Closed A New Dance or Two...{Jade Laken}

[Naveena Clematis]

Naveena Clematis

52nd Day of Winter 515 AV

Naveena's eyes darted towards the girl as she asked her own birthplace, unsure how to answer. She didn't know if she should answer her question, although she didn't seem the harm in telling a human woman that could hardly pose a threat. While Symenestra had a naturally thin skeletal structure that was easily broken, they were gifted with a pair of fangs that dispensed a venom most painful to any it came in contact with. And while Naveena never wanted to harm another, self-defense was always a necessity.

Naveena looked back ahead of her, seeing the Golden Dragon growing nearer.

Kalinor. I was born in the caverns of Kalinor like most of my people.

Naveena said the words quietly, banishing those thoughts of silk dances and roads made of linen. Kalinor was truly a place of wonder but it held dark memories that still left Naveena drenched in sweat when she awoke in the night. She tapped her black nails silently against her cloak as a silence settled over them.

The silence was broken when Naveena saw the girl communicate to the girl in a strange language. It seemed to be a combination of spoken words and hand signals and seemed most peculiar to Naveena. In fact, she wasn't sure if it was a true language or something made up between this bonded pair. Naveena made a mental note to research the topic later.

Naveena listened quietly and smiled slightly as the girl praised her dancing skill. She hadn't realized the girl had been watching but she hadn't been looking at anyone in particular during her performance. She nodded silently in thanks as she looked again at the girl, seeing the wistful look on her face at the topic of dance. Whether or not the girl had talent, she obviously held a great love for Naveena's craft and that was something to be appreciated.

Naveena glanced up sharply as the loud noise of drunken grumbling was heard, seeing an intoxicated individual lurch out of a tavern and straight towards him. Naveena easily skirted the individual easily with quick footwork and watched as he stumbled towards Jade. When she attempted to steer the drunkard away from her, Jade exhibited a few steps of light footwork to avoid the man. Naveena eyed her carefully as the girl righted herself. While her footwork was terribly crude and lacked any sort of finesse, she had noticed the lightness of her feet as well.

Naveena tilted her head and examined the girl carefully, almost reanalyzing her. But the fact was, dance was about more than light feet. Most assumed that heart was the most important aspect...but you couldn't perform complicated moves with only passion. It took discipline and technique to truly be considered a dancer, and at this time, Jade possessed nothing of those. However, Naveena could see the potential to become a dancer in the blond-hair girl.

How long have you been dancing?

[Jade Laken]

"Only about a month before I left home to come here," Jade said gently looking to the girl once more after righting herself.

She looked up when owner walked out of the door throwing the man something that he had left in his fit of rage. Jade looked at the owner of the Golden Dragon as he looked down seeing the two females and the horse.

"Hello Naveena, how have you been?" the tall stoic man said turning his attention to the dancer of the inn.

Jade watched as the two conversed for a few moments before she turned his attention to her. She smiles gently and waves her hand at him nervously.

"She's not very big, not going to bring in much money," he said while looking her up and down.

Jade looked down gently knowing she looked a mess but couldn't believe that she appeared that bad to the others around her. She slowly looked around as another vicious cold wind ripped through all of them causing the owner to flinch some at the cold in the air before sighing and allowing the two girls in telling one of the few men in the building to take Jade's companion around to the back to get out of the cold as well.

"Thank you," Jade said gently looking him as the two women walked inside of the inn. She looked around amazed at the beauty around her.

"Wow it is amazing," Jade said while looking around the building and following the woman and man that had called for her to keep up.

Jade knew that he would not want any of his patrons to assume that she was on his pay roll with the way she looked at the moment.

[Naveena Clematis]

Naveena Clematis

50th Day of Winter 515 AV

Naveena nodded thoughtfully as the girl answered her question, looking back towards the cobbled street. A month was very little time, barely enough to understand even the most basic forms. But Naveena could see the girl had raw talent, which only caused her to fall silent in thought.

Naveena looked up towards the entrance of the Golden Dragon, where a familiar greeted her warmly. She didn't know if he was the official owner or not, but he was always the one that tried to wrangle Naveena into dancing on a semi-regular basis. And while the Golden Dragon was a good place to sleep and fair place to dance when her schedule was open, she would never become a regular entertainer there. Naveena didn't want her career to a dancer to be tied to such a place.

