Player Character🔹
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Post by Niha on Jan 3, 2019 20:17:17 GMT -5
"Down by the stream, in the light of the moon. I bow to my reflection, and ask them 'how do you do'?"
Niha sings a soft, light-hearted song faintly to herself in a delicate soprano as she walks through a grass clearing towards Port Brief. She's close enough that the light twinkles across the distance water as it washes up along the shore. Though the sky above New Namek is not as busy or active as some other planets are used to, the occasional space ship can be seen lifting off and coming down to land in this small but bustling hub of activity. A woven basket with fragrant leafy greens peeking out from its confine is hanging delicately from her thin arm, swaying in her grasp each time Niha skips along.
Normally she would fly to the Port to save on some time, but it was such a nice day today that she decided it would be an interesting change of pace to walk there and enjoy the sights along the way. Flying through the air may be exciting and allows her the chance to twist and turn through the fluffy clouds as much as she pleased but it was hard to really savor the beauty of nature that lay just down below. It was her turn to go out and see if she could trade Abut's herbs with the tourists at the Port. It was the one chore that she looked most forward to. Despite being free to come and go as she wished, she still loved the excuse to go out and meet people. Watching some of their faces when they step onto the planet for the very first time warmed her heart.
Besides, whenever she stopped by to talk to strangers directly, most of the time if she does not have a specific reason to address them the action simply earns her an odd look or a half-baked attempt at small talk with her. That's if they weren't afraid to just ignore her and move away from her then and there. People had their lives to live, so Niha could hardly fault them for wanting to waste their precious time when they had other matters to attend to. This time would be different! She could stop someone as they pass by and say 'Hello, my name is Niha, how are you this lovely afternoon? Would you be interested in buying some of my herbs? They smell heavenly, are locally grown, and rejuvenate the mind and body when brewed into a hot cup of tea' just as she's rehearsed numerous times.
They would say something along the lines of 'Oh thank you, I'm so and so and I would love to buy your wares. I've been nursing a terrible head cold lately' or even 'No thank you ma'am, but I appreciate your kind offer. You have yourself a wonderful day!' before they set off on their way. Sure, it rarely plays out like she imagined it and sometimes she had a difficult time holding people's attention, but she could always dream! It really wasn't as bad as it used to be when travelers were first welcomed onto the planet. People did not have a chance to learn the Namekian people's customs and cultural differences rose up often. Enough time has passed at this point, that most knew how to behave and get along with each other. There were still the rare outliers that simply did not care for manners and acted however they pleased, but thankfully they never stayed for long. She eventually finishes off her little melody just before arriving at the Port's southern entrance.
"They hold their hand out to me and smile oh so coyly. I reach out and step onto the water. They hold me close and together we twirl up to the stars. Spinning so effortlessly, I never saw coming, that early light of morning. My legs weak and eyes heavy, I fall back hoping. That they'd be there to catch my fall. Instead, I land alone in bed, left wondering what happened. No tears I will shed, for tonight when I rest my head, I'll return to the stream once again."
She doesn't mind some of the glances she gets and makes her way over to where she usually stood for hours at a time and waited patiently amongst the other vendors. She would offer warm smiles and call out to each person that passed, "Hello! Fresh herbs for sale! Good in tea or for offerings for your shrine!"
WC:758
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2019 23:11:17 GMT -5
Port Brief stood out like an eyesore amidst the rolling blue-green hills of Namek.
It felt strange and out of place -- a slice of Earth in the midst of an alien world. These days, it was not uncommon to see Earthlings grace the surface of Namek, and Port Brief had become a notable trading hub in its own right. With its sleek domed buildings, bustling ports, and diverse hub center, one could find an influx of just about any Capsule Corp product available.
He needed a capsule case.
"What is this?"
The merchant, an anthropomorphic fox, rubbed his greedy paws together, nodding his head enthusiastically.
"One of Capsule Corps finest models, I assure you, good sir! And it's the last in stock."
"Really?"
He held the case up to the sky, inspecting the plastic casing. It looked brand new, the Capsule Corp logo freshly emblazoned along its face. But that was the problem, was it?
"Things like this are extremely common. So common, in fact, that it's not unusual to be in possession of a case that's been through at least a dozen hands, if not more. A brilliant invention."
The fox merchant's sardonic smile bled away from his maw, black lips sagging over sharp white canines.
"I'm not sure I understand--"
He yelped, hopping backward as the sharp tip of a blade was thrust just under his chin. It drew the attention of those patrons that were nearest to the booth. They all held their collective breath.
Null calmly held the blade to the fox's throat, his stoic expression smooth and placid as the calm sea.
"Point is, don't try to sell your 'new and improved' goods to a former mercenary whose familiar with them."
