The pair of them followed the trail that was marked by the military base. Generally, the scouts weren’t to leave the trail unless they suspected something and it was their job to check it out. Out of everything on this base so far, this was her favorite. It was dark, quiet, in the woods, and she didn’t have to worry about being hazed by the higher ranks for awhile. Barafu was the same rank as her so Maeva wasn’t worried about her bullying her. And out of all their peers in their group, Barafu was the one that bullied her the least.
Just get through this and I can become a mortician after…
Her eyes scanned her teammate for a moment, slightly surprised that she didn’t argue with their commanding officer to pair up with Maeva. No one wanted to hang out with an Evereni in fear they were going to get stabbed in the back.
Yet, Maeva wasn’t thinking of that. She was musing something else, If a species like her lands on my table, how would it work? Obviously, she didn’t want to shave down the fur, it would be clear in the funeral. Unless they wore clothes. Not all species wear clothes and Barafu did. That still left the question of how to do an examination if she cannot shave the fur?
If Barafu looked to Maeva, she would notice that the purple slits was looking right at her.
-# <@1382824894877794314>
Barafu looked. And then looked away. And then could still feel Maeva looking.
So she looked again, starting to say something and then frowning. Then starting again, “Is… there something on my face?”
Oh. Was I staring?
“Yes,” Maeva lied and pointed at her own cheek as if to help her to wipe away an imaginary dirt that did not exist on Barafu’s whiskers.
“Oh-” Barafu looked a touch flustered, raising the back of her paw to brush across the area. “Did I get it?”
She looked at the back of her hand, not seeing any offending granules or smears. She hadn’t been as careful this week as back at home. Appearances were so much but not here.
“Might’ve been the shadows from…” She looked around at their area with the moon light and shadows of the trees.
To avoid anymore questions, Maeva started to walk again.
I miss my flowers…
Barafu looked up, walking after Maeva. They were still on patrol after all. Her tail brushed against a twig and she grimaced, forcing herself to hold it closer to herself.
“At least its pretty. Here.”
Maeva sharply turned at the sound and was relieved it was just Barafu as she relaxed her body just a little bit.
She much rather it was that then an actual intruder. Maeva wasn’t ready for that at all.
Was.. Barafu trying to make small talk? At least it wasn’t jeering or name calling.
“It is. I prefer night than day.” A few more steps.
Should she try to make small talk?
“Did you know when a body dies, it can still make sighs and groans?”
Barafu had to bite back a laugh. Them talking was bad enough, really, the sarge would yell at them.
“N-no?” She managed to speak normally enough, withholding the giggle. To not be rude and to not get yelled at.
Maeva was surprised that Barafu actually laughed at that. For her, usually the majority reaction she gets was people looking at her weird.
“Huh…” And then:
“Farts too.”
“Stooop.” Barafu spoke through her hand, covering her mouth.
“Sarge will kill us.”
Visibly struggling.
Maeva’s lip crooked into a small grin. It was apparently she doesn’t normally smile. Her face already felt uncomfortable.
There was a few more minutes of silence.
“That… was weird. Everytime I say something like that.. people look at me as if I’m odd. Or ugly.” Maeva was trying to explain the expression they protrayed and struggled with it.
Barafu glanced in the direction the rest of the squad was. The rest of the trainees.
“I dont get why. They say odd things too. Some of the guys were comparing…” Barafu trailed off, pulling a face in such a way her canines showed.
Maeva knew what she meant. She had heard it too. And the jokes. By the graves.
“That… is actually common. Talking about dead bodies, not so much.”
“I… it isn’t?” There was genuine confusion. Then Barafu shrugged. “I guess if its all weird its harder to pick and choose the weirdest.”
There was still no movement between the trees, in the distance or not. The quiet was anxiety inducing. “How do you know so much?”
Maeva frowned, wondering how much should she say? There was other trainees here that was also here from the streets or homeless. So, it wasn’t that uncommon.
“I grew up in the streets. You.. hear a lot.”
Maeva figured that it made Barafu uncomfortable because she had also met people that was not okay with those kind of jokes.
“You can just… tell them to stop. Or punch them. Seems like we handle things with violence sometimes.”
“Punch them?” Her eyes widened somewhat, then rubbed the back of her neck. “Oh.”
Well, this was awkward. On the streets… she couldn’t imagine it. Her tail curled around her ankle.
“They aren’t being rude to me, it’s just… weird.”
“Oh. Well, if they are… I can help you. Maybe scare them a little.” It wouldn’t be hard. Many people are scared of bodies and things that goes bump in the dark. It’s weird.
“How? By punching them?”
Barafu wasn’t sure that would work. But maybe it would! Who knew here. She rubbed at her eyes, resisting a yawn.
“I don’t think punching would work. So maybe… have them wake up in a morgue or something.”
“I feel like that would get us in trouble. People don’t sleep that deeply, espeically not with someone always about to yell at us about something.”
That was true.
They could get some grave dirt and cover them in it for the commanding officer get mad at them about?
