In which they share the past

"Yes! I adore tea." And so Iuitl sits down nearby, and helps Geir with his armor maintenance. She has no idea what to do, so largely she just asks him how it works and what needs adjustment or inspection. The happy reptile gathers a cup and pours some tea so she can enjoy the drink, but gives it some time to cool first. She sits back, using her tail as a prop for comfort. "I'm faring well. I've been researching alchemy, with time I may master potion-crafting."

From the lights of the other fire, comes Zeke. Like others, he is seeking to be away from the larger gatherings, and having spotted a smaller fire draws closer to it. He walks a bit stiffly, his cloak thrown back over his shoulders and his cowl down, but he seems less than comfortable at least until he spots Geir and Iuitl by the fire. Then he picks up his pace slightly and comes to the light of their fire. "Peasssce on your nessstsss." He intones the words warmly and nods his head to the two of them in that unsithlike way of his. "Geir, Iuitl. May thisss one join you?"

The copper-scale pulls one of the pouches off of his belt, and begins to rummage through it. "One has collected tea leaves from his travels.", he comments, taking a selection of such leaves and dropping them into two of the mugs. Water from the hot kettle is poured into both mugs. "We need only wait a few moments."

Geir gestures to a small pile of sand near Iuitl's feet. "We use sand to polish away the rust on the scales and chain. You can scoop a few handfuls inside, and push the back and front together and kind of rub it back and forth. Then you swing it around, though... do so over there, as the sand will get into your tea if you do it here." He chuckles and then straightens, turning to face Zeke. "Ah, kin, peace on your nesst. Sit sit, I have some tea preparing itself."

Iuitl sets her tea down on a convenient rock, and leans forward to start polishing the armor. She's careful about it, getting at the rust, not easily exhausted in her task. She peeks up at Zeke for a moment, and her feathers briefly bristle in an animated show of welcoming joy. Then she refocuses on her task. Once she's done this to satisfaction, she stands up and hefts the metal with a grunt, nearly toppling over-- most people aren't used to the weight of armor. She shakes the sand free of the armor plating and sits back down with a thump. "This is tiring. Do you do this every day...?"

She picks up her cup of tea and sips at it, peering up to the visitor to their little social moment.

Zeke's tail wags behind him gently as he joins the other two sith-makar at their smaller fire, watching Iuitl with interest as she is instructed in how to clean armor. He sits down with great care, slowly but gracefully, hand rising to cover his left limbs out of habit, but he stops himself and leaves them bare to the light of the fire. Instead he leans his staff aside and settles into his seat. "Chain isss very difficult to take care of. Thisss one wearssss sssuch." Though his clothes cover it well.

The copper-scale chuckles in reply to Iuitl's question, and he slides a mug towards Zeke. "Indeed, it is difficult.", he says to Zeke, and looks to Iuitl. "I do not do such intensive care every day, no. I do wear my armor most days, but the only care I do is to keep it from being wet for too long. If it rains, I do this care. And every few weeks or so, I will do this. If I am in battle, I will do this care when I am able."

Geir pulls a few more tea leaves from his pouch, and sets them into another mug, pouring hot water into it for himself. "It is good to have words with you both.", he says softly. "I have spoken to Iuitl, but you need to hear this as well, Zeke. The shamans are worried for you, if you have need of comfort, even just to have words, they would welcome you to their side for such. The warriors, too, are worried, and they would send one of their own to be at your side. The one who named you would be ... asked to leave, if you wanted it done. Never to return. I said to them that I would tell you, but that they must respect your decision. They would do so."

"I could turn her into a skink and keep her in a cage," Iuitl offers, with that haughty tone making it obvious she's joking, in-between sipping her tea. She seems more interested in the quality of her work on the armor, keen on learning new skills. Her mind is always hungry for information.

"I am a shaman, officially, now. You will always have my ear, and my heart, Zeke. Believe this. I have no compassion for the cruel or the ignorant, so those who are responsible for your least visible scars will never have a strong footing in this place if I can say anything about it." This more serious set of words is said while she inspects the scale mail more closely, trying to see how all the pieces fit together. She's clearly not familiar with armor, very ginger in her touch as if afraid her relatively soft hold could still break it.

