Though it rarely came, there would sometimes be a singular moment that dawned upon Hirem that seemed to last for an age, when his heart would leap into his throat and lodge itself tightly there, making him forget how to breathe for a few dizzying ticks, and he would know that what he was experiencing was something that defied logic. What's worse, that moment would not only defy reason, but defy emotion, defy faith, defy everything that composed Hirem the man. His mind would careen and stop like a wagon missing a wheel, and thoughts of his duty, his past, even Yahal would be knocked far from his reach. He would be left, gasping for life, in a situation that he frankly couldn't begin to understand or describe, left to deal with his confusing emotions and exiled into a realm that he knew not who to traverse. It was in those rare moments that he realized that, for all of his endless wanderings and quests of faith and grappling with identity, he was still just a man. Even though his desire to become something more than human had spurred him on to leave Yahebah all those years ago, he was still a part of the norm, and was blessed with the thoughts, doubts, and experiences that man was so kind enough to receive from the gods.
Hirem was knocked into that moment a tick after he first placed a hand on Alaia's cheek, when her own small fingers reached up and planted themselves against his. Realizing that the blush he had noticed earlier was still plastered on her face, realizing that her skin was soft to the touch and so very warm against his cold digits, and realizing that this was a surprisingly intimate position for any pair of newfound friends to be in, the Benshira shut down. He merely stared at her, his eyes wide as his senses revelled in the sweet delights this moment had to offer him. “I-I … well I wasn’t coming to see you for your sake. The Konti began to say, his dysfunctional ears only picking up around half of her sentence. "I went to the Rat Hole for my benefit. I would have gone to find you sooner if… well ... I wanted to find you sooner.” The words, strangely confusing to his dulled mind, went without comment from Hirem, who could only give a quiet, tentative nod. It must have been an amusing sight to see, this giant, aged man trembling like a newborn foal at the sight an open field. He himself was unaware of the comedy, so trapped was he in the oddity of that strange, delirious moment.
And then the healer was stepping closer to him, and the Benshira's first reaction was to back away... not because he mistrusted the Konti, but because he was terrified of what she might transform the moment into. But he didn't move, so struck was he by the gaze in her eyes and the blush that was adorning both of their faces. His whole body going as still as stone, Hirem was helpless to prevent Alaia from closing the distance, helpless to dodge away from her hand getting laid against his chest, and helpless to stop himself from giving a slight tremble as her lips pressed against his cheek. It was an embarrassing reaction that was more suited for a child than a grown man, but Hirem couldn't do anything to moderate himself. He was so unused to... whatever it was that Alaia was offering him, for its softness was not well adjusted to the Burning Lands. What is this woman to me? He wondered then, in the clumsy aftermath of the kiss getting planted on his cheek. A friend, yes... but unlike a friend that I've had before. At this thought, a scant memory of green eyes flooded his vision before being abruptly silenced, pulled back into the recesses of his mind before he could ponder its meaning. Is she just a friend to me? A kindred spirit? Gods help me, is she some kind of child in my eyes, worthy of protection? The matter was too confusing for him to delve into.
As Hirem watched Alaia settle back into a space away from him, busying herself with the lace of her dress, he tried to piece together the remains of his shattered mind into some form of coherence. What now? He wondered, struggling to determine what could possibly exist in the place of that earth-spinning moment. Should I try speaking? Change the conversation topic? Perhaps we might discuss her progress at the Gilia... Hirem thought that might be the course of action, but at the same time, knew that he could not just distract himself. It would be a lie to what truly dwelt within his heart, and Yahal detested lies. What he really wanted to say was... what? Alaia, the gesture was kind, and I am glad to have your companionship. Alaia, thank you for coming to the Rat Hole, but you must surely be mistaken when you think that I am worth seeing. Alaia, I... He had nothing. For one bizarre moment, he had nothing in his soul but a desire to kiss her again, to feel those soft lips pressed against his skin, and he feared growing addicted to such contact. To be held in that respect is to be loved, and I have gone far too long without being loved. But he stayed his hand, too afraid of both her and himself to enact anything that had the potential to change the moment. "Alaia..." he began, the word unsure on his lips.