No, it would end up the entire barracks having to clean the rooms with a toothbrush and run an investigation and she would’ve been pinpointed.
“I can think of something. Or maybe nothing will happen.” Maeva admitted. It was one thing for her to be targetted constantly but she doesn’t wish that for Barafu. She seemed pretty cool so far, even didn’t mind her dead bodies facts.
“See if we need to first. I’d rather us all, end up friends than hating each other. I didn’t think this would be easy but…” Barafu trailed off, flashing Maeva a tired smile.
“Yes. That’s a good point. Drevdea will judge them properly when they pass.”
And the other reason? They just started the academy, she didn’t want both or just herself have a target on their back for the rest of their academy life.
“Who is that?” Barafu asked with purpose, slow and careful. She wanted to blurt it out but caught herself. It was hard to keep up etiquette when exhausted but it was still important!
“She’s-” Maeva stopped herself. Should she tell her about Drevdea? Many found it amusing or even more odd of who she followed. Or does her best to.
Then again, Barafu doesn’t seem bothered by her.
It was worth a shot.
“She judges you when you pass away. She figures out what you are worthy of depending on your deeds.” Maeva knew that she was in trouble with Drevdea because of her decisions when she was younger even when it was meant to survive. All she can do was to keep trying to do good deeds from now on to outweigh the bad.
“Oh.” That was kind of morbid. But, nice in a way, if you were good.
“How do you know what deeds she does or doesnt like?”
“That … is a bit difficult.” Maeva wondered if Dravdea would ever forgive her past deeds when it was to survive and not intentional. Sometimes goddesses and gods were forgiving and sometimes not.
“Good deeds, basically don’t purposedly harm others. Such as stabbing, killing, maiming… and just try to help where you can. Such as seeing someone struggle, ask if you can help. Or if they have no food, feed them.”
“That.. seems simple?” Barafu spoke but even as she said it, she knew it wasnt.
Her ears swiveled back and forth as she mused. If you didn’t give them food, then that was not harming them. Was that negative?
“Never mind, I take that back.”
Maeva gave her a weary smile, knowing it wasn’t as simple as it seems. For now, she didn’t have to explain it a bit more to why sometimes it was so difficult.
At least her end goal was to work at a morgue. She could honor Dravdea more by helping prepare the bodies for their judgement in the afterlife.
“ It sounds like a lot of pressure.” Barafu spoke after a few minutes of silence. “ That every action you do, you’re being judged and you don’t even know the criteria.”
At least she knew what would get her in trouble or not in her life. The lines were drawn in the sand, so long as you knew where to look.
“I actually don’t think it like that.” Maeva grinned. She felt the coldness of Draveda’s embrace right now. She was doing something right.
“I guess growing up in it… I’m quite comfortable. I do not feel pressure from my deceased lady, it should come easily. Of course, there may be some days where you question yourself but that’s when you ask for guidence from her.”
“Oh.” Barafu pondered it. That was odd. All of her expectations just added more and more stress. It sounded nice, as morbid as the whole concept was.
“I don’t really have any religion like that.”
“Many don’t.” Maeva pointed out, which was true. “… Not having one actually scares me. Where do you think we go when we die? Where’s the embrance of the one you worship? Lady Dravdea guides my heart and she helps me, so how-” Maeva frowned as she furrowed her brows, never realizing to think the other way and it was scary.
Barafu shrugged slowly.
“There… is the Force. This one knows little of it but, our spirit returns from where it came. I don’t think about it, really. There’s so much to do in life, it’s not often I even get time to consider what happens afterward. It sounds tiring, honestly.”
Oh. Yes. The Force. Maeva tried not to roll her eyes as such nonsense. Why was it that only a select few can feel the Force? Dravdea opens her arms to those that wish to be embraced by her.
“Then how do you… make decisions? What’s stopping you from killing me? Or stealing our bunkmates credits?”
“…I don’t want to do that. It would dishonor me and my family.” Barafu spoke, looking a touch disturbed by the concept. “Is… Dravdea the only reason you don’t do those things?”
She entwined her fingers, fiddling and tracing her paw pads awkwardly.
“…Dishonor?” Well, that was odd. How would that dishonor her family? If her family doesn’t know about it, well then-
“No. I did not know about Lady Dravdea until I was a few years ago.”
“Then what stopped you?” She tilted her head, “I just don’t like hurting people and…”
Barafu trailed off. She really didn’t want Maeva to think she was some spoiled brat. Her ears swivelled, anxious, “Well. That.”
“I….” Maeva frowned for a bit.
“You do realize we will have to kill people eventually, right?”
“Y-yes.” Barafu didnt meet her eyes.
She looked out through the trees. Still quiet. Paranoia built in her sleep deprived mind. Had they missed someone coming through?
“I know. And that’ll be my choice, when it comes.” Her tail twitched.
It wasn’t something she wanted to think about. It was inevitable but frightening.
Meava was worried. She can certainly hope that Barafu will pull through. However, she knows that Barafu wasn’t the only new recruit that she was worried if they would be able to do what was needed or not.
And they won’t be the last group of recruits with that problem.
