[Flashback] There's no escape from Homework (Oluse)

[Tabarnac]

The Temple of Nikali changed constantly, always in flux, much like life. Today the foyer was full of early flowers, welcoming the spring with a heady bouquet of wildflowers and the occasional breezes from open windows. The Denvali always seemed over eager to let in Spring, removing winter coats and cloaks as soon as it was possible to do so without catching a chill. It was a largish room as rooms went in Denval, where stone was the most abundant building material, but there were tables and chairs, couches and rugs, pillows and instruments lying here and there; everything necessary for ease and pleasure, entertainment and delight. But the children might have been disappointed. There was nothing untoward happening now, most Denvali citizens being hard at work elsewhere at this hour. Of course, Nikali's temple was holy, and some never quite understood the soul- and mind-healing that went on here, focusing only on the prurient aspects of the human condition. Justus, the darkly handsome priest of Nikali, was leaning up against a table near a door that led to the kitchens, pausing in the act of buffing an apple on the front of his loose shift. The laces were undone and the brilliant scarlet chain, his mark from Nikali, was clearly visible swooping along his chest and up around his neck like a piece of jewelry inked in godsblood. The man sensed need, but in these two, he only found curiosity. His smile was friendly and had a tendency to set one at ease. For this reason, those parents who found sex difficult to talk to sometimes arranged for Justus to explain things to their children, but most Denvali were rather open and accepting of such things. After all, it was only sex. "Hello," he said. "What can I do for you today?"

[Oluse]

Oluse had visited the temple before, when his parents urged him to come just past his tenth birthday. He had conversed with the lovely courtesan Siwa, a prominent event in his short life to say the least. It was a day that sparked curiosity and wonder at the world in his mind. To think so much of the world lay in mysticism and wonder, and he only could see and feel part of it, that each stage of his life would bring new levels of pleasure and reward. He would never forget her.

Having been here before, he had to fight the urge to take charge. He wanted to ask if Siwa was around, he wouldn't mind doing a report on her at all. But, he tempered himself with some effort. This trip, after all, was supposed to be about Alea.

Hi smile melting into a calmer content expression, he looked to Alea, passing the question onto her, as well as indulging in his curiosity over how she would react to her new environment. He half expected the flippant girl to storm out, he hoped she wouldn't. He didn't mean to embarrass her... much

[Alea Davenport]

Alea looked from Oluse to the man, waiting for the boy to speak. When he just looked at her, she felt a spark of annoyance. He was going to make her do the investigating? This was his idea. But apparently he was so ineffectual, Alea would need to handle this herself.

She was a bit miffed at having to talk to a stranger unprepared, but fortunately, this man did not leave her tongue-tied. She took a moment, to look around the room, appreciating the tasteful atmosphere and gathering her thoughts. Finally she said, "We were assigned to do a report on one of the professions in Denval. We, uh, came here to learn more about..." she trailed off and looked at Oluse, assuming he must have SOME idea of what they were here for. Alea remained clueless.

[Oluse]

Oluse's words of response were simple, adorned with an innocent smile. "Acolytes of Nikali."

oocummmm guess that's all he had to say. srry >.< don't see any reason to ramble on about what he is thinking if its really not relevant which it's not XD srry for short post nonetheless

[Alea Davenport]

A blank expression crossed Alea's face. Which one was Nikali again? She remembered learning about the different gods and goddesses at some point during her Academy schooling, but like most things, they did not directly affect her life, so she lost interest and forgot everything she knew as soon as she stopped getting tested on the information.

"Yes, uh, we came to learn about Acolytes of Nikali. And what you do in Denval." She addressed this to the man with the apple. She spared a sidelong glanced for her project partner, but by now had pretty much given up any hope of his usefulness.

[Tabarnac]

Justus eyed the pair with amusement and a little consternation. Young Oluse had already come to the Temple, not to be made a man, but because his parents had wanted someone else to explain a few things about growing up to him. Siwa was a gentle soul, and Oluse seemed the better for their little talk. Perhaps when his time came, she would be the one to lead him from boyhood to manhood. Instruction in the art of love coupled with military discipline kept rapes down to a minimum. The Denvali were, by and large, a lusty people, and dedicated to making love and making babies, but they were taught to embrace their desires, and also to discipline them when necessary. "Well, I suppose there would be a deal of speculation in the young," he said. Many parents were frank and honest with their children, but some preferred to leave it to the "experts". "Nikali is the goddess of lust, pleasure, slavery, service, and addiction. But what it all boils down to is need. People need many things to survive: food, shelter, water, sleep. Some would argue that they need companionship and love. "Here at the temple, we keep sacred her domains. Lust is assuaged with pleasure, and addictions are lifted if possible, or treated. And we consider ourselves expert in the acquisition and training of slaves. The acolytes respond to what suppliants, clients, whatever you want to call them... to what they need. Sometimes that is not the same as what they want, but the goddess grants us the ability to sense and respond appropriately to need. "So when the time comes that your bodies become adult and you begin to feel adult needs, you may choose to come to us as many do for guidance through that. Rak'keli's people heal bodies. We heal hearts, minds, and souls."

