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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2023 23:33:53 GMT -5
| new world Ember Word Count: 289/289/289 |
Ember had heard of Kelioux only once before when she had first met Barkley. It was meant to be a planet filled with knowledge and books beyond her wildest dreams, and the half-Fae hadn't fully expected the libraries to be this massive when she first arrived. Another thing that caught her eye? How tall everyone was in comparison to her. The women towered above her, sure, but the men were goliaths, and everyone she encountered blocked the sun out from how they much they hovered above her. Ember felt... well, tiny compared to them. Along with this, their hair reminded her of the deep blue waters back in the Summer Realm, shimmering under the sunlight. Their eyes were another story altogether, sometimes coming in the colors of her own fiery hair, sometimes matching the burning orange of the flames, and sometimes mirroring her golden irises.
The first thing, however, that she wanted to visit was the largest library that she had heard of, which was supposed to be nestled within the Scholar's Academy; but first, she would have to weave her way through the crowds on the cobblestone streets lining the way to the school. Biting her lip, she began ducking around the tall figures, trying her best not to knock into anyone as she apologized for nearly every movement she made.
"I'm sorry, excuse me - sorry. Sorry, excuse me!"
She was getting closer to the academy - maybe, after this, she would stop by one of the local taverns. Turning her head to look, she continued to move toward the Academy but was stopped when she slammed directly into someone, losing her balance.
Falling on her behind wasn't exactly how she'd expected to begin her new journey on Kelioux. |
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Post by Yajirobe on Dec 11, 2023 0:03:07 GMT -5
Most days Gier was out training with his new master, learning and practicing new techniques and stances. Contrary to what most martial artists had done, Gier didn't seek out Master Adel. Instead, he stumbled upon a woman named Puar that was said to be a mastery of countless martial arts, as well as the progenitor of the mysterious Mystic Tea Style. The traveling fighter welcomed any teachings that she could pass on to him, and although most of his training had been tough, he also spent more time in isolation than he had originally planned to. A night out on the town every once in awhile would do him some good.
The first place he headed to was the famed Academy. Countless scholars from all walks of life across the Universe came to the esteemed library to uncover knowledge that could not be obtained anywhere else. Gier wasn't the knowledgeable sort truth be told however, he instead liked to read stories of great heroes and heroines, mostly fairy tales. It was entertaining for the most part, and there was a sense of wonder that came with reading such fables. Life could be such a drag anyways so why bog himself down further by reading unpleasant scrolls or monotonous guides on Cosmic physics?
He knew he was close when the crowd grew fuller. It was hard to maneuver around the tall and towering natives, who dwarfed even him in size, and he wasn't a small guy compared to the averaged man. He shuffled his feet on the craggy rocks and maintained his balance as he approached the Academy, treating shifting through the crowd as a form of footwork training.
All went well into he accidentally slammed into a young woman. The blonde grunted and adjusted his hat on his head, but shock plastered his face when he, for the briefest of moments, believed that the woman was a dear old friend of his.
"Esmerelda--" However, when he got a better look at her, he knew that he had been mistaken. Embarrassed, he bent over to help the woman onto her feet by gently taking her by her hand. "Sorry, you looked like someone I knew. Are you alright? I hope I didn't hurt you. I should have paid more attention." Gier apologized profusely, his sparkling azure eyes remained fixated on hers, his soft and apologetic tone was layered with genuine empathy.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2023 0:14:37 GMT -5
| curious Ember Word Count: 229/518/918 |
The cobblestone was real stone, alright. Ember knew as much from how her behind stung from the impact and felt her face flush as she looked up at who she had knocked into. He seemed to have mistaken her for someone else, which was strange to her - one didn't usually find Fae on Kelioux, as far as she knew. The male in front of her was well-built, with a long blonde ponytail, and blue eyes that were the same shade as the tresses sported by the Keliouxans. Ember brushed herself off with her free hand, unable to let go of the male's hand with her other - at least until she regained her balance.
"I-I'm fine! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you. I'm - well, I'm new here."
After a few more moments of her hand in his, she gently pulled it back, the flush on her face growing.
"I'm really sorry for bumping into you," she stuttered, her eyes locked onto his. "I'm just trying to get to the library, and everyone is so tall here that I-"
You're rambling. Raven spoke the words in her head with a drawl, obviously annoyed.
"Sorry. I ramble when I'm nervous."
