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SOUTH OF YZZAYT'S ABYSS - EARLY EVENING
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Nesseth has a brief respite from patrol duty tonight as the remaining guards continue on their way towards the Prominence, guided in part by information they'd gained from Louma, as well as guidance from Usid, his riders and his clan. Currently, he's sitting next to a campfire, just sort of idly gazing into the depths of the flames jumping between the logs, some vague part of his mind hoping the prisoners and wounded get back home safely, while another, louder part of his mind wishes he'd joined them for... perhaps admittedly selfish reasons.
Xochi has felt a bit despondant as well, still trying to think back on what she could have said or done differently, though she cannot fully complain with the result. She slithers through the slightly smaller camp, her illusion spells still undone, until she sees Nesseth sitting at one of the fires. Bringing herself around, she reaches the fire and begins to coil up nearby, raising hands towards the flame. "Nesseth. That must be some lessening of your burden, yes? Now that the others are heading back to safety?"
Nesseth doesn't really notice anyone approaching until he's addressed directly. He blinks, his gaze focusing as he looks up towards the voice. He hums quietly, nodding at the question. "Yeah... yeah, the prisoners being on their way back safely is a huge relief. I just kind of wish this last leg of the trip wasn't necessary, but I know if we don't try to stop this Whisperer now, it'll just come back to bite us later."
Xochi nods, "There are those who believe they do what is right on all sides of war. You, and I. Dyvrisse and Usid. Others... are simply 'evil'." She supresses a shiver that runs down her back which has nothing to do with the cool desert air settling in around them for the evening. "I agree with you. I... briefly considered leaving for Respite alongside the others. But I had said I would see this through."
Nesseth hums and nods quietly. "I was thinking of the same, myself. We've been out away from town for... what, a month, now? Longer than even my worst hunting trip in the past, anyway, and further away, to boot." He sighs, "If it wasn't for the fact that I'm filling in for Louma, I might have volunteered to defend the wounded on the way back."
Xochi nods silently, watching the fire flicker. "A hard choice, I assume? To finish the fight you know is the right thing to do, or to return home to be with your loved ones?"
Nesseth nods again. "We've been away for a long while. I'm just... really starting to miss Vix and Plume. But heading back, I'd just wind up worrying about everyone else that's still going to the Prominence."
Xochi chuckles quietly, "Ahh yes. Your heart battles your conscience." She hums. "Plume... and Vix, hm?"
Nesseth shuts his eyes a bit for a few moments, then sighs. "Yeah... they're both really close to my heart."
Xochi watches Nesseth and reaches up towards her heart. "You are blessed, Nesseth. I am glad you have found those who you hold so dear."
Nesseth manages a small smile as he gazes at the campfire again. "It was a bit of a bumpy road to that point, but... well... I'd go through it all again for them."
Xochi unwinds herself a little to move bask her tail closer to the flame. She nods to Nesseth. "I was aware of your relationship to Doctor Plume, but I have only met Vix a few times in the market. Might I ask how you met them?"
Nesseth chuckles quietly as he looks back up at Xochi. "Vix? I knew her for a few years, because she's the person that I buy a fair bit of my crossbow's odds and ends from. I met Plume... not too long after they arrived, if I recall. I'd gotten a cut on my cheek, and I went to get it treated by them."
Xochi: "A powerful friendship forged in time, and a fresh love at first sight, hm?" She giggles, "Both so romantic. Ahhh... I am jealous. Love, it seems, is not what I have been fated for. I am glad it has found you."
Nesseth blushes slightly under his scales. "Maybe not exactly first sight, but... well... I'm just glad they're both willing to make things work with me." He hums a bit as he looks at Xochi, "And, well... I wouldn't say you aren't fated for it yet, Xochi. It can pop up at the strangest of times."
Xochi hums, her face falling a bit. "There was one whom I loved... I think... you recall the one who came for me, yes? Aktzin... perhaps, there should have been something there between us, but I was too blind and foolish." She sighs.
Nesseth blinks. "Ah... right, him. Aktzin, the one we were all worried about." He furrows his brow a little, thinking, "...Maybe it might be possible to patch things up, one day? For better or worse, these sorts of things aren't always permanent."
Xochi looks up to the stars overhead and breaths out, "Perhaps... he was so focused upon me, he had never taken time to find himself. And I, not seeing the truth behind his intentions, turned away. It is for the best, I hope. He shall go and live the life he should have been given from the beginning."
Nesseth hums quietly, nodding a bit. "Then... maybe once you've got some time, you could maybe try to find where he's gone, see what he's been up to? Maybe not necessarily looking for him to get back that spark, but just to... I dunno, reaffirm a friendship?"
Xochi puts her hands over her heart and smiles, "I would like that, yes."
Nesseth gives Xochi a smile. "And... who knows, maybe it could go further assuming he's still open to it."
Xochi raises a hand towards Nesseth as she laughs, "I shall settle on praying for his safety for now, and hope that one day our paths cross again as friends."
Nesseth chuckles again. "Then I'll hope for the same, so that you two can move forward with something better than before."
Xochi grins, her wings shuffling a bit at her side, "I thank you, Nesseth. I shall be praying for our own safe return first. And a reunion with those who are waiting for us."
Nesseth nods slowly, still smiling. "Yeah... I just hope all this resolves quickly. I think we all need a bit of a break after this whole thing, once we get back. It'll be a well-deserved one."
Xochi nods. "Very. We shall all need some time for peace, and healing. However much the Moon and the stars can spare us."
