Open [Surya Plaza] Lhavit's Desert Rose

[Una Tanta]

x
x

Una wasn't sure how much longer her stomach could hold out as she received a moist rag from the angry woman before her. Kneeling down Una grimaced as a wall of the frothy smell whistled past her nose. A pair of black boots appeared suddenly by her elbow making the pale woman start slightly, a hand landing in the soft mush. Ew..., she shook her hand frantically, the wet droplets tossed outward from her finger tips as she fretted.

"This women clearly does not...I mean can't clean up the mess, I'd ask you be kind enough to clean her up and let me take of the mess." Una smiled up at the black cloaked stranger with relief. How kind! I would suspect him a Vantha for such enormous kindness if his dead black hair didn't give him away so quickly... She thought to herself as she rose from the floor, her white knees soaked with the filth, her white dress stained irreparably.

"Perhaps you couldn't tell but she's a Charoda...they're vegetarians, so don't take offense if she get's...er...get's like that around meat..." Unas eyes widened at his words. It wasn't often, or ever, that she meant someone who knew a drop about her race. Perhaps Lhavit was more perfect than she had first been inclined to believe if even the every day individual knew enough of her to understand her plight.

"Oh...Oh dear miss..." The sun burnt woman apologized quickly flushing with embarrassment. "I've never met one who was so adverse to meat, I thought you were being purposefully insulting." Still unable to speak for fear more bile would emerge from her mouth Una shook her head quickly and raised her hands innocently.

Getting a better glimpse of her savior Unas eyes immediately grazed the pink roughened line about his neck. She had never seen a scar so perfectly laid, nor knew where it could come from and stared shamelessly for a moment before meeting his brown eyes. As crinkled and light as autumn leaves they crackled as he stuttered in her defense.

Before she could utter a thank you and scramble from the horrid place her arm was taken by another sun burnt human and guided outside. Though she appreciated the support the harried movement made her stomach heave uncomfortably, "I'll take care of her," the woman muttered, her voice laden with so thick an accent Una frowned in concentration to understand.

"C'mon, why don't we go outside? Get some fresh air in you, huh?" Smiling weakly Una gratefully trudged for the door, inhaling deeply and gladly as the sweet summer air of the mountain swam over her face. It was almost as blissfully clean and light as the waters of the bay.

"If you're a vegetarian, why were you in a butcher shop in the first place?" Una took the napkin offered to her first wiping her mouth and hands off. Leaning down she tried to scrub the muck from her knees with the now sodden cloth but only managed to smear it further.

"T-thanks..." she stuttered, frazzled by the intense activity that surrounded her back in the street. "Oh...uh, I didn't know it was a butcher shop when I went in. I'm not from Lhavit. I am from Wind Reach." In her flustered state her common vocabulary slipped from her mind reducing her to simple sentences as she finished mopping herself up. As she rose and extended the sopping cloth back to the stranger the girls radiant blue eyes slithered over Unas pale pink pupilless eyes. The softly glowing baubles that danced across the bridge of her nose and edge of her face wiggled as the Charoda tilted her head to smile. Her eyes might be stagnant compared to the rick plethora of Vanthan colours but they reminded her as much of home as the scent of the sea.

The Jamoura that awkwardly handed her the frilly plant interrupted her gaze before it had lingered into awkwardness. Gratefully accepting it out of courtesy Una took a small inhale and grinned at the furry face. A Jamoura?! So far from home? Her mind queried as she struggled not to grim too broadly now that she recognized the woman.

The Jamoura that had visited Avanthal had been much older than this woman as her stature and quick movements suggested she was. "Thank you..." She nodded at the Jamoura beginning to feel redundant. "I'm Una." She offered her hand to the Jamoura woman, clasping the womans forearm if she allowed her she squeezed gently. The skin was soft beneath the wiry hair that covered the length of her body and made Una smile despite the filth that still covered her legs. Something about the wise agonizing slowness of the Jamoura had always endeared them to her and even before she knew the womans name she believed in her as a child believes in her parents. For what Jamoura could ever wish to do something harmful?

