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The Heart of the Desert; Tide, Khareesh, hopefully fun too ^^
Topic Started: Aug 16 2016, 03:32 AM (564 Views)
Belial
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There was a rather large part of Khareesh that just wanted to break the silence. To point and shout about the squirrel in the hot air balloon made of toast.

Because that was a perfectly sensible thing to see in the skies of Teragaia, see.

It wasn't relevant.

Myth, for his part, merrily navigated the thermals and cross-breezes and made good time, and the forest was beginning to fade into rocky grassland below. They were ahead of schedule, well on their way to the desert.

There was a lot he couldn't work up the nerve to say, however. For all he was the twin with social skills (not perfect social skills, but at least personability and charm), Rashana was the one with spine. Courage. Guts. Abject fearlessness in the face of both danger and potential embarrassment.

So Khareesh stewed in his anxieties in silence, trying to appreciate the view.

Minutes dragged by as hours, though at some point they must have actually been flying for a few hours, because the sun had moved from early afternoon to early evening and sand was beginning to stretch out beneath Myth's sleek shadow.

"Not too much further," Khareesh finally said, just to break the quiet. And to feel maybe a little less useless. "Maybe another five, ten minutes until we reach the salt flats and the oasis just beyond."
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Tidesweep
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Even if Khareesh had pointed it out, Tide would have just made some noncommittal noise to let him know she at least acknowledged he said something. Right now though, she was a bit lost in her own world. Analyzing the feelings she had for Sev and, rightly or wrongly, comparing them to the feelings she had for Khareesh. Finding the feelings she had for Raferties or Keldos or Gwydion or Linah and once again comparing them to what she feels for Khareesh. Everyone had overlaps. Everyone had areas that didn't overlap at all. It didn't help sort out the mess in her mind any less. All that she came up with was that she loved them all. In varying ways and levels, but that was the one thing she could pinpoint on all. She loved them. She would give her life for any of them to make sure they were okay. Protect them. Make sure they were okay and happy.

After all that time thinking, this was the only real conclusion she had drawn.

At Khareesh's words, she jumped a little, having gotten used to the silence. Nodding, she decided to wait till they landed and they could actually talk face to face. Sure. Right now, it would be easier to say things. Say things and not have to worry about the reactions, but on some instinctual level, Tide knew that wasn't the right way to handle this. She respected Khareesh too much to take that way out. And there was a little thought that wiggled its way through the chaos in her mind. That maybe if she saw him face to face, she would actually have a clearer answers. One of those types of things were you don't know what you need till it hits you in the face.

Though thankfully, not literally in this case (we hope).

For now though, maybe something to past the time. "What is an oasis like in the desert?"
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Belial
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Grateful for a safe topic, Khareesh hummed contemplatively. "That depends on the oasis. The only thing they all have in common is that they have water. Some are connected to the mountain streams, around the edges of the deserts. Some are fed by underground springs. Some are essentially small seas. The Salt Eel's Flats... is actually two bodies of water, with the Salt Eel's tribal camp between them. There's a small saltwater sea along the salt flats proper, and then a spring-fed lake between the salt flats and the desert sands."

The distinction Khareesh made there verbally became clear in the next few minutes, as the ground beneath them turned a bleached bone-white.

Salt.

"Salt seas are strange. You'd think they'd be lifeless, but they're not, despite how thick the salt is here. Water's like gritty sludge, but it still has fish and plants. Fresh water is a bit more sensible, you've got shade plants and fruit plants to survive from, more species in the water to fish."

The glistening white beneath them suddenly opened up to a cloudy murk that sparkled in moving ridges. Small ripples, not even actual waves, opaque and opalescent with the sheer amount of salt it contained.

On the far horizon, because it wasn't that big of a sea, the camp looked like something built by ants. Of course, it appeared progressively larger the closer they got, revealing, with shortened distance, a series of semi-permanent tent structures and complex stone pillars that served...no immediately obvious architectural purpose. Except, actually, to string up the paper lanterns and streamers, because this was a festival!

The scent of grilled fish carried out even halfway over the heavily salted sea, and Khareesh remembered for a moment that he might be a little hungry.

The sun was beginning to set. The lanterns were lighting up. None of them were illuminated with fire, however, which Khareesh had a feeling Tide might appreciate.

He'd seen her burns. He surmised she might hate fire as much as the water genasi did. They preferred their strange magics and tended to react violently whenever fire came up as a topic of conversation.

