Chap 66 Comedic moments, Krauss is kind, Food!

*Totally the Everdream mode! These days I ponder the mystery of why some desperates want to get famous online by showing off nude photos/ their sex lives. Weird huh? Not sure what the title is for this. Especially for Misplaced soul who's always reading thank u! And anyone else who still checks.


Nuada

It was funny that I could be popular. So much that I grinned and Laira jumped in excitement. "Yay you're happy." If I trained and had some audience, that was considered popular too?

"Yes yes now calm down." As I expected, she did not stop immediately. It must be hard to stay in the facilities. "It should be all right to walk around the forest here, afterwards." I suggested.

She wanted to see the lines on my palms. Comparing our hands, they were very different. Having many crosses means much troubles, but can be good as well. "Nuada, there's something different about you. Hmm. Oh I know, cut your hair?"

"No I didn't. My looks?"

Halfling looked deep in thought. I was curious what she meant, but never got a proper reply. I doubted she would hurt my feelings. I have a thick 'skin', from harsh experiences. I could win debates under an hour. Diplomacy, I suppose. We talked with Nuala. She joked about me, "What? Brother did get lost. As children…" she trailed off and smiled impishly when I looked up.

"Hey stop backstabbing me. I can hear perfectly," I said warningly. Nuala laughed merrily.

Laira remarked, "He won't tell me anecdotes about that. How to trick ancien race of elf to disclose?" My sister- to my disappointment- revealed some embarrassing times when I was (almost) lost. For goodness sake, I was a greenhorn then! Enough.

I dragged my friend away.

"Saw a new set of hairclips at the post office. Come." That was my second favorite place to browse at here, and they started selling stationery, souvenirs, gifts and so on. Cherie the main clerk was always excited to see me. We normally exchanged a few words while I bought stamps. This time she called my name and waved.

I smiled. Halfling felt all the hairclips were pretty, from apple to other fruit designs. "All right, then we'll take them all." I took out my wallet.

She touched my hand, voicing it was too much. I understood. "Allow me. We're friends, and your shrek is still here."

Cherie teased me. I would have been furious, but smiled at the humor. "Mr Nuada you use hairclips too? They are very nice."

My response was, "My hair's grown again. Yes why not?" (not many customers that day)

Laira immediately tried on a few and asked the famous question of appearance. A female trait… I was taming my errant hair after bathing. Occasionally, I missed the long baths I used to have in Bethmora, fragrant natural scents permeating, the chamber much wider in diameter with leaves adorning the walls. It had not been private then, I was always guarded from possible assassinations. I didn't have people pestering me here.

I glanced at her finger poking me. "Yes, they match. If I say no, what will happen?"

"Nothing. Why, girls hate you for disagreement?"

"Yes. I got kicked in the shin by a woman. I didn't think red and pink looked nice. Unlike females, my voice is the same, not in personal attack."

She chuckled. "Tactless reply, but she reacted so…. emo-ly."

"Emo-ly?" I continued drying my hair with the towel.

********

I had an interesting conversation with Abraham Sapien a few days later. There was a charity function to raise funds for the victims who were injured from the shadowlords and demons. Some people made cookies, or pictures to sell. Even my ugly drawings were there. I did not mind if my name was anonymous elf. At the moment, our side was winning the wars. Krauss was coming up with a plan to kill them permanently. Sapien and I could take a break now. Then we'd relieve Red's team.

"Hello Nuada. I feel your, joy." Fishie piped up.

I closed my eyes. "Hmm." He chattered, with the customary touch on my shoulder. "… sweet of you to support them."

"I am Not sweet, Blue." I took his webbed appendage off my shoulder. He gulped and recoiled. "Hopefully, these people will stop being so hostile toward the elves." Especially what I had done "Anything else does not matter."

He listened in some blessed silence. He was 'very kind' as Joe and Laira called him, angelic in definition. Perhaps this man was the only one of us without any history of death and killing. Truthfully, I trusted him now, except his ability to defend Sister. That I most definitely need to step in. I did not press my nose from the odor. Had he eaten some seafood raw? Yuck. No respect for personal proxemics.

Joe beamed and waved at us. They were manning a stall. "This is so fun. Will you buy something? Sire."

I did purchase some souvenirs. Abraham Sapien was tailing me. I stopped.

He said my name with a poignant tone.

"Yes?" I looked at him.

"Will you feel angry, if, if Nuala and I… our kids look…" Blue sputtered, looking anywhere but directly at me. I hate fish people (the truth), or I could tell my first lie that I will embrace his race, even if they are related to me, bald naked elf kids with bulging and no eye whites… then I noticed Karin and some of the high ranking doctors.

They had spurned my soulmate when I could not defend her. In their view, halfbreeds were inferior than pureblood. Imen had also spoken bitterly of this. He pointedly glared at me after the journey and said he would be fine on his own.

For Blue, I had a number of answers. "Give your hand to me," I said.

