Beachhead Blue (OPEN)

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on February 27th, 2011, 6:27 pm

91st Winter 510AV

Serrif woke; and actually felt a little better than he did the day before. His body ached from the trip he had made carrying Keyta. He had all his things, save the shells that he had given Blythe. He stirred some and figured maybe this time he would get to catch something. He had setup camp near the ocean; he could hear the waves. They had lulled him to sleep last night. He found it peaceful here and well he figured that he would fish today. He grabbed his fishing equipment and headed back to the surf. He looked out to the ocean and nodded. He liked it here; it was nice and above all free of things that reminded him of his past.

He wondered how Blythe and Keyta were getting along. And well he couldn't just stop in because he had no idea where she lived. Even though he had carried Keyta all the way to Blythe's house he still didn't have much of an idea of where she lived. He didn't know where she lived exactly. He was new to how everything was laid out in the town and he wasn't about to wonder about and look for her home. That would give him a bad reputation which was something he didn't need. And he couldn't just walk around and ask where she lived; he didn't even know her last name. So he went to the edge of the surf and put tack on his hook. He figured he would catch something...eventually. He closed his eyes and really took everything in. He seemed to almost drift away into infinity. His mind swayed with the surf and he was gone...gone with the sea and the morning sun. It was a beautiful day out and the morning was inspiring.

He wondered if he would ever see Blythe or Keyta again. He continued to fish. He eventually found something was biting. Although he wasn't sure how long he had been here fishing. He pulled a fish out of the water. He wasn't sure what it was but it was all the same to him really. He Set the fish aside and figured he would get around to killing and eating it later. He wasn't sure how he would go about cooking it yet. But he knew he would have to start a fire. He put more tack on the line and casted out into the surf. He figured if he caught one fish here he was likely to catch a second. He looked out into the wonderful blue hue of the ocean. He smiled.

It was just about now that he wished he could paint. The sunrise was a wonderful display of golden fingers reaching up above the endless blue horizon. Serrif hadn't ever seen the sunrise over the ocean before. The ocean brought peaceful feelings; the lulling sounds seemed to wash his cares away. God he wished he could paint. It was wonderfully inspiring but he lacked skills in that domain; and he knew it. Well he could make paint; but that was about it. He had no idea even where to start learning if he wanted to. His mind swirled and he wished that he knew how to paint this wonderful scene before him. Well that was life for you.

He looked out over the horizon and smiled. The sun was just coming up and well he had already caught one fish. It was going to be a good day. He would cook it eventually but well for now he would try to catch as many fish as he could and eventually he would get a good amount of fish; or he would quit when he caught three or so. He would eat well tonight. Or he would try. He didn't have anything to eat with the fish. But he had fish and that was more than enough for him tonight.

by **E'isi** on February 27th, 2011, 8:39 pm

Eisi tip toed out of her house, trying not to wake her family. She gently closed the door as she took in a breath. It was still dark, daybreak was just a few moments away. She had to make it to the beach before the sun hit the sky. In hand she held her mothers paints, a bag with a pad of paper, and some fruit to eat as she took in what was defiantly going to be a wonderful morning.

Walking down the path, she wondered what would bring inspiration today. Would it be the giants of the sea, heading back to their breeding grounds, or a sea bird flying around, maybe a child playing in the sand. She smiled at the opportunity to paint something wonderful, something that truly was beautiful. She felt the cobble stone path fade away to soft sand, stopping for a moment she bent down and took off her shoes, wiggling her webbed toes freely, enjoying the freedom that it brought. She stood back up and glanced at the sky, yes she made it in time, the sun just started to lighten the sky's, rays of blues, golds, and purples filled the horizon. She quickly gathered her shoes in a free hand and went to find a spot to sit and watch till she found her inspiration she so hoped for. Finding a spot back off the water, she sat down, gathering her long whit skirt up so she could sink her legs into the cool sand. She pulled out the pad of paper, and laid the paints beside her using her skirt to keep the sand away. There she watched as the world around her took to life of a new day.

As the rays of the sun licked the sky's, Eisi herself awoken. He long white hair was pulled to the side, lightly waving down her shoulder. Her cat shaped eyes illuminated, reflecting the hues of the sun, combined with lavish hues of blues and purples. He rose pink lips slightly parted as she took in the first of the morning air. Even her scales seemed to enjoy the first of the morning lights, reflecting with hints of soft blues. Eisi closed her eyes and smiled. This will surly be a great day.

