#Pathyn

[nahisummerhold]

Friends When You Need Them

Being out from the Undermines was a good thing, Nahi was only using the painkillers when she absolutely had to now. The damage she sustained was mostly healed but she still wasn’t able to talk well, and at that moment, she wasn’t really up for it anyway. 

People from the company had been coming by and she appreciated that, Kai almost too much, but she understood the younger woman’s nature and was gracious when she would visit. Soup and water were her bedside companions, along with her medical books and the notebooks Talonoa had paid for at the World’s Faire Carnival for her. The choice of if she wanted to remain in the company, and her medical field, were even more cemented after seeing how the medical teams worked at the hotel. 

The visitor she had more often than anyone though was Jamis, her therapist. A good part about her not wanting to talk because of her throat was that she could just answer him in writing, much easier to hide feelings that way. He told her how important it was for her to ‘talk’ about what happened while it was fresh, and she didn’t doubt him, but she just wasn’t ready to face the emotions that went along with that day. She wasn’t even using one of her good notebooks to communicate with him, just an old, almost filled, one that was from when he started her journaling and writing down her dreams. 

It wasn’t too long after Jamis’ recent visit when her comm buzzed with notice of a new text. Reaching over for it, Nahi grimaced a little, stretching actually hurt, she hadn’t been pummeled or anything, but when she moved like that it stretched her neck at the same time, or she had to tighten it to not let her head drop, which also hurt. 

Pathyn: Hey Nightengale

Nahi: Hey Path, how are you?

Pathyn: I am not too bad. That was some serious fireworks down with the rebellion huh? You said your company was down there the last time we talked.

Nahi: Yeah, it was something 

Pathyn: You were in the Hotel, right?

Fuck… he likely knew the answer already

Nahi: We were, yes

Pathyn: Are you alright?

Kyeanadril and Pathyn had been her confidantes back when she joined the company and when the attack had come on the camp next to hers down in Hallowfall. She had felt her lack of emotional response to having a woman she tried to save die wasn’t the right one to have, but they, and Jamis, her therapist in the company, had convinced her that there was no one way to feel.

She must not have responded fast enough as she thought back to that fight because he texted again.

Pathyn: Nahi? Are you alright?

Nahi: Alright? No.

Pathyn: Physically or mentally? 

Nahi: Yes

Pathyn: Tell me about it?

And so she did, all the details of the day, the hours spent trying to hold it together. Her work doing triage, sorting the injured into dead, expectant, needs immediate help, can wait and black blood. She explained about the chaos, about how the black blood affected people, something he likely knew, but she was on a roll and he didn’t stop her. The death of the Kaldorei and the Dwarven man’s self-mutilation, how both men had met her eyes, one with wild abandon, the other in death. How the attack, her healing and her fear about never being able to sing again. 

Pathyn was as close as she got to an old friend and he would not judge her feelings or call her irrational. Jamis told her that any fear was rational with what she went through but focusing on her voice felt… shallow… to her.

Pathyn: So, just another walk in the park, huh?

Nahi almost laughed, but stopped herself as she felt the edge of hysteria there, and was worried it would hurt.

Nahi: Everyday is filled with singing birds and rainbows.

Pathyn: Don’t forget the unicorns or they might get jealous. 

Nahi: Oh geez, can’t have that.

Pathyn: You know what I am going to say, right?

Nahi: Everyone deals with trauma in their own way. 

Pathyn: And?

Nahi: That I am beautiful, and you will be here for me, no matter what. 

They had issues recently with just that, but she didn't doubt his word at all. Pathyn, and likely Kyean, if she let him close again. Pathyn had told her that Kyean’s fixation on her had been because of the black blood influencing the Illidari’s bond with his demon, something Nahi hadn’t given thought to in many months until just then

It took her breath away and she started to tremble. 

Pathyn: You will have dreams, you might even react poorly when you are in crowds again. Be gentle with yourself.

Nahi: I am always gentle with myself.

Pathyn: Nahi, come on, this is me, and even if you are just being a smart ass, you need to not brush me off on this. 

It was something that Jamis had said too, not the gentle part exactly, but that she was going to face things that would shake her and needed to reach out to him when it did.

Nahi: I will do what I can, I am aware that none of this is my fault, I can easily say that much. Well not easily because talking hurts too much.  

Pathyn: Want me to come and visit you?

That took her back a little, she thought they had an understanding about not seeing one another, but guess seeing an injured friend might extend past those agreements.

Nahi: We are being shipped out. I will back in Silvermoon and I have to figure out what to do since I can’t sing. Still have bills to pay.

Pathyn: You dance too, right?

Nahi: A little harder to make money that way, unless I want to go the exotic dancer route. 

Pathyn: People would be foolish not to want to watch you do that.

Nahi: I will have to take that under advisement. 

Pathyn: Come to Valdrakken, neutral ground and you haven’t been there before, right?

Nahi: I haven’t. When do you want to meet? 

Pathyn: I will text next week. Hey… be gentle on yourself, alright? 

Nahi: Thank you for reaching out, Pathyn. Talk to you next week.

She wasn’t about to make a promise she couldn’t keep. 

@pathyn @themercenaries mention of @kaisinasunblade and @talonoa (sorry late tags was distracted by boots)

[the-bebble-crew]

Writers/Artists Link Post for little basic needs.

Spelling:

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Will give you a username for either a character or yourself! (warning they’re probably only good for characters though.)

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Generates a map shape for all your world needs!

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Gives you a small world description.

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Gives you a city map for a game or world!

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Gives you a nice wilderness map for once again, games or worlds!

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Generates materials for you.

[christianchild]

The Armor of God (CHIN, FALAM: Molsom Bible NT)

The Armor of God (CHIN, FALAM: Molsom Bible NT)

CHIN, FALAM: Molsom Bible NT

Ephesians (Ephesi) 6:10-18

10 Amawng chema chu Pumâ kyn le a zâl râtnâ kyn chu sinthothyinâ nyinin hai awm rou.

11 Diabol mêthêmnâ tinka chu nyng rydoupui thyi rangnin Pathyn râlrovo rikip le rovo rou.

12Yi rydoupui ngyi hi mê le thisen chang ma ngyi a, mylalnâ ngyi le, chawngnyinâ ngyi le, hi âzing chunga khawmol roubo ngyi le, ryvân muna rythâ rono awm ngyi tou yng…

[ccmlbv]

The Armor of God (CHIN, FALAM: Molsom Bible NT)

The Armor of God (CHIN, FALAM: Molsom Bible NT)

CHIN, FALAM: Molsom Bible NT

Ephesians (Ephesi) 6:10-18

10 Amawng chema chu Pumâ kyn le a zâl râtnâ kyn chu sinthothyinâ nyinin hai awm rou.

11 Diabol mêthêmnâ tinka chu nyng rydoupui thyi rangnin Pathyn râlrovo rikip le rovo rou.

12Yi rydoupui ngyi hi mê le thisen chang ma ngyi a, mylalnâ ngyi le, chawngnyinâ ngyi le, hi âzing chunga khawmol roubo ngyi le, ryvân muna rythâ rono awm ngyi tou yng…

[nahisummerhold]

Karma Blues

Nahi dropped off the potions Kai had sent to Dornagal, but when she started stocking  the kits, the performer got a knowing look from Naralinthe that said, ‘I know what you are doing’ and was shooed from the tent. The joke in camp was ‘you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here’, which was all well and good when you had a home. Yes, Nahi had her Tarts apartment but it was meant to be a bandage for the ‘if’ Dalaran fell’, she was unpacked to a point where she didn’t mind inviting company there, but it certainly wasn’t a place she thought of as a home, right now home was her tent in the camp.

Luckily, she didn’t have so much in the camp that she couldn’t carry the little things that said home to her along wherever the wind blew. Her bag was packed and she set off without a clue of where she was going or what she was going to do. Never in her life had she been in this scenario, nor had she expected it, and she had options but decided to throw some things into the wind that weren’t her leaning on her friend crutch of Kon and Tal, as much as she loved them. 

Stopping outside of the capitol building in Dornagal, she pulls out her comm unit.

