Back To WindReach (Vaas)

[Alori Sai]

Aela looked towards him, her eyes narrowed, lips curling into a smirk. Any attempt to hide the blush that was forcing itself into her cheeks once more. His usual jovial, carefree attitude she was used to, but this sweet and somewhat gentlemen-like, and mushy tone got to her every time. Folding her arms across her chest, emerald greens poured into him as he hurried by, shielding his own face and possible embarrassment. She paused, thinking over her own words before speaking so that she wouldn't say anything too silly. " I bet you say that to all the girls." She paused again, unsure of what else to say, and her own words hadn't come out as she would have like either way. She watched as Vaas moved into the tent to pack up his own sleeping bag. She started to moved across when suddenly a rolled up bag was slung out of the tent, almost knocking her over. "Hey..watch it." She said as she stumbled pass him. She knew that he didn't do it to hurt her, it was simply a reflex to call out as she did. "Sure Vaas." She answered in return to his question about taking down the tent. She dropped her sleeping bag and hunting gear in a bunch on the ground and headed back over to help him. As she kneel beside him to help un do the poles in the ground, she thought about the restaurant and the tasty meals it must had. Not that she didn't enjoy the fish from the day before, but it was said that there were cooks from around the world that had come together to work in the place. Of course she found that hard to believe, but then again, the place was popular for reason and that reason was it's wonderful meals. "I can help you pay for the meal if you want? I have some pinions left over." With caste in mind, Aela knew that she made more than Vaas did, and figured that he had already spent a bunch on the camping gear and the ride over. She didn't mind helping out a bit, and knew that she would probably eat a lot anyway.

[Vaas]

Vaas walks around the tent and starts feeling around the ground for the stakes. Once he finds one, he pulls it out and makes a pile of them by the side of the tent. He looks up at her when she offers to help pay for supper. He gives her a warm smile, “Well if your willing to pitch into supper than I can afford the bottle of wine.” He brings a finger to his lips and starts to think, “And maybe I will have a lobster too.” Vaas has no clue what a lobster looks like, but the best description was given to him by Selia. She was straight to the point when she described it as a large tasty ocean bug. He starts dissembling the poles Aela already took down, and he ask to her, “So what are you going to have to eat? Are you going to have fish or a tasty ocean bug like me?” One of his poles are stuck to tightly together and he takes both ends of the pole and forcefully starts pull on both sides of the two poles. Failing to get the poles apart, He looks up at her with a silly grin, “It either rained last night, or I am getting weaker, but I can't seem to get these poles apart can you help me?” He holds out the two stuck poles and gives her a not so manly pout of shame.

While holding the pole out to her, Vaas decides to be sweet to her again and decides to answer her question about saying those sweet things to all the girls, and he says to her in gentle voice, “Honestly, Aela, I don't get many chances to talk to women, but I just wanted to let you know that you are the only woman in Wind Reach that I would want to say those nice things too.” He stops and blushes and quickly says to her, “If I am making you uncomfortable, I can stop and be quiet.” Vaas starts to inwardly kicks himself for adding the last part to his complement. He doesn't want to make her uncomfortable or says something he might regret in the future, but on the other hand, he might not hear her voice again. He is starting to wonder if leaving Wind Reach is a good idea at all since he will be leaving Krysanthe who is like a sister to him, and Aela the one person he will regret leaving behind the most. Still holding the pole out to her, he gives her a smile and wait for her to take it.

[Alori Sai]

