UUU: "The Way Time Passes"

Cast: Seed (Deme) & Nyra (Netha)

TLDR:

Support Points Earned: 2

[8:15 PM] LadyDeme: The inside of a grove of trees became a barrier, a shelter; it became the inside of a home, a roof of canopy as good as a roof of thatch. The light that filtered through them was a soft dawning light, early in the morning. The strand of trees was not so near to the camp it'd be heard from someone's tent -- it? The noise of a voice, following an unwritten script. "This is a trial, after all," it was Seed's voice, pitched breathier, from the head rather than the chest; something of a womanly voice from him, albeit a clumsy one. He was moving about in the center of the copse, focusing his gaze and voice at a spot on the log in front of him, where his notebook rested. A log had fallen, and gone to rot -- that's how it seemed outside of Seed's voice. "This is a trial to overcome..." She murmured it to herself, bidding the feeling to wedge itself more and more deeply in her heart; her fingers tightened on the tabletop, clinging to the carved designs amid the laquered surface; the knots might have, in her imagination, returned her grip, Seed filled in the gaps around Madeline's words, even as his face modeled her expression, a crestfallen smile. "If I cannot trust in his promise, after a few... delays. And...troubles... If I doubt now, then..." Madeline would have steadied herself with another breath; Seed did. "Then I won't be ready for him to come back for me."

[8:28 PM] NethaEmerald: Nyrandisa had found herself wandering about after being woken up and unable to go back to sleep. There was just too much noise about from her companions and nature itself to sleep. So instead of trying to force herself to sleep, she decided to wander around, a little sleepy and with tiredness in her steps. She didn't attempt to flutter, as it was sure to end in her craching into something painful. Amidst her sleepy wandering, an unusual voice caught the attention of her ears. It wasn't a voice she quite recognized as anyone's voice. It was very faint. She attempted to follow the sound to it's source, but seemed to get lost amongst the trees near their camp. It took a little bit before she eventually found the source. It looked like a small leafy canopy, like a roof. She figured that someone had set up camp here. Her hunch was confirmed when the voice had started to get louder the closer she approached it. When she was within good earshot, she decided to just listen in and try to figure out if this was anyone she might know before doing anything else. After all, they could very well be hostile.(edited)

[10:09 PM] LadyDeme: Seed's voice paused for a while, as Seed himself returned to his notebook, scribbling something down -- it wasn't long enough for what he had said, but there was a lull, in which everything was quiet, and he was still, a faint smile growing on his face; a smooth pond interrupted by ripples of the expressions he'd worn. And then, he began again, pacing about the clearing; now he spoke in his own voice, or something like it -- perhaps a little crisper, a little clearer, moving at times slowly and others hurriedly, intently, over the words, which his gesturing hands might have plucked from the air. "The time fell around her like autumn leaves. Each individual leaf, each day, was meaningless; sometimes quick, sometimes drifting slowly by. But when she turned her head, she found her hopes buried in them to their knees, and sinking in the pile. There were times she could pull herself out of time, and embrace the ideal of his return -- perhaps this year, as he promised -- and she'd roll about her bed, clutching her threadbare pillow to her face." Here, he smiled fondly, but his expression slowly grew more pensive, retreating into himself. His reaching hands curled inwards.

[10:09 PM] LadyDeme: "He did not return that year. But this was her trial. She must work to make herself ready -- he was surely working too, too young to run away with her. The leaves piled, first that year, then the next. The mountain of leaves grew all around the fixed point of her life. One day, she was preparing the tea for the master of the house as always. And the waft of the smell -- all lemon rind and earthy blackness -- reached into her and pulled her out of her life with all the rudeness of a torn page. She couldn't explain why that day, that cup of tea, was met with her tears." He considered this, and his brow furrowed. He went to write down what came to mind, the transition from one area to the next, but a little sneer formed on his lips, no less intent and lively than his smile had been. "Seed Viridius, you hack. Of course they'll expect a leaf metaphor from you. You thought you could escape rain, or snow? How trite."

