waiting for the world to come

When time began and the world was new, there came the birth of four great beings. We follow the gods and we keep their love and precious creatures from harm and in return, we gain eternal peace.

[lonelylittlenerissa-deactivated]

{til we meet again} || {sage & nerissa}

[lonelylittlenerissa-deactivated]

Did anything hurt? Everything hurt. Everything…save for her heart. No, that part of her was aglow: singing, dancing- practically threatening to burst out of her chest. Her hands stung and the aching in her legs felt akin to that of being lacerated- but there was no ignoring the warmth that radiated from her chest and pooled in her stomach. So enamored was she that she practically forgot the question Sage had posed to her. Was she alright? Probably not, especially now that she had no chance of escaping. Not that she really minded; as much as she knew that it was better to leave Sage be, she also knew that the desire to befriend her was all the more powerful, and could not ever be denied.

She stared at the hand Sage had offered her. It was flour-coated, and Nerissa recalled her having mentioned that she worked as a baker. Had she not been in the middle of baking? Had she risked letting her wares burn in place of chasing after her? Why had she chased after her? All these questions, and more, however, were eclipsed by yet another, which she asked as she took Sage’s hand;

“You…remember my name?”

The look on her face was nothing short of awe-struck as she stared up at Sage, her eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and fascination. She began to rise to her feet, but a sudden bout of dizziness (either as a result from the pain or from the lightheadedness) caused her to swoon forward against Sage. Able to catch herself before actually falling over, she smiled sheepishly, a faint blush spreading over her face.

[sage-fowler]

The look upon the girl’s face was one of confusion, eyes wide and dark, tinged with blue. Her eyes were so very beautiful, so wide and enticing. They were the kind of eyes Sage would love to get lost in and stare at for hours only to find they were not the same eyes she began looking at. Even now, as she watches, her eyes grow darker and into a brilliant shade of midnight blue. Their beauty was only marred by the look of uncomfortable pain upon her face, twisting her features and drawing Sage’s sympathy. Her ankle must hurt worse than she had originally thought, for such a small thing to earn such a hard look of misery upon such a sweet face. 

Sage flushed in shame once she caught sight of just how dusty her hands were, wiping it off upon her apron to try and get rid of the flour. It only left white smears, embarrassing her further, earning a quick prayer for the earth to swallow her whole and keep her from doing anything else wrong. Why did she not have the decency to remember to wipe her hands before leaving? Even Isobel had the idea of wearing her best dress before ever leaving the house, a sentiment Sage now wishes she shared. 

It's a relief when Nerissa does take her hand, hand smooth and unlined against Sage's own dusty hand. "Of course I remember your name, how could I forget that face?" She's only trying to be silly, teasing her a bit, but it comes out far more bold and forward than she would have known herself capable of. Her words are cut off by Nerissa swaying on her feet and looking dangerously close to falling over, had she not been expecting it. Sage quickly reaches out and presses a hand to her side and catches her arm with the other, keeping her upright as a look of concern flashes over her face. "Are you sure you're alright? Do you need anything, anything at all? I think I have some old herbs at home, we could alleviate the pain on your ankle." 

[akintheboarman]

Through the Forest || Akin & Sage

[akintheboarman]

"Don’t worry, girl. I have no intentions of harming you," Akin replied, his eyes shining in amusement. He enjoyed playing with weaker creatures, sure, but killing wasn’t fun if it was easy. Nor was it honorable. 

He let his hand fall from his hatchet as his eyes gazed again to her basket. He was curious. What could she have to offer to the creatures of Braemar besides flowers? What made her think her gifts would be well-received? The fauns liked all things that were pretty, but they were the least of the creatures she should fear.

"You should leave your offerings and return to your village. There are scarier things in this forest than me. Bears, wolves, wild cats. Skinwalkers. Boarmen." His smirk returned to his face at the last word. Had she even thought of his kind as she trekked through the woods? No - humans rarely did unless they were stuck in the mines. Then they cried out for Varahk’s sons, pleading for their help. 

His eyes glanced up to the hillside, knowing his clan was on the other side. Perhaps they were watching this interaction, far less amused than he was. Interacting with the humans wasn’t forbidden, but it was frowned upon. The more mystery there was surrounding the gods and their famed creatures, the more likely the humans were to keep their faith.

[sage-fowler]

She's relieved to hear as much but it does nothing to ease her worries, the sight of his arms enough to make her skin crawl. He wouldn't even have to take out a weapon with those arms of his, hands big enough to overlap as he squeezed the life from her neck or to crush her skull in two. So many different ways without even trying and her life could be gone, snapped as easily as the twigs beneath her feet. 

Her hand went to her basket at his obvious interest, tucking the bread away with the remaining flowers. It no longer smells of freshly cooked bread, no doubt cooling inside, but even so she can still taste the honey on her tongue from before. A small part of her yearns to take the treats out and eat them slowly, bit by bit, until the honey dribbles down her chin and leaves nothing left for the man. He will only be forced to watch as her gift is eaten and erased from her pile of offerings, knowing his frightening of her is the cause. If only she were selfish enough. The creatures do not deserve such unreasonable cruelty from her, those who have done nothing, and so she keeps her lips sealed and their gifts safe. 

"I want to make sure they get there safely. And I shall not run and hide, I know the dangers that lurk nearby." At the mention of boarmen she snorts, shaking her head. "Boarmen haven't come out of their mountains and I'd know one if I saw one. Supposedly they're even bigger than you and their skin is as dark as ash or the color of stones." 

