"M-Maybe that satyr is still messing with my head. All the time in that place I was feeling, I dunno, kinda revved up. I thought maybe that's why my monthly came earlyish. But, I didn't... um..." She looks it Maka again. "Did I enjoy it?" she asks in a voice mixing defeat, irony and curiosity.
Maka gave Quasit a toothy grin. "It wasn't any satyr spirit that kissed me, just a Quasit full of spirits!" Maka burst into laughter, overly proud of her play on words. "But yes, one does not make such sounds or do such things with their hands as we did if they are not enjoying it. Though you did pass out before we could get your pants off."
Maka's tone and demeanor suddenly shifted as she locked eyes with Quasit. "We'll do better if you'd ever like to try again."
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"But yes, one does not make such sounds or do such things with their hands as we did if they are not enjoying it. Though you did pass out before we could get your pants off."
Quasit drops her face into her palm. "...before we could get my pants off. Lovely." she says in a mordant undertone.
"We'll do better if you'd ever like to try again."
Quasit flicks her fingers aside so she can look through them and see Maka's wolfish gaze attack. She straightens up, trying to gather as much dignity as she can cobble together from the ruins of this moment. She clears her throat, then begins to speak in a velvety voice.
"Maka, I obviously owe you a great debt for looking after me when I was, perhaps, a little out of control and not entirely aware of what I was doing, as well as looking after me while I was vulnerable thanks to my shameful overindulgence in ..." A tinge of aggression clings to her naming the foul cyclopian hell-drink that waylaid her judgment. But it quickly passes. "But clearly it's probably best all around if we just try and forget this incident and just chalk it up to--high spirits? Or perhaps a needed release of tension? And just be aware that I still completely respect and admire you. As a friend."
She stands up, drinks her medicine in one long swig, and tosses the mug away.
"And now, I'm going to go commit a nice dignified suicide somewhere nearby. Maybe the fish tent."
"But clearly it's probably best all around if we just try and forget this incident and just chalk it up to--high spirits? Or perhaps a needed release of tension? And just be aware that I still completely respect and admire you. As a friend."
Maka thought back to to that quiet moment and smiled before wrapping Quasit in a back breaking hug. "Nahin. It shall be a cherished memory." In Maka's words and touch, Quasit felt nothing but warmth.
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In the morning Sakitu wakes to find Quasit much worse for wear. Last night Quasit did drink a lot and she was acting strange, especially with Maka but Sakitu hadn't notice much because she was so still reeling a little bit from Fin's attention. That was last night. Now, this morning, she sighs. Fin was just being friendly and nice. She twinges a little bit with embarrassment. Wow Sakitu, she says to herself, You're being quite the silly girl.
She packs up her belongs and moves to the fire where Maka is serving breakfast. She takes a plate and thanks Maka for it. As she eats, she listens to the conversation and slowly pieces things together. What a night it was for everyone, it seems.
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Finding out Quasit couldn't completely recall her actions from the night before, Fin feels guilty about teasing her earlier...seeing Sakitu approach for breakfast, he smiles as he recalls their dance last night and thinks it a good time to change the subject...
"G'morning, Hlao-roo! Q, you should've seen our favorite foxy lady last night, she lit up the dance floor...she is quite fleet of foot...and as graceful as any Elven maid I've ever danced with..."
After everyone is finished eating, he douses the campfire and, before prepping to break camp, looks over to Quasit. "What's the plan, Q? To the centaur camp to make a quick check on Erdija? And then hotfoot it back to the hut?"
As everyone is finishing breakfast and about to start getting ready to pack things up, there is a sudden slushing sound, and Selena's clothes fall to the ground on a pile of slushy snow where she had been sitting. Winter pokes her head out of the pile of clothes and yips inquisitively.
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Fin turns as he hears the slushing sound and sees Selena’s clothes fall. Arching an eyebrow, he says curiously, ”What the h…either Selena just melted…or she’s running around here naked somewhere…must be doing her white witch thing,” he says as he scratches lightly behind Winter’s ears. He’ll look around a bit before shrugging, murmuring, ”I guess she’ll show up…but it’ll probably be without clothes,” as he goes back to breaking camp…
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"Q, you should've seen our favorite foxy lady last night, she lit up the dance floor...she is quite fleet of foot...and as graceful as any Elven maid I've ever danced with..."
"Uh-huh." says Quasit, who still seems distracted by her desire to vanish into a deep hole.
"What's the plan, Q? To the centaur camp to make a quick check on Erdija? And then hotfoot it back to the hut?"