[10:18 PM] NethaEmerald: After listening to this voice speak longer, she realized that it was Seed. Well, only once he started to use his more normal voice, even if it wasn't 100% normal to what she heard from him before. It was evident, after a little bit, that he was coming up with some kind of story, poem, play, or something similar in nature. When he eventually spoke of leaf metaphors, she had to desperetly hide a soft giggle in her throat. It was funny how self-aware of his own style he was, to the point he was able to point out his own flaws. She didn't want to disturb him, really she didn't. However, as she stayed behind some trees, listening, something came down and touched her antennae. Her eyes widened when something did. They were actually really sensitive. Before she could reach up to it, she knew what it was; some huge spider. In a moment of panic, her hand found itself flinging to it and brushing the creepy crawler off, complete with a small shriek from the suddeness of it. There was also another reason, but she would never admit that to just anyone. When the spider was dealt with, she realized what she had done, and a blush formed on her face from embarrassment. She just wanted to get away from here, but Seed surely knew someone was here, so she saw no point in trying to run, and slowly came out from her small hiding spot, head down, hand behind her head, scratching it to distract it from the antennae sensation that just occured.

January 12, 2018

[6:27 PM] LadyDeme: The shriek pulled Seed from his self-recrimination, jolting him to walk towards it; what if someone had been hurt? He didn't have a staff with him; this little grove wasn't his camp, wasn't part of the camp, it was just a private little -- you fool; you should be more prepare-- When Nyara walked up, not from far off but from within the shelter of these very trees, he stopped mid-step, with only the crunch of the leaves below his foot for sound. Seed's face could not be red. It was incapable of it; but anyone watching would see, clear as day, the gobsmacked and embaressed surprise on it, the slight green glow in the brown of his features, clear through the thin bark of his face. He shut his mouth, and urged his frozen fingers to move. Seed's lips moved once, as he tried to process his shock; he'd let out all his breath at once, and it took him a moment to remember the action. "...You heard all that, then?"

[7:15 PM] NethaEmerald: When Seed came out, Nyra couldn't look him right in the eye at first. She was too embarassed by her freakout over something as simple as a spider to have the composure to look at him dead-on. However, she eventually regained it when he had failed to say something right away. This caused her to look up and see the look on his face. Clearly he was embarrassed someone had heard him just now as well. When he asked if she had heard any of that, she slowly nodded, responding with "Uh, yes I did. Almost sounded like your own impression of me, but I quickly realized that was not the case. I could ask about it, but I don't think I will." She was curious, no doubt about that. However, she didn't want to force the information behind his self-dialog if he wasn't ready to talk about it.

[9:58 PM] LadyDeme: Seed was baffled by the response; by suddenly backing away from the topic, and it left him no less embaressed at having been overheard. He rubbed the back of his head, where his branches sprouted, knotted together, and went their seperate ways under layers of hair and leaf, the two greens blending seamlessly into each other. "No, it wasn't an impression of you... I...Well." His curled fingers momentarily loosened, as if the hands by his side could reach out; he very nearly mustered the other feeling, bobbing up in the sea of his embaressment -- but in the face of her response... His nerve faltered, and he lowered his head shyly. "...That's... Kind of an unusual response, ha ha. ha... Thanks?" He had no idea what to say to it. He still dIdn't look up as he asked, "Are you quite alright? You shrieked. Did something hurt you?"(edited)

[10:04 PM] NethaEmerald: When he reacted the way he did, she almost got a small chuckle out of it. Regardless, she did come back rather quickly by saying "Like I said, I won't pry. However, whoever it was, it wasn't a bad impression." When he asked how she was, she smiled sheepishly. It was nice that he cared about her. With the smile being steady, and embarrassment coming back, she responded "I'm okay. A spider got into my hair and messed with my antennae is all. Nothing harmful... well, physically. To my pride, yes, it was hurt."(edited)

January 13, 2018

[10:42 AM] LadyDeme: "I'm not sure why you keep thinking it was an impression... But how would you know that?" An eyebrow arched upwards, skepticism finally returning some non-sheepish expression to his face as he lifted his head. This seemed like the strangest thing to insist on; it was just an effort at doing a kind of feminine voice that didn't rely on a falsetto, which always took him out of the mood. It wasn't terribly realistic; Seed's voice naturally resonated a little on the deep side, compared to a female of most species, but this at least blurred the line of 'himself.' He considered whether or not this bit of confusion had anything to do with the shrieking, though her answer seemed to remove the suggestion, though he had to wonder if maybe the spider hadn't bitten her. Seed leaned forward and down a little, though he got a pretty good view of her antennae at his height, trying to make sure everything was OK. "He didn't bite you, did he?...Are you afraid of spiders?" He asked.(edited)

