Completed Meeting Someone Special (Valo)

[Besnik]

Besnik 10th of Winter, 512 AV ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Valo had moved up close to the Kelvic in the time it had taken the curious man to cover his hands in oil paints. The expression of pure anger on his face made him hesitate, feeling as though he’d been punched in the face. He automatically cowered a little, shaking nervously rather than from the cold. The moment only lasted a couple of seconds before the redhead’s expression suddenly changed and a startling noise escaped him. Startled, Besnik jumped, only to realise than Valo was in fact laughing now, rather than yelling at him. Relieved, the Kelvic smiled shyly with an apologetic look, a light dusting of pink across his cheeks showing his embarrassment at getting into the situation he was in. It wasn’t the animal’s fault that he’d never had the opportunity to see the tools artists use to create their masterpieces. He’d only been curious about what the items lining the room in small piles were about. It was in his nature to investigate all the details and this room was like a treasure box of new scents and discoveries to make, different things to learn about civilisation this time rather than the wilderness. A pair of red eyebrows raised quickly as Valo issued the warning about paints being toxic. Suddenly Besnik found himself glad that he hadn’t attempted to clean his hands off with his tongue. This new environment was such a sudden change, most people kicking him out and shooing him away from their families, that it would take him time to adapt before he fully came out as his playful self. He allowed himself to be led by Valo, noting that the man didn’t seem to want to get the paint on his hands either. He couldn’t tell why; it had been fun to play with, despite the mess it made on his skin. The Kelvic was dragged into another room, looking around in awe at the different scenery. There was a much cleaner smell in here, with a slight chemical harshness that irritated him. He definitely preferred the painted room, no matter how toxic, to the chemical one. He huffed indignantly as the coat which had been keeping him warm was rudely pulled from his shoulders, sending a half hearted glare at the other man as he left with a warning to stay still. Besnik’s more rebellious side tried to goad him into disobeying, but his instincts told him Valo was trustworthy and he’d already made a good impression on the dhole, so obedience won out. Following instruction once Valo returned, the Kelvic stepped into the basin with a pout. He hated bathing, it was boring and pointless unless it was something that accidentally happened during swimming. He held out his hands for Valo, unsure what he was going to do but trusting him anyway. However, when the turpentine bottle was opened he snarled in a purely animalistic way, the scent so strong it felt like he’d been knocked out. Not only was it strong, but harsh as well, like a fire burning its way through his breathing system. Shaking a little, head turned away, he kept still as some of the vile liquid was poured onto a cloth and spread across the mess over his skin. It went on like that for a little while, until the second cloth was prepared and the action repeated. At the third cloth, he turned his head back to the one helping with and grumbled out, “The smell had better come off of me. I’d rather risk eating the paint that have that scent following me around.” Nonetheless he allowed the other to continue until the paint was fully rinsed from his hands, and the clothes lay by his feet. At Valo’s comment he snorted, “You’re more likely to find your stock completely gone than filled up if you let me near it.” He glared at the bottle as the cap was replaced as if to make his point, though the smell wasn’t so bad now the source was once again covered. It lingered in the air, putrid fumes hacking at his sensitive senses, yet the strength was lessened. Besnik cheered up slightly when his hands were once again taken by the other man, this time rinsed with soap and water. The soap scent masked the turpentine fairly well, causing relief for the Kelvic. He looked back up with a soft smile to thank Valo, but his eyes met with dark green ones and the words he was about to say were lost to him. He felt drawn to the other, for reasons he hadn’t fully figured out yet. Used to being a free spirit, drifting between towns and occasionally acting as a pet just to get food, he was new to truly trying to socialise with someone. He was definitely new to his strange actions around Valo, much more submissive and nervous in case he got something wrong. Their spirits seemed to be connected, as though their meeting was inevitable. Besnik didn’t know how long they spent simply looking at each other, small smiles present, but he could feel himself wanting more and more to spend time with Valo and stick around. He’d never felt tied down to one place before, the idea making him feel as trapped as the thought of slave traders catching him and collaring his dhole form, yet perhaps Zeltiva was somewhere he was supposed to end up. He’d jumped on the ship by chance, bored of the lands he wandered and seeking a change. Perhaps meeting Valo was the change he’d been after; it was entirely unexpected and different to anything he’d known, but maybe the lonely Kelvic needed that. Suddenly Besnik moved, ducking his head slightly as he leant forwards so that Valo’s chin ended up resting atop his head; another way of showing thanks, but also saying that he didn’t yet want to leave. As a canine he was unable to purr, especially in his human form, but the rumbling mumble resounding in his chest sounded very close to it and gave the same effect. The sound ended in a content sigh as he nuzzled more into Valo’s neck. The other’s skin gave off a warmth that seemed to wrap around the Kelvic despite having had the fabric stolen from him and his hands damp with cold water. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Besnik|| ||3 years|| ||Kelvic|| ||Bondmate - Valo||

