A Life All My Own

Tonight was a lovely night in Mulgore, as it often is.
 
I introduced Artimir to Ambassador Jarclair so that he might garner what information he could from the Forsaken diplomat. I think the meeting went rather well, but I suppose it will remain to be seen what comes of it, if anything. I have done my part in bringing them together.
 
Story Night went as swimmingly as one could hope. Artimir and Qiao even got up to tell stories of their own! Many familiar faces were on-hand to listen: Forgemaster Aurok and his Palemanes, again. Zagosh and Hakiro. Rory and Tazzi. Sorvitsune. Jeff. Even Borador came clear across the world to listen! And all of them, of course, got to see me perform my latest story. I am beginning to wonder what I will do next week. I feel as if I have run through all the tricks up my sleeve, but I will need to work harder than ever to make my stories all the more interactive and enjoyable.
 
After the stories were told, I filtered through the crowd to speak to a little bit of everyone. Once done, I sat with Borador and we spoke about again exploring the places in Pandaria I have not yet seen. He was concerned with the sheer number of burdens I have shouldered, but I reassured him that I have not yet taken on more than I can handle. He proceeded to bend my ear a bit about taking better care of myself, taking more time to myself. If I prefer to spend time in smaller groups, more closely with people, then to not get so drawn in to the massive parties. I have as much right to my comforts and wants as I do any obligation to put in my cameo appearances. It is not as if I can keep up with the mile-a-minute chatter and the only one who ever seems to seek my company during them is Qiao. Eventually, though, Borador -- Dori, if only to me -- had to return so that he could fulfill his obligations to the Explorer's League. I was loath to part his company; his easy-going nature makes it easy to relax around him. Still, he promised we would see each other again soon.
 
I noticed that everyone was gone as I left Bloodhoof Village. Given that I was in no mood to steep myself into yet another crowd, I took my time with getting back to Thunder Bluff. Having thought everyone long-gone, it was a surprise to find Hakiro and Zagosh still lingering there. Zagosh was off to bed, but given that I wanted to spend time with Hakiro anyway, it was well-suited to my evening. So, Hakiro and I adjourned to my usual spot on Hunter's Rise. There we spoke of a number of things, though firstly of just why it is that everyone seems so keen on traveling to Pandaria lately, as if no other continents exist. If there is one thing I have picked up on is that Hakiro does not care to return to Pandaria for their own personal reasons, which I did not pry from them. Perhaps it is why they and Zagosh do not go gallivanting with the group that often, if the destination is Pandaria more often than not.
 
So, we discussed other places we might go, she, Zagosh, and I. Perhaps even with Borador and Qiao. Places like the underwater 'dive' bar that Rory showed me off the coast of Zandalar, or the winding spires of Suramar. Hakiro shared with me that their favorite place was the Argent Tournament Grounds in Northrend and that they would invite me the next time a tournament was held there, so we might go. Hakiro seemed to take great delight in the idea of me finding adventures of my OWN to have on my own terms, instead of being dragged into large-scale groups where I cannot keep up with the conversation and get sent to a corner with Qiao. Not that I dislike Qiao's company, but it would be a fine thing to be among those more "my speed" than being expected to "keep up" with a bunch of chatterboxes that are not. It is something to consider.
 
It is something to look forward to.
 
☼
 
Later in the night, back in Orgrimmar, I sat with Kheerah and Qiao for a while. Kheerah, it seems, is -- as Qiao would put it -- single and ready to mingle but given her personal traumas with males, vulpera in particular, these seem like very difficult waters for her to navigate. We did not get to speak of it much as Skarni and Drizztan also showed up, which made Kheerah less inclined to talk. I told her we would speak of it later when I could find time for her alone.
 
It has been a long week, though, and I feel as if I still have not caught up with rest. So, I return home early to find it.