#notelaihthreads

[djinnoffire]

@valentinstjohn

Notelaih was not a creature who held certain beliefs towards others. He acted out of what he believed to be true, and did not let opinions of others sway him certain directions. He wished to make his mind up about people himself, and he was always kind in his opinion.

Though, knowing what he already knew of the man who'd brought both happiness and sorrow to Bella's life, he thought they'd most likely become vast friends. After all, their minds did sway a certain direction. Perhaps he could grant Bella more happiness if he too got along well with the man who was so important in her life.

Finding Valentin alone and outside of the large mansion, Notelaih did not waste any time to introduce himself properly. "Good day," he said with a smile. "We've not formally met though I think we know plenty about each other," he stated. "I'm Notelaih Saldores."

[djinnoffire]

Notelaih looked taken aback by her response, not sure what he’d said that could’ve raised her anger. Perhaps his honesty and vulnerability about his nature had not been what she had expected. His eyes changed, from the amber of his desire for her, to a light milky purple. When she took a step back, so did he. “I apologize if anything I said has offended you,��� he said, the rawness of his own shame at doing so far greater than the sadness he felt for being misunderstood.

In her company he felt like he could be himself, to voice his fears as she did hers. He felt like he did not simply discover another being, but that Bella had wished to know him too. He knew she loved his eyes, but he thought she would give him the same understanding as he had her. That even if she could not fully comprehend it, she would not wish to change him.

Instead he was hit by a sudden fear that he’d shown too much of himself and Bella could never live with not understanding him. He did not work the way one of her kind did. It did not mean his love for her, his devotion to her, his awe of her, nor his affection towards her were nothing.

He watched her carefully and nodded. Perhaps it was not in the cards for him to have the kind of love most beings craved. He offered her a sad smile and bent in on himself. “I will not keep you if you wish to leave,” he said, turning his eyes from her because looking at her made him sad.

He felt misunderstood and judged. He felt like he had given himself once again to someone who would never have him the way he was. Even if she had given him the feeling like she would. And with it came the growing feeling that perhaps it was time for him to move on. Seek out a new place to settle. Start over.

He remained standing there as he waited for her to leave.

"Music, art, design," Bella answered, most of which he had already witnessed her affinity for. "I think I may return to the harp soon but my focus has been my designs as I now have space to fully immerse myself in their creation." Bella was more creative than she was logical, even if at times it seemed she could be overly analytical of situations. The latter was simply because she felt a constant need to protect herself, to not be hurt again. With that knowledge it was challenging to hear him continue to explain the nature of what he was.

It should have comforted her to know that nothing she could say would upset him and yet it did not, as he explained that he desired discovery it made her feel rather unimportant, an odd sense she had fallen for the trickery of a djinn, and ultimately, more protective of her thoughts on Valentin. He was a private person, to think her emotions, opinions or knowledge on him would be feeding another's nature did not feel like something he would be comfortable with. "I shouldn't like to," she responded, "telling you of him sounds as though I would be betraying his personal agency for your desires. Something I would not do in reverse."

His smile was sad, reminding her of the one she'd had when she'd given him his gift. It felt as though the two were level with each other, standing face to face, like they should be able to see one another clearly, and yet one stood in darkness and the other in blazing light, each blinded in a way. If she had not already thought they were ill equipped to deepen their connection she did in this moment, her heart aching at his words because she had come to care for him. She would not have come to his home, she would not have warned him of her temporary distance, if she had not. So his words stung her small heart, betrayed by his words and perhaps hoping she misunderstood them.

"I must not understand it because it does not sound selfless when you put it that way," she responded, the words causing Bella to step back because they didn't feel honest enough for the gesture accompanying them, his fingers feeling out of place on her skin as he explained how he worried she could not fathom his selflessness. "It sounds like your version of devouring me and asking me to be grateful for it," Bella responded, her eyes darkening as the muscles around them tightened, the soft mossy hue offset by the sharpness of her gaze.

He laughed and yet she could not. She had felt him selfless for so long, because her boundaries being respected felt so uncommon to her. The decency of the act seemed something she should be grateful for. "Should I be endeared you enjoy my vanity and selfishness but cannot see it on yourself?" she returned, her words hurt as her shoulders curled further around herself, muscles in her back tight but unable to truly affect anything without her wings. "I think them painted on you in this moment, lacquered in a shining coat of pride."

