For as long as I've been able to wield my strix I've known I was weak. A power you are born with, you cannot control its result and still I found myself weak, only the wind and rain stored within a cloud can cause panic… while wind alone is gentle, refreshing, annoying, but never scary, not until the clouds get involved.
She has always been the stronger one and yet that day she…

"Myi, I want you to hit this dummy with all your force. Without your wooden hammer." Taru spoke. Yoshi pulled her sleeves up so her hands could breathe finally. They were all scarred up just like her eye. She huffed her breath to her hands before letting out a determined yell and charging forward. With all her might she threw a punch.

The dummy wobbled just a little.

She swung her leg up and twirled, yelling out once more as she kicked it.

It wobbled a little again.

She looked back at Taru and Vywr who were watching with neutral looks, Yoshi grit her teeth. "S… Stop looking! Why don't you do it then if you're so-"
Taru walked up and kicked the dummy, snapping the upper half back but not completely off. He then twisted back and punched, causing the dummy to fly back and crumple into a pile of wood.
"I am not strong, not much stronger than you nor the other elves. It all comes down to knowing where to strike your opponent and how much force you need between your limb and the rest of your body keeping you stable." He held his hand out and the dummy slowly wove back together. "Anyone can do it, regardless of your circumstances. Also, don't be so quick to lose your temper when things don't go your way, if it becomes a habit then you'll carry it to battle and it becomes a weakness."
He was like an entirely different person, yet both of them there could see it, they could very well feel it. There was anger under each word he spoke. He seemed to despise this. Taru returned back to where he had been standing next to Vywr. "Go again, until you can make it fall over." Taru called before crossing his arms.
"Are you upset with her?" Vywr spoke low.
"No, it's not her fault she's like this." Taru closed his eyes. "All you can do is your best with what the great equinox has given you…"

Yoshi headed back with the two of them. Along their walk back, Vywr silently left them, leaving just the two.
"So… that's the first elf… he looks pretty rough…" Yoshi mumbled.
Taru just hummed in response.
"… Did I do bad today?" Yoshi frowned.
"No, you did just fine. Good job." He opened the door for her.
"I'm sorry… for calling you pathetic." She spoke as they went up the stairs.
"It's okay. You weren't lying, I am." Taru shrugged.

Yoshi started to speak before she stopped a moment. She stared at him a moment before sighing. "But you take out monsters like nothing and you broke that dummy like a twig…"
Taru stopped walking. "Every time I'm faced with a fractal, I begin to think about every way it could kill me… and the single way I have to kill it." He looked up at the remaining floors spiraling above them. "It's such an unfair gamble. We have to hit one perfect strike while some can simply crush us… And that thought leaves me unable to move. Even with people watching I can't bring myself to pretend like I'm not afraid… cause I am and I hate fighting those things."
"So… then why do you?" She pulled at her sleeves.
He was quiet for a long moment before he sighed. "I have no clue still. I just know that at some point I have to focus on that one way to kill it. If I can achieve that then I'm a little less useless, If I cut down my enemy what does it matter that I shake and cry afterwards?"
"I… guess I understand…" She mumbled. She didn't fully… but she's going to go along with it cause he seems like an angry yapper. She waited for him to continue though he simply continued up the stairs.
"Next time, begin bringing your strix into your attacks. If plants are the only thing you can do then use every trick in your book other than just a shoddy hammer." He called.
Yoshi's eye twitched. "Yeah." Asshole.

Jemm and Taru stepped inside and Taru immediately began off to his room as usual. "Wait-" Jemm called, Taru turned around.
"If… you don't have your weird arrangement date tonight I started dinner before we left this morning. Would you like to eat together?"
Taru's eyes widened slightly. Oh right… they really only ate breakfast together and even that was extremely rushed most mornings. Taru nodded. "Let me go change first…"

