6th Summer 522 AV – Garden Beach
Summer had started in a much better fashion than Spring had, indeed better than any season that he could remember. That thought amused him slightly as he moved from the bed to one of the chairs after tugging on some fresh clothing. He had been thinking that most seasons of late, and for good reason. Had he been asked a year ago if he thought he’d be where he was now – across the world, living in a quite fancy tent set up with a beautiful woman he definitely would have suspected the speaker was trying to sell him some drugs, or was mad. He frowned slightly at the now empty bed, blowing into the pipe gifted by Laviku to make sure that it was clear as he mused thoughtfully, ankles crossed upon the footrest before him.
Tazrae was an early riser since he had arrived in Syka she had been…restless. Perhaps the better word was concerned…fearful in some ways. He remembered their conversations now, felt a small twitch of sadness as their discussion of monsters and their more frightening aspects rippled into his mind’s eye. In some ways they were a strange pairing – she had always been so…focused, always pushing and wanting to do more, something else, doing it the correct way. He was more relaxed, and he had no doubt that that would, and had, probably infuriate her. He could focus on things, pour all of his attention into them, as well as anyone but he was…perhaps somewhat directionless. Yet he liked that, it meant he could enjoy things without worrying too much, every moment of every day, about whether Sran’tuka was right around the next corner.
“Then again…maybe that’s a good thing…better to be able to cover each other’s…issues” he muttered to himself as he used a lantern to light his pipe and inhaled the first puff with a relaxed sense of satisfaction.
The gods knew he had enough of his own, he thought as he supressed a shudder and pushed back the darker memories of the season just passed, closing his eyes hard and at length before taking a deep breath and continuing to puff away. Casting his gaze about the pavilion he found himself still admiring it despite it growing familiarity. It was comfortable yet down to earth in many ways, fashionably plush in the right places and still as yet untamed in others. He grinned around the stem of his pipe as he watched a group of younger Ixam…a Lounge he seemed to remember…playing with each other – mock attacking each other and rolling about, testing each other’s speed and strength. He hummed to himself, spying a tin he had missed upon the table next to him and pulling it towards him.
Flipping it open he saw that it was crammed with tobacco, a different one from his usual Blue Vision by the smell. It was still moist too, well preserved and just the right texture. He didn’t think Taz had taken up smoking, or chewing, tobacco and so he took a few moments to admire the craftmanship of the design upon the silver case, fingers running across it and the conclusion came to him that she must have gotten it as a gift for him. He smiled and slipped it into one of the pouches at his belt and finished the rest of his current pipe, making sure it was clear and the ash was tapped out into the outside before putting the pipe away and stretching, enjoying the feel of the morning sun upon his body. He wanted to do something different this day, preferably with the one had had come so far to be with, and the suspicion that it would do them both a world of good tugged at him, underneath all of the other thoughts.
“Probably at the Protea, feels like early morning…means breakfast and the other chores…hmm…perhaps a day away might entice…a date” he mused to himself as he returned to the interior, set about taking Zhyad and his other weapons from the rack and strapping them about his person, “no idea what there is to do around here…wait…wasn’t there a turtle place they were talking about at the bar that once? Something about a pool and some god or other?” he asked himself, not quite able to remember but also certain, as he unsheathed Zhyad and not for the first time gazed upon it affectionately, running his fingers along the blade, that Taz would probably know somewhere better than he could glean from gossips.
He began the walk towards the Protea once he had spent a few more chimes trying to get the blade to talk, to reveal itself, and getting nothing in return – he had heard nothing from it since that first time it had seemed to come through so clear. Had taken him out for a while too, teaching him another lesson in caution about his magic. He could feel the awakening that the book had spoken about just at the edge of his senses, he had come close that first time but had not truly been unlocked inside…though he could feel…something deep down. He pushed the thoughts aside as he paces across the stands, wondering what Taz was up to and whether he could catch her by surprise with a hug from behind or something similar.
Once he arrived it was clear she was still doing things, cleaning by the looks of it by the cloth in her hands and the thorough way it was sweeping over the counter before her. Stepping through into the interior he leant against a support beam and just watched her with a small smile across his lips, taking in the sight of her. She had her back to him and after a few precious moments he couldn't resist the mischief and stepped forwards as quietly as he could, slipping his arms around her and pulling her close, kissing her cheek from behind.
"Busy morning I see," he said into her ear, "I wonder if I could steal you from this place for a while? I hear there's a turtle cove or some such...might be a nice place for us to send some time...just us? I mean, only if you really...wanted...to" she would hear the mischeivous smile in his words.