Myth was making good time. They'd be there, soon.
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Tidesweep
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"You live in a place where you can eat houses or the rain is just as likely to be fruit punch as it is to be water. I somehow doubt that the illogical field would let a little thing like salt effect its decision on rather or not to let something live there." Or the grand universe for that matter, but of the three planets she had been on, one didn't have a high enough salinity to account for anything and the other two...Had illogical field so anything that should have not or should have work were thrown out the window. So to speak of course.

Another comment he made had her laughing though. "A small sea? Would not a lake be a more apt name or is it in that special category of too big for a lake and too small for a sea?" She was both curious and teasing him just a little bit as she looked off at the small tent area in the distance. The lanterns lit up and unconsciously, she pressed back into Khareesh. While not knowing that water genasi hated and feared fire as much as she did, she figured it was only natural to light the lanterns with it. Illogical field was great for alternative light sources, but she figured even it had its limits in somethings.

Khareesh might want to remind her that the word fire was gonna be off limits the rest of the night. Unless of course it slipped his mind as well and they both learned the hard way.

Looking at the scene, she felt her breath catch at the sight. The way the water moved. The way the lanterns lit up the darkening sky. The back drop the sunset made against the tents. She now wished Lenaarth had come along. She would have loved to have painted the picture before them. "It is beautiful Khareesh...And it technically has not even started yet."
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Belial
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"The lanterns are lit by magic," Khareesh narrated, guessing that Tide's reaction to seeing them lit might have something to do with something and figuring a little bit more travel monologue might help. "Water genasi hate fire. A lot. Actually it terrifies them."

This water smells very...solid.

"Salt Eel's Flats, Myth. There's a reason he's known as the Salt Eel."

The dragon snorted but began a slow descent, eventually trailing his feet in the water as he swooped down over the small sea. The drag was pretty incredible, slowing the blue dragon considerably, paws snagging in the nearly paste-thick water. Myth was forced to reconsider the theatrics, pulling up and flapping hard to regain flying speed.

Thankfully, for Myth, anyway, it wasn't much further before they reached the inhabited tract of land between the salt sea and the freshwater spring.

It was early evening, the sky beginning to fade lavender but for the orange-cast crest off to the southeast (where the sun normally set for Teragaia, unlike Earth's west). Myth backwinged to a graceful halt a small ways from the Salt Eel tribal encampment, touching down smooth and steady.

"Oh, some of the festival has begun," Khareesh murmured in Tide's ear, once they'd landed and the winds wouldn't necessitate speaking up anymore. "What you're smelling, at least, if you can smell over the sheer salt sea fog, is grilled fish, incenses, perfumes, wares for sale or barter. The evening bazaar is almost a living creature, it has live stages that will progress throughout the night. I think you might enjoy it. I hope you will."

He unclipped the safety straps so that he and Tide could dismount. Myth knelt, lowering his upper body to the ground and positioning his foreleg as a step for both of his passengers.
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Tidesweep
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"Oh..." Tide relaxed at that. The fact that she wouldn't find any fire here, calmed her down greatly. Though she did wonder how they ended up cooking things that needed fires or heat. Like cookies or cakes. She could barely use the oven half the time and that was often only when it was off and she could get away with leaving the food in there while it preheated. As well as leaving it in there while it cooled off. There was a good reason why her companions or Gwydion often had run of the kitchen.

And also why they were left in charge of most of the baking.

Taking an experimental sniff, she shook her head just a bit. She couldn't smell anything but the tang of salt and him.

Sliding down carefully, she reached the sands, moving just out of the way enough so that way she wouldn't be in the way as she admire the sunset. It was beautiful! It was like she could see for miles and miles. No real buildings to obstruct it. No trees. Just...Sand and water. It was like staring out into the sea at Haven and watching it go down. When it was in that direction anyway. The sun, it was joked, often never set in the same place twice.

Or was that a saying about lightning strikes?

Turning to face him, Tide grabbed his hand and made sure he couldn't turn away. "Khareesh..." Her voice was soft as she looked down at the sand, gathering up her words before actually speaking them. Taking a deep breath to help calm her and keep her from shooting off into lightning speed talk, she looked up and gave him a warm smile. "I do not know where this is going. By this, I mean our friendship. I am not sure what I want out of it, rather that is something more like romance or just being content to have your company on long days." She paused as she turned his palm over, tracing the lines lightly with her fingers as she broke eye contact for a second. She wanted to stop speaking now. Didn't want to cause him any sort of pain.

