Closed Not Just Any Day

[Julius Starr]

88th of Winter, 513 AV Though she had began her climb up the skyline over a bell ago, Syna had yet to grace the denizens of Lhavit with a sight of her. Instead, the goddess remained hidden by a wall of clouds, unseen by the people so eager to spot her. Julius was such a person, one among many, craning his neck upward in search of the goddess, though his reasons probably differed with those around him. While others looked for her light or warmth, Julius looked merely for curiosity. He wondered why the goddess was hanging back today of all days. On a normal day, her absence would've been fine. But today, the day of the Azure Festival, was different; it seemed only fitting to Julius that the goddess make an appearance on the day where so many worshiped her. Of course, Julius was no god, so what did he know? Thus, stricken with his mortality, Julius was not here to receive the prayers, but to give his own. The pilgrimage many families made on the day of the Azure Festival had always been a tradition in his own life. Being the eager student of theology, Julius had always been eager to visit the temples of the city, lifting his own childish prayers up to the Gods. He had always been the first awake in his household, already formulating his prayers he would give later in the day. It had always been a nice break from the tedium of his schoolwork, and his pious mother had never seemed to complain about her's son fervor. Overall, the Azure Festival had always been a holiday got exited for. Julius didn't feel the same excitement today that he had as a child, but he had made the trek out to the Sartu Peak all the same. The day was warmer than usual, but Julius chose to wear the black woolen shirt he had bought for the Ball regardless. With it, he wore his woolen, gray pants along with his black cloak, drawn tightly around his torso. A rather drab outfit, if not for the silken scarf he wore around his neck; it was Azure in color, bought two days prior in preparation of the festival. Julius had sought out Esszad, but failed to find him, so he had to settle for a product made by less-skilled hands. Despite this, Julius felt good about the day. Julius followed the flow of the crowd as it made its way up the peak to the Temple of Time, the first stop for Julius' pilgrimage. He had decided yesterday that he would go to the furthest temple from his apartment, and then work his way back. Thus, he would start in with Tanroa, and then backtrack to Syna, before ending with Leth. Fitting, since it would be nearing dark by then, so he could go straight from his worship to some party around the city. Though, he had another reason for this plan of action; Julius knew his mother started at Leth, not Tanroa, so if he was lucky, he'd miss her in all the hustle and bustle. Relations between Julius and his parents were still shaky, so he had no wish to see either of them today. In fact, Julius doubted he would see anybody today that he recognized. Half the city at least came out for the pilgrimage, so the odds of Julius meeting one of his few acquaintances in the city was highly unlikely. Yet, Julius was proven wrong in this count too. As Julius came upon the small garden decorating the front of Tanroa's temple, Julius spotted a familiar face on the edge of the crowd. It was an average face, one that probably wouldn't have gotten a second glance from Julius on a normal day. But as Julius had established earlier, this wasn't a normal day, and this wasn't just some face in the crowd. Cupping his mouth with his hand, he called out, "Jenni! Jenni!" To better distinguish himself in the crowd if she noticed, Julius waved his left hand in the air in her direction. Julius wasn't certain why he tried to attract the woman's attention. They had only met several days prior, when every word had been laced with alcohol and freedom. Julius had enjoyed the conversation he had had with the woman, but he doubted that made them friends. Plus, she was a Twilight, he a Starr. They were both celestial, but in this city, the was a large difference between the two. He was a lowly bartender, she a member of a prestigious family. He wasn't even certain if she wished to speak to him again. But the action had been made, so there was no turning back. All he could do was wait and wonder.

OOC :

Bought a silken scarf, dyed Azure blue. Paid 4 gms

Scarf: 1 sm x 25 [Silk] x 1.5 [Dyed Azure] = 37.5 sm or 3.75 gm. Rounded up to 4 gm

[Jenni Twilight]

x

Jenni had been quite enjoying her day, wandering through the streets. As always, her eyes scanned vendors for anything interesting to splurge on... it was a holiday, after all... so why not? She pushed her recent dress purchase out of her mind, still a little guilty about the price... but at least it hadn't been as expensive as some dresses. Luckily, Crook's presence in her arms prevented easy and impromptu purchases that she might regret later. He had his uses, in a way.

