Being Drykas (Sam)

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen stood still as Sam's hands moved to wrap the scarf about his head and ears, settling everything well enough. He made a few adjustments once it was all tied up and set, so that it would fit exactly as he liked. He was rather particular, after all, about how he scarf lay over his ears. Once Sam was standing before him, he flashed him a wide smile. "Th-Thank you," he offered softly, and he leaned in to place a soft, friendly kiss on Sam's cheek. It was chaste, and innocent enough, as he hadn't meant it as anything more than a show of gratitude.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam watched the way Denen perfected the wrapping in case he was ever called to assist again; he liked to do things well when he put his hand to a task, and the Drykas certainly respected capability. The kiss was taken in stride, his reclaimed people more demonstrative of their feelings than Sylirans, he had found. "You're welcome," he said, and it was almost a scoff, as if Denen should know by now to expect Sam's help whenever he needed it. He was glad that when they were one on one, he could speak while Denen read his lips. Sometimes the grassland sign got to be a bit taxing, distracting, even. He made the effort for Denen, but was glad of the compromise. "What are you up to?"

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen smiled as Sam watched him, conscious of the eyes that rested on his hands as they adjusted the scarf as he liked it. His blue eyes turned up to Sam's face, and he smiled genuinely. It was easy to smile around his friends, especially Sam. He admired Sam, who was, in his eyes, smart and funny, and every bit what a leader ought to be. There were times he envied him, almost, but he knew better than to ever expect to be the sort of man Sama'el was. It took all kinds, after all. He knew that, and he knew that he had an important job, even in this little family. He motioned to the log before his tent, signalling for Sam to sit down if it pleased him to do so. He would be content with kneeling on the ground himself. He liked being close to the earth. It was a secure, safe feeling, one he wouldn't have ever traded. He was comfortable enough with talking around Sam. Sam never teased him for his slow speech. He also knew he'd be allowed to switch to sign if he got tired or needed to talk faster. "I...I w-w-was just-t th-th-th-thinking," he answered softly. "I...I...I w-was trying t-to figure out...out s-something."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"What about?" he asked while he still had Denen's eyes. Speaking to the deaf man required an almost intimate bond; eyes met to ensure they were both aware that something needed communicating, and a silent understanding passed between them to decide on words or signs, and understanding of the message lit each pair of eyes, Sam's dark, and Denen's blue. They were very blue eyes. That said, he sat on the log, but not for very long. He had energy, and soon he was crouched over the log, planting his hands along the edges, testing its balance. Sam paused to look up at Denen for a moment before he began making little hops, sending his pelvis up, gauging by feeling how much energy he would have to expend to invert his centers of gravity, the lower above the higher. A handstand wasn't terribly difficult if one was moderately strong and had a sense of balance, but Sam's attempts had been sloppy and so he was practicing the basics in order to work up to the actual handstand, finding the best way to get there.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen blushed a bit and swallowed hard at the question. His fingers combed through his tangled hair, and he shrugged. "I...I was...th-thinking about...what h-h-happened with Aiken," he admitted quietly. He glanced down a moment again, before he met Sam's gaze once more. "I...I was...was w-w-wondering-g w-what my f-father would say if he...if he kn-knew." But part of him didn't want to know. Stone was a stern man, one who didn't take abnormal things lightly. Denen knew that not everyone saw his being gay as wrong, but he wasn't sure his father would be as understanding. He watched as Sam lifted his body, and gave a soft, quiet laugh. He knew he'd never be able to do such a thing. Sam's acrobatics amused him, and helped to lighten the funk that came with such thoughts. He leaned forward slightly, sitting cross-legged on the ground, so that he could see Sam's face. "Y-You know, you'd b-b-better hope I h-ha-have the right herbs t-to-to take care of-f you, should y-y-y-you f-fall."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam bounced a few more times before committing his weight, and he managed to hold the hand stand on the log for a few seconds before he began to tip over. Luckily he had been cautious and didn't come tumbling down again, but managed to land on his feet even if it didn't look all that impressive. Denen was speaking of important things, though, so he sat down on the log to give him his undivided attention. "Whatever happens, Denen, you will be welcome wherever I've laid a campfire," he said in all seriousness. Long-term friendship was a new thing for him, but he took it in stride and was proving rather loyal so far. "And I hope your father will see your worth. Even if I have to tell him how you have patched me up when I have fallen and everything." He grinned, trying to keep Denen from falling into a depression.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen couldn't help but admire Sam. He was handsome, funny, and a good leader. On top of that, he was a great friend, and Denen respected him for all that he was. He wished, sometimes, that he had the strength of Sam, but he reminded himself that it took all kinds. Even a boy like him. He smiled as he watched Sam, enjoying the display of muscle. It was beautiful, after all, and Denen appreciated beauty. He knelt before his friend as he sat, and gave a soft smile. "Y-You are a true...true f-f-friend," he said softly. He was grateful for people like Sam. They made his confusion bearable. He hated the idea of never having anyone to listen to him, or anyone to talk to. He might have been a quiet sort, but when he found friends, he enjoyed socializing with them. Sam was no different. He reached up, gently and placed his hands on Sam's. "I...I am g-glad to be able t-t-to help," he informed. And he meant it, too. He would always be happy to help Sam. He sighed softly, allowing his hands to move now. "I hope you're right, Sam. He is not the most understanding of men, surprisingly." He smiled softly. "I get my softness from my mother, I guess. Jada always said she was a lot like me." He reached up with a smile and brushed back a free strand of Sam's hair. "If I was stronger, I would ask you to teach me how to stand on my hands."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

