Quiet (Solo)

[Navisya Curare]

Spring 3rd, 512 AV A somber quiet had settled in Navisya's home. There was seldom anything exciting happening there, short of Zlynge chewing on something new and valuable, and his owner shouting something ironic at him (the novelty of his name was long faded by now). In Navisya's more active hours, she was not even there, but topside with her father or older cousin and tracking the nearby goats or fowl that made their homes in the crags of the Unforgiving. Yet the silence was different now, stifling, almost choking. It wasn't the idleness of her small dwelling that was so melancholy; it was knowing what would never happen there again. The pointed curve of a long black nail plucked at the edge of a page, which crinkled somewhat loudly as it was flipped to the other side of the book. Zlynge twitched under Navisya's bare feet, who then emitted a low groan and then exhaled loudly at the floor, returning to his nap. The Symenestra didn't look up from her reading, but she rubbed at Zlynge's flank with the ball of her foot, curling her toes into his stiff, warm fur. Lissith Curare was dead, but her memory was everywhere. Not a month ago, she had sat in this very chair, complaining about how everyone was so worried about her health. Navisya had nodded and happily offered lighthearted insults for everyone her mother had listed off, while at the same time insisting that she needed to rest more and wasn't eating enough. It was difficult for Navisya to keep her mind on the content. She was supposed to be reading about Ahnatep and the Eyktolian Desert, but the echoes of recent conversations she would never have again still pulled at her focus. The silence seemed to be a soundbox for her thoughts. Narrowing her eyes at the book in front of her, she attempted to drown it out. Navisya had gone through the trouble of borrowing the tome from the Cribellum. It would be silly to waste her time thinking of other things. 'Ahnatep is a place of decadence and sand. In every corner of the city, there was an abundance of both. The gardens, walls, streets, even the Eypharians themselves are lavishly adorned with every shade of color. Foreigners like myself are easy to spot, both for their drab shade of dress, and the fact that we tend stop every few yards to shake sand out of our shoes.' A sharp smirk appeared on Navisya's cool lips. 'Eypharians appear to have either four arms or six, and make every opportunity to display their gifted dexterity. One female I met with six arms was a painter. I paid her to make a portrait of me, and watched as she held her palette, put her brush to the canvas, took a drink, and made several minute adjustments to her hair all at the same time.' All at once, Zlynge suddenly shot to his feet, forcing Navisya to give up her foot rest. His ears were perked and alert, large brown eyes searching the quiet room with stark intensity. Navisya finally lowered her book and looked up. "Hm? You hear something?" Another moment of silence passed before Zlynge decided that he yes, he'd heard something, and made of note of it by unleashing a powerful series of howling barks. When Navisya clapped the book shut and rose, the dog began running tight circuits around the room, scrambling madly as if that would somehow help fend off the intruder in his territory. "It's just me!" a small voice called from outside Navisya's home. She glanced upward, white locks rolling off her shoulders. "Aessila? Well hurry and get inside before Zy gives himself a concussion."

[Navisya Curare]

"Can I offer you something to eat?" Navisya's voice drifted from behind a silk curtain that sanctioned off the kitchen, which was better described as a nook with a pantry and a stove. There was the clinking of glass jars, and then a pause as she unscrewed a metal cap and sniffed the contents. The cap was hastily sealed again and the jar returned to the shelf. "Mmno." Aessila had now taken Navisya's chair, mostly so Zlynge could rest his square head in her lap. He was easy to calm down, once he was assured that everyone in his vicinity was someone he approved of. He was fond of Aessila especially, who found it the most impossible to ignore the pathetic look in his brown eyes and would never stop petting him as long as he begged for her attention. A long set of needle like nails stroked the soft fur around Zlynge's ears and cheek. "I'm only stopping by here on the way to the Cobweb. Some of Mother's things are still there, and I wanted to collect them." Navisya appeared from behind the curtain again, two crystal bowls held in either hand. They were half filled with something reddish and gelatinous, smelling of preserving salts and an a sharp mix of seasonings. Finding Zlynge exactly where she expected him to be, Navisya cracked a soft smile before regarding her sister. Briefly she thought of making a dry joke, noting that her home was apparently just 'on the way' to the Cobweb, but considering recent events, she decided it would be in bad taste. She handed a bowl to Aessila, who reluctantly took it with both hands. Navisya then propped herself against the wall nearby and stirred at the contents of her meal with a bone-handled spoon. "Did you want me to come with you?" Aessila shook her head, "No… I… I should stop bothering you and Father about Mother. I miss her so much, but I know everyone does. I should deal with this on my own, like an adult." Navisya's spoon clattered against the side of her bowl, her honey-colored eyes flicking sharply upward. "What did Kelswyn say to you?" Aessila balked briefly, then sucked on her bottom lip as she began spooning through her meal. Zlynge seemed to have broken out of his stupor and realized there was food in front of him. He began sniffing at Aessila's bowl until Navisya uttered a harsh command, after which he flinched and laid himself at the young Symenestra's feet. "Well… she was right! Father has it worse than any of us. We're not little girls anymore. We should take care of ourselves." Navisya sighed, then returned to her meal. "Aesi, Kelswyn is nearly ten years older than you are. She has her own family now. She decided years ago that she didn't need Mother anymore, but you didn't have nearly as much time with her. You don't have to deal with this alone, Aesi. You know your family is here for you. And Kelswyn cares too, she's just exhausted with the baby." She swallowed a spoonful of food, watching Zlynge thoughtfully as she scraped around in her bowl for another helping. "Dacy is a handful." Aessila still hadn't eaten anything, which made Navisya stare hard at her younger sister's bowl. "But Father…" "Father is hurting more than he lets on." "He told me to get out when I visited." Navisya grimaced. It wasn't like Tevander to give orders. Usually if he wanted his visitors to leave his home, he would begin acting as if they weren't there, returning to his business and expecting his company to do the polite thing. "Just… give him time, I guess. He'll come around. Are you going to eat any of that?" "It smells awful. Can I give it to Zy?" The elder sister's shoulders sank, then she made a dismissive gesture.