When she opened her eyes she saw a man. She watched as he throw his line out, she tilted her head and grabbed a pencil. He was standing just to the right of her, further up at the sea, the sun rise was hitting him so beautifully she couldn't help but to draw what she seen in front of her.

She started with the mans out line, he was tall, standing straight and looking out to the morning sun. She captured his fluent movement as he cast and relied in a fish. She then drew a soft out line of the sun, then moved on to the sea. She smiled brighter as the blank piece of paper took on life. After finishing the drawing of this man and the scenery around her she grabbed a her paint. She started with the blue sky, and the golden sun, hoping that this man will stay there till she was finished. She found her inspiration.

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on February 27th, 2011, 11:40 pm

Serrif continued to fish and stare out over the horizon, every now and then he would have to squint due to the intensity of the rising sun. He closed his eyes again and could feel the mist of the sea on his skin. He loved being here. Now all he had to wait for was a girl falling from the sky and breaking her arm and leg..then this would be déjà vu all over again. That would be an interesting recital; one he wasn't sure if he wanted to repeat. He felt a little better after his one day stint in the Opal Temple. They did what he could in one night and he figured they likely wanted him to come back again. Well that was something he figured he would eventually do. But for now he was feeling pretty good. His head was clear and the waves were more than amazing.

The sun's warm rays gently fell across his skin and well he felt really alive for the first time in a very long time. He really had no idea he was being watched. Let alone sketched and painted. Not like that would've changed anything anyway. And it was better off him not knowing because it kept things a little more lifelike for the woman. The beach was indeed a wonderful place to be today. The waves and the sunrise were perfect spectacles for any and all who wished to see it. And so far there were two takers for this grand event. Not many woke up early around here it appeared. But the truth was that Serrif always woke early as of recent. It was a habit of sorts.

With his eyes closed and senses honed in on maybe getting a bite he began to think back to what was. His life in the camp. It was something he viewed as distant now. But something he had yet to distance himself from. It was so much a part of who he was right now that he found it hard if not impossible to just forget. And he really couldn't do that by any means. He had learned and experienced so much that it was impossible to even begin to say what had actually happened. He remembered bits and pieces of that nearly 3 year stint. And what he could recall horrified him; and what he couldn't chilled him to the core. He wondered just what had been done. What he had done in those times he couldn't remember. His memory was chaff in the wind. Everything before the camp he was completely unable to recall. And well everything after up until now was spotty at best. He had no idea how this could be so but; well it just was and sometimes you just had to live with that.

He continued to fish for a good hour and decided there had to be someone else here. He looked about and well there was someone else here. Another Konti women. He smiled and noted she was doing something art related. He couldn't tell exactly because of the sun and all but he figured she would share with him if she wished to do so. He wasn't going to impose on her...or anyone else for that fact. He was a visitor here; and he was going to act as such. He knew only that it was a Konti woman by her hair; and the fact that there didn't seem to be a whole lot of other races here. He wondered why exactly that was; but came to no definitive conclusions.

Just then he felt a bite and reeled it in. He set it with the other fish he had caught then put tack back on the hook and casted back out. He was going to have fish for breakfast. And well maybe lunch he could have fish too. It seemed he was quite lucky as of late. The cards were falling in his favor...relatively. And well he was going to be well fed which was important if he wanted to gain any of his strength back. He still looked rather fragile which bothered him. But what could one expect after years of meager rations at a slave camp? He was just lucky to still be alive if anything at all. He looked back over the horizon. It was absolutely beautiful; something he would burn into his memories. Something that would chase away all the nightmarish demons in his mind. He smiled and felt calm. He felt serenity here at the sea and a smile crept across his face. He was learning to love it here on the isle.