He was ecstatic with my reply. I showed him everything, candor and nothing held back, except I also added: children are welcome, it has been centuries since we have new blood. I can give them a fair chance, teach them to combat against the bullies.

The bootlicker emphatically whined, "I am certain they will resemble you and Nuala more!" I frowned. They would still have gills, or stripes.

"You need to be mentally prepared for cruel people," I advised. The fish's emotions dipped down, if he had the means he would pout and sulk.

"Oh Nuada my dear brother. (I wanted to vomit) As long as you're here, no one will bully them. Thank you." He held my hands. I truly gagged at his smell and stepped back.

"Abraham, what did you eat? I feel sick." The fish's deflated ego almost made me chuckle, but I felt a little bad. He was my relative….

I let him continue his ramblings when Blue came back eager to continue where he left off.

"Red always talks before he thinks. I know he doesn't mean to hurt us. Same as you are," fish said merrily.

"By that I am the same as demon? That is unfair. And shallow, can't compare like that. He is not in my league. I Look different too."

I mean characterwise. Dr Krauss commented on how rash you both are, like not following orders. I think it's remarkable. I wouldn't argue like HB or you, Brother!

Then you agree with him? Not true. I refuse to be lumped in the same category as that unug un rama! So I stalked away, but the persistent doggie followed me. Maybe he had dog genes. I knew when I couldn't tolerate just following orders so much. I do what is right, my instincts are the best outdoors. That is a gift! We usually had to 'contain' prisoners, but what to do when they began shapeshifting or turning violent, refusal to surrender. Kill them in self defence! I smiled- Red had happily fired extra bullets into those rogue factions. My sword cleaved off more. And Sherman roasted them to ashes. Besides, Krauss talked so much, a gasbag of nonsense. He couldn't be injured, we would be. Abraham conceded agreement.

"Are we not family? Don't take the scientific view so much, it gets boring," I added loftily. Laira would call this an 'elvish behaviour' and record in her diary. She has accumulated what my people are like in a book.

Blue argued, "Science is very important, Nuada. In fact bloodtype helps to save lives. And personality tests, psychology based, show how we can improve teamwork, diversity….." I felt sleepy at all the terms. He was crestfallen that I was not keen on these things. "Hm did I leave out any of my thesis?"

Spare me more nonsense! "No I am certain you didn't. Good what exactly do we have in common?"

"Classical music, love for nature. I really like the cats and turtles. I saved a little urchin once!"

That was kind. I think I smiled faintly. "Is Trina coming back? The dhampir."

Some agents would be posted elsewhere. I liked it here, where everything was familiar. It was also only a few hours to Elfland. Was she being a flirt always coming close to me like the siren, or playful, tomboyish? Tomboys were a category on their own, I had no experience with them. Most ladies of the fae world tend to put on airs and become extra feminine. Their perfume was horrible.

Abraham cocked his head. "Hmm I do like her. Charming dhampir, quite smart. I think so. I've got a new set of music from the librarian. Please come enjoy!"

He reached out. I made a stop gesture. "I will come. No need to touch me."

Unfortunately sister chose that moment to come from the back. She said, "Abraham is everything all right? Brother, I thought you got along very well now. We have a family now."

I beamed. "Yes yes we are discussing classical music. How do you sneak behind people, Nuala?" We took hands and fused for a while. She was in a sunny mood, yet adamant that these days Abraham and I should be buddies. I was making the effort and indignantly sent it to her.

My friendship with Joshua and Lirael always made my stress lighten. They never failed to make me laugh at their antics, I don't laugh very easily. Somewhere it is mentioned a positive mentality and more happiness is good for health.

The dhampir came back on Thursday. We were all gathered at the meeting room. She called everyone by name but greeted, "Yo Elf boss!" She showed her glittering canines and pretended to bow. I glared at her. The room was filled with guffaws. Manning interjected, "Please do not say that. It's Prince Nuada. Haven't I told you to be civil and diplomatic, Trina Williams? I'm so sorry, Prince."

I wouldn't be so childish. The poor man was almost hysterical and thinking loudly- No more fights! It's so expensive to get new people. No no no!

Don't want to risk people taking photos of me. The fans doing it while I trained were very quick to snap out a camera.

Trina smiled. "Yes yes. Your royal highness prince Nuada." She stuck out her hand. Must be cold, so I quickly shook her hand and let go. Her hand was quite warm. When Manning left, dhampir reverted to pet names. Boss was an upgrade from elfboy, fairy boy, waif. Krauss also wasted air and needless effort to use his title with the weird German accent. I noticed Red mimicking it and smiled.

Later, Red imitated his hand gestures too. Trina wiped tears from her eyes. She looked forward to being with us guys. Liz sulked. I joined her. "What is it?"

"I'm fine," she lied, but her cross which usually looked dark was glowing. "The new guest star. Hey did you see the new flowers? Want to ask you what's the name."

A night flower called the Salvia sylvestris, needed to refer to a book. Liz beamed.

"I thought you knew everything."

