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 Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:17 pm
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It had admittedly been a fair little while since Lifen had allowed herself a little time to just stroll through the other clan grounds, to see how everything was going. Well - with the exception of making sure Sören hadn't burned down something while gardening. She wasn't sure how that would happen, but . . . it would.
Entering the War territory, she couldn't help but smile at how it was coming together, everyone seemed to be working on lifting the tenting area off the ground more, the sound of wing beats constantly filtering through the sky. It was rather different than Conquest - colourful and calm, full of etiquette that they couldn't ween out of their blood if they tried. This was just . . . quiet, somewhere one would go when they wanted to get out of it all and just take a stroll, meeting the locals and all.
Thus, this is what Lifen was doing.
She probably looked odd, the small little horsewoman in teal fabrics with bells and charms, her translucent legs taking sure steps. Except for the few meetings with the little War Horseman Senga, she had little interactions with the group of them in a whole, and was hoping to get a view of them from the inside.
. . . and a break.
She always could use a break.
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:15 pm
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Shaheen had been soaring through the skies, her large, falcon like wings spread wide as she practiced aerial battle techniques. Swooping, diving, rolling in the air...for anybody who glanced upward that was from war, the sight would likely be a familiar one. For anybody else, however, it was likely a spectacular show of aerial grace and form. She had been at it for hours now, the actions seemingly the only way for her to escape. To escape the pain, the anger, and yes, even the whispers that that still slithered through her mind, hissing like snakes that were hidden in the bush, ready to strike. It was just her and the open air, which she readily sliced through with her dagger, over and over again. Eventually, however, her wings began to grow weary, her heart thundering so hard in her chest she felt that is was likely to burst. She was in fine physical form, sure, but she was not a machine.
She began a slow and lazy descent towards the ground below, the action a stark contrast to her earlier fast and seemingly fearless activities. Her wings were spread wide as she glided down in large, swooping circles, her eyes scanning the area below, and landing upon a rather small figure that she was fairly certain could not be from war. When she landed, it was only feet away from the other woman, her knees bent in a crouch, one hand resting on the earth. Her bronzed skin was shiny with the sheen of sweat that covered it, her blonde curls a wild, windswept tangle as she pushed herself from the ground to stand at her full height, head cocking to the side as she looked down on her with amber eyes surrounded by grey. Conquest, she thought, just judging by the clothing alone...or possibly death.
"Hello." She said, and if she was out of breath one would hardly be able to tell except by maybe the rise and fall of her chest as she took in deep breaths through her nose. "Do you need help finding something, or someone?" She quirked up an eyebrow, not really wanting to have to deal with anybody or anything right now, but feeling as though she aught to at least offer the courtesy.
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:44 pm
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Lifen had not expected the chieftess to suddenly appear - the War clansmate had swooped down so quickly, with the sound of wingbeats, landing and startling the poor artisan, she jumped back just a little, having expected to be just about bowled over by her. She was much larger - standing probably just under Mengyao or Sören's eyes, (they were a measure of height for the horsewoman,) and seemed rather . . . impressive for how little clothing she wore. Needless to say, Lifen was standing there speechless for a moment before lifting her hands and dropping a fist in to the other palm, as a "aha" kind of movement.
"Oh, I saw you at prom." She justified, feeling content that she had figured out where she had seen such an impressive person, before catching herself. Giving the higher classed horsewoman a small bow, black hair sweeped over her shoulders and covered up her pale shoulders. "Good evening."
Feeling her respects given, she looked behind her momentarily before looking back to the taller lady, shaking her head. "Not to my knowledge, I was just interested, I have not seen the War territory since we came here. A walk, I suppose you could say?" She offered, giving her a once over again. The grey skin was a dead give-away for Lifen, but she wouldn't ask about her acquaintance's mental status. It was too rude.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:48 am
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Prom? The Chieftains eyes narrowed slightly, confusion creasing her forehead. Yes, she had attended prom, but she had arrived late and had not spent very much time socializing, so it was perhaps a little surprising to know that she would be recognized because of it. Still, as she gazed down at the smaller woman in front of her, whom she was fairly certain she could knock to the ground just by the gust of air that her wing beats could provide, she realized that she did actually recognize her as well. There was not a lot that escaped Shaheen's attention, and she had spent the majority of her time at prom just studying everybody else. Though..apparently she could lose her date. Yes, that little maneuver that Shik had pulled had escaped her attention, and it still grated on her nerves to think about it.
"Yes, I believe I may have seen you there as well." She finally replied, before giving the conquest horsewoman a nod. "Good evening. I am Shaheen, a former chieftain on the isle of war."