A flick of his wrist saw his blade whip through the air, sliding back into its scabbard with a soft rasp. Dropping the well worn capsule back onto the stand, Null cast an eye over the remaining goods. All of it useless to him.
With a sigh, he turned away and strolled off.
Whatever happened to honest business? These were the words that plagued his thoughts as he passed by a short, blue-haired woman peddling a basket of herbs. It didn't seem worth his time, but one never knew what may come in handy.
He loomed over her, his stare void of emotion.
"...can it be used for anything other than tea or offerings? What about for medicinal purposes?"
tag: Niha // word count: 409
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Player Character🔹
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Post by Niha on Jan 3, 2019 23:53:16 GMT -5
"Would you like some...oh um...no? Th-that's okay. You have a pleasant day ma'am." Niha was just about to ask a middle-aged woman if she would like to buy some of her wares, but the woman cuts her off midsentence by holding a single wrinkled hand out toward her to physically wave her off as she strolls past the young woman without any pause. It was about the fourth or fifth rejection so far, not that she kept count. She breathes out a sigh under her breath as her downcast gaze drifted to her feet in disappointment. Of course, she knew that was a lie, she did keep count. It was hard not to feel let down when the numbers piled up despite her best efforts. Niha knew she couldn't let this discourage her! Out of all of the people that come and go from the Port, someone had to be interested!
Since there was a lull of potential buyers around her, Niha turns around to try to scope out how the other vendors were doing in their sales. She's just in time to see a tall man inspecting a case of some sort. She didn't really know much about it from a glance, but she thought the sale was going very well for the man. At least until he drew his blade and pointed it at the merchant. Niha's entire body tenses as she's caught up with the onlookers that were waiting to see what would happen next. She felt herself holding her breath as if any sudden or unknown movements would be enough to set the stranger off and lead to him hurting the fox merchant. Her head remains still, but she lets her eyes dart about trying to search for some kind of guard that might be able to assist. Thankfully, the blade is sheathed and Niha can relax once more.
It was a pity what could still happen out here. How coldly people could treat each other even in the wake of unity and the new open arms between the people of Earth and the Namekians. Maybe she should have done something to stop the display, but she silently chastised herself for even having the thought. If she had rushed in to interfere blindly, then she would have just put herself in danger or made more trouble for the merchant than it was worth. Still, it would have felt like she had made a difference if she could have strode up tall and proud to the two of them and told the Saiyan man that there was no need for weapons and they could both come to an agreement like two rational adults.
While Niha remains lost in imagining what could have been, she barely notices Null approaching her next. By the time she's realized it, she jolts subtly where she stands and tries to carry herself taller. Her gaze is quick to scan his face for anything that might hint at any potentially impending violence, but she offers him a smile when she is satisfied that he just wants to make friendly business. It was her reasoning that his lack of emotions at least meant that he wasn't looking for blood. "Yes sir!" She eagerly exclaims, her cracking voice coming out louder than she probably intended at first due to her nerves. Niha clears her throat and blushes bashfully at the misstep. A cold sensation of guilt crept in for being so assuming of him being in the wrong of the situation. Maybe the merchant made a threat that she could not hear or was attempting to market illegal goods to him for all she knew. He could have been trying to defend the people of the market! Still, she couldn't help but doubt that was the case.
She looks down at the basket in her hands and holds it out to Null for him to get a closer look at the wares as a peace offering. "Not only can the tea it makes soothe upset stomachs and ease migraines, but the leaves can offer cooling relief to inflammation on the surface of the skin when mulled with oils and applied to an injury." There is a pause and she shifts uncomfortably under the man's stare. "I will not lie though, sir. Most of my experience in its applications have been limited to small scrapes and cuts. Depending on how deep or severe the wound is, it wouldn't really be a cure-all. It would still need to be cleaned and bandaged and swelling would most likely persist afterward...so it may not be the best remedy for someone in your line of...work." She wasn't sure what she was implying, but she had a feeling that the weapon he brandished wasn't just for decorative purposes.
WC: 797
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2019 11:58:01 GMT -5
He rested a hand idly on the hilt of his sword.
Null had never been a 'sword guy' per say -- preferring newer technologies and weapons, such as energy rifles and plasma grenades. Swords were just inefficient and clumsy, meant to look flashy and cool, maybe even deadly.
But he'd learned the hard way, training with Kuueru, that such things did not matter to some beings.
Technology was nigh on useless in the Demon Realm. But his sword was not. And so, Null had learned to wield it properly, until it felt like a third arm to him. It had become a sort of 'truth detector' of sorts, the sharp edge able to divide falsehood from reality. There was no need to draw it here.
"My line of work..."
In truth, he'd abandoned the Dominion long before it fell. And he no longer worked as a mercenary, though he may have taken the occasional job strictly for the money it offered. More than usual, lately.
He and Nasch would need all the help they could get if they were to see their dreams realized.