[lonelylittlenerissa-deactivated]

{til we meet again} || {sage & nerissa}

[lonelylittlenerissa-deactivated]

Nerissa

Nerissa

O, how sweet the name sounded. Like honey, dripping from the lips of an angel. She had never known how beautiful a name could sound, not to mention her own. Why, it was almost like a song- a cherubic melody that filled her heart with glee. Too often had her name sounded like silence, provoking only a pause and the almost audible confusion of all those that had heard it. Too often had her name slipped from the minds of all those she had held dear. To think that this darling girl had been able to remember her name even after such an ephemeral encounter was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

Instead, it caught her by surprise and brought her to her knees. Quite literally, actually. Distracted by the sound of Sage’s captivating voice calling out her name, she had gotten one of her feet caught under a tree branch, and had taken quite the tumble. In too much pain to cry out, she remained on the ground, her face- thankfully still turned away from Sage- contorted in a silent scream. She clasped a hand over her mouth, trying to compose herself despite the sharp throbbing sensation that rendered her practically immobile. As much as she wanted to get back up and continue fleeing, a small part of her was silently thankful for the brief interlude of fate in the matter. Now she had an excuse to stay and talk to Sage.

Propping herself up, she brushed the earth off of her dress- though it was obvious it was now ruined- and pulled it back over her shoulder, trying to cover herself out of embarrassment. She watched Sage approach out of the corner of her eye, and tried to busy herself with collecting the flowers that had landed around her. No doubt she had lost a large majority of them during the chase (if you could call it that) and she would have to go and pick more at a later date, but for now, there was a more pressing issue at hand.

[sage-fowler]

It is a strange twist of fate. 

So long ago, the stranger of a boy with flowers in his curls, running from her outstretched hands and kisses. A boy who fled and laughed and skipped while she trailed hopelessly behind with wobbly knees and too-small legs. Small flowers clenched in his hands, little ones that ached for their roots, held so tightly as to never escape into the warm furrows of the earth. The sight of his golden curls, shining like liquid gold in the sight of the sun, disappearing into the brush and never to appear again as she herself fell. 

Another chase, a decade later, and yet it is all in reserve. A girl who runs, knocking knees and dark of hair. Flowers spilling from the safety of her skirts and sighing in relief as they die without roots only to live again in their new spot on the earth. It is the line they leave, so very obvious and leaving no chance to hide. The girl, who runs not from girlish kisses but from her very own name, that still hums in the air and vibrates with the harmony of such a person's existence. A beautiful name, a beautiful girl, one going up to join the trees and the other falling down, down. 

It is Nerissa that falls this time. 

Sage cries her name again but it is in concern, not frustration. The poor girl tumbled and yet refused to try and give up, gathering her flowers with haste. "Nerissa! Are you alright?" She barely knows her, other than a brief talk at a dance, but her name sounds lovely on her tongue and pleasing to her ears. Her hands seek to help her once she catches up, looking concerned as she crouches down. "Does anything hurt? You took a nasty spill." 

[lonelylittlenerissa-deactivated]

{til we meet again} || {sage & nerissa}

[sage-fowler]

lonelylittlenerissa:

Soft colors looked best on Eilina. Blushing pinks and creamy whites- nothing too striking that might offset the delicacy of her porcelain complexion. Of course, blues would’ve looked best, but it was impossible to find any flowers that could achieve the same sea-glass celadon of her eyes, and if they didn’t match well, what was the point?

For Dani, the choice of bright, vibrant colors was obvious. Though blues would’ve looked nice on her, a nice sunny yellow seemed more fitting for both her personality and for the celebration of Spring. There were some nice bright pinks that were in bloom as well, but pink and red hair was an automatic no-no, no matter what anyone said. She would’ve picked some daisies to go along as well, but they were a symbol of innocence, and the irony of Dani wearing them would not have been lost on anyone.

Finding flowers for the rest of her sisters was relatively easy as well. Purples for those with brown eyes, paler colors for lighter hair, and bigger flowers for those with thicker hair; knowing the best flowers to bring out the beauty of others was a small thing, really, but something she took pride in all the same. Or, something resembling pride. When it came to picking flowers for herself, however, a challenge always presented itself. Lack of self-confidence dictated that no matter what she wore, or how beautiful she actually looked- she still felt unworthy of praise or attention. No color felt right on her; they were either too bright for her shy personality or too clean for how dirty she often felt. She couldn’t even depend on matching her eyes, as they switched color too often for her to rely on them. One moment they were almost brown, another they were positively green. Sometimes she could’ve almost sworn they had specks of purple in them. Eventually, she decided that the only answer to her dilemma was a simple wreath of Baby’s Breath. They were white, and the symbol of a pure heart- two things she felt did not suit her at all- but they were simple, delicate little blossoms that were not too big or distracting on her.  Unfortunately for her, however, the nearest batch of them was in a different clearing of the forest, and not only did it mean a longer journey on her already aching legs, but it also meant having to venture through Braemer.