It would be Barafu’s choice when the time comes, yes, but by the Dravdea, would she be able to pull the trigger?
At least, Maeva was aware she can. To do what she needed to do and to send a soul to Dravdea’s scales.
It was about an hour later when a “enemy” troop attempted to sneak past their watch. Successful in spotting them, the training operation was a success for the recruits.
Though it was far from the last trial, or long night.
The lunch hall was almost full. Most tables were almost concerningly seated, new made friends squishing together to hang out. Likely, tables would be pushed together were they not bolted to the floor.
Maeva and Vigo were among of the few who opted to sit alone.
Barafu entered the room, another from their training group bumping her shoulder with a laugh as passed the doors. She filled her tray, glancing over. Despite the human beside her walking toward one of the tables with barely a seat available, Barafu hesitated. Her eyes landed on Maeva. Despite how strange the woman was, she wanted to get to know her. The presence was odd, but relaxing. More genuine, in many ways.
“Hey what’s the hold up?”
She blinked, then smiled, “I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
“Oh- uh, okay?” They glanced over toward the table, before shrugging and carrying on.
With that, the Togorian crossed the room toward Maeva and… Mr Tall and Broody who Barafu was fairly sure was called Vigo from roll-call. Her tail tucked in close, out of the way of rushing feet. Anxious, her ears swivelled back and forth.
“May I sit here?”
Vigo sat at the end of the table. A tray of food in front of him, which he pecked at occasionally. Currently working on slowing chewing a biscuit, half of which stayed lightly gripped in his left hand, resting, propped askew over the tray.
His main attention was to a notepad off to the right. Rows of written words could be seen. A few words here and there were crossed out, some circled.
Occasionally he’d stop writing, take a bite of the biscuit, chew slowly, then write another word. Mulling over the writing.
As she approached, he remained hunched over his tray, he peaked up at the Togorian through his eyelashes. A small glare, as his head remained angled towards his notepad.
His facial expression unreadable as he fanned his cybernetic hand, palm up, the pen balanced between his index and middle finger, thumb anchoring it. He gestured to the rest of the table.
As she went to sit, his gaze returned to the note pad.
Maeva, true to her fashion, was already there. Her eyes were on the food.
Focus on the food. Don’t stare at him. Food. Food. Food- Her train of thought broke when she heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Barafu wanting to sit with them. Its not like they talk much.
Although Maeva wish Vigo would, that voice
Quickly shoving that thought aside so she wouldn’t blush in front of them, she gave Barafu a small nod of acknowledgement.
-# <@1382824894877794314> <@267489687902486530>
Barafu smiled, the anxiety alleviating somewhat as she stepped over the bench to sit down. They were quiet, so, she opted to also be quiet.
Even if it felt weird.
The food was meh. But it was meh everyday. This was meh-average.
From the other table, they all turned, staring for a moment before one of them hissed and they all sat back properly.
Barafu’s ear flicked, glancing sideways and sighing softly. Really, it was better where it was quiet.
Even if she really kind of wanted to at least be polite but Maeva didnt really mind it and Vigo didnt say anything-
It was fine. Fine fine. Jeez, her mother would scold her.
Vigo peaked up hearing the chatter shift in the chow hall. He noticed the swiveled ears of the Togorian who had asked to sit down. The discomfort in her face.
He sighed,
“You know,” his voice a slightly rumble, silky smooth as it rolled off the tongue.
“Things get easier when you just stop caring.”
His gaze returned to his notepad.
“I don’t abide by social constructs.” His rolled R was very pronounced.
“If I did, I would care a lit’tle more about an Everneri sitting at the table I currently occupy.” His eyes flicked to Maeva for a split second.
“Or how they snicker behind my back for writing or sitting alone, when in reality, I write and they don’t.”
He leaned in slightly towards the Togorian.
“I suggest you do the same.” His voice low.
Meava lets out a small squeak when he mentioned her.
He noticed me!
Her purple eyes glanced to Barafu for a moment, then to Vigo, then to the group, then back to Barafu.
“Um..” She started, her voice squeaky at first until she cleared her throat.
“Vigo, this is Barafu. Barafu, this is Vigo…” who’s super broody and so cool, Maeva mentally finished her sentence.
“You… can go back to them if you want.” Maeva brought up as she poked her food and still stared at it.
Don’t stare at him, don’t stare at him- Dravdea, give me strength-
“Stop caring?” Barafu frowned, fork pausing over the tray.
The cogs visibly whirred in her head. That made no sense to her, how… Wh- how?? That was bad, social constructs were basically everything. How..
Maeva spoke and it reactivated Barafu’s brain.
“No! I wanted to sit here. Its quieter and, while its nice to meet you properly Vigo, ive met Maeva before and I liked hanging out with you.” She smiled slightly, if still nervous, “I dislike how they treat you, and assume something is wrong with me for not doing the same. In my social constructs, respect and courtesy is important.”
He cocked his eyebrow to her quick defensive no, maybe there was something more. Had they charted into a touchy subject? Nevertheless, he didn’t want to push it. Force forbid if he didn’t have any skeletons in his closet.
