Completed Helping Hands

Kamilla and Jehu help with repairs after the storm.

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Syka is a new settlement of primarily humans on the east coast of Falyndar opposite of Riverfall on The Suvan Sea. [Syka Codex]

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Helping Hands

Postby Jehu on June 17th, 2019, 12:02 pm

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Jehu


A gust from the sea blew against the pair, cooling Jehu's skin as it dried the beads of sweat that were beginning to form on his brow. The wind in the desert, though welcomed, was always hot. That which swept in from the sea was always refreshing.

The Chaktawe wrapped his hand around the bamboo brace and tugged at it, ensuring it was soundly fastened. rising to his feet, he stepped to where the supplies were piled. Taking the hunting knife from his pack, he cut off a piece from the coil of rope Randal had left with the repair supplies. Then Jehu returned to lash it tight around the brace where the small crack formed from the failed nailing.

Conveniently bypassing Kamilla's searching question, Jehu moved onto her next inquiry. He glanced up at her. "I am Chaktawe. We don't have cities, we move about with our tribe, looking for the waters Makutsi provides in the desert." Jehu answered with a small smile. His gaze lingered again on the dark-haired woman, finding himself trying to think of something comparable to her irises in color. They were darker than tea, darker even than molasses. When the sun caught them, they looked like mahogany. Each was framed in long, dark lashes, much like his own. Blinking, he returned to their work.

Standing, Jeu placed his hand on the post Kamilla was holding and wiggled it. It was much sturdier. A second brace was loose, angled between the post and the canopy frame. Looking at his companion, he grinned again, holding out the hammer. "One more and this one should be ready. Want to try?" He asked, tilting his head towards the loose brace.

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Last edited by Jehu on July 25th, 2019, 3:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Helping Hands

Postby Kamilla on June 18th, 2019, 10:26 pm

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Kamilla Circe Gordon


”Chaktawe...”

Trying the words out on her lips by mimicking Jehu’s pronunciation, Kamilla realised how odd it was to think that there could be an entire race of people that she had no idea existed. Of course, it wasn’t really a surprise, there was obviously plenty she didn’t know about the world, one such thing had popped up in Jehu’s answer to her. ”Makutsi?” She assumes it was the name of a god but couldn’t be sure, while in the back of the mind she wondered if the stranger had thought he’d successfully avoided her first question about what he was searching for. It was suspicious.

Watching as he tested the post, retrieved new supplies and readied himself to fix the next piece, Kamilla was surprised to have been offered a chance to attempt to help beyond offering to something in place. ”No thanks.” She declined, manual labour was not something the mage enjoyed and being a seamstress was as far as she was willing to go down that sweat inducing road.

Still itching to know more, Kamilla would await any further instructions before asking the ‘Chaktawe’ man a few more questions. ”So you’re nomads? Does every one of your people look like you?” Quite literally tall, dark and handsome.” she thought, quickly brushing it aside. ”I mean, with dark eyes. Do they work differently to what a typical human’s do? Actually do Chaktawe have any unique abilities in general?” This new line of questions definitely felt slightly invasive considering she’d only met Jehu chimes earlier, but Kamilla couldn’t help herself, it was as if the words had just fallen out of her mouth and she could feel a few more about to follow, urged on by that darn itch. ”And you still haven’t told me what exactly you’re searching for... perhaps I could help? You never know.” The last part was more of a feeble attempt at justifying her question rather than a genuine offer.

It seemed that the more Kamilla learned about the strange man, Jehu the Chaktawe, the more she wanted to know about him. Brown eyes left the man’s unique form to examine the surrounding area for more of the randomly placed beach beds and hammocks, spotting one more of the former and two of the latter. It seemed she’d at least get a bit more time to ask her questions, the itch seemed to intensify at this realisation, rather than calm down.

Words: 407

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Helping Hands

Postby Jehu on June 19th, 2019, 12:44 pm

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Chaktawe. Makutsi. The sound of familiar words trickling from the woman's plush lips pleased Jehu, the feminine tone and slightly foreign lilt giving the names a unique flavor he found himself mentally repeating. Black eyes focused on Jamilla's mouth, watching how each words formed on the full bow of her lips, glistening slightly in the sun. Jehu's musing didn't cease until she rejected the hammer, eyes blinking and lifting again to her dark, lash-rimmed gaze.

Why did he keep staring?

