A delicious smell

[Kal'ai]

Winter 15, 512 AV Evening Kal'ai sighed, with a hand over her mumbling stomach. Darn, she was hungry, she tought, on the way home. Very, very hungry: the day had been long and tiring, and her last meal was a meager cup of soup. Her master K'tale had tried to make her eat more, but they were so busy she had to drop it after a little. Only at evening, Kal realized that it was a very, very bad idea. No one was at home, because her mother had to do only-she-know-what outside the city, so no hot meal ready for her to eat. And her cooking skills...well, the food she made was not toxic like poison, but at least poison usually had a better taste and a better smell. Maybe it would have been better if she just went to some tavern or something and bought some food there. There was a place like that near, if she remembered correctly. Kal was starting to go towards that direction, when a delicious smell, albeit quite vague, made her turn almost against her own will. Food! And, if she could smell the delicious aroma, it must had been really close! But what if it was from a house or something? It would had lead her astray for nothing. She sighed, stopping on the side of the road. That was one of the situations where she wished her gift wasn't influenced by her own emotions. She was certain that her hunger would had prevailed, but...who knows? She closed her eyes, starting to concentrate on the two possibilities. First...should she had kept on her path? The answer was something like a "duh, if you must...", something pretty "gray", to put it in terms of colors. Should she had followed the smell? The answer, as expected, was an enthusiastic sensation of "oh yes, you definitely should". Darn...this time she was almost sure that the judgment was influenced by her, but who knows? She decided to follow it anyway, and who cares. She took another street between the houses: now she could see, in the distance, a fire in front of a house. Or a tavern. Houses and taverns aren't that different, only a few details like the sign could have helped you, and she was too far to see. She fastened her walk: her hunger was getting worse and the smell stronger.

[Blythe]

The night's air was crisp; cool. Flowing as silently as the waves that crashed into the shore, far off in the distance from where Blythe now stood over a crackling fire, prodding her niece's catch with a stick. The gnarled limb blistered, the deep brown skin furling away. Chipping as the end smoldered with the dark light's catchings. The stain of the milky moon upon paling flesh. Scales shimmering a soft pink as blonde hair was swept away from the brow. Tickling the lines of her swan's neck, caressing neon veins that pulsated lightly against the surface as it turned from side to side. The last of the scales sizzled against the black iron pan, the butter bubbling as it grew to match the mud's shade. The fire's light casting shadows against the cream colored meat, flaking away from the last of grey sheet as it absorbed the metal's heat. As she stood silently, with the flickering orange light dancing across her features, Blythe could only smile to herself. She knew the two small fish would not be enough to feed her entire family, so some would have to do without. Likely the older ones; the twins, perhaps herself. She supposed this would be alright, for she could always break her fast on fruit with Keyta. The Island always having such in excess, even this time of year, when the first frost kissed the earth.

Hopefully I don't burn you this time, the middle aged Konti thought to herself as she slid the stick against the side of the nearest fillet, pushing it over into the center of the pan, so it would heat up a little faster. The young ones are so fussy with the preparation of their meals, her mind added as she pulled the end of the stick away, and let it dangle uselessly at her side. The ends of her long white dress swaying against it, while the gifted katana she bore at her waist fought to beat it back down. The weight of it dragging as her lavender colored eyes remained fixated on the yellowing flesh. She supposed she'd season it soon, after she'd hooked the pan with another stick she had nearby, and dragged it off the fire. Doused the element, so as not to let it spread. The grey spirals of smoke drifting off and into the night...

OOCApologies, posting may be a bit slow until the end of the holiday season.

[Kal'ai]

Now she was definitely close, and yes, she could already tell that the building in front of her wasn't a tavern at all. It was clearly a house. Damn, she knew that her sensation was guided mostly by the hunger. But it was too late to think that, the young Konti realized. She stopped, trying to understand her position. Of course she knew, more or less, where she was, and she could had turned her back, returning to the street she was following before being distracted by the smell. She could, yeah, but with that deviation she had lost a lot of time, and she would have lost even more of it if she had returned back. Well, she could have asked for directions...if she had managed to resist to the delicious aroma of fish. Mmh...grilled fish...Uh. Well, that's what she meant by "resist". Kal sighed, before shaking her head. She had nothing to lose, after all, but still...Well, it's not like she feared to not receive an answer, or something: the Konti were extremely kind with travellers. Ok, she wasn't exactly a traveller, but that was not the point. It was just...she feeled awkward just barging in. She bited her lower lip, starting to walk. She couldn't stay all the evening in that spot, after all: the air was quite cool, even with her cloak. Kal'ai was really near, now. She cleared her throat. "Hello! May I ask for some indications?" she asked with a soft voice, but hoping that it was enough to cover her mumbling stomach. OOCNo problem for me. Just post whenever you can or want, I'm perfectly fine this way.

[Blythe]

Blythe turned to meet the sound of her sister's voice, a fall of white hair, seemingly rippling against the younger Konti's shoulders. Her pale, lavender colored eyes fell onto a deeper violet, the edges flecked with the milky white sheen of the moon's reflection. The supple curve of her delicate pink lips. Confused by the younger's words, Blythe found her brow furrowing as her thumb danced over the edge of the stick. "An indication of what?" Blythe asked of her as her neck strained to remain in the position she had forced it into. Her ears prickling against the sound of sizzling butter, and flaking fish flesh. The far end of the stick smoking as the orange embers began to fade in the wind's wake. The last few steps the ends of curling strands took to complete their dances. For I am certain I have neither seen nor met you before, her mind added for her benefit, more than that of anyone else.