She took a breath, before looking around and drawing her lower lip between her teeth, before offering her hand to him as way of a greeting.
"Hi. I'm Ember." |
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Post by Yajirobe on Dec 11, 2023 0:32:05 GMT -5
Gier's hospitable smile remained ever present on his face whilst the woman rambled and stammered her way to giving him a proper greeting. This caused the man to chuckle and gesture for her to relax.
"Ember was it? It's okay, truly. I'm the one that should have paid more attention," Gier remarked to her in a soothing manner. He took her hand in his, and for a moment his mind flashed to when he first mate his late friend Esmerelda, and he took her hand in his. He stared into her eyes for awhile, losing track of time, and when he finally snapped out of his stupor he retracted his hand and awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"You're heading to the library right? Try not to get lost okay while you're in there, I heard that it's pretty big. Sorry again for bumping into you, I owe you a drink sometime." Gier offered to her with a wink and a smile before turning his back to her to maneuver through the crowd once more. The martial artist wasn't one to linger in one place for too long, he was always on the move, always looking forward. He didn't even stop to think that maybe she'd need to know a way to contact him if she wanted to take him up on his offer.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2023 1:03:06 GMT -5
| sorry Ember Word Count: 266/784/1,409 |
"Wait!" Ember cried, grabbing at the man's arm. "You never told me your name. I-"
The redhead realized very suddenly that she was in fact, grabbing a stranger's arm in the middle of a packed crowd, most likely inhibiting his ability to move freely. She withdrew her hand as if she had been burnt by fire, and swallowed, tucking a strand of stray hair behind her ear.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to - I was just wondering if you wanted to come along? I'm going to the library, but maybe we can get that drink now, rather than..."
She shuffled her feet, looking down at the cobblestone and stepping out of the way of an incoming denizen, apologizing for getting in their way. They seemed to scowl at her but kept moving to their destination, prompting Ember to breathe a sigh of relief.
"You - well, you called me Esmerelda when you first saw me. I'm curious to know why you called me that - if you're alright with sharing. I don't know anyone here on Kelioux, but it seems like maybe fate has a reason for us knowing each other."
Rambling, yet again.
Ember's face flushed at Raven's words, and she swallowed.
"If that's not okay, I can just go to the library by myself."
Maybe she was coming on too strongly, but the half-Fae didn't have very many friends or allies to begin with and strongly believed in things such as fate and destiny. If she had been knocked over by this person, wasn't there a reason for it? Didn't the Ancestors have a plan in mind?
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Post by Yajirobe on Dec 11, 2023 1:19:24 GMT -5
Gier didn't make it too far without being halted once more, this time by the pull of the arm by the same woman he had accidentally bumped before. He turned to regard her with a soft smile, as he had half-expected for her to garner his attention.
He grew bashful when he realized that he hadn't told her so much as his own name, even after she went out of the way to introduce herself to him. He straightened his hat and looked down at her, maintaining his jovial smile, almost as if he enjoyed her stammering and rambling, which in truth he did. There was a sense of genuineness that emanated from the way Ember talked that was rare to experience throughout his travels. So many people were far too eager to put up a facade of sorts, heck, it wasn't long ago that he was one of those kinds of people.
When Ember mentioned that he had accidentally called her Esmerelda however, his expression became more crestfallen. A cloak of sadness shrouded him now, and for a moment he looked down at the ground, and his mind wandered to a hurtful time before he broke from his stupor and put on a brave face once more.
"It's okay Ember. I'm sorry again for not introducing myself properly. Call me Terry. And as for why I called you Esmerelda, well...don't worry about that okay, it was nothing. You just happened to have reminded me of an old friend that's long gone now." Gier explained to her.
"I wouldn't mind keeping you company if you'd have me. After we hit the library we could go and grab a drink at the local tavern. It'll be my treat of course. Then you can ask me all the questions that you want. How does that sound?" Gier asked her with a smile, placing his hand on her shoulder to ease her mind and allow the two of them to become a bit more comfortable with one another.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2023 1:55:25 GMT -5
| liquor & libraries Ember Word Count: 249/1,033/1,996 |
Ember knew she had said something wrong when Terry's face turned dark, almost as if someone had thrown a cloud over the top of his head. Immediately, the Half-Fae felt bad for prodding too much. The look on his face made her wonder if the woman was lost, had died, or was someone who had just gotten away. However, it seemed that he quickly recovered, almost as if he put on a mask to hide the pain. She didn't try and prod any further but instead offered him her encouraging smile.
