"and the whiskey goes down" PRIVATE; CANDELA

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    She wasn't searching anyone out, but she was looking for some pleasant company. It was a bit odd for her to go looking for a conversation but Bliss had been enjoying this clan and its many interesting patriots. She never imagined that she might want to settle down but if she ever did find a home - maybe it would be here? Among these strangers who seemed so quick to accept her.


    The ragdoll cast those thoughts aside in favor of her next journey. She would be heading to The Democracy next, and they happened to be an ally of this island territory. Bliss filled her mind with the ideas of a new adventure and began to phase out of the current moment as she continued to walk, in search of something she might never find.
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    Candela's bright gaze followed the fae as she padded steadily onward, it did not look to the merchant that the ragdoll cared where she was going. But the possibility of getting a few stories about the outside world--which she'd only ever seen the worst of--was intriguing. Perhaps they could swap tales, Candela could give her a story from her clan's history. She would know it better than anyone around here. Or perhaps something from her own past. "Bliss!" she crowed, picking up her pace to catch up with the nomadic she, "Wait up,"


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    Story telling was one of her few talents and quite possibly the thing she held most dear. Ever since mother's death she had made it a point to tell tales of bravery and courage - confidence was crucial when living the life of an explorer. Or perhaps it was all just fantasy invented by her own imagination? Either way, Bliss loved to share her stories and learn more that she could spin in the future.


    As a voice sounded behind her she came to a halt and looked back over her shoulder to see the hurrying form of Candela. A smile cracked her lips and a glimmer of interest came to her eyes - finally some company. Although she had not expected to be telling any tales this evening, she always made exceptions when asked. "Sure, sure," came her warm voice. "Care to join me then?"
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    Beaming, Candela fell into step beside the traveler and spoke warmly; "Of course, thank you." She didn't exactly know where they would be going, or if they would be stopping in this process--but it hardly mattered to Candela. "I have to admit, I find explorers and travelers intriguing. They've seen so much more than I have, and always--by some trick of the trade--are magnificent story-tellers." she said, not exactly bothering to hide the curiosity in her features. There was nothing subtle about her statement, and she fully expected Bliss to be prepared for her next question.


    "I was wondering if you might tell me stories of your travels, I've only ever been to Bloodclan--and that wasn't exactly a happy time."


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    Yes, the bit about being a wonderful storyteller tipped her off as to the next question asked. Just as Candela didn't bother to hide her interest, Bliss did not conceal the grin that spread across her maw. She loved getting these requests, they made her remember that her travels were in fact worthwhile and were not a trivial game.


    At the mention of BloodClan she gave a slightly shiver, not because she had traveled there before though. She had never been to the clan, a trip was actually long overdue but she had heard awful things about what they did to trespassers and something told her that a wanderer wouldn't be welcome. Staying for a short time hardly seemed possible.


    "I'd be happy to," she admitted and then gave some consideration as to what tale she would tell. "There were once two travelers - a mother and daughter pair. The girl's father was from a clan and was reluctant to part with it so they set off together alone. The mother was very bold and daring, she was beautiful beyond compare and her suitors were as persistent as they were plentiful."


    "When one asked for her hand in marriage, she turned him away, claiming that her daughter was the only important one in her life and she would not be distracted from what truly mattered. The tom was rather taken aback, considering his status it may have been best for the vixen to abandon her child and take to him instead. But she would not do any such thing, and the two continued."


    Bliss gave a slight pause and attempted to force the rest of the story from her throat. "Suffice it to say, that male was not pleased with her decision. He sent word through his contacts to misdirect the two and send them into a dangerous land - one that the mother would never dare travel to with her daughter by her side. And so they ended up in a foreign territory in the midst of cannibals who watched them with hungry eyes. The mother looked down to her young child and pleaded with the girl to be quiet and confident. Then she told the others that they belonged - that they ate the flesh of their kin as well."


    "Of course it was a lie, but her air of assurance convinced them. Until the girl whimpered and hid behind her mother's leg. Then they knew it was a lie and they attacked without mercy. She was outmatched, her cunning no use for their torture. The girl managed to escape with minor injuries but her mother was massacred." She drew the tale to an end, not bothering to put a proper close on it.



    Woah muse, where'd you come from?
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    Candela listened with interest, her yellow eyes alight as she listened to Bliss' story. It sounded like more than a story she would just hear from one of the clans she had visited, the shortness of her voice sounded a bit like it hit to close to home. The starlit fae pretended not to notice, her face intrigued instead of thoughtful. "Wow, that's horrible. Do you know how old the child was? I lost my own mother when I was four months." she commented, to make small talk.


    Cannibalism. She thought to herself, having only ever heard tales of wildcats whom feasted on domestic cats as their main source of prey. It had always brought chills along her spine, the thought of not even being able to recover the body of a loved one. The carcass discarded like those you saw in the unclaimed territories that were frequented by large predators. Stop. She didn't want to think of it and halted her thoughts where they stood. "Although, I did not lose her to such extreme circumstances."


