PM to join Searching for Scraps (Dor'gen)

[Lianel Lighthand Terras]

Searching for Scraps
45th of Fall, 514 A.V.

Nitai had woken, a familiar pang of hunger in her gut that had come with the shortage of food this season. It wasn't often she had had to worry about such a thing, yet here it was, a pain in her gut, and no easy way to fill it.

Just as dawn was breaking, the Konti sat cross legged, perched upon the windowsill in her cramped Sunset Quarter apartment, listening to the familiar pitch and whine of the slums around her. She sat like an eager child, poring through the contents of a recently bought make up kit. Nitai knew very little of make up and disguise, the tools necessary for convincingly pulling off such maneuvers out of her price range, but it seemed in these times that the ability to make herself looking like someone else entirely could be of use, and this small kit seemed as good as any place to start.

Perched precariously she held a small rectangular mirror upon one leg as she began to pour through her color options. She had chosen a very bland palette, of earthy tones and nudes because her first intentions were to disguise the sharp glare of her scales. Being picked out as a Konti had earned Nitai a good deal of trouble over the decades, and though her hair, eyes, and skin could reveal her identity just as easily, it was easier to dirty her hair or shade her eyes than it was to cover every bit of her skin in clothing, though the tattered coal grey cloak that was draped around her did do a fairly good job on that count.

She began on the back of her right hand, where she could see her work without constantly checking the mirror. The first choice was a skin coloresque powder which she applied with a rounded brush, gently at first, then more liberally when she realized that the glint of her scales would need more potent layers. After caking on more makeup then she would have liked Nitai lifted the appendage to the growing light. Despite the fairly pale tint her skin had, the make up on her hand seemed to enhance it, making the skin look ghostly and fake. On her face this might not be so much of a problem, plenty of people in Sunberth powdered their faces in different hues, but she wasn't sure if it would truly hide the obvious scales on her forehead or neck. to try to combat the paleness, she used a smaller clean brush in a medium shade of brown, dusting it over the layer and circling it gently, trying to get it to mix and deepen the color a bit. After a chime or so she held her hand up again. It wasn't perfect, but then again she had just started, and at least it didn't look ghostly.

Now using the mirror Nitai repeated this technique upon her face, the upper portions of her cheeks, and her forehead, using a bit less of the base nude color. As an added touch she added charcoal lines under her eyes that made her look as if she hadn't slept in days. She wasn't sure if this would help or hinder her, it drew more attention to her lavender eyes, but if she kept her eyelids low, perpetuating that exhausted look, you barely noticed the color.

With that Nitai carefully stowed her make up and mirror under a loose floor board alongside her mother's Tarot cards, glancing at them wistfully for a moment before sliding out of her window. It was a precarious journey down the long since collapsed building that lay below her window. Things shifted, but Nitai had found that as a whole the structure remained steady. She dropped lightly onto a cross beam, crouching in order to keep balance and keeping one hand down for support as she crawled along it, dropping bit by bit, careful to check each place before committing her weight to it. It took longer than going out the front of her building, that was for certain, but it also made her feel much safer.

Alighting lightly upon the ground, Nitai pulled her cloak tightly around her, covering her neck and hands, slouching a bit, and shuffled toward the Market District. She meant to get food one way or another today, and hopefully her little disguise might just help in that endeavor.
.

[Dor'gen]

.
During any morning that could be considered typical, the towering Akalak known as Dor'gen would begin his day by one of a few means. Whilst enjoying the sweet embrace of slumber, there are times with his "darker" sibling will awaken first. Upon stirring within the rear of his mind, the two would begin a groggy conversation that would ultimately be the catalyst for Dor'gen's awakening. However, on other mornings it was simply the bliss of nature that would rouse the Akalak from his sleep. As dictated by hands divine, the light of Syna herself would peak from beyond the horizon and stretch forth across the land. Whatever her radiance touched, awakening occurred; and soon a symphony of gentle chirps and caws would herald the awakening of the Akalak.

When either of these means were the source of Dor'gen's release from the wonderful depths of sleep, the Akalak would generally be in a good mood. Although defined by a touch of grogginess that would be dispelled following an early dip in the Hot Springs, Dor'gen would be in such a mood that warranted a light smile being plastered upon his face. However, just as there were ways for him to awaken in a good mood...there were means of causing him to awaken in a sour one. The most common of these was the unruly presence of children within the Aquillar Hot Springs. Now, while Dor'gen had absolutely no qualms with children whatsoever, there was simply the sad reality of their choosing to run up and down the corridors early in the bloody morning.