”I dislike how they treat you,” rang through his mind, on repeat, like a broken record.
He mulled over her words, quietly, scanning the lines in her fur, as if he were seeing into her soul. Looking for any discrepancy, any change or shift that would make her words less true.
He dipped his chin once in a quick approving nod. The corner of his top lip twitched upwards ever so slightly.
“Tell me, Barafu,” his head dipped slightly again as an acknowledgement of her name. “Are those who look at you with an obtuse perspective worthy of your respect?”
He took another bite of his biscuit, chewing as methodically as his words. He swallowed before continuing, letting his question sit with her for a moment.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that Miss Maeva seemed to earn more of your respect above those miscreants, being as you are now sitting here, rather than there.”
His use of Miss hung in the air like a weighted blanket. A word he did not use often.
“My presence here is simply a result of circumstance.”
“If it’s silence you crave,” he gives a slight head tilt, as he waves his hand the same way as he did gesturing to the table upon her first approach. Pen still secured under his metallic forefinger and thumb.
Worthy of her respect. That was less of a confusing concept, yet she’d only known any of these people for 2 weeks. Maeva had indeed earned more through truly meaningful conversation.
She was uncomfortable and the offer of silence worked to avoid having to answer. Barafu nodded once, shortly, and got back to slowly eating.
It was a small while before she spoke again.
“I don’t want to assume anything of strangers.” She started. Worthy of her respect. The words kept rolling in her mind. “This is a new place for all of us.”
Maeva shrugged softly.
“I’m used to it. Everenis don’t really… get treated nicely. For a reason.” Even Maeva herself doesn’t disagree on it. At first, she didn’t understand until she did some research and learned some things just by the word of the mouth. Growing up in the streets would had given her the idea and knowledge to why Everenis were so disliked.
Doesn’t help that Maeva herself has lied and decieved constantly. Upbringing or not.
Maeva thought she was going to slink into the floor and melt into a puddle when she heard her own name from that sweet voice that belongs to Vigo.
He knows my name!
Yet, she was frozen on her seat as her purple eyes glanced to Vigo for a hot second before dashing over to Barafu.
Stay cool. Stay cool. Keep caaaaalm.
“It is.” Maeva glanced over to Barafu for a moment and noticed the slight discomfort. Or so she assumed. Maybe she should say something?
“But.. we should learn to judge quickly. Especially if going to a new place, if it’s safe or not…”
By the bones, I hope I sounded smart or military-like.
Barafu rubbed the back of her neck.
“I suppose. But we’re supposed to be team mates.” She raised a piece of food on her fork, hesitating before eating. She finished the mouthful before continuing. “I do like this table more.”
It was odd, it made her think but, that was the point.
Dark eyes looked her up and down.
“Respect should be earned, Barafu. Not immediately given. You can still play nice with those who aren’t worthy of your respect.” Force forbid he knew that all too well every time he went to his place of birth.
He turned his attention to Maeva,
“Regardless of the species bad reputation, I still think every single person should be judged based on their own actions, not by their species.”
He sighs,
“I may have gotten lost in the weeds. Forgive me, where are my manners? Shall we start over? As Miss Maeva already said,” he gave a small head tilt towards her in a small thank you, and acknowledgement.
“Vigo Zakirov.” He placed down his pen and extended his metallic hand to shake, and a faux saccharine smile was plastered on his face.
Her eyes went wide when he reached over for a handshake with Barafu. At first, she was jealous but then was distracted by the ✨ shiny ✨ arm. At least Barafu wasn’t touching him by skin-
Deaths, I need to keep my envy in check… Maeva mentally winced to herself.
Once Barafu introduced herself, Maeva found no need to do the same. They both knew who she was.
So she tried to think of a topic, her eyes went to the pen that Vigo was holding.
“Did you know that more people die from choking on pens then being stabbed?”
-# <@267489687902486530> <@1382824894877794314>
“E-” Barafu hesistated, blinking once as she shook Vigo’s hand, “Barafu. Barafu uh, Mlima.”
She tripped twice, trying to avoid her actual last name. This tentative friendship could easily be tarnished by that and she… didn’t want to risk it. Middle name was safer, easier.
Barafu released the metal hand in time for Maeva to blurt out that.
She covered her mouth, giggling.
Maeva did a small sideway smirk.
Vigo’s eyebrow cocked. Amused by the statement made by the Evereni.
“I never took you for the murderous type.” His eyes darkened and his facial features turned into a smirk.
“Tell you what, I’ll keep a supply of pens. Just for you.” As he extended his prosthetic arm to Maeva to shake as well. New introductions for everyone.
Maeva felt her body went hot as her eyes widen as a baby doe.
No! He’s talking, okay, don’t lose it, don’t lose it-
“O-oh!”
Really!?
It took her FAR too long to notice the hand as she quickly slammed down the fork with a loud clatter on the tray as it drew some attention from others. She edgerly grasped his hand and shook it. It was cool to the touch.
