Chapter 72 Which DISC are you?(finally got this up yippee)

I am a real fan of this test since I did it before. I'm an S.C. Stable Careful. DISC is available online.

ShinEE ring ding dong

Uriel wanted us to stand onstage and he was going to give a toast. The stage was not high, a wooden platform with two steps up and curtains. We were behind the curtain now. My stomach had butterflies. The prince looked calm.

Nuada chuckled and said there was no need. "Why do you feel shy? Union of soulmates are good for our culture. Hey why wasn't I invited?" he asked, his voice laced with humor.

Sorry! Nuada didn't want a crowd. I said.

Nuada replied he was touched by his sincerity. "Hence I make up for that time. I could not manage too many people, Uriel." It was months since the healer was ill and he had just bounced back. The healer waved a hand at a table. There was a garland.

Curtains parted. Deafening applause. Nuada and I held hands. Uriel spoke to the crowd that he wished us to be together for eternity. It was meaningful yet not too long. I held contact with our relatives and saw my brother who had come just in time. He waved. My elf was beaming. A little bit of comedy took place. "I did not want to be mushy and longwinded. Yet this person ignored my advice," Nuada said, holding out his hand for the microphone.

We laughed. Hellboy made a thumbs up sign. A few of the fey watched expectantly.

Uriel pouted. He gave the mike back and took the garland of flowers. I was really happy and touched. "Without Laira and prince, I wouldn't get well so quickly. Congratulations." Uriel then held me for awhile. Indeed I felt his radiant angelic light, as his namesake.

When I glanced at one paper with colorful graphs on it, this incident came to mind. It made me laugh. Agents had their DISC profiles done. Someone came to organize the workshop. The highest managers above this branch of BPRD headquarters proposed and enforced this policy to strengthen ties. Nuada was quite neutral. It was right on my guess that he had a high Dominant quotient. He was pissed that other people were anxious to peek at his paper. Second was a C. "There were twenty questions. I was curious since it is new to me. But if it was longer, I would have given up. busybodies wanted to look at mine. What's so great?" he rolled his eyes and snorted.

I took the file summary. "Learning each other's personalities and how to work better with one another, cool! So has it helped to enhance cooperation?"

The prince rubbed his nose bridge, tossing back his longer mane. Uriel was with us and glanced at him, trying not to guffaw. "Not really. We are all different. I am surprised that I did not slay them and it has been what, ten years. Of human time."

The two of us gaped. He smiled. "Nah you just say. A D is brash and arrogant, but he will be nice. Though DC means Nuada is more task oriented than people oriented…." Looking at his chart, his I and S (innovative and shy) scales were quite low. "Yep."

He nodded. Uriel laughed aloud. "Honestly seems like he never changed. I didn't get to go. I want to do the test too. Is there any way I can have an assessment?" he added, beseechingly. Today he had a leave day but chose to spend time with friends, not go home. He had called us for lunch but since others were not available, the sociable elf extended his stay. He should be an I, high people person.

Nuada surmised, "You are an I definitely. Persuasive, influence others a lot. Especially when stress is high, the 'I' s will continue to make friends not focus on the task. Abraham Sapien is another example. His scale was opposite of mine." Nuada traced a line of the graph, the D was lowest, I the second point, S down and C the top. Uriel asked his question again. The prince patted his back.

"We have photocopies of the blank sheets. Will give mine later." Elf leaned back.

"Great. I want to do the thing myself. No way I won't be just an I," the healer said, with a determined flash in the azure eyes. Haha. "Lirael, how is your chart like?"

I had done mine long ago. The picture came up in my mind. I was a high S, I know it sounds like ass, which sucks. Bullies teased me endlessly. But my friends here would not. Nuada cocked his head. "Yes? We will listen without judgment." He touched my cheek.

I told them. It was best to get an update. They were supportive. "See, each person is unique. Won't just have one." The jovial healer said.

Nuada frowned. "I saw some with just one.(we asked him to reveal who) all right. Limited only to us, okay? I saw Penelope's one because she was busy looking at mine. She is high D and I."

I smiled. "She really likes going for your training lessons. When will we have another one?" Nuada remarked that his body ached after running hard for almost four days, because the transport broke down. He made a pained look. "Sorrree. Oh yea is it typical of her?"