"Yup." She checks the sun and gets her bearings. "If I remember right, their camp was north and a little west of here. Think you can find it?"
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Reading Quasit’s mood, Fin nods, saying little. ”Aye, I recall the way…”
When the camp’s packed up and his friends are ready, Fin will draw his bow and scout ahead in his normal fashion, guiding them to the centaurs…
…when they get close to the general area of their camp, Fin will look for centaur tracks and any signs that they might’ve either moved or for signs of any scouting parties…
”What the h…either Selena just melted…or she’s running around here naked somewhere…must be doing her white witch thing
"Or a witch got her!" Maka shouted as she took a defensive position.
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Sakitu grins shyly at Fin's comments about her dancing. "I was just dancing like normal." She tries to act nonchalant. "I'm sure it was just because I had such a good and strong partner."
Then the conversation moves towards moving on. "Yes. Let's go."
At that moment she hears the sound and turns towards where Selena was. "What? Did Selena turn into snow?"
At Fin's approach, the snow retreats from his footfalls. Then it forms itself into a ball and rolls around a bit before stopping and flowing inside Selena's clothes. The snow coaleces into Selena again, but obviously did not get it right as she's all tangled in her clothes. Winter barks a bit and Selena snaps back "Oh shut up." and starts untangling herself and righting everything.
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With Selena 'returned,' the party makes their way towards the Centaur Camp. Fin keeps alert for and signs of danger as usual; but he also keeps an eye out for centaur tracks so he can flag down any of their scouts they might see to hasten their journey so they can check on Erdija and report to the chief...
Fin finds the camp has moved on, but it's not a trouble to follow the tracks of many centaurs. After a few days you find the camp. It's clear some of the scouts spotted you, given Korak Kaag greets you as you appraoch.
"Travelers. Erdija tells me you were nearing your goal when she was injured. Why have you returned here?"
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Fin bows deeply, speaking in his native tongue. "Honored Chief, we are glad to see you all well. We came to check to see how Erdija is faring...we heard in Vurnirn that she was recovering here. She was a boon companion and guided us well, so we wanted to see her to say thank you and wish her well before we left this place...
"We'd also like to thank you, Chief, for your hospitality and assistance...and to let you know we were successful in our exploration of Artrosa. You might also want to know that we slew an evil Centaur caster there; we think he knew our purpose and was trying to beat us to Artrosa and find the keys to take control of the hut. Thinking back, I wonder now if he might've been responsible for the demon ambush when we were last with you as well...
"If you'd allow us to see Erdija, we'd be most grateful. And, if it's not asking too much, we'd like to camp here for the night. We'll start our journey back to the hut in the morning, by your leave, m'Lord."
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Quasit spends the day walking quietly at the back of the group. She doesn't seem particularly unhappy or unfriendly, just thoughtful. She hums to herself a lot and takes in the scenery.
On re-encountering Korak Kaag and hearing the good news about Erdija she smiles broadly and gives a deep exhale of relief, then nods in agreement with all that Findurel says.
Korak Kaag listens carefully to Fin's report. "This centaur, was he with frost giants?"
"Also someone was with him that looked like a centaur, except he was big and blue and had too many legs."
"I know of him. Vsevolod, scourge of the Ice Steppes. Kinslayer, traitor, priest of demons. You have done our kin to the north a service in slaying him."
As Korak Kaag speaks, another centaur trots up behind him. You swiftly recognize that it's Erdija. She gives you a wave, but does not interrupt her chief.
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”’Twas our pleasure to be of service to you, m’Lord. Consider it a small token of our gratitude for your hospitality…”
As Fin sees Erdija, he smiles happily and waves back. Looking back to the Chief, he nods towards Erdija, asking respectfully, ”By your leave, m’Lord?”
Once given leave, he bows again to the Chief and runs over to Erdija. Fin gives her a big hug, laughing, saying, ”Erdija! It’s a relief to see you’re OK! I was very worried about you. We completed our mission and we wanted to say thank you…and goodbye. We’ll be leaving tomorrow morning for the hut…”
A sudden burst of flames propelled Maka over to Erdija. "Erdija! I'm so happy you're alright!" Maka exclaimed while throwing her arms around the centaur's neck and planting a kiss on her cheek. The fire monk took care to hover so her weight would not exacerbate any remaining injury.
Erdija laughs. "I'm sorry I gave you a scare. We Rashalka are built tough, as you see."