He attempted to focus on the task at hand as Jamilla's inquiry continued. Jehu was a bit taken aback by her curiosity, no one so far had been as curious about who he was. While he was not always comfortable talking about himself, he was proud to be Chaktawe, and didn't mind talking about it, especially with Kamilla. It was as if they were forming some strange symbiosis, her curiosity kept her engaged and close, feeding the strange preoccupation he found with her. The back of Jehu's throat tickled again and he cleared it as he steadied the next bedpost, indicating with a nod of his head that Jamilla should hold it in place, like the last one. His eyes lingered on her small, delicate hands as they wrapped around the post, each finger seemingly perfect in length. They were indeed more suited to the fine work of a seamstress than a builder.

"Yes, all Chaktawe have these eyes."
He understood how Jamilla found his appearance strange. The first time he saw a Benshiran's white eyes, he thought he was an evil spirit. "I don't know why they are black. But we do have a second pair of eyelids that we can see through." Pausing, he looked directly at Jamilla and closed the secondary lids, a transparent membrane slid across each eye. Her image blurred slightly with the additional membranous cover. Then he opened them again. "They keep dust and sand off of our eyes, when the wind stirs them up."

Setting again to his work, he pushed the loose upper brace in place between the post and canopy frame. Retrieving another nail, the smaller type, he set it to the bamboo and tapped it with the hammer until it set, then struck it harder, again with a slight upper motion to keep it straight as it penetrated the brace and sunk into the post. "Well, we have an organ inside that stores water. When I get my fill, I can go many days without drinking any more." Jehu continued to reply to his companion's questions.

Another nail was set to the brace on the canopy side and pounded into place. Jehu paused when Kamilla asked again about what he was searching for. The desert man stared at the brace for a breath, before turning to look to her. He had not spoken on such personal matters to anyone since leaving his tribe. He certainly would not do so with a stranger. But...she was so beautiful, almost Chaktawe-like, he was almost compelled to share.

"I am looking for my Guardian."
He answered simply before continuing the repair, adding another nail to either end of the brace.

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Last edited by Jehu on July 25th, 2019, 3:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Helping Hands

Postby Kamilla on June 23rd, 2019, 1:02 am

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Kamilla Circe Gordon


So it seemed that all of Jehu's people did indeed share his solid black eyes as well as several more qualities that the Chaktawe proceeded to list to her, even demonstrating the curious dust membrane that slid over his eye giving it a bit of a hazy look. If he hadn't explained the unique trait before demonstrating it, Kamilla doubted she would have reacted so subtly, her eyes only widening slightly in response. It seemed the handsome stranger differed a lot more from her than she'd originally assumed.

While the extra membrane was quite the departure from herself and her singular eyelids, it was the water storing organ that settled just how different Jehu actually was, and yet he appeared to he as a mostly normal, handsome, man. If she was being honest, Kamilla had to admit that she found the darkness of his eyes quite intriguing,  their colorless depths filled her with a sense mystery only made more compelling by his overall appearance. Despite having learned so much about the man I such a short time, she was still curious to hear more.

She continued to assist the Chaktawe man where she could, holding parts of the posts in place in order for him to hammer nails into them while thinking about Jehu's race and place of origin. She wondered just how much water his unique organ could store or for how long he could survive off of it. Many questions,  some of them pointless but she could still feel the itch to ask about everything.

It was only when Jehu finally answered the question he'd avoiding, about his search, that Kamilla gave her next notable reaction, brown eyes narrowing in both suspicion and confusion as she asked the only logical follow up question. "A guardian? Please explain, what kind?" Now her interest was peaked and if he didn't have het full attention before,  things had certainly changed.  What could he possibly mean by a 'guardian', a bodyguard or protector?  Both seemed unlikely as Jehu struck het as a man who could take care of himself. Perhaps a companion in general? Like a pet or a kelvic? Honestly she had no idea but she wanted to know more.

If Jehu finished up with nailing the bed's canopy into the posts successfully, Kamilla would slide herself into a seated position on the edge of the bed as she watched him expectantly, just waiting for the man's response.

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Helping Hands

Postby Jehu on July 1st, 2019, 1:35 pm

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The final nail was pounded in place and Jehu stood back to examine the structure. He heard Kamilla's question, feeling reluctant to answer. The matter of his Searching, and what he considered its failure, remained a point of pain and discouragement. Her interest was definitley piqued, for the woman's stunning features shifted in intensity, mocha eyes narrowing, the faintest furrow appearing between delicate brows, as if interest had honed to intrigue.