For a moment Zeke tilts his head, uncertain clearly why the shamans, much less the warrior caste would be worried about him and then... mention of the one who named him and his tail stills and he looks down at the fire. Shame crosses over his features, but also thought. He is pensive as the cup that he accepted from Geir is twisted in his claw. "Thisss one doess not... doesss not know what to sssay in the face of sssuch kindness." Iuitl's offer makes his eyes shine with gratitude even though he only glances up at her briefly. "Thisss one isss undessserving. Thisss one honessstly doesss not know what to do about her. Ssshe hasss been ssstaying here in Mictlan; asss an adjunct to the Huntersss in Alexandria. How can thisss one asssk her to leave? How can thisss one take a valuable warrior away from their other dutiesss?"

Geir chuckles at Iuitl's comment, and shakes his head. "Hmm, I can hear the humour in your suggestion. Perhaps for a brief moment, she should feel how it is to be small? Perhaps as a warning?" He chuckles again, and begins to undo leather straps, to show how the two halves meet. "As you can ssee, a layer of padding, then one of leather, which provides the anchor for the scalemail. It iss fairly solid without being too heavy."

The copper-scale looks to Zeke then. "It is difficult, isn't it? She is... so twisted inside, yet. Yet her work is praised, required. The truth is, her presence can be useful in other places, too. And, it may be that they could also simply prevent her from approaching you. From inflicting further harm."

He straightens then, perhaps imposing despite being smaller than the blue-scale. "You are deserving. Of being loved. Of not being tormented. You have seen and done much, suffered much. But you are the strongest Sith I know. You have thrown yourself into battle, into study, into the miasma of sickness, for others. You are someone who had to make himself a full person, in his eyes, and in others. You shall face more adversity, this is how life is. But you deserve to be loved, protected, held up as a positive example." The coppery-tail lifts into the air and thumps the ground.

There are many cruel thoughts that shadow Iuitl's mind, her face showing that kind of evil amusement that comes to some people when they want to do something potentially justified to someone awful. But she lets the thought go, focusing instead on the armor. She examines where the metal attaches to the leather, showing her how the scale mail ablates attacks against the wielder, the plating working in tandem.

"As Geir says. Her skills can be used elsewhere. Mictlan has an abundance of strength, and there are tribes in more dangerous climes that she would be more useful for. Here, we have the help of adventurers from Alexandria. It is not a hard life. We would not miss her presence."

The blue-scaled sith looks embarrassed by Geir's words, and he makes of himself a small a presence as is possible. It's not as though he can make himself disappear however, so the small shrinking of the large sith is simply another notation of how powerfully this past has affected his present. Still, he nods once and then twice. "Yesss, perhapsss it would be for the besst if ssshe were not here. For thisss one, but alssso for her. Thisss onesss presssence outssside the nessst ssseemsss to upssset her even more than isss usssual. Thissss one would never have thought that ssshe might behave in sssuch a way to one other than Ma-... thisss one."

Zeke shuts his jaw with a small snap of his teeth around the word that he had almost said. Then glances upwards at the two across the fire from him. "Thisss one thanksss you for your kind wordsss and alssso your consscern. Thisss one hasss no wordsss for ssuch."

The copper-scale looks briefly saddened, and he shakes his head slightly. "Your thankss is enough, Zeke. I am only here because of you. There is more that I can, and shall, do in future." He pats his scarred chest. "Kin, yes?" Geir gestures to Iuitl. "She has had a rough start, too. Perhaps better, perhaps worse. She understands. She, too, can be a rock for you. Support. As you can be a rock for her. We shall all be pillars for each other. Nothing will shake us. Let others follow this example, and nothing shall break the People. This is how the softskins do it. You have sseen it, Zeke, Iuitl. We must remember it."

When her own past is brought up, Iuitl explains, "I was born with black, deformed scales. You see them now." She touches at her mottled patterns, looking almost sickly in appearance. "None of my blood had shown this coloration for as long as anyone could remember. All bright reds and golds and silvers, believing themselves blessed by the gods for this. They thought it a bad omen, or a curse by the gods on the whole tribe. I have not spoken with any of them for a long time, except once recently when they needed my help."

"So I do not suffer this empty way of thinking."

Zeke nods to Geir, bowing almost then listening intently to Iuitl's explanation of the revelation which Geir offers. That she too shared a painful past. "Thisss one sssaw you at the casste-ceremony, choosing a casste asss thisss one wasss. Thisss one wasss not allowed to leave the nessst, ssso never joined casste. Thisss one believed one wasss too old... to be accepted." There's a world of weight in silence. "Thisss one underssstandsss the pain of not having a casste. Of not being cared for by kin. Thisss one isss glad that you have found your plassce now."

