Remain...Calm...(Aren and Aleksi)

[Ximal]

Spring 58th 513AV, Night.

Night had descended upon the city of nyka and the monks had begun to patrol the streets Xi however was heading towards the hostel. having spent the day in the war-fields Xi headed back from there towards the hostel coming from the north district. His gauntlets and steel plated boots still on. A rather uneventful day this far. Xi lifted his hands to his eyes thinking back on past days, it'd been on heck of a week. Thus far at least. Shyke it'd been one heck of a season, so much had happened , the event in the aperture, finding out about those gauntet's impossible strength, the event with ana, revy and seeing and crack. The events with aleksi on the fifty-fourth and, then that insanely fast childlike woman on the fifty-fifth. The events with the four armed man on the fortieth. The events with titus, that arrogant ass that reminded him of himself not too long ago. Xi'd been through one heck of a time. Xi shook his head and mused on the events heading back twards the hostel. Something was different about him though. Almost as if he was angry...And he hand't been like this in a long time.

[Aren]

"By Wysar... my leg. And my knee. And my BACK!" Aren bellowed mentally, his arm reaching up to his shoulder to try and comfort the source of this infernal torment. He also wanted to rub his knee, but that would have required bending over. Suspecting that if he did so, he might not unbend, Aren opted to simply endure that particular agony unassisted. Gods, not only did his body feel like it had just spent hours swimming against the current of a fierce river, but it was also aching all over the place. Honestly, the akalak didn't really know what was happening to him. All he knew was that he felt so exhausted that his mind couldn't focus on keeping the otherwise minimal pain of these wounds from having their full effect. Under normal circumstance, it would have been a relatively simple matter to tune out this level of discomfort, especially hours after the fact. The battle with Seros, however, had left him the most drained he had felt in a long time. "Are we there yet?" Aren moaned, already imagining collapsing into the first semi-fluffy object he encountered. His body felt so heavy, so lethargic, that it was almost like he was having difficulty waking up. His thoughts, on the other hand, felt almost empty without Seros' constant attempts to exercise his will. Aren felt so out of sorts that, under any other circumstances, he would be afraid that this was a perfect time for his brother to make his presence known. Of course since Seros was just as exhausted, and for the same reasons, that wouldn't be happening.

[Aleksi]

Aleksi took a deep breath and with every grunt she got from Aren, she squeezed her teeth so she wouldn't end up slapping herself. How could she have let that happen? How could she have let him get hurt so bad? Why did she care as much as she did? Shaking her head, she looked up at him and bit on her bottom lip Not yet, sadly... before letting the arm that was not wrapped around him call Night over, dropping all of their stuff onto his back and asking him kindly to take it home in Pavi. Then her fingers softly took Aren's arm and she pulled him closer to her so it would be easier for the Akalak to lean against her. The night was getting just a bit colder, so she added quietly, with as much care as she could while walking towards the city gates and hoping that none of the monks will be there to see them Are you ok? Do you want me to wrap my coat around you?, placing a somewhat close to a nuzzle against his chest in a worried manner. Somewhere in the distance, right before them, a noise could be heard. A strange noise, as if someone was hitting metal against metal lightly. It sounded somewhat familiar but it scared her as well. There was no way that the Akalak could fight and she was quite exhausted too and not to mention angry and emotional so she would probably be very bad at it. Approaching the dark, large shape in the night made the girl slow down. She wanted it to be nothing but a tree, or someone she knew.... could it be... it... it... her eyes opened wide as they approached enough to see Xi walking towards them. A loud gasp escaped her lips as the giant kept coming closer. She knew that if he saw her like that, it wouldn't end up nice... not for Aren anyway... but she couldn't just let the poor man go. Hoping Xi won't go crazy, she silently hugged Aren harder, just to make sure that if the man comes anywhere near them, her friend doesn't get any more hurt than he was. After all, she owed him her life...

[Ximal]

Xi kept his head down looking towards the ground curling his hands into fists inside his cloak. He sighed the cold night ar rolling ovefr him and billowing inside his loosely hanging cloak. Xi let out a deep breath as he headed now away from the hostel towards the outside of town, flicking his eye's up out of curiosity he caught sight of Aleksi. Looking like she was hanging onto something...Something blue. Xi felt his hand's grip tighten as he looked up and saw a blue tower only a couple of inches taller than himself. Xi really wanted to go over and just punch him in the face but would that make aleksi have another of her fit's and try and do everything in her power to stop him? So Xi just hung his head covered his eye's and watched the ground as he walked keeping his face hidden and trying to bottle his anger. He took a deep breath before hoping to sip past them and praying that neither would notice, mostly because he didn't want a repeat of what happened with titus. More for his sanity than anything else. Xi took s slow breath and carried on walking towards them pretending he hadn't seen them and hoping that neither of them wouldn't mention him so he'd have to stop and talk. Because then he might not be able to mask the anger in his voice. Just remain...calm...Xi, stay calm.