Of course, her real reasons for being out were not just to see the sights. Namely, they were the reasons for almost all other Lhavitans to be on the streets... paying her respects to the god and goddesses she worshiped. Leth, Syna, Zintila, and -of course- Eyris. This was her first time during the Azure festival that she purposely prayed to the goddess of Wisdom, but it was also her first time doing so whilst being a Seeker... one came with the other. The goddess was one she had developed a lot of respect for, and one who's realms she really... well... understood. Syna, Leth, and Zintila were the patrons of Lhavit, and of course she needed to thank them, but Eyris was something else.

A scarf caught her eye, blue as the name of the festival. It was silk, and was embroidered in midnight blue thread. The stitches created a barely visible pattern of suns and moons, scattered around nicely. The Twilight frowned at it, considering the purchase. It was a pretty scarf, though she wasn't one for intensely bright colors like this blue. Anyways, wool was preferable to silk in these temperatures, and she had one of perfect warmth around her neck at the current moment. It was blue as well, though in the shade of the sky, rather than something a little less... natural.

Wrenching herself away from the chattering merchant, she continued her passage, mentally writing up the prayers she would say once she reached each temple on her course. However, even this was interrupted by a call. Her name, to be exact. It caused the morpher to glance around in surprise, twisting her head this way and that to spot whoever had been speaking. She finally caught a familiar-looking man with his hands around his mouth, just saying her name for the second time.

She stared at him blankly, frantically trying to rack her memory for the right name, the proper name. Where had she met him? Her eyes flicked to the scarf, so similar to the one she had just been looking at. Scarf... silk scarf. They weren't unusual, but odd for Winter. The memory of a deep purple one flicked through her mind, and she remembered the Masquerade. Yes... there had been a man wearing a similar scarf, and the same face, that night. Actually, he'd started a conversation with herself and Lady Alses, though the Ethaefal had been under a different name. Name... what was his name? She had to greet him in kind.

"Julius," she said in a calm, friendly tone, having just managed to snatch that word from the clutter of her brain before it was too late. She hated sudden meetings... they were always so stressful. "What chance to see you here, today. You're not wearing quite the outfit you were on our last meeting, but... then again... neither am I." She gave a small smile, glancing down at the long-haired feline in her arms. She suddenly felt embarrassed at the cat's presence, and tilted her head down to hide a tiny blush.

In order to keep it unseen, and relieve herself of the stress, she leaned down to set Crook on the ground, where he could investigate the new arrival on his own terms. "This is Crook, my cat," she explained, letting her eyes return to Julius' face. Conversation... she had to start some kind of conversation. The current festival was a good one. "So... where are you headed today? Any temple in particular?" The lack of weight in her arms was a relief, though she worried about Crook getting into too much trouble... Luckily, the cat seemed content to wind around the man's feet, tail sticking up high like a flag. It seemed he was taking to Julius.

Common - Nari/Crook - NPC - Writing - Reading

x

[Julius Starr]