"Don't be so quick to judge a book by its cover. You may be surprised by it's content."
Though his flat expression did not change, the sorrow in his words hung heavy in the air between them. What could she know of pain, of suffering, of the crushing guilt of taking the lives of so many? Null's decision to rally his Saiyan people was a prime example. It was not just to bring honor to his people, to change their hearts and views, but to make amends for his unforgivable sins as well.
"Anyway, I don't recall seeing you around here... granted, last time I was here, I fought a warrior Namekian and we nearly destroyed half of this port." His eyes swept the area, his memory serving to replay his battle with Faller. It seemed like another lifetime ago. "Where are you from? I can tell you're not an Earthling. Your energy is... different."
In truth, it was barely perceptible. Though not because she was hiding it. It was strange, different from the rest. Probably not much different from his own, now tainted with the residual demon energy. He wondered if she could sense that as well.
tag: Niha // word count: 795
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Post by Niha on Jan 4, 2019 12:58:09 GMT -5
Niha's eyes drift down to Null's hand on the sword and she instinctively clutches her basket's handle tighter causing her knuckles to subtly flare white. From what she could tell from a distance, he could move that blade with surprising dexterity and ease. She could blink and most likely miss it being drawn if she wasn't cautious around it. Still, it doesn't take much time to pass before the timid soul in front of him to start to relax again. She lets her eyes rest on his and attentively holds his gaze if he keeps his held with hers. A nodding tick of her head confirms her statement, "You seem like a strong man, like many of the warriors I have met around here. You must be used to going all across the galaxy training and keeping people safe." His solemn words though leave her blinking in surprise before a pained frown curves her lips.
She bows her head in shame and gently kicks away some of the dust under her feet. "You are right." Niha concedes without argument, her words dripping with regret, "My apologies, it has been a long time since I've seen a confrontation at the spur of a moment." It wasn't that long since she set out from her sheltered home to live a new life gaining new experiences, and what she had seen she tried to hold onto to remind her of what she must someday work towards. She looks up and watches a pair of Namekians as they pass through the streets, "I have known many of these people for a long time now. Most of them are good and honest people, that have families to feed and dreams to see to. I care deeply for them." Niha dips down and bows deeply at the waist to Null, offering an apology, "I am sorry. I hope that you can forgive me for the misunderstanding. I am sure that you meant no harm, and I did not need to contribute to us starting off on the wrong foot." It is only after she straightens up in front of him that she considers his latest question.
The mention of the pair wreaking destruction in the Port earns a subtle lift of her brows that reflect her surprise and nervous awe for such a feat. Niha decided to not pry into it though, as from the way the Saiyan man's words trailed off it must have happened some time ago. There may be memories there that he did not wish to relive, and Niha wanted to afford him that respect. The question of where she came from wasn't uncommon to her since she did often stand out among the local Namekian people and most of the Earthlings that passed through. The locals had stopped asking her about it in recent times and came to either accept her or mind their own business. It was more uncommon for her energy to be what made her stand out, or at least very few people she met wanted to comment about it out loud.
Come to think of it, Niha wondered if his energy was partly to blame for what had her so guarded. Aside from them both having led entirely different lives, there was something hauntingly familiar about the feeling around him. It did not remind her of home, but of something else. Trying to scrounge for an explanation or memory left an unpleasant chill that raised the hairs on the back of her neck. It was a feeling that she wanted to try to ignore and push aside for the sake of being more open-minded with the stranger. "My home is far from here, physically speaking, though this place has become like a second home to me..." Niha looks around to check for any nearby eavesdroppers that may overhear the conversation.
It wasn't a secret to be kept, she is proud of where she came from and still loves the family she had come to know there, but she met very few people that would believe that she wasn't just an imaginative child spouting off legends. In a softer voice, she confesses to Null, "I come from the Other World." She extends her hand out in offering to Null, "You can call me Niha, it is nice to meet you, sir." The least she owed to him after his patience towards her judgemental attitude was a proper introduction.
WC: 740
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2019 16:52:13 GMT -5
“Other World?”
Of all the answers he could have surmised, that was certainly not one of them.
But it explained the odd quality of her ki, and why Null seemed to have such a hard time sensing it. Beings from Other World possessed a different quality of ki -- that is to say, not the sort that existed within mortals born in the natural realm.
His head tilted to one side, causing his bangs to fall askew. It gave Niha a closer look at his pale, narrow face and discerning gaze as he studied her for a bit.
“Forgive my ignorance. I’ve been to the demon realm… you don’t look like a demon to me.”
His eyes drank in her blue hair, the pale hue of her porcelain skin. Her mannerisms were far too naive. Either she was a demon who played the perfect guise of innocent herb peddler… or she was something else.
Something divine.