[Valo]

One thing was true. Valo had a soft heart, perhaps almost too soft. And this became painfully apparent once the red haired Kelvic leaned into his naked chest. It was a new feeling this. One that he wasn't quite sure he was comfortable with, as his mind screamed at him 'Put on some clothes sir!' But that was truly a hopeless endeavour. And wrapped in his hopelessness, though it was comical to say the least, Valo finally gave up his very last defence against the contact. Leaning his cheek slightly into the soft red hair before him, he rubbed the back of the man's neck with the very tips of his fingers, much like he'd do to an obedient dog. A soft smile lingered on his face,but his thoughts of confusion subsided to a simplistic feeling. A simplistic emotion of merely enjoying the moment. Valo was a lonely soul. Perpetually wrapped up in his art he had little time to crate any kind of relationship with something other than his paint. Perhaps this was finally a chance to break away from that alienation. A soft purr-like sound emanated from the vocal chords of his companion. He wasn't doing him self any favours indeed. For Valo had always thought of Kelvics as people who just so happened to have the ability to transform into animals as they pleased, but were still essentially human. Human just like any other species. Human just like him. This encounter truly showed how ignorant he had been, despite his travelling, despite his utmost cultured persona. How little he had known of Mizahar. For the very behaviour of Besnik was anything but human. Seemingly every action had some kind of animalistic connotation, a complete rejection of standard code of conduct in modern society. Perhaps Valo had been a little jealous this freedom which resulted. But for the most park, the artist found it challenging to think of Besnik as a man. Valo pulled away and made his way to the bunk where his shirt lay. There was much elegance in his movement, his posture perfect, almost like a dancer though he had never done a day of dancing in his life. A flamboyant person he was, not only rendered so by his hair but by his very manner. Quickly the artist pulled on his white shirt again, buttoning it right up to his throat meritoriously. Slender fingers fiddled with the little white buttons. If one had never seen his home, he'd be fooled into thinking of Valo as some high class citizen, perhaps a rich man. But of course Besnik had now learned of the truth. "May I enquire as to your purpose here in Zeltiva?" asked Valo, looking towards his companion. He didn't mind his presence within his home for just a while longer, but if that were the case, then some small talk at least was in order.

[Besnik]