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Fin smiles warmly. ”Aye, that you are! Erdija, you are welcome at at our camp tonight…if I recall correctly, you liked my fish when we were traveling together. If you have a previous engagement, no worries, but know you are always welcome at our fire…”
Having seen Erdija is doing fine, Fin will look for a place close by to set up camp…he’ll also ask about the closest place he’d be able to fish. Once set up, he’ll head off with Izzy to catch some fish and take a quick bath…
As usual, he’ll toss the heads/guts to Izzy and then take the cleaned fish to camp to cook on the campfire come supper time…
Erdija laughs. "I'm sorry I gave you a scare. We Rashalka are built tough, as you see."
"Yeah you are!" Maka laughed and nodded in agreement. "Still it's too bad you had to miss the stupid witch dungeon. Even though it was stupid there was some good fights. Plus it would have been less stupid with you there." Maka talked Erdija's ears off recounting the tale of their adventure. Though her story had far more special effects than most, she also tended to trail off on pointless details and opinions.
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Sakitu settles into the campsite that Fin setup by fetching her bedroll and spreading it out on a smooth spot near the fire. She plops her backpack on the ground and turns it into a makeshift seat -- not too close, of course, but just enough to be comfortable. The cold weather doesn't really bother her but something about the fire is just comforting. The dancing flames, the sparks floating up into the night, and even the smell of the smoke. She gazes into the fire and lets her mind wander.
All day long she had noticed that Quasit had not quite been her same bouncy self. Even the reunion with Erdija had seemed a little low key. Sakitu looks up from the fire and sees Quasit only a little ways away and smiles at her. She waves her over. "Do you want to come sit by the fire with me?"
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"Do you want to come sit by the fire with me?"
Quasit smiles back and comes to sit by Sakitu. "Sure. And before you ask, I'm fine. Believe me, that's not the first time in my life I got drunk and made an ass of myself. That's like my superpower." She picks up a stick, pokes the fire a little, then throws the stick in. "I've just been thinking about stuff."
Erdija is glad to chat. It seems she's only recently been fully healed.
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Fin will happily chat with Erdija while he cooks up the fish; when it’s done, he’ll serve it up to his friends. When it’s time to hit the hay, he’ll sleep for the first couple of hours and then he’ll stand watch for the rest of the night…
He’ll rouse Maka for another bruising monk training session and then head to the river for a quick bath to soak his bruises. He’ll then head back and start breaking camp…
When finished, he’ll say his goodbyes to Erdija and the Chief…
Looking to his friends, he says wistfully, ”We need to hit the road soon; we had best get back, free Ratibor, and see where the hut takes us next. Are you ready, Q?”
When everyone is ready, Fin will draw his bow and scout ahead as he leads the way to Baba Yaga’s hut in his usual style…
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"Thinking about what?"
"Fate, for one thing." answers Quasit with great seriousness and concentration. "I've never believed in fate. I've always thought my life was the result of my choices and whims of luck. Free will and chance, dancing with each other, and none of it meaning anything or contributing to any sort of larger cosmic tapestry. And I still mostly believe that-- but I think now sometimes people get pulled into things where they have to act out a role that the universe has invented for them. I think that's the definition of being a hero in an adventure."
"I mean, just think. What was the name of that dirty little town where we all met in Taldor? Hendren? Heldren? A place of a few hundred people? And they offered us a handful of silver to find some missing noble girl? What are the chances that all of *us* would have just been there to do that, all just passing through, for something so unimportant in the grand scheme of things? If you take a random sample of people who show up for a bounty job, the vast majority will just be lowlife scum and grifters looking to cash in on some misfortune. And yet just following that thread has led us here, on this quest to save the world."
"Not to mention that Baba Yaga is tied up at the end of it. A demigoddess who controls the fates of zillions of people throughout the multiverse. She may be held captive somewhere, but who's to say that she hasn't somehow pulled on the threads of reality and led us to where we've ended up? And somehow, against all odds, we keep one step ahead of our enemies and manage to overcome all the obstacles and monsters that stand in our way. If it were just dumb luck we all would have ended up like poor Alexia at this point."
"And weirdly, there's comfort in the idea that there's some sort of destiny pulling us in the same direction we happen to be walking. It's like... I don't know, feeling safe to close your eyes and go to sleep at night. Sure, you know a bandit or a wolf might attack you in your blankets, but the anxiety of it feels far away somehow, and you just know somehow it's going to be a quiet night. Or the feeling that if it rains, that getting wet isn't that big a deal, and you just let it happen."