Nahi to Pathyn: Hey you.

There wasn’t an immediate response, one which might have helped her make up her mind as to a plan.  Running a hand through her curls, moving to sit on a wall, letting the sun warmed stone’s heat soak through her leathers. The song in her head skipped to a halt for more than a heartbeat, dead air that resonated in her own chest, then she was flooded with her familiar accompaniment she walked through every with. Well, that wasn’t getting better, so there was that. Her comm unit buzzed and she lifted it expecting to see a message from Path, but instead it was from Fio. Fiorenze to Nahi: Keranna said the realtor she used to find her place in Silvermoon was named Amitasia Runesinger. She has a small office in the Royal Exchange. Mostly works with titled families and Magistry members, but has access to some exclusive properties as a result. Tell her Magistrix Zerine, that's Keranna, sent you and she'll treat you well. Nahi to Fio: Thank you Fio. I am still in Dornagal but will head to the city and reach out to her. Please thank Keranna for me as well. A direction, as she had nothing planned, that was as good of one as any other and she might as well go see what was out there. With a small jump, leather boots landed quietly on the carved stone, her dancer’s step not even whispering her movement into the towering building. 

Making her way towards the portal that was locked to Orgrimmar, Nahi pondered the harnessed magic. What would it be like to have access to the world balanced in one’s palm? The knowledge that was a boon to her and all the others that passed through on a regular basis, life was just easier without weeks, months, of travel. A breath’s span later, she was in the dark room that granted some of the same access to a layperson that the arcane talented held. Turning slightly to her right, she saw Silvermoon enticing her to step through into this new venture that might cure her homeless situation. It was just a few steps to the opportunity of a home she would purchase for herself, not inherited, not owned by her step-father. 

Coming through with her head held high, showing that confidence she tried to explain to Kaisina. It was masking the unsurety in her current path, the feeling of being so deep in the new of her life that she was bobbing on her tiptoes just to claim a lifesaving gulp of air, but no one on the outside would see it.

The comm unit in her bag vibrates and she draws it out, smiling as she saw Pathyn’s name on the screen. Reading his message as she walked out of the ornately dressed red and gold room, moving to sit on the edge of the fountain down the ramp settling in then engaging with her friend.

Pathyn: Hey beauty, it has been a week since I heard from you, thought you might still be mad.

Nahi: What a waste of time would that be? Besides, you can reach out to me first you know.

Pathyn: I can, but it is more fun to see you name light up my comm. 

As she just thought the same thing about him she couldn’t really tease him about  that.

Pathyn: So, what’s up?

Nahi: They kicked us out of camp for the holiday. Wouldn’t even let me stay as a ‘just in case someone is hurt’ person.

Pathyn: Right, because a person without a healing gift is the best to leave in that ‘just in case’ scenario.

Nahi: Asshole.

Pathyn: So what are you going to do with this time off?

Nahi: Right now I am in Silvermoon about to talk to a real estate broker.

Pathyn: Good for you. It is a great feeling when you have a place and set it up as your own.

She had stayed at his home in Azuna and it was exactly that, everything there just read ‘Pathyn’.

Nahi: Yes, plus every time someone talks about going home it just drives the fact I no longer have one deeper.

Pathyn: That probably won’t take all your time, what else will you do?

Nahi: Want to go somewhere and get drunk for a few days?

Pathyn: Don’t think that will work.

Nahi: Still watching his pet warlock?

A clarification of who she meant was unnecessary between them. Kyeanadril, the Illidari that had stalked her in Ahj’kahet, causing her to almost lose her place in the company.

Pathyn: Off and on, Deiala and her odd company have almost tracked the cult to its source.

Nahi: That is good, if she is as nice as you say she deserves a bit of a break.

Pathyn: That is not the real reason though. Nahi, you are gorgeous and if things had been different with you in Dalaran I would have fucked you nine ways to Sunday and then worked my way into your life until I would be your main friend with benefits.

They had talked enough for both to know how unlikely that was, she was still unsure about opening herself enough to designate the term friend to those she knew, let alone a friend with benefits. 

Nahi: Okaaayyyy, so what does that time have to do with now?

Pathyn: If we hung out and drank a few days away I am not sure I could keep from acting on that.

Nahi: And?

Pathyn: I get why Kyean is drawn to you. You are sexy, smart, funny, stubborn, sexy, good hearted, enticing, sexy and did I say sexy?

Nahi: Thank you, I think.

Pathyn: I can’t sleep with you, he is my cousin and I love the big asshole. 

Nahi: I see. 

Pathyn: No you don’t. I am attracted to a woman my closest friend in the world thinks he is in love with 

This… this was the exact reason she keeps sex to just a, usually, pleasurable night or two with the same person in her life, usually complete strangers, that was so much easier. Nahi had become empathetic enough since her time in the Prince's court to actually feel for him, it was exactly this type of interaction she would encourage among courtiers. In fact, the irony of this made her think this was emotional payback for all the times she gleefully set friends against one another for her affections.

Nahi: I can’t say if we were together like that, we would not sleep together either. My feelings about all this are complicated.

Pathyn: He told me he saw you the other night.

Nahi: Did Kyean take a job with my friends just because he would see me at performances?

Pathyn: He hasn’t said much about it except he needs to keep an eye on things. I think it is a partial yes, but possibly something else. Don’t know where his mind is at, except that his interest has only changed in shifting from that weird intensity that overcame him down there.

Nahi: I really want to see you.

Pathyn: Ditto. Let’s just keep things cool for a while, while I ponder the morality of stealing away the first woman Kyean has shown serious interest in, in more than a century before he followed Illidan.

Nahi: Yeah, probably a good idea. I do miss you though.

Pathyn: Ditto again, this sucks balls, like big ogre balls, or maybe sea giant ones. Go, buy a house in a city I can’t visit you in, then go back to your company where you will be in a place without copious amounts of alcohol and my company.

Nahi: You know I *am* going to have sex on this break, right? Maybe, hopefully, more than one once. Might even let the same person hang out for a day or two.

Pathyn: Asshole

Nahi: I learned from the best.

(Tags to @fio-renze, @themadamelioness and @kaisinasunblade for mentions. @themercenaries for a place called home. And to @konietzko-sylvoran and @talthorn-sylvoran for being my friends and also Nahi’s who I forget to tag but they still like me)

[nahisummerhold]

[TT] Is she ready to return to the field when and if the crew is called back out?

Nahi was packing her gear, the call out had come and they would be headed to the Undermines sunday. The military had shipped out and already there were rumors of what they had been facing circulating. The black blood again. 

In a pocket of her mind getting ready to go back with the company made her think of one of the friends she had when starting this chapter of her life. It was her deepest hope that Kyeanadril was alright and that the black blood stopped making the bond with his demon weak. His cousin, Pathyn, had stopped talking to her about Kyean, and then to her altogether after she asked him to spend time with her when she went on leave and he refused. She knew both of them would have been in the Undermines the moment they could, or at least Pathyn would be. Their work wasn’t like her company’s, they went down to do the type of things no one knew about but them. They hadn’t told her, she just assumed what they did after picking up a hint or two when they all drank together in Dornagal one night.

Her comm sounded off and she smiled expecting a text from either Alla or Kelz. She had asked them if they would watch over her place while she was gone and needed to get them keys. Picking  it up and reading the message, it was not who she was expecting, it was actually from Pathyn and it set her back on her heels. To think of someone and have them instantly text was the type of coincidence that happened to way more people than her, or else they would have literary sayings for it. ‘Speak of the demon and who should appear’ but it still caught her off guard.

Pathyn: Hello Nightengale.

Nahilvi: Hello Pathyn. Long time no hear.

Pathyn: I know, I know. Sorry alright?

Nahi: What are we sorry for this time?

Pathyn: This time?

Nahi: This time. You have apologized before, you know.

What was causing his need to apologize, she assumed, was the fact that he had told her he cared for her in the same text as telling her he didn’t want to see her. She had spent a lot of time processing that. Pathyn and Kyean were the first people she decided to let close in her attempt to let her guard down with others, and both, in their own way, betrayed and hurt her enough that she wondered if being vulnerable was worth it.

