his breath and looked forward at his knees, "... it's an identity thing. I was trying to think for myself if, say, my own father was a Khajiit. What I would think growing up. I mean, regardless, I know he's my father but... I also see my reflection in his face sometimes, and as much as I would rather not be like him, it's... I don't know, it's reinforcing." Fendros held his palm face up and looked up at the opposite wall as he explained, "I look at him and I know I've come from him as much as my mother. And with our child being Khajiit, I just wonder whether telling him, or her, that I'm its father would be enough." Fendros shook his head and looked down again. "I guess you could say that I'm worried that, at some point, it's going to turn to me and say," Fendros thrust at the air in front of him with his index finger, "'You're not my father, you're a Dunmer, you're not even like me.'" With that, Fendros let his arm fall to the bed again. He glanced at Ahnasha, then looked back to his knees. His expression was a sombre one. "What would I say to that?"
Ariel chuckled through her nose, "Well it certainly won't hurt your business to have Neercana-Rei make you look more dashing."
While she nodded with a smile at Rukeewei's mention of the historian mages, filing the thought for later, Ariel's look took a turn for the apprehensive when she was asked about her curiosity of Argonians. Her thoughts were of the coven. She wasn't quite sure how people in a city so far away from witches would react to her being one, but she didn't want to get into her reasons for leaving. Regardless, Rukeewei was asking her reasons for coming to Black Marsh in particular. This realisation brought her confidence back as she responded. "Well, I would say it's less about the Argonian people in particular and more to do with Black Marsh itself." Ariel's eyes wandered to the bar top as she reminisced, "Ever since I read about the different flora and fauna, the beautiful cities," She looked at Rukeewei's face for a moment, "as well as the Argonians and Hist, of course, Black Marsh is a place I've always wanted to see." Her eyes wandered away again, "Unfortunately, the less pleasant details made an impression, and I was too scared to even visit." Ariel held onto her left upper arm with her hand, "Then... my store in Vos had some... problems with the local populace." She added slowly, "Nothing to do with my products, but I needed to move... I would rather not go into detail." Her face brightened again, "The Khajiit, Ahnasha, she told me I needed to take more risks, so I decided to follow my desires and move to the most beautiful city in Tamriel!"
When Meesei suddenly stopped recounting a certain childhood 'incident', Janius' listening eyes shot over to Lorag and Sabine, then darted back to Meesei. "... Would have what, Meesei?" Janius asked slowly. The corner of his mouth lifted into a half-grin. "If you're trying to hide something, you know us well enough that we'll be on your backs about it." Janius said with a tone of amused warning.
Ariel chuckled through her nose, "Well it certainly won't hurt your business to have Neercana-Rei make you look more dashing."
While she nodded with a smile at Rukeewei's mention of the historian mages, filing the thought for later, Ariel's look took a turn for the apprehensive when she was asked about her curiosity of Argonians. Her thoughts were of the coven. She wasn't quite sure how people in a city so far away from witches would react to her being one, but she didn't want to get into her reasons for leaving. Regardless, Rukeewei was asking her reasons for coming to Black Marsh in particular. This realisation brought her confidence back as she responded. "Well, I would say it's less about the Argonian people in particular and more to do with Black Marsh itself." Ariel's eyes wandered to the bar top as she reminisced, "Ever since I read about the different flora and fauna, the beautiful cities," She looked at Rukeewei's face for a moment, "as well as the Argonians and Hist, of course, Black Marsh is a place I've always wanted to see." Her eyes wandered away again, "Unfortunately, the less pleasant details made an impression, and I was too scared to even visit." Ariel held onto her left upper arm with her hand, "Then... my store in Vos had some... problems with the local populace." She added slowly, "Nothing to do with my products, but I needed to move... I would rather not go into detail." Her face brightened again, "The Khajiit, Ahnasha, she told me I needed to take more risks, so I decided to follow my desires and move to the most beautiful city in Tamriel!"
When Meesei suddenly stopped recounting a certain childhood 'incident', Janius' listening eyes shot over to Lorag and Sabine, then darted back to Meesei. "... Would have what, Meesei?" Janius asked slowly. The corner of his mouth lifted into a half-grin. "If you're trying to hide something, you know us well enough that we'll be on your backs about it." Janius said with a tone of amused warning.