He didn't have to be paranoid here. In his mind he was pretty sure these women wouldn't turn in a runaway slave; if they even knew he was one for sure. They were tied up emotionally and well sending back a runaway slave was pretty much a death sentence. Or worse... So he was pretty sure they wouldn't turn him in. And did they really have a reason to? He wasn't hurting anyone and truth be told so far he had done more good than harm here since he stepped of that ship. He had helped a girl become accepted more by her friend and grown their friendship. He was doing well by anyone's book he believed. And he planned on learning more of the art of medicine, herbalism, and philtering. This would allow him to better aid those that really needed it. So his intentions were good. And the women here seemed to be pretty good at seeing that. So why get rid of him?

by **E'isi** on February 28th, 2011, 3:55 am

With each stroke of the brush, the paper came to life. The sun, only intensifying the scene before her, she dipped her brush in a dark shade of blue, twisting her wrist as her strokes hit the bottom of the paper. She swirled the color in a circular motion, adding depth to the water she so vividly watched. Stopping only to dip in a vibrant, lighter shade of blue, she fluently blended the blues to match perfectly. She stopped and held the painting away from her a bit, the water almost blended seamlessly with that of the painting. But yet it was still missing something, she sat there and bit the inner of her lip as she thought of what she could add to reflect the scene before her more adequately. Setting the painting on her lap she watched the waves, they rolled in to the shore, taking away little bits of sand at a time. She watched as the sun reflected off the waters, with golds and silvers, the blue sky mixed with that of the sun.

She looked back to the man, resting her head on a hand. He seemed to be enjoying himself. She imaged what it would feel like to be in a place she did not know. The wonders this man had seen. The freedoms that awaited out there. She smiled to herself as she wondered. Looking back down to her painting she saw that warmth was missing. Bringing the paint brush back to the paper, she mimicked the strokes she would take to bring that warmth into the image she wanted to create, twisting the brush with the blues and golds she smiled, as she dusted the water with the warmth the sun brought.

Looking at her painting in progress she smiled. Yes the water was just right. But what of her faithful subject? Her eye wondered back. Who was he? What was he like? How did his voice sound? These questions and more ran through her head. She was convincing her self that by talking with this man, she would be able to capture him perfectly. Sighing she looked up once more, she smiled towards him, yes she will go speak with him. Gently placing her painting on her bag, she stood. She stepped to the side, holding up one side of her long skirt, dusting off the other. Her eyes turned back to the man. She needed a closer glace, that is what she told herself. Grabbing her paint brush she walked to the sea, placing herself with in feet of the man.

"Good morning," She spoke in common, her voice was friendly, softly musical with a bit of a accent to it. She bent down to the wave, gently started to clean her paint brush with each waves passing. She looked up at the man examining his face, trying to remember to catch that solitude that reflected in it. She smiled once more, sitting up on her feet. "Beautiful sunrise, one of the bests I seen in a long time." she said as she turned her head back towards the sea.

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on February 28th, 2011, 8:33 pm

Serrif had looked the woman's way when she wasn't paying attention. He noted she was painting, wonderful he was glad to see someone was out here painting this inspiring sunrise over the ocean. He did notice she seemed to look his way every now and then. He wasn't sure why at first; but then he thought it was possible that he was part of her painting. He was interested to see the painting she was working on. But all in good time he believed. The waves crashed gently across the beach. She couldn't even begin to imagine why he enjoyed fishing here by himself. His thoughts were brought back around. Peace. He had seen so many horrible things in his time alive but now he felt at peace. The days were calm; and he actually slept at night. He didn't have to worry about what where he would be when he woke up. Or what state he would be in; or if he would be able to even move or not. No things were simple now.

He focused on fishing and he could feel every bob of the hook in the ocean. He wondered if he was wasting his time fishing. But he hadn't been here all that long. And well he had caught two fish so far. That was a good start and well it wasn't like he expected to catch too much more than that. He was focused and figured this would be one of those skills he would need to know. He still had others he wished to strengthen; but he had more that he wanted to learn. He wanted to have a good arsenal of tools at his disposal when he needed them. The only way to achieve that was to practice.

"Good Morning." A voice rang. He opened his eyes and turned his head slowly to see. It was the woman he had seen painting. She was washing out her brushes and such into the ocean. He nodded and answered her.

"Morning to you as well M'Lady." His speech was soft and even; every word flowed nicely. It would seem he knew common well. As would be expected of a human. But his speech was different...it was more pleasant. What was most impressive was that his accent was a mash of several other accents she had heard before. Lending to her theory of him being well traveled; or at the least he picked up common from several sources. His emerald eyes seemed to be peaceful like the ocean before them. His demeanor collected.

She would pick up several obvious details at her current distance. He was tall, taller than many of his race yet not astoundingly tall at the same time. He stood a tall six foot five but his frame was lacking; seemed he was malnourished. He didn't look like he was deathly malnourished, just a decent amount underweight. She would also see curious markings on his arms and some gently protruding on his neck. She only really saw them because she was looking for them. If she moved any closer she would indeed see they were scars. She was well traveled so she could fit him into one of two categories; he was a fighter, or he was part of the downtrodden masses of this world. It was really her decision as to what she classified him as.