Path: Fuck Nahi, you know my reasons, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t bother me too. I think about you a lot.

And she had thought about him and Kyean, but more about him. That circle of friendship had been a mess. Kyean was an old one night stand that she was still attracted to that decided, due to the black blood causing his demon to have more influence than it should over the demon hunter according to Path, to stalk her, hanging at the edge of her camp to watch over her. It wasn’t until Stellan observed him a few times that Talon was told, a group  had gone to the other camp, confronted their small, mostly family, group with the issue, then Nahi was taken over and Talon told her she had to make him stop or he would fire her. Well, and shoot him the next time he came to the camp, shoot him then fire her, what a joy that would have been for her emotional state. 

It was part of why, to this day, Talon scared the fuck out of her. That what she was learning to care for could be ripped right out from under her for something that wasn’t even her fault, was a reminder of how precarious all her life had become.

She had summarily kicked Kyean out of her life, but her and Pathyn kept chatting via text. It was a lifeline for her, a tie back to the fact that she hadn’t lost everything when Dalaran fell, she still had a friend. 

Nahi: I do, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t sting, and it wasn’t the first time you turned me down when I could use a friend.

They had been drunk together enough times for him to know how hard it was for her to really mean friend, especially at that time of her life. She was trying to get better at defining it, but she struggled between what she called friend shaped people, those that could be, maybe considered themselves to be, friends, who in her mind were not too far above acquaintances, but not true friends. 

True friends she trusted with knowing things about her that she hid,. Even dumb things like the fact that she would replace dinner with a box of donuts if she was feeling down, or which one of their company she would happily drag to her bed. They also knew that she didn’t do exactly that because she was driven to prove herself as a member of the company before she started having post fight endorphin sex that would make her very happy for sound proof magic spells for tents. 

Pathyn: I know, Nahi, I am sorry. 

Nahi: it is alright, I know we are complicated. I have missed talking with you though and regret that things got awkward.

Nahi: And you do not have to apologize more, Path, it sucks but I do understand. Wish it wasn’t that way, but I understand a desire to protect family, even if it means you are hurt in the process.

Pathyn: You know, we really should have fucked before.

Nahi: You didn’t want to, being a big damn hero looking out for me. You and your cousin have that complex alike you know, as much as you give him shit about it. 

Path: Not my fault you attract assholes and I tried to not just be another one that hit on you at work.

Nahi: My Big Dumb Hero, not asshole then just asshole later, bartender.

Asshole was what he and his cousin called each other in cousin bonding and she had fallen into the habit with them. She wasn’t given to calling people such things randomly, but as a term of endearment she bought right in on.

Path: Aaannnnnyyyywwwaaayyy… My friend contacted me, said your armor was done.

Nahi: Think I just glee’d a little in my pants.

Path: What the actual fuck did you just say?

Nahi: You read it. Made you laugh huh? 

Path: You have that effect on me, you turn me on and make me laugh in equal measure. No wonder you drive me crazy.

Nahi: Wormed right into your heart with my brilliant sense of humor and sexy body.

There was a pause, a text was not shot right back to her. 

Path: Actually, you sure the fuck did, and don’t apologize for it. You are an amazing woman, and I am glad we got closer than just work buddies.

Nahi: Me too.

Nahi: I am excited about the armor, it is perfect timing. Will be the last piece of my kit in place, we ship out Sunday.

Path: Wait until you get here, this place is a trip. Not actually sure if you will love it or hate it. 

Nahi: Well that is a ringing endorsement. 

Path: Just wait.

Path: Kyean says hi.

Nahi: Tell him hi back.

Nahi: And you stop being a stranger. Just because you are too good of a man to bang the woman your cousin is obsessed with doesn’t mean we can’t still talk. 

Path: Only via text, because we would starve if we could never leave the bed.

Nahi: Well you have a nice kitchen counter.

Path: Shit… wicked little thing…

Nahi: Another reason you like me.

(Thank you for the ask @kaisinasunblade sorry it took me forever to respond. Yes, once she picks up her armor she is ready) (Soft mentions to @kyeanadril @pathyn @kelzthalasbandtherion @allasticus @talonoa (stop scaring Nahi!) @inistellan )

[nahisummerhold]

[Anon Day] If she could take that leap and be with Pathyn, would she? They seem to really care for one another.

Pathyn and I might be on different… paths,” she grins wickedly. “Yes, that was a good, bad, joke, but it is the truth as well. We care a lot about each other but he also cares about Kyeanadril as he should.” 

The grin fades quickly, and her eyes close, there actually had been a growing friendship between her and the Illidari, maybe if he hadn’t been so intensely attracted to her. “Kyean is his cousin and we shared a passionate night once, due to horrible events, we spent fifteen years with him thinking I was dead. The moment he saw me again it set in motion a weird connection, more on his side than mind.” 

Rubbing a hand high across her forehead at her hairline, then slipped her fingers into the curls with a deep exhale. “He began watching over me, to a point where he was hovering at the edge of camp in Hallowfall and was caught by one of our scouts.” Lifting her other hand, both massaging her scalp over her ears, the whole story giving her a headache. “The commander confronted his company and then told me that if Kyean was seen near the camp again the scouts could shoot him and I would be fired. That did not end up with us remaining friends.”

“Pathyn said that there are things I should hear about what happened from Kyean’s side, but I am still too angry.” Nahi’s jaw set tightly, back teeth clenching, all the emotions had run through her to a point of exhaustion in the retelling, “Maybe one day I will be ready, but not yet.”

“Sadly, that puts Pathyn and I in a predicament that can’t be solved by me just taking a leap. We recently discussed our attraction and he just can’t be the person that comes between Kyean and I, even if it is only one sided, that one side is not only his cousin, but his closest friend since childhood.” She gave one of those one shouldered shrugs that aimed for indifference but would be telling of something deep in her mind to someone that knew her, “I would not ask that of him either. I have never had a connection like that, but if I did I would not want it jeopardized over something that might not last. Oh Light, can you imagine if he was bad in bed? Or stole the covers? Or… oh my goodness, if he left his socks on during sex?”

(Thank you for the question anon)

[nahisummerhold]

Nahi to Pathyn: Word is we are moving camp tomorrow.

She had given up on not reaching out to her life lines, but what the therapist talked with her about had her a bit shook and she just needed a friend, but the only person she considered a true friend, one that actually knew her more than anyone, was Pathyn. Maybe before he went off the deep end she might have considered Kyean, but that was now locked up in a tight little place of anger in her mind. 

Anger that she had let go of while she confronted Ky but then swallowed down, which the therapist said was not really a good idea. There was a whole bunch he said about her emotions, then sent her off to journal about how she felt about what he said. 

That was part of what she was avoiding in the hopes to talk to Pathyn, but she continued to wait so she began to journal, fel take him…

It wasn’t until she was right about out of words that her comm blinked and vibrated.

Pathyn to Nahi: Hey girl. If you are going deep dark you need to be careful, things are a bit out of whack down there. I know you are pretty well protected in camp but all those creepy crawlies are devious.

Nahi to Pathyn: Yeah got the sense that was the case when they exploded up from the ground to take out a light that was keeping them at bay.

Pathyn to Nahi: That is nothing Nightengale, so you need to watch yourself and your company. How are you doing?

She knew that was not a polite question and it took her a few moments to answe. It  was nice to be able to talk to him without awkwardness, but she wasn’t sure she liked the topic. 

Nahi to Pathyn: I am not sure. I am pretty upset at him. Also, you need to know I don’t blame you for this at all. You are not his keeper.

Pathyn to Nahi: We are family and have been fighting together for thousands of years. I blame myself for not seeing what was going on. Or, I did see and thought he was just worried, I was so wrapped up in scouting I didn’t realize how far he was taking things.

Nahi to Pathyn: I knew too. At least I knew he was watching me. I didn’t think of the consequences if he got caught, or at least maybe I should have? Company life is still hard for me to understand.