She wasn’t sure why the thought of returning to the village, however briefly, gave her reason to worry so. Perhaps it was the bad memories she had associated with it, perhaps it was the fear of being discovered as a godly creature and the thought of the villager’s subsequent actions against her. Or, perhaps it was the fact that every time she returned to it, it had grown a little older, and she was forced to face the consequences of her actions. No matter the reason, she decided it was best to stick to the outskirts of the town, where she could take relative cover under the trees. Using her skirt to hold most of the flowers, she walked as briskly as she could- which, in all honesty, was not very fast at all, since every step seemed to hurt more than the last- in the shade of the trees that outlined the edge of the forest.

As she approached one of the buildings that was a little closer to the forest than most of the others, the smell of fresh baked bread caught her attention. Her stomach growled at the scent, a faint sensation of nostalgia taking a hold of her. It reminded her of her childhood and, no matter how good it smelt, it was not a reminder she appreciated. She shook her head as she soldiered on, passing by as quickly as she could. That was, until she heard a familiar voice calling out behind her. It was a voice she knew well, though she had heard it only once before. Adrenaline began to flow through her veins as her heartbeat sped up and she tried to pick up her pace, not bothering to look behind her. She knew who she would find. The girl. Sage. Her heart was screaming, begging, for her to turn around, but her mind would not let her. No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t face her; she knew that, if she did, there would be no going back. As long as she could stay away, no harm would come to that girl.

The familiar stranger ran, flowers spilling from her large skirts as she struggled to keep them all in line. They are beautiful, truly, all bright colors and vivid hues speckled with paler pastels. It's a trail of nature's finest offerings, plucked from the earth only to spread their beauty farther on, still slipping free of the girl's grip. Had Sage not been intent upon catching up with her, she might've stopped to collect what she could and weave them all together into a beautiful crown. A few of the colors remained unfamiliar but all too enticing; pale blues that clung to large white flowers, another one a violent purple and another shade she cannot place. Yet the sight of such beauty is not enough to sway her from her task, an easy enough one with how slow the girl seems to be.

The sight of her practically limping along made Sage wince in sympathy, wondering whether she might have hurt her leg in the forest. Once, she herself had tripped upon a tangled root when she had been chasing a childhood friend, unaware of the hidden dangers that lurked upon the floor. Such a tumble had left marks upon her palms, brambles clinging to her skirts and tracking all over the floors when she had returned home crying. Her mother had simply patted her head and told her to clean up outside, her father caught up in his own romance and offering only a quick kiss to scraped hands. Neither bothered to find out that she was not frustrated from falling, only that such a delay had kept her from catching up to the boy she had chased, intent upon catching a childish kiss. The boy had simply pranced into the bushes and never returned, a fact that had been lost to her for years. 

Knowledge of such pain from a twisted ankle is enough to make her speed up, jogging after the girl. "Hello? Where are you going?" Why does she refuse answer? Why does she turn away? It takes Sage a moment to come up with her name, barely a hazy memory, yet she calls out for her anyways. "Nerissa! Wait!" 

[sage-fowler]

Things to do

My Writing

♛ - Write Drabble(s) and find an open para to reply to

Waiting on Replies

Nerissa Akin Henry 

Blog

♛ - Fix color scheme of theme

♛ - Update links 

♛ - Create a page for full bio

[marrygoode]

[lonelylittlenerissa-deactivated]

{til we meet again} || {sage & nerissa}

Eyes. Dark, piceous eyes- like the murky depths of the Caer on the night of a new moon.They stared up at her, and in them she could see only hunger. Starvation. The need to consume, and conquer, until there was nothing left, and the emptiness inside had been satiated. They were cold eyes. They showed no hint of regret, or remorse, or compassion. No, all they knew was hunger, and feeding it; no matter the cost. They were eyes that haunted her dreams from the darkest recesses of her mind- the parts she wished she could sever. They were a killer’s eyes.

They were her eyes.

She knew it was her own face that she saw in her nightmares, but there was always a disconnect from it. The skin seemed too pale, the features too sharp and ethereally entrancing, the expression too…wicked. It was her face, and yet, it was not. That did not stop the bile from rising to her throat, however, because she knew- oh she did not want to, but she knew- that one day, it would be her. And no amount of crying, or wishing it would all go away would stop it. It was simply a fact of life: of nature. Still, a tiny, infinitesimal part of her wondered if she would truly mind. Oh she would insist that she did, but the truth was that she had always been this way. The only thing that would change was the abolition of Nerissa’s façade. No longer would she be able to claim innocence as she did now. Everyone would see who she truly was for once. As her hands wrapped around Sage’s ankles, and pulled her down below into the cold, unforgiving current of the Thuane- they would see the hunger that had consumed her flesh and bones, leaving nothing behind but greed and desperation.

Nerissa awoke with a start, fleeting images of her nightmare dissipating into the cool morning water around her, but leaving behind the sick, nauseous feeling in her stomach. It had seldom plagued her during her first fifty or so years, but ever since the last Issafest- it came to her almost nightly, stealing both sleep and sanity. It always ended the same way, with Nerissa grabbing a hold of Sage and pulling her down,

                                                          down,

                                                                                                   down.

She shook as she wrapped her arms around herself, squeezing tightly. No, she would not. She would never. As long as she had any shred of humanity left in her heart, she would not kill that girl. That sweet, kind, loving girl. That girl whom Nerissa remembered so fondly, yet knew nothing about. Oh how she wanted to know more about that girl. She reminded her so completely of how Nerissa had been as a human; she was sure they would be friends, if only they were given the chance to meet again. Perhaps, she thought, she could go to Braemer and find the girl, and get to know her…even befriend he- NO. No. no. She was being selfish again- giving into her own hunger. That girl was sweet, and kind, but she did not care about Nerissa. They had barely met in passing, but her own loneliness had striven for her to find significance in such a brief, meaningless encounter. No doubt she would be more disturbed than anything if Nerissa attempted to seek her out, and she would not risk that.

