wanderlust

He took a deep breath. He was finally gone, His hope was left strong. { Indie RP blog for Adakias from Razia's Shadow. }

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   ( though he kept eye contact with his nephew as he spoke, pallis couldn’t help but       notice the exchange between brother and sister-in-law. he would have shot them       a glance, or more specifically arched an eyebrow at adakias, but aegon’s blurt       was a bit more distracting.

      his first instinct was offense, or shock, but then again, this was a toddler, not an       adult, so pallis was left to let out a short gasp.

      odana seemed smugly pleased that aegon had left now. she crossed her chubby       young arms and wore a smirk that bore an uncanny resemblance to her father’s.       however, soon as aegon and anhura had left, pallis lifted the little girl out of his       lap and set her down on the floor. )

            ❝ Why don’t you go grab your toy horses to show             Uncle Adakias? I’m sure he’d love to see all of             Nidria’s tricks. ❞

   ( odana beamed at the proposition and quickly made her way over to a chest in       the corner of the room and began digging through it. pallis watched her for just       a moment before turning his attention back on adakias. ) 

            ❝ I’m ready, don’t worry. We have similar problems             with Odana. She likes to try to grab things from high             places. I can’t imagine her growing feathers will help             with that in the slightest. ❞

   ( he paused a moment. conversing with adakias after so long felt strange, as       though everything were a daydream. )

            ❝ What was that all about? You two looked odd when             I mentioned that Aegon is a prince. ❞

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{   He watched the girl bound over to the corner and root around in some old chest. Was     that always there? No, he would have noticed it as a kid. He doesn’t remember ever     seeing that though. Maybe its new.

    Pallis’s inquiry pulled Adakias from those thoughts and he shifted in his chair, an old     habit that he’d never been able to kick; he was never able to sit still when an uncertain     topic came up.   }

                “Um.. well it turns out that King Malka didn’t like the                  idea of someone as strange as me marrying his                  daughter and becoming king when he dies, so he made                  me renounce all claims to the throne before I could                  marry Anhura. So. I’m supposed to be the adviser of                  Anhura’s sister when she takes the throne.”

{   Whoop, there it is. Oh, look at that, the edge of the table is much more interesting than     Pallis’s face, let’s mess with that for a while! His next comment came as a low murmur,     gentle, unsure of his brother’s reaction.   }

                 “Also I told the King I was coming over here to try                   to set up some peace talks, maybe set an end goal                   of tearing that huge wall down. Rejoin the world                   and stuff.”

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   ( so bright was the laughter from his brother that pallis could not deny that he had       jumped slightly at the sound. it was welcome the way it filled the room, and he       didn’t try to hide the small smile in his mouth.

      odana didn’t seem very impressed by her cousin, convinced as she was that he       was the stranger of the two. nevermind her hair like spun gold and the downy       white wings emerging from it and poking out of the back of her white little dress.       she leveled him with a petite frown, her feathers fluffing up in defense. )

            ❝ I’m the princess. And an angel, so you better watch it! ❞

   ( pallis laughed now–a softer one than before, perhaps?–and ran a hand through       odana’s hair to calm her, rubbing the base of her wings. )

            ❝ That’s enough, Odana. He’s your cousin, and a prince,             too. Neither of you looks strange, alright? ❞

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{   The couple’s expressions changed at the word prince, and the two glanced at each     other. Anhura looked at Adakias almost.. curiously? Accusingly? His expression     said nothing, but perhaps she took something from that, because her lips pulled into     a dissatisfied pout. Aegon talked through his parent’s silent conversation.   }

                “You’re strange too! You look like pay-puh!                  Can I draw on you?”

{   Adakias sputtered, so Anhura cut in, gently taking the boy from Adakias’s arms.   }

                “Okay, nap time!”

                “Nooooooo!”

                “Yeeeeees. Don’t be rude to your uncle.”

                “No sleepies! I’m not tired!”

                “I’ve need to go find someplace to put the troublemaker                  down for a bit. You two -- three -- catch up.”