"You remember that day when we faced the satyr, a few days back? And what a wreck I was by the end of the day? I mean, I just wanted to curl up in a ball and hide like a baby rabbit. But I think in a way I sorta broke through something that day too. I haven't really been scared since. It's like I came out on the other side, and I felt like: what's gonna be is gonna be. I've just got a job to do. I don't feel like a leaf being carried on the rapids any more, out of control and in perpetual danger. And maybe I actually still am, and this is all a delusion. But now I feel more like a cork on those rapids, and I know that I'm probably not meant to sink, and that I'm going to still be afloat once I get past these rapids."
She lays back and reclines on her back, knitting her hands behind her head and staring up at the night sky.
"And all that has me just thinking about... well, me, and what I want for myself, and who I am. Nevar used to tease me: 'The puzzle that Quasit will never solve is the puzzle of Quasit's heart'. Usually after I'd been complaining about something dumb or was just feeling sad or angry for no reason. And he was just joking, but in a way it's always been true too. I've never known what I wanted for myself. I just knew what I didn't want, and I've spent my whole life running away when any of those things gets too close. And I've had this simple fantasy of getting rich somehow, buying a house on a foreign beach, and sipping cool drinks while I stare at the ocean and just relax. But that's a fantasy for a nice afternoon, you know? What am I going to so, sitting on that beach, day after day and year after year, alone with my drink and my cabana boy? What will my life add up to, even if I somehow managed to reach that silly, impossible goal?"
"And maybe that's another reason that this is all fate -- that this is what my life has crafted me for, and this is what I was meant to do, so that when it was all over, and I'm sitting on that beach in Vudray, I wouldn't feel quite so much like a bored fraud."
She pauses now, struggling with her desire to be honest. There's a long silence while this struggle goes on, her mouth and jaw tightens a little as she continues to stare at the rushing clouds and the waning moon. Finally she lets it out, with the impetuous honesty of a girl talking in her sleep.
"And I think... tied up with all that... I think I'm finally starting to forgive my mother. And admitting to myself that she and I are a lot more alike than it's comfortable for me to admit. Which is a hard thing to do when you've spent half your life thinking of you mother as a lying, conniving old witch. Talk about irony-- to think that rescuing Baba Yaga is going to somehow help me forgive my own mother?"
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Bulvi had been taken a bit surprised when Quasit and Maka's dancing developed. He'd be lying to himself if he said he wasn't a bit jealous... as well as other emotions. Maka had made herself clear and this wasn't the first time she'd been close with someone that he knew of. Quasit was the surprise...
When Fin asked if he'd help to set up camp, he departed with the elf. Unsure how much further things went though conversations the next day made it clear not much further. Quasit was watching him leerily and he considered speaking with her but felt hesitant for some reason he couldn't quite nail down. He was working through his own thought process and there was plenty of other challenges ahead to consider too than his own feelings.
When he returned to the camp after speaking with the chief he spotted Quasit and Sakitu talking, not sure of the whole context. Still he remembered Ibona misunderstood the two's relationship... maybe their former half elf companion had an inkling the rest of them didn't? He doesn't interrupt the two but shakes his head and can't help a small smile spreading across his face as he looked over at the pair. The large man raises a hand in apology. "I just need to get something from my pack, I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation."
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The large man raises a hand in apology. "I just need to get something from my pack, I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation."
"Yeah--sure--you're fine." says Quasit quickly, in a very accommodating manner. "It's nothing, I'm just gabbing."
She pokes the fire some more and sneaks some shy sidelong glances at the big warrior.
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The night before they are to leave for Baba Yaga's hut, while Fin was bedding down for his power nap before standing watch the rest of the night, his sharp ears couldn't help but hear Quasit's conversation with Sakitu; it was quite profound. It got him to wandering, If I survive this 'quest'...what will I do afterwards?
He ponders on it for a while as he looks up at the stars...
Thinking sarcastically, he asks himself, I've become quite skilled at killing...perhaps I should sign on as an assassin somewhere. No, I would never consider that...but is that all I'm good for, killing sh*t? Sure seems that way some times... He pauses for a moment as he sees a light flash across the night sky before his thoughts ramble on...
I was happy traveling the rivers by raft in the River Kingdoms...did that for about 5 years...and 2 of those were with Kezhia... The Elf's eyes get a bit misty so he pauses, clears them, and then continues both his thoughts...
I could go back to that life...wouldn't be the same without Kezhia though...but it was OK before, just...lonely. I could ask my friends if they might want to join me...I don't think that's the life that Quasit envisons for herself after this is over though, even if life on the beach with a cabana boy is losing its glister...and Sakitu is from a family with social standing so I doubt that life would appeal to her either, I'm afraid...