It was too early in the morning for her mind to be buzzing as vigorously as hers was. Trying to forget the last remnants of her nightmare, she shook her head furiously, then quickly bolted out of the cavern in which she resided. After all, she had better things to do than sit around and mourn over a non-existant friendship; the greeting of spring was coming, and that meant that the meadow was probably all abloom with fresh spring flowers. As she reached the surface of the lake, she decided that picking flowers for garlands for her sisters to wear during the celebrations would be the perfect distraction. Nerissa pulled herself ashore, her tail dividing quickly into two gangly legs as she took her first painful steps upon the banks. She knelt down and retrieved a dress from between two of the nearby rocks and slipped it on over her head. Though pretty enough, it had belonged to a much larger woman (who had left it behind while washing it) and Nerissa often found herself swimming in the loose material. The hem of it did serve as a wonderful makeshift basket for holding flower petals though, so it was not entirely useless.

Making her way towards the meadow, she took short, staggered steps- each one shooting sharp pains up her feet and legs. She laughed inwardly for a moment, considering how fawn-like she must’ve appeared, with her spindly legs and awkward gait.

[sage-fowler]

There were few things Sage did not mind early in the morning, being rather even-tempered even in the early hours of dusk. The lights were pretty then, all golds and light blues as red bloomed on the horizon to announce the start of a new day, and Sage took great pleasure in watching the sun's rays light up the village. Yet even she finds that she cannot stand the pretentious demands of those that seek to put their demands before her precious sleep. All it takes is a small headache and a lumpy pillow that keeps her from sleep to break her resolve and leave a bitter taste in her mouth as she rises to prepare the treats needed for the festival. 

Her eyes feel crusted with sleep and her hands are slow and clumsy, little more than dull fists that pound at the dough to help it flatten out. While her body wanted nothing more than to sleep, her hands had a mind of their own as they smoothed out the rough bumps and settled into the familiar task. Soon enough she had the flat roll of dough that she needed and took her time pushing it to fit the mold in the pan needed for it. She sidestepped the boxes upon the floor to reach into a cupboard and pull out a small jar of honey, sliding it onto the counter and kicking the cupboard shut with her foot. A discarded knife lay in the middle of the counter which she quickly snatched up and dipped into the jar, taking a large glop of honey and slapping it into the middle of the dough. It took a moment to get the goo to swirl throughout the entire pan, grumbling about poor pan structure the entire time and how much they requested on such a short time frame. 

Sleep called to her the entire time, a sweet siren's song that enticed her and slipped through even her good sense. Eyes slipped close, body swaying ever-so-slightly, her feet almost moving of their own accord to the door that led to the attachment of the small cottage she shared with her mother. Mother! Her eyes snapped open, the edges of sleep no longer as promising, the call of it fading from her mind as she remembered just exactly why she was up so early. Her mother needed the money for the herbs that would ease her into sleep, for the droughts that would ease her pains when she seized or smacked into something in her brief moments of clarity. 

With a sigh, Sage returned to her work with a heavy heart and set everything to begin baking, the fires bringing warmth to her deadened fingers. It would not be so bad to take a quick break for a nap, now would it? Everything was beginning to rise on its own accord and just a quick closing of her eyes would not harm anything...yet as she passed by her window she saw a flicker of movement. Her brow furrowed as she drew back to look again, catching sight of a familiar girl flitting through the trees with flowers clenched in her hand. Sage quickly checked on the dough before darting outside, wanting to know where the girl had gone. "Hello? I know you're out here!" 

[akintheboarman]

Through the Forest || Akin & Sage

[akintheboarman]

Akin had to admit, he was amused. There she was, hoping not to find any of the godly creatures of Braemer, yet she stood in front of one presently. The woman had no idea what he was. There was a part of him that wanted to tell her just to see the look on her face, but he knew better.

Of course, she focused on the mermaids - mermaids were dangerous to humans, sure, but only if you got too close to the water. Sometimes they’d come onto land for the purpose of seducing a human, but the immense pain it caused them made it a rare occurrence. No, the creatures she should fear were the boarmen like himself or the skinwalkers. Easily hid among her people and capable of striking at any time - they should be the ones most feared amongst the villagers, especially with the spread of heresy.

"Hunting," Akin replied airily, motioning to the woods around them. "I am hunting. Perhaps my prey has actually found me this time?"

His fingers curled over the top of his hatchet as a smirk began to play on his lips. He meant the human girl no harm, but he did enjoy watching her squirm. “So… what is it that you’re offering these creatures of yours? Flowers? What would any of them do with flowers?”

[sage-fowler]

The smug look on his face only makes her curious, leading her to wonder what prompts such a smirk. Surely it must have something to do with what she said but there is no fault in her words, no logic to be twisted for his own amusement. A subtle glance at her own simple gown reveals no flaws or secret stitching coming undone, nothing for him to find so entirely amusing as to create such a look. Her arm goes to cross over her body, gently grasping the handle of the basket to keep it close to her side. Even though he seems to mean her no harm, she does not entirely trust him and that smile of his. 