{   She addressed the others in the room, then gave Adakias a pointed look (who gave her     a sheepish smile in return) before turning to leave. He knew a servant stood outside the     door, so he let her go. He took a seat as the door closed, a sudden nervousness biting     as his stomach, though he tried to keep it off his face with a sly grin.   }

                 “He tries to draw on the walls a lot. He’ll draw with                   whatever he can get his hands on, so be prepared                  for that.”

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   ( without adakias, the palace had withdrawn into itself. even if he was not       constantly singing and running about its vast halls, there had been some       quality to the air, a fullness and ringing which had disappeared with him       over the mountains.

      pallis did not regret letting his brother leave, though. after reflecting on it,       his departure was the better for the both of them. pallis could focus on       his political duties, and though blinded with rage at the time, adakias had       never looked healthier, happier, that day in the doctor’s shack.

      so pallis had resigned to a brotherless life, tried not to think of adakias       in that godforsaken desert city with all its biting heat. upon his return,       weary and alone with sand still smuggled into his boots, he and satan       wed in an extravagant ceremony to the delight of many and the great       disappointment of others. a year later, they introduced the citizens of       the dark to a crown princess, odana, a child of golden hair, azure eye,       and several downy wings who looked more the future queen of the land       to the south of the mountains.

      it was a trifle trying for the couple to have a child so early on, and they       had agreed that any more children would wait more than several years.       still, both parents doted on their daughter, her small hands and cooing.       the palace seemed to have recovered some of what adakias had taken       with him to the light.

      odana’s second birthday was approaching rapidly when pallis received       a letter, his name scrawled out across the envelope in a familiar lilting       handwriting. adakias was returning to the dark, wife and child in tow.

      preparations were made instantly, meetings postponed, rooms made       ready and servants allocated to the incoming guests. pallis’ hands would       not be steady for two whole days, and his sleep was restless with the       impending arrival. satan teased that he hadn’t been this nervous for       odana’s own birth. pallis wasn’t sure how to respond.

      the anticipated day came, and pallis fussed all morning over where and       how to meet his brother and his family once more. sitting on the throne       would seem to formal, cold, but greeting him at the gate would be tainted       by the publicity, the performance of it all. but would waiting in one of their       favorite childhood corners be even more insincere? should he wait with       satan, odana, both, neither? the letter had revealed a gap which pallis       hadn’t even been aware of. he had missed his little brother.

      eventually his buzzing body settled on the drawing room, comfy as it was,       all velvet arm chairs and one grand desk. though he had asked satan to       wait with him, the angel had pardoned himself with a mischievous smile       to greet adakias at a later time, claiming some personal business before       leaving pallis with their daughter. pallis had the feeling that satan just       wanted the brothers to be alone.

      while they waited, odana needed entertaining, naturally, so pallis pulled       down one of her favorite stories from the shelves, sat her in his lap at       the grand old desk, and read to her stories of lamps and o. so enraptured       by her reactions to a story he had told her so many times before, he failed       to notice when the door creaked open, unaware of the soft smile which       creased his eyes and forehead.

      looking up at his brother, he felt as though he had just spent the day as a       child, chasing the younger about the castle in some game. adakias glowed       with a joy, his skin marked noticeably by the sun, and in his arms, a babe       who leered around the room, as though trying to form a critical opinion of       his new surroundings. )

            ❝ Adakias!

   ( he was surprised by how eager and loud his voice had become, almost       startling odana, who looked at her uncle with her ever curious blue eyes.       pallis patted her arm once, a sign that she should not be wary. )

            ❝ Odana, this is your Uncle Adakias and Aunt Anhura.             Be nice, say hi. ❞

   ( she scrutinized the two a moment with innocent intent before blurting out: ) 

            ❝ You look funny. ❞

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{   Laughter pealed from the man, brighter, happier than these old walls remembered.     Maybe it was just how it reverberated, but it sounded like it was put to use more     than ever before. It seemed to bounce as a ball would when hurled down a flight of     stairs, and there were many of those in the Dark. Even Anhura smiled. Adakias     crossed to the table, feeling like a bright spot of sunshine in this unusually dark     room. He’s going to have to get used to the lack of natural light streaming through     the windows.   }

                “That’s because I am funny! Probably                   funnier than your father. I used to look                   like him once, y’know.”