Pathyn to Nahi: It takes time, it is much different  for each company too. Yours is small and really well trained so anything like that needs to be handled, and quickly, before it gets out of hand. In our group we all have known each other for a long time, so problems like this have never come up before. What he did was very serious in the camps’ eyes, so much so they told him to leave until he gets his mind right. And they called his mother. 

Nahi to Pathyn: They did what? Called his mother? You guys are eons old and that is still a thing?

Pathyn to Nahi: Some of our camp fought alongside her, it was why they did not punish him worse. Oh, and I sent her his comm override in case he tried to avoid her. 

Nahi to Pathyn: Blessed sun, that is just cruel.

Pathyn to Nahi: We live in a matriarchal society, what he did was bad  Nahi, not just for you but he was raised better than that. Something his mother told me in great detail becuase I wasn’t taking your safety seriously enough. 

Nahi to Pathyn: He wouldn’t have hurt me, he wants and worries about me, yes. But hurt me? No, I don’t think so.

Pathyn to Nahi: In the eyes of our team he did hurt you, or your reputation at least. He knew better, and they could not just let him go without making sure he would deal with it. Hence his mother.

Nahi to Pathyn: What is she like? 

Pathyn to Nahi: An older Priest of Elune. Bad ass and very devoted to the Goddeas. He is going to be in so much trouble. You have no idea. 😈

Nahi was envious of the little face at the end, she needed to figure out how to do such things. 

Nahi to Pathyn: That makes me smile, and feel sorry for him at the same time.

Pathyn to Nahi: Do not do that. This was done to you and you don’t take the blame for being the victim in this.

Nahi to Pathyn: I am not a victim, Pathyn. 

Pathyn to Nahi: You have your own consequences in dealing with this. How is everything in camp?

Again she knew what he was asking without him saying it.

Nahi to Pathyn: I know people are talking, I get the voices behind my back after I go somewhere but no one has approached me.

Pathyn to Nahi: What will you do it they do?

Nahi to Pathyn: Handle it like everything else in my life, with a smile. 

( @themercenaries )

[nahisummerhold]

Ducks, Everyone Likes Ducks

Nahi stepped from the Valdrakken portal and stopped, extremely glad that it wasn’t a busy time because surely someone would have come through and run into the back of her. Eyes tracked up to the high ceiling, the acoustics of the room were were crazy, she could have sung and it would have been lost to all but those right in front of her. 

A voice to her left spoke, Pathyn was about fifteen feet away smiling at her. “Pretty intense, huh?”

Looking at him and then looking up again at the architecture and the styling, her ear flicked and heard him step closer. When she turned her attention back to her friend he was a few feet away and looking at her with a frown, she drew a hand up to her neck self consciously.

She had dressed in tawny leather pants and a sunset orange blouse that she buttoned higher than she normally, it helped to hide the yellow and green of the fading bruises. Keeping the smile, even if it was tighter now, “It is gorgeous, can you imagine creating something so beautiful?”

“You do Nightengale, you forget I have heard you sing,” he said, his eyes still on her throat. 

It caused her to flush, emotion coursed through her and she looked away so he didn’t see the fear in her eyes. Walking from him needing to stall, so she continued to look over the room. “How have you been?”

Pathyn gave her space, she was sure he recognized the physical and emotional deflection. “Was busy for a while, between work and babysitting the pet warlock.”

“Is she alright? I haven’t asked.” Nahi frowned and turned to him, “I should have asked.”

He closed the distance more, looking like he wanted to hug her, but he wasn’t the physical contact person, that was Kyeanadril, his cousin, “She is fine, somehow she is becoming a knowledgeable shadow for their company, you know one who works from the shadows.”

Tipping her head to the side, “Like you.”

“Dei will never be that good,” he smirked at her, “but she does alright. Mostly she figures things out for her company, very book smart and always knows just where to find the knowledge she needs at the minute. It is almost scary.” 

Nahi frowned a little, “But she was being hunted?”

His dark head nodded, “We took out a couple of groups that seemed to have interest in her, she says there are still void tracks around her place on occasion but nothing like it was. We even found a tree stand where someone had been looking in her window.”

“Well, that’s disturbing,” she said with a shake of her head and turned from him once more, this time heading for the huge doorway. “As long as she is alright.

Taking a position on her right so he could reach his bow without her getting in the way if trouble arose. She was starting to recognize habits like that in the fighters she worked for. “And you don’t know her, so why does it bother you that you hadn’t asked?”

Her nose crinkled up and she threw a sideways look, “Because you and Kyean care, and I should be more engaged and not make everything about me.”

“Nahilvi, you and I have known each other for years, and have even become closer in the past six months, never in that time have I thought that you have made something all about you.” Pathyn’s voice said quietly. 

That wasn’t true, she knew that well but she wasn’t going to argue it with him, “What else is there here? This room is impressive but I have heard the entire city is.”

The Kaldorei gestured to the doorway and Nahi stepped out into the sun. It was cooler there than Silvermoon because of the wind, fresher too. Looking back over her shoulder at him, she gave a cocky smile, “Don’t just stand back there checking out my butt, let’s go, you invited me here.” Flirty in a friendly way felt right with him, over text the banter and flirtation was fun, but it just wasn’t the same. 

Stopping at the top of the stairs, she breathed out what would have been a whistle before and her back stiffened, missing her music hurt a lot more than she had told anyone. “Impressive.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” he said, close behind her right shoulder. “Go on Nahi, go down and see the world of wonder.” 

And she did, and it was Light blessedly beautiful, every new sight had her turning, occasionally catching glimpses of him watching her with a smile. That was the absolute joy in spending time with him, he had always made her feel comfortable, even when she was geeking out. Pathyn really was a good friend and he earned a lot of brownie points when took her down to a nursery to see baby dragons.

Then there were ducks, they were so cute, waddling and quacking, one of the babies even fell onto its beak and she couldn’t help but laugh. Sitting on the grass with her back to a tree, she just watched them. Eventually, she looked over to him and he was watching her, “What?” 

“I am not sure I have ever seen you so relaxed, not even when you were drunk and half asleep against Kye in the diner.” He was standing against another tree, arms across his chest.

Reaching up, she brushed her hair over her ear and looked back to the water, “It must be the ducks.” 

Snorting out a laugh, he shook his head, “It is a good look on you.”

“Every look is good on me, you should know that,” she kept her tone light and flirty. There were things between them, awkward things but she didn’t want to deal with that now, she had enough to deal with in her head. “I’ve been finding that I really enjoy not having to care for my mother.” Nahi held up her hand towards him, “I still care about her, but I don’t have to care for her. There is a whole new world for me, Path.”

He remained quiet, and she took that as a sign to go on. “The company is good for me, even with,” she reached up and touched her throat, “the dangers of working with them. I feel like I am freer, even when I am not with the company. I love my little house, I have been working on an art project on the patio, that I need to finish, it is driving the completionist in me crazy.”

Nahi didn’t wait for his silent permission to continue, “I am thinking about studying more about medicine. When it was all chaotic, I felt I should be doing more than just trying to usher people to where they need to be. I practiced for that but you don’t understand…” 

“I was down there. It was crazier than I have seen in a while, that black blood Nahi, it is bad.” Pathyn kept his voice quiet, calm, it was the same tone her therapist used.

“Yeah, well…” she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the tree, her hair catching in the bark and she didn’t really care. This conversation was going somewhere she had been thinking a lot about, “How is Kyean?”

Pathyn cleared his throat, “That wasn’t why I came here Nahi.”

Rolling her head to the side, feeling the pull of her hair now and grimacing a little, “I know Path, I have been thinking about it. I hope he is alright, let him know that, okay?”

“Yeah, I can do that.” It was another thing about Pathyn, he knew when not to push her, to let her think in her own time. 

“Thank you, I needed today,” she said quietly. Looking up at the clouds, “So much sky. The worst things that have happened to me lately have been under the crust of Azeroth, but they might be the best things too, some of the most formative.”

With tears starting to find their way into the corners of her eyes, she blinked and shook her head, “I don’t know what is going to happen if I can’t sing, Path. Will the music in my head stop, will I go crazy?” 