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    "Five months," she answered, the response automatic and stiff. She cleared her throat and directed her eyes to the scars on her leg before finding the nerve to speak again. "She was five months old." One month older than Candela was when she lost her mother - and yet the two tragedies seemed so close in their agony.


    As far as cannibals went, she didn't know very much about them other than their tribal habitats and their bizarre penchant for flesh. It was disgusting to even consider so she turned her mind away and concentrated on the task at hand: this conversation. Her vivid eyes traced back up to the other's and her next words were timid and unsure. "What happened to your mother?"
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    Candela grimaced very slightly, the history of her family wasn't favorable--and as far as the crumbling of functional families went--it was one the worst side. Or at least that's what Candela considered it to be, having experienced it first hand. "It was really rather mysterious, for her death and my baby brother's were liked--they died at the exact same moment." She said. "I guess I should start by saying my father had had one wife before, she and all of his children but one had died during birth. And his one daughter was severely mentally impaired. He was always very emotionally unstable, his name was Fulltilt. When he fell in love with my mother, they were together for a really long time--even though all the mistakes they made they still remained... well, not committed..." she struggled to explain how her father had not sought any other partner, but her mother had had a litter with a Blackheart rogue. She had had twenty one siblings at one point.


    But that was beside the matter.


    "But they loved each other. Anyway, my siblings went inactive except for two. A lot of people say my mother died of an aneurysm, but I don't think so--because Dustkit went with her too. Me and Satoshi weren't on good terms at the time, Inkstar and Dust had been the only family I cared about--but they passed, my father became so depressed he kind of just... disappeared." She said, and shrugged slightly. Not exactly fond of the situation, but there was no use in hiding from it.


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    Bound together even in death? It was an almost romantic notion but obviously terrible in this situation - losing both your mother and sibling at the same time must be unbearable. She had never had to worry about anyone but herself given that she was alone in the world; although sad, she would never have to live through the loss of someone loved. Her mother was the only one to ever be close to her. Bliss sighed shakily and nodded in recognition of Candela's suffering.


    "To have your family disappear that way, it must be awful," she struggled, trying to express her condolences. Saying sorry was a lot more difficult than she had expected; what were you supposed to say? 'I'm sorry that your loved ones have vanished one by one'? That could never repair the damage. Bliss looked down at her paws once again, focusing on the dirt rather than on her companion.
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    Candela smiled at Bliss as she noted her discomfort in the situation; the starlit fae had replaced grief with her father for resentment. And the loss of her mother and brother had been felt less, now that she had Sato. "It's okay, that was a whole year ago--most of my lifespan, I hardly remember it." No, now that was a lie. Candela remembered it fiercely, it was her driving force behind everything he tried to achieve. But it didn't hurt anymore, so it was okay.


    "Just like I expected, you're a good storyteller. We used to have a historian position, where all they did was tell stories to teach morals to kittens and keep the history alive--if you had decided to stay here, you would have made a good one." she said, but then cracked and smile. "but even if you did stay, you're six months to late. The position was jettisoned a while back."


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    Her heart swelled at the very idea - a historian? She would have loved to keep the clan's lore and speak of the morals that she held so dearly. But it mattered not; the position was gone and she was leaving soon anyway. Although she never held a position she felt a sudden loss, as though the thought itself rejected her. Bliss did her best to manage a smile despite that but it was weak and sad.


    "I would have loved to," she stopped. It didn't matter. She shook the thoughts away and focused on something else, something she hadn't told anyone to date. "My dream is to be able to describe color to the blind." It was a foolish idea but at least she had aspirations, something to achieve in her otherwise pointless life.
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    Listening with interest, Candela thought about what Bliss said for a long moment. It was an offhand piece of information, but it was quite welcome. She'd never even considered the idea before, turning her eyes to the sky for a brief moment as she thought--she meowed; "That's quite a task to take on." her yellow oculars returned to Bliss' own. "But your skill with words will be excellent by the time you are able to achieve that task, a proper wordsmith." she mused, the smallest of smiles curving her maw. "I suppose it would be easier just to gain telepathy and send them the image of a color. But, that would be too easy--and only on the chance you do get the power."


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    She smiled at the very thought of developing such a power but it was a smile that indicated a deeper scorn. To simply flash images in another's mind? Where was the beauty in that? "A good tale will last you a lifetime, pictures last for moment," she answered with some assurance. She could hardly remember what her mother looked like at this point but the vixen's words never left her memory.


    Then she gave a small bow at the compliment and her eyes brightened significantly. It was quite the task; she had never taken one more challenging before. Yet there was a higher purpose in it that she couldn't simply ignore. "You have my thanks, I just hope I can live up to that opinion. By the way ... I," she paused, jarred slightly. "I'd like to come back and visit sometime after I leave."
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    Noting the underlying tone in Bliss' voice, she decided to tread carefully from that moment on. Had she offended the fae? She didn't appear to me offended but Candela would take no chances. Receding a bit inside of herself and adopting a polite and plain smile, she listened to the wanderer give her response--mentally distancing herself from the conversation. To show a blind person the image of the colorful world in their mind? It would be a gift, in Candela's eyes--to show them what their world looked like, rather than to describe something they couldn't even fathom. She was waiting for Bliss to elaborate and give her a tongue lashing, hiding inside of her body in order to immunize herself against the assault.