His words cause a choked gasp to leave her lips and she quickly takes a step backward, eyes going wide. Did he surely intend to kill her? He was nearly twice her size, no doubt able to harm her simply by lifting her up and dropping her, yet she could not discern his intentions through the gleam in his eyes. Why had she left her dagger at home? It was a small thing, mostly used for cutting bread, but it would have given her some protection. How foolish she was, to think such a place would be safe. 

"If you kill me, you won't get to find out. I'll toss it in the river and you won't get it." 

[akintheboarman]

Through the Forest || Akin & Sage

[akintheboarman]

Ah, creatures. Akin supposed that the woman specifically meant the fauns, perhaps the mermaids. Those tended to be the most famed among the humans because of their noticeable attributes. Boarmen were large with tattoos covering their gray hued skin, but they looked the same as humans. Skinwalkers were human for the most part - they were blessed by the goddess Asena and given a wolf pelt, but they came into the world as human and could blend in with the humans easily if they cared to.

But beautiful scales of a mermaid’s tail and the fanciful antlers that adorned the fauns’ heads caught the humans’ eyes, making them the subject of most humans’ fantasies. Akin thought it was a pity that the humans were drawn to aesthetics more than power. 

"To the creatures? And what creatures do you hope to find, girl?" Akin asked, his eyes twinkling in mischief. If she thought he was a creature himself, she gave no indication. The village was small and the residents few, so he assumed she thought he was an outsider. Perhaps a human from another village in the Isles, wandering around the forests.

"It’s not really your business, is it?" Akin’s answer was less snipped than the one the woman had originally given him. He was testing her on purpose, hoping to make her flustered and uncomfortable for his own amusement. It’d been a long time since he felt like playing such games.

[sage-fowler]

"I didn't hope to find any, if I'm lucky. I only wish for them to leave me alone if they're not very friendly, but I haven't really seen any." In truth, she only remembered little of the fauns and mermaids and didn't know how to find skinwalkers- those remained a myth to even the bravest of men. She'd be lucky if she so much as saw anything that wasn't human, though it would be easier than way. "Anything but the mermaids. Though I'm sure they're sweet sometimes, I'd rather not risk drowning today." She looks a bit sheepish at that, wishing there was a better way to phrase it. 

His words make her pause and she stares at him, feeling her cheeks turn red. "I..oh. I suppose I deserved that." Sage winces, trying to summon what courage she has, and draws herself up to appear as tall as she can and as in control as possible. "Well now you have to tell me. I was kind enough to give you information, I'd like to return the favor." 

[akintheboarman]

Through the Forest || Akin & Sage

[sage-fowler]

While festivities were only beginning back at the village, Sage was busy planning a small celebration of her own. A basket remained looped around her arm, heavy with flowers already, yet they only hid the delicious bread loaves she had hidden beneath the heavy load. They were dribbled with sugar and small bits of honey pooled inside for a delicious surprise, the smell of it inviting enough that she almost gave up and took one for herself. Yet she knew she could not be selfish when they were destined for a more divine purpose than that, lest she be punished by the gods for her greed. No, the treats hidden beneath remained as a special offering to the creatures that lived deep in the forests, in hopes of earning their gratitude. 

Sage had never seen them for herself, having only glimpsed mermaids once in her entire life, but she had heard stories of plenty of others roaming the woods as well. Though they remained hidden and unseen, every year they were heard through song and dance as the creatures performed their own festivals to their gods. Many villagers had heard the wild animals calling to one another and laughter echoing in the woods but few were brave enough to seek out the source themselves, fearing of punishment rather than acceptance. Tensions were already strained enough, what with the village elders seeking permission to break from the gods. She hoped, rather foolishly she knew, that even such a small gift might be enough to ease their anger. 

Even as she convinced herself to keep it for the others, she could not help but look at her basket with longing. Her stomach grumbled and the sweet scent of honey lingered with the pollen that hung heavy on the ground and in her arms. The flowers were for herself, a range of them to be crafted into garlands, but even they were sickly sweet and turned her head in circles. Sage knew she needed to clear her head and she could already hear a small creek ahead, a quick place for her to stop and splash some cold water on her face.

Yet every thought of that halted at the sight of the large man crouched beside it with a hatchet pulled from his belt, the beginnings of a snarl on his lips. Had she any breath in her lungs, she would scream at the sudden sight. Her mouth opened and closed only for her to blurt out, “I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here!”

[akintheboarman]

Akin’s eyes settled on the woman in front of him as he took the sight of her in. She looked afraid, or, at the very least, very shocked to have found him in the woods. But what had she thought she would find out in the forest? If she hadn’t found him, he had little doubt she certainly would’ve found a hungry bear interested in the basket around her arm.

The last of the tension in his body left as his shoulder finally relaxed. His expression softened into a small smirk, as he looked again at the basket. “What is it that brings you so far out of your village then? Were you expecting to find a bear? No - perhaps a lover then?”

Akin didn’t give the woman a chance to respond before turning his back to her, crouching beside the stream as he resumed splashing water on his face. He knew he should leave. There was no law against humans seeing boarmen - in fact, Akin thought they should make themselves more visible, remind the humans what befell them if they continued to turn their backs on the gods. But the other creatures kept to themselves and the boarmen had followed suit, resorting to disguise on the occasions that they did mingle with humans.

