A Contract Made [The White Crane]

[Favchean Hronis]

13th Winter 513

This was merely a formality, and one that Favchean insisted on with his dark brother Chealvan. Technically Favchean had gotten to meet Lyn'nice to an extent and after some arguing agreed to take up her Nakivak contract, pending of course reviewing her file. However Lyn'nice had not had a chance to meet him yet, and while she really had no choice in the matter it made Favchean feel far more comfortable with the entire process to let her meet him before he put her under his contract.

The White Crane was a low key establishment but clean and had a very fine reputation for its music. Today there was no musician, which for Favchean was a plus. It was easier to engage in conversation if one was not distracted by the music. Today he did not look much more different then Chealvan had when he had met Lyn'nice in the Warrens. There was no dramatic differences in the stance, or the way he held himself. His poster was still impeccably straight, his clothing still the aged leather that had seen more seasons then they probably should have but were sprung in all the right places so he was loathed to replace them. His hair was still cleanly shaven on the sides, but a tightly braided mohawk lined the center of his head from brow to the base of his skull, and then black hair flowed freely over his shoulders.

When a serving girl walked by he ordered two glasses of wine, one for him and one for Lyn'nice for when she got here. He would wait to order lunch for her. Though knowing Konti she will probably wish to eat something from the ocean.

[Lyn'nice]

Lyn'nice looked over her outfit and hair one final time. She had met Chealvan and they had gotten along well. But, today she was meeting the dominate brother Favchean. Her stomach bubbled with butterflies. Confidence, be confident! She had been fiddling with the scarf she had been gifted. How should she wear it? She had simply decided to leave it as Chealvan had tied it. She hesitated at the door of The White Crane. What if he didn't like her as Chealvan had? Lyn'nice brushed off her dress and opened the door. Favchean was not hard to spot. He looked like the same man she had met days before. But he wasn't. She made her way over to him. "Erm Favchean? I'm Lyn'nice. We met sort of..through Chealvan at the markets. Hi Chealvan, I wore my scarf." She waved to him, even if he wasn't in control of the body he was still there and she felt the need to greet him as well. She had worn a simple sleeveless dress that showed off her healer's mark that swirled up her arm from the base of her bracelet. Her scarf accented her simple dress perfectly. Lyn'nice smiled and sat down across from the Akalak. "So, as the dominate brother were there any questions you wanted to ask or discussions you wanted to have?" She was nervous and her boisterous nature was subdued. But her smiles were genuine and kind. "I'm honored that you chose me for a contract...or that your brother did. He's a nice guy." She giggled, "I'm sure you'd disagree sometimes though, right?"

[Favchean Hronis]

The moment she neared the table the green Akalak stood, fluidly stepping to hold her chair. He took a moment to look over the delicate scales that line her brow, trying to determine the iridescent colors. His mothers was a smattering of greens and aquas, shiny. He vaguely remembered being entranced by them when he was small, until he tried to pull one and his father scooped him away quickly.

"Good morning." He rumbled simply, returning to his seat when she was settled, one brow quirking over his pale eye when she spoke to his dark brother. The fact that she was not raised in Riverfall but was totally at ease with the idea that two souls housed in one body was the unique Akalak trait spoke of close ties with some paternal heritage. "It is Favchean indeed, good memory." So often it has been the experience of Akalak's that the brother that a person met was the name they remembered easier.

"Chealvan chose wisely, the scarf goes well with your eyes." The compliment was said without heat, a simple fact stated rather then flattery given. "I would have chosen the purple. I am what is considered the light brother.. I keep the control for the most part.." He could tell she was nervous, he couldn't say that he wasn't nervous either. He hadn't expected to have to start this process for at least a couple more years.

"Let us order some food before we .. start to discuss business?" He signaled the waitress by raising a finger giving the human serving girl a wide smile. "I would like today's special, boar sausage with a side of dried peas.. and whatever the lady would like."

He waited for the Konti to decide what she would like to eat before he settled back in his chair to watch her silently. It amazed him that such a delicate race had the best chances of surviving a pregnancy and bearing an Akalak son. Yet beneath the delicateness of their bodies the Konti proved to be tough and resilient.

Once she had ordered he began to speak again, " To be perfectly honest Lyn'nice, I had no intentions of using the Nakivak until I had gotten a little older. Only because I was raised with a mother in the home, though granted my earliest years my father had a heavier hand in raising me due to the unique .. difficulties of an Akalak son. I would have wished the same for my son. However, my brother is eager to raise our status, he is eager for fatherhood, and I can not say that I am not eager as well..I just had different plans."

He finished speaking, and fell silent for a tick before continuing, " However, that being said, Chealvan is also correct in that hiding in the smithy or on patrols is not going to further my original plans. Why do you wish to be Nakivak. You can find your mate without being one.."