With feet thundering up and down the hall, coupled with shrill laughter, it always proves to be an impossibility for Dor'gen to remain within slumber's embrace...thereby causing him to awaken with a growl. If not for fear of being evicted from his rather comfortable lodgings at the Aquillar Hot Springs, Dor'gen would even succumb to the temptation of storming out into the hall and scaring the living shyke out of the pests with an angry roar. However, even though this particular means of rolling out of bed agitated was the most common, recent history would provide a new method of souring the Akalak's morning mood. The city of Sunberth was, as all knew, a sordid place. Anarchy reigned supreme and danger characterized each and every street.

Yet, oddly enough, there was some semblence of stability when it came to the city's food supply. Day in and day out, the farmers of the surrounding outskirts would peddle their wares to the masses; and would receive multitudes of coin and respect in the process. However, due to some unexplained circumstance, the stalls that were typically filled to the brim with fresh food were practically empty. As such, the denizens of the city were becoming intimately familiar with a vastly uncomfortable sensation in the pit of their bellies: hunger. Now, Dor'gen was no exception to this trend...and he now found himself roused from the sweet embrace of slumber by ravenous pangs in his stomach. This pangs were the source of a pronounced grochiness that came to characterize the Akalak since the shortage's beginning...

...And this day in particular was one such day...

When the rumblings of his stomach echoed within the confines of his traveler's room, the Akalak awoke with a groan of sheer exasperation. The sheets and covers were kicked off in a huff and Dor'gen rose immediately. Before dressing or washing his face, he took a moment to reach for his pack in order to indulge in the meager sum of food he had on his person. Amounting to the remnants of dried fruit that he had earned just over a week in the past, the Akalak had taken to...rationing his rations. He would much rather have a few mouthfuls to eat in the morning that would last a bit over a heaping helping that would last a day. After chewing over his "breakfast", Dor'gen then set about the process of dressing and arming himself to the teeth.

Although it may have been ill-founded optimism to think in this manner, the Akalak planned to venture out to the Marketplace in order to see if the food shortage had come to a conclusion. Perhaps then he might be able to finally have something substansial to eat as opposed to nibbling on fumes. In the likely event that the shortage continued on this day, Dor'gen's "backup" plan was to roam about the Market in search of work for the day. The simple reality of the situation was, regardless of Sunberth's current plight, there would always be those who needed a fresh blade and an able body. With this thought in mind, Dor'gen concluded his ritual of washing, dressing, and arming himself before making a brisk departure of the Aquillar Hot Springs.

Typically speaking, this would be the portion of his day that would be characterized by a run. Ever since his arrival in Sunberth, Dor'gen had taken it upon himself to begin each and every day by jogging as much as he could along the way to the city proper. However, this course of action was a terrible notion given his current predicament; and ever since the shortage he had suspended the practice. After all, he did not want to expend energy that, put simply, he did not have to spare. As such, Dor'gen began up the beaten path to the city proper at a moderate pace. Long, confident strides bore the Giant along the way until, several chimes later, he arrived in the southernmost portion of the Sunset Quarters. Due to the early hour, this portion of the city was quiet; for it was very much asleep for the most part.

However, that did not mean that there were not thieves or cutthroats hiding in the shadows.

Due to this particular "feature" of Sunberth, the Akalak did not lower his guard in the slightest. His strides slowed to a more calculated pace and his offhand rested upon the hilt of his bastard sword. At all times, his eyes swept back and forth along the path before them; in addition to looking with the darkened alleyways adjacent to him. At one point, Dor'gen came to a halt before the mouth of a single alleyway near the market...and squinted against the black. He diligently looked up, down, and across...until he noticed the form that had drawn his attention out of his peripheral vision. 'Twas a man, hunched over in the darkness. That was the extent of the Akalak's looking into the matter, for he simply shrugged and moved on. In just a few ticks, he arrived at the Marketplace; which was at least characterized by a few more individuals.

Yet, he could tell by the stalls that the shortage had not ended.

With a hint of disappointment prevalent upon his expression, Dor'gen then set about seeking a job for the day. His steps guided him to and fro, whilst his eyes diligently looked for a potential employer.