He thought it was special. The girl was not aggressive or dominant at all. "Penelope has a quiet will to learn things. She will not hesitate to ask questions." Seemed that someone was a favorite student! Nuada's expression softened like when he was enjoying cake. Mentally he showed us the moments when the girl could learn as enthusiastically as any warrior. I will be sad if anything happens to her. She can be kind. I have advised many of them not to continue being agents. I do not know if she will be gone one day.

Uriel replied, don't worry. You'll be there to help them. I agreed. What about the crush? The gal who liked to sit beside him during computer lessons. Nope she didn't come. "Oh how about Nuala? Forgot to ask that!"

The brother's smile became naughty. "Nuala will have my personality too." We laughed.

"Hmm she has three, D, I and C. Dic. Sounds cute." It made sense. Our sister was friendly, not shy but was firm. Helping in the samples' department, and analysis, Nuala was also meticulous. Even if she was ill or injured, her duty came first before rest.

"Sherman. We call her that now. (sick of being Liz haha) She has everything."

"What? Why?" we echoed. Nuada shook his head. How would he know.

"Go ask her yourself. She is multiple talented." Red was more of an I and D secondary. He loved people. The prince looked bored. I remembered that task oriented people don't like doing the same thing for long. "Hey ionuin. Are you tired? Sorry."

"No I am fine. It is not boring," Nuada said tactfully. He could be sensitive which was not reflected. It was a science thing. I truly enjoyed this conversation. We fell silent. Uriel took out some food to share. He had made tea.

Personality would take on a stronger role….

Case of the Rock Kingdom

I was making tea and bringing the cups to Nuada's room when I heard loud arguments going on. Then an irate fey with horns and shiny wings stomped past me. Another elf shook his head and walked off from his room. Nuada sipped his tea with a concentrated look on his pale face. He had just come back from a mission. Some of his wheat locks were standing up. His whiteness seemed more pronounced today. I touched his hair. "Is everything… not all right?"

Elf was clothed in a black singlet that accentuated his muscles and the robe's other half. I smiled as the word Half- modern popped up in my mind. On the rack, near the window, his washed clothes and upper vests were drying in the sunlight. Nuada did his own laundry, his outgoing robes and undergarments because the delicate fae fabric could not withstand machine washing. Only uniforms were machine done. How industrious he was, not royalty behaviour only.

He sighed and closed his eyes, allowing my touch to continue. "It is not all right. I am stressed. Diplomatic relationships with my brethren… they are elves from the Rockhurren Kingdom. How can we work together?"

I guess Nuada had not revealed this because I was not clear on politics. Elf reached out without looking and clasped my hand. I caught no images from our link though. Want to tell me? Brooding is bad for health… I want to share.

The prejudice against him was high already, the first time Nuada went to the RockTerrain elves' kingdom as a guest. He was supposed to strengthen the alliance between Bethmoora and them. Using a map, my friend showed their location. The hinter borders of the fey world. "A hot and dry climate, that was not mentioned on file. Though I am fit, I was left behind. Nobody bothered to accompany me, fine. Worse still, there was no ride, nor breaks. I estimate it took more than 4 days to reach. What kind of hospitality is that? Damn it! I was angry, irritable and hungry, also thirsty when we reached. My agenda was to establish friendly ties, but I couldn't. Laira, I failed didn't I?"

I made sympathetic sounds and shook my head. No he didn't, it was too early to judge. He clenched a fist, but stopped short of slamming on the table. I held out the teacup, refilled. The elf accepted it and finished the drink. I rubbed his back, till his tension relaxed and left him. I forced myself to be civil and smile, but it was horrible. How could they live like that? Nuada showed me the cracked unmaintained walls of his quarters, spiderwebs, lack of coolness, hard food, yellow vegetables, dying plants. Very inhospitable. They were so poor?

"Eugh how did you survive? That's terrible," I remarked, dismayed. Nuada smiled a little and gestured.

"More to come. I thought 'simple' dwellings as simple, but I was shocked. Still, I got through… during the meetings, the representatives who came to pick me up, same people, used only their own language. I looked to the translator, because it was not elven or any gaelic language. For a while, I explained my script to him and he told them. But they did not respond to me! Instead, these fellows nudged one another, whispering, talking more rapidly. Their expressions ranged from annoyance to boredom. (the prince drew cartoon faces because he couldn't make the expression). Why didn't anyone speak our elven or English? Arrgh, inside I was thinking no no no and fighting not to explode."

His voice had risen slightly and he breathed shallow. I did not interrupt.

