You've Done It (Aurin)

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

Korvaelis never thought of his life belonging to him. Even if his brother did not force marriage proposals on him and used him for whatever plans he had in mine, Korvaelis liked to think that fate would take it from there. Since that’s what he believed in. Fate provided many possibilities for people and sometimes, she left it up to luck when it came to certain situations. His life has always been unpleasant, ever since he was a child. He was hated by his siblings and it seemed his birth had broken their perfect family apart causing many to despise him. Especially his mother, who loved her children dearly. All her children except Korvaelis. When one loses the love of his mother, the woman that brought him into the world, what else is there to do? If his life truly was his own, Korvaelis would’ve had a mother that loved him because that’s all he ever wanted and the only part of his life he wished to control.

“He’s a handsome fellow, I guess,” Korvaelis answered the question somewhat seriously. He caught on to the joke a little late and by that time, the young lord was a bit embarrassed. “I wouldn’t mind that. Aki only sees his grandfather and I fear he’s too old to care for his grandson sometimes.” Korvaelis sometimes felt bad about sending Aki to the Daizoku at times. It was a deal they made long ago so that the child Avialae never missed out on family events and emerged himself in his family culture whenever possible.

“I wish I had a clue about those people. Sounds like you have just as many connections as my brother. Maybe you can marry me off and gain his favor?” He tried to make a joke of his own to make up for earlier.

Stroking the puppy’s head, Korvaelis decided to take notice of the puppy’s health once more. There was nothing wrong with her, in fact, she was a very healthy puppy. He just wanted to make sure of it. “ Animals don’t exactly like the people they’re handed off to right away. Especially puppies. I mean, you’re technically kidnapping her and taking her away from everything she knows by our standards.” Korvaelis wiggled his eyebrows at Aurin as he continued to pet the baby. “You have to earn her trust. You and the person you’re giving her to must show her that you’re worthy of protecting. Then protecting your assets is second nature.”

Before leaving the barn, he called on Aki and whispered something in the child’s ear. Whatever was said made the child excited. He left the barn with a head start although it wasn’t exactly needed. The boy started off running but soon fluttered off like a butterfly. Korvaelis motioned for Aurin to follow him and slowly walked toward their forest.

“We use our forest as training grounds for both our hunting dogs and guard dogs. There are a lot of wild animals on our land, so that keeps the guard dogs to alert. Also, aside from the front of our home, the only other entrance to our property lies in this very forest. So we teach the puppies to patrol the border with their mother, who leads by example. It’s a lot of fun for them.”

Korvaelis stopped near a clear line of where their property ended. A large spacing sat between the estate’s forest and land beyond it that was farther away from where they stood.

“Aside from Kalaui, I have two more guard dogs. Mean ones too.” Korvaelis then took the puppy away from Aurin and placed her on the ground. At first, she was doing nothing more than fooling around. Trying to catch her tail and yanking on Korvaelis’s pants leg. But a swooshing noise coming from the trees soon caught her attention. Ears pricked up, the puppy’s head followed the noise as it moved throughout the shadows. “WHAT’S THAT GIRL? What is it?” Korvaelis voice was a bit dramatic as he was trying to feed into the puppy energy. It worked too, the puppy’s feet moved in place and she began to bark. “Go get it!”

The command was the dog’s ‘go ahead’. She continued barking and chasing after the sound until it finally revealed itself. It being the young Aki who happened to have pillows tied on his body too.

“Come!” Korvaelis called the puppy back. Unlike the other command, it took her some time to react to it. The young guard dog was too caught up in her chase to listen. “What can I say? She’s still young. Most puppies aren’t interested in listening all the time. The girl might need some fine-tuning.”

42 of Frost, 121

[Aurin]

From what he had observed of the blue man, he reacted to life more than he acted. Aurin could intellectually understand that mode of living, but he would never share it. So much had been taken from him, he demanded agency. It would be so easy to manipulate Korvaelis, to promise this marriage or that marriage, string him along as he wore his heart on his sleeve in many ways. Certainly, Aurin was aware that he was forming tentative ties with Great House Dahshida by befriending Korvaelis and young Aki, but that wasn't his sole reason for returning month after month.

The pup might not have decided he was her mother, but she didn't seem to hate him either. She was interested. But he followed Korvaelis to the treeline, anticipating Aki's subterfuge. He didn't mind ceding the pup; it would be better only to hold her and give her affection when she wanted it until she decided he was one of her pack. But he crouched, elbows on his knees so his point of view was lower like hers, and he watched the proceedings. Korvaelis and Aki both seemed more animated, more themselves, playing with the creature. That made him smile while nobody was paying attention to him.