Word Count1,171
.
.

[Lianel Lighthand Terras]

The frequency of angry shots and bickering were tell tale signs of hungry bellies causing more anger than usual in the back streets and slums of the city. Nitai found this worked to her advantage as she shambled down the streets. Even if people were eyeing others for a bit of food they might be able to steal, who would bother her, a tattered looking beggar man or woman who had little chance of having even a crumb?

Stopping just outside the market in a narrow alley she flipped back her hood, bending down to find some dirt that hopefully wasn't tainted too much by filth to rub in her hair. She pulled most of her lock back, leaving a few strands to hang around her face, and these she coated with the dirt, giving them a greyish brown quality and masking the strange almost white blonde quality to her hair.

Satisfied she flipped her hood back over her head and stood a bit straighter than she should have, just in time to glimpse a hulk of a being step by the alley, glancing down into the shadows towards her. She saw him pause, his stance wary, his eyes seeming to pierce through the darkness before he continued walking by.

Instantly, Nitai's curiosity was piqued and as quietly as she could managed she stepped upon the balls of her feet forward, drawing close to the edge of the alleyway to peer cautiously around the corner, observing the purple man...the Akalak. She had glimpsed a few, and heard the stories of them, but he seemed to blow all the tales away, a muscled massive figure equipped with effective looking armor and a large sword hanging on his hip. His hair was white, and she wasn't sure what this meant, if he was old, or if this was a natural occurrence among them, but regardless she found herself staring, mouth partially agape for several ticks as he took easy long strides away from her.

It was a terrible idea that came into her mind then, one the logical part of her brain tried to refute immediately. One swipe from that blade and you're dead on the street, forget hunger, right into Dira's embrace. But someone that big? He had to eat more than the average person, more indeed. What were the chances that he didn't have food on him somewhere?

So against that panicking logical part of her mind, Nitai emerged from her alley way, pulling the hood farther over her head, glancing up from beneath the cover it provided and slowly meandering, stooped and shambling, into the market a good distance behind the Akalak. She noted the sparse crowds, all with the same futile thought in mind: To find food that wasn't there. Despite herself Nitai peered along the empty stalls herself, as much to make it look like she was doing something other than following the massive Akalak as she was just ensuring there really wasn't any food.

It was broad daylight, and she was not quick with her fingers, in order to do this and have any chance of success she had to get close, and try to get a good idea of where he might keep food, or perhaps follow him to some, that could be a reason he was in the market as well.

Someone shooed her away from their stall with curses and spit and Nitai just grumbled a distinct lack of real words before turning and making her way closer to the Akalak. He walked with a purpose, and she wanted to know just what it was, looking for the right opportunity to strike. I'm going to lose a limb looking for food, what a wonderful day.
.

[Dor'gen]

.
.

There was a sad reality that came with residing in the sordid city of Sunberth.

Although every last denizen of the popolous was not inherently corrupt, one could not lower his guard at any moment. Allowing one's self to slip into the delusion of obliviousness would be a swift way to meet Dira face to face. Either fate would see that a dagger is rudely introduced to one's ribs, or that they would be robbed of all they had. Such was the terrifying nature of the city...and Dor'gen had no aspirations about meeting either of these two ends. As such, his guard remained raised at each and every moment whilst he walked about the city. Whether it was in the open or even while sipping from a tankard of ale, the Akalak made a conscious effort to be wary of his surroundings at all times.

To this end, Dor'gen diligently swept his gaze back and forth about the crowd.

His time within the sordid city had enlightened him to a single fact: the vast majority of pickpockets and cutthroats had purpose in their approach. Not all of the scum wandering about were masters of their craft; and as such looking for the telltale signs of an intentional approach were key to survival. Whilst inspecting the various stalls for potential employers, Dor'gen did just that. He scanned the various faces of those moving through the crowds, attempting to discern whether they were intentionally drawing near. Most shuffled by with their own destinations at the forefront of their minds, whilst a handful of others made eye contact with the Akalak. To these few, a deadly glare was given; coupled with the baring of fangs. This sent most of the lookers scooting off nervously; whilst the rest simply glared back.

For several chimes, this pattern continued...until the Akalak heard the sound of curses being hurled.