Mikel, I would greatly appreciate if you could take care of this woman for the night. A clean bed for her and her horse plus a meal is all I ask. This should cover it.

Naveena pressed 8 mizas lightly into the open palm of the tall man, before meeting his pale eyes with her own. She lightly brushed the nail of one of her ebony claws against the soft flesh of his hand as she leaned slightly towards him.

Ensure that she remains undisturbed during her stay.

Naveena was overpaying him for a night's sleep and meal, but she didn't want the unsavory people of the establishment to bother the young girl. The man smiled and nodded as he pocketed the coins and looked towards Jade. He made a vague comment about the girl working there, causing Naveena simply narrowed her eyes at him. The man met Naveena's disapproving gaze and slowly nodded his head in understanding before ushering the women inside.

Naveena hoped the girl didn't see the exchange as threatening to her own career. She simply didn't want to see the girl be caught up in an environment that provided companionship in such a distasteful manner. But, it wasn't her life. If Jade wanted to regularly perform amongst women and men who spent their evenings on their backs, that was her choice. She only made it clear to the man that while she was there, such talk would be absent.

Naveena moved behind the man, with Jade at her heels eyeing the animal prints and rich tones of the Golden Dragon. She motioned for Jade to keep up as the man came to a private room at the end of the hallway. He opened the heavy door, revealing a clean room and decent bed. Mikel made a comment to have the horse put up for the night with feed and hay before leaving the girls alone.

Naveena turned toward Jade with her black cloak pooling around her, glad to be out of the frostbitten wind.

Do you remember where the abandoned tavern is located?

Naveena, having barely waited for an answer, explained the tavern's location with a soft, unhurried voice.

You and your animal will be able to eat and sleep here tonight. If you want to learn more about the art of dancing, I'll be practicing in the tavern tomorrow before the sun reaches the highest point in the sky. I don't know if humans can dance like a Symenestra, but I will try to teach you if you are willing.

Naveena nodded elegantly and deeply to the girl before moving off and out of the Golden Dragon. She didn't know if the girl would take her up on her offer, but a part of her wanted her to.

[Jade Laken]

Jade was surprised at the woman's invite to join her in dancing. Once inside of the room Jade walked around looking at the room amazed by the simple design not used to being in an enclosed space. She spotted a window and walked over opening it letting the cold in but at the same time it gave her a sense of peace knowing that she was not in a stuffy room. Jade looked over hearing a knock at the door; she answered the door and took the food from the maid at the inn as she scampered away. Jade closed her door once more before going over to the small table in the room; soon she had sat down and opened the top of the plate and eating what was on the plate so happy to have a full stomach after living on the bare minimum in order to survive. Jade put the plate outside of the door to make it easier for the maid to collect the plate; before returning inside of the room. Jade looked around the room more finding a room attached with a bath drew. She figured that the owner must have a hot bath drew in each room when he sees a new customer outside so that he could charge later. Jade takes the opportunity and gets a good bath feeling much better. She sits in front of the fire after closing the window and let her hair dry before getting into bed. Jade had cleaned off her clothes some leaving them in front of the fire to dry and warm up over night. Jade curled up under the sheets passing out almost instantly; before long she is awake at day break. Jade sits up and rubs her eyes before getting her bag and getting ready for the day.

"Let's see if I can find where that tavern was," she said gently before getting up and getting dressed walking out of the room and slipping out the front door headed to the alley way from the night before.

"I will let her sleep," Jade said while looking over at the stables knowing how tired and weak her companion had become.

Jade walks around as not many of the people had awaken and began moving yet; she walked into the alley finding the tavern knowing she was most likely there far too early.

"At least I can warm up before she arrives," Jade said walking inside of the tavern not seeing Naveena.

She puts her bag down and begins to stretch out quietly listening as the town slowly began to come alive with the sounds of it's citizens.

[Naveena Clematis]

Naveena Clematis

50th Day of Winter 515 AV

Naveena kept her eyes closed as she concentrated on her form as she hung upside down from the tavern ceiling. Her Ranekissra dancing silks were wrapped around her stretched body tightly, completely secured by one of the thick beams of native Syliran wood. Naveena's back was arched to the point of appearing broken, although her acrobatic skill led her to have such flexibility without pain. Every muscle, ligament, and tendon was tight in concentration as silver hair floated away from her body since she was hanging upside down.