“Might you be… a Kai?” In a surprising move, Null dropped his hands to his sides and bowed deeply at her, mirroring her earlier movement. “Forgive me. I meant no disrespect. I am Null, a Saiyan from Earth.”
He rose to his full height once more. His eyes seemed to soften, if only just a little.
“I’ve never met one of your kind before… I’m truly honored.”
tag: Niha // word count: 1,026
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Post by Niha on Jan 4, 2019 18:06:19 GMT -5
The girl takes a small staggered step backward away from Null in shock at his first observation, wearing a startled expression at the very thought of the Saiyan's implied accusation. She looks around quickly to make sure no one caught that and straightens up to attempt to regather her composure with a small nervous chuckle to lighten up the mood. She never had to be questioned about if she looked like a demon before. Then again, at least he was commenting about how she clearly didn't resemble one. So, that much was positive in her eyes! "H-Heh, I am not, no. That's a um...fair first guess though! But forgive me for asking...You've been to the demon realm?"
Niha asks this question to him in a quietly surprised tone, frowning deeply not out of disapproval but of genuine concern after hearing that. Normally the only mortals that had fallen to the Demon Realm were souls that had passed on with the heavy burden from the bad karma of their past life. Her eyes subtly scan over Null to see if she can spot a visible brand on his skin without making it too obvious what she was seeking. He could be among the Chosen picked to walk on this plane again to be observed for all she knew. No matter the case, she tries to offer him a warning, "I know it may not be my place to tell you this, but you should tread very carefully there if you ever must. It is not safe, even for the strongest warriors. I would advise avoiding ever stepping foot there again." She adjusts her basket to let it hang from her elbow while her arms slipped around herself for comfort. Her eyes soften to contain the sadness held within them brought on by the topic.
"I've been told many stories of the misery some poor souls are subjected to when they arrive down there. Lost and subjected to every type of agonizing torture imaginable. Insanity is all many of them have left to hold onto. Even some of my own kin have been lost to such..." Her fingers dig into her pale blue skin as she hugs herself tighter, tears already starting to brim in her eyes. She lowers her head and tries to brush them away across her shoulder. She didn't want to have to bother Null with her crying. "Nowhere is safe down there, it rolls through the air like smog waiting to suffocate you until you forget everything in your life that was once important to you." A faint sniffle escapes her nose after she suppresses another full body chill.
She makes an effort to scrub her palm across her eye to fight back the tears, only just then noticing Null bowing before her. Once she realizes that he thinks her to be a Kai, she musters up her familiar smile again and shakes her head at him. It was flattering how he thought that right away but it felt wrong to pretend to be worthy of the title. "Oh, it's alright, really. I took no offense. But you misunderstand.." Niha tells him reassuringly, "I have known the Kai and studied under many of them. There may be a day where I have the privilege of the honor being given to me. But we do not come into being with that sort of responsibility." She holds out a hand to gesture to him, "Like how you came into this world an infant, many of my people start off young and helpless in their own ways. We learn what we can from our elders, and when one of them must step down or pass on, those who are worthy of the title are chosen amongst us. The rest will likely just continue to live their lives there in harmony or, like me, have chosen to come here."
She planned to save further details of her people's history for another time. It must be a lot to process at once and she wasn't sure if she wanted to explain how her and many before her had come from the fruit of a tree originally. That was leaving out the differences between the Kai and the Supreme Kai. Instead, Niha just tells him, "I am happy to have met you too, but you do not have to see me differently now. I am not too different from you or well, anyone else here in the Port today. Well..." She trails off and stifles a giggle, "I guess you could say I might be a bit frailer than some people...but I would never ask for special treatment or privileges from my friends." There's a moment where she pauses, uncertain of if Null would mind being referred to as her friend from seemingly out of nowhere but she finishes her thought. "Your respect is something I will need to earn in time. Just like any other person."
WC: 823
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2019 21:28:35 GMT -5
So... she wasn't a Kai.
Null scratched idly at the side of his head, his mind whirling as he tried to make sense of her many, many words. She spoke quite a bit, considering they were strangers who did not know each other. Most people took one look at Null and ducked away, whispering behind cupped hands to their companions. He gave off an immediate aura of not wanting to be bothered.
In truth, Null did not mind socializing or meeting new people. It served his purpose of being known as a Saiyan who valued more than violence and bloodshed.
"You may not be a Kai, but you are divine. And so you shall have my respect regardless."
He and Nasch could use a connection with a Shinjin such as herself. It provided so many avenues that otherwise would not be open to them at all. Niha piqued his curiosity more and more with each passing minute.
"I don't care about your herbs." He swept his gaze over the basket, filled to its brim. "Though I appreciate your honesty about their properties and usage. No... I'm far more interested in you."