The commotion drew Sara's attention to Mal pinning Red up against the wall. He looked upset. They didn't have time for this. Sara was able to slice at the back of a guard who was levelling a weapon at Mal, but another one had taken his place before Sara could engage. She could only watch on as a thrust got him through the shoulder. He was a goner, or so she thought. A similar energy flowed through Mal's bracelet to what Red had exhibited, and suddenly the guard that attacked him burst into flames. Not only that, the guard was utterly cooked in seconds and almost instantly died. Sara didn't know what the hell was going on, but that seemed to be the case for the entire day.
At first, Sara was scared to even approach, but the guards present meant that she couldn't hesitate. Red would have to use his magical healing fairy dust or whatever the hell it was on Mal while they moved. Without a heed to the sudden internal conflict that seemed to keep him frozen in a stupor, Sara grabbed Mal by the collar of his jacket and pulled him along with the group, away from the charred corpse of his assailant. "Come on, Mal! Keep moving!" Sara glanced back to Red and pointed at Mal's dropped weapon with her sword, "Grab that and let's go, farmboy!"
At first, Sara was scared to even approach, but the guards present meant that she couldn't hesitate. Red would have to use his magical healing fairy dust or whatever the hell it was on Mal while they moved. Without a heed to the sudden internal conflict that seemed to keep him frozen in a stupor, Sara grabbed Mal by the collar of his jacket and pulled him along with the group, away from the charred corpse of his assailant. "Come on, Mal! Keep moving!" Sara glanced back to Red and pointed at Mal's dropped weapon with her sword, "Grab that and let's go, farmboy!"
As the ship shuddered, Tazzak grabbed onto the edge of the hatch he was in to brace himself. His heart sunk as the situation became clear. It's the cartel! They're going to kill every one of us! He thought. He scrambled to pick up his blaster and sling it over his shoulder, before crouching down and replacing his tools back into their pockets on his bandolier. As the apparent pilot shouted to get the power running again, he glanced over his work before he was interrupted. It was a circuit for a refrigerator somewhere on the ship, at least he was pretty sure. It could have been for those stasis pods. In any case, if he didn't help this ship fly, he would be dead, buried and forgotten before he could even mention that he wasn't even with these guys.
"I'll get this ship back up if you keep them out!" Tazzak hopped out of the crawlspace he was in and slammed the floor shut, before running as fast as his legs could carry him. He knew that if he could get to the power distributors, he could shut down non-essential systems and get the ship in the air. It was their only chance as far as he could see. He disappeared down a ladder, then turned around to pull open a panel that held an array of switches. As one hand held onto a ladder rung, the other searched for the correct symbols. One by one, he shut off non-essentials and deactivated the power chokes he had on the system during maintenance. Normally, he would spend a lot more time doing safety checks before even daring to rush it like he was then and there. He doubted that the Hutt goons would stand around and provide that extra time, however.
Around the ship, some of the lights dimmed and appliances that leaned towards convenience could be seen shutting off. In the cockpit, little bars of energy began to fill the power meter from an empty red to an optimistic yellow.
Good, Tazzak thought, Now, the shield projec-. "AH!" There was a bright flash of sparks as Tazzak shrieked and shielded his face. When he opened his eyes, there was a scorch mark around the fuse that was labelled for the shield projector. Grr, these neglected freighters and their cheap power systems! Tazzak thought angrily. Without being as careful as he was used to, he yanked out the box that held the switch and the fuse and replaced it with a spare from a grounded slot just next to the box. He adjusted a couple of knobs and dials, then tried the switch again. At first, there was a satisfying hum as the shield projector began to power up, but the switch suddenly tripped over to the off position and powered down. A safety feature had triggered somewhere and was draining the whole power system. Tazzak shouted and held his free hand up in frustration. Shaking with adrenaline, Tazzak pulled a small device with a display and an interface plug from one of his pockets. He shoved the plug into the port and it twisted into place. On the display, a circuit map of the ship displayed and a program run to scan for faults. This is taking too long!