Glancing over her shoulder when the Jamoura spoke to the man Una watched him emerge from the shadowy interior and gratefully offered her hand to him crowned with a quiet thank you. "Though I thank you for your time and efforts, I think I shall need to excuse myself and purchase another set of clothes. This is beyond filthy..." She murmured, motioning to her stained white dress. Though she had been planning to purchase Lhavitian clothing since seeing the very first of them she had not planned to dig so deeply into her coin purse so early and the thought made her slightly anxious. She had given up all by leaving Wind Reach in such haste and had little to her horde but for the glimmering Miza.

x
x

[Kaik Leyr]

The situation seemed to be progressing better than Kaik expected. He was able to calm down the owner and she even apologized to the Charoda. After finishing negotiations he caught the stranger staring at him, he quickly glances away embarrassed. Looking at Arya it seemed she would be done cleaning up soon enough. Kaik turns his head as the Charoda was about to say something but then a young girl comes and takes her outside, saying she would take care of the Charoda. Soon another stranger came into the scene. Kaik marveled at the appearance of the Jamoura, he considered himself lucky to have met the two new, fascinating strangers today. Without him noticing she vanished only to return with flowers. It was too far away to hear what the three strangers were saying. Then the Jamoura asked him if he needed help, snapping out of his thoughts he shakes his head to say no. Looking over his shoulder it seemed Arya was already done with cleaning, finished she drops the mop and walks closer to Kaik keeping her head down as she did so. He pats her head, as was his usual way of thanking her. Exiting from the tavern he was surprised at the Charoda's sudden thank you. It seemed she would be leaving to acquire some new clothes. He decided to challenge his social skills once again, all for the pursuit of knowledge. Ah I wonder if I'm gonna regret this! he thought as he held unto Arya's hand tightly. "Ch-Charoda! I-...ah! That is if you'd like!...I'd be happy to escort you to a clothing store, that's only if you want...well it's just that it be bad if you walked into another meat place...so um..." he said. His hunger for food was replaced with a hunger for knowledge. He didn't truly know much about the Charoda, only that they were a peaceful, herbivores living in the sea. He hoped to learn more about the stranger's kind by escorting her. It would be a good break from studying Animation all day. So now he waited for a response, his eyes darting from place to another...his nervousness was clearly obvious.

[Nasira]

OOCSorry this took so long. Busy week! "They don't eat meat in the Wind Reach?" asked Nasira, tilting her head slightly in confusion at Una's answer. While Wind Reach was Lhavit's closest neighbor, Nasira found that she didn't know too much about it, except, of course, that that was where Inarta came from. She was sure someone might have said at some point whether meat was eaten up there, but she might not have been paying close enough attention. It was often a problem with her when it came to education. She took a step back to give Asha room as the Jamoura woman returned with a flower for the Charoda, looking back in the shop as Asha offered to help. "I can do it," she said. "It doesn't bother me." Making a living as a dancer often meant performing in taverns, which meant that Nasira was pretty used to the inevitable consequence of too much alcohol. While she didn't drink herself, she'd seen it happen enough times over the past year that she was pretty much immune. Lhavit at night was not the same city as Lhavit during the day—that was for sure. It looked like the clean-up was already done regardless, by the...child?...that accompanied the dark-haired man. Nasira frowned at that, folding her arms as she turned towards the man who had shown up. What kind of person made a child do all that work? Still, he seemed genuinely interested in helping Una, so for once in her life, Nasira held her tongue. Still, she thought, as she gave the man a once-over, a still-disapproving look in her eye, she doubted that he really knew anything about womens' clothes. "I can come too, if you want," she said, turning towards Una. "I'll show you where I go clothes shopping."

