PM to join People of the Sea (Mak'Viri)

[Leas]

17th Day of Winter, 512 AV Mathews Bay Late Morning The sea floor of the bay wasn't what she'd been expecting. It wasn't like the open Suvan with copious amounts of exotic life living below its swirling surface. Here there were chunks of old sunken vessels, wooden wagon wheels, other bits of heavy trash, and a slight lack of colorful sea life. At least closer to the city's shore. It was all still very beautiful, just so different from what she was used to. She was exploring half of a ship small broken ship this morning. It had a few little rooms littered with broken furniture, old barrels and trunks. Leas yanked at the lid of a small rotted chest but it wasn't budging despite its apparent weakness. Its secrets weren't going to be revealed to her today. She moved along down the room, paddling effortlessly around overturned tables with the propulsion give by her tail. A few barrels were on this far side of the room, near a doorway leading to the next. She peeked inside one and was stunned for a short moment at what she saw. A skeletal torso was swaddled in strips of rotten cloth. The bones were picked completely clean by sea water and scavenging sea life. She squealed in disgust and swam quickly through the doorway to the other room. Bones littered the floor below her like a quiet graveyard. Skeletal arms still clutched their rusty sabers, clothing still clung to bodies long lacking their flesh and organs. It looked like the scene of a small skirmish. One that no one had won. She screamed then covered her mouth, realizing she'd just used up all her oxygen. Round windows dotted the walls of the room on either side, so she made her escape there. As Leas was about to come out the other side, her hips became stuck in the opening that was slightly too small to let her pass through. Struggling wildly, she shoved against the ship's wall to try and pull her lower body through. Her tail kicked powerfully on the other side and after a few terrifying moments she finally popped out. Her lungs burned for the air she'd used up in her foolish scream, only growing more impatient as she neared the surface. Her arms clawed at the water overhead as her tail churned it from below. When she finally broke the surface of the bay she gasped in a massive lungful then sputtered and gasped again. She panted and rolled over to float on her back, allowing her to catch her breath with minimal effort. "No more exploring for today," she told herself aloud. When her body was finally cooperating again, happy with its regained oxygen, she paddled to shore. It was sometimes a challenge to fight the surf, and so it wasn't a graceful landing. She rode a wave in then clawed at the sand as it tried to pull her back out as soon she was on solid ground. She lumbered and crawled forward as quickly as possible, escaping the grip of the waves. Finally, Leas was able to sprawl out on the sand in the winter sun. She sighed heavily and laid her cheek on the cool, course beach, already feeling her body warm up with the help of Syna's rays. A short nap and she'd be right as rain again.

[Mak'Viri]

Mak'Viri walked along the shores barefoot, her Suvai were stored safely in her backpack, which she wore slung over one shoulder. The waves lapped gently at her feet, the waters still clinging to the last vestiges of warmth leftover from summer and fall. It soaked the hem of her ivory chemise, which she wore now in place of her dress, which was rolled up in her backpack as well, in need of a wash after the previous night's events with the Waveguard and finding herself in an overused cot in the University employment Quarters. Now, as Syna slowly chased the frosty chill of the night away, she smiled to herself as her hair blew freely around her face, a white halo tinted pink and orange in the sun.

She walked along the shores for several hours, invigorated by the salty sea air, smiling and humming quietly to herself as she moved further and further away from the docks. At last, she found herself in a quiet place away from the noises of the city, away from the docks full of sailors, secluded by way of several trees that grew along the more solid land, which she sat at the base of, simply watching the waves wash up against the sand, tranquil, serene. She felt a little homesick, to be honest. The culture shock she had experienced the day before had dissipated, but she still felt edgy and nervous around Zeltiva's people.

She settled herself more comfortably against the tree for a little while longer, but she felt the restless energy that had seized her whenever she sat too idle in Mura take hold. Mak'Viri got up, brushing the sand from her chemise, and looked out over the water, which lapped playfully in the cold morning breeze. She wasn't affected too much by these temperatures. Semi-aquatic by nature, all Konti were able to withstand cold more easily than their fragile appearance led to believe. Sudden drops in temperature were what they had to be careful of. But she could do with a swim, she thought, so she stripped herself down to no clothes at all, tucking her pack behind some brush to keep any wanderers from stealing it, and ran into the water with a delighted giggle, diving when she got deep enough.

