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head in the c l o u d s [open]
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 15:19:16 GMT -6
The wind that blew across the land was a familiar one. It carried so many scents on it, some that traveled for days, and caused his nose to twitch. A hint of bread and fruit from a village lower on the mountain, flowers and leaves coming from the forest... the scents of spring that were not so easily mistaken for anything else. Given the opportunity, he would curl up on the roof of his home and breathe deeply all day, allowing his mind to wander rampant with the images produced by those smells. His work for the day wouldn't allow that just yet. One of the bridges connecting to a higher cliff ended up breaking due to a recent bout of extreme wind. If he managed to get it secure again before too much time passed, there would be a few hours left before the sun set so he could do things that appealed to him. Anything that kept him out of the house so he didn't have to hear another lecture about taking a wife and starting a family would be a good thing for him. If the damn old man wanted more children running around, then he needed to go knock someone else up. Don't push it off on the kids he already had. Amir folded his red outer shirt and white inner shirt up, leaving them on a rock. Shoes were rarely worn anyway so he didn't need to worry about putting them in an out of the way location. Satisfied, he brushed his loose red pants off to dispel some of the gathered dirt and set off to work. If he didn't finish too early, he would still arrive home around dinner time, and his sister's cooking was something he wouldn't want to miss. A mind that wandered could be a careless thing. The sound of a hammer hitting skin and a throbbing pain caused him to curse. "Shit..." Amir grimaced, raising his thumb to suck on it. Better focus closer on the task at hand. ★ open
★ mister moody needs to get some sunshine |
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Post by Ailonwy Sanjay on Sept 16, 2013 15:55:39 GMT -6
Maintaining an organized home was expected of any young maiden that did not have a mother to do so for her. Ailonwy did not really mind taking care of her father and brother as best as she could. It was something she had done for years, anyway! No, what she really would like to do was escape her home if only for a few hours. She knew her father meant well, but the mere mention of marriage made her nervous. It was not a new topic of conversation, especially as she matured and gained a few second glances whenever she walked past someone. Ailonwy would like to put off such a thing for as long as she was able, which was why she was using the excuse to bring her brother a snack to escape the house. Dinner could wait for a little while, right?
Ailonwy was only too happy to grab a few apples before going to hunt down her brother. A break from work would not hurt, especially if it was to replenish energy with food. The scent of the apples was enough to give her pause to grab one with her free hand and bite into it. Amber eyes sparked brightly at the crisp, sweet taste burst on her tongue. She did not think she would prefer any fruit above an apple. As she walked, she scented the air for Amir’s familiar scent. It seemed to be coming from an upward position, which she followed closely. He had come out to fix one of the bridges, right? After a few minutes, she heard a familiar voice curse after a rather painful sound of a hammer hitting a finger.
She hurried her pace before standing below where Amir was currently working. “Are you okay, big brother?” she called out. Her expression was one of concern as she watched Amir suck on his abused thumb. No doubt that was a painful wound, but all she had with her were the armful of apples she had brought. |  Tag: Amir~ Notes: Because I had to jump it.  ;; |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 19:58:07 GMT -6
The voice of his sister was one he would never mistake for anyone else. The age gap between them kept them might suggest that they were not incredibly close, but he didn't view it that way at all. She was someone to guard, protect, and care for - someone who had grown from a child into a beautiful young woman. If not for the blood bond between the two of them, his interest in her would sway in an entirely different direction, and there were some nights when he wondered if that blood bond would be enough to always keep it at sibling affection. She would have many people interested in her as she continued to grow. While beastmen were recognized as adults earlier than the humans and other races, it didn't mean they all rushed to move out of their home. At age twenty one he was perfectly satisfied living with his father and sister still. Their father took care of so many duties that he barely spent much time with them. Mm, but was that really what he did most of the time? Women and booze were interests of the man he called father, so it wouldn't surprise him to find him at a small tavern somewhere drinking the day away. "I'm fine besides being born with clumsy hands." Amir chuckled under his breath and wiped some sweat away from his face. He looked over at Ailonwy, taking a moment to look at what she brought with her. "Apples? You're an angel in disguise. Toss one over here." He raised his free hand and flexed his fingers a few times. Nothing chased away the troubles and woes of the day like a crisp juicy apple. Turning it down just wouldn't do at all. ★ ailonway sanjay
★ I never mind having a mjrn jump in <3~ |
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Post by Ailonwy Sanjay on Sept 16, 2013 20:42:20 GMT -6
Spending time with Amir was always a pleasant experience for her. Ailonwy certainly spent more time in his presence than she did with her father. Perhaps the reason was because she had clung to his comforting presence when their mother had died. All she could remember was her mother’s scent, but every notable experience of her childhood had been spent with her brother. Learning to hunt, exploring the familiar territory of their home, and almost anything else she could think of. It was her duty as a good sister to make sure she cared for Amir in return. Bringing apples was the least she could do on such a warm day, and keeping him company went without saying. At least he seemed to be alright, right?