Shakespeare or Bronte she was not.

"I am sure about a few things though." She looked back up into his eyes, not straying this time. Her voice was soft, but strong as she continued to speak. "I do love you. That I know for sure as there are as many different types and ways to love as there are people on this planet. Possibly even more than we could even begin to think in a lifetime. So I have no problems saying I love you. I love you for being you. For inviting me here. For being my friend. For doing your best to try and make sure I was comfortable around you. Even if it cost you your own feelings in the process. And do not try to give that bull about it not doing so or nothing was paid or hidden or what not. I do not know emotions well. I do not pick up on social cues. What I do know and pick up on, is putting on a different front than what you are feelings. Putting on a brave face when you are scared or swallowing your pride to kneel and survive."

Pausing, she closed her eyes and brought up his palm up to her lips to softly kiss it. "Forgive me. I got off on a tangent or I believe the saying is, I got on a soapbox. To bring back the point, I love you Khareesh, and no matter where our friendship leads, I will always love you. Rather it be just as a friend or something more like lovers." She moved his hand to her cheek, leaning into it as she cover it with her own hand and opened her eyes. "You can probably start rambling now. I have noticed you do that when you are nervous sometimes."

(Around the House: Oven, 670 words)
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Belial
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Khareesh dismounted gracefully, if his heritage was good for anything it was that, behind Tide, landing lightly. She caught his hand, he let himself be caught.

It really wasn't the time to be ducking, no matter how long that had been his standard of dealing with things.

And it seemed he didn't have to run, anyway. Tide spoke and Khareesh...felt himself mentally skidding sideways on the unfamiliar and very slippery feeling of hope.

"I love you too, you know," Khareesh murmured at length. "I think in some way I always have, because the very first time I saw you, I caught a glimpse of this... spirit, bright and pure and beautiful, and I was a babbling idiot that point on." A wry grin tugged at his lips. "And since then I've come to know you, and know about you from everyone else's point of view, and I...just love you. I could babble, you're right, about reasons why, but it's a long list. And more than anything, I cherish your friendship and your companionship, I cherish you, Tidesweep."

Khareesh pressed a soft kiss to Tide's forehead.

"If you want simple friendship, it remains my honor to call you my friend. If you want a lover, you need but tell me."

And was it a good time for a hug? Because he rather wanted a hug. And initiated one, much to Myth's amusement.

(Why all the silly rituals and social rules? Dragons were much more straightforward. Much less room for anxiety or miscommunication.)
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Tidesweep
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Tide laughed as she hugged him back. It was nice to have that out in the open now and even though Khareesh might not notice, she hoped he wouldn't have to dance around certain subjects anymore. Or trying to explain away things. It was always refreshing when friends could be friends and didn't have to worry about letting something slip through.

"I will certainly let you know if I decide to take on a lover." Not being able to resist, she pulled back and gave him a wink. "You are at the top of the short list." She didn't bother to mention that the list basically consisted of him at the moment. That would ruin her attempt at teasing and a mild attempt at flirting. Which she decided she wouldn't try in the future. It felt...Too weird on her tongue right now. Maybe later on she could attempt again, but for right now..No more flirting.

At least consciously.

"So how do they grill fish without F-I-R-E?"
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Belial
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Khareesh laughed, happily accepting Tide's slightly clumsy flirtation. "During daylight, it's usually fairly easy to cook with the sun alone. Water Clan tribes usually use mirror ovens to cook their food, which...is best done with foods you don't mind accidentally overdoing, because if you cook with mirrors in the desert, the heat is going to far surpass any stove you'd either plug in or...fuel up."

Oh, they could probably get away with saying the word 'fire', but currently there were water genasi looking amusedly in their direction, fish-like eyes dancing with that special humor that desert tribesmen reserved for silly foreigners tripping over local customs and as long as they found it funny, Khareesh wasn't in any particular hurry to give up the charade.

He took Tide by the hand and started leading her toward the encampment, where the smells of various foods, perfume products, and other strongly-scented wares began to overtake the salt sea's overwhelming there-ness.

"After dark, things that need heating can be left on hot rocks, and things that need actual cooking they have heat runes for. Those work not unlike electric stove tops back in civilization, you know, you turn it on and tell it how hot you want it to get. These are just fueled by magic instead of technology."