Turning, Dor'gen looked at the source of the disturbance and saw a hooded woman standing before a stall. She was being berated by the merchant for reasons beyond him, thereby leading to her scurrying off within the crowd. "Wonder what that was all about?" Dor'gen inquired, addressing the "darker" presence within his mind. To this, Goa responded: "Perhaps she was caught stealing?" This train of thought was met with a simple grunt, for that was yet another street urchin for the Akalak to worry about. After all, one failed heist did not mean that she would cease larceny altogether. In fact, it would probably encourage selecting a different target.

With this thought in mind, the Akalak casually turned about and noticed the flurry of the cloak within the crowd. He then faced the nearest stall and looked over the wares; as if he was unaware of the woman's presence. However, he continued to keep the cloak within his peripheral...and sure enough, she had not left his field of vision. "Looks like an admirer." came Goa's joking tone. This was met with not even the slightest remark...but instead inspired Dor'gen to test whether or not there was truth to this joke. Stepping lively away, he came to a halt at another stall before sliding his gaze to the crowd. Sure enough, he could see the cloak...and he could see that it was closer now. "By Wysar's Blue Balls...Why me?" he said, facing the crowd.

Long, confident strides bore the Akalak through the thicket of bodies until he came to a halt only a pace away from the cloaked woman. A snarl was worn upon his face as he looked down upon her. "Can I help you, miss?" he practically growled.

Word Count607
c

[Lianel Lighthand Terras]

All she could think to herself as the chimes that dragged on like bells passed was, This is going petching worse than that night at the Fish. At first she noticed the Akalak glancing at her, and figured it was because of the cursing stall owner, but as she shuffled around, doing her best to look aimless while actually having a purpose, a very difficult task indeed, she realized quite immediately that she'd be getting nowhere. Her stomach gurgled somewhat and she cringed. Daytime, in the middle of the petching market. When I do this again, try it after dark.

The mental notes were stacking, her repeated failures as well, but at least she could with somewhat confidence say that the Akalak wouldn't beat the petch out of her for just stalking him.

Long strides, impossibly tall body appeared before her, and beneath the hood Nitai found her pale eyes roving up and up and up to find his strange silver eyes, a snarl on his lip that implied he wanted to help his sword find his way into his stomach, making her previous thought seem a bit too optimistic in scope. At first the very threatening statement was met by silence. Her mind raced. Honesty might work out best for her here, flip back her hood, using her Konti features to appeal to the figure, but that was a gamble at best. Of course her abysmal acting skills didn't seem anything to fall back on, leaving her biting her lip in the shadows and taking half a pace back as to better peer up at the hulking figure.

"I...I was just wondering if you had a bit of food to spare..." This of course was truth. The fact that she had wanted to lift it from him without him noticing didn't need to be mentioned, adding a little desperate quaver to her voice. She decided not to try making it sound like an older woman, which first of all she probably couldn't pull off, nor would look good if her hood slipped and he saw her real face. Despite the very real danger she had stupidly thrown herself into, Nitai found her lips twitching. Not...horrible.
.

[Dor'gen]

.
As the words formed and fell from the lips of the Akalak, something erupted into being.

'Twas a noise...a sickening din that characterized every single person standing in the Castle Commons. Dor'gen's stomach growled ferociously, screaming for sustenaince. With every fiber of his being, the Akalak wished that he could fulfill that burning need originating in the pit of his stomach...but there simply was not food to spare. However, unlike the woman before him, Dor'gen went about his day with some shred of integrity. Maybe it was because he was foreign to Sunberth, but in his mind everything didn't have to be solved by taking advantage of others...and maybe it was because he was hungry...but the current situation suddenly irritated him. "Food to spare my arse." he seethed mentally, "She was probably sizing me up for a nice heist."

"And if I had any food to spare? What then. You'd have tried to rob me, wouldn't you?" he spat, his tone rising in volume.

Although this was sure to draw some wandering eyes, there was no way in Hai that anyone was going to get involved. Such was the nature of Sunberth...no one cared. Fuming, the Akalak made a sudden movement. He reached out and attempted to snatch the wrist of the woman firmly within his grasp. She was going to have a piece of his mind today, like it or not. She earned this. If in the event that his fingers managed to coil around her wrist, a sudden yank would draw her closer whilst his dominant hand moved. "Well I don't have any petching food to spare. No one in this godsforsaken city has any petching food to space." he growled. The hood which obscured her features was only...fuel to the agitation which befell the Akalak, and as such his dominant hand moved to rectify this problem. Fingers grabed and pulled, rudely revealing a mass of bright (yet dirtied) hair...and Dor'gen gaped.