"You should be careful walking alone," Akin continued as he rose from the side of the stream. "There’s plenty of dangerous things in the forest for a girl with no escort." Although, truthfully, he felt the woods were too dangerous even for a human male by himself. Varahk had blessed humans with some strength, but certainly not enough to take care of themselves with.

[sage-fowler]

She balks at his suggestion of her with a lover, eyes going wide and a soft noise leaving her lips. Was she pretty enough to draw a man into the woods? Perhaps if he was drunk and thought her another woman but she did not believe such a man would come willingly to her. The festival was such a time to catch a man and keep him close to her heart but even then she knows she will be eclipsed by the prettier girls that did not shy away from shedding their modest gowns. Even now, the sight of such a man half-naked in front of her is almost as far as she's seen a man on her own and the sight is still enough to make her blush. "It's not really your business, is it?" Her words are clipped but not unkind, her embarrassment making her fumble for words.

Yet she realizes just how rude he must think her for stumbling upon him and making a rude comment so she forces herself to relax and places a shy smile on her lips. "Apologies, that did not come out the way I had hoped. No, there is no lover. I only..wished to give a gift to the creatures out here. For their own celebration." An unnecessary explanation but she did interrupt him in a time of privacy and so it's only right that she repays him in information. 

With his back to her, she's able to see much more of his skin displayed than she had thought and so she allows herself to look. The muscles on his arms are nearly as large as her thighs and they speak of impressive strength, a barely contained savagery seeming to hum beneath his skin. Had she not seen the smile upon his face earlier, she might have the good sense to be frightened.  His lack of dress only leaves his skin bared to the elements and revealing small black carvings traveling across the expanse of his back. His words snap her out of her unabashed staring and she clears her throat, willing her cheeks to refrain from growing pink. "I know. But I'm hoping the creatures will be too drunk to wander close and the animals will hide if I make enough noise. Only the prettiest flowers grow out here and I need them for my garlands." 

He turns to her, a massive hulk of flesh and muscle, nearly a foot taller than her which only makes her have to tilt her head back a bit to look him in the eye. "What are you doing out here?" 

[vickys]

[akintheboarman]

Through the Forest || Open

Akin knelt by the small stream of water trickling through the woods. Cupping his hands into it, he splashed the cool water across his face a few times before taking a drink. The snows had melted and the the trees were beginning to turn green again, a sign that Spring had finally arrived.

For Akin, Spring didn’t mean much at all besides better hunting. The fauns lived for the Spring and he knew that the Black Forest and village would soon be erupting in the yearly festivals to mark the coming season. There was a time when Akin would’ve been more excited, when he would’ve stolen a linen shirt from the clothing line of a villager and wore it to cover his tattoos, blend in, and participate in all of the displays.

But this year, Akin planned to trek to the mountains with his clan. He had no real plan, no real reason why he wanted to skip the festivities. He would be missing out on a spectacular feast, fresh-brewed ale, and tits - so many beautiful tits of females whose inhibitions had been loosened by the arrival of the new season. Despite all of the promises the coming season held, Akin still wanted no part of it.

He appreciated the small amount of time he had away from his clan. He felt a great deal of loyalty to both of his clansmen, but neither of them were Rhor. And despite being surrounded by his clan, Akin never felt more alone than when he led the two other boarmen through the countryside of Braemar.

While contemplating his thoughts, Akin remained crouched, his hand absently ducking in and out of the water as he stared ahead. But when he heard the crunch of the leaves behind him, he quickly whirled around, wielding his hatchet. 

"Don’t you know not to sneak up on others?" Akin asked pointedly at the intruder, frown on his lips as he put his hatchet back into his belt loop.

[sage-fowler]

While festivities were only beginning back at the village, Sage was busy planning a small celebration of her own. A basket remained looped around her arm, heavy with flowers already, yet they only hid the delicious bread loaves she had hidden beneath the heavy load. They were dribbled with sugar and small bits of honey pooled inside for a delicious surprise, the smell of it inviting enough that she almost gave up and took one for herself. Yet she knew she could not be selfish when they were destined for a more divine purpose than that, lest she be punished by the gods for her greed. No, the treats hidden beneath remained as a special offering to the creatures that lived deep in the forests, in hopes of earning their gratitude. 

Sage had never seen them for herself, having only glimpsed mermaids once in her entire life, but she had heard stories of plenty of others roaming the woods as well. Though they remained hidden and unseen, every year they were heard through song and dance as the creatures performed their own festivals to their gods. Many villagers had heard the wild animals calling to one another and laughter echoing in the woods but few were brave enough to seek out the source themselves, fearing of punishment rather than acceptance. Tensions were already strained enough, what with the village elders seeking permission to break from the gods. She hoped, rather foolishly she knew, that even such a small gift might be enough to ease their anger. 

Even as she convinced herself to keep it for the others, she could not help but look at her basket with longing. Her stomach grumbled and the sweet scent of honey lingered with the pollen that hung heavy on the ground and in her arms. The flowers were for herself, a range of them to be crafted into garlands, but even they were sickly sweet and turned her head in circles. Sage knew she needed to clear her head and she could already hear a small creek ahead, a quick place for her to stop and splash some cold water on her face.

Yet every thought of that halted at the sight of the large man crouched beside it with a hatchet pulled from his belt, the beginnings of a snarl on his lips. Had she any breath in her lungs, she would scream at the sudden sight. Her mouth opened and closed only for her to blurt out, "I wasn't expecting anyone to be here!"