Geir sips at his tea for a moment, while the two share words. He sets the mug down and nods. "We all bear the scars of our past. Some are mental, others physical. Now we all share a caste. We are kin. You are loved." The corners of the copper's mouth curl upwards, his expression one of happiness. "I am happy to ssee you both spread your wingss. To ssee you fly. To be proud to call you kin." The copper-scale lets out a low breath. "One has had thoughts. One thinks there are many Lost. Who have been so for far too long. One... One would be a Seeker. A Seeker of the Lost."

Finishing her tea, Iuitl lets out a chuckle to Zeke's idea that one can be 'too old.' "That is the empty way of thinking I mentioned. Never too late to find your way again." She bristles her feathers good-naturedly once more, and prepares more tea... after digging around near Geir for where he stored those leaves. She really likes this stuff. "I -can- fly," she adds, patting Geir's arm a couple times and giving her amused snort-laugh. Which is very true, she likes to fly overhead around the forest, checking on the perimeter of Mictlan. It's her favorite use of magic, one that many in the area have seen her use.

Seeing the other sith drinking their tea reminds Zeke abruptly about his own which is now more than cool enough to taste. He does so, and makes an approving noise at the flavor of it. Zeke is very fond of teas, as evidenced by the fact that he is often found drinking it. "One can underssstand the desssire. You have done much for thisss one ass one of the Lossst. Thisss one thinksss that you would do well for othersss in thiss way asss well." Still the thought seems to make Zeke cautious on Geir's behalf. He doesn't seem to mind being called out on his way of thinking. Indeed he nods, agreeing that it had been foolish. Then, his eyes gleam with amusement when she mentions her flying. A fact which he has himself seen.

The copper-scale peers at Iuitl for several long moments, and snorts, chuckling at her response. "Iuitl, one did mean figuratively. But, one has spied your flying at times before. One admits to some jealousy." His hand reaches up to pat hers, also giving a friendly squeeze. "One is amused by your ... cheeky twisting of words." Geir looks to Zeke and nods, "Perhaps I can do well for others. But I shall require help. A single Sith can do great things, but many can work wonders."

Iuitl slips over to provide Geir a quick hug, squeezing him tight, her tail wiggling happily. Then she stands up and steps over to touch Zeke's arm in a supportive way. "Must return to my studies," she says, and scurries off, always prone to running off abruptly.

"If you have need of thisss oness aid, thisss one would be more than happy to help. Thisss one wasss once Lossst, and can offer insssight to thossse othersss. If you find them and they need healing, or comfort for the mind and ssspirit... Thisss one will be there." Zeke nods and makes as if to thump his tail, only to abort the movement and then he glances backwards. Thumps his tail purposefully and nods to himself.

The sith woman gives Geir a hug and as she approaches Zeke he grows very still, fear flashing in his bright green eyes, but he does not run away from the touch. Even so after she leaves his tail flicks behind him seriously, his body shrinking into itself. He lifts his right claw to his chest which aches horribly, the pain of it showing around the corners of his eyes.

The copper-scale embraces the feather'd Sith, and for a brief moment, does not wish to let her go. He does, though, and watches as she touches Zeke and then heads off. Geir looks to Zeke, moving a step closer and halting there. "She is young, and she knows not of your condition. One apologizes on her behalf. Will you be alright?"

Zeke looks up and his expression is haunted. "Thisss one forgivesss her. Sshe knew not." His words are simple and he looks suddenly so sad and exactly the number of years that he has lived. Looking at the distance between himself and Geir. Knowing that the other sith wants to comfort him. Finally he reaches out, not with flesh and blood claw, but with his other, with the one made of crystal and light.

Geir slowly reaches up, to grasp the forearm of the crystal arm that Zeke offers. A warrior's touch. "It is something I wish I could act on, to punish those who made touch painful for you." The copper-scale squeezes, not knowing if such a thing can be felt. "But today is not one for wallowing in the past. How does one feel about the ceremony? Was it revealing? Did you feel satisfaction? Pleasure? Happiness?"

It is telling that Zeke does not pull immediately away from the touch, that he instead allows this touch and looks slightly amazed himself that it is... Less terrifying. He grasps Geir's forearm back, warrior to warrior though he hardly considers himself one. "Thisss one... had forgotten that thessse limbss were a gift of the Dragonfather. That he would not give ssssomething to be hidden away. Hisss giftsss are for everyone." He sighs. "They draw sssuch /attention/ but... perhapsss thisss one wass meant to do ssso?"