Without asking and her impuslive moment took over as she slightly yanked his arm towards her as her face was inches from the metal as she observed it, Maeva was now hovering over the table.
“Oh! This is so cool- The pens!” She gasped as she realized what she was doing and let him go and slammed herself right back onto that chair.
It creaked in protest under her weight.
“N-no! I’m not a m-murderer! Well, I do find dead bodies fascinating.. Wait! N-n-n-not like a necrophilla like way!”
The giggles became full belly laughter as the situation progressed, Barafu covering her face with an arm and having to lower to the table to keep her wits about her.
“Maeva-” giggles. “You’re putting words into our heads.”
Vigo’s eyes peered at her movements and actions. His eyebrows scrunched in with slight concern, as she examined his arm closely.
He blinked.
Her awkward movements persisted, he actually huffed a small chuckle. The corner of his mouth raising ever so slightly.
“You are an odd one aren’t you?”
Meava felt her cheeks grow warm as they darkened to near black when he smirked at her.
But… he called her odd.
She’s confused. When many people called her odd or weird, they always had a rather unpleasant look on their face or their body language.
But Vigo? He was smirking. And Barafu was giggling but doing her own smile. They… weren’t looking at her weird.
“It’s… I thought odd was a bad thing,” Maeva whispered, barely auidble for the pair to hear her.
“Huh?” Barafu tilted her head slightly, ear angling as she raised up from the table a bit, wheezing slightly with giggles, “No? Or at least not with us. Its fun.”
Vigo’s face turned solemn, the hint of amusement— gone.
“Depends on how you look at it,” A brief pause as he took another small bite, chewing methodically.
“Odd means. Different. Unusual. Peculiar… hmm- Idiosyncratic.” At the mention of the last word he clicked his pen and wrote it down.
“She is odd according to them-“ his eyes glance in the direction of the group that Barafu usually sat with, “Because she is sitting here and not with them.”
“I am odd because I prefer to write, whereas people like them prefer to watch holonovelas.” Still referring to the group.
“You just stick out a bit more than the rest of the masses. It’s not a bad thing, unless your brain makes you think it is.”
Meava glanced to Barafu as she tried to understand what she meant by ‘fun.’
She pondered for a moment, what was the definition of fun? She heard the word thrown around a lot but she wasn’t sure if she ever quite experience the actual emotion that the word was suppose to bring. She grown up in the streets and was found by Dravdea’s clergy a few years ago.
Fun had not been part of her life. Vigo started to talk and when he clicked his pen to write, she perked up a bit more as if that would help her read what he was writing.
-# It did not.
“Isn’t… Doesn’t blending in with the masses give better chances of survival?”
Barafu blinked. Not really comprehending. Survival? What life had Maeva lived? She found herself speaking without really thinking, yet it was honest.
“This one would be dead if that were the case.”
She glanced to Vigo, he seemed to have a better grasp on this conversation anyway. She ate another bite of food to excuse herself from continuing that, probably poor taste line of thought.
His lip twitched. He knew all too well what she was talking about. His mind flashed back to the dark cargo bay.
The built up dust motes dancing in the muted light. The flickering light in the entrance. The stillness; the quietness, broken by the whimpers of the tiny creature that clung to him, in his arms. The ratted blanket that they had used to keep warm. Torn and dirty. Yet… he still couldn’t bring himself to throw away all these years later.
“In certain circumstances, yes blending in is crucial to survival.” He said snapping back to reality. To the here and now.
“However, everyday normal life, it’s okay to stand out from the crowd. It takes time to learn to differentiate the two.”
He took a bite from another portion of his tray, having finished his biscuit. He made a mental note of Barafu eating as well, but not so much Maeva.
“Eat.” He nodded towards her tray.
It was Maeva’s turn to look at Barafu in confusion. She was so used to what she went through, she forgot that not everyone had gone through the same things. What was Barafu’s life like?
Vigo spoke so of course, Maeva being the love-struck puppy gave him her undivided attention.
The way he worded that it takes time to understand and see the difference, to her, it meant he was going to hang out with them more!
“Oh!” She looked to her food. While it wasn’t amazing, it was food and Maeva was grateful just to have food on the daily now, she picked up her fork and started to eat again.
Barafu chuckled softly, making her way through her meal.
Maeva really was infatuated with this man. It tickled her.
Care packages had arrived! Though not everyone received them, most if not all of the batch of trainee’s found themselves in the cafeteria. One of the corporals stood at the table holding all of them, and a cluster had formed in front of the table made up of those expecting a delivery.
“Okay quieten down shit heads. Come over when your name is called, grab it and get out of the way. No loitering.” He spoke with a brash voice, glaring over the group before pulling up his dataslate and began making his way down the list.
Barafu stood at the back of the crowd, noting Vigo and Maeva sitting at their table already and plotting her path. She wasn’t entirely sure she’d recieve a package this month, but this was about when she’d let her family know they could send things if they wanted to. Afterall, she was doing this herself! Getting a package would have made that harder. Excitement, yet also nervousness built. She really wanted something from home. A comfort item or just…. anything. Each day was weighing harder and harder. She was tired, achey and dirty constantly, barely able to get all the tangles out of her fur each night and losing sleep for the task.