Stepping out of the main thoroughfare so as to not block anyone's path, Null perched at the edge of the table set up before her. Folding his arms before him, his eyes seemed to brighten at the many possibilities before him.
"It is said the Kais govern our fates. You know the Kais, or at the very least, have spent a substantial amount of time with them. What can you tell me of my own destiny? Do I have the support of the Kais? Are they on my side?"
He wanted the Saiyan Remnant to grow and thrive. While they consisted of only two members, with the support of the gods, it would prove to be a mission that would soon see fruition.
tag: Niha // word count: 1,346
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Post by Niha on Jan 5, 2019 17:28:03 GMT -5
Another blend of purple and pink pastels light up across Niha's flush cheeks in embarrassment when she realizes Null was stuck listening to her through all of that. His scratching hand and bewildered expression were enough for her to see the gears grinding in his head. She didn't mean to ramble when she started, but sometimes she got ahead of herself. Thankfully he seems to tolerate it well, but his words lead to her hiding a soft titter behind the back of her hand. He did have a point. She may not be one of the Supreme Kai yet, but there was no denying that her kind was divine as he said. She tried not to bring the word up frequently around people, mostly because it could sometimes lead to them acting strangely around her. The last thing she really wanted from people in this mortal plane was to be revered and placed on a pedestal.
After her laughter fades, she lowers her hands to hold onto the handle of her basket. "If that is what you wish, then I thank you, Null. I can tell you that you have mine as well." When her herbs are mentioned, she looks down and pouts subtly from his refusal. It was a shame that this would be another rejection, but the conversation that came with this one more than made up for it. There was still plenty of time to linger in the markets to try to sell the last of them. "That's okay. I just appreciate you hearing me out. I practiced this sort of conversation all morning...and oh? Why would that be?" She arches a brow subtly at Null's admission. Niha watches him step aside to a nearby table and follows him to perch on a seat nearby. She drapes one leg over the other and holds her basket on her lap while listening to Null explain what he wanted to know from her. Throughout the explanation, she uncertainly bites down and chews on her bottom lip. These were heavy questions all things considered. Ones that could break the man's hopes if she wasn't careful about her answers. She hated the idea of disappointing him, but some of these things were just out of her hands at this point in time.
Her fingertips slowly drum across the woven reeds in consideration, and she carefully tells Null when she's gathered her thoughts, "You are correct. I'm afraid, however, that with as many people out there as there are that it is always difficult to single someone out. Think of it like a needle tossed in a million haystacks. Plus, it is part of the Kais' duties to remain neutral in most matters unless they risk tipping the balance of the universe." She pauses and goes on to say, "It's been a couple of years since I left from my home and I do not yet know what these goals you speak of are, but if the Kais have not spoken on them at great lengths then well...you are, from my guess, not destined for any catastrophic levels of devastation in your future." It wasn't the most comforting or reassuring words that she could have offered to him, but she hoped that he could respect the honesty in them.
Niha did wish that there was more she could do to help him, so she inches her chair closer to Null and leans towards the table wondering aloud Null, "Maybe you could tell me more? Whatever it is, sounds very important to you and if it is a noble cause then it would be a part of my duty do what I can do to aid you." She knew that it might have been a lot to ask from him. After the latest round of questions he had for her, she personally felt that it was fair to press for more details.
WC: 649
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2019 21:05:03 GMT -5
He wasn't surprised she could not provide any information.
Destiny was such a fickle thing. Not even the gods directly controlled it, nor could they grasp hold of the threads Fate had woven throughout the length of his lifetime.
He sighed at her words, rubbing a hand over his face. His gaze became stern, dark eyes boring into her own. He did not want to seem as if he were angry with Niha. But there was too much at stake for his mission to be in vain.
His brow raised in surprise when she asked for more details of his 'mission'. This elicited a moment of silence from him. His eyes shifted from person to person as they meandered along the thoroughfare, the busy plaza filled with life. So easily they seemed to go about, as if assured of their destination.
Were they ever so plagued with doubt? Or riddled with guilt? Could something as fixed as the past be changed for a better future?
"Over two thousand. That's how many died that day."
The Galatic Hypernet exaggerated the numbers in favor of the then Emperor Polaris. But it was still a substantial number of people who lost their lives when the Biodome was destroyed during the clash between Null and his group, and the Imperial patrol fleet.
"Lives whose fate was altered at these hands." His fingers twitched, looming with the scars of battles long past. "Hands that never meant to destroy. Hands that seek only to rebuild. I want to make amends for my past mistakes as a soldier for the Saiyan Dominion. The throne of our people stands empty with the Queen's death. Someone needs to fill it."
His eyes shifted to meet hers, a deep level of commitment reflected in their dark pools.