He laughed when she seemed less excited by the idea of coming back, but she would learn.

"You're the expert," he said, looking up from below, holding out a hand to see if the pup would want a sniff. "But that seems well trained for barely weaned, no?"

Bringing her back for more training would be his excuse to visit in the future, he supposed. He wondered if Korvaelis would still value his friendship whenever he did find a new matrimony to complete him.

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

"If you say so. How about I sell her to you and you never come back?” Korvaelis teased. “If she becomes unruly, that’s your problem.” Crossing his arms, he watched the dog make its way back. Perhaps, he was being a little hard on the female pup. But, the truth is she was a little tough to train compared to the other puppies. She was truthfully at a disadvantage, he couldn’t lie, considering Kalaui and her litter were of a specific breed meant for guard work. Years of proper breeding and a pedigree full of intelligent mastiffs with enough horsepower to pull a wagon meant that any puppies born from that specific line are inherently protective. The assignment is understood from the gate and so the commands almost come with ease as well. It was still amazing that the special little creature had come this far. From the moment he took her in, she was a fighter and he did not doubt that someday she'd become the perfect guard dog.

“You’ll be happy with her. She’s no Kalaui, but she had the potential to be so much greater. I’ve seen her real mother and I think—”

Korvaelis face changed colors. His stomach was twisting and turning again like before and he was starting to feel nauseous. The lord felt like he had been shaken up. It was happening again. He turned away from Aurin and ran to a tree so that he could throw up without being seen. It was almost uncontrollable this time, Korvaelis had to hold on to the try just to balance himself. “Stay over there.” He told the other males, but he was mostly speaking to Aurin. The redhead tended to come to his rescue whenever he was in trouble. Sometimes it was appreciated, however, he didn’t want anyone seeing him in this state. Everyone experienced sickness and Korvaelis knew that. He just didn’t want anyone to see him sick.

“I make my remedies. I just need a good tonic and I’ll be fine later. Nothing to it. This isn’t the first time, I’m sure it’s just the weather.” He wiped his mouth before facing Aurin again. “I don’t know much about my people, but this is probably a time when most Druskai don’t feel well. It’s too cold for aquatic creatures, no?”

42 of Frost, 121

[Aurin]

Aurin snorted. Korvaelis talked tough, but eventually, he would get lonely and send a message down the mountain to him. It was all right, though. A joke was a joke. He was going to say more, say he liked the look of the pup, liked a survivor, but he never got the chance. The blue man hurried over to a tree and began to retch again. Thankfully, Aurin didn't get sympathetic queasiness like some, but he winced all the same and grabbed the pup by the scruff when she began sniffing the air with interest in the direction of the vomit. Apparently, the wolf pup had picked up that bad habit from the dogs; he didn't figure wolves were keen for regurgitated human food.

He shared a concerned look with Aki while Korvaelis was turned away from them.

Then, "Yeah, all right. You go take your tonics and get some rest. I'll play with her and wear her out, then maybe she won't protest when I kidnap her." He smirked, using Korvaelis' own humor. "Aki, I can help you out with things while I'm here. Then I'd imagine you can take payment for the pup before I go?"

It probably worked out the best this way. Korvaelis was tender toward the wolf, but was trying to raise his specific breed of dogs so she couldn't stay without complications and it was unlikely he could sell her otherwise. But Aurin would take her, and he liked the idea of her being a bit wild, of needing to be taken out into the world sometimes. He didn't know enough about animals to say whether or not it was too late to return her to the wild properly, but he assumed with the scent of man on her, the wolves would stay away and she wasn't equipped to hunt on her own yet. Winter was too harsh for that.

He picked her up and stood. She licked at his beard, which was probably a good sign.

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

"No!” Korvaelis objected.

He waved his hands frantically at what Aurin proposed. Korvaelis wasn’t lying when he said he would make himself a nice tonic to help with the terrible sickness he was currently feeling. He made one every night to put him at ease and put him to sleep. Only at night though since Korvaelis was often motivated by his business. He wanted to keep it going and be the one to keep it going. The aquatic character didn’t want to leave it in the hands of his son, the child was too young and didn’t know the ups and downs of the business yet. Korvaelis also didn’t want to leave it in the hands of Aurin either. No matter their relationship, he wanted to treat the human-like a customer and provide him with the best service. Even if that meant he had to do it at his worst.

“I can do it, I promise.” Placing a hand over his mouth to keep anything else in, he decided to continue with the demonstration. “Put the puppy down, I have one more trick to show you. We—” his body moved forward in a wave-like motion, “we’ve been working on her bite too. If you put her down I can show you.” Korvaelis tightened his hand around his mouth, speaking through the cracks of his webbed fingers. He would quickly move those fingers of his.