A grin erupted on Sam's face. His emotions were difficult to hide, and he could not obfuscate his pleasure at making friends among the people he hadn't hoped to reclaim, but Denen, Dymphna, Eldon and others were helping him return to the fold and feel like he fit all the more, more so even than he had before his slavery, because now he had an outside perspective upon which to draw. His first impulse was to clap Denen on the shoulder, but the young healer was like a bird sometimes: timid and delicate. Instead, Sam checked his enthusiasm, channeled it, and patted Denen on the hand touching his. When Denen switched to finger-talk, Sam had to pay closer attention, as if they were out on a hunt. But his smile turned a trifle wicked. "You know," he signed, "you weigh hardly anything. I could throw you over my shoulder and carry you around Endrykas without breaking a sweat and I'm hardly that strong. I'll bet you could manage it. If you wanted. I could teach you... Not that I'm an expert, but I could teach you what I know and perhaps we will both end up doing flips off our horses' backs." He grinned at the thought.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen was happy to see Sam's smile. It was difficult to keep a massive, beaming smile off of his own, soft features when Sam shone thus. He rested his chin on Sam's knees, and looked up to him, thinking nothing of the gesture. Denen was, after all, incredibly demonstrative. And he liked this angle. He could see Sam's face perfectly. He almost laughed when Sam patted his hand. Denen's father had been one to clap backs, and it had nearly knocked his son over from time to time, but he was sturdier than he looked. At least, he told himself that. He blushed, seeing the way Sam smiled, and shrank a little, though he grinned in return. The words caused his jaw to drop, and he playfully slapped Sam's arm, shaking his head. His own hands rose, and he had to remind himself to sign slowly for Sam's advantage. "I am not that little! But still, I would like to learn, even a little, though we both know I'm more than a little clumsy." How many times, after all, had he slipped or fallen over into mud or water? It seemed that he wasn't awkward enough, and needed some extra bonus when it came to being a klutz. Besides, he didn't imagine Reth would appreciate the boy doing flips off of his back. The horse was old and patient, but he wasn't as young as he once was.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam grinned and slapped Denen back, this time in the knee so he wouldn't interrupt the sudden flow of the healer's nimble fingers communicating with him. Thanks to his friendship with the Opal Clansman, he would be an excellent silent communicator while on dangerous hunts. His grin only got bigger, though. "Come on," he signed. "Get up." With that, he leaned back, rolling over his back to plant his shoulders and attempted to whip and bow his body such that he could flip to his feet. He had managed it a few times before with only Dohaina or the wolf cubs watching him, but this time he failed. Lying on his back in the dust, he sighed, then tried again, rolling forward onto his bum to get momentum. His spine arched from tailbone to the nape of his neck as he rolled to his shoulders, hands planting, and with a careful flip of his body, he landed on his feet, but only barely. He wobbled on his haunches before standing up shakily. "I will have it soon," he promised with his hands, then clapped them and holding them open. With his mouth he said, give me your ankles. I'll show you what it feels like to do a hand stand, and then we can work on you getting yourself there once your muscles know where you are going."