"I don't want to be king. I don't even want to rule the Saiyans. I simply want us to be more than we ever have been. And if it means capturing that throne to do it... then so be it."
tag: Niha // word count: 1,689
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Post by Niha on Jan 6, 2019 15:10:28 GMT -5
Niha shrinks and slinks down further down in her chair under the taller man's dark and piercing gaze. This was the sort of reaction that she had hoped to avoid. She wanted to be able to provide people with more guidance than what was possible now, but her mind had yet to awaken as it had for other members of her family. The brief glances at the leaps through time were part of what kept the Kai prepared to deal with any imminent threats that may arise. The future, however, was a door locked off from Niha. Even if she somehow managed to find the key to it, she had been told that the future is rarely set in stone and it is people who are the makers of their own destiny. While one tries to track a diverging branch of time, the very act of knowing what could be coming next would most likely change the outcome compared to if one was acting without knowing.
Thankfully, some of the harshness in Null's eyes seems to fade and Niha inches back up to sit as she was before. She joins him in watching the people passing by. Moments like these around the Port always left her trying to comprehend how similar and yet different each individual could be. While she could imagine what it might be like to look through their eyes or walk in their shoes, they also had their own thoughts and emotions driving them that she knew she could never entirely comprehend. They may sometimes be shared between people in conversation, but the more Niha thought about it, she realized that there would never be any concrete proof that the information gained wasn't just a flawed perception set up through one their lies or the other's misinterpretation of what was presented to them. In this way, people were like their own islands; allowing others to come and go on their terms. Some could choose to live the entirety of their lives in isolation, while others may become bustling enterprises fostering communication and cooperation with the people around them.
The variety and unpredictable flow of life was wonderous in Niha's eyes and it made her grateful that she is lucky enough to have been brought into this world to witness it. Null's belated words stir her from her inner thoughts, and she tilts her head down to look at her lap to process the number he gave. She couldn't imagine the light of two-thousand of these unique and bustling islands just snuffed from existence. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and countless dear comrades left to deal with the rippling void left by their loved one's disappearance. Niha swallows down a heavy lump in her throat and barely lifts her head to turn a sympathetic eye to Null. His guilt rang clear to her, and she was beginning to feel the weight of his suffering. With some hesitation, a small hand reaches out and attempts to curl its fingers around one of Null's.
If he does not pull away, Niha's hand would squeeze his in hers comfortingly. If he does, then she tries to soothe him anyway."None of us have control over where the pieces of our consequences fall." She murmurs to him sincerely, "Each decision we make will leave waves like a stone cast into the water. In many ways, this is okay...it can open the path to unimaginable happiness, we wouldn't know the soothing sounds of the tides brushing against the shores if there were no disruptions in the flow of things." Niha sighs, "But there will always be others overwhelmed by the wake. You may have played your role in things that happened, but remember that it is all the culmination of the actions of others that came generations before you. Realize that there were some things out of your control and there is no question that there will be more to come. It will make it easier for you to right the rifts left behind."
Finally, she frees Null's hand and lets it fall to rub over her arm. She has a hard time meeting his gaze, looking like she may be having doubts about speaking up. Niha wanted to ease some of Null's guilt, and she truly believed her words, but she was just a stranger to him. Her words may wind up having little meaning if he doubted her sincerity. "The loss of a Queen is a difficult burden for a nation to bear. I believe that you could be a good leader. Your experiences would shape your rule and help you be more conscious of how you and your people will step forward. But if you find the pressures too much, then I am sure that there would be another solution that could help the Saiyan people."
WC: 804
@cress
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 21:51:03 GMT -5
It was a strange interaction, to say the least.
Null never had loving parents. A father to lead by example, nor a mother to offer love and compassion. In fact, the little he could remember of his parents was their pride as Saiyan warriors who fought in valiant campaigns against the repulsive Frieza Force.
That was where their love and devotion lay -- in the broken and bleeding husks of their fallen enemies.
He could not understand that as a child. Bitterness wormed its way into his heart, and over the years, his heart had hardened in response to the cruel hand life had dealt him. But now that he was a former soldier himself, a warrior through and through, Null better understood their harsh commitment. They would have given and sacrificed everything for the cause, in the end giving their very lives.
And what did they have to show for it?
Null was the product of a broken home and tragic events. It shaped his formative years, taught him to be strong and self-reliant. The Saiyans were a rather unforgiving people. If you were not strong, then you were weak and useless. If you were not predator, then you were prey.
Niha's words conflicted with this notion. He arched a single eyebrow as she took his much larger hand into her own dainty grasp. Her hands were warm, soft and delicate to the touch. He'd be lying if it did not seem enticing.
But when she mentioned another solution to help the Saiyan people, her words became little more than a deterrent to his goals and ideals.
"You're rather useless for a divine being."
His words were meant to sever and divide any illusion of a bond forming between them.