"Beautiful sunrise, one of the best I have seen in a long time." She spoke to him. He smiled and nodded.

"Yes with that I can agree. The best I have seen in five days." He said truthfully admitting he hadn't been here long.

The scars weren't the fighting type. No they were straight and intentional, not the kind that usually happened in battle. And they were in strange places; one who would accumulate these scars in battle didn't normally live to tell the tale. Especially the ones around and near the neck. The depth and look of the scars helped tell her the age; none of them looked older than three years. All this told her much of this man without him even noticing.

"I saw you painting. I am glad someone is enjoying this sunrise as much as me." He looked back out to sea calm and serene. It was a wonder there weren't many visitors to this enchanting place.

by **E'isi** on March 1st, 2011, 7:13 pm

Salty mist clung to Eisi's face, forming small droplets over her illuminating scales. Reflecting from the morning sun, it glowed with a soft blue and pinks. She moved her hands in the soft rolling waves, releasing the last of the paints from the brush, that refused to let it go. She gently squeezed the remaining water that the paint brush was saturated with, she smiled. His voice was soft and smooth, it reminded her of a song she herd a man sing in a lost dream. He seemed to have a collective accent, it was unusual but yet soothing. She listen to the beating of the waves and how the mans breath seemed to be in beat with it. She looked up at him trying not to stare. It wasn't that she was infatuated, but more curious, after all she did come over here to try and bring him to life in her painting. She notice strange marks over the mans skin, at first she thought that the were tattoos, but looking at them more closely, she saw that they were not intentional. more random. This made her wonder how that he received them. As she stood she saw that he was indeed taller then she first thought. Eisi was always proud of her height, standing 5'8'' she was on the taller side of the Konti people, but at this moment she felt short. This man had to be about Six four, maybe and inch or so taller. She was brought back to him by his answer, "...the best I seen in five days..." She looked up to his eyes, there she was met with a vibrant emerald, it reflected the color of the ocean.

"Five days? So you are a traveler." she spoke more to herself, then to him. She tilted her head, which loosened hair that was collected to the side, she was brought back to his strange marks, she wanted to reach out and touch them, to find out if they were raised or not. Was he a fighter, no that could not be it, his voice and stance says that her was not. Maybe he was given some misfortune.

Once again she was brought out from her inspection due to his voice, he was talking about her painting. She smiled as she looked back up to his face. "Oh," she blushed a bit before answering, "Its a hobby that I picked up, It helps calm me, and gives me some kind of meaning." Eisi smiled, "Sometimes finding inspiration can be difficult," she smirked at that thought, "well more like done right hard." she crossed her arms across her chest, her scales flashed from the moment. "So I see that you enjoy it here on the beach. What brought you to Konti Island?"

She couldn't help but notice his body, small, malnourished, she made a ticking noise. How did that happen, he is human right, I thought that they were a bit, well more formed then that. From his point of view it would look like she was examining him, which she kind of was.

Eisi looked back up to his eyes, "Do you like to fish?" it seemed like a dumb question, due to the fact they were the only two on the beach and he had a fishing pool in his hand. But the reasoning for her asking such a question, was more for the fact he only had one fish. And as small as he was he needed more food then that. Not that he was really small, but you could tell that he hadn't had a proper meal in a while. Tilting her head she thought back to the fruit she packed, maybe he would eat that. It wasn't much but at least it was some food. She bit the inner of her lip, making her lips dance while she thought of how she could help him. That is when it hit her, "Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I'm Eisi." she smiled.

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on March 1st, 2011, 8:29 pm

A smile crossed the fisherman's face. He never would've believed this existed. This place and these women; he never would've thought that the horrible poisons that had been coursing through his body could've been even partially purged and neutralized. He never would've thought he could be fishing on the coast of a wonderful isle. He didn't know this could even be so. He didn't think a place could embody peace so well. He didn't think it was possible for anyone or anything to sooth away what had happened. But with every crash of the waves his thoughts drifted. It was an astounding feeling to say the very least.

Her words broke through to him "So you are a traveler." He opened his eyes again and nodded while speaking.

"I am." His answer was simple because in the ways of being a traveler there wasn't much for him to really say.