[Asha]

Asha nodded as Kaik shook his head, indicating he did not need her help. She turned back to look at Una as the charoda woman smelled the flower and clasped her arm. Asha returned the grip lightly, her hand easily encircling the woman’s slender forearm. ”Pleasure to meet you Una, I’m Asha.” Asha bit back a laugh as Kaik and Nasira both offered to accompany Una in shopping. She was not sure if this was typical of Lhavitian behavior or if she had happened to stumble upon two extremely friendly and accomodating individuals. It hardly mattered either way, she was glad to have come across them. The day was certainly more interesting then it had been before she met them. ”Why don’t we all go? Una, you certainly seem to need a new dress and I’ve actually been admiring the headscarves I’ve seen many of the women wearing around. So perhaps I will do some shopping as well. If any of you know how to tie headscarves, I would be grateful for your assistance, as I most certainly do not. Nasira, what was that clothing shop you mentioned?” Asha smiled at the group hopefully, a group shopping excursion could be fun. If nothing else, it would at least help her better navigate the city with an experienced Lhavitian like Nasira to lead them around. Una seemed as new to the city as Asha was, and she had not had enough time around Kaik to judge how well he knew the city. Realizing she had not properly introduced herself to the young man who's companion had cleaned up Una’s mess she turned towards Kaik and offered her hand to shake. ”Where are my manners, I forgot to introduce myself! I’m Asha, what might I call you?”

[Una Tanta]

x
x

Una glanced about her at the odd grouping of strangers that gathered at her elbows eagerly vying for the chance to accompany her shopping. She was surprised with the willingness of people to help a complete stranger, in so dangerous a time and place it always amazed her. Having grown up in Wind Reach a place that was hospitable only to those that gave as much or less than they took never was something given freely, including time.

"Ch-Charoda! I-...ah! That is if you'd like!...I'd be happy to escort you to a clothing store, that's only if you want...well it's just that it be bad if you walked into another meat place...so um..." Kaik stuttered awkwardly. Una couldn't help the matching pink that tainted her white cheeks, she had never been shopping with a man before and was incredibly grateful when both of the women volunteered to accompany her.

"I can come too, if you want," she said, turning towards Una. "I'll show you where I go clothes shopping." Glancing at the woman appraising her clothes she nodded acquiescing, "I would be delighted to have your guidance. Lhavit isn't an easy city to maneuver about." She grinned. The womans clothing was simple but elegant, certainly well within her own expense range she hoped.

Moving out into the crowd Una had been trying to avoid she found solace in the comforting press of the strangers about her. A group moved more easily through the crowd, carving its way with impermeable walls that prevented any one person from being jostled.

Making their way through the streets Una gazed about the scene with admiration. Moisture cloyed the air around the Diamond of Kalea and for the first time since she stepped ashore last year for the majority of her existence she felt just as at home as in the water. The city was as three dimensional as the ocean, as moist as the ocean, and the climbing bridges and shimmering skyglass faintly resembled the magnificent reefs that inhabited her home.

__________________________________________________________________

They moved into the shop single file Una gazing about her far differently than humans. Humans scanned the horizontal, their head remaining on an even plane. Her own gaze placed as much importance on the floor and ceiling as the horizontal plane. The long dresses, trousers and flowing tops in a cacophony of colours assaulted her senses making her gasp quietly.

Approaching a rack and running her fingers over the soft cloth she grinned to herself. Each was as exquisite as the leather and fur coat she had so loved in Avanthal. Coral pinks, flamboyant reds, deep rich greens slid through her fingers like colourful guppies nibbling on her seaweed covered fingertips.

"Is everything in Lhavit so beautiful?" Una asked rhetorically, eyes drawn so magnetically to the clothes she hardly glanced at her strangers. "What were all of you doing?" She asked, turning to glance at the menagerie of strangers. She was curious what Lhavit citizens did during the day. The cycle of work and rest was so curious and unique she wondered how they had trained themselves to switch between rest and productivity so easily and how they managed to be productive under Leths black guise.

x
x

[Kaik Leyr]

