What's in a Dek? (Taln)

by **Nikavi** on August 6th, 2011, 8:08 pm

Summer 25th, 511 AV

Nikavi's took a leisurely break after working deligently in the armorsmith's shop, her arms aching from hefting around heavy chunks of ore for the large man to do as he would to. He had nodded but expected her return within two bells, which was ample time for even the weakest of Inarta to work the ache out of their arms apparently. Not that Nikavi was complaining about that. She liked work. It gave her mind something to focus on and perfect. She approached this Bendi with the zeal of a person who enjoyed her work, chattering at the armorsmith as she helped him work.

Nikavi walked from the smith and stepped through the other Inarta easily, merging into a group of Yasi on their way to their own Bendi in the aerie. She laughed with them, over hearing one of their jokes, but continued on. While she loved the aerie more than any other workplace due to the height and the birds there, she decided she could go later after her work shift. There was something always so wonderful about the birds, the Eagles with their great bodies and strong talons. They were art in motion, much more whole than any glass replica could show.

The young Inarta, almost done her Yasi years, didn't care that she hadn't been selected for work yet, despite interest in her abilities to spin glass. If she ended up assigned as a Dek, then so be it! She would be a Dek, and she would go through life the same way she had, just a little more focused in her work. She'd still laugh and smile, and even if Endal spat on her, she'd show them her worth with fists and a well aimed snipe about the state of their mother's blood. Sure, she'd get her ass kicked, but at least she'd have fun doing it!

As she walked, she didn't notice if anyone was following her. She rarely paid attention to others unless they spoke to her or she heard her own name. She was always paying attention to the beautiful things greater than the Inarta people.

by **Taln** on August 7th, 2011, 12:55 am

Secret :

Taln looked down at the small bundle of broth soaked bread in his hands. Quickly, his long, nimble fingers wrapped the food up with clean straw and sturdy leaves. Reddish blond wavy hair fell into his eyes as he crouched to furtively tie the food around his leg, well hidden within the bryda. Impatiently, he shook the hair from his dark green eyes and rose swiftly.

The well muscled man stood up as nonchalantly as could any man of six feet-- much like an animal rising from the ocean of people. The Dek scowled around him, moving into the crowd with ease. The tall young man didn't think to adjust his large stride to shorter people he didn't even see. He just wanted to get to Reech, his hatchling, and feed him.

Luckily the crowd was thinning out for the two bell break.

'Must be nice to just do whatever you petchin' want, when you want to. Anyone catches me sneaking to my bird, I'm gettin' a beatin' for damn sure! I better hurry up an--'

Taln stumbled into a tiny girl about a foot shorter than him, almost trampling the little thing! He blinked in surprise and frowned down at her, trying to determine her caste. The familiar fear lodged in his gut as he mentally prepared for more denigration.

'Where the hells did she come from? I'm gonna get it now!' The thoughts flew as rapidly through his mind as a hawk's wings.

by **Nikavi** on August 7th, 2011, 9:43 pm

Nikavi reeled as a larger, heavier body collided with her own, her gold-amber eyes flashing as she looked for the culprit of the attack and found herself looking straight into a male's chest. Her eyes immediately rose as settled on what was obviously a Dek, scarred and unpleasant. Her eyes glittered with laughter and she wrinkled her nose at this Dek, a member of the lowest caste in Wind Reach. A member of the very caste Nikavi was just thinking of. She held back her laughter for a few chimes to appraise this Dek before her, and her thoughts didn't even consider why he wasn't out working.

"What are you, Dek? A giant?" She asked coolly, laughter still restrained just to her eyes. She felt so tiny next to this male. She paused for a few moments, waiting for some sort of apology from this thing. Even she knew he was in a lower caste than she, but just barely. As a Yasi she most certainly had more privileges than the Dek, but she was still a child and he could go places she could. After a few chimes, she let loose a trill of a laugh. "You're rude, Dek. You ran into me, and you won't apologize?" She didn't even ask his name. It was pushed into her mind by her parents that Dek weren't like other Inarta. They were the lowest of the low and had no rights. She was under the impression that they didn't even have names, because names were for real Inarta to have.