Khareesh's meandering helpful narrative was briefly interrupted by a loud, wet plop from behind them. He stopped pulling Tide so she could turn around and look back at the salt sea.

Tribal totem spirits were like gods, except perhaps not exactly gods. They preferred direct interaction to worship or shrines, and could usually be counted upon to show up when their tribes had holidays.

The Salt Eel Himself was actually larger than Myth, perhaps even larger than Lenaarth -- and she was fully twice Myth's size all told -- and the giant, ghostly thing coiled in the salt sea shallows, dripping brine from His ethereal frills. Mostly, the totemic spirit was transparent, to a point, but opaque, like the salt sea He called home, too clouded to be called clear, though shadows and shapes could be seen through His body. So could lights, as the evening grew slowly darker and more and more lanterns were magically lit, and their light began to catch in the opalescent glittering of the Salt Eel's physical being, lighting Him up in beautiful crystalline hues.

"The Salt Eel," Khareesh breathed, squeezing Tide's hand, appreciating the majesty of a tribal totem not his own. "He is the patron totemic spirit of the Salt Eel tribe, named for Him. Like a god, except the culture is more utilitarian than religious."

The Salt Eel was also something of an ugly creature, looking at His facial proportions, but He was in that strange category of things so ugly they looped back around to aesthetically pleasing all over again.

As if the Salt Eel's appearance had been a long-awaited sign, colorful tents began to flow erect around the salt sea, the motions so smooth and practiced even Khareesh couldn't quite see the transition between disassembled and assembled, the bazaar tents just appearing as the festival began to expand.

The people, now that Khareesh and Tide were close enough to see them clearly, were...well, it was a good thing Tide was Tide and not one of the more easily alarmed villagers. The water genasi were as physically alien as Khareesh himself, except moreso. Eyes like fish, skin that constantly oozed water, bits of coral and fins sticking out of their skulls.

They were also the only genasi of the desert that never moved. Water Clan tribes guarded sources of water on a permanent basis instead of joining their quasi-kin in the nomadic migration circuit.

"Most of the prettiest parts of the Year's End festival happen after dark, but I thought you'd also like the bazaar. There are some...interesting things on offer. And I've been saving up some for this."

Not just currency, though that too, but also small leather and textile wares that he'd been able to work on between work shifts at the Weyr. Simple things, but things the Salt Eel tribe wouldn't ordinarily have access to, so therefore valuable in their own ways.


ooc| 608 words, Around The House [oven]
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Tidesweep
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Tide would miss the amuse looks and probably would continue to spell to Khareesh the words 'fire' and 'flame' the rest of the night. Or till someone tells her to stop. Hearing about the oven though cause her to shiver. If things get overdone it means that the oven got extremely heated which meant it could probably rival a fire.

No thank you there. She would just avoid the ovens if it was all the same to everyone.

Though the heat rocks might hold her fascination better.

As they moved closer, Tide took another sniff and almost stopped in her tracks before she remembered to keep moving. It was...Amazing! The fish. The wares. Even the overpowering scent of some of the perfumes. It all blended in but at the same time didn't and it made her want to explore every inch of the place.

When the plop reach her ears, she was grateful that Khareesh had stopped so that way she could turn around. Which she did so, eyes going wide at the creature. She never found it ugly to begin with, though that could be, in part, owed to the fact that she was used to seeing many different kinds of sea creatures and each one had their own beauty to her. That fact, combined with his huge size, had Tide staring in open mouthed awe at the Salt Eel.

She only dragged herself out of the trance at Khareesh's words. Suddenly her cheeks heated up a bit and she gave a sheepish smile. "I forgot to bring anything. Though I will remember next year and besides. Half the fun in shopping is window shopping." Watching as the water genasi walked by, she frowned in concern at the coral.

It was the coral. Not the fish eyes. Not the fins. But the coral sticking out from their heads that had her concerned. Not scared. Or alarmed, but concerned.

"Khareesh...Does it not hurt for them to have coral stabbed in their skin?" Tide grew up with Sirens which often ranged from the normal mermaid appearance to appearances much like the water genasi. So to her, everything was natural except...

The coral.

Hopefully, they would be more amused than insulted by the concern...Hopefully.
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Belial
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Tide's question caused one of the water genasi, a woman who appeared to have a starfish stuck to the left side of her face to complement the little spikes of coral sticking up crown-like from the top of her head, to burst out laughing.

Khareesh chuckled too, though much more discreetly.