Pink lips curled into a relieved smile at the reassurance. Nothing more than a bruised thumb, then. A broken bone was never pleasant, and it always seemed to heal wrong when the bone was in the hand. Ailonwy wished she had also brought some water with her, since her brother was certainly sweating beneath the sun and from the labor. If he asked her to go fetch some water, then she was more than willing to do so. Hopefully the apples would be enough to cool him down and quench his thirst. She did frown somewhat when she finally noticed he had forgone even his white undershirt in the heat. What if he got sunburn?
“Hardly, Amir,” Ailonwy replied with a faint blush and smile. Her free hand grasped another apple before tossing it upward for him to catch. With that done, she carefully maneuvered herself to sit on the ground. Her tail curled around her form snugly as she took a bit of another apple herself. A pleased sigh escaped her lips before she glanced upward at her brother once more. “How far are you with the bridge?” | Tag: Amir~
Notes: If Ai wasn't related, I would have her jump him. I love Inuyasha so much. *~* -shot- |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 22:15:24 GMT -6
With the way Ailonwy threw the apple, it was easy to catch. Amir wasted no time in polishing it with his bare arm and raising it up to take a chunk out of it. The sweet juice hit his tongue and sent a pleasant jolt throughout his body, causing his tail and ears to twitch in unison. Everyone needed to have one fruit that got that sort of reaction. Fruit and vegetables, meat and grains - all a person needed in a meal could be found right from the land. Harvesting and hunting went hand in hand and those that made that their livelihood deserved a great deal of respect. Not everyone could reap the benefits of the seasonal wheel. "I just got started a bit ago. There won't be much to do." Despite his thumb still throbbing, he raised that hand out and pointed towards the broken bridge. "What got damaged the most was the rope connecting it. That's why it dropped out like it did. I'll secure some rope around me and climb down there to bring it up on this side. After that it is just bringing it back over to the other side, tying it tightly, hammering some things down, then testing the strength."Beastmen who lived in Volos were used to work like this. They were more adept at this sort of thing compared to the others that made the mountain village their home. With their superior physical prowess, senses, and stamina, it wasn't much work at all to take care of something like this. Amir cocked his head to the side a bit as a rueful smile spread across his mouth. He closed his hand into a fist and reached over, knocking his younger sibling on the forehead. "You're growing more beautiful every time the sun touches you. Should I be worried about you running off soon with a wayward prince?"★ ailonway sanjay
★ he is definitely a hottie in his fan art +w+ |
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Post by Ailonwy Sanjay on Sept 16, 2013 22:50:37 GMT -6
Ailonwy bit back a giggle when she noticed her brother’s ears and tail twitch the moment he took a bite of his own apple. The fruit were certainly ripe and delicious this spring season. She made a mental note to use the rest to make a refreshing pitcher of apple juice when they got back home. It would be a welcome way to cool down after Amir finished with the bridge. She would offer to help him, but she had little idea on how such a thing would be done. No, she was much better at hunting and preparing food than manual labor like her father and brother did. If she was requested to learn it, then she would do so. Ailonwy was more than happy to keep him company while he finished his work for the day, though.