He had suggested that they travel to the library together, and then get a pint at the local tavern before they parted ways. It seemed like something that would prove for a fun day for Ember, so she nodded, allowing him to place his hand on her shoulder.
"Sure, that sounds like it could be fun. I've never been to the library, have you?"
She then would start moving through the crowd again, hoping that she didn't bump into anyone again.
"It's my first time on Kelioux, but everyone has been nice so far. I'm originally from Neraides - well, Earth, I guess is more familiar to you, but... I'm a Fae, if you couldn't tell by the ears," she laughed, pointing to the pointed tips sticking out, barely visible from under her fiery hair. "I came to Kelioux because of the library - I was told it has some pretty amazing literature."
"What about you? Why are you here?" |
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Post by Yajirobe on Dec 11, 2023 2:22:14 GMT -5
Gier shook his head at Ember's question. Although Gier had never took the time to make his way to the Grand Library, he was definitely curious about it. However, he never managed to find the time to make his way to the city to see it for himself. Okay, maybe that was a bit of a stretch to say. He had the time if he cared to, but his priorities and interests generally lied in other matters like training and drinking - in that order.
"No, though this isn't my kind of scene. I don't like crowds much. But every once in awhile you can bump into someone that's worth meeting," He shot her a soft smile at his words. He wasn't being flirtatious by any means, he more so wanted to make a harmless joke to help get Ember out of her shell a little more. No harm done he was sure. Though it would be easy to confuse his tone for a pass at her.
He listened to Ember speak with great interest as the pair shifted through the crowd. She mentioned being from a place from Earth that he wasn't familiar with. During his brief stint there he stuck to the more rural areas, small towns that nobody but the residents there had heard of. When she mentioned that she was a Fae and gestured towards her ears, Gier couldn't help but smile.
"Wow, I guess Kelioux really does attract all kinds huh?" He remarked. The martial artist must have been the only one that traveled to the planet for the sole purpose of training rather than reading.
"Well as for me I've been drifting from place to place. I came here to train under my current master, Puar. She's been good to me, a little harsh, but that's how I like it," Gier spoke in earnest, though he didn't go into detail on what he had done prior to arriving on Kelioux. Maybe that story would come later.
As the pair ventured further they finally approached the grand entrance of the antiquated library. It's wide marbled doors were a marvel sight to see, and it was large enough for the crowd to enter inside seamlessly without having to be herded like cattle.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2023 18:10:54 GMT -5
| liquor & Libraries Ember Word Count: 339/1,372/2,710 |
Puar was a name that seemed familiar to Ember, however distant it may have been. Still, she couldn't quite place where she had first heard it, no matter how much she searched her memory. Instead of fretting about it, she decided to flash the blonde male a smile, continuing to walk in tow with him. She didn't exactly know where she was going, but he seemed like he knew his way around Kelioux well enough. She hadn't seemed to take his comment previously as anything other than being kind - she always was kind of oblivious to anything that seemed like flirting.
"Puar sounds so familiar to me, but I don't know where I've heard her name before. I'm planning to head to another planet at the end of the week to see... someone, but I definitely need to get a bit more training in before I do."
She looked up toward Terry, eyes bright with excitement.
"I'm supposed to have a friendly battle with them, but quite honestly, I don't know if I'm going to do well. He's much more experienced than I am in battle, and my biggest goal has been getting back home rather than fighting."
Indeed, Ember's main objective since arriving on Earth all those months ago was getting back to Neraides to find out exactly why Nesta was trying to murder her. There had been more assassins sent after her, even on planets like Arlia, and she'd had a difficult time trying to get rid of them. Still, the half-Fae seemed to have an optimistic spark in her eyes, after all of her trials and tribulations.
"Do you plan to stay on Kelioux for a while, or are you going to be heading somewhere else?"
She was hoping that maybe she would be able to go with Terry after her battle - she hadn't had the chance to make very many friends, and she could probably name all of them on one hand, but an ally was an ally. Maybe he would be her newest one. |
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Post by Yajirobe on Dec 16, 2023 21:32:41 GMT -5
As the two traversed the Library's campus Gier lead Ember through the marbled doors where they were greeted with marbled structures and columns inside with snow white hallways adorned with extravagant paintings and decorative chandeliers that hung on the ceiling.