I think it's more like my nose horn, Myth put in, swinging his head around so that Tide had an unobstructed view of the big, bone-white spike in question. It grows out, rather than is stuck in.

"Myth is correct. While they appear to be wearing various marine lifeforms, and sometimes in uncomfortable ways, that's not decoration. Purely natural anatomy. They grow coral and starfish blooms like you or I would grow hair. Which would be why that lass over there is laughing so hard." Khareesh grinned crookedly. "Outsiders often find them alarming to look at, but very rarely is that alarm concern for their well-being. I think she's flattered as well as surprised. And amused."
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Tidesweep
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Tide felt heat rising to her cheeks as she gave a sheepish grin in apology to the woman. "Oh...They are not alarming to me. They are...Normal? That is not an insult is it..." Her eyes widen as she felt panic settling in. She was out of her depth here (heh...Swimming pun), and it clearly showed.

"I think...I think I am just gonna be quiet now. Before I stick my foot in my mouth." Though looking back at the woman with the starfish, she couldn't help but say one more thing. "I think you are very lovely and I am extremely glad the coral is natural instead of being painful."

Now she was shutting up.
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Belial
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Khareesh laughed again, not at Tide, but with her, if the cliche could be forgiven. "You're fine, Tide, really."

The laughing woman grinned in Tide's direction and waved off the apology-flavored outburst. "It's okay! I'm just charmed. You're charming."

She made her way closer, and Khareesh evaluated the flowing gown of salt-white oasis reeds and imported textiles -- some he thought he recognized as having been crafted by his own native Dune Eagle tribe -- and bowed to her, smiling.

"And a thousand congratulations on your special day!" Khareesh murmured, because that was a wedding dress.

And really, what better day to get married than the Year's End festival? Lights! Fireworks! Catering!

"Thank you," the water genasi replied, inclining her head in response and curtsying to Khareesh and Tide both. "Welcome, Wind Clan and honored guest. You know...there are actually two weddings scheduled for tonight." She waggled her damp, silvery eyebrows suggestively, glancing between the two of them. "We could make it three."

Khareesh chuckled awkwardly, blushing. "I think two will be quite enough for the moment." If his phrasing left things open-ended about the future? Well...

Let's just say he had hope.

"My name's Halina," the starfish-adorned water genasi introduced herself, still smiling. "And I don't know, you may want to reconsider that. It's really very lucky to marry beneath the Salt Eel's blessing at Year's End, you know. E'lania has been planning our wedding for three years now, I swear."

"Oh, of that I have no doubt. Your soon-to-be-wife has a reputation that reaches even as far as the village. And the Dune Eagle, though those rumors will be quite outdated by now."

Khareesh nudged Tide's arm and gestured to another genasi woman, this one with skin that looked like living stone, picture jasper come to life. She had shards of sodalite crystals sticking out of her head in place of hair, and was dressed in a similar wedding dress to the one Halina was wearing. E'lania, earth genasi, was busy setting up a display table for sale.

"That would be E'lania over there," he explained. "E'lania of the Mountain Bear tribe, Earth Clan, ferocious organizer of all things orderly. Interesting that she... though I suppose that's why she's here in the first place instead of still with the Mountain Bear."

Halina chuckled. "Yeah, probably. I should go help her. But hey, thank you for coming, you two, and I hope you have fun here." With that, she was off to go meet with her wife-to-be.

Khareesh cleared his throat. "Some of that side conversation happened via context you probably wouldn't have. There are four elemental Clans, each built up of numerous individual tribes, like the tribe of the Salt Eel here is just one of the tribes of the Water Clan. Each elemental Clan has a...markedly different view on sexuality and marriage and what's appropriate and what isn't."

Is that anything like how it's considered bad form for a Mottle to chase a rising queen, or for a blue to chase a gold?

The air genasi snorted. "Not exactly. Think of it more like how acceptable it would or would not be for a pure blue to chase a pure bronze, or for a pure green to chase a gold."

I...oh. Gender thing.

"Gender thing," Khareesh agreed. He gave Tide a half of a grin. "Wind Clan, you know, we really don't give a damn what you do as long as everything's consensual. But it's deeply, deeply taboo for one of the Earth Clan to harbor same-sex romantic feelings, and even more taboo to act on those feelings. I am, in retrospect, not surprised to see that E'lania would have been immensely uncomfortable among her own tribesmen."

