Open Keeping yourself occupied

[Wyatti]

52nd of Winter 512
Market Street: Mid-day

It was always busy here, people coming and going, food being sold and rationed, a mixture of the rich and poor mingled in together. With it their own scents mixed in with the sea air. Among them Wyatti pushed her way through and up to stalls and windows, peering and looking for something to catch her interest. Most of the time however she was shooed away before even getting a good look. She did have the look of being troublesome about her, a street urchin looking for something to steal, for fun or for what ever. And so she continued on, pressing her face up against the window of a store, looking a the small goods that were inside, watching with curiosity, her eyes darting about until she saw the shop keeper coming marching to the glass and tap on the window. She flinched back in surprise, her shoulders sinking as a glare was shot.

It carried on like this for all the places she stopped, only to be turned away or pushed back when she tried to enter. She never really got the possibility to get a close look, to truly admire what was there. In a sense it made her feel isolated, as if she was not part of the population and a simple pest. A child sent to lighten the load of stock. So the Kelvic drew away and perched herself at the mouth of an alley, watching the world go by with a look of dissatisfaction and annoyance on her face. It was not fair, but what could she do? Nothing. She was just a child in a sea of adults, nothing more, nothing less. She sighed deeply. All she wanted was to occupy her time, the other adults in her life had things to do. And with her now being more use to the roads and alleys she had to go do her own thing. She traced her fingers along the stone cobbles, her brow creased as she tried to think.

Perhaps it would pay to be stubborn for a change. In fact, why not?

Wyatti stood, her fists clenched and stepped back out. She made a beeline for a store that had grabbed her interest earlier, one that seemed full of replicas and antiques of an assortment. She went to the door, and pushed it open, only to be approached by a clerk almost instantly, trying to shoo her out. But this time the Kelvic put her foot down, a look of stubbornness on her face and a refusing to budge. It did not take long however until she was grabbed by the ear and dragged out, struggling madly as she made a scene.

"Damn trash," the clerk pushed her away and returned to his shop.

Stupid human, I only wanted to look.

She rubbed at her ear, before walking briskly away, a fowl look growing on her face.

[Kenneric Crowe]

Such appalling single-mindedness and blatant racism shocked Kenneric as he looked on, watching the young kelvic get pulled out of the shop. The most stunning aspect of the whole situation was that it was Zeltiva! This was supposed to be the center of forward thinking scholars. Kenneric was not one to but in and draw unwanted attention to himself, but something had to be done.

He had been raised with better manners and a tad bit more morals than that. Dressed in his finest, Kenneric not only looked respectable, he demanded respect. Garbed in fine black velvet trousers, a white velvet shirt, and a fine brocade brown and gold vest, he had been out for a day of shopping. Slipping out of the shop he approached the girl. She looked a bit dirty, and he could not tell if it was sadness or anger in her eyes there. But he was aware enough to know that must have been embarrassing, and he would attempt to assist her in saving face in front of the populous of Zeltiva.

“Good day, Miss. I am Mister Kenneric Crowe, and I would just like to say that I am sorry for the appalling behavior of that shopkeeper.” He held out a thin fingered hand, his face flashing into a broad, white smile. “May I have the pleasure of your name, miss?” He inquired of her, utilizing the best of his manners.

He glanced back at the shop owner in disgust. “Small heads breed narrow minds, I dare to say.” He spoke loudly enough for the man to hear him. “No matter, we mustn’t let such fools finish our fun.”

[Wyatti]

Wyatti was still in a fowl mood, annoyance clear in her face, her ear still throbbing from the pinching. But when this Kenneric Crowe approached, with his smiles, charms and manners she calmed herself. He was taller than her- then again who was not?- fine built, well dressed, if she was older and more mature in the mind then perhaps she would of also found him handsome. But alas, the priorities of a child were not on looks but instead the person. For a moment she eyed the hand with suspicion, her nostrils flaring slightly as she tried to grab his scent.

She extended her hand and met his in a small shake "Wyatti... Wyatti, uh. There is not a second name. So, just Wyatti."

Wyatti released his and looked back at the shop keeper as he tensed, but otherwise did not react and carried on his way. She could not help but let out a smirk of approval, her scowl subsiding to a look of content. He did appear as a man of a sharp tongue and an even sharper wit.