For a brief second, Julius felt his efforts had been wasted. Oh, Julius had gotten the woman's attention well-enough, just not the recognition. Her face had been devoid of the emotions that came with remembrance, be it a smile or a frown. Had she forgotten him so quickly? Had she known me at all, a voice whispered in his head. He was sure half of the people he served at the Demise forgot his name by the next morning on account of the drinks they drowned themselves in; why would Jenni be any different? Julius was just about to duck back into the crowd when Jenni finally replied with his own name. That brought a smile to his face, relief evident in his emotions; this made the conversation easier. Maybe he just caught her off guard, in a moment of inner thought, and she was merely stalling to recall his name. He couldn't really fault her for that, since he never recalled every name of the people he had met in his life. Jenni made a comment about their attire this day, followed by the small smile he had seen before. Julius glanced down at his clothing, silently agreeing with her. His hair lacked the stiffness it had days prior, and his clothing were lacking the flashiness he had displayed at the dance. Quite honestly, without his scarf, Jenni may not have recognized him no matter how long she had stared; Julius was glad he wore the scarf, to spare himself the embarrassment. When he looked back up at the woman, a small grin of his own had formed upon his visage. "Aye, it seems we've both returned to reality with our fashion choices. Though, I must admit, the fur look suits you." His tone was light, playful, matched with a twinkle in his eyes. He even pretended to notice the slight tinge that filled Jenni's white cheeks as she set the cat down on the ground. The cat quickly found refuge between his legs, rubbing his back against his shin. Jenni named him Crooks, to which Julius nodded again, replying with a simple, "Pleasure to meet you, Crooks. Please don't rob me." The conversation turned to the festival, which suited Julius enough. Though Jenni's question brought a smile to his face, his best attempt to prevent the escape of laughter. He glanced past her, where the Temple of Time was within spitting distance, before returning his gaze to her face. "All of them, of course. I've been making the pilgrimage since I was child, and saw no reason to stop even childhood has." Julius squatted down to scratch Crooks behind the ear with his forefinger. The cat seemed to enjoy the extra attention, as he purred with pleasure. Julius looked up at Jenni, thankful Syna wasn't out to make him squint. "And which gods will you pray to this day, Miss Twilight? 'Tis an interesting question, knowing what gods an individual devotes their times towards. Granted, the entire concept of worship interests me, so I may be biased." Julius remained crouched, as the crowd around him continued onward into the temple beyond. The Gods would still be there, or at least their temples, a bell from now. But could he say the same about a Twilight?

[Jenni Twilight]

x

Julius seemed just as pleasant as he had during their last meeting. His interesting way with words was similar, as he complimented her 'fur look'... also known as Crook. Technically the comment would have made sense even without the cat - the cloak she was wearing was in the current fashion, lined with fur - but she got the idea.

She grinned a little as he greeted the feline, making another playful comment on his name. "It's Crook, not Crooks," she corrected politely. "And technically I named him after something... crooked, like a bend. But that works too." She shrugged a little. She wasn't very good at making up play-on-words, but she understood them easily... the roundabout way of thought seemed to come easily to her.

"Which one?" she mused, as the topic of temples was brought up. She'd already decided, though she more or less needed to work out a tactful way of saying it. He was clearly asking for her preferred deity, to which the answer was Eyris. However, it wasn't where she was just headed today, but one of the four... and she didn't want to slight Leth, Syna, and Zintila. Still, listing all would sound... strange, to say the least, and wouldn't get to the point. "Well, I always visit Leth, Syna, and Zintila's temples this time of year... as they are our patrons. However, I have added Eyris' to the list as well..." She shrugged, feeling like the ending was awkward, but not quite sure what else to add.

She noticed Julius' glance behind her, and looked as well, spotting one of the locations that was probably on the man's list. "Well, you seem to have a long journey ahead of you... and I can't stop you now, can I?" She paused a little, realizing that the statement was probably implying that their conversation was over. However... Julius seemed like an intelligent and entertaining person, and she wasn't going to throw that conversation away. "Though a long walk surely needs some interest added in, no? Would you mind if I tagged along? My day is remarkably less packed." She had a few questions in mind that she wanted to throw out there, and this seemed like a good chance. It would be nice to add someone who was not a relative, co-worker, or other politically-inclined friend to her list.