Her gills worked to allow her to breathe underwater. She took great gulps of water through her mouth and simply pushed it through them, which allowed her much more time beneath the water's surface. She grinned at the feel of the currents, and swam within them, her body a glimmer of white within the deepening dark of the ocean as she swam further out. She passed by schools of fish, harmless sharks, and sunken crafts like ships. She passed them all, staring around her with eager eyes.

She had never seen so many sunken ships in her life! It was like exploring a graveyard, creepy, yet exhilarating. She swam along the ocean floor, pushing rotted doors open, staring at empty cargo bays, fallen sailor skeletons, glimmers of small valuables. She even spotted a coin purse, clutched in one of the sailors' boney hands. She plucked it from him and opened it curiously. Twenty gold Mizas! She grinned at her luck before deciding she'd had enough of exploring. She swam leisurely back to shore, and only paused a moment when she saw something in the corner of her eye shoot out of a nearby ship window and toward the surface.

Shrugging to herself, she continued back to shore until she emerged from the water, white hair clinging to her face and neck like a cowl. She hummed to herself, still holding the old coin purse, and looked around for her pack. Seeing that it was further west, she began walking toward that direction, only to stop and sink beneath the waves self-consciously when she saw another person lying on the shore. She didn't move much, her long auburn hair pillowed her head and the curve of her sun-kissed cheek. This visage, coupled with the swell of her breasts announced the person to be a woman. Relieved to be in the presence of another female, Mak'Viri rose again and looked her over with a small bit of worry, as she wasn't moving much, though she was breathing still.

Carefully, she stepped closer, her pale hands with their filmy webbing gently touching her shoulder, she asked quietly, "Hello, miss? Are you alright?" She spoke quietly, so as not to startle, in case the other was merely napping.

[Leas]

It was that blissful limbo between sleep and wakefulness that Leas was floating in like a pool of warm water. She'd always been able to fall asleep on a whim, especially when sunbathing. But that wouldn't be happening today. She lifted her head and squinted up at the silhouetted woman standing overhead, back to the sun. Her pleasant, worried voice had tugged Leas' attention back to wakefulness. She blinked rapidly until the glare of the sun cleared and she could see the stranger clearly. A soaking wet Konti with curiosity swirling in her eyes. Leas had always loved the Konti and envied them over almost any other. They lived long, pleasant lives under the guidance of deities who claimed them, every one of them were beautiful and seemingly perfect. They could breathe underwater and walk on land; two things Leas wished she was capable of. She pushed herself up on her elbows and wiped some sand off her face with a bleary but pleasant smile. "Hello." A jaw splitting yawn interrupted her setence. "I'm just fine, I was only about to take a short nap." But now she was fully awake once more. A shame. I was getting so comfortable. "Are you ok? You're a little out of the way of the city." She shaded her eyes with a hand so she didn't have to squint so fiercely.

[Mak'Viri]

The Konti breathed a little sigh of relief when the woman opened her eyes. She smiled a little, and looked her over again, just to make sure she wasn't hurt anywhere. She tilted her head a little as she took in the woman's lower body, the seal tail at odds with the lack of wings and blue eyes. She had to have been of mixed blood. Mak'Viri frowned as she considered the misfortune of having no wings, unable to walk well upon land and explore the varied cultures there, and the lack of wings that were so intrinsic of the few Akvatari she had ever met, herself. She felt, intuitively, that the woman before her very well resented their lack, and she felt that she was cheated of so many experiences.

She sat upon the sand in front of the sun to help block it from the woman's eyes, her own lower half submerged enough so that the water went to the tops of her hips. She listened curiously as the woman spoke in a somewhat sleepy voice, and, though she felt a little bad for waking her, she smiled a little at her question. It was true that not many Konti left their homes unless they were seeking a mate, but Mak'Viri knew that she was needed beyond the seclusion of her childhood home. ”I am very well, thank you.” She said courteously, her eyes dancing with a glimmer of laughter. ”I am sorry for waking you.” She said with a slight dip of her head and lowered eyes. ”My name is Mak'Viri. What is yours?”

She studied the woman a moment or two, her heart going out to her, the Konti's understanding and caring nature was rearing its head. She wanted so very badly to help this woman who was so trapped by the nature of her own blood. She didn't have any skills, really, but she wondered if there were a contraption that could be made for the other to move about on land, like a small, self-pushed cart of some kind. One that, should she need it to, could be easily broken down to fit in a pack so she could carry it in the sea with her while she traveled and then put back together at another place to explore on land...