"I'll get this ship back up if you keep them out!" Tazzak hopped out of the crawlspace he was in and slammed the floor shut, before running as fast as his legs could carry him. He knew that if he could get to the power distributors, he could shut down non-essential systems and get the ship in the air. It was their only chance as far as he could see. He disappeared down a ladder, then turned around to pull open a panel that held an array of switches. As one hand held onto a ladder rung, the other searched for the correct symbols. One by one, he shut off non-essentials and deactivated the power chokes he had on the system during maintenance. Normally, he would spend a lot more time doing safety checks before even daring to rush it like he was then and there. He doubted that the Hutt goons would stand around and provide that extra time, however.
Around the ship, some of the lights dimmed and appliances that leaned towards convenience could be seen shutting off. In the cockpit, little bars of energy began to fill the power meter from an empty red to an optimistic yellow.
Good, Tazzak thought, Now, the shield projec-. "AH!" There was a bright flash of sparks as Tazzak shrieked and shielded his face. When he opened his eyes, there was a scorch mark around the fuse that was labelled for the shield projector. Grr, these neglected freighters and their cheap power systems! Tazzak thought angrily. Without being as careful as he was used to, he yanked out the box that held the switch and the fuse and replaced it with a spare from a grounded slot just next to the box. He adjusted a couple of knobs and dials, then tried the switch again. At first, there was a satisfying hum as the shield projector began to power up, but the switch suddenly tripped over to the off position and powered down. A safety feature had triggered somewhere and was draining the whole power system. Tazzak shouted and held his free hand up in frustration. Shaking with adrenaline, Tazzak pulled a small device with a display and an interface plug from one of his pockets. He shoved the plug into the port and it twisted into place. On the display, a circuit map of the ship displayed and a program run to scan for faults. This is taking too long!
Mkay, I have a couple of questions for you, Blazey. Firstly, what is BlizzardCharge? And when are we going to be meeting up with everyone else?
Being in the city, in particular a bedroom for the first time in months, Fendros' mind defaulted to worrying about Ahnasha getting caught nude next to him. Once he realised just how unnecessary the thought was between the fact that they were in a private room and that he no longer had his birth family around to chide him, he almost laughed. It came out as a smile as Ahnasha laid herself next to him. He looked to Ahnasha's bulging middle as she talked about how the moon phases would align by the time she was due.
At first, Fendros paused to think. It took him a few moments of frowning to himself to figure out what to ask. "So it's to be a child that will be different from the both of us." He looked at Ahnasha with a slightly worried expression. "I had been thinking that as long as the child could communicate, I could connect with it. I don't have any doubt that I could love it. But... it's not likely to look anything like me." In Fendros' tone it was clear that he was trying to avoid making it sound as if he was concerned, but internally he was worried. "Will it accept me as a father?"
A wide smile formed across Ariel's face. Knowing that Rukeewei was going out of his way to help her, she excitedly reached for his hand and grasped it in both of hers. "Oh, thank you, Rukeewei!" She said gratefully while shaking his hand. Letting go of his hand, Ariel explained further at a fast pace, "Now, it might be a few days before I get a shop up and running, and even then, I might still be looking for the appropriate ingredients and suppliers for them. I'll keep you updated and let you know if I need to borrow your skin. Well, with the rest of you attached of course, heh." Ariel smiled away her embarrassingly strange words. "Uhm, in the meantime, I'm going to try to get to know the city a little better. However I can. Meesei over there,-" Ariel gestured to the table, "-she's been teaching me a bit about Argonian culture, history, even a bit of Jel. Sometimes I feel like I need a tongue twice as long as the one I have to pronounce some things, but I know enough to hold a simple conversation."
Over by the table, a wheezing cough sounded after Janius took his first swig. "They serve these in mugs?!" Janius remarked weakly and breathlessly as his throat recovered, "This is stronger than stuff they sell in the smaller cups in Cyrodiil." Janius swallowed, cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. He continued with his regular voice, though with a little more gravel in it, "Phew, I'll have to nurse this one like a broken leg." Janius sniffed and put down his drink for a moment. "Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, so what does your name translate to, Meesei?" Janius raised an eyebrow at Meesei. He had a feeling that his curiosity might be satisfied with something amusing, but it might be interesting all the same.