[10:58 AM] NethaEmerald: When Seed asked why she kept thinking it was an impression, Nyrandisa shrugged a little and said "I dunno. Maybe because i've never heard you take on a more womanly voice before. My mind jumped to the conclusion that it was an impression and not something else like practice. I apologize if I got it wrong." If she took on a more manly voice, then anyone else might assume it was an impersenation or impression or someone at a first glance without explaination. Or maybe her mind was jumping to the wrong conclusion, as it seemed to do often. She didn't have much time to think about it before Seed asked more question about the spider. When he asked if she was afraid of them, she giggled a little and said "Nope. I actually love spiders. It's just my antennae are very sensitive. Very sensitive. It took me by surprise is all. Though i'm actually not sure if it did bite..."

[12:20 PM] LadyDeme: "...If you say so, I suppose. I'm not mad about the misunderstanding, or the eavesdropping, just... Oh, I suppose you must find it all somewhat strange. And the workwasn't really ready to have an audience, and -- oh, well, I'm rambling." And the sheepishness was back, as he reviewed his own review of what he'd actually been working on. He tried to wave it away with a hand, like he could dispell a cloud, while he busiest himself peering at her antennae with a worried smile. "I see... Well, keep an eye on it, I suppose. If they're that sensitive normally, it'd probably do you well to check on it yourself if anything feels 'off.' I don't see anything strange, but my frame of reference might not be the best."(edited)

[12:27 PM] NethaEmerald: Nyrandisa wasn't going to let him back out and pan his own work, however. "Have more confidence, Seed. I don't find it strange at all. I thought it was actually very good, even if it wasn't ready to have an audience. If you ever want help with it, i'm always available. As for my own head? I'll keep an eye on things, and hope nothing bad came." She responded with a smile. On the topic of literature works, she had been working on redoing the folklore tale she had from home about the 80 days world trip, but she didn't want anyone to know that she was working on it, in a similar manner to Seed here about his little play, story, or whatever he might call it. "If only I had more confidence in my writing..." She thought to herself.

[6:17 PM] LadyDeme: "Y-you're just flattering me..." He said, a shy smile spreading all over his face -- a tension that had knotted up through him before, in that moment he almost asked her what she thought, released into that smile. "But I'm relieved; did you really like it? I think it's very important that the audience understand the pressure Madeline's under during this period, and how badly Roderick's departure wounds her, as small a fault as it would be to him; without it, the tangled web of the novel can't find such a vital part of its emotional center." He rambled now with animation, his hands clutching at the robe over his chest like a human clutching their heart, and unfolding, he swept up words and worlds and a breathless summary of an unfolding story. At the end, he tilted his head and considered the matter on which she'd interrupted. "I think for a Florkana writer, though, the audience will roll their eyes at something like that. Perhaps an ocean..."

[6:20 PM] NethaEmerald: When Seed went on about his own little story, a soft smile remained on her face whilst listening to him. Once he'd finally given her a break to interject with her own thoughts and opinions, she explained "Well, you capture the emotions of the sorrow tale well. But perhaps replacing the leaves with another metaphor would be more understandable to others. Not everyone will understand or get the point of fallen leaves like Florkana can. Like perhaps rain filling the hole she feels herself to be in with his departure? I'm not the best writer, so take my words with some salt."