[Oluse]

Oluse suddenly wished he had brought his dictionary with him. Long strings of medical terms, and pre Valterrian names of herbs didn't phase him, but this was like some insane riddle to the boy. He wasn't even entirely sure he understood the general principle of what Justus was saying. Odd, since he he previously been taught it. His confusion wore clear on his young face, displayed with a dumb set of hurried blinks as his mind reeled to take in the information. This of course dampened his smile slightly.

Finally after a long moment his thoughts caught up to last sentence. He understood it, and decided to respond to that. He after all didn't want the man to think he wasn't paying attention. "Sir, how can you heal a mind? And a soul? You can't even see it. I don't doubt your truthfulness, I just wonder how? And, how could a person like me learn to heal it?" His smile returned, as he omitted the bits of conversation he didn't grasp from his mind, and focused on the parts he could take some control of. He took special care after his question to give a glance over at his companion. He was very excited to see her response to all of this, and wondered if she understood any more of what the man said than he did, she was almost an entire year older than him after all. Then again, she could be a bit dense in the face of academic pressure...

He decided to give her a nudge, and in his excitement forget to weed the giddy teasing edge out of his words, "What about you, Alea? What do you want to know about them?" He gave a pleased grin, teeth showing this time.

[Alea Davenport]

Alea had to fight the urge to smack the smug grin off the boy's face. Until he'd started pestering her, she'd actually found herself surprisingly interested in what Justus had to say. "He just told you, idiot!" she snapped. "If you paid attention, maybe you could learn things!" She was vaguely aware of the hypocrisy of her statement, but would argue that she did pay attention when she was interested. She just...was not interested very often.

"What I want to know is," she went on, not bothering to explain any further to the poor, confused Oluse, "is how you tell the difference between what people want and what they need. Can a person figure out the difference at least in their own case? How do I know that what I want isn't what I need, and how do I get what I need if it's not what I want?" It was little puzzles like these that Alea liked to mull over when she was fishing, and it would be interesting to get some new material to think about.

[Tabarnac]

"Why don't we have a seat?" he suggested, guiding the pair over to one of the low tables surrounded by pillows, which made for comfortable lounging. Children were flexible enough to enjoy that sort of freedom. As they got comfortable, an acolyte -- not Siwa, unfortunately -- came in with a tray to set before them on the table. With a kind smile, she gave them a nod that was almost a bow, and retreated to Justus' murmured thanks. Justus served them, as he was a priest of the goddess of service and found joy in it. The delicious smell turned out to be a delicious concoction made from cacao brought up from the south, brewed with sugar and milk from Theo's farm, with a dash of Eyktolian pepper for bite and a pinch of Denvali sea salt to heighten the flavor and sweetness. He served them each a mug. "There are things that damage a person, unkindness being one of them. So often the first step in healing a person is kindness, and yes, Oluse, you can do that much. It is a powerful force for healing, even though it seems so simple. "And Alea, often the difference between need and want is slight, but sometimes we can deceive ourselves into thinking what we want is what we need. We may think we need a pile of gold to be happy, because then we can buy any old thing we want, but there's that word: want. Someone obsessed with gold might want gold, but they need something else. Part of healing is finding out what that need really is."

[Oluse]

The concoction was wonderful and exotic to Oluse's inexperienced taste buds. He had never tasted anything like it, his family being somewhat of minimalists. In fact, nothing but tradition Denvali food, heavy with locally grown vegetables, hand picked fruits, and plentiful portions of fish ever passed the boy's lips. His eyes went wide at the first taste, and he sipped at the liquid sparingly trying to make the sensation that seemed to fill his entire body with every rich lap of his tongue, last for as long as humanly possible. "This is amazing Justus, thank you. What is it made of?" His rearing taught him a curiosity for all things herbal and medical. He felt that this must be both. Especially if calming the heart was supposed to be medicinal. Throughout the conversation he kept his mind open to the sensations within his body as the drought took effect.

His primary focus, however, remained loosely upon Justus' words. He took them to heart, and promised himself he would do his best to always be kind, so that even when no blood had been spilled he may have the opportunity to heal somebody. Even if it was a big abstract for him to understand completely, it wasn't in him to question the words of an adult. He also decided not to tell his father about this resolution. Oluse figured his father wouldn't understand how words could possibly be comparable to what he considered to be the healing arts. Hardly an art at all, through his father's eyes, but a tradition.

He then listened to Justus' responding words toward Alea. Oluse thought they were wise, but couldn't help but notice the priest had omitted a portion of the question. He wondered if this was a mistake, or if it was a carefully guarded secret. He decided to ask and find out. "Sir, Alea asked how you could tell the difference. And I would like to know too."