[Aren]

As they walked, Aren felt like he was almost a burden on Aleksi. He was barely moving under his own power, and it felt like he was putting a great deal of his weight on her shoulders. She was very kind, he thought, to help him despite what she now knew about him. "Tell me Aleksi, why does my scythe feel like it's getting heavier by the chi-" Aren felt like he had to talk just to keep his mind off the fact that his body was liable to drop at any minute, but the akalak grew silent when he noticed that they were not alone in the supposedly deserted streets of the night. From what he had heard, Nyka was very dangerous at night, and those who remained outdoors during this time did so at their own peril. Aren and Aleksi, for example, were not here by choice, time having snuck up on them whilst they "sparred". The reasons of this unknown quantity, however, could not be ascertained at a glance, and so the blue-skinned warrior could not preclude the possibility that they included nefarious purposes. With his head down, and a cloak intentionally covering his features, their new guest certainly wasn't helping his case. Aren was in no shape to defend himself, much less someone else, from a determined attacker, but he couldn't ignore the possibility that this stranger might mean them harm. Whether Cut-purse or killer, the akalak couldn't rightly say, but the man's demeanor begged the question as to either one. Being able to see him perfectly, even in this black night, Aren knew that this stranger was paying an overabundance of attention to the pair. Perhaps it was simply because it was strange to see people wondering the streets at night, or perhaps it was because he thought about them the same thing that Aren suspected about him. Perhaps, it might have even been because he had never seen such a large individual before. Unfortunately, this last one was in doubt; the man was nearly as tall as Aren himself was, and somehow seemed even thicker. In fact, the closer the two parties came to each other, the more likely it seemed to the cerulean giant that conflict was inevitable. This human mountain simply demonstrated too many qualities warranting suspicion. Once Aleksi herself reacted to the intruder's presence, apparently recognizing either him, or perhaps who he was supposed to be, Aren knew he had to act. The drykas' response: gasping, and holding onto him tighter, assured him of that. Fully discarding Aleksi's support, Aren straightened himself out to the best of his abilities. Appearing weak in one of these situation, he suspected, was doubtless a bad idea. Extending his left hand out towards their unwelcome guest, the akalak bid him stop, "I don't know who you are, and I don't really care, but I am going to have to insist that you not come any closer," while the cautious warrior's right hand took refuge at his back, obscuring it from sight. Aren honestly didn't know if he had the will, or focus of mind, to even attempt what he was planning, but he did know that it might well be their only chance if conflict did ensue here. To this end, he began to produce a gaseous concentration of res which hovered above the palm of his obscured hand. It was a relatively small amount, his aim not being some grand display, but to create an effect that was difficult to notice, and gradual in it's progression.

[Aleksi]

The Akalak was quite heavy really, but she had no issues with it. She, more than happily, helped him walk since she knew that part of what happened that night was her fault. Looking up at him as she heard him speak, she smiled warmly and forgot the danger that was so near them for a second before biting on her lip and looking Xi's way as Aren stopped. When he straightened himself, she did her best to keep him close, but as soon as she noticed that he was going to let his arm move forward, she mumbled No... quietly and then sighed. He already spoke and well, there was no way that this would end well. Her fingers were gripping onto the Akalak's back as she tried to calm him down, whispering Calm your horses Aren Looking over to the man he addressed, she smiled. Aleksi wanted to see him, she really did... but not at that particular time and not in that situation. Especially after remembering what happened the last time he saw her close to another man, even on a purely friendly level. Coughing a bit to clear her throat, she mumbled almost shyly Hi Xi... as if to.. well she didn't know what either, really. It might have been a good idea to let go of Aren and make her way to the one she knew better, try to calm him down and make sure he understood what happened that night, but it didn't seem like the Akalak could stand on his own for too long. So, Aleksi just hoped for the best and held onto her friend, somewhat expecting Xi's rage that she could literally feel, to jump out of him and cause a very, very bad ending to that little happy story.