At first, Fendros paused to think. It took him a few moments of frowning to himself to figure out what to ask. "So it's to be a child that will be different from the both of us." He looked at Ahnasha with a slightly worried expression. "I had been thinking that as long as the child could communicate, I could connect with it. I don't have any doubt that I could love it. But... it's not likely to look anything like me." In Fendros' tone it was clear that he was trying to avoid making it sound as if he was concerned, but internally he was worried. "Will it accept me as a father?"
A wide smile formed across Ariel's face. Knowing that Rukeewei was going out of his way to help her, she excitedly reached for his hand and grasped it in both of hers. "Oh, thank you, Rukeewei!" She said gratefully while shaking his hand. Letting go of his hand, Ariel explained further at a fast pace, "Now, it might be a few days before I get a shop up and running, and even then, I might still be looking for the appropriate ingredients and suppliers for them. I'll keep you updated and let you know if I need to borrow your skin. Well, with the rest of you attached of course, heh." Ariel smiled away her embarrassingly strange words. "Uhm, in the meantime, I'm going to try to get to know the city a little better. However I can. Meesei over there,-" Ariel gestured to the table, "-she's been teaching me a bit about Argonian culture, history, even a bit of Jel. Sometimes I feel like I need a tongue twice as long as the one I have to pronounce some things, but I know enough to hold a simple conversation."
Over by the table, a wheezing cough sounded after Janius took his first swig. "They serve these in mugs?!" Janius remarked weakly and breathlessly as his throat recovered, "This is stronger than stuff they sell in the smaller cups in Cyrodiil." Janius swallowed, cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. He continued with his regular voice, though with a little more gravel in it, "Phew, I'll have to nurse this one like a broken leg." Janius sniffed and put down his drink for a moment. "Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, so what does your name translate to, Meesei?" Janius raised an eyebrow at Meesei. He had a feeling that his curiosity might be satisfied with something amusing, but it might be interesting all the same.
Do Krinos or BlazeGamma have anything brewing, or should I just post?
If you've got <any activity> chops, you know your stuff with that activity.
Glancing to the table for only a moment, Fendros nodded. "I think I will," he said, following Ahnasha up the stairs. Once they got to their room; a small box of a room with two beds in it placed parallel on each wall, Fendros sat down on one of the beds and shifted up against the wall. "Thorn is living up to its reputation. Quite a sight." He chuckled when got settled, still trying to shift to get comfortable. "I know it's probably just from sleeping on the ground for so long, but I don't remember mattresses being... this soft." It was just a straw mattress that Fendros was sitting on, but the last time he had slept in a bed was back at his old home in Cheydinhal, months ago.
Downstairs, Janius awaited Lorag's return with what he expected to be the purest spirit known to Nirn. In the meantime, he asked Meesei a question on her return. "Hey alpha, I never thought to ask, but is there a Cyrodiilic translation of your name? Like Speaks-With-Thread and... Neercan..." He sighed, "Neercana-Rei, yes."
Ariel chuckled through her nose with a smile, Rukeewei obviously knew his brother's wife very well. After he had mixed the drinks for Lorag, Ariel replied, "Well, the agreement was two free bottles of the paint and a discount. In return she would put in a good word to you, she said she could convince you to help me." A hint went through Ariel's mind that perhaps there was something else to it beyond her sight, but she wanted to give the benefit of the doubt. "Would that be alright?" She asked.
Lorag came to the table with a mug in each hand. Janius eyed the inside of one, not knowing exactly what to expect. "What was that he said at the bar? I didn't catch it." Janius asked Lorag on his approach.
Downstairs, Janius awaited Lorag's return with what he expected to be the purest spirit known to Nirn. In the meantime, he asked Meesei a question on her return. "Hey alpha, I never thought to ask, but is there a Cyrodiilic translation of your name? Like Speaks-With-Thread and... Neercan..." He sighed, "Neercana-Rei, yes."
Ariel chuckled through her nose with a smile, Rukeewei obviously knew his brother's wife very well. After he had mixed the drinks for Lorag, Ariel replied, "Well, the agreement was two free bottles of the paint and a discount. In return she would put in a good word to you, she said she could convince you to help me." A hint went through Ariel's mind that perhaps there was something else to it beyond her sight, but she wanted to give the benefit of the doubt. "Would that be alright?" She asked.