Nesseth sighs and leans back a little. "And... after all of this, hopefully they see fit to give us a lot of time before something big happens again. We've got a lot of new folks to interact with and help settle in at Respite, not to mention so many injuries to recover from."
Xochi hums, following Nesseth's gaze back up to the stars. "I at least am heartened by the reaction to my true self. Although perhaps it helps that Usid's kin had joined us, for they have been getting all the strange stares that I had expected instead!" She chuckles.
Nesseth grins a bit. "I'd say those stares would be more curious than strange. Atrophied your wing muscles might be, but the plumage is still really nice to look at." He casts a short, amused glance at Xochi, "Though, I might be biased about feathers in general."
Xochi weakly stretches out one of her wings, the colored feathers hued to shades of orange and red in the fire's light. "Ahh, they are not so beautiful as Doctor Plume's, yes? Or even Captain Louma's." She folds the wing back around herself and gently cradles it in her arms. "They could have been beautiful, perhaps. But I have neglected them."
Nesseth hums. "Still, the colors are pleasing to the eye. Plume and Louma both have nice wings in their own regards, of course, and... now that you're not having to hide them anymore, they could probably help you get them looking especially good again, even if you might not be able to fly."
Xochi releases her wing and lets it slump back down and drape over her back. She sighs, "I knew flight, once... I suppose that shall have to be enough. But I shall ask Plume and Louma both what to do with my wings now that I have chosen to hide them no longer."
Nesseth smiles warmly. "They'll help with feather care, I'm sure. I'd offer to help, but..." He chuckles as he looks over his shoulder at... well, nothing, "I don't have anything anywhere near as grand as your wings, or Plume and Louma's wings. I've got frills and a tail."
Xochi giggles, "Which are quite fetching in their own right, I am sure. Louma has a long tail as well, in that beautiful iradescent black."
Nesseth nods. "Her scales look really nice, the way they catch the light. And Plume's feathers look so glossy out in the sun, too." He chuckles as he pulls his helmet off and extends his frills as far as he can, "I've just got this glorified head fan."
Xochi laughs gently, "I shall have to ask Plume and Vix what they think of it, hm?"
Nesseth blushes a bit under his scales and chuckles as he folds his frills down again and sets his helmet back in place. "You could, if you like. I'll try to not die of embarrassment when they talk about it."
Xochi slowly stops laughing, lowering her hand from her face, "Ahh, I shall do my best to temper myself. I simply find everyone I have met in Respite... beautiful, unique, special, all in their own way. But I am something of an old... what would you call it?"
Nesseth tilts his head. "Old... uh... mmmmmaaaaaiiiid?" He draws out the last word, hoping against hope that he's not insulting Xochi unintentionally.
Xochi tilts her head, "Maid? I had never considered wearing such an outfit, but I suppose?"
Nesseth shrugs a bit cluelessly. "I... don't know? I've heard others use that saying before, but... uh... might be the wrong context?"
Xochi shrugs, "I do not know! There were maids in the manor I was raised in... some were rather old. I cannot say what they had or had not seen of the world."
Nesseth hums and shrugs again in turn. "Fair, but age doesn't necessarily stop someone from seeing the world."
Xochi nods, shifting back to think. "Hmmm. Well, I am old... and I have not seen much of the world. This was my point. Many peoples here seem wonderful and new. Even this far out, in this desert, in these conditions, I am seeing strange new things I'd never even imagined."
Nesseth smiles. "It's quite an experience, isn't it? So much to see, and there's still even more to see later on elsewhere." He sighs, "I'm just sorry you didn't get a chance before now to experience all these new things."
Xochi hums, "I am making up for lost time, in some part."
Nesseth offers another warm smile. "And... if you want, feel free to ask if there's any way I could help make up for that lost time. I'll try to help however I can, Xochi."
Xochi chuckles, "Maybe... this trip has, if nothing else, given me some confidence. Perhaps not in my skills as a negotiator... but that perhaps I do not need to stay hidden in shadows. Perhaps there is more I could do."
Nesseth nods. "Like I've said before... if you think you no longer need to hide, you've got a lot of friends around town to support you. And if anyone tries to cause trouble... just let me, Kira or Louma know, and we'll keep you safe."
Xochi bows her head to Nesseth, "I know. I am very lucky in that regard, to have found such new friends in Respite."
Nesseth chuckles quietly and dips his head in turn. "I always figured it wasn't exactly always serious, but... Respite's motto seems to fit more and more. 'A place for second chances'. Fits, doesn't it?"
Xochi nods, smiling at her friend, "Yes... yes it does. I am quite happy to have it, as well."
Nesseth hums softly, smiling back. "Thank you for stopping by the fire tonight, Xochi. Might have spent too much time lost in thoughts, otherwise, all alone."
Xochi hums a bit, recalling an old Orelan nursery rhyme with similar lyrics... "Pray that we may quell the dark, light take the throne..." She signs faintly, then rises up from the fireside and moves closer to place a hand on Nesseth's shoulder. "Sleep well, Nesseth."
Nesseth smiles a bit more at Xochi and gratefully rests a hand on her's for a moment. "You as well, Xochi. Have a good night, and I'll see you some time tomorrow."
Xochi lets her hand linger a moment for solidarity with Nesseth, then slowly withdraws it and bows once again, leaving her friend and the fire behind her as she moves towards her tent.
Nesseth waves as Xochi turns to head to her tent, then sighs and looks back up at the stars again as he lets his thoughts wander back to Respite. Feeling a bit more at ease after his chat with Xochi, though, he just idly wonders how Vix and Plume are holding up during the past month the guards have been gone.