[sage-fowler]

Dusted Sunlight | Sage & Henry

[founding-rpg-deactivated2014110]

  When was the last time someone had touched him? In general, let alone in such a casual, companionable manner? He flinches, unable to help such a reaction, and his expression turns apologetic as he pulls his hand away, not meeting her eye once more. Henry wants to insist that she take it but he knew since coming in here that she probably wouldn’t accept it and he’s probably only upset her more by his reaction to her touch. However, he’s stubborn enough not to take the pouch back.

"Umm I’m not a skilled baker Miss. Fowler," Henry says after a pause, glancing briefly up at her. "My governess and the maids would always kick me out whenever they were cooking." It’s the most he’s mentioned of his home since coming here but he finds himself missing his governess at this moment. She’s been dead many years now, but she was the only mother like figure he’d ever known. In a way he’s glad she’s dead; that means she’d never had to see what he did, she never had to see him like this. "I burned everything I attempted or otherwise ruined it." He tries to put humor into it but falls rather flat once it occurs to him just how true that is.

Nevertheless he came here to thank her for the bread and since her payment was baking with her, Henry is determined to see it through. So, after a rather significant pause, he proceeds. “But if that’s what you want then I’ll help however I can.” His grace in the forge did not extend toward the kitchen however Henry is nothing if not a hardworking, to the point of bullheadedness, worker. 

[sage-fowler]

A slight frown replaces the smile on her face, a flash of hurt going through her eyes. Were her hands sweaty? Was her kindness going unwanted and unreturned? Sage might understand if he wished not to be touched and told her so but he has done no such thing and left her only unanswered questions and confusion. His eyes averted from hers, the answers hidden in their murky depths, yet she is not brave enough to look further. If only he would turn his head and explain, perhaps the hurt might go away and she would not feel the flash of pity. The only explanation she can think of is a childhood of no affection or a fear of touch.

But no, that cannot be, for he says he had a governess. The term is unfamiliar, as few in the town can be rich with how modest they all are, but she understands with a quick explanation. He had maids? The people in their village worked as maids, never owning them. "Maids? So you were a rich boy then, before you came here?" Surprising, but not overly shocking, judging by how much his pouch jingles. She's pleased when he agrees to help with baking but she can see his reluctance and is quick to reassure him that he's not obligated. "Oh, Henry, you don't have to if you don't want to. I was only making a jest- if you really would like to I could teach you but you are not needing to return my kindness in any way." 

[sage-fowler]

[[more]] So sorry guys but my computer is being taken up for two days for midterms. I owe Two replies and ill get to them when I've got it back!

[sage-fowler]

Dusted Sunlight | Sage & Henry

[founding-rpg-deactivated2014110]

Sage’s immediate and enthusiastic response took Henry by surprise and his heart leap at the sudden volume change. He stared at her, rather dumbly, as she moved over to the counter, smiling all the while. “Umm,” he started before shaking his head. “I just wanted to thank you. Again. For the bread.” His voice came rather staccato sounding and he winced. He’s never been good at conversation but especially not anything like this that could potentially turn offensive or awkward. Hesitating only slightly, he placed the small, deerskin bag of coins on the counter in front of her.

"That should be enough," he continued after a pause. "…Right?" He suddenly realized that he didn’t actually know what the price of bread was here. He assumed that it was the same as it was in Wenham. Surely the price of bread didn’t fluctuate that much between towns? Though it wouldn’t surprise him if Braemer was cheaper….Even if it was, he decided, Sage deserved a little extra for being kind and delivering it herself. 

Realizing that he should have explained and then given her the money, Henry quickly backtracked, words getting jumbled together. “I just…I mean it was very kind of you but I—it doesn’t feel right for me to accept all that you’ve given without paying in some way.” Again he paused, thinking it was rather ridiculous how he, as someone who’s killed his father (even accidentally, patricide was still patricide), was saying what was right and what was wrong based off of something like gut instinct.

He shuffled his weight, unable to truly meet her eye, and reached forward to give the coin bag a little nudge toward her.

[sage-fowler]

He seemed a bit dumbfounded, likely struggling as he sometimes did, but she waited patiently with an expectant look on her face. What she did not expect was a small pouch of coins to clink together as he sets it in front of her, the size seeming a bit hefty. Was he expecting to pay for a dozen batches of pastries? No doubt it was of good metals too as it just likely seemed that he oozed coins from his pockets, but still she could not take coin for kindness. Though she can't help but wonder whether he makes his own coins, in that little forge of his. Could he do that? Make coins? He'd have to pay for the silver of course or mine it himself and then smelt it but would he fetch the same price of coins as he did when he bought them? Oh, that makes her head hurt. 

Henry's pouch seems like a sad little thing, some slumped creature hunched over her counter, and it seems almost as though he's trying to gently shove the whole thing into her hands. The image almost makes her want to laugh but Sage can only imagine the poor look on his face if she were to do so without an explanation for said laugh, not wanting to risk the wounding of his pride. Still, a soft pat onto the pouch reveals more coins inside than she had originally thought and a look inside reveals copper, far more than she has seen in one place.

