I keep telling myself at least once a week that I want to write again when I get home. but I get home and just collapse on the couch for the next couple hours. Then wake up regretting taking a nap, cause naps give me terrible headaches.

I was actually going to get this up last week, but there has been extreme drama at my workplace. My supervisor is a whiny little baby for one thing. It's like some sort of audience participation soap opera on a normal day. But being directly in the center of it all takes it out of you. Although… him trying to get me in trouble with his constant lying has backfired on him.

On a very different note, this is finally getting to the part that I've had planned since before I started writing… so… probably not faster, but good for me.

"Wait, Nasira, can I… speak with you for a bit? Alone?" Just as Nasira and Amali were leaving for their now shared house, Kaaf called out, looking surprisingly serious and more than a little nervous. Hesitating for a moment, sure she already knew what he intended to tell her, Nasira just stood still for a few seconds. It might not be what she thought, she should hear him out. she told Amali to go ahead to pack and they would meet outside the inn later.

Having been left behind, Amali questioned Zaina as to what he might be trying to say. "well, knowing my brother, and with how many times he's asked before, he'll probably try to ask her out again. It's a pretty common occurrence." With her own fantasies in mind, the young woman couldn't resist romance and made a mental note to ask Nasia later.

Kaaf led Nasira to a bench just a few yards from his house and gestured for her to sit first before he followed suit. "So, what are we talking about?" Asking only in hopes that she would be wrong, maybe it was something else. She didn't even want to look at him, though his eyes were glued to her own, she looked off to the side, acutely examining a fence post behind him.

Unlike the casual way he would bring it up most days, he spoke quietly, no trace of levity in his voice "you know, ever since the moment I first saw you, I thought there couldn't be a single person out there more suited for me than you. Of course, I didn't even know what to say to you back then. I was so nervous when I'd see you. You had to carry all our conversations. I kept thinking I was coming across as rude or uninterested, but you never saw it that way."

His eyes were unwavering, she could feel his gaze on her, but she still couldn't look at him. He had never been so sincere before. He'd asked so many times, but it was always simple, to the point. It always hurt her to say no to him, knowing that it probably brought down his self-esteem each time, but she just didn't feel that way. He was her friend, her confidant, and her best friend's brother. "It's… It's getting late, why don't we sleep on this and talk later"

Nasira tried to stand and make her way home, but before she could take a step, kaaf latched onto her wrist, just a little too tightly. Standing, Kaaf turned her to face him and spoke with such desperation. "All I'm asking for is a chance. I love you, I really do. I've been telling you this for years, but you always brush me off. Do you not believe me? Am I not coming off as sincere? I don't know how else to tell you. I love you, I'll say it as many time as you want. Please just give me a chance to make you happy."

Letting her wrist fall, he seemed to realize his outburst and he stepped back slightly, still staring at her. Just standing there, looking so vulnerable. The thought of turning him down after that made her heart ache. "Okay. I'll give you a chance. But I won't make any promises. If I can't bring myself to see you that way naturally I won't force myself"

Kaaf just stood there, not really seeming to understand what she'd said for a moment. "Really? you mean it? I hadn't expected you to say yes honestly…" he seemed to feel a bit shy now, because he was obviously trying too hard to cover his nervousness when he said "Well, I guess it was only a matter of time before you fell for my charms."

Not wanting to make it anymore awkward herself, Nasira lightly hit Kaaf's arm. "You dork." She looked up, noting how late it had gotten. "Anyway, I really should get going now"

"Ah, wait. Next week I'll take you on our first date. It'll be the best date of your life!" Now that it had set in, he just couldn't stop grinning.

"It'll be the only date of my life you mean." What she felt in this moment she couldn't quite understand. Something akin to how it feels when someone else goes through your things and puts them back in the wrong spot.

After getting home the two had spent some time sorting out boundaries and setting up an area for her to sleep and, having worn themselves out, fell asleep quickly. In the morning, Nasira was in such a good mood, she spent most of her workday humming quietly to herself. When it came time to leave she decided it was a nice day for a walk and made her way off her usual path home.

Passing close to the edge of the village was refreshing, she could hear the sounds of the wildlife clearly, with few distractions. But as she walked she started to hear something, less natural. It sounded like something large was being dragged through the dirt. She couldn't see it around the side of the cliff the castle stood on, so she tread as silently as she could.