Kaik was ecstatic to hear the two other strangers were joining him and the Charoda. He could just leave all the talking and shopping nonsense to the strangers while he listened to any relevant information on the two non-human strangers. A perfect plan, though he couldn't help but notice hostility coming from the Benshira girl. Kaik didn't know the girl nor did he do anything to wrong her. Avoiding the young girl's gaze he is met with the Jamoura's hand and question. He was taken aback by both her and her gesture. Only through children stories had he known of this race, to be given the chance to actually meet one was fascinating. It was obvious she was new in the city given she was shaking his hand not bowing, since bowing was the usual way of greeting another. He shakes her hand regardless and gives out his and Arya's name. "...Kaik...my companion's name is Arya." With introductions over he lets the Benshira girl lead the way through the streets. Arriving at the store he stood awkwardly waiting for the group to be done with whatever they planned to do. He began to regret escorting the Charoda. Nothing but talk about clothing and all that could be heard in the store, he wanted to know the history of the Charoda and Jamoura not "does this dress look nice?" or "Oh you look sooo cute!" The chatter going on in the store from the other customers was driving him insane. Just when he had enough of all the pointless talking the Charoda asked a question. "Is everything in Lhavit so beautiful?" which was followed by another question "What were all of you doing?" Beautiful? It was a word he had heard far too many times. He tried as many times as it was said to understand what was beautiful about Lhavit and still he failed to comprehend it. "Beautiful? I-...I suppose...yeah everything in this city is...beautiful," he continues to answer the second question, "I was out looking for something to eat." He leans on a nearby wall not paying attention to the others answers as he dwells on his own thoughts.

[Una Tanta]

x
x

Absorbed in her conversation with the other women she hadn't noticed Kaiks bored leaning until she had purchased a long green Lhavitian gown and turned to peer at the expression that lined his face. Taking her time to peer more closely at his personage she was struck by the classic deep brown of his eyes and hair. He blended easily into the crowd, so typical in appearance she couldn't help but be intrigued.

His body was covered in thin soft leather, unusual among the Lhavitians who adorned themselves in thin flowing fabric more typically. Drawing closer to him Una allowed an apologetic smile to grace her pale pink lips.

"I'm sorry, this must be horribly boring for you. You said you wish to eat, shall we leave to do so? I would love to buy you and your daughter dinner, a thank you for your help earlier?" She inquired grinning at the pale brown skinned child at his side.

It was the first time she had glanced at the form before her and was struck by the long wooden lines along her face marking her inhuman. Its resemblance to the human form had her peering several more times at its expression. Neutral and dull it gazed up at her through large childlike eyes a sad expression for one so young.

Crouching Unas fingers twitched, aching to reach out. She knew how much she herself had loathed those that felt they could reach out and touch her without permission, or whose first act had been to ask permission. As wooden as the girl looked she could be as sentient as Una herself.

"What do you like to eat m'dear?" She asked, eye level with the little girl. Glancing up at Kaik when she hadn't moved to answer she tilted her head, baubles jiggling under the movement.

"Uhm...is there something she or you would prefer?" She directed the question at him this time giving the girl a soft smile. Perhaps she was ineffably shy around strangers. This thought was emphasized as she moved away from Una hiding slightly behind the mans cloak.

x
x

[Kaik Leyr]

Kaik found himself lost in thought, finding the construction of doll more exciting than the drab talk about clothing. It was a strange struck of luck to able to meet the Charoda twice in the same day, but now it seemed like nothing but misfortune, to make it even worse he suddenly remembered the reason for his trek outside. A pang of mild pain hit his stomach his mind now filled with thoughts of food. He didn’t notice Una approach until she began to apologize for how dreadfully boring the situation was for him. It should have been himself who apologized he thought, how obvious was it that he was not enjoying himself?

He looked up only to see Una was not looking at him but at Arya. From the distance he knew she had a visible view of Arya and her true nature. She had offered to buy him and Arya dinner even grinning as she did so, the word ‘daughter’ swirled his mind for a moment. Never had he really thought about his relationship between himself and Arya, did it truly appear as if they were father and daughter or was their true nature that of master and servant? The moment quickly passed as he realized a startling point, he could not hear screaming nor see that smile she wore change into dark disgust. Never did that smile change as she looked upon his doll. “This person...how kind must you be? You’re different from the others...a child not minding Arya was one thing, but you...for an adult to not mind is...is...incredible.” Unconsciously the joy he felt leaked into his face until he was grinning.