She looked over to the shaded area where her pack was concealed, and glanced at the old coin purse in her hand a small frown of concentration under her brow. Could such a contraption be made? Could Mak'Viri, herself, make such a thing with how very little she knew of wood-working? Or could someone be found, paid for materials, and then make such a thing? She hoped so. She looked at the woman again, realizing that she had asked her a question and completely neglected to listen for the answer. ”Forgive me. I tend to get lost in thought sometimes. What did you say your name was?”

[Leas]

Her grateful smile was bright and toothy as Mak'Viri sat, providing a shield between herself and the winter sunlight. She'd noticed the woman's eyes examining her lower half, but that was nothing new. It wasn't every day someone saw a wingless Akvatari. The downside of her impure blood. "You've got yourself a very beautiful name. But I'm not sure I've ever heard of a Konti without a pretty anything." Her eyes crinkled at the edges as she laughed. "Mine is Leas." The Konti seemed lost in space though, her mind gone to another plane. Leas curled her tail up next to her body so she could sit on it like one would their legs, and wobbled for a moment before she could balance properly. She was as clumsy on land as she was graceful in the water. Hesitantly, she waved a hand in front of the woman's glazed eyes. A few moments and it seemed Mak'Viri was back from wherever her mind had taken her. She smiled crookedly and waved the woman's apology away. "It happens to everyone. I know all too well what it's like to get lost in thought. You get a lot of free time when you're stuck outside the city, so thinking is about all I do all day." Her throat tightened a little after having admitted that out loud. I really need to go into Zeltiva soon, or I'm going to die of boredom on the shore. They need to make places more accessible to those who lack legs! "Anyway, I said my name is Leas." She smoothed her hands across her lap as if there was anything to smooth. It was just wet fur. "If you don't mind me asking...," she started hesitantly after a short pause. "What was on your mind?" Horror flitted across her face the moment the question tumbled out of her mouth. "I'm sorry! I'm being so nosy, that's none of my business." Her hands fluttered wildly as she could grab the words and cram them back into her mouth and lock them behind her teeth. "I haven't had a conversation with someone that I've got something in common with for a little while, let alone a woman." Leas motioned between the two of them then the sprawling bay beside them, indicating that being what they had in common. She grabbed a thick lock of her hair and wrung it like a cloth between her hands; a nervous habit she'd had ever since she was a girl. "I got a little ahead of myself, I must be starting to forget my manners." Her face was aflame like a cook fire, two big bright blotches of color on her cheeks.

[Mak'Viri]

Mak'Viri was grateful for Leas' understanding. She smiled warmly, and nodded her head in thanks as Leas spoke. ”It's lovely to meet you, Leas. I'm glad to find someone in Zeltiva that I have so much in common with! I was surprised at the lack of non-humans around here, but, I suppose, being in what is mostly human territory has something to do with that.” She giggled a little at her own foolishness. Really, she should have realized that sooner. She leaned back a little, not enough to take away the shade she provided for the other woman, but enough to rest on her palms.

When she seemed so horrified by asking what was on her mind, Mak'Viri's own eyes widened as she lifted her hands to try to placate her, grabbing Leas' hands to keep them from continuing their wild motions until she seemed to calm, at which point she released her hold and shook her head with a smile. ”I really don't mind you asking, of course. I was wondering if a contraption for you to move about on land could be crafted. Like, some kind of wheeled board that you could wheel about with your arms. It would be a lot easier for you to explore cities that way. It would be useless to travel over long distances, but if it could be easily taken apart and pieced back together, you would be able to go to any city along the coasts while carrying that on your back underwater.” She said, her face expressing her earnest desire to help the other in whatever way she could.

Akvatari were already prone to bouts of melancholia and depression as part of their race. She wanted so badly to alleviate some of what she felt was a great source of pain for the other. Even if she could not craft wings for her, she wanted to do something to help, however small. Konti were almost empathic (and some really were) as a race, their community was based on understanding, and though not all of them could be always without pain, they tried their very best to make that pain lessened. To be with someone who would feel pain no matter what as part of who they were was always the worst, and Mak'Viri couldn't stand the thought of simply not trying to help.