She did not wish to answer his question on what element of herself she felt the most beautiful, his laughter feeling like mockery now. Like answering would only further give parts of herself away. She had allowed compliments of her craft to blind, shame rising in her stomach like acid wrapping around the twisting knife. It hurt so much she could only be grateful for the fact she did not feel hunger as others of her kind did, did not have that same rush to rage filled violence. "I do not imagine you heard any unkindness in your words," she spoke with her hurt heart. "So I do not wish to be angry, but you have hurt me and I feel it growing. I think I should take my leave."

How she had worried she might have accidentally trapped him to her, how she worried that she would hurt him that day, and instead she felt it wildly clear she had never needed to concern herself with either.

[djinnoffire]

CLOSED STARTER for @tajhanasaha continuation of Strawberry Moon Festival

Notelaih thought for a moment, but the name did not ring a bell. So perhaps not yet, he did meet a lot of people, but not all of them left their names with him, not thinking perhaps he would treasure them as they should. "Not yet, I fear, but I am certain I will meet him," the Djinn stated. He accepted the cup with a smile. "We shall meet one who is a thousand and feel like youngsters again," he decided. Even if Notelaih lacked the knowledge to understand how old he truly was. His years in the desert were not in fact counted as years. In memories maybe. Or something else.

[djinnoffire]

OPEN STARTER

Notelaih touched fingers to his lips as the last of the fire died down around him, sweat beaded his naked chest and arms, but it soon dried up as the heat remained. He bowed and pointed eyes at the small tin can that had filled up with coins during his performance. He did not need the coin, he had plenty, but he would not take himself seriously if he didn't ask money for his entertainment.

The crowd moved on and he collected the tin before putting his shirt back on, it had tinged back to blue, but under the heat of his hands the colour shifted. It still surprised him, and his eyes turned to a shade of amber. He looked up to find a spectator still watching.

"Are you here to offer words in compliment?" he asked, in a joking tone.

[djinnoffire]

searching for a further connection with a future friend with Bellamy Chevalier - @bellamychevalier - at Bella's place of business

Notelaih felt like he'd made many a connection at the party, people he'd never seen before, but clearly could get along well with. His expectations had been to find mostly the rich, the well-off, the people who came to such a gathering to make new connections. And he'd figured he'd be there making a few too, not to find people who he might make a better connection with.

He followed word around town to the work place of the famed seamstress - even if she was not famed, he'd call her that. Knocking upon her door, dressed in clothing similar to what he was wearing at the gala, though with less patterns, but still showing off just as much skin. His eyes were shimmering opal, catching the sun.

As he heard noise behind the door, his smile grew.

[djinnoffire]

Notelaih doubled down, despite knowing that perhaps he should not, knowing that while if it came to a fight he had no clue if he was the one who might win or loose - though he'd fear more that he'd set the place aflame simply by feeling slighted enough. He was not a creature of anger and rage, but he was one of chaos.

"It was a threat," he agreed, as he straightened his back and his eyes caught flame.

Despite himself, he smiled a mischievous smile, his eyes still aflame as the realisation hit Taurus that his Evil Eye could change a lot about his situation. He decided he would not tell the Werewolf he'd already placed a curse on him. "Much appreciated," he said, as if this had been a fair exchange. He did not comment on the threat he got in return, he was certain that it would not happen, and if it did, then he might have it coming. He was not afraid of losing his ability, nor of death. He gave a final look at the Werewolf, and then turned to leave.

end.

“Sounds more like you’re trying to comfort yourself than me, djinn,” he said, unsure if he had not been given the beings name or if he had simply already forgotten it out of disinterest for the being’s innane needs. He had offered a simple solution, gold for information. If he wanted his things back Taurus could point him in the right direction but he was unlikely to question his morals, at least alone like this. With Maeve or his daughter around he may have been more willing but there was no one of better morality in the moment to scold him on doing better.

At the question Taurus stepped forward, his nails elongating slightly, mentally preparing to claw at any eyes that might bring him any sort of ill fate. “Is that a threat?” Taurus asked, not remotely aware that it was not, that it was a reflection of what had already come to be.