The two sat at the table together. The place was always decorated like it was meant for more people… So why did he live here alone? Jemm wasn't going to ask that. Not right now at least. Taru also sat really improper for someone who he assumed was a noble, Imani was one so all of the high elves are some sort of one right? Yet here he was sitting with his feet up on his seat and knees to his chest. He was stirring his food around on the plate like he was trying to paint something before he would finally eat.
"Do you like it?" Jemm finally spoke up. "I remembered you had mentioned something about never trying this before so I figured I'd make it for you."
"Oh… yeah it's great." He put his legs down and sat forward, continuing to eat.
"Apparently this is the favourite dish of this really cool idol from around here. I was gonna get it from the shop we were looking at but the line was mad long before they even opened." He continued speaking as he ate.
"Yeah… MiMi." He mumbled.
"Do you listen to her music or something? You didn't seem interested in anything until they mentioned she was partnering with them on this…" He tilted his head.
Taru's hand paused, he stared down at his plate. "That's my sister."
"Oh… Cool- WAIT DUDE WHAT THAT'S YOUR SISTER?" Jemm shot up.
Taru made a slight face. "Yeee…ah…"

{Names are important. When I was younger I didn't really understand what they meant by that. Why did it matter what our names meant?
My older sister, she was meant to carry the part of our family that brought pride… besides our martial practices. Though this was something seen by all constantly, instead of something we would happen to show on chance.
I don't know where my mother is from, I just know the rest of the family didn't like her, the only appreciated her for making two strong kids… and being a high elf.
One day she simply vanished. With barely a word. 'I'm going to find myself.' and that was all. With that they didn't mourn any loss we experienced, but instead what it did to their reputation. As quickly as they shunned her, they began to shun us too.
'What good is a child who cannot fight well?'
'What good is a child who cannot face a fractal?'
'What good is a child that's going to end up just like his mother?'
I know what they thought, I heard what they thought, they said what they thought. My sister was the one who would redeem us. While I was extra baggage that they couldn't even use behind the scenes. They do not care for feelings, just what keeps our name good.
For a family who takes the name of pure water, they were more like toxic waste.
My sister, her name has always meant to grow, to lead… as it was what they expected of her.
While mine simply means to be good and kind. That's a fucking lie. Though maybe at one point it was true.
'What good is a child who is too kind to speak up?'
Good for doing whatever they ask… and that was all I've done. Yet they still.}

There was a soft knock on his door. He slowly dragged himself up to it and opened it. Jemm was standing there with a small tray that had a cup and a small treat. "Yo…"
Taru looked at the tray and then at Jemm who held it out. "You got real upset after we finished eating so i figured I'd make you… this…" He was still holding the tray out.
Taru took the tray and stepped asside. He was letting him in his room?
Jemm stepped in and Taru kicked the door shut. "Thank you." He mumbled.
His room was both… what Jemm had expected but also not. It wasn't overly nice but it was nicely decorated… it was just a fucking mess. It seemed he gave up with keeping his clothes and shoes in order at some point… The only outfit not on he floor, in a pile, or stuffed into the wardrobe was his usual work one which was on a rack by the bathroom. He had a box of jewlery and trinkets open on his dresser and a ton of earrings were strewn out of it. He also had a weird crest on the ceiling but it was stabbed a lot of times. Okay…

"So… i figured that was your favourite tea cause it was the one most empty…" Jemm fidgeted with his hands as he stood there. Taru sat on his bed and placed the tray down. "You only put one cup."
"Ah… I mean it was for you so…" Jemm trailed off. Oh… he wants to share tea with him! He simply walked out and quickly came back with a second cup. He placed it on the tray and stepped back. Taru carefully picked up the teapot and poured the two cups. He set one forward for Jemm before picking his own cup up.
It was a real awkward silence… what was he doing? Yeah he wants to know him better but how does he ask without making him uncomfortable… literally earlier he somehow hit a landmine about that idol being his sister and he clearly did not feel great about that. "Taru-"

"If you want to know just ask…" he set the cup down. "Y… yeah… just… can I sit on your bed?"

Taru nodded. So Jemm sat down slowly. His bed was so soft… softer than that other really soft bed… "I've been wondering… are you a noble too… like the ice lady?"

Taru took a sip of his tea, humming. "No. Not necessarily."

"You've got two rings though… isn't that a nobility thing?" Jemm mumbled.

"Um…" he closed his eyes. "My family is of a higher status but not like Miss Msuya. We just are known for martial practices that have been around a while since it incorporates strix and paths into it. Technically I would inherit whatever to keep it going but they would probably rather become fractals than let that happen." He snorted. Jemm blinked. That… sounds extreme… why does even his family dislike him??