”I have the basic idea of what such a thing would look like, but I have not the skills to make such a thing, and I don't know many people who could, since I have only been here a day or so.” She said with an unhappy sigh. ”But I want to find someone who wouldn't mind doing that for you.” She said, reaching out to grasp Leas' arm gently, her face compassionate and determined. ”And if I have to, I'll learn how to do it myself. I could always use more skills.” She said with a wry tone. Knowing only basic medicine, fighting, and being okay at Divination was hardly a diverse set of skills. She shifted her legs underneath her to get more comfortable.

”Would you know of anyone, a carpenter of some kind around here? Or are you as new as I am?” She asked with a smile.

[Leas]

Her flitting hands were stopped by the Mak'Viri's warm grasp, and the gentleness of it soothed her apprehention almost immediately. Konti seemed to always know what to say and when to say it. The fascination and admiration had her cheeks flushed and left her a little breathless. A Konti touching me! Maybe I will be blessed. Leas held all Konti in very high esteem, almost like mortal Goddesses. They were everything she couldn't be, but that was alright. She just wanted to bask in their perfection. And what Mak'Viri had to say next nearly knocked her back to the sand. "Would someone actually make something like that?" The determination in the Konti's eyes made it seem like it very well could be done. She could imagine this wheeled contraption in her mind. Leas would roll around the streets effortlessly, able to go where everyone else went without trouble. Not dragging her body across the ground beside peoples' feet, but more on there level like she deserved. They wouldn't look down and think, Poor creature, where did she come from? Her chest swelled with hope and she wiped at her watery eyes. "We don't even know each other, though. No one has ever offered me such a gift, let alone a complete stranger. I don't know anyone here who could make it, either. If we were near the Suvan I know several Svefra who could do it, but they're miles away." Leas lapsed into awed silence. What had she done to bring on such luck? A complete stranger meeting her on the beach and giving her a sudden alternative mode of transportation. It was almost too good to be true. A flicker of doubt wormed its way in her mind. Maybe it was too good to be true. "This is all very sudden." And a little overwhelming. It's like the day had turned upside down in an instant.

[Mak'Viri]

Leas' excitement made the Konti smile. Though neither knew a carpenter nearby, which was a little disappointing, Mak'Viri still wanted to help Leas as much as she could. She hummed thoughtfully, her brow puckering as she wracked her brains for what little she knew of the city. She wondered if Laioath, the kind, if nervous, human she had met yesterday would know someone. Or if she, perhaps, would find someone in the market who sold the materials that would be able to give her pointers on how to make it herself.

She blinked, looking up at Leas as she began speaking. She frowned in a more pronounced manner as she absorbed the statement that no one had helped such a kind woman, even if she was of mixed blood. Such a travesty! She felt her heart ache with regret that such kindness was so foreign to Leas, and that Mak'Viri was the first one to try and do anything for the other's predicament. ”I wish that weren't so.” She said unhappily. She didn't truly want to believe that no one would help someone just to make her able to even go into cities along the coasts. It was too cruel a thought to the sheltered Konti!

When Leas began to look overwhelmed and doubtful, Mak'Viri grasped the woman's hands again. ”It probably is sudden to you. If you had gone to Mura, though, I know that something would have been done about this far sooner. And probably with more skill than I have access to...” She said, her expression pained as she tightened her grip more firmly for a moment, giving Leas' hands a reassuring squeeze. ”I just hope that whatever meager help I can offer will be enough to help you. I just hate the thought that you would suffer so for something beyond your control.” That was often the most hopeless kind of pain there is.

She let out a slow breath as she thought over her next actions a little, using her intuition as guidance. She got up slowly, not really minding her nudity around the other woman, and let go of her hands, looking over at the small circle of trees and brush where her pack rested. She looked at Leas. ”I'm going to get my belongings and look for a carpenter in the market. Do you want to wait here and nap for a while? Or would you rather come with me? I'll make sure you don't get trampled or anything.” She offered kindly.

