Closed First Encounter

[Leiyuu]

The girl noticed his shifting, but said nothing. She didn't understand his uncomfortableness. She wandered if she had asked something she shouldn't ask. "Hmn, Zeltiva is nice, I want to visit it in the future." Leiyuu said, beaming."It looks like we do have something in common after all." It maybe a little too soon to travel to other cities considering her age. Besides, going alone needed skills in order to live. She didn't have anything that could help her survive during her trip. The girl had no experience living in the mountain or the woods, all thanks to years of being confided in her room's four walls. Maybe she would go after her twelve birthday. She had heard that going with a caravan was a much safer choice. "Well, I can't have sweets for now. Sweets can't be used to fill an empty stomach. Besides, too much sweets make me fat." She sulkily pouted. Leiyuu had been careful about her weight, watching it fluctuate with time with a dissatisfied look. Once, her weight went up five kilograms and she had to cut down to twice a week of having sweets. Lack of sugar often left her grumpy like an old man. It was as bad as having vegetables for all month."You don't have to worry, I don't eat sweets instead of a normal meal, I'm just have it as a desert."She chuckled. She thought he worried too much. It was a cute response. Before she had the time to think, words left her mouth:"Then why I can't trust you?"She tilted her head. Is trusting someone need a reason? It was better to trust someone and then got betrayed after that than trusting no one. That was what she always thought. No one would want people to distrust them. It was the same to Leiyuu. The world would be better if there was no suspicion. To build trust, there must be someone who would accept to confided in others first. Leiyuu was that person. Faolan stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. Leiyuu followed and began to walk along side with him. "I know a stall which serve very high quality meat. I think it is much better than a normal butcher's store in term of flavor and price. It stands somewhere around the corner."

[Faolan Lundgren]

Faolan Lundgren Take a walk in the forest. "I think you would like it. It's got a very different landscape than Ravok does." Faolan said with a soft smile. He was fond of the mountainous terrain around his home city, more so than anything else he had seen so far. He felt most at home in the trees so the wetland and plains surrounding the area wasn't ideal, but he still would prefer the wilds to the city. Nodding as she said they at least had the travel bug in common he returned her smile warmly. "This is true, sweets won't keep you full and they won't give you the energy to go visit a brothel." he teased her lightly with an impish smile. He didn't know why he felt so at ease with her so quickly, he usually wasn't easy to trust, but it was some sort of aura she was giving off. She didn't seem all that untrustworthy, besides she was so young, how much trouble could she possibly get him into that he couldn't get in to himself? When she countered his question with another question he seemed to think that over and then shrugged. "Because I'm a strange man you've never met before?" he suggested. "I don't really know why you wouldn't trust me, but I would understand if you wouldn't. I'm just a humble hunter with a bad case of wanderlust, searching for something I'll probably never find, I'm relatively harmless." he said with a light chuckle. He looked at her with a smile as she spoke of the stall she wanted to take him to. "Sounds wonderful." he said excitedly. "What are you going to get to eat?" he inquired curiously. He was trying to figure out how to go about having his meal without drawing too much attention to himself. He could eat his meat cooked like the humans do he supposed, but that wasn't nearly as satisfying. And smell the wild air.

[Leiyuu]