Besnik ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Besnik appreciated the return of the embrace, no matter how small Valo’s actions. He felt the slight pressure of the man leaning his chin on the Kelvic’s head, and the touch of the other against the back of his neck. For the change in environment to have happened so fast, and considering the fact that he’d spent the majority of the last few seasons in his canine form, it wasn’t unusual that the man was taking longer than usual to readjust to his human body. He felt unsettled, skittish even, but the being in the other’s presence was beginning to calm him down a little. It was like the strange fog of instincts that forced him to act on animal terms was slowly lifting to the extent it usually had on Besnik. By the time Valo pulled away, the Kelvic was feeling much more settled. His disposition remained the same, yet the more playful side of him was dominant over the canine one and his eyes seemed calmer, if only slightly. There was a look of content about him for a moment, before he realised the other had moved away to put his shirt back on. Tilting his head slightly, Besnik decided that he should probably mimic the human action much as he saw little reason to. Now that he was sat alone in the basin there was still a noticeable chill, so at least putting on something would keep him warm and compensate for the lack of fur. The canine leapt over the side of the tub whilst Valo’s back was turned, using on hand to propel him and then balance him after his feet landed on the hard floor. He quickly darted passed the other man with almost silent steps, a few drops of water escaping from his still damp hands to land on the floor, and re-entered the room holding the nicer scent. His aim was for the backpack, which he knelt beside and began to paw through. He had thought ahead, his clothes near the top of the bag. He threw them on effortlessly, the loose fitting trousers only tight enough around his waist to be kept up and the shirt more a piece of fabric hanging to cover him up than anything fancy. He turned back to the doorway, looking toward Valo. He saw the man begin to speak as he did the last button of his fancy shirt up, noticing the complete difference in attire to his own. The man whose home this was probably chose his clothes for their look, to send out the right attitude, as a pose to Besnik’s own reasons; convenience. If he wore something that took forever to remove he’d risk harm if he was attacked and needed to switch forms. If he wore something expensive it would be a shame to ruin it or lose it, misplaced hidden on a patch of mud in the woods while he hunted. “My purpose?” he repeated Valo’s words with a small frown on his face, “I have none.” The Kelvic grinned at the strange question, curious as to what answer the other man could be searching for. He moved towards the redhead, careful this time to avoid touching anything no matter how much he itched to explore the room. His eyes were wide, searching for an answer as he took his turn to ask Valo a question. “Why should I need a purpose for coming here? I simply hid on a ship and ended up at Zeltiva’s docks. Here’s as good a place as any to explore, right?” Besnik had no home and no attachments to anywhere. It was both a very free and very lonely lifestyle. He moved from place to place without care, the only real purpose in his life being to survive. He found somewhere new, explored it until it bored him, and then moved on without having made any connections. Half of the time he wandered through forests, his only contact for days on end being with fellow canines. As this was the only way of life he knew, the idea of having a purpose to go somewhere was utterly foreign to him. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Besnik|| ||3 years|| ||Kelvic|| ||Bondmate - Valo||

[Valo]

To his surprise, the Kelvic was completely clothed when answering and led him wonder how he managed to do it so quickly, and without the keen eyes of the artist noticing. Then again did it really matter? His reply to such a simple question was utmost strange. How could a man not have a purpose in coming to a city? After all, this was Zeltiva of all places. Most men come here to learn or settle down in comfort, for it was a safe place in comparison to many other cities anyway. Yet to have no purpose was like living one's life for no purpose. Besnik stepped closer to the artist and asked. “Why should I need a purpose for coming here? I simply hid on a ship and ended up at Zeltiva’s docks. Here’s as good a place as any to explore, right?” his eyes staring at Valo with utmost emotion. He was so very animated, so curious in his every deed. A strange man indeed. Valo stared back fro a moment before diverting his attention. "I suppose it is as good a place as any." he sighed. To be frank, he couldn't quite wrap his head around this man; which was strange for he found that, providing he had enough time, he could understand just about anything. But Besnik was a whole new challenge. Finding him self unable to produce anything more coherent than such a short answer, he found him self wondering who on earth this man before him was. Where did he come from? What was his past? Had he any? Or was this it? Was he just a leaf that had fallen down into the river and had no choice for will other than to travel with the tide? "And where might you be staying, shall I ever wish to see you again mr Besnik?" he asked, almost playfully. But his features were all but playful. His ever animated eyes betrayed his deep thought. He was often better at hiding his emotion of confusion, but for some reason in this case he felt no need to.

[Besnik]

Besnik ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Besnik met Valo’s gaze as the other agreed with his statement that Zeltiva was as good a place as any. Rather than an assertion, Valo’s answer appeared to be a musing within his head spoken out loud, not something the Kelvic was supposed to answer to. The sigh accompanying the words was not lost on him, and confusion overtook him. He didn’t understand how what he’d said could confusion the man in any way. It seemed as though communicating was difficult, many layers of different cultures ingrained within the two people having to be unravelled before they could truly understand what each other meant. Though they looked alike their ways of thinking were anything but. The Kelvic stood half way between the exit and the doorway Valo occupied, listening intently to the man’s words. He tried to decipher any hidden meaning beneath them, in order to help him figure out how the other worked, but so far nothing managed to spring to mind. Besnik could tell by one look in the green eyes that the man was thinking hard, confusing barely there but present. He realised that the same process going through his own mind was probably working its way through Valo also. If the canine was struggling to interpret what the man meant by his actions, then the opposite must also be true. Even so, he couldn’t understand what Valo could mean by the question. His tone was somewhat playful, yet his expression anything but. Automatically, the Kelvic’s head tilted slightly to the side and betrayed that he was thinking hard. He gave up after a few moments, thinking taking too much effort on his already tired brain. He hadn’t had much to eat recently, his skinnier than usual appearance displaying that as though it were something he’d want everyone to know. After shifting for the first time in a while, he was now very hungry and tired, which meant thinking things through took second priority. In the end he decided to answer the question honestly, taking the words at face value as though Valo were truly interested in where he was staying. “I’ll be staying in whatever crevice happens to be nearby when night falls, or I feel tired,” he grinned as he informed the other of his sleeping arrangements, “I might be in the forest too, if hunting’s good there. If you wanted to find me while I’m awake, just look for wherever there’s a disturbance.” He laughed at that, the sound almost being able to be called a giggle, as his words brought memories to mind. He was a prank player, especially bad if he was bored, and stirring up mischief. Nothing was ever done with ill spirits; he just got bored very easily. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Besnik|| ||3 years|| ||Kelvic|| ||Bondmate - Valo||