"Ocean bug?" Aela didn't have the slightest clue as to what he was talking about, but it didn't sound tasty at all. In fact anything with the word bug in it completely turned her off and creeped her out a little. It would probably seem absurd for a wanna-be hunter to be so disgusted with bugs, but she was. It was something that started when she was very young and she never grew out of it. She had a thought, although she wasn't sure. "Eww.." The words spurted from her lips as she finally realized that he was talking about lobsters. They were, after all, one of the favorite meals had by those who visited the restaurant. She would have never thought to call something that she wanted to eat an ocean bug, but it was the best fit for Vaas's colorful description. Still for the sake of her appetite, he could have come up with a better name. Shaking her head a bit, she tried to rid herself of the imagines he forced in her head, but it was no use. She would never look at lobsters the same again. "I don't think I'll be eating lobster...ever." She shivered a bit, still trying to brush away the imagines of bugs at her meal. She glanced around, looking for a twig to pelt him with. But she couldn't fine one close enough, and the more that she tried not to think about it, the more she realized that he was right. "Never.." Turning to look at him again, she reached out for the poll to help him pull it a part. "Here, pull on that end." She instructed as she gripped the end that was held out to her and began to pull on it. The poles were stuck together tightly, and she had to pull hard just to get it to even turn a little. "Wow..this is stuck." She continued to pull, though their combined efforts seemed pointless as whenever he pulled on his side, the attached poll also moved taking her along with it. "What are you talking about Vaas, I've seen you talking to plenty of women." She replied earnestly, to his statement. She heard the next words that he spoke but didn't answer, mostly because she wasn't sure of what she had done to deserve them. From the rumors she had heard, the other women that he talked to were more friendly with him than she had ever been. She couldn't tell if he was trying to keep it a secret or just didn't think much of it. Unless, if the rumors weren't true. Even so, she stayed quiet and listened to what else he wanted to say. "No, I'm fine Vaas, I just.." She was suddenly cut of, a light yelp slipping from her lips as the polls separated after a strong tug, which sent her tumbling backwards and onto the ground. "Well...there ya go."

[Vaas]

Listening to Aela as she thoroughly rejects the notion of eating a ocean bug, Vaas just smiles and shrugs, “I think I might have to order it just to spite you, Aela.” Knowing it is completely childish act, but not caring in the least. He sticks his tongue out at her and says with a giggle, “Well I am blind, so I have no qualm in eating a ocean bug or a ground slug.” He gives her a goofy grin and waves his hands over his eyes signal he is blind. Feeling around for the sack, his hand eventually finds the canvas bag. He drops his deconstructed pole into the bag. Vaas just smirks picks up another pole and starts pulling, but it won't budge. He starts to think he might need her help with this one. He smiles at her and says playfully, “Aela when your eating it just close your eyes and think of the as a big juicy fish... with legs...and a tail...and two giants claws with feelers...” He knows she going to punish him later, but he doesn't care. He need s to bring more excitement into his busy friend's life. He wishs he could spend more time with her, but she is constantly busy in her glassblowing or training to be a Endal.

Feeling her tugging getting more urgent, Vaas tries to brace himself to equalize her weight. She was not a heavy girl by any means, but when she puts her mind to something, she usually finishes it. However, if she keeps this up, she will be taking him down with her. When she mentions all the women, he talked too. He almost let go of the pole in shock. He tilts his head in confusion and says to her, “Do you mean talking to them like...hey buddy want to see my flute, or...hey buddy... want to see my...flute.” After saying it, he tries to muster up the best skeezy look with out laughing. He yanks on his side of the pole, and says to her, “The only three women I really got to know was Krysanthe, Euthisa, and Reila. Krysanthe is like a sister to me. I think she is the closest thing to family that I ever had. Euthisa was a good friend and surprisingly fun for a librarian. Reila on the other hand....well how can I describe Reila. I know for a fact Krysanthe could stand the sight of her, so I never mention my other encounter with Reila to her.”

Vaas shakes out the mental image her in his head, and he decides to choose his words carefully, “Well..I think she was the first woman to appreciate me as a man even though she was drunk most of the time.” Now forgetting to choose his words carefully, he say softly, “.. she did give me my first kiss though..I think we sang to the wind eagles that night. I don't remember what happened afterward though” He enjoyed the kiss, but he didn't think it was genuine. For starters, she already finished a bottle of wine before she gave him his own bottle. Honestly all he can remember from that night is singing loudly off key to wind eagles and leaving a apartment not his own in the morning. Personally, he could passed out in some random apartment for all he knows. Anyways those secrets of his pseudo love life will not be share to anyone. Especially not Aela.