“No matter, we mustn’t let such fools finish our fun.”
"The what do you suggest then?"

She placed her hands deep into her pockets when she asked this, rocking gently on her heels as she too thought carefully. In her honesty she wanted to find something she could take home, to keep her busy on other days and focus her mind on a skill other than pointless wandering and exploring. It may of been interesting at first, but now the Kelvic was beginning to grow bored of this lifestyle choice. She looked up at Kenneric, an expectant look growing on her face, mixed with the wanting of adventure and excitement.

[Miles]

Miles strode from the shop past the mumbling angry shop keeper in to the afternoon sun. He was dressed in commoner's garb, a plain gray linen shirt with black pants. It would have been difficult to pick him from a crowd, which suited him just fine for a day like this. He spotted the two talking by the entrance to the shop, and though he hadn't seen the exchange take place, he caught snatches of "trash" and "not welcome" as the shopkeeper went by and went to investigate. Anything that grabbed the attention of the public was news enough to him, and needed to be exploited. He did not present himself to the duo, rather hung back watching the exchange from the shop's doorway.

It only took a second for the shopkeeper to notice. "Hey! you're blocking business now, hurry along- stare at the animals in the street, not in this store!" The shopkeeper moved to shoo Miles as he turned, taking an extra step forward to "accidentally" run into the shopkeeper. Within the confusion created there, Miles slipped a few coins from his purse (Larceny 20) and apologized with an exaggerated flourish.

"I'll be on my way. I am so sorry." Walking from the shop toward the pair, Miles flashed a smile and unabashedly approached them. "Excuse me, but I think you dropped something?" Eyeing the young one who must have been the cause of the commotion, he aimed his comments pointedly at her, flashing the few coins in his hand. "Aren't these yours?"

Shrugging toward Kenneric, Miles widened his smile in his best welcoming gesture.

[Wyatti]

For a moment Wyatti looked with a confused expression at the new man who had approached. He looked at her almost intently as he revealed the coins in his hand. She did not say anything at first, nor did she move, her mind was calculating the possibilities and how much she actually had on her.

"Aren't these yours?"
I did not drop anything. I am sure of it. I would check but there is too many people about. And this might be a trick. Oh I need to answer!
"I... I uh... no," she managed to pull out an answer.

She gave a smile, content with her answer. She doubted they were hers anyway and the man, despite being nice he seemed to have some other motive tucked away, hidden well beneath his hood. And on the off chance that it was hers, then that was life, she was not concerned with loosing a few coins here and there, as long as she had enough to keep her fed she was happy. When she was older, no doubt she would learn the importance of money and the like, but before then the Kelvic gave a single shrug to it. She rubbed her hands together, she still needed to think of a location, so where to go to allow their fun to continue, but before then she needed to get something. So Wyatti turned her attention firstly to the new gentlemen.

"I am Wyatti," she gave a quick grin before returning her attention to the other "And umm... although I want to go and get something first, but then we can go find something fun to do Mister Kenneric, okay? And you can come too if you want Mister... uh...?"

[Kenneric Crowe]

Kenneric was contemplating just what a child like this one might enjoy doing that he, somewhat more aged than said child, would also conceivably enjoy when the cloaked figure approached. The man smiled a dark grin at them and held out a few coins.

Crowe immediately became suspicious, thieves were common in any city, and Crowe was no stranger to their antics. But that did not mean he, or any other, should relax their guard around them. He leaned back, away from the man just a fraction and did not let his eyes stray from his hands for very long at a time. “Good day, sir.” Nodding curtly, Kenneric turned his attention back to Wyatti.

The girl seemed to handle it herself however. Perhaps she was more versed in such situations? Kenneric smiled again as she spoke to him, but became perturbed when she invited Miles as well. He did not want her taken advantage of in any way, and he definitely didn’t want the man to rob *him.* “Yes, perhaps we could give our patronage to the General Store, there is always something useful in there. Or perhaps if it’s a hobby you’re after, Treasures of the Sea? I’d be glad to escort you there, Miss Wyatti.” He spoke the name experimentally, tasting it’s foreign vibe. He vaguely wondered where she had come from and if her parents were somewhere near.