Her amber eyes followed her brother’s hand as he pointed out the bridge. The broken rope was the cause for it’s fall, which was a relief. It would be bad if the wood had been rotted through, which meant taking the time to carve out new planks and sanding them down into the correct size and shape. “At least it should not be too much to do, right? Just be careful when climbing,” she replied with a light smile. Hopefully her brother’s mind would not wander again, because a fall was worse than a bruised thumb. Her attention turned back to her apple as she took another bite. Oh, yes, this was definitely her favorite snack!
A bemused expression crossed her features as Amir knocked his fist against her forehead playfully. Ailonwy glanced up at him with a slight pout on her lips at the gesture. Her cheeks flushed a vibrant pink at the compliment and the teasing remark. “N-no! Of course not! And I am hardly as beautiful as you say,” she murmured. Of course her brother would say such kind things to her. Ailonwy certainly did not think herself unattractive, but she preferred not drawing too much attention to herself if it could be helped. | Tag: Amir~
Notes: He totally is. *~* |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2013 11:30:35 GMT -6
"Feh. Women rarely know the extent of their own beauty. It amazes me how harshly they judge themselves. When a man finds a woman that he cares for, she is likely to become the most beautiful woman in the world to him. Emotional attraction plays a large part in such things, but that does not blind me to the fact that others find you growing more beautiful with the passing of the seasons. The day will come soon when someone attempts to approach you to be their mate and that hardly settles well with me." A grumpy edge laced Amir's tone. Beastmen lived short lives compared to many other races in the world, but that did not mean their lives were any less important or less lived. It was as it always had been, mostly due to the lifespan of their brethren that they took after. Maturing earlier, engaging in life, becoming teachers of the new, leading the way to the future... it was a lot of responsibility and something he felt glad to have placed on his shoulders. That didn't mean he wanted it on her shoulders. "There was an incident the other day." Amir's golden eyes darkened some. "Maureen, daughter of Jared and Priscilla, younger sister of Angelique, went down to the ocean with her father in order to gather some things. She got too close to the water and one of those water demons attacked. She's alive, but her condition is critical and the next few days will reveal whether she walks upon the land or returns to it for rest." He shook his head a bit, hammering away as he continued. "Attacks are getting more frequent for those of us who try to set foot even on the beach itself. Someone needs to teach those water demons a lesson."It didn't take a genius to figure out where he was going with this trail of thoughts. He smirked, winding some rope up to secure it around his waist. "A few of the older men are planning to go down to the coast soon. I plan on joining them and seeing what happens. When this goes down, I will be counting on you to keep it a secret from father."★ ailonway sanjay
★ this plan totally won't end terribly OTL |
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Post by Ailonwy Sanjay on Sept 17, 2013 12:50:31 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2013 14:43:43 GMT -6
To say his sister's reaction surprised him would be a lie, but he didn't expect her to wrap herself close to him in an effort to dissuade him. Amir blinked a few times down at the eyes that reflected his own. Her words did not go out in one ear and out the other. He considered them, attempting to find his own in a way to bring her some peace. Causing her unnecessary stress did no favors for anyone. "Father won't find out. I'll be careful and come back unharmed." His tone lowered into what he hoped would be a reassuring hush. One hand ran through the hair at the top of Ailonwy's head in order to try to bring some comfort to her. The gesture was old and familiar, one he did many times in the past. He would continue doing it as long as it took without growing tired of it. "If no one teaches the water demon's how to play nicely, innocent people will suffer because of it. Having more incidents like our mother is not what we need."He remembered that day so clearly. Ailonwy was so, so very young, most likely without memories of their mother besides old lullabies and scents. His own memories were clearly. While he didn't witness what happened, he knew the story so well. The now deceased woman went down to the beach in order to gather some things like she did on a weekly basis. A merman was there too. When other beastmen arrived, a fight broke out. She ended up in the water and got caught on something before she surfaced. The beastmen were attacking the merman, so they didn't see what happened to her... not until it was too late. That merman killed her. If he hadn't been there, she would still be alive. Those water demons were the worst creatures to ever exist. Resisting the urge to grit his teeth, Amir raised his other hand and let it circle his sister's shoulders. "We'll discuss brighter things for now. Have you made any new friends lately? More people are coming to Volos. It would be good for you to have more females to associate with."★ ailonway sanjay
★ distraction technique, go! |
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Post by Ailonwy Sanjay on Sept 17, 2013 15:21:36 GMT -6
Why did men have to be so reckless? Ailonwy felt quite angry that one of the merfolk had attacked that young girl, but she was not about throw herself into senseless violence to resolve it. Would it really solve anything in the end, if one of the men or her own brother came back injured or worse? She shivered just a little at the thought. There would be no forgiving herself if allowed him to go without an attempt at persuading him otherwise. Their father would be so angry if he found out, but she already knew she would not say a word. Ailonwy knew that she should tell him the moment they got home. How could she, though? Betraying her brother’s trust was something she could hardly ever bring herself even when she should.