Kamilla moved to sit on the edge of the bed frame as Jehu took hold of the post to ensure its stability. HIs gaze however, barely left the woman. As her hands slipped from the bamboo post, he caught the glimpse of scars upon her slender palms, almost identical in nature. He had seen scars like them before, once, upon a man in Ahnatep who could form sand in his hands and command it to do his will.

The woman's question lingered between them as the sea breeze tugged at the thick waves of her dark hair, brushing over smooth shoulders. They were a rich hue of bronzed olive, which indeed covered every exposed part of her body, which was quite a bit. He was staring again. Jehu found so many aspects of the woman interesting. He again admitted much of it was admiration of sheer beauty, but the strange curiosity about every detail of Kamilla’s person was unusual for him.

Jehu blinked, wanting to give Kamilla an answer, but resistant. Explaining a Guardian was difficult, especially in a language not his own. He took a step closer, as if to keep the conversation intimate. Finally he spoke in a softer tone, meeting her kohl-lined eyes. "A guardian is a spirit. Some think a soul from the tribe's past. The gods assign them. They offer help, advice, when they are needed."

Jehu's sober response was interrupted as the breeze again stirred Kamilla’s hair and his gaze darted to the shifting waves of tresses. He wondered what that thick mane of dark hair felt like. Was it as soft and silky as it appeared?

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Last edited by Jehu on July 25th, 2019, 3:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Helping Hands

Postby Kamilla on July 4th, 2019, 2:58 pm

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Kamilla sat there, at the edge of the bed, waiting patiently for Jehu's answer to her question having decided she'd done enough to help for the time being. For some reason, she got the feeling that she had the man's full attention at any given time, which was certainly not an unpleasant feeling, though her analytical mind couldn't help but wonder why. She'd yet to really see him interact with others beyond a brief exchange, so it was likely that he was just very good company, or rather, a good listener. Not that it matteted. Kamilla wished only to learn more about the strange man and the ways of his people.

Finally, after what felt like an unnecessarily long silence,  though in actuality it had only been a few ticks, Jehu began to speak, drawing closer as he did. According to him, in his culture, a guardian was a spirit who's purpose was to do just that... guard, assigned the gods to guide an assist. "That sounds nice..." She began, not finishing the rest of her thoughts out loud.

It had been several years now, since Kamilla had felt the growing feelings of purposelessness and emptiness, feelings she'd gone to drastic measures to try and fill but to no avail. Her arrival in Syka had been one of those attempts, Riverfall too, the mage had traveled to both cities in hopes of escaping the gnawing feeling that she had not accomplished anything in life, nor did it seem like she would in the forseeable future. Thankfully, the excitement of Syka as a new place hadn't worn off just yet, but she knew it would eventually, felt the impending emptiness waiting just behind the thin veneer of wonder provided by the tropical paradise.

"I'd very much like to meet one of these... Guardians, or is that not how it works?" She'd returned to the real world, head turning to face her company with dark brown eyes staring curiously up into the dark depths of Jehu's. "Can you describe yours?" God assigned spirit guardian' was far too vague for Kamilla's curiosity to ever be satisfied by.

Having asked her next question, Kamilla broke their shared gaze in favor of examining the beautiful sunny shores of Syka, her hands running through her long locks of dark hair and lifting the masses above her head. She held it there with one hand for a while, a bead of sweat running down her exposed neck, which she wiped at with her free hand. Sure the heat was far more bearable than the season before, but Kamilla still had to endure it with thigh high leather boots on, unlike the rest of Syka's residents.

Enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze on her neck, Kamilla's hands went to work, tying her mass of dark hair up into a messy bun above her head using a strange of her own hair to keep it there. The bun was far from perfect, leaving several strands of hair to escape it's gaps,  falling messily around her face and neck as she turned her gaze back on Jehu, a small hint of a smile plain at her lips once her eyes met his.