What about the Fi... What about the F-I-R-E Clan?

"Oh, they're not as discreet with their distaste as the Earth Clan is," the dragon's rider supplied helpfully. "It's not just a taboo, it's grounds for exile. And then there's the Water Clan, before you ask, Myth. And here, among the water genasi, same-sex partnerships are actually held as more sacred and valuable than more traditional marriages. I guess the reasoning is that the love is purer because nobody's just in it for the children. Or something. You'd have to ask one of them for a more specific answer, probably a tribal shaman would be best."



ooc| 732 words, Stones Of Blue [sodalite]
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Tidesweep
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"I am...Charming?" She blinked at the woman before the conversation quickly took a turn for the lost. The only things she understood was that there would be two weddings tonight but apparently she was trying for three? With her and Khareesh? Not that she would exactly be opposed to (after all, Khareesh was her best friend and who better to marry than a friend), she did know that wasn't quite the whole point of weddings here. She knew she was almost married once before, but even then, she didn't quite understand the importance of it. She could try and she did know it was important, but...That was about it. Culturally for herself, she couldn't apply it well, but she was working on it. And doing rather well or so she thought anyway.

She belatedly remembered to curtsy back...About halfway through the conversation.

Tide was very grateful as Khareesh explained some things. About how each clan was different. How even within those different clans, there were different tribes. All of Salt Eel were Water Clan but not all Water Clan was Salt Eel. Or something to that effect. She figured it was even more complicated than that. She decided not to think on it too much. Scientist she was not and she doubted she could find a way to explain it so that it was 99.99% accurate all the time.

"Okay...So Wind does not care so long as there is consent. Fire and Earth are very...Opposites only so to speak. Just to different degrees. And Water is Opposite or Same, both are good but Same is a bit better..." Tide felt like she had it all straight. In a very confusing sort of way that made sense to her alone. Which was what mattered in the end since she was the one who had to understand it.

Something did wiggle its way through and she blinked up at Khareesh. "Wait...Does that mean we are invited to the weddings now?"
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Belial
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Khareesh chuckled along as Tide caught up to speed. "Yes, and yes, and yes."

Yes, Tidesweep was charming.

Yes, she was correct on her understanding of the marriage traditions.

And...

"We were always welcome to observe the weddings, of course, they wouldn't be held on a festival day and in a public venue if we weren't supposed to see," Khareesh mused, "But that right there was indeed an official invitation."

So...this is like a mating flight, except without the competition?

Khareesh sighed. Myth was a smart dragon. Myth was an extremely smart dragon. But he was still one of the Pern-bloods, not one of the wild ones, and some things were always going to be outside of his intellectual grasp.

"Not so much, dear friend. Imagine wanting to take a single mate for the rest of your life whether you could sire offspring with them or not simply because you love them so, so much that you want to be with them forever. And not quite the same way you and I are, but...well. You know, I suppose it is rather like a mating flight, but you aren't looking for something temporary. You're looking for a permanent connection."

...Oh. ...So. ...That's what you-

"NOT another word, Myth, not on that topic, please," Khareesh interrupted, softening the abrupt break-in with an apology.

The air genasi snagged a pair of glasses of blackberry cordial from a refreshments table -- certain refreshments were free of cost, and handed one over to Tide.

Blackberry cordial was an import, of course, from the forested lands. The small village of Blackthorn, named for the berry briars that surrounded it in ropes of prickles, put the endless resource to good use, crafting a cordial that was neither too sweet nor too sharp or dry. The cordial had a rich, dark, full-bodied flavor with a shadowy kind of sparkle across the tongue.

The fluid looked black in the dimming evening light, the colored lights in the lanterns just not bright enough to illuminate the dark berry richness of hue, but in Khareesh's hand, as he stared into his own blown glass flute -- similar to a flute one might drink champagne from -- the liquid within became blood, and then a pulsing black miasma that sent a chilling, nauseating bolt of fear through his body.

Khareesh blanched, fingers clenching around the stem of his cordial flute until his knuckles were almost white -- a real feat, given his natural complexion, heart slamming between his throat and the pit of his stomach.

What he couldn't see, because no man can see his own eyeballs, was the whites of his pupils expanding to swallow the claret of his irises and the black that surrounded them.

It was gone in heartbeats, however, and Khareesh's eyes returned to normal. There was cordial in his glass. He was still trying to hand the other glass off to Tide.

But his hands were shaking.

K'reesh?
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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