The crowd seemingly disappeared into the background, swallowed up by the massive expanse of the Grand Library, which the two wandered around within aimlessly while they continued to converse.
Ember mentioned that Puar was a familiar name to her, which Gier wasn't surprised to hear. He believed that her name deserved to have been known throughout not only the planet, but the entire galaxy as well. Her power, speed, grace, footwork, they were all at an uncanny level. Really it was an honor and a pleasure to train under her day in and day out and one such pleasantry that he would never dare to take for granted.
Ember looked up upon Gier with excitement sparkling in her eyes as she continued on, mentioning that she was supposed to have a friendly battle with an acquaintance of hers. She seemed rather nervous about it however, mentioning that she wasn't sure if she would do well in the battle. She mentioned that the man was more experienced than her, and further explained that battling wasn't her cup of tea.
Gier himself got smacked around by Puar once or twice and he felt that it turned him into a better fighter. She was far more experienced than him, and Gier's own father and grandfather used to smack him around too, and that made him stronger. Generally speaking, battling those more powerful and experienced than yourself could only allow you to grow stronger yourself - so in essence it was a good thing.
"I'll be here until my training is done. No sense in leaving until otherwise," Gier spoke truthfully. He wanted to learn all he could from Puar before departing. Where would he go next? Well, he did consider going back home to Damaskia. He had been away for some years now, and it was high time that he went back home and took care of some personal matters.
"I might go back home to Damaskia. There are some things I have to take care of there, but I do hope that you end up finding your way back home too," Gier said to her.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2023 22:08:27 GMT -5
| liquor & libraries Ember Word Count: 635/2,010 |
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pair crossed the threshold of the looming library and walked through the marbled doors. The sight was breathtaking. The structures were made out of flecked stone, polished and shining; the hallways were bedecked with paintings that were from every era. She could have sworn that she recognized Renaissance-style paintings, medieval style, and even some contemporary paintings. The chandeliers caught her eye next - it was hard to miss them if she was being quite truthful with herself. They hung low, and if she had been as tall as the inhabitants of Kelioux, her head might have brushed against the crystals that dangled from the light fixtures.
For a moment, she just stood and stared. After a few moments, she regained her bearings and continued to walk beside Terry. She could feel an itch to leave his side and head toward the towering bookshelves, to begin her research on how to get back to Neraides, but resisted the urge. She knew it was impolite to run off during a conversation, and didn't want to seem impulsive to the male beside her. She had, however, never been inside a library as grand as this one, and her adventurous side was beginning to rear its head, eager to explore.
"Makes sense," she murmured, eyes still wide with excitement. "You've been training with Puar long, then?"
She waited and then responded to him in kind.
"Yeah, I'm hoping that Kelioux will have the answers on how I can get back home. I've been trying to find the right spell for ages now," she whispered, before turning to face him and tearing her eyes away from the books.
"It's a beautiful planet. If you like Kelioux's forests, you'll enjoy Neraides. There are even different realms - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Day, Dawn, and Night."
She left out Dusk - that was a realm that she wouldn't bring someone she enjoyed the presence of to. Dusk was full of lesser Fae, dark Fae, and beings that quite simply preyed upon others' weaknesses. They could sniff out a human from miles away and enjoyed tormenting them to the fullest - she had seen what occurred when Unseelie got their hands on the weaker species. She had heard the screams of terror and fear, had heard rumors of what they did to the ones they didn't kill. While she knew that Terry was most likely able to hold his own in a fight, the fact that he was still training unsettled her slightly, and she wouldn't risk the darker of her kind getting their hands on anyone she was close to.
Nesta hadn't sent any of her henchmen to murder Ember in quite a while - not that the half-Fae was torn up about this, per se, but she felt as if there was a constant dark cloud looming just in the distance, waiting to attack her. She hadn't looked over her shoulder in quite a while, which was refreshing, but something about this grand library unsettled her in a way. It made her worry... what if someone was watching her, biding their time and waiting until she was alone?
"Uhm, do you maybe want to go and look at some of the spellbooks they have?" She said, plastering a fake smile on her face to hide her concern. "Maybe we can find some techniques that will aid you in your training? If not, I'm pretty sure I heard someone talking about training manuals a while ago, but I think it's on the other side of the library."
She clasped her hands together and began to rub at her fingers, trying to alleviate the apprehension and remind herself that she had indeed been fine for months now - no one had come to attack her, and they most likely wouldn't... right?
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