That stomach of his began churning like butter. It was an odd feeling and he didn’t know what else to do except place both arms over his stomach like he was hiding something. “Aurin…” he called out, contemplating if he should tell the redhead anything he couldn’t possibly handle. Anything he, Korvaelis, couldn’t possibly handle too. The lord didn’t want to jinx anything, but he feared his worst nightmare had come true already. What was once a silly idea, a gag, and all-around fun might’ve been something more. He didn’t want it to be anything more.

“You…you’re terrible at noticing changes. Do you know that?” Korvaelis’ tone was stern. Much different than when he called for his friend. His voice was sweet like honey but turned sour in a matter of seconds. “How come you didn’t see it? You didn’t feel the difference.” Lowering his tone, he checked with Aki to make sure the young boy couldn’t hear him.

42 of Frost, 121

[Aurin]

Aurin just stared at the shouted negation. He continued to observe Korvaelis as he protested through his hand that he was fine, that he could take care of things, while the fox-faced man was just ready to dance out of the way if the blue man turned green and projectile vomited in his direction. Very quickly he started spouting nonsense, or at least Aurin didn't have the context to understand what he was going on about. All the same, he gingerly set the pup down per Korvaelis' request. He hadn't paid for her yet and Korvaelis was the expert in these matters.

The man had a love-hate relationship with mysteries and secrets. He hated not knowing, and when he was aware that he was in the dark, he could get obsessive with finding out what was at the bottom of things.

"You're talking in circles, vague as fuck. Spit it out, Korv." His words were terse, his voice lowered as Aki went about his business. Had the blue man been keeping secrets or had he just realized something? Aurin was determined to figure it out. He had been blue in more ways than one since Aurin had met him, but his oddity had only increased over the seasons of their acquaintance. But this was so chaotic and emotional; Aurin hated being ill, but Korvaelis was acting irrationally, speaking in riddles as if Aurin should know the answers.

Hazel eyes narrowed, but he just waited. Eventually, Korvaelis would have to explain himself or at least send Aurin off with the pup and then Aurin would begin to investigate him in earnest because at this point, he was a bit worried about the man's mental health as much as his physical health.

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

What was he saying?

He didn’t even know what he was saying at this point. There was so much vomit coming out of his mouth and it wasn’t all green and moist. Aurin grew serious and it scared him. It was also a wake-up call in a way. Watch your mouth, Korv. He thought to himself as he began realizing that he might not be able to get away with this too often. Korvaelis was going to give himself away and make it too obvious. He should learn to control these emotions and outbursts. Otherwise, who else could tell something is off about him besides the pale-faced man? Especially the pale-faced man, if he thought about it. He’s the last person that needs to know anything. Korvaelis should’ve kept him at arm's length in the first place. The redhead knew too much already.

“Nothing.” Korvaelis cleared his throat before shaking his head. “I think I’m just going insane is all. Maybe I need to leave the house more often, huh? I should listen to you. You know what’s best.” He started up a nervous tic, clenching and unclenching his hands at his sides before swinging his arms back and forth like a child. “Sorry, sorry. It’s been such a rough day. A rough season, even. And I’m so alone.” Korvaelis was spewing anything at this point. Indeed, he’s often alone. The lord lacked what most people had. Friendship was as much of a luxury to him as the jade and diamond jewelry in his jewelry box. But he never cared to search for it sometimes in people.

“You guys! Look over here!” Aki seemed to have saved the day with his hollering. Waving those arms of his strapped with pillows, he tried to bring their attention to the small pup at his ankles biting away at some more pillows around his ankles. “Bite girl, bite! That’s right, show me who’s the boss!” Aki giggled like the child he is at all the fun he was having.

Korvaelis took it as his opportunity to draw his friend’s attention elsewhere. “She’s a pro! We’ve been working on that one for a while. Bite is the command.” Kovaelis began moving his arms once more, constantly shifting his body. “I can teach her more later. Let’s just get the payment ready and you can be on your way? You’re a busy man, Sir Aurin. I’m sure those nobles are waiting on you and so is the business.”

42 of Frost, 121

[Aurin]

Aurin continued to watch with a critical eye as Korvaelis vacillated between deflection techniques: denial, insanity plea, agreement, flattery. The nervous tic wasn't even necessary to know that he was lying, attempting to obfuscate matters. Were it one of his people, he might plow through the rain of bullshit to get at the truth so he could help, but Korvaelis had always kept him at arm's length—well, emotionally speaking. He didn't know if strongarming his way to an answer would ruin their friendship, so he stood there and observed the apologizing and the pathos plea of loneliness, as if Aurin wasn't here in part to give him company.

