(Torment meme) What is the biggest regret you have?
“I, um… definitely having to do with, um… n-not being able to save my mom. I didn’t know, I mean, didn’t really have anything to know about healing at the time, wh-whether my hands or with my aether. I keep t-telling myself I could’ve saved her, th-that she’d still be alive…”
Nes looks up forlornly, lifting one sleeve to wipe at his nose. “I dunno. I tell myself I’d be able to help her if I kn-knew how to heal better. But… I don’t know if I’d ev-ev-ever be able to know that well. I d-don’t know if I could’ve stopped it…”
“There’s, um, one special lamp in our company’s house. In the infirmary. It looks like a tonberry, with a lantern and knife. It kinda made me a little nervous at first, but I’ve, um, always been a big fan of learning more about Nym and its folk. Looking at it now is like seeing an old friend. Even if I’ve only known that friend for a few moons.”
The alley spun above him as his chest tightened, the pale lavender ears twitching back and forth when they caught that high-pitched reedy whistle that only too late he realized was his breath. There wasn’t any thought as he felt himself launched forward against the older boy, that breathy whistle of breathing too fast quickly turning into a guttural snarl. His fangs glimmered in the alley’s dim light, pale against his lips as he released the pent-up growl.He didn’t remember how long the entire ordeal had taken by the time it was over. It felt like bells when it probably was only seconds. Time lost all meaning when that far taken, given over to his anger. All he knew were the scrapes on his knees and elbows, the sore cheekbone under his left eye, his right ear hurt to move when it strained down to hear the older boy’s pathetic whimpering as he flopped on his side against the rough flagstones.
Moments passed before he felt the rough hands on his shoulder from behind before he was spun around to meet their owner. Almost feeling groggy when he looked up to the dark chisled face, the Ala Mhigan staring down at him. “What do you think you’re doing? Seven hells, Nesune. That boy was twice your size and thrice your weight. You fixing to see all the Twelve the next time you fight like that?”
"T-t-tariq…"
The rough man shook his head, his grip on the Miqo’te lessening slightly. “Don’t start. Now.” The expression on the dark-skinned face softened slightly, going from chiselled granite to polished. “Come on. I’ll get you back to your spot.”
Nesune felt the Ala Mhigan lead him out of the dark alley, into the half-shade of Pearl Lane. He could feel the stares of those crouched against the sandstone buildings seeking shelter from the afternoon sun or a sudden rainstorm even if they seemed they weren’t watching. Most of them may be friends of his mother, but he still felt their stares even if he couldn’t see them. He drifted almost in a daze as Tariq lead him back to the familiar spot across from the bricked walkway leading to Sapphire Avenue. The hum and bustle of the market echoed off the bricks as he settled into his blanket, staring up wordlessly at the Ala Mhigan.
"Okay. Spill."
The Miqo’te sat quiet for what seemed like bells, his hands running over the spiked fur of his tail to soothe it back. His gaze flicked everywhere but eventually returned to the dark Ala Mhigan. “He c-c-called her a… a h…”
Tariq crouched down in front of the boy, the rough tunic rustling as he shifted. “Go on.”
Nesune’s eyes closed tightly while his hands clenched the tip of his tail, the fur against his hands still spiked. “…a wh-wh-whore.”
"And?"
The Miqo’te flinched back as if struck, his eyes flicking open and narrowed angrily up at Tariq. “And? He called her a wh-whore! My mother’s not… s-sh-she’s not a… a wh-wh…”
The dark-skinned hand reached down for Nesune’s, squeezing it tightly. “Nesune… Ayeesa is beautiful, and gifted and makes her own choices. She’s one of the best dancers I’ve ever seen, and you take after her a lot. But sometimes those wine-sucking nobles don’t want a mere dancer.” The thick fingers shifted against Nesune’s palm as the man paused in thought. “Ayeesa works hard to make enough to put food in her belly, and especially yours. How she gets it or what she does between the sheets for her pleasures is her own business. She doesn’t care what others think or say, she does what she needs to.”
Nesune’s gaze wandered down to the blanket while he listened, his ears left twitching from Tariq’s words. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the Ala Mhigan.
"No one is looking out for us down here, Nesune. The Syndicate and the Sultansworn don’t give a rat’s arse what happens away from the markets long as the peace is held. No one’s looking out for all us down here at the bottom, so we gotta look out for ourselves." Tariq let go of the Miqo’te’s hand to reach up for Nesune’s right ear, the thick fingers almost delicate as they brushed the bent tip, causing the boy to let out a quiet whimper. "We all look after each other. You go making enemies like that, you ain’t gonna live to regret it. Suppose now he start carrying a knife. Suppose he mouth off to you again and you fool rush him. Suppose he stick that knife between your ribs and send you off to Thal. You think Ayeesa wants to see her son out like that?"
Nesune looked blankly up at the Ala Mhigan before shaking his head. “N-no.”
"Damn right she doesn’t want that. Your mother looks after her honor in her own way, Nesune. Worry about your own first before you start worrying about hers." Tariq’s face thinned and almost seemed to brighten; the boy remembered it was the closest time the Ala Mhigan had come to ever actually smiling. "I’ll find some herbs for your scrapes. Stay there and we’ll get you cleaned up before Ayeesa gets back."
(In honor of Sexual Sunday, my muse will answer any sinful questions with 100% honesty.) What do you fantasize about that you wish would happen the most?
“Um, fantasize? I mean, um… I kinda want to be taken by… um, by another boy while others are watching. That… um, that… th-that’s been in my head for a while for some reason. I can’t really get it out…”
(For the next five questions my muse can not tell a lie.) Have you ever stolen from someone you really care about, and if so what was it and why?
“No, growing up on Pearl Lane we didn’t have a lot of anything to steal. There were a few gangs in the area looking out for all of us when the Brass Blades and the Flames couldn’t help, but they didn’t prey on the residents that much. Everyone was on the same footing and we just looked out for each other.”
Nes shifts on the chair, his gaze flashing downward to the floor as his ears tuck against his hair. “After mom died, I nicked a book that belonged to the Order and hoped to pawn it for a few gil. I was caught and I’m really lucky that the thaumaturge didn’t set me on fire. He took me under his wing and tutored me in things about aether. But, um, that wasn’t anyone really close when I took it…”
(fluster meme) "If I didn't have T'ahl, I would pursue you."
“I… um…” Nes sinks back against the couch, turning to watch the flames in the hearth. The fire’s auroral glow made it hard to see the color of his face properly, but it certainly matched the oranges and reds of the flames. “I… um… nooo, Rinh. You’d want someone better than me like T’ahl…”