She was easily the most beautiful woman he had seen in all his days.

Taken aback, there was an amalgam of confusion and awe that plastered itself upon his face. His lips moved, attempting to form together coherent sounds, before he snapped out of it. "I...Who are you anyway?" he said, attempting to, somehow, keep his wrath intact. However, his agitation was crumbling just as swiftly as it had appeared...

Word Count402
.
.

[Lianel Lighthand Terras]

He wasn't buying it, an accurate if unfortunate assessment for the much smaller slender Konti. Already her eyes were darting around for a potential exit from this situation. If she sacrificed her cloak she might be able to distract him long enough to dash down an alley and try her luck on the quays where at least some fish was probably coming in, and when that thought occurred to her Nitai was struck with the stark realization that it was probably the first place she should have gone. Not here to try to steal from this mountain of a man who wanted quite fairly to exact revenge for intended crimes upon him.

She drew back away from his hand, but was not quick enough, her mind focused on exit strategies, and found her hood being thrown back mouth opening to try to find some excuse or something to say to dissuade him from any further violence. Pale purple eyes looked up from behind long lashes a mixture of apprehension and shock when she saw that her appearance had literally stopped the Akalak in his tracks.

At his question, a good deal of rage leaving his voice, Nitai carefully took her free hand and if he allowed it, took his hand off her wrist, moving slowly so as to show she had no weapons in her hands and hopefully, there'd be no reason for further violence. If she played this wrong she might only further ignite his rage and lose what her looks had gained her, if she played it right...well she wasn't quite sure. "I'm an idiot." She started with a hesitant smile, now offering her hand for a handshake in place of being forcefully snatched. "An idiot for coming here and expecting any food, an idiot for seeing you an thinking I had any chance of lifting some off of you." Her other hand came up to her face, thumb brushing her lips as her lips pursed, she wasn't sure if bringing the issue to light so soon after the intended offense was wise, but there was no reason to insult the man's intelligence either, it was clear he could hold his own. "And an idiot for letting my hunger get the best of me." She had heard the rumble of his stomach, and hoped that her words would strike a chord with him. Even if he believed everything she said as pure lies, that much could be understood. "If that doesn't seem fitting as a name, you can call me Nitai."

She peered up at him curiously, trying to figure the male out. He seemed to be made of muscles, able to punch a hole in a brick wall or slice a man clean in half with any of the blades on him, but by his reaction to her she doubted he was one of the stone cold and bitter killers that Sunberth often fashioned, so she had been right at least to target him as a foreigner. Her eyes roved his body, enjoying what she saw now that she had a moment free from danger to do so. She didn't know much of Akalaks, she did know that they came from a city with a great waterfall and certainly matched this one's description. She couldn't be sure, but she thought she recalled stories of their decline, and had generally assumed they must look like strange colored gargoyles or hulking blue and purple monsters for this to be the case. If they all appeared like he did...piercing silver eyes and a collection of mysterious scars alluding to some grand battles...she was extremely confused at how they had trouble finding females to procreate with.

"At the risk of continuing my idiocy it seems like we are searching for the same thing...and certainly not going to find it here. I have a theory we might have more luck on the Quay, would you, uhm." Here she could not resist the urge any longer, his eyes focused so intently on her, she bit her lip, and averted her gaze in a rather uncharacteristic display of shyness. "Want to try finding something to eat there?"

She glanced up worriedly, and most of it was...mostly genuine. Please don't back hand me, or stab me, or...
.

[Dor'gen]

.
Dor'gen was stunned.

In awe of the radiance that was before his very eyes, his grip upon the delicate wrist within his grasp slackened. Yet, his eyes did not move from the woman's form at all; for she had completely and utterly captivated him. As he gaped, he found himself...experiencing sensations that were utterly foreign. A rush of heat began to plague his face, ultimately settling upon his cheeks. The palms of his hands began to prespire ever so slightly. His heart began to thunder away within his chest at an alarming rate. All the while, his eyes never left those of the woman before him. "W-What the hell?" was all he was able to think...and his "darker" sibling was not too much assistance in that regard.