Something familiar….
The As, Bs, Cs, Ds all passed. Barafu was still tuned out, she’d told the Sergeant her situation and was waiting for the M’s but-
“Endrin!”
A hush fell over the quiet chatter that had built up. No one moved.
“Frack me, ENDRIN!”
Barafu jerked forward, her ears falling back as eyes fell on her. She hurried forward, grabbing the box and stepping out of the way of the queue. Yet, she could help but slow. A few people were simply confused, afterall they’d all known her as Mlima for these last few months. Yet, others had recognised the name. Shocked eyes, hostile, judgemental. Whispers started.
“Oy, shut it or someone else might miss the call out. Eowin!”
They stopped, but the anxiety still rose. Her tail twitched back and forth beside her ankles.
It was going to come out eventually, who her family was, but Barafu stared down at the top of the package, stopping a small distance from Vigo and Maeva’s table. Would this change things? She didn’t want it to effect anything, to change people’s perspectives of her. Or to… Well. Cause… issues.
Maeve blinked at the Sergeant yelling out a last name that she didn’t hear until now. Then she watched Barafu grab a package.
Oh.
“Does she have two last names?” Maeva inquired, loud enough for Vigo to hear.
Did Barafu lie about her last name? Maeva was quite the deceptive person herself so she was not in a place to judge. Instead, she was actually excited for Barafu. While Maeva didn’t have a home and it seems Vigo was not getting any packages either, she assumed the same for him or something similar.
Yet, the Everani was confused towards Barafu. Why was Barafu hesitating? Everything was fine until now.
Maybe she feels bad for lying about her last name. Some people aren’t very good at lying.
So in attempt to help Barafu feel better, she smiled at her and tilted her head for Barafu to come sit down with them. Maeva was so curious to what could be in the box and always wondered what families sent. She had seen others opening their packages. Sometimes it was food. Other times, clothes. Or even ‘inside’ joke items.
Vigo’s attention was half paying attention to the caller, and half mulling over words in his mind for the current poem he was working on producing.
They were in the E’s, a fair bit off from his. Although the name Endrin, did peak his interest. The room fell silent, and he knew that not just him was familiar with the name. Endrin.. Endrin. Where did he know that name?
His neighbor? Maybe someone at a service station? No..
His attention now fully on the silenced crowd, his eyes tracked Barafu’s movements.
Politicians.
More so land owners and in trade business, but never the less, have some sort of sway with the general masses and law enforcement.
“Dunno.” He replied to Maeva with a gruff voice.
Nevertheless, he had to assess the situation before she became more of a threat. How had he been so blind?
When Barafu approached, his steel gaze locked on her.
“So. Endrin eh? Do you have two last names? Or was Mlima simply a cover?”
He was watching her every movement, facial expression, and breath. Assessing.
Maeva’s gesture had somewhat cut through Barafu’s anxiety. Shed noticed the movement, drawing her gaze back to their table and hesitantly restarted her path there.
At home, this wouldn’t be a bad thing. The weird part would have been that she had hidden such a fact. Barafu hadn’t sat down when Vigo’s question stalled her once again.
A few eyes from the edge of the group, mostly those already with their boxes, watched the trio.
Barafu’s ears flicked back and forth, the tip of her tail twitching in betraying anxiety. Her face however remained calm, just as she was taught to be.
“It is this one’s middle name.” She answered, not meeting Vigo’s eye at first but when she did she tried to be… proper. To be herself, more importantly here. “I didnt want to.. be given advantages. Or be treated differently.”
Though, perhaps she had misjudged and it would have been quite the opposite. It was hard to tell. Vigo was usually fairly calm faced, betraying little emotion and now was no different, yet there was a coldness.
The desire to go home came back with a vengeance but she shoved it down. “It was known by the sergeant. I didn’t..” She trailed off, unsure how to word her emotions. Her eyes flicked to Maeva, not seeking help but seeking if she had lost both of them. It had taken less to lose friends before.
Maeva didn’t understand why but she started to feel a bit anxious. Was Barafu having two last names a bad thing? Oh. Middle name. Her purple eyes flickered over to the few people that was watching them now and then.
Why do they always look over here whenever something happened? Don’t they have anything better to do? Maeva looked to her food as Vigo and Barafu talked, and her body language was akin to parents arguing. Or siblings.
“Treated differently?” Maeva asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
“Why would I? I should be asking that question…” By now the two of them knows that Maeva was rather fond of things dead or dark colored elements such as black lipstick, dark maroon nail polish, or even her newly favorite flower, the black dahlia.
Didn’t want to be given advantages..
Vigo’s narrowed ever so slightly. This confirmed his suspicions.
His facial muscles relaxed, his face moving to a bored expression.
Endrin. Middle name? The packages clearly stated Endrin. No way is this a middle name. Or rather this is a name she commonly goes by. Otherwise the package would have been labeled Mlima.
“Endrin’s are local politicians.” His teeth click.