    When Bliss did not further her tone of voice--but rather dropped it and moved smoothly on without any sign that she was offended at all--Candela was taken aback a bit. And returned fully to the conversation to listen to the warm voice of other creature. Her smile lost it's artificial feel and returned to the genuine one she'd previously worn. "Come back and visit anytime! I know you are a travelling woman, but Tidalclan could a home of sorts. You know, so that you'll always have something to come back to. Or something to run to, if you must." she invited, rather looking forward to the fae's return.


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    But the scorn she felt wasn't directed at Candela in the slightest, it was more at the idea that anything could be more lovely than a story. Perhaps it was because of her inclination toward telling tales? Placing more value on one's own talents wasn't exactly unheard of. It was actually very natural. But Bliss didn't look at it in that light, instead she decided to label it as truth rather than opinion.


    When she wrapped her head around the friendly invitation a gentle smile came over her face. That sounded so lovely, to have a home. She tried to distance herself from the idea, remind herself that there could be no place like that for her, but it was a losing battle. "That would be ... amazing," she said finally. But then as she caught the artificial smile she quickly reprimanded herself, "And I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh." A flush of heat came to her face as she realized how rude that had been.
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    Candela allowed a shrug to caress her shoulders, "It's fine, Bliss--I was more worried I'd offended your values than anything else." she reassured her, watching as the other fae smiled at her invitation--although Candela got the impression there was an internal struggle happening. "And of course, you don't have to spend a lot of time here--it's just like... a base camp? I guess you could think of it that way, if you preferred." she said warmly, knowing that she might have already won the fae over on the idea of home--but wanting to be safe anyways.


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    Her eyes took on a mischievous light as she tested the words on her tongue, "Base camp." She said them slowly, drawing them out with a smirk before nodding ever so slightly. They didn't feel as foreign in her mouth, didn't hang in the air threatening to rain down on her. Bliss cast aside thoughts of home and decided that a place to return to had many other names.


    Home was for those who didn't want to travel - and she had to admit, it didn't suit her. The ragdoll sighed lightly in relief; her social game was lacking it seemed. The feline was shocked to find herself having a rather enjoyable time with someone out of a clan; it wasn't exactly prejudice that she felt against them, but confusion. They never seemed to understand her lifestyle, the majority scorned it in fact. Candela seemed to be different.


    In some ways Bliss wished she could take the other fae along with her. Just for a few days perhaps? She was a merchant after all. But that would be highly inconsiderate to press upon her - she actually had family here. Bliss wouldn't attempt to rip her away from that, not that she could. "Have you ever thought of traveling before? You are a merchant, correct?"
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    Have you read her video log?


    Candela watched her carefully, the smirk spread across Bliss' features so slowly that the starlit femme had time enough to memorize it. Excusing the irony of the statement--she saw that Bliss felt more at home with the words base-camp. Taking the warmth for assent, she relaxed ever so slightly and waited to see if the ragdoll would say more--she was not disappointed.


    As the words left Bliss' mouth, she thought about her answer carefully--she didn't wish to be too forward. Thinking back on her confessionals to her recorder, Candela weighed her options and their consequences. "Well, I hadn't before. I'd put down roots here--you see." she used the past tense carefully, wondering what it must feel like to fall in love with a land that was not your own--was that what Icedtea had felt in Darkclan? Or her father? Candela's stomach plummeted at the thought of him, she could never leave her family like he had left her. "But since becoming exposed to your way of life," she paused yet again. After her six-month imprisonment in Bloodclan, she had never thought she'd wish to herself past the borders of the island. But the prospect of something new...


    "I won't deny that I haven't been tempted to."


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    She gave a piece of herself to every land she came across, loved every one so dearly and then gave it up to find another. It was an odd lifestyle when you considered how much of yourself you were leaving behind every time. But she had fallen in love with not only the lands - but also the condition of her eternal wandering. "Perhaps you could come with me some time," she noted wistfully.


    Bliss had no expectations and doubted that Candela would leave her clan so easily but she didn't expect that much from her. A vacation might be suitable though, or perhaps a merchant run? The ragdoll could easily act as her guide in any foreign territory she wished to visit. No matter how this played out, Bliss would be leaving soon and would probably not be returning for some time.



    Sorry for the late response, one of my other characters was promoted so I needed to give him some love. And yes I totally did - I mean no, what are you talking about? xD
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    Smiling slightly at the invitation, she thought about it for a moment--trying to make herself appear business like. "Well, I could talk to Sato about it, and we could arrange some dealings with foreign clans." She mused, eyes glimmering as she thought about it. "I'd enjoy accompanying you to your next stop." She said, nodding her assent to hide a pleased smile. She would be going someplace new with Bliss, with different rules, someplace exciting. "I'll talk to my brother about arranging a gift of some sort."


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