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Post by leukristic on Jan 15, 2020 22:37:44 GMT -6
 Acheron of SeroraWhat had once been a bustling city had become a crater, and now had become a symbol of hope.
The newly appointed Peacemaker stood before what had once been the ruins of Osulas, his bright eyes roaming over the sparkling waters that now rested within the crater. Alya had blessed them in the wake of their one-sided treaty with Aodh, had given them a way to provide for themselves should another drought sweep over the lands -- as long as the new lake would hold out, they would be able to seek respite from the harsh desert, and it would make Vasall’s mission easier as well by helping supplement the resources they would be sending home.
At least, that’s what he hoped the future would hold for the new alliance between the Kawaru and the Serorans.
Right now, however, he is here to visit the Lake Shrine, and hopefully to catch Esin at her creation as well. Since his appointment, he had found himself filled with more questions than answers, the thorns of self-doubt digging at his mind that he was indeed the correct choice for the job he had been given.
He has the feeling that Esin will understand -- they are both young for the jobs they have been entrusted with, both easily labeled as inexperienced and possibly ruinous for the future of Sedo; he has seen the way some of the older horses have looked at him, the perfectly average Savior turned into a political figure, and he can feel them wondering how he did it -- wondering if it was perhaps his friendship with Nero that had given him the edge with the Sultan, rather than his work to initiate the treaty with the Kawaru in the first place.
When he catches sight of the Mullah’s distinctive curled ears and flowing scarf, the Peacemaker breaks into a wide smile, trotting over and offering up a cheerful bump of his muzzle against hers. “Wind beneath your wings, sister. I’m glad to have caught you here.”
[ Post 1 | 335 ]
for Esin -- Autumn 1701, shortly after Acheron's appointment to Peacemaker. picture by warped-casual |
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Post by kajeayn on Jan 16, 2020 0:41:02 GMT -6
It is a beautiful clear day at Osulas, as most days are. She knows the winter will bring its rain and its storms, but that is still some weeks off, though she sometimes catches the scent of rain in the breeze, the scent of change. She tastes it at the back of her tongue, ripe with the promise of new life, decadent and bright like a summer fruit. Her eyes are closed, enjoying the breeze as she prays, prays for those burdened souls she has spoken with, prays for herself to have the strength to help them. There is no answer, but she feels strong, somehow, always more reassured when she stands and sends her morning greetings to the sky mother. Her nightly prayers are more emotional, much longer, speaking with the stars as if they were the goddess herself, her morning prayers a refreshing part of her routine. Bracing her for the day. Her third eye rolls towards the approaching horse before her ears even flick at the oncoming hoofbeats, her head turning as her eyes open, blinking as she readjusts to the bright sunlight. As her eyes clear and she spots the familiar form, her face lights up, hooves lifting up in a delighted trot as she dances towards him, meeting his greeting nuzzle warmly. “Acheron! How lovely to see you,” She says brightly, brushing her cheek against his before she pulls away, long ears curving and pointing towards him, all eyes locked onto his. They crinkle as she smiles. “You look well!” She tilts her head, blinking as her smile shifts into a questioning look.
“Were you looking for me?”
post: 1 WC: 273 |
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Post by leukristic on Jan 27, 2020 1:24:31 GMT -6
Acheron of SeroraThere is something comforting in the warm way Esin greets him, in the skin-to-skin contact of their muzzles brushing together. The strangest thing that he’s learned in Vasall is that there are people out there who <i>don’t</i> greet their herdmates like family -- who thought such physical contact was rude, even, unless it was behind closed doors. Oriole had almost had a conniption fit when she’d realized, and had looked horrified as more and more Serorans had trickled into Vasall to help with the fields, bringing the casual touches and interactions with them.
(Conner still looked like he might have a heart attack every time he was greeted with a nuzzle or a cheek kiss. It was actually… kind of adorable, and he might have been using cheek kisses as a greeting more than he usually did just to watch the way the older kirin blushed.)
“You look lovely as well, sister.” His own answering smile is warm, if a little hesitant still -- he’s heard plenty of good things about the mullah from Danae, but hasn’t had much of an opportunity to interact with her outside of a few passing greetings, especially since he’d been in Vasall. His bright eyes shift towards the shrine, seizing on the moment to procrastinate asking for just a few seconds more, trying to get his thoughts in order. “As does your shrine. I’m glad I was able to see it before I left for Vasall once more.”
The Peacemaker cleared his throat, shuffling his hooves in the sand gently. It was harder than he’d expected to give voice to his concerns, to lay out all the reasons why he’d suddenly been overcome with doubt in his own ability to navigate the political relationship between the Kawaru and his homeland.
“I was, yes. I was hoping you… might be able to lend an ear, and perhaps some advice.”
