As You Like It [Open]

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Nex was no giant, by any standars. Zora were creatures of many sizes. Some could be tall and lithe, while others stout and fat. Nex's height, whilst among his ocean brethren, was common. Amongst Hylian he was slightly above average, at best. Whilst he faced gargantuan Goron he would be considered a runt. Goron were generally monstrous, so their size was good for giving outsiders a frighten, despite their diminished intelligence. Facing the smaller River Zora Nex was a bit of a weordo. His height, though proven invaluable in his teavels, hindered him in shallow rivers. A size coveted by some, was a curse to others. For the Zora it was just another reason he had to be marked as different. It was another reason he would stifle any fish that dared blow a bubble in his direction.

But, in all his desire to hate, in this moment he hadn't the capacity to think. A cunning, clever, malignant tyrant who had naught but plots, schemes and thoughts of violence against his neighbor seemed at a loss. What did he do now? How long had it been since another embraced him? He was fraught with worry, consideration of his actions. Maybe he felt strange. The scars that his beneath his scales, the ones hidden on the surface -- they were a mark of weakness he could not risk. What if she tried to maim him? What if -- what if--

Why…?

Why was he so afraid of a hug?

It was because the love, the light in his eyes, was burned away, caged and unable to be seen by even him, its owner. Deep inside, estranged to him: a hatred burned as a child yerned for his mother to cradle him. She had forsook him and turned her back. Yet upon her deathbed he had to accept that the world had poisoned her mind, just as they did him. He lost his way the day she released him into the jaws of that predator. A heart once gentle and understanding had been consumed by this monster he knew to be, yet none believed what he had seen. His uncle was a devil, churl, a fiend if there ever be. The boy was lost and had nothing to light his way in the darkness that soon followed. But a spark did still remain of this caring spirit, shadowed by a slowly crumbling wall that kept his heart safe from the horrors of the world outside. His heart could not take another loss.

Deep inside...

…was there light?

Was it still… visible?

His skin burned, his scales tightened upon the sensation of the hug. His body screamed for separation, but what would she think of him? He was no betrayer. A man capable of killing another in cold blood, perhaps, but he always had reason to his rhyme. There was never a waste of blood.

But she died for nothing.

No, she died to survive.

So they could.

Stabbing pin picks goded at very tip of each, oval scale as the pain swam out, setting nerve endings ablaze with pain and torture that only seemed to increase the longer Farrah held onto him. Hurt and pain were something Nex avoided to the extreme. His mind often blanked as fingers reached for the solace of his dagger. But as it was now: he could not. It meant releasing his hold. It was conflicting. He sought to cling to her, yet his body screamed in agony to free himself. The pain seared his flesh, damaging his heart as well as his unstable mind. Inside the wall cracked with enough force to cause tears to rush down his face. As the kiss was planted, it was possible a salty taste threatened the Gerudo's lips. It was not his flesh.

Though a Zora, the distinct 'fishy' smell, or taste, that seemed to prejudice them did not exsist. Such a smell was the result of death and Nex was no Corpse, not yet. The amphibious Zora smelled of the river, gently of the sea. His glittering scales smelled of moist soil, like a forest which had been newly soaked by the rain. A ceadar-like scent touched the edges of his existence was wrll. Being no reef dweller he didn't have the horrid stench of coral. Even the coral bound to his wrists were scentless, having been treated in resin to prevent erosion.

Nex did not smell like fish. He smelled uniquely of Nex.

The light touch caused a tremor to ripple across his body. Were she to pull back he would attempt to hold her in place, his hands at seeking to tighten around her biceps. His jaws parted. "Why didn't you look back when I called out for you?" He would nearly whisper. He blinked his eyes, turning his focus from the past and looked down at Farrah. "Why did they leave me?" Tears streamed down his face. "I was only a child." He would release Farrah, had he grip on her.

He held up his wrists, showing the underside of his arms where a distinct tattoo pattern laid. Spiraling, green lines, tattooed into his scales.

"They threw me away, and than those fiends made me a slave. My friend… I couldn't find her. She had sang, like a siren, on the rock's edge. I wanted to ask her to take me home with her… to escape. They all abandoned me." He looked to Farrah. "Will you, too, run?" He sternly asked, eyes swollen with tears of hurt, body wrecked in pain from the past.

Could Farrah run away from such a thing? Such a weak vision? He … he'd end them both. What was the point of living in such a heartless world, where all who show they pretend to care, just run away…? Could he do that? Did Nex have the strength to take his knife to Farrah? To himself? He hadn't even the power to stand, so fell to his knees and just wept.

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A flood of pain washed from the Zora as he kept a steadfast grip on the Gerudo. He was sure, had he let go: he would have fell. Legs weak, arms heavy... there was no telling what state his mind was put in with the sour memories of his mother and uncle filling his mind. He used Farrah. Focusing on her he could see more than the black fog filling his vision. As he was forced to face his past horrors, the dark history sought to consume him. That wretched pain he believed buried, rose from the fetid soils, grasping at his heels. Demons that he hid from broke from their stone prisons, swooping down for the kill.