"And spare me the foolish sentiment. You honestly believe there is another way to gain the trust and loyalty of my people? Hah! You know little about us." He slid from the edge of the table, returning his feet to the ground. Crossing his bulky arms, a sneer graced his lips. "I take the path least traveled because we are a stubborn lot. Saiyans will not listen to reason. Saiyans will not concede to diplomacy."
He held up a clenched fist, a symbol of his resolve.
"We are not brutes. We are not dogs of war. We will not bend any longer to the whistle of whatever tyrannical master wants to rule over us! The throne is the only thing that can unite the Saiyans. If we are to become more, then I must become more as well."
He lowered his fist, leveling his gaze at her once more.
"If you cannot tell me my fortune, then secure my success by making me stronger. Demons possess powerful magic. I'm sure it's the same for your kind as well. Give me your blessing -- imbue me with your divine energy. If you truly believe in my cause... then ensure I achieve it by giving me the power to do it."
It was no request, but a command.
tag: Niha // word count: 2,200
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I have nothing to say.
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Post by Niha on Jan 7, 2019 12:06:51 GMT -5
Useless?...
The words hit Niha over the head like a bag of bricks. She would be hard pressed to argue that she's done much for Null during this conversation today, but she wasn't sure that she would have gone that far. She was trying to lend him a sympathetic ear and offer him some advice. It wasn't her fault that people here often over-estimated what the Shinjin could offer them. Niha watches the man stand trying to halt her quivering lip. The sting was settling in and she could feel her eyes starting to burn from the incoming tears. She would have to retreat to somewhere quiet soon if she didn't want to make an embarrassment of herself out in the square. Rising to her feet, she exhales a shaky breath.
"I'm...I'm sorry that I'm not of much help to you." She looks up at him through the water brimming in her eyes, "I suppose you are right that I do not know much about your people. It is part of why I wanted to learn more of them from you, but I will not trouble you over it. Maybe someday I will be able to understand." She shakes her head and mentions, "But another solution does not mean a tyrant has to take the throne...it is not giving up to find help from other sources." Niha is just about to turn away from Null when he makes his demands to her. She stops in her tracks and looks over at Null while fidgeting with her basket of herbs nervously. Yet another tangible thing that she wasn't able to provide him. Was it presumptuous of him, or could others of her kind really do that sort of thing for the mortals? What if she hadn't really learned as much as she could at home, and was a failure compared to the rest of the Core people?
The pressure was starting to close in around her and wrapped her in a crushing bind of anxiety. The world was getting lost in a tunnel and the sounds of the people around grew faint to her ears. Every breath she took was starting to clench tighter around her throat like a noose making her lungs burn and sear in desperate need for air. Her gaze flits about briefly trying to find a potential point of escape. She needed to go anywhere but here, but she didn't want to leave him without an answer. On one hand, she could make up a lie for him to believe in as punishment for Null's rude behavior. On the other, she knew that that would be wrong. Niha knew that it was all coming from a place of overwhelming uncertainty for what the future would hold for him. There have been many mortals driven to madness trying to comprehend or change that fact.
She wanted to offer him something out of all this, so he wouldn't feel like he'd be walking out of this empty-handed. "I...do know magic," Niha mumbles, twisting her fingers roughly together as she wrings her hands. "I do not know if what I know will have the effect that you are hoping for, but..." She gathers a deep breath to find her center and lets a much calmer gaze settle on him. "Null, on your quest to reunite your people, you have my blessing. For as long as you work towards a new era of peace and prosperity for the Saiyans', you will be able to find the strength within to not falter on the path you have laid out before you." She slips her hand inside of the basket to draw out a string of painted prayer beads that she holds between flattened palms. She murmurs a small spiritual chant under her breath to accompany the quiet wish she made.
It might seem odd to see a divine being praying, but it helped Niha feel comforted by the thoughts of home. Maybe through some luck, one of her people could be watching her and hear her call. When the prayer is complete, she puts her beads away and tells Null, "Null, you do not need the help of a demon or Kai's magic to do what you wish. You have more power in your heart than you know. Have faith in yourself and in the people around you and you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. N-Now, if...if you'll excuse me. I...I should go and see what other chores need doing today. Farewell, and travel safely, please. Until we meet again." She turns away again and starts off down one of the branching streets to find her way out of the Port and back to the meadows where she came from.
Her walking stride becomes a jog which becomes a run until she pushes off of the ground to fly as fast as she could muster. The measured state of stoic calm she held onto was crumbling in her hands and her emotions were pouring in again. She hoped that the roaring wind on her face would be enough to dry the flowing tears that streaked down her cheeks and drown out the sound of her weeping from her ears.
WC: 870
@cress
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2019 14:54:52 GMT -5
Something akin to a cool wind blew through Null. It felt calm and soothing, turning the stirring flames of his ire into the placid surface of calm, gentle waters.