With Una eye level to Arya the doll could get a good look of the stranger despite hiding behind her master. She was certainly unlike any other person she had seen before, though if it was based solely on attitude she had seemed like the scary lady her master always visited for what he said was ‘work’ not that she needed to know what that was. Even if she did have a voice she still would have let master do the talking but with her being directly asked she was lost as to what she was to do. The little doll looked up at Kaik for an answer and was instead delighted to see how elated he looked, she continued to stare almost as happy as Kaik was.

The master himself soon realized the state he himself was in so he pulled the hood over his head and looked away from Una. He said, “You’re...why are you? I-...strange...you are strange, not that I’m any better...but I’m really really just...happy…” having bought some time Kaik tried to reclaim his normal mood and turned to face Una while pulling his hood off, “She can’t eat...she is er...a doll...sadly she does not have a voice...still we are both grateful for your invitation, I uh...don’t really have a preference in food so...anywhere you think looks nice we should go to.”

Box Code by Scarlet Rose

[Una Tanta]

x
x

Why does he hide himself when he speaks? She wondered suddenly uneasy, did he not want her to see his face for a reason? Was he a wanted individual? Or perhaps ineffably ugly?

“You’re...why are you? I-...strange...you are strange, not that I’m any better...but I’m really really just...happy…”

"I-I'm glad..." She stuttered a reply. Perhaps he was a simpleton?

“She can’t eat...she is er...a doll..." A doll? I've played with dolls as a kid...they don't move.

"Sadly she does not have a voice...still we are both grateful for your invitation, I uh...don’t really have a preference in food so...anywhere you think looks nice we should go to.”

Una nodded very slowly in reply keeping an eye on the moving doll. Perhaps she is a puppet? Searching her for strings or guides of some type she came up short. However, the boy was bearing a heavy cloak so perhaps he was disguising it. Then again...Lhavit is a place of magic...should I really be that surprised?

As they moved through the glistening streets Una was startled by the gaiety of the day. With several groups of children skipping through the streets and odd booths with a variety of Okomo carvings and products.

"Sooo..." She offered leadingly, "She is a doll? How do you get her to move?" As he answered her question she listened closely, more questions springing to mind as he spoke.

"What can she do? Can she understand me? Who made her? Do they need to sleep?" She continued in a quick barrage eyes wide with delight. Her pupilless eyes normally unnerved people, and it was usually questions like this that dominated her conversations with people. Since arriving in Lhavit she had been delighted to feel like one of everyone else. With an entire colony on the docks she would be relatively typical if it weren't for her iridescently pearly white skin that marked her as a deep sea adaptation.

From Surya Plaza the most noticeable place to eat was Mhakula Tea House, a place she had seen on several occasions but not had the chance to enter. The place was large and heavily gilded with its own private garden surrounding it. Set apart from the towers it was relatively quiet despite its popularity and as Una directed them toward it the smell of simpering tea wafted through the air.

The garden was a puzzle of various greens and rocks with sparse colours accentuating various statues. The stone pathway beneath their feet shifted as they tread along it and entered through the low doorway. The interior was fairly dark with long shafts of light trickling through narrow windows. Long tables and benches decorated the floor

"Oh hello. Hello m'dears." The matronly proprietor welcomed them as he directed them toward an open table. The air was thick and sweet with the smell of various teas. Inhaling deeply Una melted as the sweet smell of honey danced persuasively along her tongue.

"Well m'dear. Mah name is Guzo." He introduced as he handed out small pamphlet with a list of services and items.