Ah, so she was just here out of curiosity. Well, Shaheen could certainly understand that. She often went out of her way to study different areas of the camp, or the forest, and yes, even the school. The school and all of it's students fascinated her for some explicable reason, and she just could not seem to stay away from it. "A walk, right." Her eyes flickered momentarily to the grey that also streaked this woman's hair, and she had to wonder if maybe they shared a similar affliction. The chieftain did not wish to ask out right, however, also feeling that it might be considered rude to do so. Perhaps if she got to know her better, however...
"Perhaps you would like a tour guide, then." She concluded, more then willing to lead hew new clansmate around the war territory.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:09 pm
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Watching the emotions ripple over the clanswoman's face, she found herself tilting her head a little to the left, eyebrows raised innocently as she waited for an appropriate moment to break the silence, or an answer. It was interesting, watching someone so lively in their emotions, most of her clansmates were very internal people - secretive at times - they had been raised that way.
"Yes, I accepted the request from a student who goes to the school. It seemed innocent enough." She offered, resting her hands in front of her stomach, fingers netted together. She was trying to will her face from showing any residual emotions from the evening, eyes deflecting a little before hearing the woman offer her name, snapping back to attention to her.
"Shaheen." She stated, allowing herself to try out the name, saving it in memory, before bowing once more, much smaller than the first one, more of a formality. "Hua Lifen - an Artisan of Conquest. Most just call me Lifen, though." Sne replied with, before looking behind the Chieftess, at the high canopied home behind her, eyebrows raising. They weren't flying. They shouldn't have to fly, right?
"Only if you would have me," she murmured idly. She was a terrible flyer. Shaking her head softly, she looked to Shaheen again, a little embarrassed that her mind strayed.
"I would very much like to be shown around, it would be appreciated. Maybe I could show you the same respect sometime?" She offered. She was very proud of the Conquest clan's area, but it was nice to be out of the same routine for once.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:26 pm
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A student? Oh, so she was one of those horsemen who had been escort to a scareling. That idea still didn't sit well with Shaheen, even if she did find the students of the school fascinating. "Was it the tall one with the mismatched eyes, then? I had thought he might have been one of ours, not a student. Interesting." Yep, Shaheen didn't miss much, and she was obviously confusing Mengayo, whom she'd never met, as the student that Lifen had mentioned.
Conquest horsemen did seem to like to bow quite a bit, so Shaheen offered her another nod, repeating her name as well, "Hua Lifen. Or just Lifen. I think I will call you the latter as well." She actually rather liked the name, and she offered the woman a smile in form of a smirk, which may have been a little misleading.
"Of course, but you are uh..sure that you wish to walk? Flying is a much more convenient mode of travel, after all." Not that she had anything against walking, of course, just that flying was perhaps the most exhilarating action, second only to reaping fear and killing humans..hunters especially. "There are, of course, ladders that you can use to climb. if you so choose." She turned slightly and nodded towards the home that Lifen had been looking at.
"I think...I would like that sometime, yes." Was her only reply to Lifen's offer of showing her around conquest. She had been to the area before, but had not really taken the time to get a good look around.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:04 pm
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Mismatched eyes? Charlie didn't have -- oh.
Letting out a hearty laugh she pushed her hands out again, waving them in a "no way" kind of fashion as she tried to dispel the idea of Mengyao in the school. "NO, no, not him. That was not my original date. That is Mengyao - you are right, he is one of ours - a Noble of Conquest." She admittedly, a little breathlessly before putting her hands down, content that the horsewoman had considered the folly. He would have been irate and she would have paid to see him fuss about being mis-labeled as a student.
"I originally was requested there by a boy, pink hair, named Charlie. I just . . . happened to be borrowed by Mengyao later on in the night." It was easier to keep it to the short points, before looking up to where Shaheen was talking about, a frown threatening to show on her face.
"You went with another clansmember, did you not?" She asked, before the Chieftan's question trumped hers for a moment.
It was the only way, and quicker, to allow Shaheen to help her, wasn't it. Flying was faster than climbing up a rope . . . shedidn'tnottrust - she turned to the clanswoman and gave her a slightly nervous smile, before looking back. "I admit I cannot fly, myself." she offered.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:24 pm
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"Borrowed? How does one borrow--" On second thought, she decided she really didn't want to know what the two of them may have been doing once Lifen had been 'borrowed'. However, the slightly pinkish cast that graced Shaheen's cheeks beneath the bronze of her skin probably spoke volumes of what she thought might have occurred. And on school grounds! She had thought, just judging by Zhi's reaction to her bare chest, that the members of conquest had more decency then that!