He listened to her speak again. He found Konti women calming. He wasn't sure why just yet; maybe it was because he didn't have to fear them proactively. He didn't have to worry about one suddenly trying to kill him. That was a change because back at the camp you never really knew who your friends were. If you even had anyone you could brand a 'friend'. "Its a hobby that I picked up, It helps calm me, and gives me some kind of meaning. "Sometimes finding inspiration can be difficult, well more like done right hard. So I see that you enjoy it here on the beach. What brought you to Konti Island?"

"The same thing that brings most of the other travelers; a boat." He smiled for a second hoping she had a sense of humor then he continued. "Peace really. I ended up here not by my own methods. More like by accident; if you believe such things exist." The truth was the more he thought about it the more he thought it would be foolish to say him ending up here was anything less than fate.

He didn't mind her examining him. Trying to fit the pieces together; then the final piece fell into place. The kingpin; heavy radial scarring around his wrists with a matching set around his ankles. Iron wrought shackles....that was all it could be. Nothing else left scars like that.. "Do you like to fish?"

"Fishing is something I have lately taken a liking to. The ocean is calm, the ambiance sooths me. And fishing gives me an excuse to stand here for hours." He also liked it because of the obvious benefit of rich sea food. The ocean around this isle certainly did provide.

He didn't mind formalities being suspended in instances like this. That was likely why he hadn't introduced himself yet either. He didn't really see an opportunity to do so just yet. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I'm Eisi." She introduced herself almost like she had committed a crime not by doing so sooner.

"And I am Serrif M'Lady." So proper, strange for a fisherman. He didn't want to offend and well truth was he didn't lose anything by being proper. Serrif that name was becoming more and more usual to him. He didn't remember any name before the slaver camp; and well none called him by a formal name he wanted uttered ever again. So when he came into the port he made one up...and that was what he decided would be his name. HIS name; from here on out that was who he was. Leaving behind all that mess as much as possible. But deep inside he felt rage. He would have to do something to quench it. He was still working on that.

by **E'isi** on March 2nd, 2011, 5:18 am

She was smiling, something that came easy to her. Serrif was easy to talk to, she embraced the beauty of his words, even if it was a bit sarcastic. "A Boat" she herd him speak, she stiffed a small giggle that was forming by covering her mouth with one webbed hand.

"Oh is that what they call the strange objects that float in the sea?" she replied to his sarcasm with her own. "And here I thought people swam to the beaches. Learn something new everyday." she smiled and hope he would get her humor. She sighed as she herd soft calls of the sea birds in flight. It was a very peaceful morning, more so then usual. She remembered her painting as he ask her about fishing, "Oh, I never fished before, I like fruits and grains, most of my diet consists of that, so never saw the need to fish. But it looks like a great thing to know." she looked back at her things laying neatly in the sand. "To tell you the truth, I was painting you. It was so beautiful how the sun light hit you, it was as if the goddess herself placed you here for my advantage." she looked back up to him and gave him a soft warm look. "This might be rude of me to ask such a thing, but your marking on your body..." she faded of hoping that it would not offend him. "I'm sorry" she spoke, surly it would, she was a perfect stranger to him. She decided to change the subject. "I'll be right back." She turned back to the shore, in a moment so fluent that could only be described as a dancers.

Walking back to where she started, she gathered her things, placing the paint and paint brushed back into her bag. She gently picked up the still wet painting and gently blew the sand that gathered on the edge. It was turning out nicely, she had finished the sky and the sea. The blues of the sea were deepen with dark blues and vibrate golds. Emerald lined the waves, with a soft white for the brakes. The sky was orange, with rolling soft clouds, colors of golds and tans, with hints of the nights violets and blues. She was sure that this might be her best yet, and now all that was left was Serrif. Turning back around she watch Serrif, what a wonderful subject, she thought. She gently shook her head and walked back to him.

Walking back she thought of how wonderful that it was to have company, usually she was alone with her thoughts, painting things from afar, never really interacting with them. She smiled to herself as thoughts of what if's ran through her head. She laughed at herself, knowing it was useless to wonder such things. This was her passion, her only love in life, Eisi truly never knew anything else she would rather do then to capture the beauty if life, even if no one else could see it, she was able to find it hidden somewhere. A talent she had since birth, being able to find good in all things, and able to bring out the positive of it to others. She wondered if that was her purpose before, but always shrugged it off. It was not like her to think of herself as anything else then normal.