Lorag came to the table with a mug in each hand. Janius eyed the inside of one, not knowing exactly what to expect. "What was that he said at the bar? I didn't catch it." Janius asked Lorag on his approach.
As Rukeewei greeted everyone, Ariel had a flash of recognition when he explained Speaks-With-Thread's Jel name. The word for 'speaks' was partially recognisable in the Jel name to Ariel. Even though Ariel wasn't quite fluent, even after many lessons with Meesei, it felt validating to pick up something.
Janius observed Lorag looking across the bar with puppy-dog eyes. "If you're getting a drink, I'll have one of what you're having." Janius mentioned to him, "There's a table just here that we can all sit around." With that, Janius strolled over to a table in the inn with enough seats for the entire pack if they felt like joining in. He didn't want to drink so much that he wouldn't be able to function, but something to relax with was an appealing prospect.
Fendros hadn't decided how he would spend the short downtime. He had spotted a book in his room when he had deposited his luggage, but he might have felt like hanging around with Lorag and Janius, even if alcohol wasn't really on his mind. He decided to find Ahnasha and put his arms around her shoulders. "So, what's on your mind? An afternoon nap?" He asked casually. Fendros honestly didn't feel too tired himself, but with how tired Ahnasha looked most of the time during the last few weeks, he was surprised that she didn't take naps more often.
Meanwhile, Sabine just quietly watched on. When Meesei took their old clothes upstairs, she went and took a seat at the table with Janius. She just looked on quietly at the bowl of seeds in the centre of the table with her shoulders hunched forward.
Back at the bar, Ariel addressed Rukeewei as Speaks-With-Thread recommended. "Excuse me, Rukeewei." She smiled, trying to be friendly. She had gained a bit more confidence after conversing with two strangers already today. "I spoke with Speaks-With- I mean... Neercana-Rei, about different cosmetic items that are popular in the city. She mentioned that body paint and makeup with bright colours that is waterproof and can be removed easily is in demand. I said that I might be able to formulate some, but I would need to test it on Argonian skin." Ariel brought her hands together on the bar top, and glanced away from Rukeewei, "She, um... recommended you as a test subject. I don't want to impose, but would you be willing to help me in that regard? It will be perfectly safe, I promise." Ariel wasn't quite pleading, but she wanted to make sure she didn't sound too demanding.
Janius observed Lorag looking across the bar with puppy-dog eyes. "If you're getting a drink, I'll have one of what you're having." Janius mentioned to him, "There's a table just here that we can all sit around." With that, Janius strolled over to a table in the inn with enough seats for the entire pack if they felt like joining in. He didn't want to drink so much that he wouldn't be able to function, but something to relax with was an appealing prospect.
Fendros hadn't decided how he would spend the short downtime. He had spotted a book in his room when he had deposited his luggage, but he might have felt like hanging around with Lorag and Janius, even if alcohol wasn't really on his mind. He decided to find Ahnasha and put his arms around her shoulders. "So, what's on your mind? An afternoon nap?" He asked casually. Fendros honestly didn't feel too tired himself, but with how tired Ahnasha looked most of the time during the last few weeks, he was surprised that she didn't take naps more often.
Meanwhile, Sabine just quietly watched on. When Meesei took their old clothes upstairs, she went and took a seat at the table with Janius. She just looked on quietly at the bowl of seeds in the centre of the table with her shoulders hunched forward.
Back at the bar, Ariel addressed Rukeewei as Speaks-With-Thread recommended. "Excuse me, Rukeewei." She smiled, trying to be friendly. She had gained a bit more confidence after conversing with two strangers already today. "I spoke with Speaks-With- I mean... Neercana-Rei, about different cosmetic items that are popular in the city. She mentioned that body paint and makeup with bright colours that is waterproof and can be removed easily is in demand. I said that I might be able to formulate some, but I would need to test it on Argonian skin." Ariel brought her hands together on the bar top, and glanced away from Rukeewei, "She, um... recommended you as a test subject. I don't want to impose, but would you be willing to help me in that regard? It will be perfectly safe, I promise." Ariel wasn't quite pleading, but she wanted to make sure she didn't sound too demanding.
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