But Aki saved Korvaelis from his eyes and Aurin from having to decide what to do.

Aurin walked over to watch the wolf pup attacking Aki's padded leg and he had to smile at the boy's excitement as well as the pup's. He did hope she wasn't the sort to bite without orders, but they would soon find out.

"Excellent work, my lord," he said to Aki, his face softening.

"Very well," he said coolly to Korvaelis. His tone made it clear he saw through his ruses and wasn't pleased to be lied to. The man could just tell him it was none of his business. "I will pay for the pup and for her training. When can I bring her back to continue that?"

He might leave for the nonce, but he would be back and he would be back regularly. At first, he had intended Timon to attend most of the training since the boy needed more responsibility and might get along with Aki. He also intended for Torin to come when his schedule permitted because he would enjoy having a hand in the training of his guard dog. But now, he intended to be the one here, at least until Korvaelis' issues were straightened out. His reprieve from Aurin would only be temporary.

"I'm no sir."

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

Aki collected the puppy, holding her between the soft pillows on his body and his arms. Behaving like he had given some classical performance, the child gave Aurin a dramatic bow after his appraisal. Afterward, he tried to run toward the two to return the dog. The pillows prevented his movement, so he decided to fly and sort of airdrop the puppy into the redhead’s hands.

“You can bring her back whenever,” Korvaelis answered. He wasn’t sure if Aurin completely bought his little show although he highly doubted it. He didn’t forget that his friend holds some mysterious magical powers to read emotions or something– he wasn’t quite sure. Korvaelis never asked too much about it after their first meeting. Somewhat hating how easily the man can read him, the lord never cared to ask questions in fear that he would do it again. “I’m not a busy person.” A light bulb went on in his head. This was an opportunity to control Aurin’s visitations. Korvaelis didn’t want to have any more outbursts in front of him. He could keep it to a minimum if he could just tell Aurin when to visit more often.
“Actually,” he snapped his fingers, “I don’t know. Send a message the day before and I’ll let you know if I’m available. I’ve decided I might go out more, attend social events and such.” Korvaelis would begin the walk back to the barn so that he could hurry the paperwork. This time, he wasn’t exactly lying. Yes, there will be a couple of times he might try and hide from Aurin. But it was about time that he met someone other than him.

“‘Sir’' is a title bestowed to knights as well as men and women of chivalry. If you are not a knight then why are you always here? And don’t play the friend card.”

In minutes, he would reach the barn. It would only take him a few more seconds to find papers describing the good exchange and miscellaneous papers describing training and directions on how to care for a new dog. Aurin was a friend, but Korvaelis had to protect his business with several forms of documentation. Multiple papers detailed the adoption and went into detail about the buyer’s responsibility.

“If you sign the buyer’s agreement, you’re officially out of my hair.” Korvaelis joked. He held out the papers to the redhead, a hardboard underneath so that he would have an easier time signing the paper.

42 of Frost, 121

[Aurin]

The pup didn't have too fall to far from Aki's hands to his own, though she gyrated a bit and he had to hold her to his chest and murmur to her, petting her, to calm her down. The rumble of his voice in his chest beneath her seemed to be the most helpful.

"All right," he said as they walked. "You can also send word when you think you might be free and if I have time, I can come up with her." Whatever mystery Korvaelis was playing at, Aurin decided he wasn't going to suss it out today, so his brow unfurrowed. He was worried, but Korvaelis was a grown man who could ask for help if he needed it. Aki, at least, might offer him some intelligence when he asked. The boy might make a good spy one day, or at least an informant for him among the highest echelons of Kalzasern society. Boys did like their adventures.

"I've never been knighted," he said and shrugged, but he wasn't arguing points anymore. Korvaelis refused logic. Once inside the barn, he set the pup down so she could get the last of her energy out before he had to keep her close all the way back down to the forge. He took the board with the papers, a pen, and began to quickly read before signing and initialing and dating where necessary. Even before he had become a proper businessman, he had known to read contracts critically lest he be taken for a ride. When all was complete, he handed them back to Korvaelis.

"All right, girl, are you ready for a nap and then to explore your new home?" She had taken a seat on her rump, and at the attention, she pawed at his boot and whined. With a smirk, he knelt down to scoop her up, gave her some attention and then helped her burrow into his coat so she could hopefully take a nap and not be a handful on his way to Torin's home.

"Perhaps you don't want to trust me with what's wrong, Korvaelis, and that's your prerogative, but—trust someone. If not for yourself, then for Aki and the animals. All right? Thanks for the pup. Feel better."

That said, he turned to go.

fin.