The words were somewhat reassuring, but she did not believe them. Not truly. Ailonwy had little doubt that he would strive to be careful. Anger had a funny way of displacing logic, though. Amir was one of the most temperamental people she knew, which did not always lead to a good outcome. There was little use in her trying to dissuade him. He would do what he felt was best, whether she agreed or not. Her eyes closed halfway when he ran his hand through her hair gently. It was a gesture that always seemed to ease away the tension she carried in her heart. Ailonwy flinched a little when he mentioned their mother. The years had done little to wash away the tragedy of the incident. She knew it was worse for Amir, since he had many more memories of their mother than she did.
“I know,” she admitted in a small voice. Recalling the story of what had happen was not something she wished to do, either. Ailonwy was content to snuggle against her brother as he brought his other arm to wrap around her shoulders. The topic change was not a surprise, and it was somewhat welcome. No, she had not made any new friends of the newcomers. She acted polite and kind as she always did, though. “I’m content with Jamie as my closest friend. I prefer my own company, anyway.” | Tag: Amir~
Notes: Very good distraction technique~ |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2013 17:42:35 GMT -6
Ah, Jamie. Jamie, Jamie, Jamie... that was another boat all together. Barely holding in a snort, Amir found himself smirking in amusement. "Who needs anyone else when you have Jamie? She's a brainless blonde bimbo bombshell all wrapped into one and will either lead you to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or off the cliff. Whichever one happens, the outcome is bound to be interesting as long as you've got a bag to carry the pieces in." Gold pieces or body pieces, didn't really matter which. Now, maybe that wasn't fair at all. He had known Jamie for a long time. Hard no to when she had the title of 'closest friend' for his younger sister. Did it mean he always wanted to hang around the two of them when they were doing girly things? No, because those were girly things and he preferred to do guy things. It'd be a lot easier to do such things if he had someone in Volos that he could tolerate as a friend that wasn't a female. All of the other guys around his age that he associated with on a regular basis needed to be punched in the face. Okay, so maybe that had something to do with him not getting along with most guys in general. Details, details. "Hold this rope for me. It's secured around the post I hammered, but there isn't anything wrong with additional support." With Ailonwy there to keep him company, Amir finished the task of repairing the bridge just as the sun started to set. He wiped sweat from his brow and whistled lowly. "Got done later than I wanted. Tell you what; lets go home and start getting dinner ready. I'll set the table and get the fireplace lit. We can play some cards by the fire tonight. I picked up a special drink in town the other day that we can have with it."★ ailonway sanjay
★ I have a feeling ailonwy and jamie are going to double team him in terrible ways eventually |
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Post by Ailonwy Sanjay on Sept 17, 2013 18:10:00 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2013 20:14:52 GMT -6
Home is where the heart is. A man's house is his castle. Those two quotes his father often spoke reflected in their home. Due to Ailonway being the only female in their household, such things like design and cleaning fell onto her naturally, as did food preparation. Whoever said a woman didn't know how to hunt clearly failed to pay attention to their animal brethren. Some of the best hunters he knew were women. That is why it didn't surprise him to be greeted by all too familiar scents of herbs and spices, along with what he could only guess was lemon. Chicken and lemon, mmm... yes, tonight's meal would be a fine one. The grape alcohol he purchased in town would go well with it. It wasn't unnecessarily heavy and was sweeter than he usually drank. Tonight wouldn't be a night to drink to get drunk, so that wasn't such a bad thing to begin with. As his sister took care of the cooking and final food preparations, he set about making sure the table got done in advance. Dishes, silverware, glasses, napkins, candles, flowers - a place for everything and everything in its place. "Do you ever wonder what life would be like if we lived in Asgard?" The melting pot of Ilusia baffled him in many ways. Those that lived there were interesting folk, true, but they were too content with the ocean being at their back door. The water demons could invade at any time. "Meridell too. I know only a few faeries and elves... they've all been interesting, colorful folk with stories to tell. I'm not jealous exactly, I just wonder what it would be like, especially since I never plan on leaving Volos."★ ailonway sanjay
