(2023-09-01) Flowers Come Up

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Author:	Vond
Summary:	Nesselos and Nunuzac pay a visit to Sandy at his mother's house to deliver well wishes, a little news, and a token from Northrend. The shamans plan to encourage Sandy's father to see him, and maybe others as well.
Rating:	T for Teen

It's a sunny, breezy day in Stormwind. Sandy sits on the stairs leading to his mother's home, the crutches he uses to walk around laid behind him. He wears a white pirate shirt and grey pants, tied in a knot under his right knee. In his hands is an iced orange juice he regularly takes a sip from. Otherwise, he stays there, looking around, watching the pigeons walking around the Cathedral District while his rat, Bubble naps in his lap.

Nesselos comes striding cheerfully down the street, occasionally stumbling over an uneven cobblestone. His blue balancing tail helps keep him from ever actually falling over, at least. As Sandy comes into view, he slows and looks at his companion with a trace of uncertainty.

Nunuzac is clipping alongside Nesselos, here and there weaving to give him room to navigate the human-sized walkway, while her eyes curious scan the Stormwind architecture. "We are getting near to the place, I think - this one?" she comments in Draenei while distractably peering up at the rooflines, almost right up on Sandy's doorstep before noticing that there he is right out in the open.

"Oh!" She brightens with delight, taking an excited step forward that quickly hesitates. Partly dialing back her impulse to run up into the personal space of someone who may not have been expecting visitors, partly on assessing his condition. Her smile inflects with something apologetic, bordering on the brink of welling up. "Hello!" she switches to Common, quickly steadying her stance and emotions. "I hope it is okay we come here."

Bubble jump to its feet and looks at the draenei before Sandy even has time to notice them. He slowly looks up, putting a hand above his eyes to cover them from the sun. "Oh, Nunu, Nesselos, hello. It is okay," he says, accidentally speaking with Nunuzac's accent. "I'm happy to see you, it's been… a while!"

"Yes, a while!" Nunuzac assents with a light sigh. "You are in my mind before now. I think, you should be with family, Gwen-friend, healers. Not too many all around. But maybe now is a time to say hello, we hope you are good."

She pauses for a moment as if there is more that could be said, but she is hesitant, changing tracks after a thought. "Who is this friend?" she gestures at the little rat. "And you are how? Others are with you some?"

Nesselos smiles as Nunuzac speaks, giving a friendly wave. He, too, looks curiously at the rat.

Sandy smiles. "Don't worry, I've got plenty of people taking care of me, and I'm starting to feel… better. I'm eating a little bit of normal food again, and I don't feel as sleepy anymore." He places a hand near the rat, which climbs onto it and runs to his shoulder." That's Bubble!"

"Bubble! Like in water. We tell water spirit, it gets proud and helps you more." She laughs lightly, looking more securely at ease. "You meet Nesselos before, yes? He is friend of father of Sandy, and helps us when we look for you."

"Really? Do you think spirits would help me for that?" he scooches to his left, leaving some space for one of the draenei to sit, although they might not have a lot of room on this staircase. "I know Nesselos, yes. He healed me…" He seems to think about how long ago it was. "A long time ago! I didn't know you knew Therald until you came to Duskwood."

Ness looks between Nunuzac and Sandy, and seems to conclude that Nunu has the best chance of fitting on the staircase. He leans against the wall instead. "Yes! I met you in Booty Bay, and then your father later by a complete coincidence! And we became good friends. He loves you very much, you know. And… I… might have other news to tell you, but… maybe when you're feeling even better."

Nunuzac gleefully squeezes on the staircase after an exchange of glances over the space available. Sorry Ness. She draws up her knees so they might not jab into anything or anyone, clefthoof leggins squeaking a bit. She then blinks at Nesselos with look that is very slightly vexed with impatience, because he has raised a Mystery Topic then immediately waved it away. "Oh, if more better to wait…" Whether it's momentous or mundane, the curiosity is clearly eating at her.

"I also journey with Therald, once, but Nesselos many more times. I want to know so much more of what both you do while I go to Northrend." She eyes Sandy with another curious look.

"I— I know. I know he was there too, in Duskwood," Sandy pauses. "I think he's still a little too, um… shy?" he seems to ask Nesselos. "… to come see me, but I know he will. I'm glad he made friends with you two!" He scooches even farther on the step, just to make sure Nunuzac is sitting comfortably - to the detriment of his own comfort. He seems just as curious as her to know about what Ness has to say. "You know, I'm feeling great!" it lacks some of the energy Sandy used to have, though. "You can tell me now."

"Oh? Really?" Ness looks at Sandy with wide, guileless eyes and then glances uncertainly to Nunuzac. "It's just about Helyn. Or not really, but. Um." Ness stammers, and then takes a breath to start again. "Helyn told us… she was lying but she told us that the same people who disappeared her brother might have got you. So I investigated."

Nunuzac taps her chin with a slightly befuddled look. "He does not come see before now?" She doesn't look entirely convinced that 'shy' is an adequate reason, throwing Nesselos a mild blink. Maybe he knows something else about this. Meanwhile, she pulls her long arm gently around Sandy's shoulders in friendly side-hug to assure him she is well with the available room, before letting him go. "I do not have all the story, but this is true, they look and look."

