((Before Neo's post))
Shauni only nodded at the words the innocent Mahri spoke to her, just as Jeff, Ibun, and Simeon returned from their little confrontation. The little Inari'in, seeing that her Guardian Father had returned, ran to Simeon and leaped into his arms, chattering away about something only the Aslanis could understand.
Having already decided to ask Simeon what Mahri was talking about to both Simeon and Shauni in the morning, Josiah called the group into the newly rebuilt inn to rest for the night.
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((After Neo's post))
Jeff was sleepless.
He tossed and turned on the bedroll he was given for the night, as the events of the day turned over and over in his mind. All the replaying and analyzing finally forced Jeff to get up and take a walk outside.
Jeff did admit to having a moderate drink every now and then with a few buddies, and he did pick up a bit of smoking from a few of the Orcan soldiers he worked alongside with. As a general, Jeff never did drink or smoke in public, of course, as to maintain a good image to his subordinates, and he pretty much never did drink and smoke at the same time.
Tonight, however, was one of his few exceptions... The day had twisted up all his emotions into a knot, and his time as an Orcan general made him introverted to the point of not talking to anyone about his deepest pains. A mix of scotch and tobacco was his only escape that still had a chance of him waking up breathing when the sun rose.
So, Jeff sat on a rock near an overlook of the glacial gorges of Shiloh, a bottle of weak rum in one hand and a lit, hand-rolled cigarette in the other, and his head swimming in deep contemplation... and memories.
And that's how she found Jeff.
Shauni was unable to sleep, too, and on a lark, followed the torn up Jeff as he wandered the town picking up his 'supplies'.
"You... you seem more hurt than me." she spoke in a timid tone.
The demi-harpie's sudden presence caused Jeff to stiffen in shock. He wasn't expecting a shadow, and slowly turned his head to see Shauni approaching him.
"You're hurting, but you don't want to show it." Shauni stood just behind Jeff's shoulder.
Jeff made a ragged sigh and lowered his head so he would not make eye contact with Shauni. "... I can't bring myself to talk about it either..."
Shauni, not satisfied with Jeff's cold response, walked in front of the forlorn general and crouched a little, forcing eye contact.
"You don't need to."
"Then what to you want?" Jeff whispered, turning his head to hide a grimace of sadness and frustration.
"Answers." was the innocent reply.
Fearing he would cause another breakdown, Jeff shook his head. "I'm sorry... that's something I cannot give you."
Shauni angled her position so she was eye to eye with Jeff again. "I know... It is because you, too, seek answers."
This statement got Jeff's attention. It was true, after all... Shauni wasn't the only thing keeping him awake. It was also the voices that echoed in his head, pleading for him to remember who they were, and how un-composed he had been handling his current situation. One would think being a general would make him hard to rattle. Ashamed, Jeff lowered his head again.
"Who told you that?"
"The little fox girl told me." Shauni spoke, "She told me that I would not be alone in my search for my identity... and that you will be key in helping me. I didn't understand just how, but now I know you have something of your own to seek."
Carefully, Shauni pried the rum and the cigarette from Jeff's hands and helped him up to standing. "We will find what we seek, together. I'm sure of it."
"... and in time, maybe we will both find what hurt us both so much and finally heal..."
Jeff smiled faintly at the sliver of hope Shauni shared with him.
"... Maybe."
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Simeon and Mahri watched the scene play out on the shining edge of the Archangel, the sacred sword hovering in silence. Pleased that her message got through to Shauni, Mahri grinned at Simeon in childish triumph, clutching two little figurines in her hands-- a tin soldier and a silver figurine of a girl...
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((And now we return to our regularly scheduled role-play. *gets shot*))
((Gomenasai. TT;; ))
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