Common - Nari/Crook - NPC - Writing - Reading

x

[Julius Starr]

OOC : Ha, it seems I misread a detail in all of your posts. It was Julius' turn to be embarrassed this morning, though he lacked the obvious signs that Jenni gave off. When she corrected him on the cat's name, his grin merely widened; to Jenni, it appeared he was laughing at his mistake. Inside, though, Julius felt silly. Had he been distracted when she gave him the name the first time? Oh, Jenni possessed qualities that would draw the eyes of many, but Julius believed himself better than that. He was a bartender after all, a man who conversed with all sorts of people, and bartenders weren't supposed to get flustered with anyone. Internally, Julius was berating himself over the mishap, but on the outside, he maintained the cool composure. Thus, when she explained the actual origin of the feline's name, Julius merely nodded with his little grin plastered on his face. "A splendid name. My father is a jeweler and my mother a devoted worshiper of Zintila, so . . . well I don't think an explanation is truly needed" In all honestly, Julius was rather fond of his name; it was direct and easily remembered, though Jenni nearly shattered that belief for the man. Plus it truly was a name for a Lhavitian, a name one could take pride in. Once the conversation shifted towards gods, though, Julius' full attention had been captured. While Jenni formulated her response, Julius ran his hands along the soft fur of Crooks, where the s is silent. The feline truly had stunning eyes, a powerful shade of yellow that would most definitely shine golden beneath Syna's light. It seemed that he and the cat were more alike; they were both meant to be in the city of day and night, the city of stars and time. The mention of Syna, Leth, and Zintila were all expected by Julius; they were the patron gods of the city, those who had saved the original Lhavitians were death and destruction. It was fitting that Jenni appreciated these gods especially, since her ancestors were the original denizens. Julius couldn't possibly prove an unbroken heritage back to the immediate years following the Valterrian, but she could. Though, with the events of the Day of Discord a decade prior . . . well, I'm sure a few of the Twilights, if not Jenni herself, harbored some feelings against the celestial couple. It was hard to forget that the Ethaefal ruling this city had executed their former patriarch. Jenni had been a child then, though, so Julius doubted she shared the feelings of her relatives. The mention of Eyris, though, interested Julius far more than the other three. The Goddess of Knowledge had always been one of Julius' favorite to read about growing up. She represented wisdom, something that he could greatly appreciate. For all he knew, he probably even lifted a few childish prayers up to the Goddess in his youth, when he thought it was required to study the gods. Thus, when she concluded her statements, Julius nodded in approval. He gestured with his free hand at the crowd around them. "It seems we all find our inner piety on days like this." He smiled lazily as he scratched Crook behind the ear. "Eyris is an interesting choice, though. Do you intend on joining the Seekers? When I was younger, I thought I would do the same. I even told my history instructor that I would be her champion before I graduated from the Academy. I hopeless belief, but it got me through my studies." The crowd was waning in size when Jenni mentioned tagging along with him on his pilgrimage to the temples. Granted, it hadn't been her initial statement. Really, she thought she meant to end their conversation, but that proved false. And she made a good point, too; the walk from each temple to the next was long, so a companion would make the time go by faster. He had no objections to this notion, so his reply was warm and genuine. "I won't turn down the company; I'm sure you'll be speak to me more than the gods will that we're visiting." Tucking a hand beneath Crook, Julius rose to his full height once more. He hoped Jenni wouldn't mind; the cat sure didn't. "Tanroa is the first stop on this little journey," he said simply. Onward to the Goddess of Time.

[Jenni Twilight]

x

Jenni smiled as Julius commented a little on Eyris. She found the mention of the Seekers a little funny, especially considering her current situation. However, she was glad that the man seemed the intellectual type. Partially because of his personal history with the goddess, and partially because of his mention of the Academy, and a history instructor. She especially approved of the history. "I'm actually already a member of the Seekers... though I have yet to gain the goddess' favor," she said with a grin.

She nodded as he agreed on their company, and once again as he mentioned the goddess of time as the first stop. The Twilight's mouth twitched as Julius picked up Crook, but didn't comment, as the cat seemed relatively pleased with his new position. She suspected that, in his mind, being carried was a position of utmost importance. It was only really when they started walking in the direction of the temple did she begin speaking again, since it seemed like the start to the real conversation.