[Lyn'nice]

Lyn'nice could feel the man looking her over. Her scales shimmered from an aqua all the way to a powdered purple, flecks of emerald shined as well. It didn't help that she had a very visible patch on her forehead. She sat down to find that Favchean had already ordered wine. She took a small sip as an attempt to calm her nerves. "Either color would of matched my eyes." She stated in reference to the scarf. She nodded as Favchean spoke of the Akalak body sharing. "Yes, your brother mentioned that. However, I was always under the impression that the 'dark' brothers were... Well, for lack of a better word...dark. You know like mean or dangerous in some way. Chealvan was quite pleasant when we met at the market, I was surprised that he was the dark brother. Or do some Akalak just luck out?" She was starting to calm down and feel comfortable. When the waitress came to take their orders it was obvious Favchean had already decided what he wanted, where as Lyn'nice had no idea what to order, "Um, squid? If you have it..I don't care how it's cooked or if it's even cooked. As for the side, a salad? T-that's all." She mentally sighed when the waitress left and it showed on her face. She looked over to Favchean as he spoke,"Your brother spoke about that as well. I spoke to Chealvan about perhaps meeting your mother and asking some questions and getting some advice from her. I understand that want for a spouse. I hope to find one someday too." She paused, "If you are unsure if you want to use a Nakivak, do you want to rethink this?" Her expression grew dissapointed. Was it something about her? Did she do something wrong? "It's a family tradition it goes way back." She paused. "Plus, I promised my great grandfather that I would. He's Akalak. Moved to Mura to make my great gram happy. See, despite living in Mura he knows what's going on in Riverfall. So all of his Konti children, grandchildren, and greats have come to Riverfall to bear sons then return home sometimes with daughters waiting. I am a failed contract myself." She paused once more, "Your mother is expectant. Tell me, if she has a girl. Will your father claim her? If he does, let her know how lucky she is." Lyn gave a smile. "I'm sorry, I overstepped it a little there. It's just, I wish I knew my dad.."

[Favchean Hronis]

The city was used to Konti's, welcomed them really so it would be really odd if the restaurant didn't have a fresh supply of fish available. Unfortunately with the waters growing colder 'fresh' was really just salted or pickled to keep the fish from spoiling. The serving girl moved off to take their order to the kitchen.

Favchean's glass of wine sat untouched, he rarely if ever consumed alcohol though he had ordered two glasses to make her feel more comfortable if she wished to consume. "Dark brothers can be dangerous, particularly in an Akalak who has not practiced or has not the ability to control and maintain his balance. They are dark not because they are inherently bad or evil, they just are not in the light as much as we are. "

"Chealvan and I have had an easier balance then some Akalak yes. I suppose you can say we lucked out, as our goals most often mesh together rather than being so completely different." His fingers went to his glass, toying with the base turning it gently but still not lifting to drink. Pale eyes raised to take in her features, and he gave her a smile. "No I do not wish to rethink Chealvan's intentions. I just wanted you aware of my own reservations."

He wasn't quite sure what he thought about a male sending his daughters and granddaughters out for the express purpose of being Nakivak. The Nakivak system was an honored system and it was put in place -in Favchean's mind- to help bring to light the generosity of the females. However the Nakivaks were repaying a debt, they got out of it just as much as Akalaks did, at least how Favchean viewed it. Either they were paying back a life debt of being rescued from horrors that are known as Zith or they are repaying money loaned by the city to start businesses and to live on.

"Most Akalaks claim their daughters, but they don't claim a stake on their daughters. If my mother bears a Konti sister for me and then decided to leave my father and return to Mura, he would still claim her as his daughter but he wouldn't seek to keep her here with him. Just as if my father decided to leave and take me and Chealvan with him, C'hea would be my mother still but she wouldn't seek to keep me with her." It was a mutually respected arrangement between the races. Married couples worked best in Favchean's mind because the child gets influenced by both genders. He attributes his and Chealvan's easy balance to this.

"After we enjoy our meal we will go to the oathmaster and I will review your file. If everything is in order I will take your contract, and we will begin the arrangements." As he speaks the serving girl came back, putting a plate in front of Favchean, his boar sausage steaming. She put the other plate in front of the Konti, with a mix of both salted and pickled squid.

"I will wish you to simply move into my condo at the Windswept building. It is more convenient and I will be able to ensure your needs are taken care of easier. You will have your own room of course."

[Lyn'nice]

Lyn'nice sat thinking over what Favchean had said. Akalak were certainly strange beings. If they were 'less light' then were they not 'dark'? She leaned forward,"How does one practice to control their brother? But if one is less light does that not make them darker?" She smiled, "So I am to your liking, that makes me happy." She looked at Favchean, "Trust me, if I didn't want to be here or be a Volunteer Nakivak then I wouldn't be here. I'm here because I want to be here and to do this." Lyn'nice had a smile a mile long as she saw the squid in front of her. She quelled her excitement and reminded herself to act ladylike and eat slowly. Picking up her fork and knife she cut the squid into small bite size pieces. Lyn'nice ate slowly and quietly occasionally sipping her wine. She wasn't a big drinker but she didn't mind a little on occasion, and this was a celebration of sorts. "The Condos are nice. The only reason I live at the Pearl is because I hate to cook and they have meals there. They have small gardens at the condos, right? Might I tend yours? Gardening is my specialty, that and reading tea leaves."

