PM to join [hunt]Hunting for Amateurs Part 2

[Taylani]

It apparently seemed time for another discussion, so Taylani settled again comfortably, curling her legs around easily. She tilted her head as she contemplated his words, his questions. She couldn't find any reason for the words to be a front for anything other then what they were asking. Then she felt guilt that she had looked for hidden meanings still.

"The idea of your family knowing, " She shrugged, she had nothing against his family. They did nothing to make her feel unwelcome other then left her in peace and did not try to intrude upon her. Skylar made her uncomfortable but she got the feeling he made more then just her uncomfortable. No she didn't dislike his family, she just didn't know his family. "It doesn't bother me one way or the other. I know that if it was my mother, my father I would want to tell them." She offered him a smile to drive off the chill of sadness at that statement, not letting herself dwell on it.

"You decide when you want to tell your family, and how. I think..." She paused for a moment, unsure if she should say what she was thinking or leave well enough alone. The last time she mentioned his relationship with his mother he had closed up, but if she were truly going to be free of burden then she was going to speak her mind. "I think if we don't tell..and they end up noticing or finding out another way..I think that might hurt your mother.."

[Fallan Windchaser]

As he watched her make herself comfortable but then have to crane her neck to see him, then did he realise that there were still things to say, answers to be heard and perhaps questions to be asked and without yet revealing what it was that played in the back of his mind. He settled down on the ground crossing his legs and plucked a blade of grass so that he would have something to do with his hands and to focus his attention on as he fretted lightly against all of his better instincts.

He accepted her statement that it made no difference to her if they knew now or later and it made sense to him, the logic of it was clear enough for there to be no argument, but equally he was glad that he had asked her first before making any assumptions and now she had left it for his choice, but that choice fitted well enough with what he’d been considering as to make him think that it must be a whisper from fate now that he was at last listening.

He had however managed to forget his mother and it was a timely reminder. He always excluded his mother from his thoughts and in truth since his return, the both of them tended to deliberately ignore each other now he thought about it. Certainly it allowed a much more pleasant atmosphere in the Pavilion on the occasions that they were both there, but then those times were about as rare as the two of them could manage.

He was silent for while as he considered her words, his fingers stilled on the grass and his eyes blank as he turned his attention inward to reflect upon the truth of her words. Even if he wanted to create a truce between his mother and him, to lay aside all of the past and forget the accusations of blame and the guilt which drove it, he wouldn’t know where to start.

Perhaps this was where he needed guidance, some advice from someone who did not know the past and who had not been drawn into the squabbles, someone who had not distanced themselves from it all. It was a novelty to be told of something that was the truth and he had to accept it into his heart and make the first steps under her guidance towards some sort of acceptance if not of reconciliation. Assuming of course that she wished to remain.

He brought himself back and discarded the blade of grass, choosing instead to hug his arms around his knees.

”Thank you,” he nodded his head without being specific about exactly what he was thanking her. ”Fallan think should tell. Some guess now Fallan think. Will tell today, when dark and family all in Pavilion.”

The notion of making an announcement like this was somewhat daunting for all that they were his family but where did he start? There were two pieces of news that he needed to give, both equally important but the reception of the two might well be very different so he also needed to judge which to inform them of first. Perhaps it might even work out for the best.

He smiled at Taylani then decided that he could no longer ignore the berry stain and fished in the pouch which rode on his belt for a cloth and his waterbottle and moved in closer so that if she allowed it he would gently wipe at the stain to see if he could make it less obvious.

[Taylani]

She shifted a little, tucking her hair behind her ear, giving him time to think trying not to rush him. When he focused on the blade of grass in his hand, her own fingers tighten together in her lap clasping each other tightly. That was the only sign that she gives that she was a little apprehensive, just because the subject of his mother seemed to be a touchy one.

When he moved to hug his knees, she frowned slightly because it was generally a defensive position and it looked almost forlorn on him. Yet when he spoke it didn't sound like he was upset or saddened. His words caused a nervous spike to shoot through her stomach, nerves at how the news will be received, he says that they would be happy but would they really? She didn't quite understand the concept of people 'becoming' Drykas, so she still had a half fear that he will end up finding a real Drykas woman who would marry him and give him a family. Which if she had thought about it -of course she doesn't- then she might have realized that might be something that was preventing her from finally letting go of her reservations.

"All right." She responds quietly to his decision only because it felt like she should say something. She knew that she was nervous possibly for nothing, but she didn't think she was on the same level as someone who might have been born in Endrykas. So there was that little seed of doubt that they would not receive the news well. She wouldn't have any idea how her mother or father would take the news that she was carrying Fallan's child. Not if they were aware of all the circumstances.

When he leaned forward with the dampened cloth, she smiles fighting the inclination to close her eyes. Instead the blues stared up at him, her nose crinkling as he cleaned the mess she had made. The cloth manages to get most of the purple off, leaving only the faintest of colorings that would fade with time. She thought that it should have made her feel ridiculous, like he was treating her as a child but it didn't. Instead she just felt as if she was being taken care of, and that thought made her smile.