"Even with the scum of the city upon her, she outshines the women of Taloba by far." came Goa's response, uttered in flawless Myrian. Of course he would get "poetic" at a time such as this. Dor'gen did not pay much heed to that, of course, for he was much too occupied. So occupied, in fact, that he did not resist the woman's attempt to free herself from his grasp. His fingers slackened all the more and released as she tugged herself free. Then, things got worse for the Akalak. The woman...began to berate herself. She called herself an idiot, over and over, and her words were much akin to small daggers. Each impaled the heartstrings of the Akalak more so than anything in this world.

To say the least, she had him quite suckered.

The icing on the metaphorical cake came when she bit her lip. For reasons beyond him, that only caused the heat which plagued his face to magnify all the more. 'Twas if someone had taken a miniature inferno and let it blaze freely upon his skin. If this was anyone else, at any other time, the response to the inquiry would have been vastly different. Common sense would have drop-kicked the Akalak into next season; for the risks would have announced themselves quite loudly. Accompanying a woman, who had intentions to rob him, to a location he had never heard of...did not bode well. She could have allies there, she could have allies on the way! There were all sorts of things that could go wrong in this scenario...But those eyes...

"Y-You're not an idiot." the Akalak managed to stammer. "You're just hungry...We all do stupid things when we're hungry...Please, forgive me for being so angry before." he began, earnestly sounding apologetic. "Nitai is much more fitting than idiot, if I do say so myself. I'm Dor'gen, by the way." With that said, he raised his hands in a non-threatening manner, as if to demonstrate that he did not mean her any harm. "And...I suppose there's no harm in looking together. I...I won't let any harm befall you whilst we search." And that was absolutely true...all Hai would break loose if any man attempted to harm a hair on this beautiful woman's head.

"I don't know this Quay of which you speak though...Lead the way?"
.
.

[Lianel Lighthand Terras]

"Dor'gen, that is a name as impressive as the man behind it." She smiled warmly. "Don't be sorry, it was I that was trying to steal from you, remember?" She smiled, now quite a bit more confident that he wouldn't get mad again if she brought it up, in fact...her self deprecating speech seemed to make him more sympathetic to her. To be honest Nitai was a little disarmed at how disarmed the Akalak seemed to be by her. She was used to this reaction in part, the way men stared at her when they truly saw her, when she wasn't hiding under a cloak. But generally with their eyes she felt a different feeling, the feeling that all they wanted to do was be touching her, and seemed to be with their eyes. The way his gaze fell on her, it seemed like he was trying to absorb every detail so as not to forget it for later, and it almost left her feeling more naked then when she could tell a man was undressing her in his mind. She felt a bit of heat rise around her gills which flared slightly and to avoid the feeling grabbed Dor'gen's wrist and led him swiftly from the market place.

"They may have run out of food everywhere, but there has to be some fish on the docks or something, they can't have stopped fishing or...there can't be a shortage of fish too, that would just be..." She was rambling...Nitai didn't often ramble, her mind instantly assured her it was because of the gnawing in her stomach. She slowed her pace and let go of Dor'gen's wrist, unsure of how much contact she should try with him. They were, complete strangers after all, it was probably not best to almost hold his hand...

"Sorry, rude of me to just drag you like this." She brushed the hair out of her face, pulling some of the newly added dirt out of it, and pulled it back into a messy ponytail, loose curls falling around her face. "Are you new to the city? There are a lot of people in Sunberth, but I have lived here for all my life and I surely would have recalled seeing....someone like you." She smiled a bit, internally fuming that she was now suddenly at a loss for words, then started at a much more measured pace towards the Quay. "The Quay is where a lot of shipping of slaves, fish, and goods come in, and the businesses around there. Good place to know, or...as good a place as any." Rambling. Again.
.

[Dor'gen]

.
It seemed that, with each and every passing tick, a particular sensation had decided to plague the Akalak. In the whole of his two centuries of life, he had never been reduced to such a sorry state by the presence of any woman. Perhaps it was the fact that the women of Taloba regarded him...rather poorly...and that such a reception prevented any admiration on his part. 'Twas as if he had erected a mental barrier to prevent himself from appreciating the beauty in Myrian women, for what was the purpose of such an act? It wasn't like he had any chance, and hadn't for literal centuries. Yet this woman...this Nitai...She captivated his attention in ways that he had never thought possible. It was if Syna had a love affair going on with the woman, for the morning light seemed to make her skin shine ever so slightly.