{   Yes. Once he looked like his brother, but no more. Adakias had let his hair grow a     bit more and had taken to tying it back. His skin was considerably darker than his     brother’s, hair lighter, sun bleached to copper rather than black. 

    Gently, he brought Anhura forward, looking at her with a gentle gaze, open with his     adoration for her. Then he lifted his son up a little, the boy turning his bright gaze to     the two across the table.   }

                “This is my son Aegon. And that’s my                  brother Pallis, and his daughter --                  Odana, right?”

{   Aegon crossed his arms, pouting a little, his words soft in the pause that followed     his father’s introduction.   }

                “You’re the funny looking one...”

[travel-story]

[travel-story]

[drxgonfly]

to Nothern Aurora (by EGRA)

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The boy is pouting when he accepts his uncle's help up to his feet, tiny tears pricking at stunning blue eyes. He swipes at them as he collects the luckily unscathed eagle toy. "I was flying. See? My rimigies are coming in!" Kushta turns to show off the feathers on his downy wings, oblivious to his mispronunciation. "I just, uh, couldn't get off the ground this time. I was gonna jump right over your head!"

{   His what? Rimigies? Adakias tilted his head slightly, huffing lightheartedly.   }

                “Oh? Well I’m sure you can, but not in here; you won’t catch a draft. You                 should go practice out in the gardens. I could come with you so you can                 jump over me if you want.”

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The sound of hot bare feet slapping against cool obsidian floors precedes Kushta as he runs, an eagle figurine in his outstretched hand, soaring with him. The flight feathers on his wings are starting to emerge, and though he can't yet fly, he flaps as he runs in hopes of catching some air beneath him. Unfortunately, he's too late to see his uncles legs directly in his path, and he slams into them with a loud 'oof!' before tumbling to the ground. "Aaaah! Uncle Addy!"

{   His mind was wandering again, worrying at the growing tensions between the Houses of the    Dark. He hardly heard the footsteps until they were right behind them. Someone slammed    into his legs and his knees nearly gave out, catching himself at the last moment.

    He turned to the boy, kneeling and gently helping him up, checking for any damage with a    somewhat embarrassed smile.   }

                “Are you alright? What are you doing, running into people like that?”

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            ❝ You have ‘til dawn to get her to submit             to your charms, how does that seem? ❞

   ( perhaps it was a bit short of a timeframe, but if adakias couldn’t negotiate    a one-night stand with a flustered young maid, then really, what kind of man    was he? he ignored his brother’s remarks for the most part, kept his chin    held high and sipped at his wine more, looking over the crowd. ) 

            ❝ Skirts aren’t the most… interesting for me. ❞

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{   A curious glance over at his brother, half tempted to ask what is interesting for him, but he let     it go. He’s got something else to think about, and while he was itching to use what time he’s     got, he had to think about the right way to approach her.

    After a few minutes of thought, he got up from his seat and went after her. His entire demeanor     changed, his typically slumped shoulders squaring out, long stride leveling into a saunter,     expression softening into one of gentle interest. The elder servant glared at him but retreated.     When he first greeted the new servant, the poor girl jumped and nearly let go of the bottle she     was holding and he was quick to try and calm her. He was close to her, but never touching,     murmuring in her ear. A gentle greeting, then getting right to the point, offering a night with him.     He saw her hesitation, how tense she was, and gave assurance upon assurance that there would     be no repercussions if she said no, that he will not do anything she doesn’t want him to, that he     has always been kind to those he’s spent the night with, that this is entirely her call and she has     every right to refuse him if she so wishes.

    Still there was hesitation, so he told her he’ll wait for an answer, but he’d like one before dawn.     Then he returned to his table, the elder servant taking the place he was just in. He sat and cast     a grin at Pallis, relaxing in his chair and watching the rest of the crowd.   }

                “And now we wait. Hey, did you hear that House Mataraya found something                  in Lake Sin? Said it’s some sort of creature with a long neck that’s been living                  at the bottom of the lake.”

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untitled by jessica anne. on Flickr.