Nuada touched his cheek with mine and embraced me. I felt trusted and special. So glad you're here, not one of them. I don't think I can cope with more meetings. Can I request we talk like this more? The silence saddens me… He opened beautiful golden irises then lowered the lids to seem less threatening.

Okay… I saw you so exhausted. Didn't want to disturb, Noowa.

He chuckled. Gently, he released me and leaned back on the armchair. "No I wanted to be asked how was my day. My spirits have been partially refreshed. I would like that very much. If I want to be alone, I will say so." This was the closest to a pleading from the stoic front Nuada always had. He held out his right hand palm up. I covered with both my hands and promised to.

"Because in this book (I showed him a wellworn copy of gender differences) men like to be alone usually when they come back after the hunt. It's called Lone Cavetime. The males will stare at the fire when they've finished the hunt and no talking. Women leave them alone. So I was practicing this theory." My soulmate inclined his head.

Picking a pen, Nuada wrote 'this pertains to Humans only. Not me.'

"Haha, no prob. I'll ask next time. Need this." I offered him a tube of lip gloss. Nuada's frown was quizzical. His upper lip was cracked. I showed how I applied my own stick. "No no I don't need this… gloss. Once I have enough water to drink, I will be fine."

Tone was no argument. Never mind I would put it on his table later. Nuada stood up, stretched and went through his light exercise. This was one of my first moments of witnessing. So far I had only seen his vigorous weapons' training. It was called a 'kata' done without anything except movement of arms and legs, barefoot. The prince did not speak, so I guessed the silence was his 'cavetime'. The kata looked like kungfu. I watched awhile, then a ping said I had new msn people.

The elf drank more water and wiped his face with a towel. He only had a light sheen of perspiration. I swung on the chair, taking a break from my laptop. "Need to talk more? Nice moves."

He smiled. "Yes. I am in a better mood now." Catching sight of something, my anamchara walked over and studied the packet of lip gloss I had slotted in front. Quietly, he stashed it with miscellanous items on the mantelpiece. Yay he accepted and would use it.

Thank you. I guess it will be useful for a hot day, dainin. Going to use the computer for long? He felt the top which was warm. I said I would shut it down when we talked. Nuada approved. "I'm going to freshen up then come back."

Unlike the forest alver, these people had reddish brown skin. They were the equivalent of Native Americans, whose bodies were built for desert terrain and more resilient than the Bethmoorans. I just learnt about these terms while Nuada was telling me. He truly needed to pore out these problems.

I said, "I am sorry. You were alone there?"

He drummed the table surface. "I don't care about loneliness. I wanted to talk with them only to establish good relationship. When we have more allies, we stand a higher chance of winning against the corrupted Dark. I wanted to complete the task, but they were… stupid, hostile, refused to cooperate. If only I was not in charge of this mission. I prefer the combat kind. It was the leader's wish that I stay with them. Others might have succeeded. Do I confuse you? Sorry." Nuada paused, running a hand through his hair. He always did this in stressful times.

I nodded and smiled. He smiled too. I admitted that I was quite confused. But I was willing to listen. "A scríobhadh! downright drochbhéasach! Ignore this cursing. How can they say I am a guest? I was ignored. The conditions were uafásach. And the Surely if they did not like my tone, or words… anything, should tell me. Or the translator was not doing it properly, (growl) I want to kill him! I was left dangling. These imbeciles dared to suggest more sessions. " Elf's pupils lightened further, signaling his fury. Unlike most people whose pupils dilate and darken, it was opposite.

"I don't want to go again." He was emphatic.

"Okay. Don't go, Nuada. I want you to stay here. Is that a bruise?" I pointed to a long gash in his calf.

He rubbed the scar. "No that's not serious. And I had been confident of this. Looks like I shall have to ask for help." Nuada frowned in great dismay. Maybe I should become ill. I feel ill at the thought of going to uafásach place again. He lay down on the bed and moaned, long fingers concealing his face. He had a point. It had been ages since his last long vacation. The previous time, there'd been a lack of manpower and Nuada came back. Now the elf had lost weight. His clothes fitted more loosely and I noticed the sash was tighter.

I caressed his hair. "No problem. Ask other people to go. I think Abbie can go. He's a people person. If he can, I'm sure he'll be eager to.

a scríobhadh! downright drochbhéasach!- Atrocious! Downright rude of them

uafásach - appalling