[Leas]

The temptation to go inside the city almost overwhelmed her at first until reason and fact ruined the desire once more. She would only be a hindrance for Mak'Viri, who could easily cross ground at a much faster pace. Leas had to half-crawl, half-drag herself everywhere, and it was a very slow, tiring process. But for once she wasn't too upset about it. Someone was on a mission to help solve her problem, and that made it much easier to bare. "I would only slow you down in the streets with the way I get around. I don't mind waiting here, though." She smiled, and it was genuine. Things were looking up all of the sudden. "So I will gladly continue my nap and wait for your return. And don't you worry about other people. My mum taught me how unimportant everyone else's opinions are, and that we all get what we deserve in the end." This must mean what she meant. Leas' eyes were shining with delight and hope. She was getting what she deserved after all these lonely years. She couldn't possibly think that it might not happen, not now. The idea was too delicious to consider otherwise. Land! I'll never have the sky, but I might finally now have the land. It was like a delicious steak being thrown at the feet of a starving dog. She could almost even say that her mouth was watering. OOCSorry this post is so short and sweet. There's not much to say on Leas' part! Lacking in the ever important creative juices.

[Mak'Viri]

Mak'Viri nodded to Leas' practicality. ”Alright. I'll see what I can do. Let me go get dressed, and I'll go directly to the market.” She said, and immediately dressed in her chemise, cloak, and boots. The gold Mizas she'd found joined the ones in her purse, and her pack was quickly thrown over one shoulder. She walked back to port with a wave to Leas, and made her way to the East Street markets. While not the most reputable place, Mak'Viri was sure she'd find diverse skill sets and information there.

A half-hour of searching came up with no results. So Mak'Viri walked the city's streets more thoroughly, peering into shop windows and walking on bridges overhead to areas that didn't have a street-level access. She spent no less than three hours doing this, and came upon a shop whose sign proudly proclaimed it to be Bohrnn & GoldWoerth. In its windows were various crafts and materials, toys and devices she could not even hope to put names to. Inside, the people were busy, some running between floors, others tinkering away at work tables, and others still using carpentry to craft items of certain designs. Mak'Viri's eyes widened with hope, and she was quick to enter the establishment.

At first, finding someone who wasn't extremely busy was hard. There were too many people rushing back and forth for the Konti to get a word in, edge-wise. But, eventually, she spotted a lone young woman behind an ornately carved wooden counter organizing a ledger and writing down various things in a notebook. While busy, she did occasionally glance up when someone came close enough to the counter, stopping her quill for a brief moment before she would look back down, realizing that they didn't need her for the moment. Mak'Viri approached her, and she looked up, a smile spreading across her found face easily. ”Can I help you?” She asked, her voice a little gruff, but still pleasant.

”Yes, I came to commission an item.” She said quickly.

The woman nodded. ”Alright, I'll need the material you're looking to use, a basic design of some kind, and the dimensions, or as close as you can get to them.” She said, taking out a fresh sheet of parchment and dipping her quill in it.

Mak'Viri took a moment to internally panic, before she calmed herself forcibly, using her intuition to help herself. ”I need a wooden device. It needs two larger wheels and two small ones, and a flat board about 2 1/2 to 3 feet long on top of it, with two poles in the back on either side with some canvas cloth connecting them, much like a chair. It needs to be able to move a person around who can't walk. It also needs to be able to be broken down and put back together easily enough to put in a pack.” She explained. The woman nodded, making notes carefully.

”Okay. I'll have one of the boys draw up a blue print for you in a few minutes. If it's what you want, we'll discuss prices and pick up times.” She said, and waved a young man down. He came over promptly, his freckles and orange-red curls bright in the flickering candle light of the somewhat dim shop. He looked over the notes and quickly scampered back to a small desk, pulling out a wide sheet of parchment to draw up these 'blue prints'. Mak'Viri stood to one side of the counter so as not to get in anyone's way while she waited for the young man to finish.

Twenty minutes later, he stood before her, and they discussed the shape and design for a little while. He said that there would need to be metal rod axles placed in a pivoting devise below the main wooden part of this 'cart', for lack of better term, to help steer more easily, and armrests would be placed around it to keep Leas from falling or rolling off if she met an incline while on land. Mak'Viri nodded seriously. ”That's fine. Do whatever you need to.” She said firmly. For the wood, they would be using a hard maple, and it would be thin enough to not hinder Leas underwater with its weight.

Pleased, Mak'Viri returned to the woman with the blue print, who looked it over and calculated the cost and making time. ”That will be 10 gold Mizas and 6 silver ones. You can expect this order to be ready in four hours.” She said with a smile. Mak'Viri returned it gratefully, and handed over the coin without hesitation.

That settled, she left the shop and went back to the coast to find Leas, a bright smile over her face and pale eyes shining with excitement. When she found her, she immediately sat down and waited for the other woman to wake up. She couldn't wait to tell her the wonderful news!