Naveena had been here for at least an hour, stretching and using the Ranekissra silk swath elaborately. She heard the slight knocking and clicks as a presence entered the tavern, although she kept her eyes closed. She heard the slight whispering of the girl before the telltale signs of a body against the tavern rang across the quiet space. Naveena was currently high up and close to the celing, surely not a usual place for a dance, so she wasn't surprised when she remained undetected. In fact, that was to be part of the lesson today.

Naveena elegantly rolled her muscles out of the acrobatic position and began the easy climb back down to the floor. She let her body drop, almost dramatically, with her feet clicking against the floor at the structured fall. It was a definite sound, one that obviously had startled the girl.

Naveena smiled oh so faintly before walking over to Jade, leaving the silk hanging where it was.

I apologize, I didn't realize you would be startled so much.

Naveena walked over to the lone window of the tavern, where a dirty piece of cloth hung limp on its frame. It allowed a small amount of light to enter the tavern, but that would be quickly modified. She looked over her shoulder at the girl, examining her quickly. She had worn simple clothing, much like Naveena, that would work for the task ahead.

The most important thing I can teach right now is for you to develop a feel for sensation. You need to be aware of what you hear and feel before anything else in dance; that is what separate good dancers from grea ones. Symenestras had naturally heightened senses, especially in the dark, so we do not need to train as diligently on our senses. But you are human, so it is the first place we will start if you are still willing.

Naveena covered the window with the worn cloth, making the lighted tavern a barely-lit room. Luckily, Naveena had moved all the broken chairs and tables aside before Jade arrived.

Naveena walked back toward Jade and stood before her with hands clasped in front of her. Being a Symenestra, she could still easily make out the girl although she could tell Jade was having difficulty seeing.

Tell me what you hear, what you smell, what you feel from the vibrations around you. Walk around, you won't bump into anything.

Naveena stood, intentionally scraping her black nails against the wood floor as she did so. She walked a few steps away, watching the girl carefully.

It's important to be able to feel and hear what is clearly around you when dancing. Being aware of your own body and surroundings is one of the most important aspects. There will be times, if you become a professional dancer, when the music dies out or when something occurs during the dance. You have to be able to find your own music...even in silence. For now, simply tell me what you feel.

[Jade Laken]

Jade jumped when suddenly the girl fell from the ceiling. She stood up watching the girl as she walked over to the window. Jade stayed still as the room was suddenly thrust into darkness that she could not see in though she knew in the back of her mind that Naveena must be able to see in this immense darkness. She listened as the woman spoke of listening to the world around her and learning the very vibrations of the simple movement such as a step makes. Jade listens as she speaks as her mind returns to the webbing back in the plains.

"So you want me to become one with the world right?" She asked in slight confusion.

Jade heard the scratching on the floor of something not knowing it was the nails of the woman in the room with her.

"Do you hear something like mice feet or clawing?" Jade asked gently thinking she was going a little crazy from the lack of sleep before Naveena put her in a room that night.

She turns her head slightly in the direction of the woman's voice when she speaks as she still has not began to move yet still slightly confused about how she was expected to become one with the world without sight.

[Konrad Venger]

Nice job! Your work has pleased The Sloth! Jade XP: Observation - 3 Running - 2 Animal Husbandry - 1 Riding - 1 Socialization - 1 Acrobatics - 1 Lore: White Swan: A Place of Dance and Form Sometimes You have to Go on Faith Location: Golden Dragon Dancing: Becoming One with the World Click Me! : Nav, once you have your CS cleared up and your Expenses for Winter deducted, you'll get some XP-n-Lore goodness, too! It's a shame this one didn't really go anywhere: it would have been really cool to continue the contrast between the Icy Nav and Wide-Eyed Jade. Still, this wasn't too bad and you got some loot out of it. Keep chasin' that dream, baby! Oh, and please make sure you go back and edit your post in the Request Thread to reflect the fact this one is now done and dusted. PM me with any questions and later 'tater!