"You mentioned the Academy? I was a student myself, for a long time... I spent a lot of time learning, rather than be around my family. History was much more interesting than current events." Her lip curled in a rueful smile. She didn't like mentioning her less-than-pleasant past with her family... it was all over, and she was in a much better position now. Though numbers of the Twilights were irritated and enraged by their family's fall, she had been quite pleased... Weisur had not liked her, with no official mother to speak of.

The morpher shook her head a little, to clear the unpleasant thoughts. That was history, and history she already knew... no point in dwelling on it more than necessary. "Anyways, what courses did you take? You mentioned history...?" She drifted off, content to let Julius explain his time of learning. Everyone viewed school differently, though most of the population of Lhavit probably didn't bother with the less practical subjects... reading and writing, or possibly nothing at all. Usually only the more educated and wealthier families arranged lessons for their children.

Common - Nari/Crook - NPC - Writing - Reading

x

[Julius Starr]

The smile that crossed Jenni's face was the only verification Julius needed to the woman's love of the goddess, Eyris. Thus, the woman's affirmative reply to his question failed to shock him, but he was no less impressed. The woman had been accepted into the organization that had made Lhavit the city known for its collection of knowledge. They traveled the world in search of lost information, as well as ideas that made life in the celestial city a little bit easier. And she was apart of it all; a beginner, yes, unmarked by the goddess, but that would all come in due time. "Once you meet the goddess the first time, I implore you to seek me out and tell me about it. I always love a good story about the divine, especially first-hand accounts." Julius missed the purse of Jenni's lips, and he took her silence as permission. The cat seemed content enough, his breathing sending vibrations into Julius' torso. The cat provided a little warmth to his hands as well, to which would get no complaint from the man. He just didn't hope the woman missed her hand-warmer too much, though he would give the feline back at her first insistence. As the pair passed the statue of Tanroa with her hands outstretched, the conversation shifted towards the Academy. Julius walked in silence, listening intently as Jenni informed him of her own studies in the past. Her passion for history was to expected from a devotee of Eyris. The last part of her statement, coupled with the smile from the woman, puzzled Julius, but he didn't bother to voice this. He knew nothing about this woman, so attempt to decipher her inner thoughts would be pointless. Instead, he simply said, "Aye, history is definitely a subject I could get most interested in growing up. Wars, exploration, conflict . . . those were the things that made for a happy and contented Julius." The woman shook her head slightly, which did nothing to ease his puzzlement about the woman's thoughts, before asking him of his own studies in life. By this point, they were coming upon the doors to the temple. Julius shrugged slightly. "Like most children in the city, I took the primary courses until I was fourteen. Reading and Writing were necessary yet uninteresting, mathematics bored me, and I was horrible in drawing. My favorite class I took as a child was history, which wasn't even required by the city. I begged for the chance, and was granted it. At fourteen, I graduated like everyone else, and was sent out into the real world." Julius shifted Crook to his left side. "I returned to the Academy this season to study Anthropology. The instructor is a Seeker as well, a Savant is what you call his kind, I believe. Name's Nyolt Paddock, not sure if you know him or not. He's pretty good at his job; makes the subject interesting, at least." There was a good chance that Jenni knew the man. Not only was he a Seeker, but he had also studied morphing at her family's tower. The pair soon passed into the interior of the temple, undergoing a drastic change in the process. Where the outside was clean and orderly, the inside appeared as if it had succumbed to a natural disaster centuries prior, with no attempt to repair the damages. Rubble covered the floor, piles of stone and rocks at the visitors tried their best to leave unmolested. A chandelier hung over top their heads, the cracked ceiling above giving Julius a sense that the ornament could fall at any time. He was sure many people had thought the same, but it never had crashed down atop them. And there, in the center of the room, rested an orb. Though Syna had yet to break through the cloud barrier, the orb still glowed in the morning light. Though the orb appeared empty, Julius knew that once night fell, water would return to it. Growing up, he had always come to this temple when Leth was rising, so he had never seen the orb like this before. It was mesmerizing, to say the least. A ring of bodies surrounded the orb, a group of men, women, and children kneeling before the orb to give their prayers to the goddess. There wasn't any room to get close to the orb, so Julius stopped short of it, speaking up in the silence. His voice was hushed, though, a whisper so as not to disrupt the tranquility of the room. "Don't you find it interesting on this city's emphasis on a center piece when it comes to worship? Tanroa has her orb, Syna her never-ending fire, and Leth his pool of water. Why not murals that cover the walls, or a statue twenty-feet tall? Worship isn't a structured system, yet we have made it such through our traditions. I can't say I appreciate or oppose this; I just notice it, is all." Thus was an example of how Julius approached worship. He thought it the best idea in the world for the inhabitants who lived here, yet he questioned it all. Oh, how philosophers would love to discuss with him. Jenni was no philosopher, though, so he had no idea how she'd react.