Apparently, however, it was. A gift that could be given twice even if Taurus was ill aware of the first. This time however, he had a different life, a life that had come from that first curse. If the will of this djinn was to bring him misfortune he worried if that could extend far beyond him, to his daughter’s mother. “Vile being,” he insisted of the djinn. “I’ll find my records,” Taurus responded, willing his claws back in. “I would watch how many people you threaten, eventually one of us will remove those eyes, then what will you be worth?”

[djinnoffire]

unfortunate incident with Merrymock - @merrymockthejester - town streets

Notelaih had never been a street artist, had never grazed people with his talents with smoke and fire. It had always been saver to keep it lowkey, to stop those around him from finding out that he was more than merely a servant. He would give shows, but they were small, they were within the bounds of imagination. Anyone within the power of fire would be able to do these.

Now he was free. And with freedom came the intention to show off, to create bigger and better shows, to set the world ablaze with creatures created from fire. All he needed was a tiny spark and he would be able to play around with the flames as if they were water. He send it up in the sky, formed dragons and wolves and lions. He barely had eye for his public anymore, as they left him coins in the cap he'd placed on the ground. His eyes were amber, shiny and vibrant.

He send the flames out, then accepted them back within. He could survive a lick of them, but his pants could not, so he only allowed it to run over his shoulders and arms. He shot out a few bolts of fire towards the public, forcing them back towards him, scaring whomever was at the front.

But instead, someone caught fire.

Someone who had simply been walking by, not knowing they'd become part of the act.

There were collective gasps from the audience and Notelaih forced the fire to be extinguished, but it was too late.

He jogged at the stranger. "Please don't be maimed, please don't be maimed!"

[djinnoffire]

meet cute with Tajhana Saha -- @tajhanasaha -- at the Tea House

Notelaih was old, though he did not know how old exactly, what year he'd been born, nor what age he was supposed to be at. To anyone, he might look like he was end 20s, early 30s. When he'd been too static, he looked older, when he'd enjoyed freedom, he looked younger. But he'd been a kid once.

Young enough to stand on his own two legs yet still wobble as he walked.

Despite his age however, and how vague the details became with the years that passed, and how he could barely recall where it was he stayed in what order, he certainly didn't forget faces.

He hugged his cloak to his upper body and stared at the owner of the Tea House. It was easy to see the features of a young girl in the woman standing behind the counter. He grinned and walked up to her, placing an elbow on the wood and leaning his head on his hand. "Tajhana Saha," he said, the name coming to him from behind spiderwebs. "All grown up." As if that said much, not in his case anyway. "And in this town of all places." Perhaps it fitted, perhaps it didn't, the flames of his memory weren't giving him much information.

[djinnoffire]

@tannaseldove

Moving off the stage with a final bow, Notelaih made his way to the bar. His show was well received, even if within the establishment of Blood, Sweat & Beers he had to keep his fires low. Not that he feared setting it aflame, he had far too much control over it, but merely that he considered someone accidentally walking into his beautiful creations.

"The holidays do have people in a jolly mood," he commented as he located Tannas. "I am rather surprised, I thought most of the celebrations were rather sober."

[djinnoffire]

Eons. Eons was a long time, longer than Notelaih had been around, as far as he knew. But that would make it even harder to find a curse, it could perhaps be so ingrained in the ground by now that nothing would be capable of breaking it. He wondered if his Djinn fire would be enough to subdue it. If it was ancient, it would be stronger than him, if it was merely consequential, he could at least stave it off long enough for the trigger to end and calm to return. All he had to do was save the structure and the people within the complex, should any remain. To beg the fire not to burn the wood or anything else, to merely rage within the area. 

“It would depend on what I end up doing,” he assured her. “But I do not ask much, provide me with a few drinks while I am here that night, and we will discuss a good price after.”

"I'll keep that in mind the next time I need something that someone is ... unwilling to give away," the owner chuckled, grabbing a heel of bread for herself lest she get dizzy from running around so much. It also allowed her more time to evaluate the djinn before her and how genuine the offer was. Veda tended to trust people who appeared trustworthy unless they'd proved otherwise. And given that his name nor his kind hadn't reached her ears yet -- she was inclined to believe him.

