Story time is the best time. [open]

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

 The last few days (or was it weeks? He hadn't bothered distinguishing one day from the next.) seemed to go by in a flurry of new sights, textures, and plenty of delectable sounds. The number of things that still remained to be examined by a curious touch, or heard by a wobbly ear firmly pressed against it, seemed limitless. And so, his wanderlust was in full force.

With all the running around, he only barely made enough time to eat. And sleep? Well, sleep happened when he was just conscious enough to drag himself back to the living quarters; though a nook or cranny in a relatively deserted locale served him just as well. Despite his eagerness to get into anything and everything (even if that sometimes meant trouble), he still couldn't ignore the melancholy look his companion seemed to have about him, lately. 

There was no feigned arrogance or annoyance when Fontaine referred to him as 'kid', 'side-kick', or 'elf', nor had the spirit beast made any innuendo-laced comments when referring to anyone and everyone they had met. His jokes seemed half-hearted and he hadn't even complained more than once about the elf's confrontation and following avoidance of Fontaine's so-called 'soul-mate'.  It was all thoroughly depressing seeing his comrade in such a state, though he had just the plan that would cheer him up. 

That had been more than an hour ago and what had brought him into the sensorium in the first place. Usually he just walked through, observing things the others tended to do, or did inane things, such as enjoying his daily ooze-like meals in new, exciting ways; seafood stew with equal parts Makrura, Whale Shark, and Kraken was surprisingly tasty. This time, though, the gentle hills and thick, twisted forests of Ashenvale surrounded them. Darkness would consume the entirety of the area if it weren't for the large, brilliant campfire in the middle of the clearing where they sat.

A variety of large beasts and creatures sat about; a crab, what appeared to be dinosaurs, spiders,  a wasp, foxes and Fontaine. They all appeared to be clacking or screeching in low conversation, though most huddled near the edge of the clearing where a gargantuan wolf stood; his coat was white, tipped with silver streaks and his eyes shone brighter than the campfire did. He seemed to be telling a story about demons, a magical well and a group of 'Ancients' who fought them off long ago.

Nokosi was situated next to the fire,  his long arms draped over lanky legs. His body was propped against the huge stump of a tree and a seagull was perched atop his head. As excited as the other creatures were to be in the presence of the great white wolf and hear his words, the elf seemed to only be half-listening. By the way his head was lolling to the side, only to have the seagull peck him in indignation, it was clear he was barely staying awake.

Comments

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

"I was born in Astranaar," Choline volunteered. "Last I checked, the orcs had burned my family home to the ground." She craned her neck back and stared upward.

"I suppose it was no huge loss. I hadn't lived there for ages."

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

He frowned, suddenly. One of his very few sore spots and she had managed to hit it. "I never stayed too close to the cities. Last I was there the Warsong clan had razed a lot of area, there. I really do hate the Warsong clan for what they did to the Heart of the Forest...just for sport. I think I hate the Silverwing Sentinels just as much for turning a lot of that area into a battlefield just to fight over some damn lumber."

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

"I stayed out of the Horde-Alliance business for the most part. I turned down a promotion to be a Sentinel in town after my mother died." Choline's ears flicked down, ever so slightly. "Those weren't affairs I wanted to get involved in."

"I went to Stormwind shortly after the war. I admit I'd grown quite used to it in the end." Another rueful smile crossed her features. "And you are the first seemingly sane kaldorei I've had a conversation with in a long while."

Before now, her options had been the crazy druid or the old priestess who baked cookies.

delicious raid fuel cookies.

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it just as quickly. He could never recall being called 'insane', but there were certainly a list of other not-so-nice things he had been called. Still, it was a compliment. And what does one do when complimented?

"Thank you, but...could you clarify what you mean? Our people are a lot of things, though I wasn't aware 'insane' was one of them."

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

"I mean that you actually deign to talk to me. The rest of us... by and large, they didn't like me." She shrugged. "I thought Teldrassil was a bad idea, and I definitely let that thought become known. A lot of the elders gave me the side-eye."

Then she laughed. "Trotting away to Stormwind and being unable to churn out little elves probably didn't help either. We - our people - are not insane. It just seemed like only the nutty ones ever wanted to talk to me after that."

She said all of this matter-of-factly; there was little remorse or regret in her voice.

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

"Oh," he said simply. "That seems silly, but remembering what I do from my childhood, it seems like it's frowned upon to question the elders. But I can understand why they would want another home as soon as possible."

He nodded wisely, "Not to mention that most of them don't seem as the most...outspoken sort." He eyed her oddly, "Though I don't know why it would matter if you were having children or not. I don't think I've met many elves or other long-lived races who even want to."

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

"I ... "

She paused.

"I didn't care. Others did. Since, you know, we're not immortal anymore."

It was obvious they'd taken a turn in their conversation that made Choline uncomfortable. Her ears drooped slightly and she looked off into the distance.

"I'm lying, I guess. I do care, but there's nothing I can do about it."

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

He leaned forward on his hands and inspected her closely, clearly violating the 'personal bubble' rule he had been taught many months early. "You can't physically bear children, then?" There went the rule about personal questions, too.

He didn't even give her a chance to answer before continuing. "That sounds depressing if you can't and were looking forward to it. Children seem like a fun prospect, but I don't think anyone would really trust me to take care of theirs. Do you still want them, regardless?"

[tricks-of-trade.livejournal.com]

"No," Choline said after a few seconds of stunned silence, "I can't. War does that to people. And... you know... I'd have liked to. Maybe. At some point."

She shrugged helplessly, not appearing at all bothered by the so-called violation of her personal space.

"And yeah. It is kind of depressing. Story of my life, it seems."

She laughed, a self-deprecating little chuckle.

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

"I haven't really thought about it much, but one time I spent a day with Anduin. Ever since then I've always wanted a younger sibling."

Nokosi shook his head a bit, causing his ears and everything attached to them to wobble. "It can't all be bad. Nothing to smile about?" He leaned forward, "I don't usually do this because it still seems a bit odd to me, but you look like you could use a hug. Do you want a hug? Here, have a hug." He opened his arms to embrace the other elf.