Yet even despite the obvious discrimination, Nikavi didn't really hate nor dislike the Dek. She felt that she'd still be herself even if she lost her identity to the lowest rank, and she couldn't hate that. She could have fun playing with them, however. Dek would be easy to prank.

"Going somewhere in a hurry, Dek?" She asked after stuffing her laughter away again. She figured that would be the only reason why he'd run into her so unceremoniously. The Dek was in a hurry.

by **Taln** on August 7th, 2011, 11:39 pm

Taln scrambled to his feet, his face an impassive mask with no readable expression. Beneath his lashes, he subtly scanned her face and checked for rank. A Yasi. Hells. Her cool and lofty tone grated on his nerves like steel on bone. Barely restrained fury flashed in his emerald eyes that he carefully held low with his head bent toward the ground. Coppery hair fell over his forehead and eyes, blessedly obscuring his face from closer scrutiny.

The unfortunate man knew the tongue lashing would come any chime now and he wasn't disappointed. A Yasi of all things. Worse than Endals. Foolish, air headed young Yasi's didn't have a place yet and still acted more arrogant and foolish than the highest caste.

A giant? Oh he'd never heard that before. She acts like she's never seen a Dek in her life and her speech is too high to be anything but false. He tensed his shoulders, knowing he was about to become a child's verbal punching bag to practice their superiority. With the struggle of long practice, he schooled himself to utter stillness.

The youthful high pitch of her voice illustrated her immaturity as well as her lack of age and experience. Petching brat. This was gonna be a long two bells as he angrily resigned himself to be some kid's play toy while on break. Taln had been through worse. Much worse, as the ugly scars on his back and shoulders attested to the brutality he'd barely survived.

"I am whatever Yasi wants me to be." Taln muttered dutifully but resentfully, his voice as rough and deep as gravel. The young man towered over the slight girl, nearly a foot taller than her and he could evidently and easily crush her like a bug. Was she blind to this? This little girl-child? This brat has no idea that I could kill her without breaking a sweat. Bet this spoiled little doll has never had so much as a scratch on her pretty little skin.

Light flashed off his lip ring ring as he just barely refrained from smirking. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he worked to keep his frame under control and not meet the girl's eyes.

"I apologize Yasi. Forgive my clumsiness." the Dek growled in a low voice without even a hint of sorrow in his tone whatsoever. His fists clenched as she used his caste over and over like an epithet.

He fought the urge to shift from foot to foot impatiently under her childish blathering. The girl's last question had his mind grasping quickly for a suitable answer so she'd quickly tire of playing with him as her shiny new Dek toy.

"Yes Yasi. This Dek was just hurrying to an errand Yasi." Taln answered quickly with appropriate meekness of voice.

by **Nikavi** on August 8th, 2011, 6:07 am

Nikavi almost laughed. This Dek was so sour. He had his place in the world. He could always walk the path of the desperate and die, but he hadn't chosen that path yet, and even a rash little Yasi like she wouldn't push him towards it. "Play nice, Dek. What do people like you call you? Dek give Dek names, don't they?" She chided lightly, wondering if she could make him even angrier. A laugh danced in her words, mocking him even more. She really didn't get ruffled from his words. A Dek with attitude brought her more enjoyment than another Yasi with the same disease. Honestly, an Endal would have been even better but she was of a lower caste and would have received a merciless beating. "I'm Nikavi, Dek. Do you wish to be called by your caste all day? I can keep you for as long as I want."

"You are forgiven, Dek." She smiled and laughed once more, then reached out to lift his hair from his eyes. She was unafraid, feeling protected by her rank. A Dek wouldn't dare hurt even a 'spoiled brat' Yasi in Wind Reach, but the streets were quieting. She was bold, for her caste, but she was trying to see this Dek's eyes. She understood that even the ugliest of things could possess beauty, and she wanted to see if this man of the lowest possible caste followed the same principal. She took his chin and lifted it, keeping his head appropriately lowered so she couldn't make him seem threatening. "Don't let me spoil your fun, Dek. Continue on your errand. I'll accompany you. Or should I step aside so some Endal can whip you when he sees you?" She wouldn't have let him out of her sight either way he chose. She was curious as to his errand.