Vaas gave himself a grin at the drunken kiss. It was a great moment in his young adult male life. Suddenly, Aela gave a strong tug on the pole and the separated, but the force of her pull pulled him along with her pole and he stumbles forward on top of her. He lays there for a moment trying to figure what he landed on and says to her, “You know you could have warned me before you pulled so hard...”

[Alori Sai]

"Find, go on and order one then...It's a long way back to the city, and if you think I'm going to look after you.." she paused then, a sudden blush rising in her cheeks as she took in the thought of actually taking care of him. Although she verbally rejected the idea, in truth she would look after him. As much as he did get around and did things on his own, she sometimes saw him as needing a hand and wanting to help. She giggled then, listening as he continued to speak boldly. "It's not your eyes that has to taste it Vaas, it's your mouth, and no I won't be trying it no matter what you say." She glanced around them, looking for a twig or something light that she could pelt him with. But she didn't find anything and figured that she would just make him suffer later, although if he ordered what he said, she might not have a need too anymore. Either way, she moved on and continued to pack up. Aela had only glanced up at Vaas as he tried to explain away the women that he had been with. She was curious, but it didn't matter, at least not in the way that he probably thought. She had to imagine that he had been with someone. It was a part of their world really, and those like herself who hadn't had as much activities in that area were looked on as being strange. "You know what I'm talking about Vaas...don't play dumb." she retorted to his comments about how he talked to women. If he had admitted the truth, if there was something more to it, she might find herself a bit jealous, but not angry. What would have made her angry was if he lied to her about it. As it was they were friends, and there wasn't a reason why she would think that he was only hers. She was surprised to find out that he and Krysanthe were so close, she didn't know the woman but she had expected a different sort of relationship. "I didn't know you were so close, you've known her for a while huh?" Then he said, a sentence that almost made the little Avora shove the pole right into his face and walk off. Although she may not had shown it the way that he wanted, Aela did appreciate him as a man, though with their friendship being what it was, she had no way of knowing. It wasn't as if he had said anything. Aela glanced up at him when he mentioned the kiss that he had shared with the woman. She didn't speak, taking only to shaking her head and continuing to pull on the pole. Aela wondered if there was more to it, but she didn't bother to ask. After the strong pull, the little Avora found herself tumbling backwards and landing with a thump. Within a tick of landing, she opened her eyes to find Vaas on top of her. Aela's eyes widen a bit, a subtle blush returning to her cheeks. "Well...there ya go" she said somewhat softly, her emerald green eyes staring up into the faded glory in his own. She often wondered if he did things on purpose, or if he really did find himself in these situations by accident. "If you weren't so weak, I wouldn't have had too."

[Vaas]

Vaas started to realize he landed on top of Aela when he could feel the rise and fall of her chest. Putting his hands on each side of her, he lifted himself off of her. Suddenly, he heard Aela voice soften as she spoke to him. He could generally tell most of Aela's emotions by the tone of her voice, but he didn't hear annoyance or anger in her voice. Feeling her breath on his face, he started wonder if she didn't mind the position, they fell into. Vaas started to feel his face start to flush, and he was about to stammer a apology, but Aela responded to his remark with a witty comment. Vaas decided to give her a small chuckle as a reward for her playful remark. Vaas responded quickly to her witty comment with a fake pout on his lips, “I not weak, Aela. I just put my energy into different areas like music and Wind Dancer.” Vaas gave her a warm smile and continued talking, “What do I need muscles for when I can sing you a song to impress you. Besides I have you in my life Aela, so if I ever have any trouble opening a lid on a jar, I just have to ask you for help since you are much stronger than me.” Feeling his heart rate start to rise, Vaas decided move off of her and decided to sit on the ground next to her.