The assassin looked at her and then followed her gaze back to the ducks, “Listen to your healers Nahi, they will help you. Keep seeing your therapist. I will be here for you, always. I have lived a long damn time and so will you, I like keeping my friends around.”

Nahi remained silent for a time, she didn’t know how long, “Yeah well, I have met your cousin, you are used to being around crazy.”

(@pathyn)

[nahisummerhold]

The Picture

Nahi had received a package, she had left forwarding information but she hadn’t really expected anything in the post except a letter or two that always came. A  bill here invitations for her to sing, that sort of thing. Today though, there was a cardboard tube with a note. 

“Miss Nahilvi, 

I would hope you remember me, you purchased a couple painting’s of mine from the Hoverbahm Gallery a few months back, I was there so you politely asked me to have tea. I am an old man and that sweet act and your compliments on my art made me feel so much younger. I hadn’t painted anything in a time, but you found what I had done as inspired and told me that you would be hanging them in your rehearsal studio. That a beautiful young woman like you would find inspiration in this old man made me feel young again. 

I hope you enjoy the enclosed, I have a feeling I will not be living much longer and I will not leave my home as others suggest.  Dalaran has been my home for as long as I can remember and no matter what I stay with it. I have put in this container some of the art I have not sold for personal reasons, I wish you to have it, or to find a good home for it.

With these pictures, I have added a piece that I have painted since I met you. That night I had a dream and I was inspired to create this for you and that I was on a timeline for it. I do not believe I will see you again, or many people, in fact. All of these have legally been transferred to you and I hope you will find them as beautiful as the others, but mostly the the last piece that you were the inspiration for. 

Yours sincerely,

Oddital Agreilane

Nahi remembered the conversation, it felt like the old Quel’dorei was just lonely and he had told her of troubles with money and that he was selling his art to try and make ends meet. The pieces were perfect for what she was looking for, so she bought a couple more since he needed the money and they were the first she had hung in her studio. 

That poor man.

Nahi stood, suddenly she had something to do, picking up the hearth that would take her to her home’s garden and began to invoke it. The instant she tried to use it a magical blast sent her back against the wall.

She had no sense of time when she woke all she knew was that her head hurt and she was still holding the stone in her hand but when she opened it the stone was in shards some buried deep into her palm. Rising up, she felt a little dizzy, she checked her head there was no blood, that meant she needed to take care of her hand and figured out what happened. 

It took longer than she would have expected because those instruments of magic had been shoved deep into her hand. Eventually, when they were all removed and bandaged, she stepped out of her apartment but no one was around so she made her way outside, all about her were people yelling about Dalaran, none of it made sense. Running to the local guard station and they were making an announcement for people to calm, they had heard news about Dalaran but nothing was substantiated. Oh Sun, what did that mean? 

Moving around the corner she pulled out her comm unit to reach out to Pathyn, his balcony had a view of the floating city, itself. Five missed messages.

Pathyn: Are you okay? Were you in the city? 

Two minutes later.

Pathyn: Come on Nahi.

Almost simultaneously.

Kyean: Nahi, darlin’ are you alright?

Five minutes.

Pathyn:  Nahi, if you do not answer , I will come to you.

Ten minutes.

Kyean: Path is worried, we are coming to find you.

That was an hour ago, well shit.

Nahi to Pathyn: I am alright, just been looking for information on what happened. Are you okay? What is happening? 

Pathyn: Thank fuck! There is so much going on, Kye and I having to come find you was a delay we didn’t need. Dalaran is missing, what we have heard was that there were threat of attack and they were going to portal the city. Next, communications were that it was gone and people were on some new lands, fighters are on their way there. 

Kyean: It’s been hours. Are you alright? 

Hours, how long had she been knocked out for? 

As she was reading this another message came through from Commander Dal’shula. There it was, she was heading to the battle. Get her kit make sure it was in order and ready herself for tomorrow.

Nahi to Pathyn: Tell the large man hovering over your shoulder I am fine, just have been out gathering information on what happened.

Pathyn: Since you responded he has stopped saying he would track you down, Illi-daddy.

Kyean to Pathyn and Nahi:  Stop calling me that, you have no idea how often we hear that. It’s gross really.

Nahi in new group text: Then stop acting like I need protecting. I am a big girl, can tie my own sandals and everything. I have to go get ready my call came in, I will keep in touch.

Pathyn to group: Be safe, *you* keep in touch. Will miss you.

Kyean to group: If you need anything text one of us. We will be heading there shortly, if you need us we will be close.

Nahi to group: Hope to see you soon.

Kyean to group: Even me?

Pathyn to group: Even him?

Nahi to group: Okay, maybe not him. You guys be safe too. 

With that she put her device in her bag and headed for the apartments. When she go to her room the tube of portraits caught her eye. Did he know what was to come? What had she inspired? 

Opening the package, she began to unfold what was there. The very top piece stopped her. It was beautiful. It took her breath away. It was her.

(Thank you @kissfortheelves for the amazing commission and the inspiration for so much RP to come)

(@talonoa for mention) 

[nahisummerhold]

November DWC 2024 Day 3 - Morose/Strength

Strength, Pt. 2

Returning to her tent, her clothes still damp and her mind was racing along a melodic path lifting and trilling before dropping completely into a low frequency. The moving forward conversation had notes that were beautiful together and completely clashing a moment later. She couldn’t solve anything if she remained stagnant, she had to act, before the fuzzy, little, adorable kitten mess got any worse.  But how… Flopping onto her back on her new comfortable cot, thanks to Fio she was going to be much more comfortable in camp going forward, reaching for her comm unit, lifting it up and hitting a name in her contacts. Nahi: Hey Path, are you around? Pathyn: Hey beautiful. What’s up? How was the performance? Nahi: It was really good. Could have been great, but I got in my head, added in too much instead of letting the moves breath. Pathyn: Moves breathe? Nahi: It is hard to explain…. Instead of lifting up an arm and extending through the tips of my fingers and holding it there, I curled in and went into another move. The impact of the first is beautiful, the second feels rushed and is too much for the audience. Pathyn: Not that hard to explain was it? Nahi: Asshole. Pathyn: Now, what’s up? You didn’t text for me to ask you about a performance I am sure was stunning. You naked in paint would take most people’s breath away, fuck I wish I was there. Nahi: Wish you had been. So, can you help me with something? I need some help with my family issues. Pathyn: I can’t.

Nahi: Is this because of Kyean? Pathyn: Yes. Pathyn: No. Pathyn: It is fucking complicated, Nahi. Nahi: Okay. Nahi's breath shudders, just a month ago he told her that he was her friend and that she needed to begin to learn that she didn’t have to do everything alone, now… here they were. He couldn’t help her because his cousin had a hard on for her and she dared to say no to him.

Ignoring the buzzing in her hand, she felt the anger from the FUCKING KITTEN EPISODE rising again and she wasn’t sure how to deal with it, she thought he was a friend.

The buzzing stopped and a ringing began, when was the last time she heard her comm actually ring?

“What?” she snaps

“I’m on a job, Kyean asked me to help on a job.”

“Okay,” Nahi was trying not to explode because now it would be vocally, not over text and the camp would hear it. “Just do whatever.”

Pathyn was the one taking a breath now, she knew because she could hear him. “It is his pet warlock, Nahi. There is an issue, a possible really big issue, I am here helping with that.”

The singer ran her tongue across her teeth, “So, it is Kyean, but not because of me? Will the young woman be alright?” She wasn’t completely a bitch, she doesn’t want this warlock to die because she has a horrible taste in friends.

“Yes, yes and honestly? I don’t know.” Python sighs softly, “I would help if I could Nahi. What happened?”

“They sent her a fucking kitten….” @daily-writing-challenge

[nahisummerhold]

Victory?

@daily-writing-challenge August Day 7 8/17

Nahi got out of the strange bed in her shirt and underwear, well that was a good sign. Kyean was sprawled next to her, not a good sign. Her headached but she had worse hangovers in her life, she could even still see colors and wasn’t shrinking from what little light was coming through the blinds. Her shorts were folded on the dresser of the room and her shoes lined up perfectly by the door, something she did at home, another good sign. She picked them up, ready to sneak from the room, “Don’t you fucking dare.”

