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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 3:37 pm
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Ugh, Halloween. Amityville at that. As Na'ima rode her mount through the town she could only look upon everything with disdain behind the veil that covered her face. She ignored the strange looks the brightly dressed woman and her matching steed received, or the fact that every movement of the mount made both of them jingle with the musical tones of clinking metal jewelry. How could her sister still live in a place like this? It was too dreary, too depressing, it was nothing like home. Perhaps she could talk her into returning to the tower with her...
When finally she reached the building Falair had told her of she tugged the reigns and came to a stop, turning her gaze up toward the large building. Well, it was vaguely similar to a tower, she supposed. Still not good enough for her baby sister. She gave the mount a pat against the side of its neck and climbed down, making her way into the building. Fourth floor, yes? Na'ima stared at the stairway.
...No.
Did she have to? Na'ima frowned and looked around, looking relieved when she spotted the elevator. Oh, good. She would have climbed the stairs for Falair but she'd rather not if she didn't have to. Good choice, Falair. She barely acknowledged the old haunt that joined her in the elevator, not even attempting to make small talk before she stepped off at the fourth floor and made her way down the hall. A trained ear could possibly hear the jingling of her jewelry announcing her arrival, stopping only when she reached the door with the number Falair had given her. She knocked three times and ended it there, pulling the veil down from her face so she would be visible. She waited with bated breath for her sister to open her door. It was a face she hadn't seen in far, far too long. She needed to see her.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 3:48 pm
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 4:30 pm
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There she is. Na'ima looked upon her sister, seeing her unchanged and safe. It was an overwhelming sense of relief. "Falair," she breathed as she pulled her sister into a tight hug as well. However, unlike Falair she did not release her so easily. One hand held the back of her sister's head, the other was across the back of her shoulders. She stood there for what felt like an eternity and just held her sister, re-familiarizing herself with the feeling of having her in her presence again. This wouldn't do. She needed to see about convincing her to return with her to the Tower...
"Terribly," she answered with a chuckle. Traveling always exhausted her. "I would cross realms for you any day, Falair, never worry of such things." Na'ima finally allowed Falair her freedom and stepped into the apartment with a gentle smile. "Tea and cakes would be lovely. Is it all right if I..?" She pulled her pipe from where she had stuck it in her belt, holding it up while asking permission. For anyone else she would have just done it without bothering to ask, but Falair's space was Falair's space, and even if she didn't completely approve of its geography she would respect her sister.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 6:10 pm
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 6:38 pm
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Perfect. Na'ima freed a small container from her bag, pouring a bit of its contents into the end of her pipe and then setting it aside so she could light it. She took in a long drag and then let it out between her lips in a content sigh. Much better. Making herself comfortable on the chaise, Na'ima kicked off her slippers and lounged among the pillows. Leave it to Falair to know exactly how she liked it. "I will simply stay longer to recover, that is all," she announced with a little smile, waving her pipe around by her head before bringing it to her lips again. She had brought enough supplies to last her a week. It'd be fine.
She watched Falair, watched her move about the apartment and collect things for their tea. The apartment itself also received the critical eye of a protective older sister. It needed to fit certain criteria: was it good enough for Falair, did it suit her needs, was it easily accessible to Na'ima?
Well, it certainly failed on at least one front.
"I have been well, sister. The Tower is wonderful, it reminds me of home. You'd like it," she added in a subtle nudge. "You hardly even notice that noisy little high priestess. There are times I entirely forget she exists, to be honest. Salbei is there as well, so that helps." There was a pause and then, "it would help more if my sister was there, I think. There is this...Death horseman..pah." Na'ima rolled her eyes and shook her head. He was an annoyance. She waved her free hand dismissively and sat up, leaning forward to take her tea cup and carefully sip it. Ah, that hit the spot.
"But I have been getting a lot of work done. I suspect that soon I will be ready to test on live human subjects again, I am growing rather excited for it, actually." Na'ima smiled. "And what of yourself, my dearest?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 6:51 pm
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 10:54 am
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"Worrisome?" Na'ima chuckled, giving her pipe a little wave. "He comes to Salbei and I of his own volition. He is obsessed with clouding his mind and being distracted from his own thoughts..though I suppose I can see how that would be worrisome." The pipe was brought to her lips again as golden eyes gazed out into the distant nothingness between her and the nearest window, staring into space as she considered it. She didn't test on Wrath nearly half as much as Salbei, he was too frustrating in his strength against everything she made even if he inspired her to create stronger concoctions.
Her legs moved to accommodate Falair as she came over to sit on the chaise with her, her feet idly patting at her sister's side in that playfully annoying way an older sister should pester her little sister. "It is one thing to test on a horseman, he is so strong I have to keep making new recipes, so I wish to test on subjects that do not have the immunity or strength that he has. They are who I do any of this for, after all. It is the humans I should be testing on." Sipping her tea again, she offered Falair her pipe in case she wanted any. Her explanation of what she had been up to didn't sit well with Na'ima. This was not the life her little sister should be living. Her flesh and blood should not be working day to day to afford some hovel in Amityville. Falair came from a legacy, from a great line of Famine horsemen, she should be in the Tower with her people, not struggling to make ends meet here in Halloween. It infuriated Na'ima, but for Falair she kept calm. "You should come with me to the human world, it has been some time since we worked on anything together." Na'ima moved, leaning forward to reach out and touch a hand to her sister's face with a gentle smile. "I miss you terribly, sister."
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 2:10 pm
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Her foot twitched when nails scraped at her feet and she jerked, nearly kicking Falair in the process when she was tickled. "You'll pay for that," she threatened with a smirk. She would get her back for that.
Na'ima gave a chuckle, nodding. "Oh, I know. I make them stronger, test them on him, and make them stronger again. Now I'm curious of the effects they will have on humans after doing all of this to him. So far everything with him has had satisfactory results."
And then Falair said something that truly surprised her. Na'ima's eyes widened, jaw dropping slightly as her heart swelled with joy. That was it? That was all it took? She didn't have to fight or whine or beg her to come home with her? Na'ima moved with unusual speed, getting onto her knees to reach out for Falair and pull her in for a hug, then lean back and bring the younger mare with her as she laid back against the chaise again. "Oh, sister! You make me so happy saying this, I cannot wait to help you move from this terrible place to the Tower. You will love it, it is beautiful and magnificent." She nuzzled her face into soft blue hair and clung tightly to her sister. Yes, she had missed her. Falair was her baby sister, the only family she had left. If they were to get anywhere, not only did she need Falair, but the horsemen as a whole needed as many of their remaining numbers as they could find.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 2:23 pm
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:17 pm
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"And I would do the same for you, Falair. Never forget that." Though Falair couldn't see it, a solemn look came upon Na'ima's face. She rest her cheek against the younger mare's head, one of her hands petting her hair. All she had. If a war was coming as her dream had said, she wasn't going to risk letting Falair be far from her side. Even if the Tower wasn't entirely safe, even if Medea ruined everything, she would at least be close to Falair and able to get her out of danger. She would be ready for it, and she would prepare for it.
It took her a moment to realize Falair had said something and she finally smiled, kissing the top of her head before loosening her hold on her sister. "Yes, of course. I will show you all around the Tower. There is a den next to mine that is currently unoccupied, I'm sure acquiring it for you will be all too easy. And then you will have many resources and much more time to study and improve on your craft, hm?" She searched blindly for her pipe, picking it up and holding it between her teeth as she resettled with her sister in her arms. "Until then, I think a week here won't hurt, hm? What is it you do for entertainment around here, sister?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:32 pm
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 5:15 pm
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 5:29 pm
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