★ he does not need to be scarred for life ;w; rinoa get your butt in gear, my dear |
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Post by Ailonwy Sanjay on Sept 17, 2013 20:35:18 GMT -6
Ailonwy would make sure to wash up after dinner, since she was feeling just a little dirty for helping her brother with the bridge. Well, she had not been that much help, but she was a young maiden that enjoyed taking warm baths to get clean. The only cumbersome part of bathing was washing her waist length hair. A thought for another time, since her brother had finished setting the table. The chicken was placed on the table gently before she went over to the wash basin to rinse her hands off. She wondered if this was what her life would be like if she ever took a mate. Cooking and cleaning had always been a constant in her life. Perhaps her life would not change that much if she did settle down. That would not be for a long, long while, though.
Drying her hands off, she peered over at Amir with a curious expression. What would it be like to live is Asgard? Ailonwy could only imagine, since she had never left the safe and familiar territory of her home. No doubt it was much different than Volus. “I don’t know. Perhaps exciting, but I don’t want excitement,” she answered. The city had to be full of far too many dizzying scents and sounds that would give her a headache. She took a seat at the table and picked up a knife and fork to cut a piece of the chicken breast. Leaving her home could be a new experience, but not one she wanted right now.
Meridell was another matter, though. Ailonwy could not deny that she would like to visit the Whispering Woods and see what was there. “I would like to see the forest and hunt along the borders. I wonder if Meridell is completely up in the trees as they say. It seems like such a peaceful existence.” The chicken tasted quite lovely on her tongue and she resisted the urge to sigh happily. Cooking could sometimes be a hassle, but the taste of the dish always made the effort worth it. | Tag: Amir~
Notes: Yes, he does. >3> |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2013 12:01:20 GMT -6
Reaching Meridell from Volos would take five full days without being on a horse or in a carriage. The village of the faeries and elves wasn't the only place in the forest to find people, true, but it was the most known location. He didn't know enough about the children of the forest to know how much they appreciated people hunting on their hand. Did they believe that life needed to be maintained and balanced or that every life was sacred? His own beliefs fell in the middle of those two things. Hunting was a necessary part of life, but a life taken needed to be properly acknowledged, respected, and the soul needed to be sent off with a prayer. "When the cherry blossoms begin to float down from the trees, we'll make a trip to the forest." While Meridell might be a long trip, the Whispering Woods themselves were massive. A section near Volos could be reached within just a few hours if a person took the right paths. Knowing their father, letting Ailonwy go that far away without an escort wouldn't be allowed. If he went along as well there would be no problem. Jamie might enjoy the excursion as well. The two of them could have fun exploring the forest while he tended to the campsite. Making it an overnight trip would save them all the trouble of returning in the darkness. Amir took a few bites of the chicken, allowing his eyes to close so he could savor the flavor, and washed it down with a long drink of the alcohol. "There are a lot of things we could gather while down there besides meat. Herbs and wood are two things we will never have too much of. There is plenty of coal to keep the fire running... I prefer the scent of burning wood to it any day."★ ailonway sanjay
★ camping trip, camping trip~! |
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