Words - 1055
.
Summer had started in a much better fashion than Spring had, indeed better than any season that he could remember. That thought amused him slightly as he moved from the bed to one of the chairs after tugging on some fresh clothing. He had been thinking that most seasons of late, and for good reason. Had he been asked a year ago if he thought he’d be where he was now – across the world, living in a quite fancy tent set up with a beautiful woman he definitely would have suspected the speaker was trying to sell him some drugs, or was mad. He frowned slightly at the now empty bed, blowing into the pipe gifted by Laviku to make sure that it was clear as he mused thoughtfully, ankles crossed upon the footrest before him.
Tazrae was an early riser since he had arrived in Syka she had been…restless. Perhaps the better word was concerned…fearful in some ways. He remembered their conversations now, felt a small twitch of sadness as their discussion of monsters and their more frightening aspects rippled into his mind’s eye. In some ways they were a strange pairing – she had always been so…focused, always pushing and wanting to do more, something else, doing it the correct way. He was more relaxed, and he had no doubt that that would, and had, probably infuriate her. He could focus on things, pour all of his attention into them, as well as anyone but he was…perhaps somewhat directionless. Yet he liked that, it meant he could enjoy things without worrying too much, every moment of every day, about whether Sran’tuka was right around the next corner.
“Then again…maybe that’s a good thing…better to be able to cover each other’s…issues” he muttered to himself as he used a lantern to light his pipe and inhaled the first puff with a relaxed sense of satisfaction.
The gods knew he had enough of his own, he thought as he supressed a shudder and pushed back the darker memories of the season just passed, closing his eyes hard and at length before taking a deep breath and continuing to puff away. Casting his gaze about the pavilion he found himself still admiring it despite it growing familiarity. It was comfortable yet down to earth in many ways, fashionably plush in the right places and still as yet untamed in others. He grinned around the stem of his pipe as he watched a group of younger Ixam…a Lounge he seemed to remember…playing with each other – mock attacking each other and rolling about, testing each other’s speed and strength. He hummed to himself, spying a tin he had missed upon the table next to him and pulling it towards him.
Flipping it open he saw that it was crammed with tobacco, a different one from his usual Blue Vision by the smell. It was still moist too, well preserved and just the right texture. He didn’t think Taz had taken up smoking, or chewing, tobacco and so he took a few moments to admire the craftmanship of the design upon the silver case, fingers running across it and the conclusion came to him that she must have gotten it as a gift for him. He smiled and slipped it into one of the pouches at his belt and finished the rest of his current pipe, making sure it was clear and the ash was tapped out into the outside before putting the pipe away and stretching, enjoying the feel of the morning sun upon his body. He wanted to do something different this day, preferably with the one had had come so far to be with, and the suspicion that it would do them both a world of good tugged at him, underneath all of the other thoughts.
“Probably at the Protea, feels like early morning…means breakfast and the other chores…hmm…perhaps a day away might entice…a date” he mused to himself as he returned to the interior, set about taking Zhyad and his other weapons from the rack and strapping them about his person, “no idea what there is to do around here…wait…wasn’t there a turtle place they were talking about at the bar that once? Something about a pool and some god or other?” he asked himself, not quite able to remember but also certain, as he unsheathed Zhyad and not for the first time gazed upon it affectionately, running his fingers along the blade, that Taz would probably know somewhere better than he could glean from gossips.
He began the walk towards the Protea once he had spent a few more chimes trying to get the blade to talk, to reveal itself, and getting nothing in return – he had heard nothing from it since that first time it had seemed to come through so clear. Had taken him out for a while too, teaching him another lesson in caution about his magic. He could feel the awakening that the book had spoken about just at the edge of his senses, he had come close that first time but had not truly been unlocked inside…though he could feel…something deep down. He pushed the thoughts aside as he paces across the stands, wondering what Taz was up to and whether he could catch her by surprise with a hug from behind or something similar.
Once he arrived it was clear she was still doing things, cleaning by the looks of it by the cloth in her hands and the thorough way it was sweeping over the counter before her. Stepping through into the interior he leant against a support beam and just watched her with a small smile across his lips, taking in the sight of her. She had her back to him and after a few precious moments he couldn't resist the mischief and stepped forwards as quietly as he could, slipping his arms around her and pulling her close, kissing her cheek from behind.
"Busy morning I see," he said into her ear, "I wonder if I could steal you from this place for a while? I hear there's a turtle cove or some such...might be a nice place for us to send some time...just us? I mean, only if you really...wanted...to" she would hear the mischeivous smile in his words.
Words - 1055
.