Realizing he had something important to tell her. Vaas turned his head to the location of her voice and said with in a somewhat serious voice, “Aela, I am happy I met you in the market three years ago. I still remember the excitement in your voice when you tried to sell me your wares. Honestly, I would buy all the glassware in your stand just to hear happiness in you voice...” Vaas trailed off for a moment as he tried to muster the courage to tell her. He is leaving for Avanthal in the fall. He didn't want to leave Wind Reach, but he had been planning this journey for awhile. He wanted to become a bard and learn about all the music in Mizahar, but the idea of leaving Aela in Wind Reach left him regretting his decision. In the last three years, Vaas' feelings toward the inspiring Endal started to blossom into something other than the feelings of friendship. He knew if he stayed in her life. He would just be a distraction to her dreams. She was becoming a Endal. What would Aela need from a blind chiet when she joined the ranks of Endals.

Vaas wanted to tell her for awhile, but the thought of being rejected by her kept his tongue tied. On the other hand, he was leaving in the fall, so today might be his only chance to tell her what he felt for her. He sat there in silence for a moment trying to figure out the right words, but when he tried to think, his mind drew a blank. Frustrated with himself, he decided to fall back on telling her his travel plans to either Lhavit. Feeling the anxiety start to raise in his chest, Vaas started to play with the metal rod in his hands as he tried to figure out the right words to say to her. Finally Vaas figured he keep it simple and said softly to her, “Aela, I am leaving for Lhavit in the fall.”

[Alori Sai]

Aela decided to lay still after Vaas moved off of her. She felt no need to hurry, or to move away from him. This was they're vacation, a time for friends to spend time together. No stress, or sadness. Not arguments or judgements, it was only them. The little Avora smiled, biting her lip to hold in her giggle if only to make him think that she might have been serious. Aela liked to tease him and he always made it hard to resist by his actions and facial expressions. She took a breath, trying to calm herself so that she wouldn't burst into laughter the moment she spoke."No, you're just weak. Like completely useless.." Aela lifted her arms, resting one across her chest and the other on top of her belly. There was a warm feeling there from where Vaas had laid. A feeling that was soon swept, and kissed by the summer's breeze. It made her shiver, and a redness rose in her cheeks. She parted her lips as she smiled, eyes staring above at the trees and wondrous blue beyond. "I am totally stronger than you, and by the way..MY singing is getting better. Soon I'll be even better than you." She giggled then, reaching out and poking him in his ribs. Then suddenly, his voice changed and became serious. Aela started to get worried as he spoke of how happy he was to know her, almost as if he was trying to say good bye. Her heart skipped a beat, causing the girl to quickly sit up and turn to him. Then he said it, and in that moment she found herself speechless and and her limbs cold. "You're leaving...Now?" Aela stared at him for a moment waiting for a good reason before finally turning away and looking back towards the camping tent. She realized then, that the whole purpose for the trip was probably so that he could say good bye to her before he left. Which meant he did feel something for her and made it all that much harder to take. There was a sudden rise in her temperature and the girl could feel her heart thumping inside her chest. "So..what, you're just going to tell me this now?" her voice rose then, to a firmer much more serious tone. "Whatever, let's just go." she finished as she forced herself up in a hurry and gathered her things.

[Vaas]