As she approached Serrif, her thoughts turned back to him. He was a good person, with hardship that she only herd or read about. She didn't have to search hard to find that. He seemed like he was happy here, with her people. Many travel here for the peace that the Konti people established so long ago. Or they came to see if the rumors of a race such as them even existed. Surly he was here for a reason, even if he didn't know it yet.

When she got to him she developed a theory, and she wasn't about to share it with him. She liked the fact that he was a mystery, and didn't want to ruin the paining if it wasn't true, she decided that she would wait to speak of more of his past, at least til the painting was finished. Holding the painting towards her, she stopped just behind him. It was a work in progress, but yet looked as if every brush stroke was made with her heart. "I would show you it now but, I would like to finish it before, I think that I can easily finish it now though, after talking with you I know exactly how to capture you." She thought of the colors she should use, bright vibrant colors, to reflect his own nature. "If you don't mind that is"

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on March 3rd, 2011, 12:58 am

Serrif was glad she had a sense of humor. Again something that wasn’t lost here on Konti Isle. She even built on his statement a little further. Bringing an even easier smile to his face. He heard her stiffed giggle; it brought him a little bit of joy as well. Again glad this woman had a good sense of humor about her. It was something that was somewhat lost in a slave camp. Where there was really only oppression.

The bird calls were peaceful to him as well. He had never really experienced a beach before. Well if he had he didn’t remember it well…or at all. "Oh, I never fished before, I like fruits and grains, most of my diet consists of that, so never saw the need to fish. But it looks like a great thing to know. To tell you the truth, I was painting you. It was so beautiful how the sun light hit you, it was as if the goddess herself placed you here for my advantage."

That seemed rather odd to him that one could leave by the sea and never had fished before. And for her to never of had fish before was almost surreal to him. How could this really be possible? He toiled over this for a moment and decided to speak. “Well the sea gives willingly and I accept her gifts.” His explanation was simple and to the point; yet well worded at the same time. It seemed he was pretty well spoken. But all his arsenal of words couldn’t prepare him for what was to come next.

"This might be rude of me to ask such a thing, but your marking on your body..." There was a pause as she then spoke again. "I'm sorry." A sudden apology, seemed she was quick to recall her actions when she was afraid of offending. He was quick to answer.

“No, I understand your curiosity.” He said brushing the question away but fully intending to answer her before she turned around fluently. She was an oddity to him; being one of the first handful of Konti women he had interactions with she was defiantly one of the most unique. Her motions were fluent and well reminded him of some of the more elaborate dancers he had seen on the ship. The way every movement and step seemed to be planned and perfect. She was obviously trying to change the subject, and well that wasn’t easy to do when one asks a question as pointed as hers was.

He didn’t know how to respond and he spent the time she went and retrieved her stuff to try and think about what he should say. How he could make her more aware without really blowing away her joy at the same time. He was silent waiting for her. How could he accurately portray the hardship and torture without coming across ac cross or insane.

She was more than correct when she believed him to be happy here. He had found peace; and to have it now to just recover meant more to him than one could ever imagine. As for being here for a reason; well he couldn’t be sure about that. He had just hopped on a boat and well ended up here. That was all that he believed was involved. But slowly he was beginning to believe that there may be more at play here. He might be here for some purpose or another that he wasn’t aware of. That was a thought that was slowly creeping into his mind. But then again everyone wanted to think they were important in one way or another. He had seen how disposable life really was; and how precious it was to have a life that was free and limited really only by the coin in your pocket. Coin was obtainable; whereas freedom wasn’t as easily obtainable.

"I would show you it now but, I would like to finish it before, I think that I can easily finish it now though, after talking with you I know exactly how to capture you. If you don't mind that is" An artist who was shy about her work. She really was cute in a way. It brought a smile to his face. But as far as speaking about his past…she was going to get a little something right now.

He gently pulled in his line and set the rod down. Then with a smooth movement he knelt in front of her. He then gently took her painting making sure not to look at it per her request. His pack was nearby and he leaned it up against it. Then with his hands he gently turned her hands palm up and set his wrists against her fingertips.