[Jenni Twilight]

x

Julius seemed quite confident in her eventually meeting Eyris, which was quite pleasing. Of course, there was no certainty... but Jenni was hoping for the best. During her first day, Sayeo mentioned she was a perfect fit for the group. She also knew she was intelligent and willing... so she couldn't find any reason why the goddess would deem her unworthy. Maybe it was the Twilight in her speaking, but she was sure something would come eventually. "I will do that" she told him politely, eyes lighting up in a smile more than her mouth, this time.

The man began speaking about his own education, once again proving that he was well educated, and interested in learning. Honestly, he seemed to be just as qualified as she to become a potential Seeker... depending if he had the right frame of mind, or not. It really depended, but she could figure it out as their conversation continued. The Seeker brought up sounded familiar, and a face flickered in her mind to match the name. Paddock... yes. She'd probably seen him once or twice in the Library, though rarely spoke, but she had some vague idea of a connection with her own family. Politics? Magic? Those were the usual suspects. However, since a comment was seemingly not needed, she simply nodded her head in understanding.

They finally made their way into the temple, with a few others of similar goals trailing ahead or behind. There were a number of Lhavitans already in the room, gathered around the orb that was the centerpiece. She took the silence in for a moment, carefully constructing what she would say to Tanroa when the time came. However, Julius interrupted her thoughts, with an odd and curious statement. He mused on the concept of a centerpiece, giving examples of many of the other temples. It was something she hadn't considered, but yet made her think. "A statue would still be the center of attention" she commented quietly, before getting into her real explanation.

"I think it's because we always need something to focus on, with whatever we do. Importance generally means more attention, and more focus, no? Maybe it's just human nature, but most people like to see one thing, I guess, rather than try and take in many at once. It's the same with a lot of things. When you meet a person, you focus on their face. A book has a thesis, which the rest of it points to and proves. Art has other things drawing the lookers attention to one point... If not, it just seems like a mess." She hesitated, realizing she was rambling a little, and not actually hitting the point of worship.

"Anyways, worship and religion is something we focus on, and like all things like that... you want to focus on one thing. For Tanroa, you focus on time... and in her temple, you focus on this orb... Does this make any sense?" She gave him an apologetic smile. She quite liked considering things and answering questions like this, though had a tendency to make little sense when speaking. It was more or less like she was figuring it out along the way, and taking whoever was listening on a ride on her train of thought.

Her mind was thinking mostly on this, so it was hard for her to work out what she had been doing earlier, as a prayer. Usually the goddess of time was not on her list, but Jenni still respected the important deity. After all... she learnt about time, didn't she? What was history but looking back through time to see what people did, who they were, and what happened? That acted like a spark to her thoughts. Thank you, Tanroa, she began. For creating and watching over our history, and enabling us to study and learn from the past... Hopefully that will lead to a better future. Please, continue to care for time as you always have, and watch from above, caring for more history for future generations to know.