Fuck…

“I am going home, I have things to handle before the calamity.” She still was struggling with everything people were saying was coming, people always overreacted when these things came up, right? She had no choice though, she had family to think of. 

With a quickness no man that was that big should have, he was up and an arm was wrapped around her waist tossing her back onto the bed. Oh her head, “I said, don’t you fucking dare.”

She started to get up again and became trapped as his head laid on her stomach as it had that night, that felt so long ago just earlier in the week, and now it felt like yesterday. “Asshole…” Sometime during the night, oh yes, not just sometime, it was when he started asking her about her life and she told him it was none of his business then he told her it was, she had begun adopting the cousins’ habit of calling each other that. It felt very appropriate though. 

“We need to talk,” Kyean said simply, then lifted her hand and put it on his head so she could play with his hair like the night before the attack, something she was very much not going to do. 

Nahi sighed and just relaxed, not like she could get him off her, “What is worth holding me prisoner?” She snapped the question but there was resignation, not fire, behind it.

He lifted his head to look at her, “Nahi, really? You can go if you want, but I would like to talk some things out with you.” His tone was suddenly reasonable, even if his weight still had her trapped.

“Who got me into bed last night?” This question actually meant a lot to her.

She could feel his breathing stop for a couple heartbeats, then he spoke, “Pathyn, the asshole said I wasn’t going to be near you when you were drunk enough to make bad decisions.” The whole night had been a bad decision it seemed.

‘Thank you Pathyn, if we see each other again I will make you cookies.’ Nahi calmed more and her fingers did start moving through his hair idly.

Fuck.. Fuck…

“My contact is in your comm unit.” Kyean said simply.

Nahi’s head lifted and she smacked his horn, “That is company property! How did you get it anyway?”

He paused and lifted his head too, surprised at her slap. “Not that one, the other one,”

Her private one for family, that was worse. “Who the FUCK told you that you could violate my privacy? How did you get it???” She yelled, “And where the FUCK are we anyway?” 

“My cousin’s home in Azsuna. I thought it was best to have you somewhere you couldn’t escape so we could talk.” His tone was still reasonable, fel take it.

She was becoming more and more pissed off with every revelation. “Assholes, both of you are fucking assholes.” Well there went Path’s cookie reward. He had the gall to chuckle, which earned him a smack to his head this time, ‘No more scalp massages asshole.’ There that totally told him from within her thoughts. “Yes actually, we both are at times. We saw you check that comm four times through the night, my sneaky ass cousin decided that he should check it so I didn’t go kill whatever booty call you were waiting for, so he slipped it from your bag. When you passed out in the diner on his shoulder, he programmed his comm link into it and then I made him put mine in.” 

Fuck.. Fuck… Fuck…. “Nice invasion of privacy, I am going to kick both your asses.” Nahi grumbled. “I am deleting them.” “He thought you might say that but he locked his with a code only he knows, he said you could delete mine, he didn’t care… asshole.” The next came out in a low, dangerous rumble, “Don’t delete it, because unless you block me I have yours.” She calmed again, even his head was heavy and clearly fighting him was going to be useless. “I could stand on a chair,” Nahi said. There, a solution, good for her. “Wait, did you get me drunk so I would stay?” A small shake of his head was her answer, “Oh no, you did that all on your own, and you have such interesting things to say. Where are you going today that almost made you cry? Do you want me to go?” 

Fuck.. Fuck… Fuck…. Fuck…. That made her smirk down at him, she remembered in practice, when she almost dropped a bottle on her foot he reached across the bar and caught it, Pathyn leaned in and whispered, ‘Illi-daddy.’ Which made her dissolve into a giggle fit. “None of your fucking business…” “I can help Nahi, no one is going to bother you if I am there.” This is exactly what she didn’t want in her life. Why had she thought intimacy was missing? This is what manifests when you think something hard enough.

Her fingers found their way back into his hair, betrayers. “Not unless you are an attorney, or accountant, you can’t.” He grinned at her wickedly, those dangerous fangs catching the little light from around the curtains. Illidari did that on purpose she bet, just another way to show how big and bad they were… oooh… scary... Alright maybe she did have more of a hangover than she thought, as she lifted her head. “I am an assistant for an attorney, I draft documents perfectly.” “Asshole…” He deserved that one because she had started laughing at the image. His grin turned from wicked to smug, but then he got serious, “Look, shit is about to go down. As you said last night, we don’t know what is going to happen or how bad it will be. If you hadn’t said you were already leaving the city I would have kidnapped you to somewhere further than Azsuna.” 

Point for Nahi there. “See, you did kidnap me…”

Fuck.. Fuck… Fuck.… Fuck….. Fuck…… He kept grinning, “Technically Pathyn did, but that is not the point. He and I are both bad asses, for real, like ‘fighting for 5,000 plus years’ brand of bad ass.I am going to check in on you, and he plans on it too. Pretty sure even if I wasn’t going to, he still would. I might be jealous but he said he wouldn’t even fuck you if you asked.” “Wait… why? Not the checking in point I get your ‘protect your sudden crush’ complex, but why wouldn’t he fuck me?” She was kind of hurt by that. From outside the room Pathyn spoke loudly, “Because you already fuck too many assholes and I didn’t even know about Kyean, the biggest asshole of all.” Nahi started giggling at the same time Kyean barked, “Shut up, why are you awake anyway?”  Then she placed a finger on her lips, “Shhhh hangover.” “Because you made her yell at you. Who could sleep?” Path replied, “I have coffee and breakfast started for the hangover. Also, Kyean did not kidnap you, I did.” “Asshole…” She grumbled.

“You bet I am Nahi, take pride in it too. Kyean and I have asshole off contests, he always wins though.” he said, amazingly chipper for this early, bar staff and Kaldorei kept the same hours she did, didn’t they? It was too early for this. ‘Fuck them both.’ A statement which would be more believable, even in her mind, if she wasn’t laughing

Fuck Kaldorei hearing.

“Sorry, I won’t yell if you don’t.” the big headed man laying on her said. When had she allowed him into getting this close? Oh yeah about an hour into her practice when he showed up with a ton of fried food she started giving him a pass on certain things, not kidnapping though, clearly. “I bet you helped him kidnap me, he is too nice to do such things.” She needed to blame the Illidari, so she grumbled at him. Nahi couldn't really be mad though, and her hangover hurt too much to physically fight, besides the fact she didn’t have enough training to manage a single attack that wasn’t slapping his head right now. He chuckled and laid his head back down on her stomach. “I didn’t stop him, if that counts.” Nahi closed her eyes and played with his hair more, “It does count, another black mark against you in my book.” “Make it fel green, and you have a book? Should I be jealous? How many fel green marks do I have already?” If he was the jealous type he would definitely be, if she kept such a book. “You have no reason to be jealous, we aren’t dating or anything, we fucked once.” She paused like she just realized he had slept with her, “Just once right?” He gave another of those sexy chuckles, “If we do it again it won’t be when you are passed out and you WILL remember it.” 

Fuck.. Fuck… Fuck.… Fuck….. Fuck…… Fuck……. Nahi sighed, he was impossible, “I will continue to fuck who I want, I might even find someone I want to keep around more than a night. You have no hold over me Kyean. Sticking your nose into my business does not make us a thing, in fact, it makes us less of a thing. I don’t want anyone bossing me around, forcing me to do things.” Alright that was a downright lie, but he didn’t need a reminder of that,  yet he lifted his head to look at her with a dubious expression so she just went on while ignoring that look, “Trying to control me.” Oops. Yeah, That one was not the context she meant it in. “I am a big girl, I don’t need you to play hero, or be my daddy, or fuck with my life in any way.” She meant that daddy completely. “You are taking this wrong Nahi,” he spoke lowly and laid his head back on her. “For years now I have had so much guilt about leaving you that night. Brat or not, we had just spent some glorious time together and I just went back to the temple. I felt I should have stayed and helped. Not just you, but more people. Your Prince was a dick, but those of you there didn’t have to pay like you did. What happened to your mother?” 