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Helping Hands

Postby Jehu on July 8th, 2019, 3:50 pm

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Satisfied that the structure had be suitably reinforced, Jehu idly dropped the hammer into the sand, placing his hands on his hips and letting the sea breeze cool his skin. The Chaktawe wasn't thirsty, he wouldn't be for several days, though a drink might quell the scratch in his throat. The coppery skin of his torso and arms had gathered a sheen of sweat, which the air worked to dry. His coal-blank eyes darted to the surf before their inevitable return to his companion, in time to watch Kamilla gather her dark mane in her hand and bare the slender column of her neck. A single bead of sweat trickled down the supple skin before a slight hand whisked it away.

The scratch at the back of Jehu's throat returned, stronger, causing him to clear it. He wondered if some newly blooming plant was causing the discomfort. It was only then that he was ready to address the woman's question. Jehu's unusual preoccupation with the Kamilla had disarmed him when it came to the increasingly personal questions, taking the sting out of the subject of her inquires. He found it difficult to deny the mocha eyes she fixed upon him.

"Well," Jehu began, stepping closer to the bed, then taking a seat next to Kamilla, resting his elbows on his knees and folding his hands, as if ready to convey a matter of confidence. "It's not like that." He started, looking over at her. "Our Guardians only appear to Chaktawe. I honestly don't know if other people can see them." He explained, almost apologetically. "They come to us in the time of Searching. Its like a rite of passage." He cleared his throat again, trying to dispel the scratch.

He didn't want to answer her next question, but again, the mysterious wells of her rich eyes were so damn compelling, the plump bow of parted lips glistening as if holding yet another question at bay... was it getting hotter? It was already hot, maybe a stray cloud had just moved from before the sun or something. He cleared his throat yet again.

"I was not given a Guardian during my Searching." He finally admitted, the shame strong enough to break his fascination of the woman and his gaze lowered to the sand, his bare foot shifting idly.

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Helping Hands

Postby Kamilla on July 9th, 2019, 5:01 pm

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Watching Jehu as she patiently awaited his answers once again, genuinely curious about the Chaktawe and their guardians, Kamilla allowed her gaze to glide over the man's form, noting the sheen of sweat, the warm coloured skin and every contour and line created by the man's stature. Deep down, she felt something long forgotten stir within her, but it was discarded again just as quickly as it had appeared. He was handsome, she'd decided that, but that quality held no value in her eyes, his past and knowledge was far more interesting.

He drew nearer, taking a seat on the bed beside her, his weight causing a very noticeable shift it's surface as Kamilla noted how much larger he was compared to her. With his current proximity, she almost felt like a child,  dwarfed beside the mountain of a man.  The thought made the corner of her mouth turn upward in amusement, what a silly thing to be thinking about.

His answer, while disappointing, was not entirely unexpected.  If these 'Guardians' were indeed a part of his people's culture then it wasn't a complete surprise that they were exclusive to the Chaktawe people. "Oh..." She began, sounding slightly disappointed, "... I'll admit that I'm not really surprised though." She added, still just as curious as before, but quickly running out of questions. She was about to ask him about his own guardian when the man confessed to not having one, the sudden change in demeanor not going unnoticed by her.

Kamilla shifted slightly, feeling uncomfortable as she was thrown into what was clearly an awkward situation and a sensitive subject for the Chaktawe man. If these guardians were such an important part of his people then it was no mystery why he'd be embarrassed or unhappy about not having one. Tons more questions filled the mage's mind, the itch urging her to ask each of them, to delve deeper.

Why didn't he get one? How exactly did one go about completing this 'Searching'? Was his failure to acquire a guardian the reason he'd left his homeland? Could he attempt his searching a second time? Or a third?

Taking a very deep breath and blowing out slowly, Kamilla did her best to quell the itch of her unnatural curiosity, it was clearly that she'd struck a nerve and even she wasn't so heartless as to pick at it further, not so soon afterwards at least. She needed to leave, give him and herself some space to breathe. Now.

"Oh, uh... I think I should get going, I have some actual work to do." She began, getting to her feet and retrieving her bag. Her eyes accidentally met with the man's far darker ones and she quickly averted her gaze, looking upwards at the repaired bed. "It looks like you've done a good job repairing this. Bring the tarp of your tent around for mending and I'll get to it when I have time. It was nice to meet you Jehu. Goodbye." She cursed her lack of tact as she rushed through the sentences, eager to leave the man and the awkward situations he'd thrown herself into.