It was a little odd, and nonsensical in her mind, but it worked.

Common - Nari/Crook - NPC - Writing - Reading

x

[Julius Starr]

Oh, how Julius had lucked out with his chance encounter with Jenni today. When he had awoken this morning, he had imagined a day of solitude and prayer. At the time, it wasn't a bad thing in his mind; in one's silence, they were devoting more of themselves to the god or goddess of their choice. In the silence, the pilgrimage truly became a walk with the divine. Maybe one day, Julius would get the chance to literally walk with a god. Until then, when it would only be a one-sided conversation, he would take mortal contact any day. Thus, Julius had been elated when Jenni suggested to come with him. His vision of silence had evolved into meaningful conversation. He had been right, too. Thus far, the pair had been speaking of various topics, all of which Julius could've survived without partaking in, yet he was happy to have the opportunity all the same. It wasn't very often Julius got to speak with an attractive woman whose breath didn't smell like alcohol. He was simply along for the ride, enjoying it for as long it would last. He even revealed a little of his own thoughts with his comment about the gods. He had meant nothing by it; he was simply passing time until a hole opened up in the ring to give his own homage. When Jenni replied to his comment with such insight, though, Julius began appreciating their chance encounter just a little bit more. Her first comment, muttered beneath her breath, had caught Julius' attention, despite the fact that he didn't hear exactly what she said. When the floodgates of her mind opened, though, Julius listened attentively, curious as to what she thought. Her overall theory about singular focus was solid, and she even backed it up with examples outside the theological sphere. Julius listened in silence, the only noise from his direction coming from the soft purr of Crook. She hesitated once and Julius began to form his own response, but he couldn't get anything out before she continued. In this portion of her thoughts, she tied in her previous comments specifically to religion. Best of all, she questioned Julius if he following, thus giving the man permission to reply. Granted, he had planned on replying regardless, but at least she was expected something. Julius noticed a spot had opened around the orb, but prayer could wait; Julius had himself a little debate going now, and he wasn't going to just walk away from it. "Your points are valid, yes, but I'm not sure if I accept them completely. Take your example of the book and its thesis, for starters. The thesis is the part of the book we focus on, but is it truly the point of the entire book itself? What is a thesis without all the little details that support it." Julius looks over at the pilgrims around him. "The problem isn't that nature has limited human's focus, but that we humans apply the same limitations to nature. If we come to a temple of the divine and find ourselves overwhelmed by everything around us, its because that's how we're designed. But if we can walk in and have a conversation about focus, all the while ignoring the divine around us, something not's right, is it?" Julius smiled at that, making light of the comment that definitely was directed at them both. Julius looks back at the people around him. "I'm not saying I want to walk into this temple and hug Tanroa in the flesh, but in the same sense, I want to feel the importance of my presence here. Sounds strange, I know, that a mortal needs reassurance of his importance in a temple devoted to the divine. But I ask you this, Jenni: what is a god without all the mortals who support them? Still a god, yes, but no more impactful than an orb on the pedestal." Julius looked back at Jenni, a little grin on his face. "Speaking of which, I still need to pray to the orb." Julius gave the woman a little wink as he handed Crook back to her. Once the cat was safely in Jenni's arms--he knew she'd take him back--Julius broke off for a moment, heading in the direction of the orb and the free space surrounding it. He glanced back once, noting that Jenni made no move in following him, which didn't bother him at all. Tanroa had never crossed her lips when she had spoken of her personal pantheon, so her refrain from prayer was understandable. Thus, Julius let her ponder his words while he knelt beneath the orb, lifting his prayer up to the goddess. He closed his eyes, bowing his head in the greeting typical of a Lhavitian. Pardon my delay, Tanroa, in lifting up my annual homage. Not that you probably noticed, seeing that you have all of time to wait. I wish you'd bestow me a larger portion of your infinite supply, so I'll never have to worry about running out. Since this will never happen, I simply ask this of you: give me ample time to accomplish the most important things life has to offer. Not immortality, persay, but a guarantee that what little time I have won't be wasted. With that said, I'll see you next year. His eyes flickered back open, taking in one final sight of the orb. Then, he ascended to his full height once more and made his way back to Jenni. "Shall we proceed on our spiritual journey?" Julius asked casually as he returned to Jenni and her Crook. He let off after the question, preparing himself for what she had to offer him, be it an answer to his points or a simple yes. He wasn't go anywhere until she was ready.