Zeke is talking somewhat to himself, but he swishes his tail at Geir. "Thisss one isss indeed happy, happy for the deeper insssight to the Dragonfathersss wisshesss, for deeper undersstanding of sself. Thiss oness trial in life isss to overcome fear. With the help of kin."

Geir nods slowly. "One knows... and you know. Fear is never overcome. One simply becomes more brave. Courage tells fear to sit down for a bit so that one can do what must be done." He chuckles and reaches up to pat the upper arm of that crystalline arm. "You can do anything, when you put your mind to it. Chay would be very proud, yes, to have seen you that night. Declaring yourself to everyone. Showing your whole self. It was amazing to watch. You felt fear, but then your chest puffed up, and fear pissed itself and hid."

The other's words cause Zeke to chuckle gently and shakes his head. "Bravery wasss there that night, not only for thisss one but for otherss too. Thisss one thinksss perhapsss it wasss sssomething of the magic in the night. The knowing that only those of the People were there to sssee. Thisss one triess now to carry that bravery into the next day and the next." He motions for Geir to sit down again, indicating that he will be well enough soon. The pain is loathe to fade, but this is not somthing that he is unused to. "How about you Geir, were the visssionsss that the night granted you oness of happinesss and pleassure?"

The copper-scale sits, and hefts the kettle. Sloshing it about a little, he sets it back over the fire, and puts another log in for good measure. "It takess much to participate in a casste ceremony. One is happy to have seen you in a very good place. And Iuitl. And the others with you." Geir chuckles then, and taps his nose a few times. "One had no visions, one did not sleep afterwards. One tended to the magics. If you would keep this close to your heart?" He lowers his voice. "The shamans. They help the spirits visit those freshly made into caste. Your mind was open, accepting. So the shamans bid the spirits to whisper into your ear." Geir winks then. "Few but the shamans know this. It is part of the magic of the ceremony. It is powerful."

Zeke blinks and then laughs again low and gravely. A laugh that isn't used very much, but a good laugh nonetheless. "That would explain much. Thisss one hass had many sstrange dreamsss. Dreamsss of the Dragonfather, and of thessse limbsss." He flexes his left claw and nods to himself. "Thisss one will have to thank thisss onesss casste-matesss, for their hard work. Thisss one thanksss you for yoursss." The blue-scale finishes his tea quietly.

Geir chuckles and nods. "The spirits of our ancestors watch over this place. The ceremony draws them near. One cannot command them, at least, not a single Sith. But one can convince them. Their guidance is wanted." He pats his chest and chuckles once more. "It has been an honour. Your thanks means the world to me. And remember. Much of the hard work has been yours. Think back. So much of your life... to get back to here." Here being a point in one's life, not a physical location.

The blue-scaled sith-makar nods. "Thisss iss ssso. We have sssurvived much have we not?" Zeke looks at Geir, his eyes on the other sith's eyes; not on his scars which are still bare to sight. He would never be so rude as to draw attention to them. "And we are sstill here. Thisss sssaysss sssomething. We have a purpossse. Perhapsss yourss isss to usse your knowledge to aid thosse where are Lossst. If you think it ssso, you owe it to yourssself to try."

The copper-scale will take both his and Zeke's mugs, top up the tea leaves inside, and refill them with hot water. "Tea will be ready sshortly.", he says gently. "One will try. One will have to balance his duties with this quest. But one hopes that there will be others to help. One must think on this for a time, before trying. One must get it mostly right."

Zeke nods. "Great care ssshould be taken when determining the coursse of onesss actions. Thiss one knowsss you to be wisse though Geir. You can do what you put your mind to, and thisss one knowss that there are many Lossst. Perhapss not here in Alexandria, but elsssewhere. The Charneth create many sssuch with their practicesss." He hissess lightly, tail flickering at the mention of the Charneth.

Geir takes up his mug, and simply holds it, the warmth welcoming. "One has thought of an idea. An escape route from Charn to Alexandria. One thinks it can be done, but it would require some cooperation." He rubs at his cheek, and shakes his head. "But that is neither here nor there. What of you, Zeke. What are your plans hence?"

Though Zeke hurms at the thought of an escape route from Charn to Alexandria, which if it could be done would be incredibly useful. "Thisss one will continue on ass thiss one hasss, but now with the aid of caste-matesss. Thisss one hasss been doing much resssearch on vampires, demons, and the fae in the hopess of aiding the scity in itsss ssearch for a cure for the plague. Thisss iss thisss onesss main priority."