"What about you?" Taru began eating the treat on the tray. The question snapped Jemm out of his thoughts. "Oh uh… I dont come from anywhere special! I mean my family just does normal stuff though my sister got married and… it didn't end well. I decided staying with my step sister instead cause it was wrong what my sister did… and Muxxi is much cooler anyways she has a noodle shop for matchmaking and she cooks real well I'll have to take you to try her stuff one day!"
Taru stopped mid bite, wiggling the fork in his mouth as he hummed. He then took it out and sighed. "Family can be the worst…" he mumbled. Okay family is a bad conversation… Jemm picked his tea up. "So I noticed you have a lot of tea! Do you like it?" Stupid ass question…

"Yeah… it helps with hangovers." He pushed the other half of the treat to him. Why does he suck at this? "I see… so do you go drinking often?"
"Jemm?" He looked up. Jemm slowly looked to him. "Yes…?"
"Do you truly not mind being around me?" He mumbled. "I mean I can tell you really aren't comfortable-"
"It's not you!" Jemm quickly spoke. "I just …" He sighed deeply. "I'm just not sure how I'm supposed to act with you dude… I mean you always seem upset so I didn't want to make you more upset… also you're technically my boss?" he squinted.
Taru blinked at him… before he started giggling.
huh?
"Why… are you laughing…" Jemm whispered.
Taru waved his hand, trying to stop his laughing. "S… Sorry… I'm sorry… I'm not laughing at you…" He continued to giggle. Once he did get himself to stop he leaned back. "That's really all you're worried about? Not getting weird looks or dealing with getting lumped in with me?"
"Why would I, I'm just some Froma*. Your past has nothing to do with me and if people have an issue with us hanging out then they can take it up with whatever roles allowed you to hire me. Also me, they can take it up with me." He shrugged.
Taru smiled, though he looked away. "I see. Then I apologize for jumping to conclusions. I'll try to not seem so upset from now on if that's drawing you away from me…"
"What- man you don't have to pretend to be okay! Just do whatever and if you're so pissed you gotta yell at me then fine but I will yell back as a warning." He pointed. Taru started laughing again.

Jemm got up to clean up the tray and the tea, taking out what he brought in. Taru just watched him go before he stood and began to push the clothes on the floor around with his feet. He's far too nice for me… There's no way I could ask him to do that… even if he understood what I wanted.
When Jemm returned Taru's floor was… more walkable but still covered in clothes. Though the purple elf was no where to be seen. After looking around for a bit he spotted him in the bathroom. He was brushing his hair. He should leave him alone-

"Jemm, could you help me with the back of my hair." He called.
"Oh… Uh… Sure…" Jemm walked up and took the brush Taru handed him. He began carefully brushing his hair as the other took his earrings out. Placing them in a small box and beginning to rub a solution over his ears and under his eye where his other piercing was.
"So… Did you dye your hair yourself? It looks cool. I like the red on the purple, really stands out against uh… the other purple?" He squinted. Taru hummed. "No, it was genetic. If I cut my hair it turns red." He
"Oh. that actually sounds pretty rad." He continued brushing his hair.
"Really? My family thinks it looks bad. You know most elves don't have three tones in their hair…" He took his horn rings off and wrapped something around them. "Especially not like this. My hair can't grow back either, I'm not exactly sure why."
"So you're kinda like that story of that princess with the really long hair int he tower." Jemm tilted his head.
"What??" He looked back.
"Nevermind."

They both stood there silently as he continued to brush his hair. "So… you have a lot of piercings too. Do you have a lot of earrings?" Jemm continued.
"No not really…" Taru unwrapped his horns. "If I'm being honest I only got the first ones to piss off my father."
"You… really don't like your family…" He whispered.
"Jemm… why did you get yours?" He reached back, Jemm placed the brush in his hands. "T… To piss off my family…"
Taru hummed. And it was silent again.
"So… Taru… You said we don't have work tomorrow right?"
"Yes that's correct."
"Do you want to go out tomorrow?"
Taru slowly looked back at him. "Hm…?"

*Note on word Froma: They are ranked by the rings/decor around their horns.
Froma = Commoner (one ring/bronze wrapping)
Silvin = Higher class (two rings/silver wrapping)
Dixin = Noble (two gold rings/gold wrappings)  
These are just the basic words of their rankings