“Politicians. The biggest con men in modern day society. However, they do it through legal means and loopholes. Which means, they can get away with it.
They have money. A lot of money. Money which then funds the pockets of law enforcement offices. The police magically look another way if a crime has a big name politician attached to it. If not, they still have access to the best of the best lawyers to make their mess disappear.
They’re wealthy families living nice and comfortable on their untouchable thrones, while they look down on people like you, me, Dom— who struggled to get where we are.”
He picked an invisible speck of lint off his fatigues.
“Endrin’s are politicians, which means she is a politician. Untouchable.”
That bored mask remained, unmoving like stone.
Barafu’s fingers tightened on her box, pulling it closer against her stomach.
Is… that really what people thought of them? Criminal mafia’s sitting above, uncaring and unforgiving? The shadows drew in from the corners of the room. Her ears flicked, catching a whisper that didn’t quite process but it sounded bad. Harsh. Is that what everyone here would think of her?
She looked down at the box, blue gaze flicking back and forth over the lettering that made up her last name. Her pride to have been raised amongst such giants despite her origin.
“We help people. I’m here to save people. To make my family proud.” She spoke, voice clear as it always was though giving up on eye contact as they began to sting. Barafu exhaled slowly, lips parting as if to speak something but all that followed her silence was her lips pressing together.
Untouchable? Untouchable?! She’d been screamed at, yelled at, ran more laps than she could remember to count, doused in mud and gunk and waded through who knows what only to be barked at more. Had her ass kicked into the dirt. Bruised and battered, the only reason it wasn’t visible that she was barely holding herself together was spending hours reviving her fur each night from being soaked in sweat and muck.
Barafu blinked, turning enough to walk past the table and toward the door out of the cafeteria. No crying in public. Make them proud. Unlatch a claw from the cardboard. Then another, blink again and smile. Because it’s okay. Fine. Completely. No tail or ear twitches. Fine.
“I…” Maeva trailed off, her brows furrowed as she didn’t know what to say or do. She stared at her food for a moment before looking up to Vigo. And for the first time in weeks, she had a bit of fire behind her eyes.
She always did what others ask of her. Or order her to do. If they wanted her to take a shift, she did. Barafu and Vigo never did, but others did and they took advantage. Which was okay, because it means things get done and she would be on their good side. Right? Right.
Yet, she felt safe with Barafu and Vigo. And Vigo just-
“I’m happy…” She started then her silt eyes glanced to the door where Barafu went through. “I’m happy she doesn’t experience what we did. You don’t know entirely what I went through and vice versa. But did you even stop to think that, while we had it rough, maybe she did too in a different way? Would you want to wish what you went through on a friend?” She can hear her own screams and the sensations of pains came crawling back-
Maeva got up from the table, grabbed her tray and Barafu’s. She dumped her food into the trash and put it up but carried Barafu’s tray and went to find her.
“Of course I wouldn’t.”
He still watched them go. Left alone, nothing new. What does this mean for them? All he had wanted was to knock politicians down a couple steps. All that power goes to their heads.
His grey eyes watched the Evereni dump her food into the garbage as she carried Barafu’s.
Would you want to wish what you went through on a friend?
What he went through— Dom and him had gone through.
An icy fury alit behind that cool mask. He grabbed his tray of mostly uneaten food and trotted after Maeva, muttering under his breath.
“You can hate me all you like. I will not tolerate wasted food. Your food now rests in the bottom of the garbage. Did you ever think for one second that even if you aren’t eating it, the creatures outside would be grateful for a bite?”
He rolls his shoulder, taking a deep breath, calming that fury.
“Your body needs nutrients to survive. It’s common biology. I- No. I would not like for others to go through what I did. What Dom and I went through— was years on the brink of starvation.”
He takes his napkin, picks up his already nibbled on biscuit, holding it close to his body, and hands her his tray.
“Dom may have swept those years under the rug but I sure haven’t. Eat. Hate me. Scream at me whatever. But eat.” He nodded to his offered tray.
Maeva almost jumped when she heard muttering behind her. She did not expect Vigo to follow her. Or even do anything. With a sharp turn of her head to him she was confused at first to the tray until he started to explain more.
Her eyes widen in surprise replaced with guilt.
“Oh,” she whispered. Her hands started to shake as the jello on the tray started to wobble. What did she do?
She remembered what it was like to beg for food. To stare from afar with envy.
Only to dump the food like that as if it was nothing. She was becoming the people she despite.
“I-I’m sorry-” She refused to cry in front of others. She cleared her tightened throat.
Shove it down, shove it for later, Drevdea give me strength-
“Barafu, first?” Maeva asked, her eyes glossy as she looked upwards to meet with Vigo’s eyes.
“Please?”
He nodded
“Take both. It’s yours.” He waved his free hand.
“Eat with her or don’t. Just don’t throw those away.”
When Maeva took the offered tray, he turned, half eaten biscuit still in hand. Content that they’d eat, even though he’s sure that he is the last person Barafu would like to see. Good. He doesn’t care what others think. They needed to be knocked down a peg.