She decided to keep her mouth firmly shut on the subject, however. It was not for her to pry, and really, she did not need to know. Really really did not need to. So instead, she focused on the other things Lifen was saying. "Pink hair? I believe I may have seen him. There was a pink haired girl as well that won some kind of prize. Some of those students do look so oddly." Shaheen was sure she had never met anybody with Pink hair before in her life, and on the night of the prom she had also met a girl with purple hair. So very odd.
Lifen's next question had her choking on her words, however, her expression slightly flustered before her features darkened, and her eyes narrowed dangerously as she turned her head, staring off into the distance, as though even from where she stood she could see the hulking mass of useless flesh that was Shikoba Len, and if she concentrated hard enough she could make him have some kind of brain aneurysm. "Yes." She sounded decidely unhappy. "I did. He...oh what is that word I have heard so many others use? Oh right, he ditched me, at some point in the evening." This was obviously a very touchy subject, and one that was probably best to jump off of as soon as possible.
"Of course you can not fly." She almost snapped, her irritation at Shik making her less the friendly, the whispers in the back of her head egging her on and only maddening her further. No, this wasn't right. There was no reason to get angry with the woman of conquest. Shaheen let her eyes close, gave herself a moment to just breathe, and center herself, to find her inner calm.
There, that was much better.
"I apologize, I have not been feeling much like myself, lately. What I meant to say was that, of course, it would be difficult for you to fly without wings. But you are..if you'll pardon me saying so, quite small in size and I am certain I could carry you."
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:14 pm
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"Picked me up and walked away with me." She stated, her face burning with a mixture of frustration and shyness from the situation. What came after she wouldn't talk of, much too intimate to her, but she was okay with stating that she was carried, pouting a little. He, of all people, knew she had a thing about weightlessness, but she threw it to the wind. Oh well. Waving a clothed hand in the air a bit, she shrugged. "It is beyond us now, and he is forgiven, to a fault. I have known him since he was shorter than me, so I can not stay mad at him." She offered, not accepting or denying any of the stipulations that were silently in the air, her face staying the soft colour that rose up in the statement. She sucked at this.
Hearing the vindictive note in the taller woman's voice, her mismatched eyes looked up to her, head tilting again as she listened, nodding a little. It sounded like they were in the throws of a huge battle or something. Uncertain about how she wanted to approach Shaheen's discomfort. It was almost knit in to her being to try and help, now.
"No apologies needed." She offered, looking up at the buildings overhead again, the remark about her stature not going over her head. She just chose not to react to it. She was used to being called small - doomed from the beginning to be so tiny. It didn't bother her.
"As long as we could do it as quickly as possible, I will fly with you. I am . . . not partial to the weightlessness that comes with being lifted off the ground." She agreed, looking down a bit. It was a personal issue that sounded silly when she came out with it, but it was a rational fear! . . . To her.
"If you would like an ear to vent at, you are welcome to keep my mind company. I may not be able to do much, but I am a good listener." She finally offered.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:30 pm
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Oh, she was answering Shaheen's initial question, and while some things tended not to embarrass the war horsewoman, such as public nudity, the thought of what they might have been doing after she had been carried off..no, she still did not want to think about it. It was none of her business and she wished now that the topic had never arisen. Love, romance, and all of it's intricacies had forever been lost upon her, and she had always viewed such acts as ones of weakness. Now, however? Now her thoughts were always so scattered it was hard to tell what she believed and what she did not, what was real and what was being influenced by the whispers in her head. For a split second, her thoughts drifted back to Shikoba, and while she could feel the rush of anger welling up inside of her again, there was also something different there, some unrecognizable feeling that she chose to not focus on, and ignore, and hope that at a different time it might make more sense. No, she would not be thinking about that overly arrogant and aggravating man any further today. He was not worth the time.
Head tilting to the side again, one hand resting on a hip that was jutted slightly to one side, Shaheen opted instead to peer down at Lifen as a large bird of prey might eye up it's dinner, only instead she was merely trying to decide if she thought that it would be possible to carry the other woman through the skies. Shaheen was strong, her body toned and tall, her wing span quite large. But her fear..her fear was weak, and that counted for quite a lot. Still she was fairly confident that this could all just work out fine.
"I will try. I will carry you up there." She pointed to the open and canopied home behind them, not in the slightest bit worried about if anybody else might be there at the moment. "And from there perhaps you will have a better view of our camp." She was moving now, striding on tall and powerful legs, circling around Life to stand behind her, reaching down to scoop the woman up in her arms before her wings spread out wide.