"Er...Henry? Please do not take this the wrong way, but I cannot accept your money." She gives him a kind smile to try to ease her words, reaching out to pat his hand the way she did his pouch. "I did so out of kindness and to welcome you to our village, not for money. If you truly wished to return my kindness in some form, you may do so by gifting me your company. Or perhaps some help baking? I've got some new pastries I've been wanting to make yet I'm not sure how I'll be able to finish it all..." The offer is sincere and yet also with her own motives in place- perhaps the people will accept him more to know the pastries they eat shall be made by his own hands or simply the thought of him trying to help shall ease their hearts. 

[sage-fowler]

Dusted Sunlight | Sage & Henry

[founding-rpg-deactivated2014110]

As it turned out, Braemer wasn’t an especially welcoming village, in fact it was quite the opposite. Majority of the populace gave him a wide berth—not that he minded, of course, he preferred it that way—and didn’t speak with him unless they needed a horseshoe or the like. Save for one person that is. 

Sage Fowler first visited him and gave him bread and welcomed him to Braemer soon after he settled in. He accepted the food without much protest, as he figured it was a gift and he couldn’t (purposefully anyway) be rude to the one person who was actually being cordial with him. The second time she did this, however, he felt less comfortable accepting the bread without paying for it as well. Henry hadn’t mentioned it at the time, as he couldn’t decide if it was rude or not and whenever he’s indecisive he can’t speak, but now he’s made up his mind which is what’s bringing him to the bakery this early in the morning.

In reality, Henry wasn’t even entirely sure where the bakery even was. He mainly stuck to his place of residence and the smithy, barely taking note of the buildings in-between. He found it quickly enough—the sweet smell of baking bread being very distinctive—and hesitated and hovered as he debated whether or not to actually go inside. Surely he was doing the right thing here? Yet even if he was, he didn’t want to risk offending one of the few people that didn’t shrink away when he walked past (he deserved it, though the villagers didn’t know that) by suggesting that her generosity wasn’t appreciated or that she needed the money. 

Deciding that he was over thinking this far too much, Henry knocks at the door (was it even open this early in the morning?) before testing the door. Unlocked and therefore open. He walked inside slowly, glancing around, immediately relaxing at the smell of baked bread and the calm, warm atmosphere the bakery possessed. Quietly shutting the door behind him, Henry glanced around before spotting Sage in the back, molding dough. Again Henry hesitated; he disliked being interrupted while working, surely she would as well especially when she looked so content? Nevertheless he came here for a reason and Henry back away once he’s made up his mind.

Politely, he cleared his throat. “Uuhh…excuse me?” For a brief moment he panicked at not remembering her last name but then it comes to him and he stepped further into the bakery. “Miss Fowler?” 

[sage-fowler]

Her head jerked up at the sudden sound and she paused in her work to turn and see who called her name. She relaxed only slightly once she saw Henry standing there and gave him a broad smile, dusting her hands off upon her apron before going to the counter. "Henry! What are you doing here?" Henry was a peculiar thing- hovering upon the edges of the village and remaining even farther socially. He seemed to tense up at every shout or sudden calling of his name, shying away from unneeded conversation with anyone. Perhaps it was simply the way he was or maybe the way their community was so tightly knit that it excluded any outsiders.

They rarely had anyone new arriving in their village, especially not one wandering through the forests untouched, but she could hardly find it in herself to exclude him. He'd taken up residence as a blacksmith and it had been her duty to welcome him- so few did. The poor man must be lonely in his empty forge with only a fire to warm his hands and bed and she had felt a bit of pity for him, so far out there. She'd only been happy to deliver some extra goods as a welcoming present, especially given the opportunity to see him herself. Isobel had nearly been beside herself in the thought of flirting with a man that they had not grown up with and the added mystery of a stranger gave him a different appeal. 

Even so, she could not understand why he came to her bakery. Perhaps he wanted sweets? Extra bread? Either way, she was only happy to see him coming out of his forge to try and seek out someone. "Can I help you with anything?" 

[sage-fowler]

Dusted Sunlight | Open

Lights streamed in through the greenhouse windows, a light green color that set water droplets into sparkling beads of crystal. She paused, watching the way even the weakest ray of light lit up the room until it shone with bright points that sparkled in the otherwise empty room. Sage stood kneading the dough quickly while she still had time, watching the way the light slanted in from the windows. She’d come to retrieve her basket but one look at the crystal sunlight streaming in had halted any such thoughts and driven her with inspiration to create a pastry with soft sugar crystals in the center. So far the creation had turned into a crescent shape, doused in water to give it a flakier finish as soon as the dough rose. Soon enough, she fell into a practiced rhythm and relaxed, shaping and molding what she needed with ease. 

With her hands busy, her mind began to wander with each sharp inhale she took. Her teeth tugged on her lower lip, trying not to break the skin as her eyes glanced out through the window to view the sky beyond the confines of the bakery. The sun was shining for once, a sure blessing from the Gods, yet it gave off little warm through the thick walls of her home. The ovens kept it toasty enough on the winter nights but now they were all off save for one- a little fire burning steadily to get ready for the treats she now worked on. 

A small brown curl fell in her face, distracting her from her work, and she sighed before trying to blow it away with a sharp huff. It stubbornly remained. Sage pursed her lips and lifted a hand to wipe it away with the back of her hand, leaving a streak of white flour upon her forehead that she hardly felt or noticed. Bits of white dust flew into the air every time she slapped some flour onto a bit of dough, creating an almost hazy film that was only highlighted by the sun coming in. She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't hear the tiny knock upon the door nor the sound of it opening, focused intently upon curving the right shape.