For a long time Nex had lost his will to live, his drive to succeed. He stood to face these trials during a time where a child should play, laugh and be loved. The only reason he gave himself chance to live, was because his death would be a waste. It was worse to waste time and money, than accept the inevitability that proceeded life before one could live it. After all, he was a Merchant's son and nothing was more disgraceful to their livelihood than losing money. There was a time before he had struggled to find how his life was worth remaining part of this world.

And… he never did.

They used him, twisting him into some irrecognizeable. They spit on him, drowning him in hatred. They threw him away once they had taken what the needed, leaving him naught but a husk. His scales were burned to a point where he was no longer alive, his spirit was torn to a point where it could no longer be mended, and, lastly, his heart was sealed away in an unbreakable casket of stone and ice where none could hope to reach. Murderous intent was the result of a body fighting, doing its hardest, to not give up, to not crumble to pieces and die. In the truth, even if he wanted, he couldn't fall apart. Despite the pain and suffering he did not want them to win. He despised the idea of fulfilling their efforts. He did not want them to see that they had gotten to him… that they broke him. In this he refused to fail.

She had seen it. She had seen that they had broken him. His hand slowly drifted toward her face, from her arms. His webbed hands moved to cup her face, azure eyes focusing intently on her hazel orbs. It only took a quick twist, to snap her neck. She couldn't tell if she was dead. His jaws parted as he exhaled, gills snapping shut as his lungs heaved against his mirth. Couldn't she see that monster he was? Didn't she understand where it was she stood? He stared at Farrah as she declared her allegiance, her loyalty. Glaring at her soft lips as she spoke those words that no one else would, had they known his true nature, he wanted to laugh harder. But she did, she knew what he was capable of.

Didn't she?

"Making such promises..." he grinned. "…you will get yourself killed. Such a shame." He sneered, leaning his face closer to hers. "I am glad to hear you will be so accommodating." He growled, either annoyed -- or amused it sounded. "It is a promise you will have to keep, because now you know… now you know where they buried their knives, and how deep the blades bore." She knew too much. "Are you sure you don't want to run? You seem terrified." He leaned in further, hid lips drawing nearer her own.

Nex could feel the woman's soft flesh beneath the pads of his fingers as they mindlessly drew patterns along her cheeks. Warm, inviting skin that likely traced the whole of her body.

What part of her wasn't warm?

His cerulean eyes had kept focus on her hazel ones. Earth met sea in a supernatural force. Predator versus prey had been at the basis of the Zora's ideology. In no way, shape, or form was there a time he felt a desire to share his efforts, all he earned beneath his own power. Even now that was not the case. He did not feel he had to share Farrah. the was the hunter and the prey walked right into his trap.

Why wasn't she running?

Standing so close he could smell her scent, feel her hear beat. His claw tips rapt gently against her flesh, slowly tracing down from the corners of her face towards her vulnerable neck. There he allowed his palms to cup around her neck, thumbs now stroking along the front of her throat. She was inches from his jaws, shark-like protrusions that were fit more for a deep sea predator then a scrawny merchant. He, in reality, was beast possessed by an indispensable desire to consume. She had seen him at his weakest, and now he could not let go out her. She was a liability.

Why wasn't she running?

Perhaps it was the darkness inside of him that desired nothing more than to sink its fangs into the maiden, or the lonely child looking for a friend that wouldn't abandon him. A person that wouldn't turn away when he called. This was little more than a curiosity, right? Just a temptation to taste something forbidden. What was more forbidden than affection?

He felt his lips ghost against her own. "Well, there's no escape, stupid girl." He used Such a phrase, but it was halfhearted.

Using his thumbs he would attempt to press the pads under her chin to lean her head back. Pushing his lips forward he pressed a kiss to her hips, but was not all. His body pressed forward to push her back against the nearest surface. Rock, tree? It did not much matter, so long as he had her pinned. His hands slipped from her throat moving to search for her wrist to keep her from slipping. His other hand drifted towards her hip, his face moving to push her back and against the kiss.

"Why do you taste like fruit?" He whispered, aloud.

That had been an unexpected phrase to utter from his mouth. Fruit… Hell sort of idiot was he? Well that went without question. Sometimes he was the worst kind of idiot: possessive and competitive. When his lips had parted with hers his face remained close. Her hot breathe tickled his nose as she offered him to check if that had been what he really tasted. To be honest between the burning sensation taking his fingers and to pinch of a spark against his lips from the friction: he couldn't be sure what he felt. Perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him? He felt his possessive drive to cover that which he felt was his, burn, ferociously. He could next sink his fangs into her lips or even paint visible marks along her neck to … brand her.

Though before his hazy thoughts could solidify into audacious plots, he felt movement on his sensitive, scale-covered skin. Nex heard a strange noise. He instinctively stiffened, leaning against the tree, to further press his hips against Farrah's small frame. Once his attention refocused he had found they were vulnerable. Shit. Though he was close enough to deepen the loss, or maybe even bloody lengthen it, something ferocious was approaching. His veil seemed to dance as if he were in the water, the Zora quietly displaying his dangerous colors, the res markings along his neck, beneath his hair-like veil of membrane covered fins.