[Favchean Hronis]

Favchean looked for all the world as if he was calm and confident, talking about perhaps hiring someone to clean his linens instead of discussing a Nakivak contract. Inside however he was a bundle of nerves, coiling tighter simply because this was a very large step, one he had thought he would take when he was more settled. To take on the responsibility of a Nakivak until she gave him a son..and then the responsibility of a son was daunting but he would manage it.

"We don't control our dark brother, we control our emotions. Controlling our emotions give the dark brother less time out, because face it wouldn't it be odd if every three minutes you were conversing with someone new? We aren't less light or more dark, the dark or light comes from the fact that I am more visible.. thus more in the light."

His hand reaches out and snags a small portion of his boar sausage, popping the hot bit of meat in his mouth. The burst of spices that flooded his tongue was tantalizing, but he could barely taste it. "I am loathed to put women through a pregnancy if I am not very sure that they are aware of what they are asking. Akalak babes are not like any other babes. But if you are very sure then let's eat, get to know each other before we make a trip to the tower."

He still did not pick up his glass of wine, instead he chose a fork to spoon some of the dried peas into his mouth. He enjoyed the look of enjoyment on her face when she was eating the squid, "Perhaps I will get my mother's recipe for her squid. I never much liked it but her Konti friends all exclaimed over it. I don't have a garden, but if you desire one I will give you some miza and you can plant one. I am afraid I would simply kill any plants I try to nurture."

[Lyn'nice]

Lyn'nice was relaxing as she found Favchean's pace and attitude and mirrored it the best she could. She was learning the differences between the brothers. "Oh, I think I get it now. Or I'm starting to understand the whole dark and light thing." She giggled, "I would find it amusing if the two of you switched every three minutes to be honest!" Lyn'nice gave him a cheerful smile. "I am fully aware of the dificulty birthing an Akalak son can bring. But, compared to the other women who can atempt this; am I not the most qualified race? We are the only pairing that can create a child closer to the gods than anyone else. You won't be putting me at anymore risk than I would of gotten myself into one way or the other. By the way, how's your food? I must say mine is really good!" Lyn'nice put her utensils down and folded her hands in her lap,"Well, what do want to know about me? I have a nickname if you want to use it. It's what my great granddad calls me, Lynnie."

[Favchean Hronis]

He smiles over to her, her personality a little infectious. Some people think that the Konti should be quiet, demure, and introspective but Favchean just laughs at them. His mother could be hot tempered hard headed and energetic. Konti just look delicate and fragile, and Lyn'nice was a nice example of this. He supposed he should be looking over her and seeing if he found her attractive and healthy enough to mate. Though if she bore a son, the son would be Akalak there would still be flavors of his mother in there. However it really was her personality that had drawn Chealvan, and Favchean could agree. He would be with her for at very least a year -assuming she got pregnant miraculously quickly which was a rare thing- and it would be horrible if she were boring.

"It's food. I have never really had much of a palate, I suppose if there were any nutritional value to it I would eat a shoe as soon as I eat anything else." Favchean smiled at his joke, as weak as it was. She was nothing like Rosela who put him at easy and he ended up flirting and bantering with naturally. He wasn't sure why he was on edge, it was a normal every day thing for Akalak men to take on a Nakivak. Except he had never done so, and wasn't quite sure what would put her at ease.. though she seemed easy enough as it was.

"Lynnie.." He tested it out, rolled it on his tongue. "I like Lyn'nice, it reminds me of flowers. If you rather I will call you Lynnie though, just.. don't call me Favvie.." This time he grinned more naturally and pushed his mostly uneaten plate away.

[Lyn'nice]

Lyn'nice laughed a little more than she should of at the shoe joke. In her mind she tried to picture the large Akalak man trying to chew and eat a small boot. "I-I'm sorry. I just, the mental picture I came up with.. She gave a small giggle, caught Favchean's eyes and quickly looked away, face slightly red. Lyn'nice was simply the girl next door type. Honest, simple, cheerful, and down to earth. She was nothing fake, nothing flashy. Lyn'nice had always thought of herself as a plain Jane. She stood out with her personality and in her opinion the flowery looking cluster of scales on her forehead. Lyn'nice brushed her forehead without much thinking. Then a question came to her mind,"Do you choose two names for an Akalak son? For both brothers? Sorry, the thought just came to me." She felt slightly embarrassed for her out of the blue question. She smiled when he said her name, she liked how he said it. "No, whatever you like better you can call me; and I shall avoid nicknames for you." The nerves that had been present at the beginning of the meeting had began to dissipate throughout the meal.