When she thought he was finished and might pull back, her hand raises to try and land on his arm, just in an attempt to slow him enough so that she could raise. She attempted to put her arms around his neck, intending on giving him a hug. "Thank you Fallan. " She says simply, with a deep breath.

[Fallan Windchaser]

The stain cleaned off better than he’d expected it to which pleased him as he wanted her to be as beautiful as she could be. He hadn’t expected the hug but he eased into it and hugged her back with no expectation of more than that, but he held her tight, tighter than mere thanks would have allowed and buried his face into the mass of her hair. He could have held her for longer and he certainly didn’t want to let her go but neither could they sit here until Syna had retired and left the sky for Leth to wander in.

Reluctantly he let go. ”We go home, give food Pavilion.” He smiled at her wistfully and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. ”Thank you Tay.” Often he wished that he could understand her better and to be able to say to her the things that were important to him and to express the shades of emotion which were in his heart, and which fluttered through his hands when he spoke to her and of her regardless of which language that he used.

He stood, picking up the basket with his right hand and offering her his left to help her rise if she wished it, then clicked his tongue to attract Stormdancers attention before giving her signal to come to him.

”Tay need help mount?” He held the basket still in the expectation of giving it to her once she had mounted so that she could return it to him once he was mounted too. The bag of roots he’d hook to his yvas too unless she carried it and then they would be able to start the journey back to the tented city.

There was a question in his mind to which he wondered about the answer and one that was on his mind and remained there persistently enough that he knew that he should ask it even if he could not predict the answer or how she would answer, even if she did. Eventually he knew that it was going to come out one way or another so he took the plunge with the question that sounded so simple yet whose answer carried so much weight.

”Tay?” He faced her, meeting her eyes and keeping his expression somewhat neutral and yet not sombre for he did not want her to think the question overly important. ”Tay happy?”

He waited for her answer and watched for her reactions as she did so for he was still of two minds about how to resolve the issue which vexed him or whether he should simply leave things as they were and hope for the best. Any action he took could easily be misjudged and making the situation worse was a risk that concerned him. He also knew that she might answer to please him or at the least to not annoy him so it was hard to judge what her view might be.

[Taylani]

When Fallan's arms wrapped around her she did not protest the tightness of the embrace. Instead she willingly, even eagerly, pressed herself against him taking from him the simple comfort and strength that he provided. She gave a soft sound, a little mew of disappointment that she had not intended to give when he released her too soon for her desires. However she knew that they couldn't ignore everything by simply staying out here in each other's arms, not to mention the dangers.

So when he rose and offered her his hand, though it was unnecessary, Taylani slipped her hand into his and joined him. She accepted his offer for help to mount only because he seemed to be waiting on her and she didn't want to stall too overly much. Her thighs protested a little as she settled into Freedom's Yvas and promised of stiffness later on, but she ignored the twinge. It was not a long ride back and she needed to get used to riding.

She accepted the basket of berries though that meant she had to let go of the front handles of the Yvas, and sent a silent prayer that Freedom would not begin to walk until he could retrieve it. Yet he didn't go directly to his own horse but asked her a very loaded question. She didn't answer him right away, so unexpected was the question and one so hard to answer. He asked in an awkward spot too for she was too uncomfortable to do what she naturally wanted, which was to offer him the comfort of her touch while she tried to explain her feelings.

However, since she could not she did not try to explain. How could she explain to someone who didn't understand as much common, whom she couldn't speak much Pavi, that she didn't really know how she felt? It was confusing enough to her to know that she was only just starting to unravel the knot of emotions in her heart when it came to him. She didn't want to outright lie to him either, for she did expect that no matter what happened she would be still tied here and was unwilling to let deception come between them.

"I am getting there." She answered, looking into his eyes for a long moment before she turned her gaze North. "I am not unhappy." She had no way of explaining the coating of numbness that she has been nurturing, trying the only way she knew how to heal the wounds to her heart and soul. To cover up the hurts and focus on things that didn't hurt. She offered him a smile, one that was not like the others, one that was both regretful but also hopeful.

[Fantasy]

XP Award!

Name:Taylani

Notes: If you should ever return, PM me and I will post your grades for you.



Name:Fallan Windchaser

XP Award:

• Observation +5
  
• Socialization +5
  
• Foraging +4
  
• Weaving +1

Lore:

• Taylani: Likes to see her smile
  
• Taylani: A life without dance
  
• Wilderness Survival: Movement attracts attention
  
• The spoils of love, and the lack there of
  
• Foraging: Careful pressure with berries

Notes:In the case of weaving, please be careful of roleplaying to your level. Since Fallan did not have weaving or even knotting, he should have had a lot of trouble getting a basket over several tries, even being Drykas. Since Tay has retired I won’t ask for you to go back and fix it, but please be very careful of it in the future. Other than that I absolutely enjoyed reading this thread! Fallan is a complex character that I look forward to grading in the future. Don’t be afraid to PM with questions and don't forget to change your request in the grading thread.
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