Suddenly, an idea formed in her head. She brought djed to her senses and it flooded her vision, bringing with it a taste that she'd associate with this Dek. The taste of his aura, a dense flavour dripping with musky anger for his lot in life. And she was surprised at the anger his taste alone spoke of. Of course, it was nothing to the sharp colours of his aura. Vivid blues and greens depicted anger and frustration, while the most vibrant shade of yellow screamed of impatience. Typical reactions.

by **Taln** on August 8th, 2011, 3:40 pm

Taln's keen ears caught the instantly different nuance in her pitch. It was almost kind, and it made him wary. This was usually the moment when they struck him for insolence and he braced himself, not knowing what would happen next.

Previous experience taught him that the stupid ones easily grew bored of him, not recognizing any signs of defiance. This cool, haughty Yasi was actually evaluating him--in a very intelligent way. Taln knew this could be the day he was killed. Her eyes were intense and her calculating expression was anything but dumb.

Name? She asked for his name?! Fuzzy memories of his mother and the childhood nursery flashed by, with him actually being called by his name in a loving tone. This was not your average Yasi to ask a low life Dek for his name. It had always been Dek, or Hey You.

Obedience was instilled in him since birth and the swift thoughts took only a chime before he quickly answered.

"Taln. My name is Taln, Yasi. Yes Yasi." Taln answered as fast as he could, his nerves on edge with waiting for the verbal or physical blow.

'Nikavi? A pretty name th--stop that thought right now man; the women are always more deadly than the men. The prettier the girl, the meaner she is.'

Taln couldn't help it. She was such pretty dainty little thing and he always felt like a big oaf next to the short ones. Then he'd let down his gaurd on these petite females, and they'd be the ones to scar him the worst.

"I wish only to do as I am bid, Yasi Nikavi. Yes Yasi may keep me for as long as she likes if that is her will."

The man answered through gritted teeth. The submissive words choked in his throat as he uttered them. Resentful acid burned in his stomach at the enforced submission as he practically bit the words off.

'Forgiven? Whateve--'

Nikavi reached for his face and he visibly winced, fully expecting a handful of spiteful nails to gouge at his eyes or to rip out his lip ring. In fear and fury, Taln averted his deep emerald eyes to the side and held his breath.The Dek exerted every ounce of will power just to stand still and take whatever pain she decided to inflict on him.

Never dodging a blow was the first thing he'd learned as a five year old. Taln never did find out what it was that the spiteful Avora had thrown at his eyes, but since then, he'd never seen clearly again. Would never have any other purpose in life than to work hard and just keep on taking beatings until one of them finally killed him.

He never underestimated the cruelty of Inarta females. The last one had a blood fetish--that is, a fetish for seeing -his- blood run freely.

The delicate hand took his chin and he shuddered involuntarily; his full lower lip quivering just once before he immediately controlled it. His gaze flicked to her face in alarm, for just the briefest of chimes, and skittered away again like a beaten dog. He hated the fear, but it was so ingrained it just made him more furious. In turn, reinforcing his terror in an endless cycle. Resentment, fear and fury.

'Just hit me and get over with!' His mind screamed at the tension of a touch that didn't bring instant pain.

'I'll accompany you?!' What?! No! Shyke!

If she knew he'd stolen food she'd kill him on the spot. And that he would dare to care for a peregrine falcon hatchling when he was a lowly Dek?! He had to protect the baby falcon! Taln knew he had to live, or Reech would die without his care. His mind raced frantically. He knew Reech could survive another two bells without feeding, but he needed to actually prove to the Yasi he was working or he was done for.

Cleaning up after, feeding and watering the smaller birds was his usual chore now and that was the best thing to show this female.

"I must tend to the birds Yasi Nikavi." He said, fervently wishing she'd stop torturing him.

No sooner than he'd finished his thought, Taln felt the insidious fingers of djed working its shadowy tendrils into his mind!

Impatience and frustration were Taln's surface thoughts, but the djed soon uncovered more than Nikavi was prepared for. Her touch showed his pain, terror, fury, rage, shame, loneliness, starvation, exhaustion, humiliation and anger. Every memory was dredged to the surface for Nikavi to experience. Countless beatings, rape and bodily denigration bubbled under the girl's djed induced touch. Her gift was stronger than she realized, Taln might have an unusually open mind, or maybe it was a bit of both.

Taln bit his lip in shame and sank to his knees, not caring if she beat him now for moving. Now not even his thoughts or memories were given privacy or respect.