[6:31 PM] LadyDeme: "What's not to understand? Time passes, seasons change, each piece adds to a layering mound; it's not a simile I chose because I myself am a Florkana, I chose it..." Here, relaxed by the praise, he afforded himself an earnest chuckle, rather than the sort of smoothing-over sound he tended to make in the face of some mild self-deprecation. "I chose it to avoid rain; it just seems rather cliche as the choice. I'm sorry, I'll consider it... But I'm not sure filling her is the thing. She is not trying to fill herself, just yet; that comes later. There, now... She is trying to maintain herself as she is, waiting for him, faithful to him... Perhaps dust would be a better choice, and an applicable one given her status. She has to try and keep the 'home' she wishes to build with him clean, but these things collect over time."(edited)

[6:51 PM] NethaEmerald: "I'm just saying that Rain, while cliche, is easier for others to understand the significance of for sadness than leaves. I know I get it. However, others in the camp might not. But if you're firm on your beliefs, then stick to them. Nobody knows what you want on paper than you." Nyrandisa responded back with. She meant no offense to his writing; just merely offering suggestions to what he wrote. However, it seemed he was content with the leaves simile, so she couldn't say anything to that. After all Seed seemed to have some confidence issues, as demonstrated by their last conversation, and it was good to see him toughening up a little.

[7:18 PM] LadyDeme: "Ah, I just said I was looking for a replacement, besides rain or snow, so while I know what I don't want, what I do is... Harder." He sighed, turning back to his notebook for a moment, so the uncertainty on his face wasn't so visible -- and so he could write down the ideas he'd mentioned before. His quill scratched on the page, writing out the idea of her endlessly housecleaning as the dust began to cover her shining faith, her unforgettable love. "But nor do I think it's obtuse. I just think it's also cliche, because it's coming from me; from another writer, it might have a little room for something that would be more interesting. Some species are rather lucky, in that regard. The image of a pile of falling leaves is fairly universal, so I think you give the audience for this novel too little credit... Though I'm writing this not for the people at this camp, whom you certainly might give too little credit, I think." His voice maintained a sort of teacherly gentleness. He pointed out as he turned back towards her, without any sign of offense, but with a rueful, smiling shake of his head. While some of the group were ditzy, and it was true Kiera couldn't have read that words, but there were people with attention span and literacy, which asked for little; that wasn't the reason he was rejecting it. He shrugged, and brought up a hand to brush some hair out of his eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm rambling too much; was there something you were doing?"(edited)

[7:34 PM] NethaEmerald: When Seed seemed to scold her about her less-than-stellar opinion of their cohorts, she responded with "Well, when we have people like Zain who eat enough candy to make them sick without knowing their limits, some who can't read, and some who seem bubbly and energetic, I have my own doubts. Though perhaps I am painting them in too little of a light. We do have smart individuals like Suleiman, Mars, and yourself. Perhaps I should stop being so condescending on them all." with a small chuckle at the end. "Because I am stuck with them a while. Wouldn't be good if they panned me for such opinions." She watched as he went back to his notebook and wrote some stuff down. Once asked what she was doing, she responded with "Some of our group got too rowdy too early and I couldn't go back to sleep. I was just wandering around to find something to do was all."

[10:22 PM] LadyDeme: "..." He was a little taken aback by the rather harsh assesment of their crew; they had their flaws, but some of that seemed, honestly, irrelevant. Being bubbly didn't necessarily mean much, even if he wasn't sure himself what Himaya chose to pay attention to. But he wouldn't want to hold that against him much; it felt like cheating, somehow. "I think that would be a good idea; they're really lovely people, and Kiera's resolved to learn, which is a wisdom in and of itself. Actually, Himaya recently came up with... A rather touching plan, on behalf of myself and my work. I think everyone has something wonderful to offer." He smiled, on surer footing here, but he put a hand on her should as if to assure no hard spirits were meant for her response; she was part of 'everyone,' after all. "Ah, I see. I got up early to find some time to work; it's hard to find good light for writing in when on the move like this; there's lamplight, of course, but people sometimes get ornery about that."(edited)

[10:30 PM] NethaEmerald: When Seed responded as he did, Nyrandisa's smile wiped from her face as a sigh came out. "I know it's not nice to think of them as such. But first impressions are strong. Perhaps it's the dark tendrils of my inner emotions influencing my views over such matters. In any case, I don't hate any of them. Just think that somen of them aren't the brightest candles in the night. I'm aware they all have things they bring." She took a deep breath with a small laugh. "Heh... sometimes it's good to be able to talk about things with others and get their inputs. Sorry if I sounded cruel; I don't want to be known as one, even if the tendencies slip between the cracks every once in a while." A yawn escaped from her. "But i'm still tired. I could just be rambling over being sleepy. In any case, i'm sure the others are thankful you didn't use a lamp and recite your work aloud next to them as they slept."