Maka is with Bull; they'll probably end up married and adventuring in exotic...or perhaps erotic...places. And Tez will no doubt end up in a monastery somewhere with a vast library. So, that settles it...it'll just be me & Selena! He snorts out loud at that thought, then tries to stifle himself, hoping he wasn't heard...
Yeah, Selena and I, traveling the river together, what a sight that'd make...probably kill each other in a matter of days, if not hours...
He sighs. Oparal would've probably said yes as that life would match her well, methinks...but she made it clear in my last message exchange via Tez that she would not be able to join us at the hut...her gnome friend was still clinging to life and she could not abandon him...
I guess I could resume my Uncle alias and kill Razmiran enforcers; never be able to pay them back enough...or perhaps I can take up where my father left off with his tomb raiding... couldn't follow him in life, perhaps I can follow him in death...
Fin looks up at the moon and puts those thoughts behind him as sleep comes a knockin'. No good thinking 'bout that now, just focus on the present...
Selena blinks, "You mean, you're not a low-life grifter just looking for a bit of coin? You always talk about what you want to do with the money. And then you say that like having a lying, conniving old witch for a mother is bad thing. I think you must be one screwed up southerner." says teasingly at the end, flashing a smile at her frominside her little hide away mound of snow.
Selena laughs. "Oh, the woes of a tender-hearted demon!" she giggles a bit and continues "Don't mind me, I'm just a pile of snow with delusions of grandeur. But if you ever need to cool off, we can cuddle." she exclaims before turning into a literal pile of snow, with her clothes this time, and demonstrates by wrapping up Winter till only her head is barely visible.
"You don't have delusions of grandeur...you are grandeur!" Maka growled at the snow, having just arrived back in camp. The fire monk clearly didn't know the meaning of 'grandeur' but wasn't about to let that stop her from defending Quasit. "Why are you so mean!? Why are all witches so mean?"
Bulvi looks over towards Quasit. "I think Selena just misses the intrigue and back stabbing at court! She'll just have to accept she's stuck with us low lives for the foreseeable future while we get the world back in order."
He starts rummaging through his bag for a little bit before taking out a small piece of jerky. "I don't think all witches are mean though Maka but I will admit Selena's not a natural aptitude for it. I'd offer to give her a big hug to taw her out but I fear she'd give me an imperious look before trying to turn me into an ice frog or something."
Turning to face Selena he bites off a piece of jerky adding, with his mouth full. "If the world weren't freezing I'd say you could make good coin further south with that trick. You'd be quite the novelty."
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Sakitu listens and lets Quasit talk and talk and talk. Sometimes it's best not to interupt and just let someone let it all out. That's what Quasit needed now. As she finishes, Sakitu leans back onto the ground to match her friend. She stares up at the sky along with her.
"One day last summer, at home, my dad took me for a walk along side the small stream near our home. We went there frequently but this time it seemed like he had something important he wanted to say. That was how my dad was. He always had some wise words to tell me. I still don't understand most of it but he always tells me 'When you get older, it will make sense.'."
"But on this one day, after walking nearly a mile along the stream, just talking about inconsequential things, we reached a calm spot on the stream. Upstream from us was a small cluster of rapids but then the water spilled into a wide open area where the water moved slowly. He sat down on the bank so that we could watch the smooth water. He was silent. In a few moments I saw a yellow leaf, about the size of my hand, floating slowly in the pool, carried by the gentle current. The leaf was spinning, still recovering from the trip through the rough water. My father then said, 'What do you see there, little whisker?' The only thing he could possibly talking about was the leaf so I told him so. 'Yes, it's a leaf and what's it doing?'
'Floating down the river,' I replied. 'And I guess turning slowly as well.'
My dad smiled, one of those knowing smiles that shows that he's thinking more than he's saying. 'And why is it going that way?' He pointed downstream.
The answer seemed obvious. 'The current?' I asked.
He nodded. 'But what if the leaf doesn't want to go downstream?' He didn't let me answer before he continued. 'You see, that's not just a leaf. It's a life, a soul. Where will it end up? No one knows exactly, but it will be down there somewhere. And the leaf, it is just carried on the stream, with no ability to change its course. Do you see? That is the path of life, or, as some call it, Fate.'