[Kal'ai]

"An indication of what?" Yeah, she definitely messed up. And it would have been so simple! Why she couldn't had just said something like 'Hello! I'm quite lost, can you tell me how to reach a tavern?' It was a simple phrase. Except that no, she had to mess up everything with a stupid phrase. Indications? In her situation, you ask for directions, not indications. And if you do, you should at least tell to the one in front of you what do you search. She managed to exhibit a nervous smile, before starting to talk again. "Uh...sorry, I meant directions. Sorry. Directions. I don't know well this zone of the city, and I was searching for an inn...a tavern...somethingwhereIcouldfindsomethingtoeatbutdon'tworryI'mfinesorryifIbotheredyouI'mreallyreallysorrygoodeveninggoodbyeandthanks!" The last bit of the phrase suddenly exited from her mouth like a river of words, ending in some unintelligible muttering. She had definitely messed up, this time. Indeed. She covered her face with both hands, which had coloured itself with a bright shade of red. Without even bothering to look, she turned on her heels and she started to walk fast away. She wanted to cry...why? Why she always had to make a fool of herself?! She wasn't given an answer, except maybe for the little tree at the side of the road that she collided with while she was basically running with her eyes covered. She fell on the ground, surprised by the sudden hit and unable to regain her balance in time. She made her hands slip down her face, uncovering her eyes. When she saw what she has done, she knew that her dignity was lost. Lost forever. She covered immediately her eyes, lowering her head and aknowledging the awkward situation she was in, while a little voice in her head remarked that at least nothing worse could happen after this. Not the best consolation ever, to be honest. OOCCurse you, Google translate. Curse. You.

[Blythe]

"Oh!" the elder Konti exclaimed as her thumb danced over the stick's knobs. "Why didn't you just say so before?" Blythe questioned as she gestured to her right with her free hand. "All the inns and things are to the south. That's where the heart of the city lies," she said with a smile before her face fell as the younger fled. What a strange girl, she thought to herself with a shrug, before returning to her cooking, taking note that the edge of the skins were starting to blacken and furl as the butter browned.

OOCSorry this is such a short post.

[Kal'ai]

She remained on the ground, trying to regain her cool. Her dignity may have been lost forever, but at least she wanted her mind clear. She was almost calm, when she realized two things. One, she was still hungry and she was still sitting on the road. But the second...oh, the second. She realized that the blurry word she managed to hear from the other Konti were the direction she needed, and you know what? She couldn't even remember what she said. And the why was simple: she was busy fleeing like an indiot. Very well, Kal'ai: you just reached a new record in clumsiness. She sighed heavily, while her stomach started to growl indignantly, probably alerting everyone in Mura. The delicious smell of the fish really wasn't helping...she should have gone away, but her legs didn't seem to think that. The evening was turning worse and worse every minute that passed. OOCSorry for the massive delay, I've got some technical problems with my Pc, and the fact that every shop that could repair it was closed didn't help. It should be over, tough.

[Blythe]

Blythe's nostrils reddened and then flared against the cold air; the scent of fish which mixed with the smell of smoke. She could see the fish's edges beginning to brown, and soon raised the stick to prod the edges. The skin broke; flaking a little against the pointer's touch.

It should be ready, Blythe thought to herself as she reached for another stick, and gently, with each in hand, eased their edges beneath the pan, delicately lifting it from the fire and guiding it over to the ground beside her. When it landed softly, she put the sticks down and glanced down at the fish. At least it's not completely burnt this time, she thought to herself as she reached for her seasonings.

Sprinkling a little salt onto the dirtied wounds. Hoping it wasn't too much for the youngest of her nieces weren't particularly fond of it either, although her grandmother was.

Inwardly Blythe sighed, it was impossible to please them all. And if that strange girl came back with her rumbling belly...

OOCIt's ok, take your time.

[Kal'ai]

She should have gotten up, really. But...to go where? She was still lost. Ugh. No. No, no, no. A solution had just popped out in her mind but...no! There was no way she would have...No. No. NO. Even if...even if nothing. Going back and ask again for directions was definitely the last thing she wanted to do. But...no, no. No. Well, okay, maybe...no. She started shaking her head, trying to make that thought disappear, with not-so-good results. Damn, it was honestly the best idea, but...Well, let's be honest. She had already made herself the fool of the village, and going back and showing that she was, indeed, an idiot wouldn't have made anything easier. But she had nothing to lose: after all, she didn't even know the other Konti and she had good chances that the accident would have been forgotten soon. Sighing, she got up, and reluctantly made her way towards the other woman. At least her stomach had stop to growl like a savage beast...She stoppend in front of the other Konti, lowered her eyes and started to torture her fingers while speaking. "I'm sorry for before...I...I kinda...lost my cool. Sorry. And I'm sorry because...I haven't managed to catch what were you saying before. Sorry. I promise this time I wont flee..." There. Maybe this time everything would have been fine.

[Blythe]

Blythe knew that salt would never be enough to satisfy, and soon, had begun to squeeze a lemon wedge over the fish. Moving her hand around as though she were stirring an invisible cauldron to get at every inch of fish flesh and as the pale yellow juice ran down the length of her fingers a familiar voice caused her ears to prickle. Her lavender colored eyes to rise from the pan to the strange girl who had run away before.

Blythe smiled weakly as she stifled a chuckle. "It's alright," she commented as she raised her free hand and pointed in the direction of town once more. "That way, you can't miss it," she commented as she returned her hand to her side and looked down at the filets, wondering if they needed any pepper or perhaps dill or oregano. If the woman was still standing there.

"Is that all you needed?" Blythe would ask as if to satisfy her last fleeting thoughts. "Or is there something else?"