“I could talk all day Lady Eisi, and you would never really understand. Just feel; then you may understand.” He would let her fingertips wonder around the radial shackle scars on his wrists. They were interesting to say the least and she could only imagine how one would obtain such scarring. Impressive that he had lived through whatever had delivered him such scars. He added, “I am not offended by your curiosity. Now you may have a little more understanding. Many see from afar, but few dare to feel.” He then gently handed her back her painting again making careful not to see it and then went back to fishing; for himself and her at the same time.

by **E'isi** on March 3rd, 2011, 3:16 am

Eisi didn’t know exactly what was going on, It was easy for her to speak with him, but her words came out some what confusing. This was the first time she had ever interacted with a man of any race, she grew up sheltered, protected by her adopted family. So she wasn’t that well actuated to the customs of how to react to touch or soft words. When he bent down before her, a wave of intense heat flowed from her abdomen to her face, her eyes became wide and face a lighter shade of pink from her natural soft white tint. She was blushing before she knew it. Such a funny reaction to such a simple moment, one that she could not control by just shrugging it off. Serrif was looking at her now, almost pleading for her to understand in some way, still she remained confused. He reached over and plucked her painting softly from her hands, being careful not to look at it directly. This made her smile, it was a smile of warmth, still there was a bit of tension in it. After he laid the painting down, he gently took hold of her delicate webbed hands, his touch was soft, even if it was riddled with hard chalices. All that Eisi could do was look at her hands in his, she was somewhat embarrassed about her redden face and tried to hide it by shaking her head softly, letting soft white locks fall from her side. She looked back to his face, her eyebrows were pulled together as she tried to think of what he was doing. Her normal reaction would be to pull away and play with the necklace she was giving at age sixteen, but she didn’t, something in his face was saying she need to know.“I could talk all day Lady Eisi, and you would never really understand. Just feel; then you may understand.”

He softly pulled her hands to him, then gently let go, shifting his wrists up and allowing her fingertips to brush the scars…”Scars…” she said softly as she examined them closer. She ran her fingers softly over the upper side of his wrists, it was slightly raised, but yet soft. Well healed over the years, she decided. Then she wrapped her hands around his wrists, her hands couldn't fully in circle them, but she could tell that small raised skin, slightly lighter then his own, spun around, telling her something was restraining him a one or many points in his life. When she finally looked back up her face was back to its normal color. Eisi's expression changed too, it was replaced with understanding and a small hint of sorrow for the man. “I am not offended by your curiosity. Now you may have a little more understanding. Many see from afar, but few dare to feel.” She wasn't confused anymore, and wish that she wasn't so braised to ask such a personal question.

The shock of him pulling his hands away made Eisi feel empty. She wanted to pull them back to her and try to find a way to erase them from his body. To sooth him and hear the stories that he held so close to him. Though she knew they were not happy, and filled with darkness. He is so warm and yet, lived a life that many would not survive in. As he handed back her painting, still careful not to look at it, Eisi found her self on the verge of tears. It was funny, feeling sad for someone she just met. Or maybe it was because it hit close to her own heart. The story of her mother came to mind, the older Konti who fled for her life and that of her unborn child. She closed her eyes and reminded herself that her mother would not want to see her cry. She clang to her painting, holding it close to her heart, breathing softly. Soon a smile appeared on her face, she opened her eyes, they reflected the realization of why this man is the way he is. He didn't want to live in the past, but live in the here and now. Eisi sat there still lost in thought as Serrif stood and returned to fishing.

It was a minute or so till Eisi was able to speak. "So you were in slavery then." it wasn't a question, more of a statement. She turned her vibrant eyes to him, she had a soft friendly smile on her face. "You are strong, and I am happy that you found your way here to this Island." she set down her painting and walked beside him, careful to keep her hands behind her back so she didn't touch him any more. It must of been really hard for him to share that. Or maybe it was easy, but in any way she didn't want him to become uncomfortable with her. Eisi was able to see that the mood was slightly in a darker place. She didn't like to think so negative or so sadly, and was pretty sure that Serrif didn't either. She was at a cross roads, not sure which direction to go.

She watch as he stood at the beach, casting his line in the water, she watch him wait till the thing, that she didn't know what it was called, bounced up and down in the water, something like dancing. She smiled brightly, "Will you teach me how to fish?" she blurted out as she looked at him with large hopeful eyes. She smiled brightly "If you do, Ill do something for you. Teach you something. As long as I can". She became somewhat playful, excited to learn more, and possible help him, hopeful that she will forge a good friendship with this man, who reminded her of her mother that she never met.