Taln knelt in the dirt, humiliated beyond words.

by **Nikavi** on August 8th, 2011, 4:18 pm

Hey!:) Hello! This is going awesome so far, and it's okay if you don't edit this because I'm writing for it anyway, but Auristic vision doesn't hurt anyone but the user. Your character shouldn't feel it, but she will. ^^ You have no need to edit however, just a heads up for next time~"You flinch like a whipped dog." Nikavi spoke without an ounce of cruelty in her voice. "Surely you've noticed I'm just a child, Dek Taln. What can I do that you haven't already suffered?" The appearance of his scars had not gone unnoticed by her eagle-coloured eyes. She had spoken as solemnly as was possible for her. It wasn't in her nature to frown and scowl at everything. She would do so with the way this Dek was acting. She had been under the impression that they were as lively as Yasi and Endal. This one here looked as lively as a corpse. He was afraid to speak his mind, and for good reason.

Her eyes flashed with thought as she considered this Dek before her. "Stop calling me Yasi while you take me around, Dek." She said, and then her laughter came back and she released his face after tapping his nose with her forefinger. It was meant to be a teasing action to get a rise out of him. "Taln is a different name. Did other Dek give it to you?" Curiousity was not something as easy to push aside, even temporarily, like laughter was. She wondered what other Dek would call her if she should enter her ranks. Maybe they'd call her Yasi like this Dek just to mock her, and then she could practice all her dirty words on their ears. "You have lovely eyes, Dek Taln. Which parent put emeralds in them?" Her voice had become quiet. She found it hard to drop the title, and she was reluctant to do so in the presence of other Yasi or higher ranks. Even lowly Dek couldn't be trusted, because they could just be pawns for Endals, and an Endal would kill both the Yasi and the Dek for whatever insolence they'd do by muttering first names instead of titles.

As her gaze perceived his aura, and the flavours of his emotions thickened on her tongue, pain and rage flared brightest and almost blinded her. She gasped and stepped back to rub her eyes, feeling droplets of blood forming at the corners of her eyes before they temporarily stopped bleeding. Her eyes lifted again to see the Dek had dropped, and immediately she felt a mixture of pity and shame. Had she hurt him with just looking into his aura?

The Yasi crouched in front of him and removed the djed from her eyes, the blood reforming once again, but her hands didn't lift to wipe them away. Instead, she reached out and once again tilted his face up so she could try to meet his eyes. "What is it you are trying to protect?" She whispered, her golden eyes narrowed at the headache just behind them from the light show she had just been witness to. She had noticed the colours that screamed "PROTECTIVE!" hidden behind the lightning of rage and pain. He was guarding something, and it wasn't himself. She wanted to know what it was. "What is it, Taln?"

by **Taln** on August 8th, 2011, 6:33 pm

Secret :

Taln stopped himself just short of abrupt, harsh laughter at her comment. A 'mere child' of thirteen had stabbed him in the foot two days ago for being caught sitting down after 19 bells of hard labor!

' "Stop calling me Yasi while you take me around, Dek." ' She'd ordered? Yea right. I'm in no hurry die.' he thought with irritation.

Nikavi's finger moved toward his face unexpectedly and he shut his eyes in automatic reflex to protect them.

Why was she asking inane questions? Did she seriously not know that Dek were as Inarta as any other caste? Did this Yasi think us no more than mindless beasts that grunted at each other? She must be toying with him. Playing on his anger and his fears like an eagle bringing a live mouse to its young to tear apart alive.

"Yes Yasi, a Dek that gave birth to me. My mother named me Taln as your mother named you Nikavi....Yasi." He might be punished for his insolence, but then again she might stop messing with him and move on her way.

His posture stiffened at the compliment to his eyes. Trouble always followed a compliment about his looks. Taln scowled at her question of his parentage and kept his head bowed and his eyes down and to the side.

"My father, the Endal with the greenest eyes. I don't know which one. My Dek mother spent a moon as the toy of an Endal. When she got fat with child, he dumped her in a cave...Yasi Nikavi."

The well muscled man saw the blood pool in the corners of the girl's eyes. A few tears of hers, shed for liters of my own blood? Impossible. The higher castes have no mercy. No heart or feeling outside of their own view of how important they are.