Maude snatched Farrah away, an instinctive growl ripping from his throat as he resisted biting down on his prize, but that it wouldn't do much damage to begin with. his weakness jaws made him only half a predator.

Did he hear right? No… she didn't fucking stutter. His brows raised slightly, the distinct, round markings of nsilver uniformly crossing over the scaled brows wrinkled against his tensing expression. Maude. This was the little, grouchy carpenter girl with a perchance for shoving her foot in her mouth. For a second Nex was tempted to shove it in for her. Though the distant threat of physical violence was downplayed when the obnoxious, donkey like laughter of a familiar barbarian crawled into his senses. Farrah would have also been witness to his less dutiful behavior. He couldn't have a fit of anger…

…Even if Farrah was his.

She gave herself to me you shitty woodworker.

…go back to fucking carving pumpkins you illiterate hick.


The Zora shifted his posture and moves to fold his arms over his chest defensively, hugging himself as his reactive aggression had already reared it's ugly head. he had only needed a few moments longer. He wanted to find out what that flavor was…

Nex's brows furrowed as he rubbed his webbed hand against his chin. "T'as vraiment pas les bonnes priorités." He murmured, likely in Zora without realizing, a soft chuckle rumbling from his chest in the process. "That is strange…"

Nex had played the situation out in his head. Maude thought she had some sort of say in the matter. It was cute… but was getting fucking old. Was he not surfing the general high of his grotesquely greedy spirit the Zora was certain to fly in a rage and show her what a River Zora was. Maude had been an artisan. She knew well the functions of trade. His right fist tightened against his side, arms still crossed. Josh was grating on his nerves… but that was it. Wasn't it?

Josh was a loud mouthed piece of shit that seemed to want everyone to know. Since years ago he had a distant preference towards Maude over any other Hylian in the unattractive city. While Maude may have not known it… a glimmer of realization drew light into his dark eyes. He shook his head, that deep, rush rumble off laughter seeming most unnatural on the usually stoic merchant. Brilliant. He must thank Josh later. If not for his incessant boasting and constantly blowing hot air… he would have not even considered the possibility.

"Maude…" he promoted himself a calmer exterior, devoid of the rage that had consumed him for a split second, the feral hatred, that was evoked when Maude snatched what was his from right under him.

Literally!

"That was a bit dangerous to do. I almost grabbed Farrah," he held out his clawed hand. "Had I not noticed it was you… my fangs would have come dangerously close." Not that they needed to know he couldn't bite these days.

He scratched his cheek and frowned, looking a bit hurt, maybe even bothered. Nex, while hollow and full of general hatred for the living populous of the Goddess' world, he never showed that hatred. Sure annoyance was often on the forefront of the merchant's expression, but he did work a service job. It was understandable he got sick of people.

"Are you… saying that you are acting as her guardian and standing yourself between us?" Nex took a step forward, looking to close the gap between them.

Now Nex did not hate Maude. Surely she was displaying some repressed urge to protect the helpless youth, seeing as Josh has yet to bless her with a miniature replica of the Hylian species. It was a vile instinct even he was victim to on occasion. The male stood an even six feet. He had been without his cloak, so the usual coverage of his scales was. Not to be hand. He wore his loincloth, which was less for coverage and more for carrying his dagger's sheath which sat on the small of his back. His jewelry was bright, plentiful, piercing his gills in a fashionable manner. His overly tattooed body was intimidating on its own, beyond the pressure of his standing and ability to just stare without blinking. He closed his eyes, a soft smile permeating his cold features.

"Je suis gêné," he uttered in Zora, pressing his hand to his chest. "S'il te plaît, Maude…" he paused. "I am offended by your actions. While admirable you stand up for your friend who… I can only assume you felt was in danger," because it was the only logical conclusion.

Because she was hysterical!

She had to be.

Keeping his possessions from him…

"But your language is a bit hurtful. How many years have we known one another, done business together?" He paused, leaning forward. "Have we ever had a dishonest interaction for you to discern me as an enemy or… perhaps do you think me of someone who would do harm to your comrade?" It seemed quite clever.

Perhaps Maude knew what sort of monster he was…

Yet it contradicted what stood before her. The Zora, humbly bowed, a face of hurt…

"…and yet to add to my embarrassment, though I do not see Josh having to express embarrassment for his close relationship with you…" he whispered that bit so that only Maude could hear. "…I am mocked for my more than obvious closeness to Farrah? Whom I've known for just as long as I've known you?" He stood back and glanced to Farrah. "I am indeed feeling a bit of… unfairness concerning the methodology to this…" what could he call it? "…scene. I supposed this contradictory behavior common in Hylian culture? To be quite blunt I know very little of your ways…" he gasped a bit, fist clenching as he leered down at Maude. "Are the stories true? Do you intend to wed Farrah to another by ritual rather than letting her choice be preceded the needs of your…" Gaggle? Insanity… "…family?" He seemed to take an expression of disgust.