A relief flooded his being the likes of which he had never known before. All of his life, a desperation had filled him with a sense of urgency. The urgency to grow stronger. The urgency to survive. The urgency to fight, scratch, and claw his way to victory in every skirmish he found himself in.
The mantle of a soldier had fit him well, yet over time, even this could not lessen the growing crevice of discontent that gaped within his heart. But this soothing wind... it seemed to narrow that gap, until the two broken halves of his mind and spirit merged once more into one solid, whole being.
This blessing... what was it?
His fingers trembled from the strange power that flowed through him. A veil of mystic energy ensconced Null, swirling and ebbing around his form. It was nothing he had ever witnessed before.
Nothing he'd ever felt before.
By the time he glanced up, the Shinjin girl with the blue hair had vanished. Null glanced about, but with the milling crowd of pedestrians, there was simply no way to spot her. But that didn't mean he couldn't find her.
Closing his eyes, he placed a pair of fingers to his right temple and sensed out her energy. It was faint, near undetectable, but the mystic energies swirling in his body seemed to aid his cause.
There! Barely a flicker on the horizon.
His form flickered, and disappeared from sight.
He appeared suddenly before the fleeing woman, blocking her path.
She would have collided with Null if he hadn't held out a hand to cause her to stop short, just a few inches away from him. The swirling mystic energy still pervaded his being, yet it did little to soften the hard stare he leveled at her.
For a while, he simply gazed at her.
His face was hard as stone, though inside, a plethora of emotions filled his being. Lowering his eyes, his shoulders seemed to deflate, his bravado from moments ago having vanished completely.
"...I'm sorry."
It was all Null could manage. Chancing another sheepish glance at her, Null reached out and took the basket of herbs from her clutches.
"Why don't I help you sell the rest of your herbs?"
It was as close to regret as Null would show her. He still had his pride as a Saiyan, but much more than that... though the mystic quality of his aura had began to fade, he could still feel the strange energy circulating throughout his being.
For the first time in all his years of turmoil, Null felt... hope.
tag: Niha // word count: 2,670
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I have nothing to say.
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Post by Niha on Jan 9, 2019 2:20:12 GMT -5
Niha comes to a sudden halt when a familiar towering figure phases into existence in front of her flight path, making her accidentally bump the top of her head against Null's open palm. Why was he here again? In fact, how did he even find her here? She was pretty sure he wasn't behind her when she was in the Port, and she didn't see him go around her. A sinking feeling in her stomach whispered of the potential possibilities in her thoughts that terrified her. What if he didn't listen to her and still expected something to really happen from her kind gesture?! Who knows what lengths his intense desire to grow stronger would drive him to? What if he was here hunting her down because he didn't feel anything happening to him yet? Now, he wanted to punish her for tricking him.
It was the only explanation that made sense to her, but why did this have to happen to her? She just wanted to help him believe in himself and show him the support that he desperately sought! "L-Look, I told you I didn't think the magic would do what you wanted it to do, I don't know if it works like that. Please don't hurt me, I tried my best! I wasn't trying to trick you or anything, promise!" She pleads to him, raising her arms to instinctively go on guard to defend herself from the blade she was expecting. Peeking around her arm, Niha sees a different sight from what she was expecting. The powerful, prideful figure from before was less puffed up and arrogant and actually down to earth. The energy around him felt different from before, and he seemed to be taken by a different sort of regret. Then, Null utters his apology and Niha blinks in surprise. This was the complete opposite of what she was anticipating from him.
"You...are? You aren't...m-mad at me?" She squeaks out, lowering her guard cautiously and allowing her basket to be taken from her hand. The young blue-haired woman lifts her hand to her face to scrub her tears away on her palm, making sure her eyes are dry. "I...I don't know what to say, Null. Thank you...I...I appreciate it a lot. Umm...all is forgiven. If you're offering to help me then some...some help would be nice." The choking tension in her throat was subsiding and a small genuine smile settles on her face. She knew it must have taken a lot for him to find her and work up the nerve to try to make amends with her. Maybe she wasn't as useless as she thought she was. Niha looks back behind her at the Port and beckons Null to follow her before she turns around to head back there. From there, she would stay in the Port Square with Null helping him hawk their herbs until the sun started to hang low in the sky.
Working together, no more of her wares would remain and Niha would bid the Saiyan man farewell after offering him a small share of what they earned as repayment for his aid. She knew that he wanted to do this to make up for their fight, but it felt wrong to not offer him some of it in return. After all, she would have been fine if all he had offered to her was his apology and nothing more. She was just happy that she didn't have to wonder whether or not he hated her. Though they had their up's and down's, she hoped that this wouldn't be the last time seeing him. Until then, it was time for Niha to return home. She had to give the good news and profits to Abut!
WC: 625
@cress
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