Nitai was beautiful beyond words, and in light of it...heat had decided to manifest itself upon his face.

For the woman, this could have proven to be an amusing sight. Dor'gen, being almost as dark as night itself, found his face constantly assaulted by a persisting heat. It started upon his cheeks, then spread like wildfire to encompass the whole of his countenance. What's worse, this heat was accompanied by a color: crimson! Oh, how ridiculous it must have seemed for a literal giant to be reduced to a blushing mess. What's more, the "problem" only seemed to worsen with each passing tick; for now Nitai was complimenting him. Never before had anyone praised his name in such a manner, and in response the Akalak somewhat gaped. However, this expression did not prevent him from allowing himself to be led along through the Marketplace.

After all, that meant that Nitai was almost holding his hand: a fact which set his heart a thunder.

"Pull yourself together, you look like a dumfounded jackass." came Goa's disapproving tone. This was enough to somewhat snap the Akalak out of his blushing fervor, but it did not immediately dissapate the crimson that had settled upon his cheeks. After all, Nitai was still holding his wrist. "Nitai is a beautiful name. I like it." he said simply, forcing himself to respond to her words somewhat. When the matter of food and the potential gains of investigating the Quay came up...nature decided to alleviate Dor'gen from his suffering. His mind was instantly assaulted by images of freshly cooked fish; the very same that his mother was excessively good at preparing.

Oh what he'd give for a taste of Taloban Salmon right now.

"I would assume that fishing hasn't stopped." he began, following along with brisk footsteps. "I doubt the fisherman have run out of worms for bait; and a lack of vegetables shouldn't affect what swims about in the Bay." This particular train of thought then demanded a shred of common sense on the part of the Akalak. If this so-called Quay did indeed have some sort of food, in the form of fish or otherwise, then that meant one of a few things. Those in possession of the food could very well refuse to share; due to the nature of Sunberth after all. They could also lie...or attempt to charge them ridiculous sums of coin in exchange for a meager number of fish. Although Dor'gen was beginning to enjoy his time within Sunberth, the nature of the city irked him sometimes. This was one of those moments.

"How exactly do you propose we go about getting the fish, assuming that there are any at the Quay?" he inquired. "Knowing Sunberthians, if whomever is at the Quay has fish, they'll either lie or attempt to sell it to us for a ridiculous amount. Or they'd just tell us to petch off. I doubt charity is something that occurs regularly here." His words came with a huff of disapproval, both due to the nature of Sunberth...and due to the fact that Nitai had relinquished her hold upon his wrist. She then turned to face him before putting her hair into a messy ponytail...which the Akalak found especially stunning to look at. The way her locks somewhat obscured her eyes from view gave her an almost...mysterious look. "Focus Dor'gen. Petching focus. Food. Food dammit." came Goa's chiding tone.

"I know, I know. Simmer down." snapped the Akalak whilst folding his arms. "To answer your question, I am relatively new to the city. Arrived on the First." came his response to Nitai's next inquiry. He then felt bad for calling out the nature of Sunberthians before...as she was amongst them...but then immediately dismissed this feeling. After all, she had attempted to steal from him. Instead of dwelling on this, he set his focus upon what to do upon arriving at the Quay. A plan of some sort was needed, especially if there was indeed fish to be had. "We'll need to come up with some sort of plan." he began. "Maybe we can take a page out of your book and try to swipe some fish, eh?"

That suggestion was, of course, made in jest; for he used a humorous tone. His lips even curled into the beginnings of a smirk whilst the words formed and fell from them. However, a tick of consideration...made this suggestion actually sound credible. Depending on numbers, they could attempt to swipe some of the fish...or outright take some by force. After all, who in the city was strong enough to face down a Taloban-born Akalak?! "All jests aside...What if we actually did that? I mean, it's Sunberth right?" he began, as if attempting to convince himself that it was alright to go about this course of action. Stealing wasn't exactly smiled upon where he was from. Everyone worked and did their fair share in Taloba; or starved.

Yet here, a man could take what he wanted.

"We could...I could...distract them while you put that sneakiness of yours to use? Grab us a few fish and then we get outta there? I don't know, what do you think?"

Word Count1,024
.