[Valo]

It was a fact that Valo's very manner was displayed though a prism of social acceptance, but such was the case due to his upbringing. Having grown up in Wind Reach, which was an intensely complex caste system, this was the only possible result. Besides he'd thought him self a liberated man...though perhaps not as liberated as Besnik. Had anyone truly ever been as liberated as he was? Valo made his way to the wall of the cottage, against which he leaned. There was one chair only in this place and that indeed was not a way to treat a guest. For Besnik was now a guest in his home and a clothed one, which made the Inarta little more comfortable at least. He then gestured to the bed, for if his guest was to make him self comfortable, that was the only decent place to sit "I'd strongly advise, mr Besnik, that you'd perhaps think of residing within the World's End Grotto. It would truly be a shame if you fell prey to the elements for winters in Zeltiva have a habit of ruthlessness for those without roofs over their heads." he said. The distinct accent which was frequently present within his smother voice, seemed to subside for a while. "I would offer you my humble homestead but as you can sea, there's little room for me alone. Though you should visit me often." and with the very last sentence Valo smiled a warm, genuine smile. The offer was heart felt. Loneliness was a curse.

[Besnik]

Besnik ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Kelvic man listened to Valo’s advise, storing the name of the place he had spoken of inside his mind for later. In animal form it really didn’t matter too much about the cold, for his fur kept him relatively warm, but perhaps resting his head in a bed for a few nights wasn’t such a bad idea. He wasn’t keen on spending what little money he had, but there were probably jobs around Zeltiva that he could do to earn a bit more. Besides, he didn’t need to buy too much food as he was fairly good at hunting in his canine form. “Thanks,” Besnik nodded with a genuine smile on his face, “I’ll search it out and consider that.” He moved to pick up his bag, throwing it swiftly over his shoulders, “and thank you for letting me warm up a bit here.” He headed for the door, feeling strangely upset about leaving yet excited at the same time at the prospect of another adventure waiting for him. It was still only morning, after all, and there was still much to see and do within the city. Hand on the door handle, Besnik turned back to Valo at that final comment. “I’ll take you up on that offer if I stick around the city long enough,” he responded, before opening the door and hopping outside. He shut it carefully and began to walk away, sun now higher in the sky than when he had awoken on the street. He passed the corner he had been curled up in, walking past people who didn’t even glance at him now he was human and fully clothed, and headed in a direction he’d not yet ventured in, ready to discover new things. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Besnik|| ||3 years|| ||Kelvic|| ||Bondmate - Valo||

[Paragon]

Besnik

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	3
Investigation	1
Philosophy	2
Rhetoric	1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	It's Easier As An Animal
•	Helped by a Human
•	Valo (acquaintance)
•	Dangers of Paint
•	Kelvic Without Cause
•	Location: World's End Grotto

Valo

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Wilderness Survival	1
Drawing	1
Observation	1
Socialisation	2
Leadership	1
Rhetoric	1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Attaching Candles to Trees as a Light Source
•	Helping Another Need
•	Besnik (acquaintance)
•	Offering Friendship

Legend Becomes Reality

I understand Besnik is Kelvic, but you really can't live rough in Zeltiva. If the guards saw a fox or whatever they would either kill it on sight or move it back out into the pass. You'll need to find somewhere more permanent to stay. Regardless, you play Kelvic fantastically. Spot on. Once again enjoyed the dynamics from the both of you, fun meet and greet! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can work from there.