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   ( pallis makes some nonchalant gesture with his body at his brother’s comment.    there is, of course, a reason he does not spend much time around the girls that    frequent the palace halls, but not one that he would like to publicize. still, it isn’t    as though womankind terrifies him. he has had a fancy or two for the fairer sex,    despite his brother’s belief. )  

            ❝ Though it may be a surprise to your vast imagination,             dear brother, I have chased a skirt or two in my time, but             not nearly with the same reckless abandon as you seem             to do. Maybe you should take a lesson from your elder,             for once? I’ll bet you… one obligation-free day that your             maid eye-candy denies you a night of pleasures. ❞

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                “A skirt or two? Only two? Learn how to live. And seriously? ‘In my time’?                  Five years difference and you sound like father, you old fart.”

{   He shook his head with a sigh, though his grin didn’t diminish. He looked over at Pallis, his     building excitement visible in the way he straightened, the way he tilted his head in interest.     An obligation-free day? That could be useful.   }

                “Alright then, you’re on. Is there a time limit?”

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            ❝ Like she’ll say yes. Disa’s already talking to her,             there’s no way in hell you’ll get anything from her. ❞

   ( Pallis isn’t sure he’s ever known Adakias to make a successful move    against any of these girls, but they don’t tend to talk about sexual exploits    to each other much. ) 

            ❝ Why chase after aprons when we are drowning in             ball gowns here? Or do you want to make her a proper             lady after all? ❞

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                “You never know. Women are fickle and oh so easy to turn. You’d                  know that if you actually spent some time around them.”

{   Just a tease, a smile that matched his tone cast to his brother. Adakias hasn’t always been     lucky with the servants, but sometimes one of them gives in. After that, he likes to give them     some space. No point in pressuring some poor servant for more against her will.

    He laughed, a bright burst of sound that he quickly muffled before too many heads turned.   }

                “I’d ask why don’t you, but I’m starting to think aprons and ball gowns                  scare you. I’m half afraid that if a woman came to ask for a dance,                  you’d bolt!”

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   ( pallis laughed in his own response, shook his head and rolled the sangria    about his tongue. he met the elder servant’s gaze, nodded at her in acknow-    ledgement, knew she would place complaint with sangara later about his    brother’s behavior. it was standard by this point. ) 

            ❝ I don’t think her idea of a grand welcome             is necessarily a night with her employer. ❞

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                “Technically, I’m not her employer.”

{   It’s not like he treats the servants badly, no matter what he’s doing. And even if nothing     happens, it’s fun to at least flirt. Come to think of it, he’s got a few others to check up on.     Tomorrow for sure.   }

                “And she’s such a pretty little thing. Surely she won’t mind a bit of fun.”

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            ❝ Oh sweet O, not again. ❞

   ( pallis can already see how this is going to go. it’s not been the first time.    he rolls his eyes at the light in his brother’s eyes. he takes another sip of    wine, watches the maid’s black skirt brush boldly against the nobles she    so desperately is trying to avoid hitting with her bottle of moscato. ) 

            ❝ She’s hardly been here a day, brother.             Let the girl at least wear in her uniform. ❞

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{  He laughed at Pallis’s reaction, sizing the girl up with bright interest. He watched as one of     the other servants nudged up against her, whispering in her ear. They both looked over at     the princes’ table, and Adakias flashed them both a grin that he hoped didn’t look too wolfish,     knowing other other servant just warned her against him. Not that it matters much; he knows     his way around women.   }

                “I’m not sure, maybe I should give her a grand welcome. New servants                  deserve that much, at least.”

{   He chuckled, lifting up his drink, eyes peering over the edge and cutting over to his brother,     an amused and rather mischievous glint in them.   }

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                “-- -- Oh hello, I see a new cutie.”

{   A tilt of his head, gaze stuck fast on a new servant, wandering nervously among the     nobles. She didn’t look older than him, nice curves where they should be, with light     brown hair nearly shining auburn under the lights of the ballroom. His type for sure.     A grin pulled at his lips, already forming plans for her.   }

[my-very-own-life-in-the-woods]

[hikingdreams]