"Hmn, perhaps someday in the future."Leiyuu said,"For now, I'm quite content with staying here. I think Ravok is a wonderful city. It has its unique culture and landscape. However..."She paused and sighed deeply."I don't agree with slavery and discrimination against non-citizen. Maybe I don't know much about politics, but it is just plain wrong treating people like that. And what is wrong about being a non-citizen? I don't quite get it..." She finished her sentences with a frown."And, to think that I couldn't do anything to change it..." Leiyuu fell into silence. She didn't know if she should keep on talking. Talking about that was not her place. Besides, what could she possibly do as a little girl anyway? Suddenly, she realized that she had talked to much. The girl shook her head lightly as if to rub her thought off and wore a smile on her face. She got teased. Leiyuu licked her lips, the smile appeared clearly in her eyes."Yeah, sure...The same to you. So, be ready to stuff yourself with meat." She didn't know what to say besides that, so she teased back. I'm so silly... The little girl giggled at the thought. She silently observed him out of the corner of her eyes, wandering what his response could be. She didn't expect an answer out of him. She didn't really mean to ask for an answer. Yet, he gave her one and it was valid. Normally, you wouldn't trust a stranger, more so if it was a first time meeting. Her face lit up."You are a hunter? Really?"She have never gone out of the city so she hadn't had the chance to watch people going about doing their job, especially a hunter's."I wish to see you while you are hunting someday.", she hummed softly. "Oh, and what..." She paused. She was curious about the thing he was looking for, but didn't asked. The way he said was a hint that he didn't want to talk about it. If it was something he would like to share, he must have said it already. "Harmless? You? Really? I doubt that." She giggled. The girl couldn't help but teasing him. "Hmn, some grilled beef I guessed. I have tried it, very good I must say. What is your choice?" Leiyuu asked back. They were going at normal speed, and reached a new area."Ah, there it is. The area around this stall is always full of shops serving good food. Welcome to the Bazaar" She turned around to face the Faolan, spreading her arms towards him. Then, she ran like a bullet towards the bakery which was next to the stall, shouting "Cakes! Cakes!" with sparkle eyes.The man who was selling bread looked up to find his frequent customer. He grinned:"Well, look who it is! Same as always, right?" "Here am I!"She exclaimed happily,"Yes, Two cream puffs, two strawberry shortcakes please!" She threw her hands freely in the air. Other bakers who were resting behind the counter saw her and laughed heartily. One middle-aged man with a familiar face went out and rubbed her head:"Not on a diet anymore, huh?"Leiyuu's face suddenly covered with a dark shadow. The bakers all laughed. "Well, it is just a little so it's okay..." She pouted. After paying the sweets and waving good bye to the bakers, Leiyuu left the bakery and waited for Faolan. She waved at him and pointed her finger at the stall. Leiyuu sat herself with a puff! sound, patting the chair next to her seat. She looked around while waiting for the stranger. The Bazaar was still crowded like always. Different arrays of stalls stood neatly together, showing their vibrant colors. People were roaming about the area, eating and chatting together. It was around bell 10 and the sun had already reached it boiling point, painting everything brilliant golden. Some drops of sweat started to form on her forehead. She sighed contentedly.

[Faolan Lundgren]