[Jenni Twilight]

x

Jenni frowned as Julius proposed another view to the idea, not because of the actual statement, but... he was almost contradicting himself. In the first statement, he mentioned that it wasn't human nature, but rather our own choices... then said it's how humans were designed. Was it natural or mental? Though the two could be one and the same. Though she would have said something to rebuke the point, she didn't, as the man continued with a few more ideas. This included lightly criticizing their hanging around, rather than actually sending their thanks to Tanroa. Luckily, she'd already done just that, and didn't feel as guilty as implied.

The thought of what a god was without followers was a curious one. Some gods stood with people most hating them, rather than loving them... though there were always some followers. She didn't see gods as something that needed humans, but rather quite independent... but it was a thought. If they didn't show themselves, the only view would be that of those who worshiped and supported them. However, she knew quite a few of them walked in the mortal world. Zintila herself was an excellent example, leading the city in more than just religion. But... was it like asking what a city was without it's people? That was a valid statement.

She copied the grin, gently taking Crook as he was handed over. All this philosophy had started her mind whirring again... ah, the glory of intelligent conversation. Two people not quite debating, but rather putting up various points and facts. Not quite arguing, not quite agreeing. Just... discussing. You always learned new things at times like this, and it was not something to be thrown away easily. It was one of the main reasons she knew scholars grouped together. Being surrounded by so many of lesser intelligence could occasionally become a bit... degrading.

Within moments, she was dragged out of her thoughts, as Julius finished his prayer to the goddess. "Of course," she said, with a curl of her lip that was nearly a smile. As she turned, the cat in her arms struggled a bit, demanding to be set down. She complied, watching the long-haired creature stalk off ahead, leading the way. "Crook seems to know where he's going," she said dryly, eyebrows raised. "Do you? All my stops are along your path anyways. You said you've been along this many a time before, so I assume you have a plan?" He couldn't just amble in a lost way around the city until he ran into a temple all day, of course.

Once their walking continued again, Jenni contemplated something else to speak about. Religion seemed to be a prime topic, but... they'd talked about it twice before this. No... something else. Education? Done. Occupation? Sort of done... at least hers had been mentioned. She was curious to know what Julius did, but it didn't seem interesting enough. Were there any questions lingering on her mind, perhaps? Those would be good to discuss. She could ask his plans for the new year... but then the question would turn to her, and she was clueless. Hope to be chosen by Eyris? There was little she could do about that. A few people had mentioned places on the Council of Radiant, and she'd contemplated it a bit, but put it off as just a fancy. If she really deserved the post, she would need more experience than just two seasons in the Seekers, and as a Novitate at that.

"So..." she began, to break the silence. "Did you hear about the expedition to Gyvaka Swamp? Everyone in the Bharani Library was talking about it... though the Seekers are running it, of course. There's a whole section of the Seekers dedicated to exploration, and finding new knowledge. Personally, I'd rather find it from a book. Though... where do you think the information in the books come from?" She grinned a bit, knowing it was all a little hypocritical. She'd never left Lhavit, except to the barest outskirts, and had no wish to go now. In the thoughts about the Council of Radiant, she knew that it was possible she might go on some kind of ambassadorial mission, depending on her post... and it was something the Twilight wasn't looking forward to.

Common - Nari/Crook - NPC - Writing - Reading

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