She almost knew about Reech! No no no. He had think of something fast! If he died, the hatchling would die a slow torturous death of starvation! He mentally dug in his heels at her question and came up with the first answer that popped into his head.

"Just protecting my own arse from a beating Yasi, as all Dek will do." Taln said petulantly as thought not giving her question a second thought. He'd bluffed his way out of much more dire situations. His gaze flicked up swiftly to glare fiercely at her and down again, too fast for Nikavi to notice--he hoped. This Yasi is trouble.

by **Nikavi** on August 8th, 2011, 7:52 pm

Nikavi's gold eyes kept on to Taln's face. She considered looking again. She was addicted to the colours, even if they brought her pain. Her fingers lifted to wipe away the red droplets, releasing his face to do so. She smiled faintly at his reply, and his insolence. The thought to slap him crossed her mind but was dismissed as stupid. She'd hit him if he hit her. It was only expected. A true Inarta always fought for their skins. It was dishonorable to allow someone of a lower caste to defeat a true Inarta. She'd fight him if he hit her.

"Do I anger you, Taln?" She said quietly, leaning in closer to speak so others of a higher caste couldn't hear her. She knew they'd both get beaten by someone if they heard her say his first name as though familiar with him. It wouldn't have been so bad if he was Yasi as well, but alas, he had to be a good five years or so older than her. That placed him well out of her caste. Would she end up as miserable as he if she were assigned as a Dek? She sure doubted it. Even if the Endal or other Yasi killed her for her caste, she'd laugh her way through it all. "Would you be my toy if I was an Endal, Dek?" She asked quite suddenly. She didn't quite yet understand what she was asking, or in what context he had spoken. She knew very little in the way children were created, but she'd lived with both of her parents and she remembered some things shared by them when they thought she was asleep. Still, to her a toy was a toy, to be played with as one wished.

"Maybe you are, Dek, but if that were true you wouldn't be so insolent in your replies, now would you?" She tilted her head at him, gold painted red hair brushing over her face and her bright golden eyes. Her smile beamed at the older male again. "Call me Nikavi, Dek Taln, or I'll find someone much, much nicer than me to talk to you about disobedience." Bluffing wasn't her forte, but she was trying. What did he think she planned to do? Kill whatever he was trying to defend? She reached for his face and brought djed into her eyes again, watching the lurid colours intently now for signs of deception. Would she get violent if he disobeyed her again? "What are you protecting?" She repeated.

by **Taln** on August 8th, 2011, 9:38 pm

Taln exhaled in relief when she finally took her hands away from his face. He waited but she never struck him. Odd. Then she asked if she angered him, and he answered without thinking.

"You annoy the shyke outta me Yasi." he growled with venom. The Dek's emerald eyes flared bright green for just a chime and as always, he averted his gaze down and to the side so she didn't accidentally come into his line of sight.

'Why do they always ask questions to which they only want an answer to beat me for?'

He clenched his teeth, convinced this girl had a death wish.

'She's insane! She's using names and gonna get us both killed! I take it back-she's the most foolhardy Yasi I've ever met.'

He couldn't keep the expression of complete shock from his face. 'Her Toy?!' Taln stared in astonishment, positive that this girl child had no clue of what she really asked. A long lock of blondish red hair fell into his eyes, but he didn't notice it. This little girl has -got- to be talking about a doll or brightly colored dice!

"At your age?!" Taln whispered in shock at even the implication. Too late he realized, he'd used no title.

"Yasi this is adult speech, not fit for your young ears. Ask me the question when you know its true grown up meaning!" He stuttered frantically, and looked around nervously, trying to make sure no one overheard the kid talk like that.

"If you need a Dek to amuse you with things that match your -age- Yasi, then I will of course obey you, whether Yasi or Endal." The Dek was feeling very awkward and wondered where she got these ideas far above her age.

Taln didn't care about risking disobedience on that score. He'd call her Yasi regardless of her threats. Her naive use of the word 'toy' emphasized her total innocence and he wasn't about to shed any light on -that- subject with her.

The Dek thoroughly hated her creeping around in his head again, but there was nothing to be done for it. Though he remained stubbornly silent, a picture flashed in his mind that couldn't be stopped because of the urgency.
Reech, only a week old.