The copper-scale nods slowly. "Indeed, that is a noble and just goal. One will help, likely our goalss intersect at times."

Zeke's eyes shine with good humor and his tail swishes behind him. "Indeed, thiss one hopesss sso. It isss alwaysss good to sshare wordsss with you. Thisss one noticesss that you are ssspeaking more carefully; that you are putting more effort in your tradessspeak. Iss there a reassson for thisss?"

While a blush or any kind of colouring might be hard to see, his immediate change of attitude is obvious. His voice is quieter too. "One is doing so for Iuitl. One is ... is... sharing more than words with her." His tail swishes back and forth behind him, and he glances about, to see if any might be too close.

Zeke's attitude changes as well, his expression shifting from surprise to something more careful. His tail does an odd swish flick and he nods to Geir. "Thisss one thought that one sssaw ssomething between you two, but did not want to asssume. Thisss one iss glad that you have sssomeone sspecial in your life, sssomeone to perhapsss ssomeday ssshare a nessst with." He looks down at his tea. "You dessserve love asss well, and much happinesss."

Geir cants his head slightly, and he leans in a little closer. Just a touch, so that his quiet words can be heard. "Does one approve of this one's decision? One feels... tension? Quiet upset?" He lets out a low breath. "One did not expect to feel what one feels. About Iuitl. She. Looks into my soul, so easily, her eyes let me look into hers."

Zeke has the grace to look somewhat embarrassed. "Ssssuch thingsss are thingsss that only you can choossse. If you feel for her, then like with other choicess you owe it to yourssself to try. Thisss one doesss not have ssso much experiancse in affairsss of the heart in thisss way. Only what one hass felt and never known if it can be rescipricated." He looks at his cup of tea again. "You do not want to be old and lonely Geir."

The copper-scale nods his head slowly, and lets out another breath. "Have you felt love? For another? Did one try?" He lets out a breath again, rubbing his cheek once more. "One feels more fear in this than at any other time in one's life. I would rather face a whole mob, alone."

"Thisss one hass felt love, but thisss one hass never been brave enough to try. To tell the one loved that thiss one feelsss thisss way. After all , thiss one hass alwaysss thought of onesself ass... broken. Not sssomething meant for love." Zeke's tail flicks behind him. "You are not alone however alone. Thisss one isss here for you. Besssidesss, thisss one isss told that love isss not a thing to fear. Remeber?"

"Whom, if one may ask? Whom were you not brave enough to tell?" Geir looks to Zeke then. "Another thing that... One is not broken. One is made whole. Perhaps you may find this .. lost love, and tell them?"

Zeke shakes his head. "They are with sssomeone elssse now. What good would telling them now do?" He drinks his tea and sets the cup aside, clearly done with it for the moment. "No, let them remain in peassce unknowing that thisss one hasss sssuch feelingsss. Let them love in peasssce." He still looks embarrassed.

Geir looks both relieved and pained at the same time. "This one apologizes for picking at an old wound. You are wise in what you say." He sips at his tea, then, looking at the mug and its contents. "One hopes to find such a tea, some time."

"It isss not sssuch an old wound." Zeke says cryptically, rising to his feet and swishing his tail at Geir. "Thisss one iss happy for you Geir. Thisss one sseems to keep thanking you, but thisss one offerss you gratitude for sssharing tea, fire, and wordsss thiss day. Thisss one ssshould be on onesss way, to let you return to your work in peasssce."

"One doesn't need peace to work, but one appreciates your sentiment." He stands and looks Zeke in the eye. "One is here. As shaman. As Kin. As friend. If you wish to share words of a painful nature, if you need ears to listen, if you need to touch.. someone who has an understanding of your pain, I offer myself. A shoulder to lean against. A little rock to support you." He offers his hand, the one matching Zeke's crystalline one. "One has a name for you, Zeke. One day, one shall share it."

Zeke takes Geir's hand and holds it for a time, the gesture filled with gentleness and care. "Thisss one appreciatesss your offer. Perhapsss one day we will sshare ssuch wordsss but... not now." He flashes his teeth more a gesture of nervousness than anything else. "Blesssingss of the Dragonfather on you Geir. Thisss one will be glad to know the name you have for thisss one when you care to ssshare it." Then the blue-scaled sith is headed off into the places between the fires others are burning; disappearing.

-End