Chapter Text
Humans had turned kilima upside down, almost. Many began to remember their lives before they found themselves in the village, and they started to apply those skills quickly. They began to challenge the Order on their restrictions of Flow, as some of the scientist types figured out that it could be harnessed like electricity. They started with smaller communication devices and were working on larger scale ones, with plans to continue further development of larger projects. Eshe and Subira were not too happy about it, but the ever rebellious humans did not listen. Many put their skills to use for the advancement of kilima village, but there were some who chose a darker path.
The villagers noticed after a while that some humans quit coming around. Some may have moved to Bahari City somehow, but others were allegedly seen doing more undesirable things. Jina, Caleri, Chayne, and the humans who were psychologists agreed that it was unfortunately part of human nature. Even in a world of abundance and general peace and safety, there were some who decided they didn't want that and would instead prefer to wreak havoc. Any that were caught were swiftly exiled by their former companions, banished from Kilima and the surrounding plains. All the villagers were saddened and missed some of the friends they made, but eventually they moved on. If anything, the humans made life easier with their gadgets and gizmos they developed.
There were, of course, humans who fell for the majiri, but most were already finding their fancy with other villagers, Many didn't care to be in a relationship, and few didn't care to be romantic with the humans at all.
Hassian belonged to the last two after Tamala; he had no desire to be in another relationship, especially not with a human. He did accept their gifts out of tradition and courtesy, but he always made sure the humans knew he didn't reciprocate the feelings. A few were heartbroken, but many of them appreciated his honesty and his friendship, giving him useful gifts instead of romantic ones. He saw how having many humans after him could affect his social life, and he was just a hunter.
Reth, on the other hand, was the opposite. He was a charmer by nature and had humans practically crawling over him. He even took a few to bed, sometimes more than one at a time. Some of the humans called him “easy” or a “man whore” and snuffed him, but others appreciated that he could fulfill a carnal need with minimal strings attached. But even he was wearing thin for the humans as time went on, and regular customers began to notice.
He was serving at the inn one evening, putting on the charms when one of the humans paused and asked him a deep question.
“Reth, are you happy? Are you okay?” There was a genuine concern in their eyes. “Is anyone just using you for the sex?”
The chef stopped in his tracks, nearly dropping the carrot he was chopping. “Well I…” he couldn't talk his way out of this one that easily.
“You just don't seem like it anymore.” The human said, sitting on one of the stools at the bar. “Almost like you're missing something despite all the attention you get. Like you want to settle.”
The last sentence stung his heart a bit, and the happy go lucky facade dropped for a moment. “Damn, why do you humans have to be so perceptive? But I'll be okay. I'm practically an outcast, nobody wants me anyway.” he shrugged, probably the most common gesture in his repertoire of dismissive answers. “Everybody has made that clear.”
“Everybody? Really?” the human snorted and dug in their pack a moment. “Here, take this, it will help you feel better. Maybe you should try talking to some of the other so-called outcasts, hm?” They didn’t wait for an answer, waggling their fingers in a “toodaloo” fashion as they left the inn.
“Hey now wait a minute!” Reth called out, but it was no use. He let out a frustrated sigh, but his eyes lit up when he saw the human’s gift- a smoothie bowl! One of his favorites, and it would be perfect to munch on until the next customer came in. It was later in the evening, but not quite time for him to go to the market, so the humans and other villagers were mostly minding their own business. Sure, there were some regulars that he’d see when he went below the village, but for now he enjoyed the tangy, but sweet concoction.
Outside, humans bounded through the square, waving at each other and the villagers. It made Hassian sick, almost, but at least none of them tried to stop and talk to him, or Tau. He wished to be undisturbed in his walk to the inn to grab something that more resembled food than what he could make in his tent. His boots tap-tapped on the wooden floor, catching the ears of the chef who was just finishing whatever food item he had in hand. “Evening.” Hassian said, his voice gruff but low, not much for talking.
“Evening Hassian! I’ll get you a chapaa steak right and ready, and something for the hound too! I actually kind of already had it ready, it is your night to come in after all.” Wait, what? Did he really say that out loud? “I mean, not that it matters or anything I just…. Let me get it for you!” he ducked into the kitchen, trying to escape the awkwardness.
Hassian blinked, looking at the plumehound. “Am I really that predictable?”
“Bof.” Tau looked back at his companion and sat down, tail wagging.
“Something seems… off.” he couldn’t put his finger on it, but Reth was a little different tonight. While Hassian didn’t go out of his way to socialize much with the other villagers, he had taken to small conversations with Reth when he came to the inn to make deliveries, get a meal he didn’t cook that tasted somewhat decent, or when the chef would peek over his shoulder when he and Auni played cards to help the younger Majiri win against Hassian. He took a seat on the far side of the inn, one that gave him a vantage point of the entrance, just to be safe. “Yeah I don’t know, boy… We don’t know each other like that.”
“Bof.”
Hassian got pulled from his thoughts, however, when the chef returned with two plates, one that he deftly set down on the table in front of Hassian, and the other on the floor for Tau. “Eat up, handsome!” he said, mouth on autopilot from playing flirting games with the humans all day. “I mean… shit, uh…”
The hunter looked at him and laughed- a genuine laugh he hadn’t had for quite some time. “Reth we know how you get your giggles with the humans.” He said. “Take a second and breathe.”
“Yeah, okay.” he looked over his shoulder at the clock on the wall, sighing. “I’d hate to dip on this hot date, but I’ve gotta run. You can just leave your dishes on the counter and I’ll deal with them later. I’ll see ya in the morning for the delivery!” Reth didn’t even give Hassian the chance to respond before practically sprinting to the kitchen, perhaps to tidy up.
Hassian couldn’t help but raise a brow at the interaction, but he shrugged. He felt it better to eat alone, so he did, enjoying how tender the chef managed to make the meat. Damn did he wish he had the man’s talents for cooking and creating such innovative dishes. Maybe he really was supposed to be a cook and not a carpenter. Hassian shook his head, finding it hard to sympathize with the chef when he was a traditionalist himself, but maybe the humans were rubbing off on him. While he didn’t take his time to eat, he also didn’t just scarf it down in two gulps, like Tau, so once the pair were finished, he returned the dishes to the counter as instructed, left some coins beside them, and left the inn to return to his grove so he could rest.