He himself was in the city alone, but such scenarios were common amongst young men. Children were a different matter. As he looked down at her grimy features and hard eyes he wondered if he should contact a Wave Guard and inform them of her situation. But her business was her own, and far was we from dabbling in it. “The choice of activity I leave in your capable hands, Miss Wyatti.” He said her name pointedly once again, careful to enunciate clearly.

[Miles]

"Miles. Miles Naaul Muround." He gave her a deep bow with a flourish, one meant to disarm the young at heart, one to give the illusion of safety. Truly Miles did not wish to threaten the woman, he saw no need to do such a thing. He addressed the man with her- a protector of sorts? Well good. The world was a dangerous place..

"Mr. Kenneric was it? I assure you I mean no harm. I saw that things were unbalanced, and I thought to make them right. If the shopkeeper will not right his wrongs knowingly well then fate does the job just as well." Miles turned the coins over in his hands and dropped them on the floor, showing just how much worth they had to him. (Dropped 4 SM) And then, perhaps a fraction slower than he would have normally, placed his hands safely inside his cloak.

"I was just on my way to the University, I have some business I need to attend to there. Perhaps I will accompany you for a bit-" His smile was genuine, and it took in Wyatti and then Kenneric.

"Shall we?"

[Wyatti]

Her face briefly lit up when Kenneric offered to accompany her, a small childish grin filling it.

“I would like that. To go to the uh… General store. Maybe the other place later.”

It was a simple gesture indeed, leaving the offer open to her whilst allowing himself company. And then Miles introduced himself, a long flamboyant bow that she could not help but laugh at. Despite it being rude, the Kelvic still found mannerisms such as this amusing to say the least. Her ears pricked when she heard about the university, and nodded quickly to Miles. She remembered the university well, or more over she remember Arianthe Swansong with her scent of roses and good cooking. It was a pleasant few days to say the least. But then she brought herself back to the present, and the two gentlemen that had placed themselves before her.

“Shall we?”
“We shall.”

She gave a quick smile to the two men before turning on her heel and lead the way, a series of quick steps to the front of the General Store to where she hovered outside, peering in through the glass, scanning what she could. Her eyes caught the attention of a short sword, and for a while she stared at it, the cold metal catching flecks of the winter sun. She did not sell her heart to it though, inside there would no doubt be a variety of other things to look at and study.

[Kenneric Crowe]

Kenneric smiled to himself as the girl lead her own way to the store, clearly as boldly independent as some children tend to be. Such things always seemed refreshing to him, children with a mind and an agenda of their own. He stepped in form behind her and followed Wyatti to the store. Upon reaching the shop the girl moved to the window and gazed inside. He could not tell at what she was looking, but he never window shopped. Without pause he stepped inside and immediately began to take in the entire store with a shifting gaze.

The place was kept very tidy and organized by one Halabin Clarke, though Kenneric had never met the man. He did respect his flare for business however. Crowe moved down the aisles of good and out of the section of the store made for supplies. He quickly found the section for ‘’hobbies’’ and thought that would be a good place to start for a young child such as Wyatti. Perhaps she would even be keen on some constructive hobby that would be a of value later. Paints of every color, as well as brushes of every size and a few other accouterments he was not familiar with. There was a set of quills and inks near it that caught his eye. But no, he had enough supplies for now.

He spent another two minutes lost in thought in the hobby area before even remembering he was with someone. Dreadfully impolite, leaving her ignored like that! He turned to look around and see if he could stop Wyatti and her new friend.

[Miles]

Miles watched with an impassive air as Wyatti walked casually inside of the store. "Are you interested in anything in particular?" He made eye contact with the owner, a sign he meant no harm. He made sure to keep his hands in view and out of his cloak. "There are all sorts of things a young lady may lose herself in. Are you shopping for you alone, or for a household?"

Considering the questions done, Miles surveyed a few of the light daggers as they walked through the store, gingerly picking one up and weighing it before placing it back gently and in plain sight. Miles glanced around, looking for Kenneric- hopefully the man hadn't gotten lost. Momentarily he regretted dropping that money in the street- and so for a moment he was no better than a common thief. Abraham had told him "principle is greater than necessity"- and so even though he "needed" money, the principle of making things equal and not just robbing anyone for anything prevailed. It was time for work however- Miles would have to think on his feet to survive this Season.

Thoughts of the future aside, Miles kept a watchful eye out for the child as she browsed.