[ Post 2 | 314 ] picture by warped-casual |
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Post by kajeayn on Jan 27, 2020 20:18:01 GMT -6
Her eyes flicker over his face as he speaks, her inquisitive look softening into a faint smile, and she beams in pride when he addresses her shrine. She turns her head, glancing once at it before she looks back at him, smile widening a fraction. “Thank you,” She says brightly, letting out a warm chuckle as she turns partially away from him. “Perhaps you’d like to help me tend it today? I find it’s easier to speak our minds when we have a task.” She offers kindly, already heading back towards the shrine a short distance away. Her tail flutters behind her, caught in a playful breeze and waving.
“I am always happy to listen and offer whatever advice I can,” She adds, blue and gold teke swirling as she lifts up a brush, sweeping sand and dust away from the offerings left on the shrine. She’s gentle and respectful, glancing towards the feathers that sparkle at the very heart of the shrine, hanging from the center of the arching rock, waving in a breeze she can’t feel. They always seem to dance, even if the other hangings hold still, though she has noticed there is almost always wind playing at her shrine. She wonders if it is just a coincidence, but she hopes that Alya likes to visit. She holds out another brush to him, offering him a smile alongside it.
post: 2 WC: 232 |
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Post by leukristic on Feb 8, 2020 15:05:19 GMT -6
Acheron of SeroraHe takes the offered brush with his own bright blue teke, as though he might be holding one of the eggs from his fathers' coops or some delicate artifact -- his movements are measured and careful as he begins to sweep away the sand from the shrine. "I know that I was… an unorthodox pick for our sultan to give the role of Peacemaker," The words are as soft as one of Alya's breezes, the young man keeping his eyes focused on the shrine instead of the mullah beside him -- somehow, if he doesn't look at her, it doesn't feel quite so much like he's admitting defeat before he has even begun to tackle his role.
"I'm very young, after all -- and I thought you would know what that is like, being given a great responsibility like this, and feeling…. I don't want to say that it feels like a mistake, for surely our sultan knows what he is doing, but I worry that perhaps there are others who might have been better-suited for this job. I am only a Savior, after all -- I've never done anything involving politics before I met the Kawaru, and most Peacemakers have years of experience behind them." The words pour out of him, full of heartfelt worry that somehow, he would be the one who would fail at this important job. He had always been a nobody, after all -- and now the task of maintaining their alliance with the Kawaru, of overseeing Vasall and the fields within, that rested on his shoulders. How was he not to worry, with such a weight given to him? He had been exhilarated when he had first applied at the urging of his friends, had been overjoyed when he had been granted the position: but now, with his return to Vasall (and his first visit to Sterling) looming over his head, he had found familiar doubts about himself beginning to surface.
[ Post 3 | 322 ] picture by warped-casual |
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Post by kajeayn on Feb 12, 2020 20:39:31 GMT -6
She listens, one curved ear pointed towards him as he speaks, her third eye gazing at him as she works in silence on cleaning and tidying the shrine. It’s not difficult work, especially with help, and so she works slowly, drawing it out, giving Acheron the time he needs to speak without her eyes on him.
“You’ve had a lot on your mind,” She muses, voice gentle, carefully setting down her brush as she turns to look at him finally. “I’m grateful you trust me enough to open up about this. I’m sure it wasn’t easy,” She says, giving him a small smile. She turns her head, gazing through the shrine out at the lake as she mulls over her response. She genuinely is touched that Acheron would come to her about this. She can’t say they’re very close, and though he is young, she’s even younger- to be reached out to for advice and support is as validating as it is frightening. She’s quiet, weighing each word carefully, afraid of a single misstep or misspoken word. “If there were others better suited, don’t you believe that the sultan would have chosen them, instead?” She returns his words back to him, lifting her brows as she looks at him. “You were chosen because you’re capable. And your youth is a blessing, not an obstacle.” She tilts her head, smiling slightly. “Our youth, even. It gives us a fresh perspective, unburdened by biases and sour past experiences. Perhaps that is what we need most right now. Our political history is…” She hesitates. “...perhaps not our strength.” She inclines her head, and the faintest hint of a grimace passes over her face. No, Serora has never been known for their political savvy. Their current sultan is doing his best to patch what damage has been done over their many years, and she does not envy him the job. She doesn’t envy Acheron either, but she knows without a doubt he is up for the job. She can only hope her confidence in him comes across in her words. “Our hope will always lie in our future generations. The Sultan puts his hope in people like us, because we are Serora’s future. You will be the beginning of a new peace between Serora and the Kawaru- it is a great honor, as frightening as it must be.” Her smile turns sympathetic. “Of course you’re nervous. I’d be worried if you weren’t,” She chuckles, but she stretches her head forward to touch her nose lightly to his. “But you are more than capable, dear Acheron. Do not be afraid of missteps, we all make them, and I have the utmost faith in your recovery and learning from them.”
post: 3 WC: 454 |
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