Right in front of her, appearing once again seemingly out of nowhere, was altair, facing away and pulling along a …body… a body covered in… blood. Her eyes focused on the red liquid, there was a bit on his clothes as well, further marring the already stained fabric. Holding in the slight gasp would have been an impossible task, and his head turned at the noise. He showed no sign of guilt at having been caught with a body, and somehow that triggered Nasira to take a second look.

She had misjudged, well, it was a body, but the body of a horse he was taking to bury. There were wounds covering its body, from what she had no idea. "Ah, this." It was obvious what she was looking at "Teaching the younger initiates to ride isn't always safe. But what are you doing this far out?" deep down, there was a slight hope that perhaps she was there to find him, but even he knew that would be ridiculous. She would have no reason to come out this far just to find someone she could easily meet within the castle walls.

"I was… was…" she was used to seeing raw meat, and no stranger to small amounts of blood, working in a kitchen she was always getting small cuts from the strangest things, bowls, spatulas, dried dough, though never knives. Surprisingly she almost never cut herself on knives. But the sight of a dead creature, with many open wounds, the heavy smell of fresh blood and sweat and the light hint of decay, overwhelmed her. She felt sick. "I was taking a walk. But I'll go now"

Conversing with him be damned, this was horrible timing, just after she had decided not to let her foolish paranoia bother her, this is what she sees? Her day had been going so well too… No, she would pretend this never happened. Next time, when there weren't any dead animals, then she'd consider talking to him.

Watching her walk away with such speed, and hearing her tone, Altair couldn't help but wonder if he'd done something to offend her. He couldn't think of what it might have been, he'd been perfectly polite to this point as far as he could recall. Was there something he'd said? Perhaps she was just in a mood, Malik would often get that way. Interrupting Malik while he reads is a sure way to encounter a devil.

Making her way home, Nasira's good mood was starting to return, Amali would probably be there when she returned. She had to admit, she was rather hesitant at the thought of living with someone she'd only just met, but now, thinking of having someone there, someone to talk to, to cook with, not being alone all the time at home… she was getting excited. They'd gotten along thus far, and Amali was good at carrying conversations. She felt almost like she'd gained a little sister, no matter how temporary this situation might be.

Upon entering, she saw Amali, preparing herself a glass of water "You're finally back. You know, I've been dying to ask. So, I heard about you and Kaaf, did he… you know, ask what I think he asked? Are you two?" Amali started making little gestures with her hands that looked almost sort of vaguely like kissing.

Nasira could feel the blush creeping up on her cheeks, she really couldn't hide anything. "well, I said we could give it a try…" Amali looked abut ready to squeal in delight, but nasira continued before she could. "But that's all it is, we're just seeing if it works out."

"ugh, why do you have to be so pessimistic? It'll never work if you go into it thinking of failure!"

"I know, I know. But I don't want to force myself."

"Anyway. When is your first date? Where is he taking you? We've got to get you absolutely glowing before the big day! Oh, I just can't wait!" She looked like she would start jumping up and down at any moment.

In the light of the setting sun, the village of masayaf took on a beautiful golden glow, the people walking home, smiling at the thought of relaxing with their families after a hard day's work. But Altair was far from relaxed. Almost an entire week had passed since he'd last interacted with Nasira, he was almost certain she was angry with him now. He felt like she was avoiding him, whenever he would catch sight of her she would quickly be off in another direction, and she never stayed in one place for very long.

At this point he was becoming mildly concerned, he didn't know what he would say when he found her, but he knew he wanted to do something. He wasn't sure why her opinion of him mattered so much, but the thought of her being upset with him put him on edge. Unfortunately, he had no clue where she might be. Of the couple times he'd seen her outside the castle he had never followed her to her house, that would be going too far. But he didn't know where she lived, where she would go if she were out, or if she would even still be out at this time.

Thinking of how to approach her, he stopped in a small gathering area in town, this was a popular spot for younger people to meet with their friends. There were few people out by now, a couple of stragglers sitting on a wall and chatting. Altair was about to give up, but behind the bushes surrounding the path, just barely in sight of where he was standing, a familiar light brown braid was waving in the breeze.