Damn she talked a lot to these two when she was drunk, even her mind had betrayed her. “You felt bad about that night and focused it on me Kyean. I am your misplaced emotional baggage.” That was a brutal, bitchy thing to say but she was sure she was right, mostly. She couldn’t be sure of how he felt, but that made more sense to her than the possibility he had formed an attachment to her directly in the time they enjoyed, he said so himself. “She got hit in the head that night and has slowly been deteriorating since.” That made him pause, way to add to his guilt there Nahi. “You are probably right, but seeing you made me feel like shit.” “Gee thanks,” she said snarkily.

“Stop it,” he said, his tone firm. “I thought you dead, then there you were alive, and thriving, all my feelings about that night rushed back. All my memories flashed back, all centered on you, on us. I have spent years pissed off at myself about leaving you, then there you were and you were essentially flipping me off at every turn.” Nahilvi gave a baby shake of her head, “You were being a dick, you deserved it.” No affectionate use of asshole there. “He did!” Path chimed in making her laugh again, thanks to the Light for him, or she might be having a worse reaction to all this. “Shut up,” Kyean said, no reason to yell since Pathyn could hear them anyway she supposed, and her head was very grateful for it. She sighed and blew a curl off her forehead, “Look Kyean, I kind of understand what you might be feeling and I empathize with it, but it was not your fault mother got hurt, or what has happened since. We got out safe and I didn’t, don’t, need a savior in my life. I get it, now you want to protect me like you couldn’t then, but I don’t need that kind of babysitting. Go find a girl that wants the big, bad hero. Now, please let me up. I want breakfast.” 

After a way too long silence he let her up, so why didn’t it feel like a victory? 

Fuck.

[nahisummerhold]

November DWC 2024

Day 2 - Deceit

It’s Just a Kitten

Nahi re-reads her comm for the third time.

Irenthalas: It's just a kitten, Nahi

Nahi sets the device down carefully, so as not to destroy it, her anger sparking into an inferno. Picking up her pillow she screamed into it the downy softness of her newly acquired bedding. Nahi had taken Fio’s advice and got a better cot one than the cheap, military surplus store had in stock while she was on leave. Now that she had a better one she put another mental black mark next to Pathyn’s name for his crappy advice in her original purchase.

It was very rare that the singer screamed, it was too harsh on her voice, something she always tried to protect. The second thing she had worked, and planned down to the finest little detail to protect for over five years, was her mother. Both were being challenged, her vocal cords by her rarely uncontrolled temper, her mother by people trying to undermine the latticework of legal constraint she had built and they FUCKING signed.

Silence descends, her need for breath overcoming the continuing, anger fueled temper tantrum. If anyone was close they would likely hear her heartbeat and it pounded up into her ears.

She had set a plan, the rules set into the contract and they fucking signed it, those deceitful, conniving relatives of hers. Tightening her jaw, her back teeth grinding as she did her best to focus and not tear her tent apart. The dark woman didn’t normally lose her temper but when she did her furniture was forfeit.

Nahi sets a candle on a small table and she sinks down into kneeling, purple eyes focused on the flame as it dances on small changes in the air.  Drawing in a slow breath, audible over slightly parted lips, her tongue flattened to the top of the palette, holding the air in until pain extends from her sides, burning from the edges of her lungs. It was torture itself on the exhale, methodically releasing air in an eight count, focusing on her abdomen to keep practiced control, emptying completely. Settling into that place, Nahilvi let everything sit, fire can not exist without oxygen, extinguishing the grass fire that was raging out of control.

Opening her eyes, Nahi reaches for her comm and replies.

Nahilvi: Iren, I know you are the most polite host in existence, but if any member of my family comes to the house again, please thank them for their care and ask them to contact me.

Irenthalas: Oh come on Nahi it is just a kitten. 

@daily-writing-challenge

[nahisummerhold]

Harbinger of Disaster

@daily-writing-challenge - Aug 2024 - Day 4 - Ego/Coincidence

(Part 1, part 2 is getting written because I am having too much fun with the entire situation, might be a Part 3 even but they won’t be on DWC just funsies on my blog)

Sauntering into the bar from a back entrance with a garment bag over her shoulder. Nahi had come in early with her copy of the bar recipes for the Masquerave to go over with Pathyn. It was going to be her performance for the night and she was going to put in the time to make it look good. 

Dressed only in shorts and her Hearts of Tenacity cut off t-shirt because she needed something sassy in her life to help distract her from the portents that were heard in the streets more and more along with the troops that were assembling. Tossing the bag with her stage outfit across one of the tables she turned to the bar just now noticing that there was someone there talking to Pathyn. It iwas not the first time she had performed for strangers but usually she practiced to a point of perfection before she did and she was no where close to that good at bartending.

Tipping her head up she walked over, her eyes only on Pathyn, “Hey there!” She ducked under the flip up entry to the bar instead of opening it, when she stood up she stopped in her tracks. 

“You…” the dark man across the bar hissed softly, “Are you my personal harbinger of disaster?” 

Catching Nahi speechless was a hard feat but seeing the Illidari she spent her last night in Tempest Keep with sitting right there smacked her in the face and took her breath away. Not.. a… word…. escaped her, she just stared.

Pathyn looked between the two surprised at first then a slow grin spread across his face. “You know each other?” 

“Know as in a physical way? Or know as in we even exchanged names?” The Illidari asked, not looking at Nahi, not needing to.

She still just stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, something she was sure he could hear. 

The bartender settled his look on Nahi finally, his voice was as teasing as hers normally was, “The floor is not so sticky as to keep you there.” 

A deep sexy chuckle escaped the other Kaldorei, fel take them both… well she guessed it already had one of them. “Sorry, I just didn’t know you had company, my friend.” One foot moved, then the other and she totally ignored the demon hunter. 

“Yes, he and I are close and he wanted to make sure I was taking the threat to the city serious. Came to help me get my things out of the city.” Pathyn was still just looking at her with a curious look. 

As she hadn’t been asked anything other than if they knew each other, which had been answered already. she got to ignore half of the men in the room. “I am glad you are preparing then. I brought the menu, finally got it.”

Pathyn looked like he was on the verge of falling over laughing, an expression she was ignoring as much as she was the dark presence. Except she noticed everything about the Illidari out of the corner of her eye, he would have been hard for her to miss anywhere she thought. She had just been thinking about him the other night, what did Dina say? You manifest that which you focus on? It was unfair, she hadn’t wished for him to be around, she was just remembering that night. 

Taking the list she opened it on the bar a couple spots down from Pathyn’s friend, “Yes, and they look amazing, and amazingly complicated. Help me learn to make them properly, with a little bit of flair?” She turned pleading eyes on him but there was not a hint of begging in her tone, part of that look was so he could help her ignore his friend.

Well the last was not caught, or he ignored it, “Of course I told you I would, we have worked for weeks on it already. I am sure we won’t mind hanging out a little longer.” He started to look over the menu, “So where did the two of you meet?”

“Tempest Keep.” The other man answered for them both, which was good because she didn’t want to talk about it. Didn’t even want to think of that night if she could. 

“What?” Pathyn lifted his head, and all teasing was gone when he looked at Nahi replaced by more than a hint of concern. “You were there?” He must have heard the story of what happened from his friend because of that look. Fuck.

Nahi drew in a breath and huffed it out softly. “Yes,” she paused and her voice wavered, “it was not the best of nights.”

The demon hunter growled softly, a sound that she had heard before and really liked it, she kind of still liked it, damn him, “Understatement.” 

“Shut the fuck up Kyeanadril.” Pathyn said, “You can be a real asshole sometimes, you know that?”

“Like you can’t?” Humor crept into that deep voice, “And no fair, now she knows my name but I don’t know hers.”

Pathyn snapped back, “And I am not telling you it either. Maybe if you stop being an antagonistic shit head, she might.” He looked at the list again, “Wow, they go all out, these are amazing. You don’t need to do too much to make them special.”

Nahi snorted and then looked back to the drink list, little chance of her telling Kyeanadril anything. “Yes but I want to. I don’t want to be boring.”

“She likes a spectacle,” the Illidari said.

