#desertxwarrior

7. What matters more: accomplishing a goal, or the process of accomplishing a goal?

“Both are equally important,” said Rowan. “The steps you take toward a goal can help you learn many things along the way, things you never thought to fathom before. The goal itself may be the end game, but the journey you take can define who you are.”

1. In regards to leadership: does a leader owe their loyalty to the people, or do the people owe their loyalty to them?

♡ - Is there a certain scent that brings about nostalgia? If so, describe a memory this scent brings back.

Incense! Absolutely incense. The scent of ritual incense brings back memories of being with her mother as she communed with their ancestors. Lolly hadn’t really been old enough to understand what was going on, but the whole thing was very comforting, as the room always got warm and filled up as if there were many people there.

It’s a bittersweet memory, though, I think. Lolly wants to block those memories from her head and it would probably cause panic if she got a whiff of that scent these days - and I think it’d also prompt this deep, almost instinctual, feeling of loss and sadness, as she’s very disconnected from her ancestors and culture.

❣ - Describe a way that will earn affection (whether platonic or romantic) from them.

Hmm. This is kind of a difficult one, since I’ve never really thought about it before… Platonically? Gifts, definitely! Naturally, she’d love expensive ones, but I also think Lolly is quite like a magpie, and she’d be very touched if someone gave her some unique little bobble that reminded them of her. Also, playing along with her jokes will go a long way towards her liking you a lot. Generally just being an easy-going, funny person.

Romantically… probably physical affection. Lolly is an affectionate individual to her friends, but there’s a world of difference between platonic affection and romantic affection, you know? She honestly has no clue about the difference at this point, so it’d probably have to be laid out straight to her. Even then, I’m not sure if she’d fully understand. Provided it’s clarified, she’d absolutely reciprocate - but it’s important to remember that she has no idea, really, about love or romance or how it’s supposed to go. I’d say that if she learns about the significance of love she’d be considerably more cautious and shy, even, about giving or receiving affection romantically.

εжз - What about nature do they find calming? What about nature do they find disagreeable?

She doesn’t really find anything about nature particularly calming, so to speak. But she does like aspects of it! Warm, dry weather she loves. And autumn leaves - the area outside the south gate of Riften is her absolute favourite. After so long in a bleak and grey city, she absolutely loves colour. I suppose sitting around on a warm, slightly windy day would certainly be relaxing for her; but then, she’s never really liked sitting around.

Quiet and dark are partnered, so Lolly does not generally expect interruptions when she’s stalking about in the night. Whiterun hasn’t been hit in a while, so she decides to pop in for a quick in-and-out bedlam job.

She is passing the steps below Jorrvaskr - what an odd name, Jorrvaskr, your-vas-kerr - when she hears it. It’s not a howl; its too convoluted and rough, but it still sends chills up her spine. Something - she’s not sure what - urges her to move, to leave, immediately. She obeys, breath catching panicked in her lungs.

She hurries towards the steps leading to Dragonsreach - and just in time. A large (and frankly unpleasantly smelling, even from a distance) shadow races down the steps from Jorrvaskr. Lolly does not waste time gawking - she crouches and hides and hopes that it does not stop and investigate.

☁

Not often. His bursts of sleep are too light and short to really reach a deep enough state for dreaming. Unless night terrors count, it’s extremely rare he has any type of dream.

ღ

desertxwarrior

The many merchant caravans that traveled the roads of Skyrim were choice targets for bandits-- and as such, there was always coin to be made by hiring on as a guard, protecting both the goods and the men and women transporting them during the journey. The more successful merchants often paid extra for the prestige of having an Alik’r warrior’s sword serve in their defense-- perhaps it was because of Hammerfell’s reputation of being home to a race of fierce, able fighters, or perhaps it was simply because a Redguard’s dark skin and curved scimitars seemed exotic in the cold North. 

Either way, Alhusayn wasn’t above hamming it up a bit to play the part, peppering his speech with the few words of Old Yokudan that he knew and flaunting his two curved swords (curved... swords!) at every opportunity when applying for the job. Apparently he’d impressed the Breton trader in charge of the caravan well enough, because he’d been hired on the spot, and now he stood idly by as the cart was loaded with goods, waiting. A simple route, Solitude to Whiterun, but the coin was enough to keep him fed and lodged for nearly two months, and there was the prospect of being hired on again once the merchant moved on from Whiterun. 

Not a bad deal.

Al hadn’t expected to be the only guard hired for the trip, and he wasn’t disappointed-- he was joined presently by his Breton employer, and an armored woman that Al could only assume was the second mercenary hired for the caravan’s protection. A Redguard, like himself... Al shot the woman an affable nod and a friendly grin, and made a point of scooting to the side so she could join him in the shade as the final preparations for the journey were made.