With her shabby excuse for departure out in the air, Kamilla offered the handsome stranger a polite nod and small smile before spinning on her heel and walking off towards the city core, the lace tail of her skirt billowing as she made her somewhat graceful escape. Thr itch in he throat was not pleased, it almost demanded that she turn around and ask more questions, learn more about the man, but she did her best to ignore it. She was not cut out for dealing with people and their feelings, perhaps she would attempt to question him some other time.

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Last edited by Kamilla on July 11th, 2019, 11:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Helping Hands

Postby Jehu on July 9th, 2019, 5:57 pm

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Jehu saw it immediately. First was the disappointment in her voice, the slight slump of soft shoulders. Kamilla's interest in the Chaktawe and the Guardians had deepened with each question. But Jehu brought it to an end by revealing the woman would never see one as an outsider. It only got worse. Jehu had been caught up in Kamilla's interest in him, the first of anyone he had met since leaving his home. With each question, his comfort grew as own intrigue with the woman sharpened almost unnaturally, until he found every detail of her fascinating. Kamilla's interest gave him false security, as if her curiosity somehow made it safe to get personal. As soon as he revealed his secret, Jehu knew it was a mistake.

If he had only kept quiet. Jehu knew well the reaction Kamilla displayed. Aversion of the eyes, awkward words and a quick escape. Even a non-Chaktawe knew it was a shameful thing he revealed. People of his own tribe reacted the same way, when they learned he had not been given a Guardian, it was why he left the Burning lands. In the breath of a few words, the almost magic dynamic between he and the beautiful seamstress was shattered. Jehu had come to the end of the Earth thinking he could start over, yet his shame followed him even there.

He nodded in understanding. "Alright, good to meet you, Kamilla." He forced a smile. Gratefully, she did not drag out the agony, but hastily turned and headed for the Core. Jehu's eyes watched the woman as she walked away, Almost hypnotized by the sway of her hips and the swing of her arms. Even in his embarrassment, that acute focus on Kamilla didn't wane. He tore his gaze from the retreating woman. The scratch in his throat returned with a vengeance and he sputtered a cough.

Retrieving his hammer and nails, Jehu went to the next overturned bungalow.

End


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Helping Hands

Postby Ambrosia Alar on December 15th, 2019, 6:00 pm

grading in progress


Jehu

Skills
● Acrobatics +1
● Body Building +1
● Carpentry +2
● Construction +3
● Observation +5
● Socialization +5
● Wilderness Survival +1

Lores
● Event: Syka windstorm of Summer 519 AV
● Wilderness Survival: Choosing an ideal placement for a tent
● Carpentry: Cutting a pole to length
● Acrobatics: Using webbed feet to move through sand more easily
● Kamilla: A disarming beauty and Syka's seamstress
● Kamilla: From Zeltiva by way of Riverfall
● Construction: Using the correct sized nail to avoid splitting
● Socialization: Avoiding unwanted questions
● Carpentry: Bracing split wood
● Chaktawe: Have a second pair of protective eyelids
● Chaktawe: Have a water-storing organ
● Construction: Proper hammer strikes
● Guardians: Spirits that guide the Chaktawe

Kamilla

Skills
● Body Building +1
● Construction +1
● Cosmetology +1
● Intelligence +4
● Investigation +3
● Observation +5
● Planning +1
● Seduction +1
● Socialization +5

Lores
● Event: Syka windstorm of Summer 519 AV
● Wilderness Survival: Being prepared for bad weather
● Jehu: An exotic newcomer
● Jehu: A Chaktawe from the Burning Lands in Eyktol
● Construction: Bracing pieces so another can work on them
● Chaktawe: A black-eyed desert people
● Chaktawe: Tribal nomads
● Makutsi: A god or goddess worshipped by Chaktawe
● Chaktawe: Have a second pair of protective eyelids
● Chaktawe: Have a water-storing organ
● Jehu: Still searching for his Guardian
● Guardians: Spirits that guide the Chaktawe
● Cosmetology: A quick, messy bun
● Socialization: Knowing when to press no further
● Lore: Description

Comments

Thanks for the read, you two. I'll have to admit I'm woefully behind on my Syka reading, but this is a great introductory thread for what is to come between your two characters. I can't wait to see what comes of this interaction and their relationship. I will always feel new to grading, so if you feel I missed anything or would like anything rephrased, just let me know. Don't forget to delete/edit your request in the grading queue and let me know if you have any questions or comments regarding your grade. Thanks for the read.
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