"Please, do not move....And maybe try closing your eyes." She murmured, before..well, running forward basically, her wings snapping back straight behind her, gaining momentum before leaping up into the air, wings billowing out and beating frantically to get them up into the air. Once she found a strong air current, they would be fine, and indeed it seemed as though the take off was the worst part as it was now smooth sailing through the air towards the destination.
"That is very kind of you to offer, I will have to consider it." She shouted through the wind that whistled through her ears, her curly and tangled mass of blonde hair streaming behind her. It had lasted only mere moments before her wings began a more frantic beating as she attempted a steady descent to the floor of the home, feet touching down on a firm wooden floor, and she attempted to set the woman back down.
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 6:35 pm
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Lifen had no room to ask what the faces Shaheen were making represented, as the moment her words left her lips, Shaheen had already started to lift up the little horsewoman, the feeling of her feet leaving the ground so fast that the shock of it happening almost escaped her, a small sound escaping her lips. She tried so hard not to fight it - a few involuntary squirms here and there, but she was working on swallowing the helplessness that she felt, curling up as the wing beats boomed around her as they started the ascent, her hands raising her eyes so she could hide away from this discomfort.
After a few moments, she felt herself start to calm down, the feeling of weightlessness being pushed aside by the feel of the wing beats around her, the displacement of air from in front of her and behind her whipping her hair around, a feeling she had never experienced. It was kind of . . . calming just being there, unlike being carried on foot falls, like as if she was on the top of a cliff, allowing the wind to take her. Hearing the War Clanswoman talk over the wind again, she felt herself smile just a little. They would talk, indeed, and she would get down to the issue that seemed to be plaguing her new acquaintance, and maybe try to help clear it up a little. She owed it to her for being so kind and welcoming.
Then - they were done. She felt the sudden jitteryness that came with the descent of the winged one - and, although she didn't understand the movement, she felt that they were coming to the end of the small travel. Regardless, she didn't lower her hands quite yet. She waited until she could feel the taller woman lower her body closer to the ground, she just about jumped out of Shaheen's arms, a long exhale coming from her little body, before mismatched eyes were allowed to view again, she allowed herself to be stolen by the view for a moment.
They were so high up! She was estatic by the view, leaning over one of the rope walkways, looking down at the ground she was originally on, amused by how far they had gone in such a short time. This was just . . . invigorating. One could get lost up here, for hours. She would keep that in mind for a later time, when she had to get away from everyone she knew.
"Everyone needs someone to reflect themselves off at times. If we did not, we would be torn by our inner-issues, I think it is safe to say." She voiced to the Cheiftess, turning to her again momentarily and giving her a soft smile, before turning back, her interest glowing off her like a child with a new toy. "Having five sisters helped me realize that - I guess you could say . . . " She trailed, her smile never faultering. She could talk freely about them, finally.
"But, look it up here. I've never been so high up, and so close to the edge." She sighed outwards. Sure, there were a lot of hills and high places on the old island, but beyond fetching the young Mengyao, she had never had a reason to just explore it.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:45 pm
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The small squirms didn't go un-noticed, but instead of feeling concerned, they only caused a small smirk to curl Shaheen's lips. How could one be so afraid of being lifted up through the air like this? Flight was an incredible experience, a gif that was more then just literally uplifting, putting Shaheen in a good mood that was second only too how she felt when in the midst of a heated battle. It was almost freeing.
It was a shame that it hadn't lasted any longer then it did, though even she had to admit that carrying a land bound horseman around, even a small one such as Lifen, had been rather difficult to manage.
Once the other horsewoman had removed herself from Shaheen's grasp, the war chieftain followed the other towards the edge of the canopied home, taking in the view for herself, though she had seen it all from much greater heights many times before. If she had known that Lifens thoughts were on how she could get lost up there for hours, how it might be a good place to just get away from it all, she might have offered the other woman a knowing smile. It was not at all unlike what she had been doing herself just before she had encountered the artisan. Throwing herself around in the sky. Diving, tumbling, training, going through the different forms of aerial battle. It was what she did to unwind and to try and get away from the thoughts that cluttered her mind, made only worse by the incessant whispers.
She listened to what Lifen had to say, curious, wondering what exactly the other woman was trying to get at. "Perhaps you are right. I do keep many things to myself. I do not...like to unload my problems on to others." No, she had always felt like her own burdens were her's to bare, and nobody else's. "But it is difficult, sometimes, to hold on to so much at once." It was an admittance of sorts, saying that she was only capable of dealing with so much.