"I shall leave you for a bit. Yes? Take a look. I shall be back." He nodded bowing as he retreated into the rowdy interior. Noon break had begun and the place was swarmed with people attempting to order their various teas before they had to return to their own duties and jobs or preparing to go home to their families. The city was in a constant state of farewell and hellos because of it cyclical schedule.

Glancing at the pamphlet Una let her eyes roam over the delicious sounding teas, "What do you think? I'm starving!" She chewed her lip as she perused the menu her stomach threatening to grumble. There were few places that had such a wide variety of vegetarian options. I wish I could gobble them all up... However, her hunger hadn't banished her curiosity about the doll that sat so patiently at his side and as soon as she had satisfied her desire she vowed to question him more.

x
x

[Kaik Leyr]

OOCSimpleton? On Kaik's behalf I am hurt...to his annoyance I am laughing like an idiot.

It felt as if there was a misunderstanding going on as Una stuttered a reply. “She was glad? Why was she the one stuttering? Perhaps I somehow failed to convey how I-...wait...I didn’t tell her why I was so happy? Oh jeez...what am I doing! Now she thinks I’m some idiot! I’m happy about Arya not over food!” Though the thought of food did make him slightly happy.

Una nodded in reply to her leading the way to dinner as she eyed Arya. She stood there for a few moments as if she was looking for something, worry crept behind Kaik. “What is she planning? Did I really misunderstand her views toward Arya? Was it all a charade? I just don’t understand!” Without being able to fully grasp what Una thoughts were he followed behind her into the busy streets. Trying to break the silence Una asked him questions about Arya, “Yes she is a doll...um movement? Er...magic I suppose.” Even in Lhavit, a place welcoming of magic, he still felt the need to keep his identity as a mage a secret, not that working at the Animation Studio helped him toward the endeavor. Still it was made very evident he was someone who would at the very least be somehow involved in magic, be it through a friend or business. Kaik painfully obvious to what could be determined from his words had hoped she would ask about something else, instead he was barraged with questions about nothing but Arya.

Kaik remembered distinctly how he had planned earlier to be the one asking her questions, somehow it seemed he had lost the fight before it even started. “She can function like any other human child, though she can’t catch up to the learning speed of one. Yes she can understand you to a certain degree...sleeping? No she does not. Her creator would be me.” By then he did not mind the questions as he had already accepted that hiding his identity as a mage was pointless, beside that he was started to find talking about his work to be enjoyable.

The two arrived at The Mhakula Tea House, Kaik approving of Una’s choice of place to go for food and more importantly tea. Smells of the different types of tea made his desire for tea even more desirable. Led to a table by the owner of the tea house Kaik looked through the pamphlets given spotting a promising blend of tea called ‘Sunrise’ and a dish called ‘Lentil Sweet Potato Curry’. With his dinner in mind he put down the pamphlet and looked around the tea house.

Without the protection of hiding behind Kaik Arya was forced to deal with it by sitting as close to her master as possible. Only until he began to look around did he notice how close Arya was, he was about to tell her move but then he realized she was just fearful, so he let it go. Arya kept the hood over her head as she looked down to avoid anyone's gaze. Much like her master she preferred silence over the loud chatter of people.

For Kaik it was not surprising to see how busy it was considering the time, though he would have much prefered the crowds to pipe down. He entertained himself with the thought of inventing some kind of noise canceling device only to realize Una said something about thinking and being starved. “Hm? Oh right...I picked out the curry and for tea the...um Sunrise blend...how about you?” Now that he looked at Una she seemed starved and almost ready to charge into the kitchen demanding food as she eyed the pamphlet for her choice of food.

He caught himself glancing a few too many times at Una as if he was trying to paint a picture of her in his mind. It was a perplexing sight for him, he never considered her scary but it was more akin to wonderment. From what he could infer she seemed new to Lhavit so it kept him wondering what kind of things she experienced outside the walls of Lahvit, what bothered him more was what exactly the world was like compared to what he had only read or heard from others. “What's...what is it like? Outside of Lhavit I mean. Why come here to Lhavit? Was it because of the stories? The words of others?”

Box Code by Scarlet Rose