The gears whirred in his head. Why does he feel so. Why does his stomach feel as if it has dropped through the floor?
He shook his head, taking a deep breath in through his nose. It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters besides the family and Dominik. Shove down those feelings.
He retreated back to the table that moments before was occupied by three, that now lay abandoned.
Maeva opened her mouth and wanted to invite Vigo to follow her to see Barafu but she wasn’t sure if that was such a good idea now. The Evereni hybrid stood there awkwardly, holding both trays. Glances were made over but mostly nothing.
While it was nothing, Maeva couldn’t help but feel like they were judging them. Her head tilted forward in shame as she went out of the double doors to find Barafu.
She stepped out and glanced around for any tattle tale signs where Barafu had went.
“…. Barafu?” Maeva called out. No response. Meava glanced to the ground as if there was going to be tracks or even maybe a bit of Barafu’s fur but Barafu grooms so well that they barely find her fur elsewhere.
The bunks would make sense but… Maeva sighed heavily. It would be a start. Sure enough, Barafu was at the bunks. Their eyes met.
Her violet hues looked away for a moment before back to Barafu and placed the tray of food at the foot of Barafu’s bed.
Said nothing, she sat down at the edge of Barafu’s bed, facing the wall, and started to extremely painstaking slowly, eat her food.
Barafu had arrived a few minutes prior. In that time she’d managed to remove her boots, place them to standard at the foot of her bunk and settle without creasing the bedding too much at the head of her bunk.
She sat cross legged, glancing up at Maeva before back down into the open box in between her legs. Hopefully she wouldn’t have seen the redness of her eyes, or that the fur was slightly damp. It was silly really, to be this upset. She should’ve known this would happen.
They’ll treat you differently, had meant something else to the Togorion a few months prior. It had meant she’d be given unfair advantages, have people trailing after her for money. See her as a easy prize to be won, dumb and pliant. It hadn’t meant that people would hate her. That they’d blame her for struggling or accuse her of being untouchable. The immediate shift in the faces around her, even Vigo who worked so hard to appear indifferent to anything had somehow moved from an act to a defence aimed at her.
The letter in Barafu’s paws didn’t help.
Updates, primarily, though her mother didn’t shy away from her reminders.
I know you're sick of me saying it, even if you're ever too polite to say so yourself, but you can always come home. If it becomes too much, just let me know and I'll make sure you make it back safely to us. We love you either way, and at least you tried. Some things aren't meant to be and it's sweet you tried. You have a soft heart for such a harsh world out there.
She hadn’t read much past that point. Barafu had skimmed it, and it had returned to comments about her father’s progression on one of the new building projects before signing off with love and the family crest.
She slipped the letter carefully back into the box, looking at the rest of the contents though not particularly processing what they were. Maeva was just… eating. Perched on the end of the bed like one of the birds she often admired.
It was impolite to ignore her. It was shameful to start to speak and break down into tears. Maybe she was too soft hearted for this. Too naive. Someone had said that in her first month. Barafu’s ears laid flat to her head, looking up to see the tray of food. And Maeva eating in slow motion.
She hesistated, before reaching to the take the tray, murmuring a quiet thanks that didn’t quite risk embarrasment.
Maeva brought a bite as she chewed slowly, wondering what she can do to help Barafu.
She should find Vigo later too.
Her violet eyes stared at the almost empty tray on her lap as she debated what to say. She needed a book named ‘Socials for Dummies, 101.’
“…. A funeral owner asked his partner if he thinks glass coffins will take off. His partner replied that remains to be seen.”
Barafu was quiet for a few seconds, then snorted a small choked laugh.
Of all the things she expected from the world, Maeva was never it. Unfortunately the escaped giggle almost set off the waterworks and it took her a moment to regain herself, staring down at the food as she did.
“Did… you make up all these jokes or do you have a book hidden somewhere?” She asked, slowly. Her voice disguised the upset well, the only real notable difference being that it was quieter than usual.
Meava frowned as she crossed her arms with a small ‘hrf’ sound.
“Maybe.” She kept her serious appearance for a moment before it’s broke with a small grin.
“Admittedly, yes to the puns and lame joke. My past street friend got me a book that says ‘101 Punny Death Puns.’ Although, the facts about death and bodies comes from me. The puns and jokes are rather difficult for me. I don’t understand how some people have the wit to immediately come up with one on the fly.”
“Its usually having heard them from other people, or just being metaphorically… minded.” Barafu spoke slowly still, gaining some confidence until, “I struggle with them too, my sister however-”
Her grip on the box tightened. Which was ridiculous. She chose to be here.
A shaky breath barely betrayed her, and Barafu took a bite of food. Maybe itd just look like she was thinking? Maybe.
“She’s good with them.”
“Oh? Sister?” Maeva asked, genuinely curious.
“I… didn’t know you have siblings.”
“Oh. Yes. This one is adopted, actually. She has a sister, a few brothers though they are older.” Barafu’s voice was quiet, uncharacteristically shy.
And so they spoke, until the barracks began to fill up again.