[Ximal]

Xi kept his head down watching the ground with, caution as he stepped closer towards the pair. Slowly encroaching upon them, the distance between slowly disappearing before him until he heard the blue guy speak. He was going to have to insist that he not come any closer. Xi sighed and lifted his hood enough to leer at the akalak both deep black blue eye's taking in the crackle of light from a far off torch. The dancing flames being reiterated and reflected back as the fires of his own anger. Xi controlled his voice and spoke in a clam and even tone...even if it was edged with chipped flint. "Out of the way akalak. I've no business with you." Xi only spoke those words and took another step forwards, only to hear aleksi now speak. So she knew him...Xi just shook his head as she spoke. "Hello to you too aleksi..." Xi Just took a deep breath and rolled his fingers into a fist beneath his cloak. And not his voice came out in a slightly angry tone with a small edge to it. "Just let me pass.I dont plan on doing anything." Xi then caught a slight flicker of something he couldn't quite make out almost like a haze above the akalak's hand invisible but with a heat wave effect. Xi had no clue what it was but he'd caught sight of it slightly.

[Aren]

As the drykas and this Xi ruffian spoke, Aren got the distinct impression that they knew each other. In addition, Aleksi had urged the akalak to calm himself, further supporting the notion that there was more going on here than met the eye. That being said, the demeanor of this stranger begged to differ. The look in this Xi's eyes, the manner of his walk... they did not seem possessed of an overabundance of this calm Aleksi would have Aren demonstrate. Even the human's words betrayed his countenance, his voice polluted by the unmistakable taint of anger. Fortunately, the akalak had lived a long time, and based on Aleksi's reaction to their new acquaintance, he could guess why this poor fellow might be rightly entitled to some anger. Xi, he realized, was likely the other giant the drykas had told him about, earlier today. Aren relaxed somewhat, letting his left hand fall to his side. Even so he was keeping his other plan in motion, which was slowly, but gradually lowering the illumination level of the street they were on. It was simply a precautionary measure, as one never knew how these lover's quarrels could go, but the akalak doubted things were likely to come to blows now. Standing aside, Aren was happy to give Xi the right of way and more, "Maybe you'd better go with him," he whispered in Aleksi's ear, "I'll manage on my own,"

[Aleksi]

Aleksi took a deep breath, holding onto Aren tighter as she heard Xi speak. A soft smile curled her lips up and her cheeks got a nice pink shade, for some reason. Maybe it was embarrassment, maybe it was because she missed him or remembered something they've done. The way he said hello to her, made her whimper though. It was so cold, so strange... So nothing like him, whenever she was there. Biting her bottom lip and looking away, she did her best to calm down. It couldn't have gone any worse, if she begged for it. He was there, obviously angry and Aren, well, he was overly friendly as always, which if she didn't react, would probably get him in trouble. When Aren spoke, she looked up at him and shook her head a bit. Inviting Night to come closer, she added quietly Stay here, I'll try to convince Night to let you get on.... but before that, I must speak to Xi. Looking at the tall man now, she rubbed Night's neck and left Aren there, to lean against her Strider. Walking away, she approached Xi. Please.... calm down.... Aren is a friend of mine and we were just training out in the field. her fingers reaching towards Xi's face. She missed him, she really missed him, but she knew it wouldn't be a smart choice to go for the "jump and hug" attitude. All she could do without consequences was to smiled, hope for the best and offer him as much affection as she could at the time.

[Ximal]

Xi flexed his fingers beneath his cloak. he was angry, and vividly so. It may have been just the events of the last pat of the season catching up with him however, he'd almost died three times this season. or if he counted the centre of the season he'd been in life threatening situations for a long while, and he could honestly feel himself...Enjoying it? Xi shook his head and refocused back on the task at hand as he saw aleksi walking towards him. he felt a little sliver of his anger drain from him. Still he was annoyed and he could feel his anger pooping around him like a thick cloak of living flame. Xi felt the a strong want to hug her to pull her close and just feel her within his arms again. But another part of him wanted to scream at her....Was she always like this? had she just fallen for Xi first and been used as a simple stepping stone to other and better things? Xi wasn't sure whether to be angry...Or sad...He flt...well he wasn't sure what he felt...Xi hung his head lower and refused to lift it, letting the solemn darkness cast over his face and darken his black blue eye's into hardened shards of obsidian. He was clam...or rather...he wanted to pretend he was calm.. on the surface, he was still calm if a little edged with anger but within...he wasn't sure what he was feeling, Xi hung his head and let his shoulders slump as she said this was a friend who went out with her training. Xi shook his head beneath his hod ins such small movements it would barely be noticeable to all but the keenest of individuals. "I suppose your taking him to the infirmary then...After all...he doesn't look like he's in the best shape..." Xi's voice was a cold tone, edged with watery words...He'd just decided to let things be. He wouldn't be able to do anything to stop her...so he'd just have to let things be...