Sandy nods, acting like he completely understood what Ness meant by his 'really'. "He doesn't have many friends, so—" He gets it, now, thanks to Nunuzac's question. "Oh you meant… he hasn't come to see me yet? I think he's just… too embarrassed to come here after everything that happened." As Ness explains what's next, Sandy's face grows serious, a little sad, even. He leans in on Nunu's friendly hug. "And you… found something? Except me, I mean."

Ness pauses for a moment, maybe considering addressing the 'shyness'. But then he nods instead and answers the immediate question. "I… well, your father and I… found what happened to Carden Blackwood. Sandy, your biological mother has done some truly evil things. I still believe she could become a better person, but only if she comes to a time when she wants to."

Nunuzac's eyebrows go up quite high. "Oh no… yes, this is the thing you tell me a little about before we go to Helyn house." She winces a bit, recalling something, then frowns. Makes a motion as if to speak, stops herself, and simply frowns again, clearly with more questions in mind.

Sandy blinks. He blinks a lot. "You mean… Sirie killed Carden?.." He runs a hand on his face, looking into the distance. His eyebrows furrow in confusion. "Why?.." He looks at Ness, then at Nunuzac, who seems to know a little more than the human does.

Nunuzac just blinks up as well. Yes Nesselos, why did the sadistic cannibal undead do the thing?

"She made some excuses, but I think that’s all they were," Ness says carefully. "She killed him because she enjoys killing people. Sandy… I don't think she should even be a letters-mom."

"… What— what were the excuses?" Sandy hesitates to ask.

Nunuzac knits her eyebrows a bit, blinking from one to the other, her face a bit apologetic but mostly demonstrating her agreement that this state of affairs is quite horrid. "Father of Sandy is a kind human. And mage mother looks for you at Ironforge Cobalt house, I hear." She seems to be agreeing that Sirie is not someone to correspond with while highlighting other family.

"She did not intend for it to lead to your kidnapping," Ness assures him. "That, I think, was entirely bad luck, demons and grieving sisters."

Nunuzac finally blurts out the question that occured to her when the curiosity gets the best of her. "If Helyn goes to human justice council for take and hurt some one, then also Sirie goes for kill some one?"

Nesselos looks deeply sad at that. "I have the evidence to prove it, but… Humans have a thing called 'jurisdiction' and she isn't inside it. Maybe if I could talk to the Forsaken justice system… but I don't know if they have one."

"So the reasons she gave… it was about me?" Sandy asks, after Ness mentions Sirie's intention wasn't to have him kidnapped. He looks at Nunu and Ness as they speak. "But isn't the horde going to protect one of their own for killing someone from the Alliance?.." he gently pats Bubble on the head, looking at the ground. "We killed a bunch of people, when I was on the Squad. I never got into trouble for that because they enemies of the Alliance."

"But… there's a difference," Ness says, looking at Nunuzac for backup on this. "Killing is always bad, but sometimes… sometimes its needed? If an orc were trying to murder my friends, then I would try to stop the orc, for instance. Even if it meant killing them. That would not be murder, that would be defense. What she did… was not defense. He had done nothing to her, but she kidnapped him and she killed him. Intentionally."

Nunuzac looks like she also doubts the Forsaken have an adequate justice system as she taps her chin pensively. "Yes, many times there is not the same thing between kill in war and other kind, to people that make law. If we can do none else, we must tell Booty Bay there is a killer, yes? The goblin, he wants trade. No one goes to spend money if there is no peace, not safe.

"But this is a sad thing to talk on. More happy than this, is that Sandy is with us. And we know now a other one to bring for visit also." She gives Nesselos a look as if searching for agreement, her smile returning. "It is for sure enough time that Sandy rests now and can see more people, if he wants."

"Yes!" Nesselos nods at Nunuzac, and then turns to Sandy. "We can tell your father where you're resting, and I'm sure he'll want to see you. He was so worried! If he does seem a little… shy… sometimes, it's just because he's worried."

Sandy nods at the idea of warning Booty Bay. That seems like a plan that would be a good idea, yes." He listens to the two draenei, smiling slightly. "Yes, I'm happy to see you two, and I'd be happy to see dad too! I know him, I know he hasn't been there because he's overthinking things…" He scratches the back of his neck, nervously. "You still… haven't told me what she said her intentions were."

Nesselos sighs. "She killed Carden Blackwood in order to use his life force to repair her own body. And she thinks you ought to be more like her, but I don't think you should." He turns back to Nunuzac, and adds, "The goblins should be easy to convince, right? I do have proof."

"I think yes," Nunuzac answers with a quick nod. "I think best justice is make others more safe. I do not know how the Horde is safe with undead inside, when they do these things. Maybe this is another reason we have no peace with them." She goes thoughtful for a moment before refocusing.

"Sandy, there is any other you want to talk with but did not talk with? We travel some and maybe can carry a message. Or find out some thing you want to know. Oh! I remember." She pats around her small belt pouch and retrieves a small red scale, holding it out to Sandy in offer. "From me from Northrend. Dragon looks at me funny when I ask if I can keep it, but says no problem." Possibly because you did the equivalent of picking up somebody's loose hair and putting it in your pockets, from a sentient reptile's perspective.