"Not all, or my brain would explode from sheer volume." It was funny to think of heads swelling. Laira tugged my sash. "Stop. What do you want?"

"Hold this for me. I want to go there." She meant the deeper regions. "Please!"

"No we can't. We're only safe up to---- this boundary." Seers had drawn a special sphere over the regions we could walk around in. I could see the white glow given off. Ordinary people knocked into the invisible ring. The child rubbed her nose.

Liz chuckled. They tried to stick their hands out. I sighed. "You can't. It is futile. Why continue." They would only cease when I pretended to drop the camera. Laira was so worried about the nonliving thing.

"Your hair looks so silky tonight, elf." It meant they wanted to caress me. I said I would feel humiliated. Liz looked around and claimed it would be a secret. So they conned a story and my hair was unscathed.

*********

Krauss wanted a word with me, stupid gasbag. After such a long night! I was so groggy that I had no energy to argue and took a seat, trying not to collapse on the table. Yawning was frequent though, my eyes felt like glue. "Nuada I am sorry. It is a good thing, zis team haz discipline and focus. I am very heartened."

"Welcome. How about tomorrow we continue?" I slurred. The ghost gave me an object. Very important to take care of it. A pouch contained. When I was more awake after six hours, I realized it was a faefolk trapped in this white crystal. A fossil? It was not dead!

A note: I saved this little fellow for someone to release. I have tried but the spell is stronger than what I've seen. My teleplasty cannot work. Seems cruel and unethical for me to terminate its life. The fae seemed asleep, pale as death but I felt its heart beating. Joe was so curious, he peeked very closely.

"How's the fairy you saved?" I asked. He was so happy that the pixie Rimelia was recovering in a warm facility. And Joe was asked to be her best friend.

"Who's this Nuada? Is it dead?"

"I don't think so. There is no name. This is breakable, very fragile." I said, when his fingers came near. He still touched it anyway. Best to hide it fast. I placed the figurine in my parents' shrine.

Until some magical people came by and we could free the miserable thing.

On the way back on a train, Ghost asked if I was inconvenienced. He described the little fae.

"Not at all. Doctor, I am surprised at your humanity." He always seemed so official and strict, gave us lectures about rules. Pausing a while, the talking bag went on about how he was once a human, before an experiment went wrong. The pouch. I fingered the rings. Why did I need to know?

He spoke, "Because I can feel. Only no one sees it. A rather bothersome problem, and strangely I don't fancy being labeled a merciless."

My father had thought me uncaring too. The angry civilians called us names because of my crimes. I truly meant to atone for those things. I glanced at Ghost, did he mean he could understand remorse, pain? What was the catch?

"I sincerely hope Agent Hellboy and you will understand my intentions. Rules are important, with rules followed a similar accident like mine won't take lives again. My wife------I hoped she did not suffer too much."

The rest of the journey, I looked out at the vast darkness. I couldn't be sure what to reply or make Red listen to this reason. He was not a longstory type.

**********

Nuada! My love! You've so much gifts to offer. Laira Sent while I was finishing the paperwork.

Hmm a random compliment. Trying to worm a gift eh? Not a chance! I snorted.

Non I mean the internal generosity gifts, kind hearts. Come try my new stuff.

Black thing, I said yuck. Ionuin was offended. "What is this?"

Savoury not bitter. She seized the chance to compare- it looks ugly but inside tastes nice, like me. I was impressed by the reference. Who else will look at a person more for the intrinsic goodness rather than the blackened surface?

As I suspected, there was a tiny price- where was her present?

"Your birthday is not here yet. I've yet to receive the pay, friend. no more money. Remember I paid for dinner?" I showed my flat pouch. Mostly I had treated them to meals and movies. It is not honor to make juniors pay on my behalf.

She pouted. "Ack we wanted to chip in but you said no." I did? What a waste.

Ok then next time you pay. I want excellent food and music as well. Royal taste, I told her cheerfully.

We don't mind, Nuada. Hey where's the spare money? Savings.

You rascal. It's for emergencies, maybe for further education. I'm not using that. Of course they would decline, but I had set aside some. Nuala said our inheritance was not that much. I'm not a rich noble here.

Recently acquired a new taste for food. I introduced new bizarre foods to Halflings in exchange for recommendations. I don't like the oily type, yuck. Am fine with most meat and seafood. Tofu is nice, soft- we do have it as seira. Occasionally the waiters would give me the wrong food, but I try to finish it. Wastage of food means the fuel used to cook would be wasted.

"No rush. Try to finish." I said.

Laira burped, rubbed her stomach. "Too full. Hey not all people finish. You too."

I nodded. "So I am making effort to do so. Why not let me have it? No appetite?" Usually I had less tummy space but one more slice would be good.

Her annoyance lightened as a rainbow. It worked to show concern and explain my reasons. I did not want to sound old.

She had her period. "Um does Nuala have it too? And she gets grumpy?" she whispered.

"Yes. But I don't know when. Nuala will be quite touchy sometimes. Actually what is the... difficult day like? " I raised my glass.