To meet with deadly grace (Laszlo)

[Dovinya]

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination -Nelson Mandela 45th of Spring, 512 AV Looking from behind the curtain covering the narrow entrance into his home, he watched the city from his protective perch. Within those observant golden orbs was held a hidden shame, and a uneasy sort of peace within them. It was what caused the young symenestra to become the quiet sort he was, though he remained just as active as he had been. He'd not let it cripple him. Weaving, prayer, and family may be all he needed now, the latter because they were blood and understood his true pain, but soon he would be needed to participate in the harvest as his brother would be finding wife soon, and he still had other duties to his family. When the time came, he needed to be well prepared. For now, he needed to collect food for he intended on entertaining his brother and a guest in his home, and found his own supplies unacceptable. No for them he wished the best, and it was his reasoning for waking up early in the morning in order to catch the vendors before it was time for him to go to work. Striding agilely along the crimson strand he soon found himself by the Orchard Market and with it a blur of faces and activity. It was a comforting sight, filled with familiar smells, and friendly voices. Pushing up to stand solely on his feet, he took his time looking through the wares of a fruit vender in a colorful blue reed and wood stall. His eyes settled on a pound of dried apples that apparently were popular in winter on the surface. Plucking the bag up and putting it in his bag, he deposited his owed coin, and then he was off along the strands, looking at the other vendors wears all the while in hopes of finding something suitable to bring for dinner.

[Laszlo]

Being Symenestra and Ethaefal in Kalinor meant that he could only traverse the city's "roads" at certain hours, literally only half the time. When the sun rose over Kalea, unseen to the caverndwellers below, Laszlo took the form of his fallen self, becoming confined to Duvalyon's home—perhaps much to the dismay of the physician himself. Fortunately, the doctor found other places to be, allowing Laszlo to rest from his long journey through the mountains, as well as spending private time with a mostly blind Abalia. There was of course the option of using the baskets to get himself transported at the behest of his friend, or a bribable guard, but Laszlo would prefer to avoid attracting notice in his day form. Kalinor was a small city, a tightly woven community, and many would remember the Ethaefal who stayed with them a little under two years ago. Word of his return might spread to the wrong places and earn the interest of a Web who would prefer that he stayed gone. At least as Symenestra, he could more easily blend in. Even to those who may have known him before, Laszlo could be but a familiar blur passing through their peripheral vision. When his nightside form returned to him, Laszlo took it upon himself to visit the market, to purchase something edible for his human companion. Duvalyon had tentatively offered his own pantry to Laszlo, so long as the Ethaefal didn't leave it empty when the Symenestra returned. However, humans tend not to be very fond of blood jelly. Even Laszlo's burgundy reflection in the jars appeared unenthusiastic, but he grew used to a Symenestra's special diet during his last stay. The Orchard Market would be stocked with a better variety of options. Some vendors even catered specially to treats one could give a surrogate for good behavior. After touching down on a solid walking surface again, Laszlo bent to replace his leather footwear. When he straightened, Laszlo didn't think to check his surroundings before walking onward. The gold-eyed Symenestra seemed to appear from nowhere, and the Ethaefal couldn't stop himself from colliding into him. They met at the shoulder, and though Laszlo stumbled, he recovered quickly. He hoped the stranger would, too, but he felt a strike of guilt when he remembered the reason Symenestra wore chitin armor above ground. Fortunately, the only victim seemed to be the bag of dried apples which spilled over the platform. Immediately, Laszlo stooped and began picking them up with his long, deftly clawed fingers. Their utility was such that sometimes Laszlo considered growing out his dayside cuticles. "I'm sorry," he muttered quickly in silken Symenos, still bearing a bit of an unwieldy accent. He had been speaking Common for too long above ground. He chanced a look upward, relieved when he didn't recognize the face staring back at him. "How careless of me. You'd think I was half blind." Laszlo rose again, carrying an armful of dehydrated fruit. He hesitated, regarding the shriveled apple in one hand. It wasn't fine cuisine, but Abalia could eat this. "Which vendor is selling these? I'll buy you another bag, one that hasn't been thrown in the dirt, if you'll trade me these."

[Dovinya]

Looking over the crowd as he was to notice the various hanging stalls, he didn't notice one certain symenestra bending over to put on their shoes, and when the man stood up, Dovinya knocked into him, the jarring action causing his hand to release his tenuous hold on the apples. Overbalancing in the wake of the accidental bump he corrected himself by pulling his foot behind him, and effectively turning in the process to face the symenestra that had appeared in his way. A pang of dismay settled through him at the sight of his new purchase scattered across the ground, but he quickly hid it with an accommodating smile. "You have not offended" Dovinya said, the weight of his golden gaze upon the symenestra. He found the man's manner of dress rather odd, particularly his shoes, but on this he decided to remain quiet from the moment. His father had taught him to have a delicate touch in his conversations and etiquette kept him from burdening this one with questions. "Your offer is well received, a boy of the Agrimony web is selling the purchase" He replied smoothly, gesturing towards the blue reed stall not far from where the stood. "Your face is unfamiliar, to what web do you claim?" Dovinya bothered to question as he took to walking beside the other symenestra towards the stall. A spare question here and there after all wasn't too much of an indulgence.