Vaas wasn't expecting Aela's reaction as she asked him if he was leaving in the now. Vaas shook his head and said softly, “Well, I am not leaving at this moment, but Malvarin wants to leave for Lhavit before the snow starts falling in the mountains.” Vaas knew Aela was probably disappointed at his departure, but he couldn't tell much from her voice since it sounded emotionless to him. He started to wonder if he said anything to upset her because it was last thing he wanted to do to her. Vaas' tied the tent bag up, and when she started to talk again, he could tell that she was upset by the tone of her voice. He turned his head in her direction when she spoke to him. She was upset that he was telling at this moment, but when he was about to say something, she interrupted him and walked away. He sat there in the grass trying to figure out what just happened, and he picked up the bag and said softly to Aela, “I am sorry Aela, but I told you countless times about my plans on becoming a bard, and I was hoping you would join me.” He frowned to himself and asked her gently, “Aela, would you like to come with me to Lhavit? I heard it is a beautiful city, and I know your a artist like me, so you would love it. Honestly... I want you with me, Aela. It wouldn't be the same without you.” Vaas could feel his heart start to pound when he said those words to her. He knew she would decline because of her dream of becoming a Endal would keep her in Wind Reach, but he knew not hearing her voice would leave him empty inside. He wanted to tell her that he was coming back to Wind Reach, but he couldn't promise anything because he doesn't even know he would survive the trip to Lhavit. A lot could happen to a blind man in the wilderness of the Unforgiving, and it terrified him to be leaving the safety of Wind Reach and his home. However, Vaas was happy to be living Wind Reach because the pressure of the caste system was weighing heavily on his heart lately. He didn't like the situation with the Dek, and he felt if he went to a place with no caste system. He wouldn't have to worry about one day of becoming a Dek himself if he lost the ability to make music. He felt useless in a society dedicated to hunting and survival because he couldn't do anything to provide for his people. All he could do was sing, play the flute, and crack a few jokes. Compared to Euthisa, Krysanthe, and Aela, he was basically useless in the grand scheme of his people. Vaas stood up, pick up his tend bag, and tapped around for his backpack. Once he found his backpack, he pickup his flute, started to play Wind Dancer's Attention Song, and played a couple of notes used to call Wind Dancer back to him. He heard Wind Dancer call back to him, and Vaas reached down into his pack back and pulled out his falconry glove. He stood up holding his arm up for Wind Dancer, and the hawk screeched again and a few chimes later the bird landed on his arm. Vaas looked over to Wind Reach and said softly with Wind Dancer also looking at her, “You know I am not leaving Wind Reach to hurt you, Aela. Are you still interested in going to the restaurant, or do you just want to go home?”

[Alori Sai]

Aela stood with her back to the blind man, her arms were folded across her chest as she gazed out into the opening.In a hurry, she had finished packing her backpack and slung it across her back, also stuffing her bow and quiver along with it. She stared in silence at the camp, and the trees, and even to the ocean beyond. It was all so beautiful and the time that she spent there was fun and exciting. But it seemed that it was all for this, all to let her know that he was leaving to travel the world. Stupid..stupid.. It was true that he had told her many times that he wanted to travel some day and become a bard. But she had hoped that he would wait, at least until they were both about to reach their goals and they could calibrate together before they separated into their own worlds. However Vaas had made the decision to do so now, and hadn't told her until the last minute. He couldn't expect her to believe he was innocent, as if he hadn't planned the whole thing out before they left from the city. It was such a guy thing to do, and at the moment she felt like pelting him with something much bigger than a stick. But she didn't, the teen just stood looking out into the opening that had once been a fun a trip. Although she wasn't watching him, she could still hear everything that he said and it took everything she had to hold in her fiery temper. "It's fine Vaas, you don't have to explain. I mean..yea, you do owe me an explanation, but whatever, it doesn't matter. I just thought...I thought we were friends, and I thought that you cared more for our friendship than to end it like this." The little huntress shook her head, and finally turned back to face him. He asked her to come with him, knowing even as the words left his mouth that she couldn't do what he asked. It was insulting in a way, first he suddenly tells her that he is leaving, and then to ask her to give up on her dream to follow his? Aela didn't know whether to laugh or scream at him for being so stupid. "I can't go with you Vaas, you know that. How could you even ask me that? " The girl could feel her emotions rising and beginning to twirl out of control, but she still tried to calm herself. "You're asking me to leave and give up my dream for you when...when you won't do the same for me?" Again she shook her head and turned away from him and started to walk off. "I'm not really hungry anymore. You can go if you want, I'm going home."

[Whimsy]

Aela Calder

Experience	Lore
+1 Wilderness Survival	Sleeping Out of Doors
+1 Medicine	Assessing One's Wounds
+2 Falconry	Recognising Hunger in Raptors
+3 Observation	Djed Mutated Birds
+1 Tactics	A Reluctance to Attack
+1 Weapon: Long Bow	Scaring off Birds
	Potential Feelings for Vaas
	Jealousy
	Taking Down a Tent
	Abandoned by a Best Friend

Comments
A shame it ended so suddenly! I gave you what I could in terms of skills. Wonderful writing as ever, I hope Aela recovers from her loss! PM me if you have any questions or concerns.

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