"I could take you higher." She teased, though she kept a straight face and kept her tone as serious as possible. Shaheen liked to get a reaction from others. It was almost like a hobby for her.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 1:46 pm
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"N-No. No, that is fine, not today. Thank you." Lifen answered honestly when offered to go higher, mis-matched eyes wide with a small sense of fright. It was obviously with how she was leaning against the rope-way that kept her secure that she wasn fine with being there, teetering dangerously and looking over. It was the flying thing she had issues with. Old wounds left scars.
"Yes, I agree, it can be difficult to hold everything in." She answered the Chieftess, allowing the softest of sighs before re-composing herself, awarding the taller woman with one of her small smiles, giving her a once over quickly before scratching her chin lightly in thought.
"How about I become your confident? I am very good at keeping secrets. We can keep open minds to each other. It could help to have someone to vent to when you are feeling your lowest." She offered, looking down at her hands, flexing the one that had just been up at her face for a moment, before deciding.
"I have heard it once as Quid Pro Quo. One for another. I will tell you something about me if you want. I will start - I broke my arm as a child falling from a very high place. Since then I do not like being weightless. I am afraid that I will harm myself again." She was truly only the most open to the giant Lord of Conquest, having known him for so long, but sometimes you needed a little lee-way to help persuade people.
It would also be nice to have someone else to talk to, who wasn't your actual problem at the time.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:57 pm
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The reaction was exactly what she had been looking for, and it gave the woman of war a reason to chuckle quietly to herself, giving her head a small shake so that her blonde curls bounced around her face. "Okay then. Not today. Perhaps another time." She was moving to stand alongside the other woman now, leaning against the ropes herself, not at all frightened of possibly falling off of the ledge, but in fact thinking of how exhilarating it might be to let herself free fall nearly to the ground, to see how close she could get to impact before unfurling her wings and taking back off into the sky.
Maybe another day.
"A confident?" That sounded suspiciously like somebody to gossip with, if she was being honest with herself. And on top of that, she barely knew this person. They had only just met! Why in the seven hells would she possibly want to unload her troubles on the other woman?
But then again...perhaps that was just what she needed. Somebody who didn't know her, so couldn't judge her current actions or compare them to her old ones. She had obviously changed since the destruction of the isles, and since being infected with the voices in her head and the grey scale that was creeping across her face and surrounded her eyes. So she gave a bit of a non-committal shrug at the notion. "I'll take it into consideration." She stated, her lips pressed into a firm line as she continued to mull over the proposition. But she wasn't really given much time to think about it, as Lifen began to tell her something about herself. Shaheen paused in her thoughts, turned more towards her, cocked her head to the side as she listened.
"You should not let your fears rule you. The best thing to do is to get back on the horse, after all." It was an old and worn out expression, but it fit. Oh wait...was she not supposed to comment or give advice? This confident thing was slightly confusing. And now it was her turn...
She thought about it for a moment, her brow furrowing. What bit of information could she give about herself that was on par with what Lifen had just told her? Was there a way of measuring?
"I do not believe in getting too close to people. I think that once you have made personal attachments, you become weaker. Judgment becomes clouded. Because of this, before the isles fell I had no close friends, and never searched for...anything beyond that. I had acquaintances, yes. Perhaps there are even those that I miss now, though it's only in brief passing." She stopped, gaze shifting back out into the open air, before murmuring.
"Now I'm not even sure how I feel. Maybe I've been wrong this whole time."
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 6:51 pm
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"It could not hurt to try, hm?" She offered to the much taller horsewoman, glancing up at her with eyebrows lightly raised. Placing her hands on the rope, and resting her face in her palm a little as she listened to the other woman, her gaze looked dreamily out from them, a soft shrug rolling her shoulders.
"I have never had the need to fall from such a height since then, so it really has not come up, you know?" She figured, a soft smile showing that she wasn't as bothered. She allowed the other to take the initiative talking, having expected her to push the little Artisan away, but the strong voice of the Chieftess made her smile wider, turning to look at her again, taking in every word.
It was interesting how the two women considered endearments, Lifen herself had considered herself very withdrawn until she had come to the Lost Clans, and nodding softly, she let Shaheen talk until she was done. "I do not find it a weakness." She admitted, thinking hard. "I understand where you are coming from though. I used to feel that way when I was younger. I only had one friend for a while until he introduced me to his cousin. Beyond that I was too shy to try and reach out. I was worried that I would be overshadowed or something." She admitted, blushing a little as she looked down, but quickly raised her eyes again.
"I do not think you should consider it a weakness, sometimes what you need is just a good friend to listen to you, I think." She mulled, before thinking. "Did you have anyone when you were on the Isle, at least?"
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