[Laszlo]

The question gripped Laszlo's heart with cold terror, and for a moment he had no idea how to answer. It was the first time anyone had asked him that since he'd returned to Kalinor, and he wasn't prepared for it. Laszlo masked his look of mild surprise with tight-lipped grimace, pretending to focus on the apples as he leaned forward to return them to the Symenestra's bag. With his hands free, he was able to detach the coin satchel from his belt, flicking through its contents with a pair of long, black nails. He led the way to the Agrimony stalls, thinking on his answer while counted out his miza. "You'll have to pardon me, but that's a difficult question for me, lately," Laszlo responded hesitantly, glancing backward with a patient smile. "Until a short while ago, I belonged with the Orthilia Web. I'm not sure that's true, anymore. There has been a bit of melodrama among my family. It's a bit of a sore topic, I'm afraid." It wasn't a complete lie, at least. It was a fact that Laszlo had been an Orthilia, roughly fifty years ago. And again, unofficially, for a season or two in the year 511. "I apologize if that sounds rude." Arriving at the stand, there was a pause as Laszlo turned to accost the Symenestra trader, exchanging a brief dialog about the price of apples. After depositing a handful of coins in the young vendor's thin hand, he was handed another small bag of the dried fruit. Laszlo then turned to offer it to Dovinya. "I'm Vethis," he introduced himself politely, using a name that few would recognize. Laszlo immediately regretted it, realizing he could have just made one up instead of assuming a dead man's guise.

[Dovinya]

Concern darkened his features at the Symenestra's words, and curled his lips downward slightly in a way that hinted at disproval. "My condolences, I meant not to pry" Dovinya replied softly, going silent as he kept pace with the symenestra, the energy stolen from his words. To see a web struggling so pained him for family was everything, and fractures in one cut just as cleanly as if they were in his own. It certainly explained the man's odd manner of dress, or so he considered if his guess was correct. If his question disturbed the symenestra though, the man was going to lengths to hide it as he talked with the trader, and bowing his head, he offered a quick prayer to viratas, it's purpose to display his hopes that the man's web would mend in time and once more welcome him like prized son. The symenestra's distraction was brief in any case, and as he opened his eyes after the prayer, he found his company for the time turning around and presenting the promised apples. A slight look of surprise caught on his face at hearing the man's name, but he hid it by letting his eyes stay on the offered apples, and gingerly accepting them he put them in his pack before offering his own. "My manner's seem to have flown me, I am Dovinya Aconite. It is a pleasure to know you Vethis." Dovinya spoke, a gentle smile taking to his features.

[Laszlo]

Taking the batch of apples from the Symenestra's arms, Laszlo stiffened as he heard him speak his name. "Aconite? Of the Aconitum, perhaps?" Shyke, that wasn't good. The Aconitum knew just about everyone. If Dovinya chatted with his family about some Vethis Orthilia he met at the market, rumors might make their way back to Syrladiv Orthilia, who would not be pleased to know Laszlo was back in Kalinor—and furious that he was assuming the name of his father. Laszlo cleared his throat. "Honored, Dovinya." He nodded politely, wanting to very suddenly to just take his food and leave. Dovinya seemed pleasant, however, and he couldn't bring himself to spurn him by making a quick exit. "Ah, and don't worry about manners. I should be the one apologizing. I really should stop imparting my family drama onto every person I meet." It had been a terrible mistake to lie about who he was. There had been no need for it. Even if Ladiv didn't want him back in Kalinor, he had no authority to evict the Ethaefal. What did it matter, ultimately, if his return made the elder Orthilia a little irritable? These unnecessary lies were knotting the delicate threads of Laszlo's predicament, convoluting this entire affair, and creating potential for greater conflict. It was the Alvadas mindset, he told himself. Reality was a merry game in Ionu's city, and Laszlo had too easily fallen into its rhythm. Well this wasn't Alvadas, this was the demesne of the Symenestra. There was no room for childish games here, and actions were not forgotten in the maze of Ionu's folding reality, they had consequences. Laszlo took two small steps toward the silken strand road, making an indication of urgency, but he dallied out of courtesy. "If you don't mind me asking, how do you intend to eat these?" He made a gesture toward Dovinya's apples. "Are they just a snack or do you know of a better way to cook them?"

[Dovinya]

"Indeed, my favored cousin is over the Aconitum. He does his web proud" Dovinya spoke with an easy smile. He harbored much respect for those in his family, Laudavyn foremost amongst them. To the pleasant symenestra before him, he remained thankful that this one seemed ignorant of his past thus keeping him free of that inevitable awkward moment sure to happen with anyone knowledgeable in Kalinor's affairs. "Keep it far from thought Vethis, these troubles will subside and only make your web stronger for it" It was an optimistic notion, but one he fully believed in despite reasoning. He wasn't so well acquainted with this symenestra though and didn't know the circumstances of his existence. The man seemed pleasant enough on the exterior, but his private life could be another matter entirely, though he would expect he would have heard of this Vethis if such was true. Crime was not popular in Kalinor after all. "I'm afraid I am not so knowledgable in the culinary arts so I plan to find someone more suitable to prepare them, else I'll resort to using them as common treats" His accompanying smile showed his well kept teeth, and folding his arms across his chest, he straightened up where he stood lest his mother see him slouching in public. "I do not mean to burden you, but might you know a way in which to prepare the dried fruit?"

[Macabre]

Thread Award

Dovinya
XP N/A
Lore Vethis Orthilia is in Kalinor
Expenses -1GM for Pound of Dried Apples

Laszlo
XP Subterfuge +1
Lore N/A
Expenses -1GM for Pound of Dried Apples

Dov, please keep in mind that the Harvest is always undertaken by the firstborn. They may teach firstborn cousins or friends or even go along with them, but the second child, unless the first dies, probably wouldn’t ever see a Harvest. Marriage doesn’t stop them, in fact, I’m sure his wife would be delighted to have her husband go off in search of a surrogate so that they could have a child!
Everything else was great. Good job to both of you for conveying that small town atmosphere, and all the stoic pleasantries and awkwardness that comes with it.
Also, Dov, do as you wish with that lore; it could prove handy in the future if you find out who Vethis Orthilia was.