Faolan Lundgren Take a walk in the forest. Faolan listened to her thoughts on the city discriminating against non-citizens with a pensive expression. "I do not know what is so wrong with being a non-citizen, after all people travel and their lives change which could bring them to such a place for a while. But, it is just the way that this city is, some cities are different in the way they determine who is worthy of more protections than others. From what I've heard many cities discriminate against certain types of people, here it is non-citizens. I think it is just the way people are, they need the us or them way of thinking to survive, after all this is a cruel world that we live in." Faolan said in a rather rare moment of global insight. He was the observant type and so he picked up on these types of things, but it was rare that he put his observations into any sort of verbal construction that would sound almost eloquent. Blinking a few times at his own insightful almost speech he smiled shyly at Leiyuu and pushed his hair out of his face nervously. "I think that you can change the world if you just try." he said with a shrug. "Nobody is ever too small or insignificant as to not create change if they so choose." he said quietly, looking at her with that shy smile still on his face. He had no idea where all of this had suddenly come from, but he felt the need to reassure her that she could change things if she wanted to. Clearing his throat uncomfortably he glanced around at the area they were in curiously. "Sorry, I don't know where that came from. Every now and then I can get a little...I dunno...um...wordy?" he said with an apologetic expression. He chuckled lightly as she actually teased him back and nodded. "Oh, I'm always ready to eat, I love food." he said with a grin. It was true, he loved to eat, meat was his favorite but he'd eat other things if he had to, he would by no means allow himself to go hungry if there wasn't fresh meat nearby. Not that you could tell by looking at him, he was well built but in a muscular way, not in a way that would suggest he liked to eat all the time. This was because of the exercise he got from hunting and the fact that he only ate what he needed to eat despite his love of food. While he was always ready to eat he didn't necessarily eat too much. He couldn't help but smile at the way her face lit up when he told her what he did to fund his wanderings. "I am a hunter, really." he said with a playful smirk. "I could take you hunting sometime perhaps. It isn't exactly glamorous but it gives you a taste of freedom that isn't afforded to you within city walls." he explained. When she almost asked him what he was looking for his expression turned into one of amusement. He had said it that way for a reason, just as she surmised, but he would be willing to talk about it at perhaps another time when they weren't walking down the city streets. He laughed lightly at how she stated that she doubted he was harmless and shook his head a little bit. He would allow her to hold on to that doubt even though he knew nothing about fighting. "I prefer deer or rabbit myself. Could be because that's what I eat on the hunt though." he mused. "Perhaps I'll try some grilled beef though, for something different, since you like it it must be good." he stated matter of factly, nodding to himself. He didn't particularly care for cooked meat, but since they were eating in public it would be necessary if he didn't want everyone in the vicinity to know he was Kelvic. After all humans didn't eat raw meat from what he had seen, and they most definitely didn't tear into it in a predatory fashion. His mother used to berate him constantly about the way that he ate, she had always told him that if he was going to eat his meat raw he might as well eat like a gentleman. Dispelling those thoughts when Leiyuu told him they were in the Bazaar he looked around curiously, taking in all the sights and scents of the shops. His mouth instantly started to water at the thought of sinking his teeth into some good food. He watched her take off to a bakery stall and quietly observed how the men reacted to her. A smile tugged at his lips as he watched the men interact with her, she was so happy and he admired that about her. He caught back up to her easily enough and removed his cloak before he sat down. He felt more comfortable with it on as it helped him hide, but it was going to be too hot to wear it and he would draw more attention with it on in the middle of the day anyway. Folding it up he tucked it into his bag and sat down beside her in the designated seat. He raked his fingers back through his hair to make sure that the cloak hadn't left it sticking up in crazy ways. His eyes flitted around the area, bright with curiosity as he watched the people going about their business and chatting with each other. Despite the light climate here he could still sense a general worry hanging over the people, could see it in the lines around their eyes. He didn't look at any one person too long, knowing that they would feel his eyes on them and he would end up drawing attention to himself. His gaze ended up landing on the girl next to him after a little while and he gave her a small smile. "The bakers are your friends then?" he asked. "They seem rather fond of you." And smell the wild air.

[Leiyuu]

"Cruel, eh?" She smiled bitterly. That was an another way to put it."Me? What could I do?", She frowned while still carrying the same smile on her lips. There was many things that she couldn't do. She was clumsy to the point it was impossible to find another person like her, always breaking the dishes and easily forgeting things she was carrying. She couldn't cook a single omelette. She was bad at reading maps. She couldn't handle surviving alone unless she had others to lean on for support. "It does sound easy though." Her laugh was dried. It didn't carry its owner amusement. Easy said than done, is that right?" It's okay, I felt that way too. I think it's not that bad. Once in a while is fine, I guess. It is also good to share one's opinion with another."She softly closed her eyes and deeply sighed."Well, it's good to hear, and I love food too, sweets are even better."replied Leiyuu. "Oh oh, is that a promise? I am serious, you see."Her childish tone returned right after that. The girl's bitterness had completely vanished and it seemed that it never existed in the first place."Well well well, let me see.. Leiyuu leaned forward a bit and started to survey Faolan. "Hmn, sharp and bright eyes...and muscular build." Leiyuu comedicly put her hands on her hips with a victorious look."As I thought, it's danger, danger!", Leiyuu laughed. After Faolan had sat down, Leiyuu began to play around with her fork and knife. "I'm just their frequent customer. We don't talk much to each other." Leiyuu turned to Faolan's side with a curious look."You must have a lot of friends, right Faolan?" She asked, tilting her head to the side."I have just a few, most of them have left the city with their parents. I rarely see them nowadays. The little girl said with a far away look. After a while, two portions of grilled beef were served. "Help yourself, Faolan. If it is not enough, feel free to order more. Leiyuu said while carefully cutting her portion.