January 14, 2018

[9:42 PM] LadyDeme: Dark tendrils, hm? There was something worrying in the way she approached that, but he nontheless placed a hand on her shoulder; not a clamping grasp, but a comforting weight. "I know you didn't mean it quite so harshly. You've always struck me as a very kind and patient person, for what it's worth." He waved a hand about the now still grove; without him pacing about it, it was still, with only the faint sound of chirping birds in the distance to mark the dawn. The ground had layers of leaves poking above the branches, "If you'd like to rest here, I've about finished up all the work I wanted to do alloud, and it's quiet enough a place to lay one's head down until we need to move again; I can come collect you then."

[11:17 PM] NethaEmerald: When Seed said that she was a kind person, she weakly smiled. "At least some people realize that. I'm not sure everyone else does. Dark magic tends to have that effect on me." She didn't even try to take his hand off her shoulder. She remained where she was, longing for days of which the darkness had never consumed her before. When offered the place to rest, she shook her head a little and responded "It wouldn't be fair to kick you out. I'll be fine without sleep, but thanks for the offer. But perhaps I could stay here a few moments or more, just to get off my legs and wings a little."

January 15, 2018

[3:44 PM] LadyDeme: He was for a moment rather concerned; hearing her say that... Why persist, then, on a thing that could carry such ill effects? But it seemed a hard question to ask, for now. Instead, he left his hand where it was, with a little reassuring pat. "Take care of yourself, then, and they'll see," he said, instead; just for the moment. Until he better understood her circumstances, that assurance might help a little. "You wouldn't be kicking me out, but I suppose I can stay while you rest a while. Please, don't mind me." With that, he moved long enough to go sit down, where he could write quietly in his notebook. The log he'd placed it on before was his seat, firm if perhaps still shedding old bark, and there was enough room on it for her to sit down as well.(edited)

[7:55 PM] NethaEmerald: Nyrandisa had meant the ill image that Dark Magic paints on people. Some see it as a completely evil art and that only sinners use it, not that it was having too many negative effects. Well, none that haven't already happened. However, as Seed sat down, and that there was enough room for her to sit down, she didn't even bother asking as she took a seat and yawned. Perhaps she was more tired than she thought. Regardless, she turned her head to look at Seed and said "Thanks for that. I hopefully shouldn't be here too long."

January 16, 2018

[11:48 PM] LadyDeme: "...Don't worry about that for right now." He smiled to himself, writing down a new metaphor as the sun continued rising up through the trees. He was quiet and still, with only the sound of his pen scratching; at the end of a line or two, he might pause to dip it in ink, but that was all.(edited)

[11:59 PM] NethaEmerald: When Seed said that, Nyra nodded in response and sat still for a few moments. However, the moments became very long. Much longer than she had originally anticipated. She didn't want to fall asleep in this room with someone else, but she succumbed to the tiredness in her body and mind and dozed off. At first, she seemed to be sitting up just fine. Nobody would have suspected much if her hood was up. However, what gave away that she had fallen asleep was the fact thet she slumped over to one side, unable to keep herself upright while sleeping. The direction she slumped in was towards Seed. If she were awake, she would have been more careful about that, but her body was controlled by gravity at this point.

January 17, 2018

[3:33 PM] LadyDeme: Her fall had jostled the arm holding Seed's notebook open, and his pen had slipped, sending black spatters of ink across the paper. Seed felt a weight suddenly press against his right side, pulling his thoughts abruptly from the page, where he'd been trying out a few choice descriptions for that transition. A glance away revealed the source, and the frustration on his face melted away, replaced by a faint green tinge. Ah, I see.. I think I might be trapped for a while. Nyra had ended up slumped against his side, leaning her head on his right arm. He didn't say anything or try to shake her awake, or dislodge his arm. Not the way the light fell over them, broken by trees, landing onto her peacefully sleeping face -- he, too, cast that sort of shadow, shaded as a tent. With a wry smile, he set aside his pen with his other hand and relaxed his shoulders. And the seconds first, and then minutes, passed and deepend like the sunlight coming up.

[3:33 PM] LadyDeme: == RP End ==