And then the child showed up, and Hirem rejoiced. Finally! Something simple!
His head still dizzy from the heat of that blasted moment, the Benshira quickly nodded and moved to approach the child. "I can help as well," he said, glancing over at Alaia and giving her a quiet smile. "Please, show us the way." Following closely behind the child at a moderate sprint, Hirem thanked Yahal for a chance to get out of that strange, confusing situation.. and, of course, for delivering this child to them, so that they might help the poor youth in his - or her - time of need.
Hirem was knocked into that moment a tick after he first placed a hand on Alaia's cheek, when her own small fingers reached up and planted themselves against his. Realizing that the blush he had noticed earlier was still plastered on her face, realizing that her skin was soft to the touch and so very warm against his cold digits, and realizing that this was a surprisingly intimate position for any pair of newfound friends to be in, the Benshira shut down. He merely stared at her, his eyes wide as his senses revelled in the sweet delights this moment had to offer him. “I-I … well I wasn’t coming to see you for your sake. The Konti began to say, his dysfunctional ears only picking up around half of her sentence. "I went to the Rat Hole for my benefit. I would have gone to find you sooner if… well ... I wanted to find you sooner.” The words, strangely confusing to his dulled mind, went without comment from Hirem, who could only give a quiet, tentative nod. It must have been an amusing sight to see, this giant, aged man trembling like a newborn foal at the sight an open field. He himself was unaware of the comedy, so trapped was he in the oddity of that strange, delirious moment.
And then the healer was stepping closer to him, and the Benshira's first reaction was to back away... not because he mistrusted the Konti, but because he was terrified of what she might transform the moment into. But he didn't move, so struck was he by the gaze in her eyes and the blush that was adorning both of their faces. His whole body going as still as stone, Hirem was helpless to prevent Alaia from closing the distance, helpless to dodge away from her hand getting laid against his chest, and helpless to stop himself from giving a slight tremble as her lips pressed against his cheek. It was an embarrassing reaction that was more suited for a child than a grown man, but Hirem couldn't do anything to moderate himself. He was so unused to... whatever it was that Alaia was offering him, for its softness was not well adjusted to the Burning Lands. What is this woman to me? He wondered then, in the clumsy aftermath of the kiss getting planted on his cheek. A friend, yes... but unlike a friend that I've had before. At this thought, a scant memory of green eyes flooded his vision before being abruptly silenced, pulled back into the recesses of his mind before he could ponder its meaning. Is she just a friend to me? A kindred spirit? Gods help me, is she some kind of child in my eyes, worthy of protection? The matter was too confusing for him to delve into.
As Hirem watched Alaia settle back into a space away from him, busying herself with the lace of her dress, he tried to piece together the remains of his shattered mind into some form of coherence. What now? He wondered, struggling to determine what could possibly exist in the place of that earth-spinning moment. Should I try speaking? Change the conversation topic? Perhaps we might discuss her progress at the Gilia... Hirem thought that might be the course of action, but at the same time, knew that he could not just distract himself. It would be a lie to what truly dwelt within his heart, and Yahal detested lies. What he really wanted to say was... what? Alaia, the gesture was kind, and I am glad to have your companionship. Alaia, thank you for coming to the Rat Hole, but you must surely be mistaken when you think that I am worth seeing. Alaia, I... He had nothing. For one bizarre moment, he had nothing in his soul but a desire to kiss her again, to feel those soft lips pressed against his skin, and he feared growing addicted to such contact. To be held in that respect is to be loved, and I have gone far too long without being loved. But he stayed his hand, too afraid of both her and himself to enact anything that had the potential to change the moment. "Alaia..." he began, the word unsure on his lips.
And then the child showed up, and Hirem rejoiced. Finally! Something simple!
His head still dizzy from the heat of that blasted moment, the Benshira quickly nodded and moved to approach the child. "I can help as well," he said, glancing over at Alaia and giving her a quiet smile. "Please, show us the way." Following closely behind the child at a moderate sprint, Hirem thanked Yahal for a chance to get out of that strange, confusing situation.. and, of course, for delivering this child to them, so that they might help the poor youth in his - or her - time of need.
