Quiet, a shared look, tenseness. Aibyss straightened up, the soft expression on her face hardening, waiting for the bad news. It wasn’t that her or Gaile had been particularly close, or had even Known eachother, but.. he was one of the very few who never showed fear towards her or her appearence. Shamanism was a lonely life, being a leader was a lonely life, and she had so very few friends or allies– especially now –so she held the very few she did have dear. She braced herself, preparing for the worst possible news.
‘I do not know, I haven’t seen him since he left Omwat.’
Her expression melted once more into a sympathetic half-frown, her silver hues darkening slightly. So Gaile was out there, somewhere, and Flyndt was looking for him. Was Gaile one of those who were taken by the mercenaries? She had only heard of the fate of the Han'duwil once she had ventured out herself, visiting one of the major cities on her tribe’s behalf before leaving the planet.
A soft mixture of a Hooo and a sigh left her chest and black fingers rubbed at her eyes, pulling at them for a moment before she let them drop to the table once more.
When she spoke again, it was in Omwatese, so that she could fully portray her sympathies.
“I am so sorry, Flyndt. I have not seen or heard from him either, not since the last Gathering I took part of. In my two years since I left Omwat for good, I have not seen him in my travels. If I can be of any assistance, either through the Force or my knowledge, please let me know.”
She switched back to basic after a quick gesture of ‘Apologies’ to Foxen after realizing the fish-man probably understood very little of what she had said, if any of it.
“Gaile… Gaile was of good heart. I am sorry you are separated.” She tapped the central sunburst marking over her breastbone, over where her heart lay in her chest. “Breaks heart to hear he is Lost. He was friend, at least to me, I cannot speak for him.”
Thank you, Foxen gestured back flat from the chin, because the two parts of him splitting in twain were both grateful, grateful Flyndt has this, had another Omwati he knew, of all the random strangers and all the pit stops in all the Galaxy to happen upon, grateful even when the hurt yawned in his chest.
He went on, subtle motions slow so as to not detract from her words of sympathy and brokenheartedness, But please, he, Flyndt, F-L-Y-N-D-T, Flyndt, is priority. Don’t worry about my understanding. Speak freely between you. I can leave, give you two space, time. Or I can stay. Up to him. But O-M-W-A-T-E-S-E fine. It would be my honor to hear the sound of it. The last, he directed more towards Flyndt, turning bodily towards him in the booth. Whatever you need/want, ner kar'ta.
Hearing Aibyss has not seen nor heard from Gaile as well had left a drop in hope and disappointment that he hadn’t expected to feel. The woman had not known the brothers had been separated all these years, why would she have encountered the eldest of the two? Still, the utterance of remorse and the offer of any aid she could give was appreciated and welcomed. He gave a small smile in return or the faint ghost of one with his expressiveness, though he remained quiet on the knot in the back of his throat and leaned into the arm resting on his raised knee.
Listening to the rest she had to say – now in basic – his feathers twitched, rose and fell in thought. A nod at the comment of Gaile’s heart. His brother was– is annoyingly patient and kind and level headed to a fault. Flyndt could not recall if Gaile had ever called Aibyss a friend but knowing him it was likely. He tended to find such relations with ease, like breathing air or drinking water. But lost?
“I will find him. That I vowed,” he stated, affirmed, crimson plumage flaring lightly. He paused and breathed, gaze shifting to Foxen’s hands and giving him a nod afterwards, ‘talk is for both of us, you too.’
Flyndt looked back to Aibyss and spoke his gratitude first in Omwati then in basic, “Thank you. For your words and offer, to help…I know not with what right now, things have…been busy, delayed. Yet, we have found some hopeful leads.”
At Flyndt’s signalled acceptance and inclusion, Foxen hummed his understanding and observed the flare of his Home’s crest, the sadness in Aibyss’ stark white countenance, elegantly slashed by the black of her feathers and markings, a beautiful grief.
But an incorrect one.
Not L-O-S-T yet, he didn’t know how to emphasize the word properly, as had been in her tone, and knew the sign would be wrong. Gaile IS friend to you. IS of good heart. As Flyndt says. Going to find him. His vow. My mission. Flyndt has my oath…and if you are a friend of his and of Gaile then so do you, Aibyss. My resources and blades are yours. He paused, uncertain what had been conveyed in Omwatese otherwise. Do you know anything?
<@264959101384130560> <@244244400488710155>
Aibyss affirmed again with remorse in basic that she had unfortunately not seen Gaile or heard of anything about him in a decade, aside from the attack that had befallen the Han'duwil. She also had not, sadly, encountered any news of their people in her travels. With clarity given and the wishful hope dashed, their conversation had a brief lull, broken by the need to fill the silence and genuine curiosity.
Where are you heading? What are you doing? Do…
Do you have a place to stay?
Aibyss had paused with that, not entirely sure what to say. Her path since leaving Omwat had followed wherever the Force guided to her. The urge to leave a planet and take the nearest shuttle, to stay and assist an ill family she had encounter, and more decisions. Yet now something stirred in the back of her mind. It sat in the way the horned amphibian’s crimson gaze and the set of his jaw, debating and yet determined. The feeling she should–
“–Stay. With us.”
The words equally blurted from Flyndt as something more poised was signed by Foxen. The younger Omwati cleared his throat and gave his attention to his partner. “Foxen states that you are welcome in our home, all Omwati known are welcome. Can stay as long as like and need…”
The Force willed it so, and so she shall do.
With the invitation accepted, their conversation shifted to sharing of their residence, the planet it resided on, and those close to them. It was not a lengthy talk as a part to fix the ship still needed to be found. With Flyndt’s curiosity and need to know who this other Omwati now satiated, he excused himself to do so with Foxen tagging along, leaving Aibyss to reflect on the news shared, the faces both reacquainted and met, and the future to come.