"More like… her? What does she meant by that?" Sandy asks Ness, looking absolutely confused.

He turns to Nunu, nodding at her. The best justice is making others more safe, indeed! He keeps nodding at her musings about the lack of peace for the two factions, although the nodding is slower, sadder. Then, his eyes widen at the mention of getting people to come see him, and they would widen even more at the dragon scaled, if they could. "Oh, thanks! I love dragons!" he holds the scale, smiling, and Bubble runs on his arm to sniff it. Nope. Doesn't smell like Lyra. She goes back up to his shoulder. "As for someone I'd like to see… gosh, there are so many. We'd need a whole party." He chuckles softly.

Nunuzac brightens, her eyes widening emphatically. Party!? She nods vigorously. "Yes, good! A Sandy Gets Better party. You must give cheer and courage to the person who comes from a hurt. It makes the body get even more health. Also a party says to everyone, I am here again, hello!"

Nesselos smiles. "Yes! It's good for people to see you again. And just being around friends helps healing, right? And you will never need to be a frightening and violent warlock."

"Or a warlock!" Nunuzac beams. Hey, one can dream. "But I guess there is a problem and the problem is that some are in the bad fighting part of Northrend," she notes as if just remembering that. "We can ask who can come see."

Sandy chuckles some more at the two's enthusiasm. This time, he's the one avoiding a topic, not mentioning the 'warlock' talk in their speeches. "Yeah… that's why I'm not sad I haven't had much visit. I know everyone is really busy. I don't know… everything that's happened, or that's happening now, but I know it's… I know it's not good."

"There are some good things," Ness says with a hopeful smile. "Dalaran is quite lovely, it's a floating city! And I have heard many people are working together to make safe places for civilians to grow food and animals. Some things are terrible, but there are always good things, too!"

"Dalaran is very good to see. People there have many shops and inns, toy shop, clothes shop, animal shop." Nunuzac comments with a nod. "They use magic to live nice, and…" she considers for a moment, "it is in a way that is on purpose. Serious to live nice, even in a place like that." She may be picking up on the determination of those who rebuilt the city into something that could reclaim its pride in the wonders and conveniences of magic after its destruction. A certain spirit of those who were stubborn and hopeful enough to restore it.

"But so good you understand, about others who are in the fight. Yes, trouble has happened, big trouble. But it is not over. There are portals. Others can give cheer to you, and you can give it to them. I know some one like Sandy can give a lot of that. Very important now."

Sandy smiles. "And there's a pirate island! That's good too." He turns slightly to look in the direction of the front door, knowing his mother is inside. "Dalaran sounds fun. Mom always said it is." He turns, looking at Nunu a bit worriedly. "Oh, well… I'm not really allowed to leave the house just yet. I can't take a portal there right now to cheer people up."

"Oh, then again we go ask who can come here then," Nunuzac insists, seemingly untroubled. "Until you can go around more. First we tell father of Sandy to come talk, then ask others. Good?"

She gives the human's shoulders another brief hug while shuffling to stand again, pointing nonchalantly at the brightly colored scale. "The dragon who has this, they - " She makes an exaggerated deep breath in, then cups her hands around her mouth and leans forward, angling slightly toward the ground. "Haaaaaaah. Like that. Fire…" A hand pantomimes the path of the flame from mouth downward.

"Then down here. Flowers come up! Flowers come up from the fire. Do you believe that?" She sets her hands on her hips, beaming. "You do not see that on every world."

"It must've been amazing," Nesselos's eyes are wide. "For all the things that've happened, I wish I'd seen that."

Sandy almost claps excitedly at the show Nunuzac put on, but then realize that clapping while holding the precious scale might not be a bright idea. "Flowers… growing from a dragon's breath? That does sound like something from Azeroth!" He answers playfully. Sandy doesn't ask about all the things that have happened. His physician recommended he didn't do that. So he's happy to just know about the amazing parts of Azeroth's current news, for now.

Nesselos beams. "Your world does have such wonders in it. Nunu and I can tell you of them - and bring others to tell you - until you are well enough to come see for yourself!"

Nunuzac straightens up and turns back to face Sandy squarely, her hand at her collar, as if steadying back from the memory, smile warm. "You write at me if I am able to bring you any other thing that helps, yes? Or if you need some talk. I think Gwen will give a Dalaran tour when you can go." She reaches out a finger to let Bubble inspect, chuckling at the rat's whiskers twitching. "Be safe Sandy, I am sorry for all these troubles. May good fortune come to you."

Sandy smiles at the two of them. "I'd love that. I kind of miss travelling all over Azeroth. And I'll be sure to let you know if I need anything!" Bubble sniffs Nunu's finger, placing both front paws on it. "It's okay, you don't have to be sorry, you didn't do anything! And you gave me a great gift. Good fortune to you too!"

"We'll be just a letter away," Nesselos says with a smile, taking a step back like he is ready to depart. "I hope you will be travelling all over Azeroth again soon!"