It was good that Noteliah was familiar with curses because as a human, she objectively was not. "Consequences that we've been dealing with for eons," she sighed, a little disappointed that he would not be able to find out what had motivated the curse in the first place. But the sigh was followed by a smile at the djinn. "Anything you'd require of me for either? I'm willing to pay if it's that. Just don't," she teasingly warned. "Think you can overcharge me for such services."

[djinnoffire]

a show for the ages - OPEN STARTER - town streets

Notelaih had been in Destarin for a bit, a few years at best, though he was never in one place for long, and he'd only recently been feeling the effects freedom had on him. It was odd, to be told when he was younger that serving was in his blood, but to only realise now it wasn't just his personality that fought with this, but his nature as well.

He was swifter, more powerful, happier, and stronger.

Thus he held shows. It wasn't something that he thought he would be doing, not a decade a go, certainly not a century ago. He was not one for shows, he was one for compliments and smart moves, doing what was asked of him and creating chaos in the background. He would never go against the word of his masters, nor would he put his own free time ahead of serving another.

Now he was doing all the things he loved: being creative, being chaotic, finding adventure.

The flames shot up to the sky at the finale, shaping into the form of a dragon before growing smaller and smaller until it disappeared, as if it was flying into the sun. He made a bow and waited for the money to be left behind in his hat - one he never wore.

He waited a few moments before straightening his back, smiling to whomever was still left as the audience had dispersed. "I hope you liked the show," he said, as humbly as he could.

[djinnoffire]

@fiadh-aich

Notelaih did like to seek out those new to town, but with his increasingly demanding new position, his own dreamlike state about the friendship - or more - he had with Bella seemingly in bounds, he hadn’t had the time in some weeks now to see what fresh faces had made their way to the town he very heavily considered his home - perhaps outside of the desert his own home. His eyes roamed the streets with a fondness, amusement turning them amber, the seeking gaze of an extravert. He spotted a creature who couldn’t have so easily missed his gaze before then, with fiery red hair and a curiosity to her. 

He’d never been one for beating around the bush, his interest in those around him was one of the main reasons he hadn’t turned sour yet. As a semi-immortal, his final breath would be spend to send himself back to the desert he came from. But chaos kept him young and gave him boundless energy.

“Excuse me,” he said, tapping the stranger on her shoulder. “We have not met yet, I have a sense you are new to this place, or perhaps newly returned? Am I correct?”

[djinnoffire]

@wxrricks

Notelaih gently swayed the candles to pick up their burning again after a wind from the sea had blown them all out at the docks. He was surprised nobody had decided to hide the flames behind glass to ensure their longevity. Though perhaps there were other creatures like him about, capable to find the smallest of hints of fire and make them grow again.

He looked satisfied as the candles returned, appeasing ancestors most likely. He looked to his side where he found another individual milling about in the darkness. "The docks do look mesmerising with all the candles about, do you not think?" he asked, smiling friendly.

[djinnoffire]

OPEN STARTER @ a random tavern.

Notelaih had gotten straight to work the week after Election day, even if he did not know exactly what he would have to set out to do, he did wish to do something at least. Thus he’d asked several businesses in town that were known to take care of the sick and injured to give him a report: on their numbers, their process, and what they wished to change about the current system. By the end of the week he had several letters with coherent answers that warmed his heart. 

He hid the letters in the folds of his coat and entered the nearest establishment, where he sat down with a smile on his face. “I think today will be a good day,” he said to the nearest patron as he took a seat. 

[djinnoffire]

Notelaih smiled. He would not call it pretending for others, perhaps for himself, perhaps because it made the day go by quicker, or maybe at this point it was a regular thing to his day, he’d been alive for a long time, after all, had been doing this whole breakfast, lunch, dinner thing for years, perhaps centuries. He enjoyed it. 

He chuckled. “Mortal eating,” he informed her. He understood what she was getting at, but he did not count her eating as such, feeding perhaps. A very different notion. And to him, the idea of her biting him made him feel hot inside for a moment. Warmer than he already was. He smiled. To him it would be like sucking on a nipple. And that was most definitely pleasing. But he forced the thought from his mind. He nodded, while he had no idea how Vampires ate, or whether it would be something his body could take. 