[Faolan Lundgren]

Faolan Lundgren Take a walk in the forest. Faolan looked at Leiyuu quietly for a moment and nodded. "Yes, it's a cruel place we live in. I mean if you're not careful the moment you step out of the city you can get attacked by a monster. If you're different from other people you're not even safe in the city itself. What's not cruel about that?" he inquired of her, his eyes probing as they studied her face. He was under no delusions that the world was a welcoming place, especially for someone like him. "Keep being you, you're a kind person Leiyuu, the world needs more people like you." he stated with a soft smile. "I'm serious if you're serious." he said with a smirk. "I plan on heading out fairly frequently as long as there's a need for the meat. Since you've explained the situation I think there will be plenty need for it and I should have no trouble finding a place to sell it all. Finding a place to hunt that hasn't been trampled through by other hunters on the other hand may be more difficult. Game will be harder to track down if there's a lot of people out looking to get their share." he sighed. "Even if it's not exactly hunting I'd be happy to take you out there sometime, perhaps on a shorter trip." He laughed as she declared him a danger, amusement on his face as he ran a hand back through his hair as he chuckled lightly with a little shake of his head. "I see, at least they enjoy your business then." he said with a smile. "Friends? Oh, no, I don't have many friends honestly. I keep to myself mostly. Even in Zeltiva I didn't know anyone really, I just knew the people my parents were friends with and their kids. My parents tried to keep me at home, away from everyone else, they were very concerned with their public image and I had a tendency to mess it up. A little too wild I guess." he said with smirk. "I worked for a stable for a little while before I left, but they didn't hire me because I was qualified, they hired me because my father asked them to and told them they didn't have to pay me anything. But when the stable manager saw how hard I worked he gave me a horse that the owner was no longer paying on. They didn't want to keep him so they gave him to me, knowing that I'd eventually want to leave I guess. Although I didn't really know any of them either, I can't even remember their names now. Drifter I guess is my only real friend, he's been with me since I left Zeltiva. I don't know if you can call my horse my friend though." he said with a shrug. "I suppose we have that in common then, not having a lot of friends." he said with a faint sigh. It didn't bother him much that he didn't have friends, he preferred to spend time out in the woods anyway and he usually did that alone considering his hunting style. When the food arrived he looked at it curiously and pulled his own rarely used eating utensils out of his bag. He examined the grilled beef and then started in on his own beef. The texture was strange to him, cooked meat always had that weird texture, but the taste was alright he supposed. Raw meat had a much more appetizing taste and texture, but it would do for now. To maintain appearances he would just have to get over it if he didn't want to give himself away. He ate his portion before sitting back in his chair and tucking his utensils back into the bag. Licking his lips he looked around quietly as he allowed his food to settle. "That was good, thank you." he said to the girl next to him, smiling warmly at her. When she was done as well he stood up, readjusting his bag over his shoulders. He had a place to stay but he preferred to carry it with him just in case something happened. It was always better to be prepared after all. Stretching with a soft groan he looked around carefully again before turning his gaze back to Leiyuu. He had no idea where they were going after all so he had to rely on her guidance through the city streets. And smell the wild air.

[Leiyuu]

The Border of Light and Shadows

[Nemesis]

. Thread Grade Pending Greetings! Both of you need to update your ledgers to reflect play in Summer 514AV. Remember that Ravokians were forced to spend 20% more than usual expenses that season. Once you have corrected this and sent me a PM, the thread will be graded. UPDATE: Thanks for reposting this, but now I'm waiting on Winter 514AV to be sorted out too. Thank ye, -Nemesis