I was puzzled. It seemed like just a leaf but my dad seemed to be telling me that it was some lesson about the nature of the world. A slight breeze ruffled the surface of the pool and hit the leaf scooting it across the pond where it came to rest in a slow swirl of water caught behind a large boulder in the water. I pointed at it. 'Ah. Dad. See, that wasn't the current that moved that. And now the leaf isn't going to go downstream. It's going to stay here -- at least for a while. Are you saying that the wind is fate too?'
My dad closed his eyes and smiled. 'No, my little whisker, the wind is not Fate. The wind is Spirit. It is the Will of the leaf. The leaf cannot change the overall course of its life but by exerting its Will, it can maybe alter the path, slightly.' He paused for a longer time. Eventually he stood, without speaking of the leaf again and we headed home.
I'm sure that my dad thought I understood his lesson but I really didn't. Not then. But I think I do now, Quasit. You are the leaf floating on the stream of life. That's Fate, right? We're all in it. But we're not helpless. We can make wind and blow ourselves around on the stream. Maybe we can direct ourselves down a smoother channel to bypass the worst of the rapids. Or, if the wind is strong enough, maybe it can lift us out of the stream entirely. I don't know. Maybe I'm saying that it's both Fate and choice. They work together. Maybe that's what my dad meant."
Selena turns back into a halfling again, "Maka, I was teasing, not mean. Mean is trying to cause pain without need. It's like the difference between sparring and warfare. One is all in good fun, the other ends in pain and suffering and possibly death, but they're both still fighting."
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My father then said, 'What do you see there, little whisker?'
Quasit smiles to herself in reflexive delight. "Little Whisker." she echoes again in a low amused voice.
"I'm sure that my dad thought I understood his lesson but I really didn't. Not then. But I think I do now, Quasit. You are the leaf floating on the stream of life. That's Fate, right? We're all in it. But we're not helpless. We can make wind and blow ourselves around on the stream. Maybe we can direct ourselves down a smoother channel to bypass the worst of the rapids. Or, if the wind is strong enough, maybe it can lift us out of the stream entirely. I don't know. Maybe I'm saying that it's both Fate and choice. They work together. Maybe that's what my dad meant."
"Maybe. I wonder how he would know. We're all so oblivious about what leads us to our choices and our actions. Was he just guessing? Or had he experienced something that gave him the clarity to recognize Destiny poking through the chaos?" answers Quasit thoughtfully.
She thinks a bit more, then begins to chuckle and looks over at Sakitu. "Your Dad sounds like a huge dork. I mean, really nice and sweet, but dorky. I bet he has a hundred dad jokes."
She reaches over and takes Sakitu's hand. "And I know you miss him. I miss my dad too. We're gonna see them again. I promise."
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"How would he know? Oh, I don't know. I think that he imagines that he knows these things because maybe he ancestors told him. I'm sure that if I asked him he would tell me a story about it."
"Your Dad sounds like a huge dork. I mean, really nice and sweet, but dorky. I bet he has a hundred dad jokes."
Sakitu giggled. "You have no idea. Once he told me 'I shouldn't have eaten so much fish last night because today I'm feeling a little eel.'"
When Quasit takes her hand Sakitu squeezes back. "Yeah, I know we'll see them again. Sometimes I just miss my dad."
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Sakitu giggled. "You have no idea. Once he told me 'I shouldn't have eaten so much fish last night because today I'm feeling a little eel.'"
Quasit groans in pain and laughter.
"Yeah, I know we'll see them again. Sometimes I just miss my dad."
"Yeah." says Quasit softly. She is quiet for a moment, looking at the sky, then shifts a little to get more comfortable on her bedroll and starts talking again. "I like how my dad smelled. Like, not when he was dirty or drunk, but when he was clean and had just shaved. Or when he came into the house after he'd been out walking or doing some chore. I've never noticed that smell on any other man, or even on my brothers. Sometimes I'd hug him just so I could be close to it. Does that sound weird?"
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"No, that's not weird. I feel the same about my dad too. It sounds like it's been a while since you've seen your dad. Maybe when we're done saving the world, I can go with you to visit him."
Sakitu is quiet just watching the sky but her eyes are heavy and she starts to drift off. "I think we should sleep now. Fin wants to get going early tomorrow." There's a small surge of something in Sakitu's chest when she says Fin's name but she rushes past that. "I mean, unless you want to keep talking. And, by the way, you're nothing like your mother but we can talk about that later."
Otha
Bulvi Tholsson
GM Zer0darkfire
Quasit*
RoW_bot
GM Sapphire Fox
htrotter
Funky Cold Selena
Madrigal Seraphine