The Djinn smirked. Bella was grace as she stood, her own outfit outshining everything around her while also enhancing her surroundings. “That sounds like a deal,” he said. Eyes consuming Bella like a fire would. 

end. 

The woman who still knelt partially down, holding the warm red strawberry between cool cream fingers listened as he answered. It was not something she could relate to. Meals as such with Valentin had not been so formalised as mortal dining, it would have been a waste of the hours in his day, as it would have been her own efforts. Then once she had invited Merry into her small apartment it was hard enough tricking him into eating when he would insist he was either undeserving of food for something he had said, or saying he did not want to get in Bella's way by doing so. "Sounds strange, like...playing pretend for others. At least you like the food," she acknowledged from where she rested temporarily.

It was also strange to hear he found eating not aesthetically enjoyable, a smirk on her face as she recalled mental images within her mind that countered the idea. "A tad disappointing," Bella responded, especially considering their letters, it had sounded as though he did find the notion pleasing, but perhaps he did not see her biting him as eating, while Bellamy did. "Some people taste awful, usually if they're ill or some particularly foul flavoured species, but no I find eating to be exceptionally enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. Valentin always knew how to remove organs and flesh in ways that allowed for us to dine together when the hunger rose." Bright blood flowing when knife sliced through flesh and countered the bone hue of delicate china. She missed that. It was far less elegant eating from her own palm, or on chipped plates in her crowded apartment.

Pushing up from where she knelt down, Bella offered him a smile and shook her head, dark strands of hair grazing the red fabric of her attire. It appeared there was a lot that contrasted them but Bella did not mind. His core was the same, what shaped his intentions. "Not particularly," she vocalised, hand holding one large strawberry. "Given that the unexpected for me was generally undesired, I feel safer in the known and prepared. Maybe you will have to show me a chaos that is enjoyable and I will have to show you the joy of abandoning mortal social requirements."

Making sure not to crush the fruit in her head she moved near him, the man between her and the exit. Despite the distance she had created between them, she knew it would only take a few words or a few actions to end up compromised once more. "I will be quite busy after the festival," she informed him, keeping her composure as she spoke as best she could, trying to still any breath she did not need but had yet to work out of her reactionary system. "We may not see one another for some time, and I will likely not be able to respond to your letters as I will be in the woods for at least a week or so, but when I return, and I have my affairs settled, I will find you. Just do not worry I have abandoned our friendship," she requested, unable to explain more without a fear she might get his hopes up.

"Hold me once more so I have the memory for our time apart?"

[djinnoffire]

Notelaih enjoyed chaotic places, while used to very pristine and organised, but also lavishly decorated, ballrooms, mansions, and courtyards, it was the opposite that he wished to see. For he was a being of fire, and fire knew not how to be bound, it was chaos itself. His heart radiated with places like these. 

And thus watching Vee work and call out people around the place made him smile. He enjoyed the bickering, the serving, the drink that flowed. 

He was not sure what look he gave, for he was smiling still as the attention of the bar’s owner reached his. “I’d appreciate a beer,” he decided. He found he was not so well versed in owners of places who used vulgarity and harsh words, but the place was still standing - and continued to be rebuilt - so it must be working for her.

busy | open starter

The tavern was packed and two of her employees had failed to show up for their shift. Which led to a somewhat frazzled Vee, even if she didn't show it outside of having a shorter temper and less patience than usual. The human was winding through the main room, dropping off refills and picking up glasses and food remnants. One blessing for the day - at least Cookie showed up. That man's job was the only one Veda couldn't do herself.

"Callaghan! Sit down before you fall down," she called out loud enough to be heard over the crowd as she slipped past table after table. "Oakenfold! I swear on all of Withermore that if you put one more scorch mark on my table, you'll be tied to it until it fades. Vallance! Grab her ass again and I'll personally provide her a cleaver to cut off your hand."

Vee made it behind the bar, handling the dirty mugs as she visually checked in with those seated before her. There was one that hadn't been there her last circuit, wiping her hands on an already dirty rag before approaching with one eyebrow raised.

"Oh, don't give me that look. Someone's got to keep them in line to keep this place from devolving into a warzone. What can I get you? In case you haven't noticed, we're short staffed tonight. So you can fuck right off if you want anything that doesn't come from a bottle or a barrel."