The other Kaldorei spoke at the same time, “As if you ever could be.” He ignored his friend then, just like she was.

The trouble was, Nahi wasn’t ignoring him at all. His comment stung, as it was mostly true, but she was a performer now and it was her job to keep people’s attention on her. “Yes, and I need to memorize them while trying to remember how to make them and actually look cool while doing it.”

“How is your arm?” He asked while still looking at the menu.

“I can do almost everything I could before. Working on strength with it still, but I can grip bottles and glasses, I have been practicing at home.” She said and picked up a bottle and rolled it over the back of her left hand like he had showed her. 

Suddenly fel eyes were on her face, “What happened to your arm?”

“I broke it,” she replied. Fuck, so much for ignoring him.

Which he noticed. “Good girl,” he said with a sexy smile. 

Double fuck. 

Pathyn looked between them again, “Should I leave?”

They both answered, “No.” Agreeing with him did not make her feel any better. In fact his not wanting to be around her also stung.

“Why are you here?” Kyeanadril asked her.

“Work,” she said as she started to pull bottles for the first drink out.

He gave another sexy chuckle, “Work hmmm?” Implying a much different kind of work.

Pathyn sighed, “She sings here, asshole. I told you that the singer tonight is incredible, right?”

“Takes after her mother, hmm?”

Nahi dropped a bottle, yelped, and bent to get it, thank goodness for impact resistant flooring. Pathyn knew nothing about her life, this was getting too complicated, even more than him just being here was. Now, she could feel her friend’s attention on her without having to look up. “Alright… both of you… enough,” he said. “Nahi, breathe. Kyean, stop being an asshole.”

And now he knew her name too, triple fuck. Sun but Nahi hated feeling out of sorts like this, but she listened and took a deep breath.

“Nahi, hmmm?” Kyean spoke lowly, “You don’t tell me what to do, Pathyn.” There was danger in his voice. 

Pathyn took the bottle from Nahi while looking in her eyes, “Sit.” He had never tried to boss her around before, guide her in her learning but he was never bossy. He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her onto the back counter, a spot she enjoyed when she was watching him. Now it had an added advantage of putting her and Kyean further apart. “Kyean, I don’t know what fucked up shit is between the two of you but she is my friend and I am reaching the end of my patience with you being shitty to her. She has asked for my help, and my help does not include being harassed by my cousin.”

Taking another breath she looked at the Illidari, he was just as dark, dangerous and sexy as he had been the night they met. “Yes, I sing just like my mother used to. Well, not exactly the same, but I am a singer.”

“A fucking good one too,” Pathyn said in support.

“If you are so good, why are you learning bartending?” Kyeanadril asked.

“I joined a group of performers but we can’t all be on stage at the same time so I offered to bartend. I can do the basics but there's no reason I can’t do more.” Nahi answered him honestly. Of all her one night stands he was the one that would come back to her most often. He wouldn’t have stayed nameless that night if the keep hadn’t been invaded, she had been enjoying their time too much.

He kept ‘staring’ at her and that made her hackles rise. She wanted to defend herself, or explain more, or do anything but sit here like some child. It was not her fault that she was so short compared to them that sitting on the high counter helped her equal the difference slightly, fel she wasn’t even short when it came to other Sin’dorei, but these men were giants, Kyean more that Pathyn if she remembered correctly, but both made her feel tiny.

Pathyn cleared his throat, “Nahi, let’s get to work on the first one here. Kyean, didn’t you plan to go visit your friend?” 

“No,” he said lowly.

Triple, no quadruple fucks. “Fine,” she said, but smiled warmly at Pathyn, her shortness was not for him after all. “Let’s do this.”

Somehow, they got finished with the first and Nahi felt pretty good about it, she even managed to ignore Kyean after a bit. Popping up on her toes she kissed Pathyn on the cheek as the manager announced that the doors were opening in five minutes.

[nahisummerhold]

TMIT: Who is she starting to find herself most comfortable with? Bonus is there someone she was comfortable but now she feels less at ease with?

Nahi and Tinnaire have become really close and Nahi considers Tinn her closest friend. For the bonus question it has to be Pathyn. Through their mun's enjoyment of putting her characters in uncomfortable situations, the triangle of Nahi, Pathyn and his cousin Kyeanadril have been a fun side story for her.

Thank you for the question @laceandhalos

Mentions of @kharrisdawndancer (Tinnaire) @kyeanadril and @pathyn

[nahisummerhold]

Not All Losses Are The Same

Wiping sweat from her face, Nahi made her way back to the camp. It was no wonder she got odd reactions from the people of Dornogal, she was the crazy woman running up and down stairs late at night. Sleeping was a luxury that had yet to grace the performer, so exhaustion was the next best thing, at least exhausted she could relax, trying to make herself sleep was an impossibility. Not only was she used to keeping bar hours but her life was turned on its head, and only bats could sleep upside down.

The evening had offered her a chance to connect finally with Fio, Dice and Kai, it made her feel a little less alone. It was odd, feeling alone, she spent years cultivating a lifestyle that had her excluding most people, and yet it was now that she was in a group of mostly strangers that she was experiencing the sensation of isolation. Meeting Stellan had been interesting, there was an edge of dark humor to him that made her a little uncomfortable considering the subject, yet she didn’t really mind it. Life around her wasn’t exactly comfortable in any way so it fit right in with all she was feeling. 

Dalaran had been discussed, but she wasn’t really sure how to work through all the losses in her life, so the topic was like a bee circling around her and she was standing perfectly still hoping it would just go away and spare her the sting. She was glad that at least some people she knew, like this group, were alive, the thought of all those she would never see again, or the things she would never see again, made a knot form in her throat that felt like she couldn’t swallow past iit. This had been a constant companion since Dalaran was lost. If she was honest with herself, she wasn’t sure she would feel comfortable for a very long time. The decision to join the mercenaries was probably good for her, when the ground shifts under your feet sometimes it was best to just dance along with it. Everything was moving in her life and this was just another shift in trying to find the tempo of this new chaos. Maybe that was why she had latched onto those text exchanges with Pathyn, it was a bit of comfort, he had been a constant in her life for a couple of years, even if the relationship had shifted so very recently.

When she talked about settling the score in her mind and Fio had questioned it Nahi had stumbled in her thoughts. How do you explain that music was so much of your life that you thought in it? The score was the flow of it in her thoughts, right now it sounded like an orchestra of children on their first week of practice, and Nahi needed to begin to mold that into a piece that might not be beautiful, but it would be ordered at least. 

Once she was settled in and finished stretching she picked up her comm and made a nightly check in. Nahi to Iren: How is my favorite step-father?

Iren: Missing his favorite daughter. Nahi: When mother is more settled. Is that going any better? Iren: Losing home has made her swings more drastic. I don’t know how she sensed the fall but… Everything is safe, right? Nahi: Yes, I got everything out that I could. Wish I could have taken the house itself for you.

Iren: You did what you could Nahi. Stop feeling guilty about this, you didn’t cause the fall.You got us into a new home and have taken care of all you could prepare for, except the fall itself. Have you found some new places to work? How is the apartment?

There, there was separation she was trying to avoid in her life, except this time she was hiding her family from what she was doing. Maybe she would never be able to really reconcile who she was. 

Nahi: The apartment is great, I got everything tucked in that I could. Little pieces of home, you know? Found some work, but not much for me to do yet. It is hard, war and all but I am sure everything will settle into a new pattern. You should get some sleep.

It was so much easier to obfuscate through text.

Iren: Your mother is struggling with a day to night schedule, so I am up with her as it is Ysoli’s night off. 

Nahi: I am sorry Iren. I would be there if I could.

Iren: Stop it. You can’t fix this and we all agreed this was the best for her. Once you reconcile that in your heart you will probably admit this will be good for you too.  Nahi: I should get some sleep, I want to work on some dance practice in the morning. Iren: Go daughter, I love you. I miss you, make us proud. Nahi: I love you too. Give mom a kiss from me, just don’t tell her it was.

Some losses were not from the fall.

( @fio-renze @dicenne @kaisinasunblade @inistellan for mentions @themercenaries )