Closed Hiding In Plain Sight

[Alexander Faircroft]

Original thread here.

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"



OOCExpenditure 3GM marked off in ledger

After a few chimes of getting everything ready and having a small conversation as best he could with Infilia Alex gave her a few spare clothes so she wouldn’t have to sit in the same muddy sticky stuff and could get it cleaned as she needed. He made her a small pile of clothes which she could put in her backpack to take with her. As Alex was doing with his. Though Alex instead of taking his bastard swords with him left them propped up against the desk in his room. His jacket and armour too. No point in carrying the excess weight.

Now he and Infilia stood outside the bathhouse. He glanced down to his right towards her a small smile on his features trying to reassure her. If nothing else this would be a good test of how well he could keep her safe and how well she could blend in. He took a few steps into the building and hoped that Infilia would follow. As he stepped in he was almost immediately hit with a swirls of scents. Perfumes and other various herbs. Some he actually knew others his brain was trying to process and work over. However as much as the wall of smells stunned him for a moment or two he shook his head for a half second feeling how greasy his hair was now after that excursion.

He spoke to infilia slowly and very quietly. “Stay calm. And follow my lead.” Another reassuring smile still to him it was empty but the meaning was there. He glanced around looking for this “Vela” only when his eyes caught sight of the towering spirals of horn did he get a feeling what exactly Miss Delner meant. So that’s what an Ethaefel was. Interesting. Proud bold steps. He took a few towards her but the air around him was much lighter than his footwork would imply. He hoped Infilia would follow just behind. His common again picked up speed as he cleared his throat a little.

“Excuse me. Would I be right in Assuming that you’re Miss Vela? The proprietor of this establishment?” Alex inquired with a soft tone. The woman’s head turned towards Alex with a curious look and a rather broad smile by comparison.
“Yes that would be me. Now what can I do for you, though it’s quite clear what yourself and your female companion need.” A friendly jab but one meant with an underlying current of coercion. Which in Alex’s case was not needed.
“Exactly. We found ourselves lost in the jungle that suddenly sprang up, being new to the city the pair of us that is. We kinda spent more time in there than we probably should have. So if I may be so bold as to inquire as to what the prices for admission and other necessities are?” Again his softness carried over, primarily to leave a good impression partially to keep Infilia calm.
“Well Admission is one golden Miza a person. Towels are one Silver each and soap is three silvers. And for that gold your time amongst the waters is not limited.” She lifted her hand towards the two doors behind her. Clearly marked for men and women separately.
“Many thanks it’s been a rather rough day.” Alex spoke and instead of the exact change he overpaid a little simply to just move things along. Handing her three gold flat the admission fee and the price of a towel and soap each plus a small tip. The exchange mad way with a swift hand and a much more eloquent flourish from her than he’d expected.

Alex rounded on himself and carried the towel and soap over to Infilia handing it to her lightly. He lifted his hand to point to the door on the right. “Get changed there. If you need me yell loudly.” He smiled and stepped over and through the door leading to the mens changing room.

[Infilia Snowsong]

Infilia gathered Alex's clothes. She felt worried; worried that someone would see her as a Vantha and mistake her for a follower of Morwen. If they had seen her in the bathhouse, then they would see no mark of Morwen. Hopefully, the people at this bathhouse wouldn't see her as a threat. She must find a way to calm down, soon. Otherwise, she'll lose it and for sure, she'll be caught. The Snowsong noticed that Alex wasn't bringing his gear.

"Why... no... gear?" Infilia asked. She wondered how Alex would fend off those who'd attack Infilia. The Vantha prayed to Morwen silently, that that this charade wouldn't last for seasons, let alone, years. Infilia wondered where she would go if this lasted years. She wondered why Queen Morwen decided to not do her duty and spread the winter weather around Mizahar. Without winter happening, there'll be a big change for the other seasons, and the animal hunters would hunt more and more animals, until... there are no animals left. It'd be a shame for the world to end; Infilia hoped that Queen Morwen realized it, but, Infilia wondered, why would she just stop all of a sudden.

Eventually, the two found their way at the bathhouse. Infilia followed Alex inside, and they've encountered an Ethaefel. She looked mesmerizing. Infilia stood quietly, awkwardly raising her body with her heels as she rocked them back and forth. Her eyes were focused on the ground, mainly to hide the fact that she were Vantha, hopefully, it would pass as if Alex scolded her or something. Well, that's what she was hoping for at least. After the exchanging of words have concluded, Infilia was handed a towel.

“Get changed there. If you need me yell loudly." Infilia nodded. "Loudly. Yell." She nodded and interpreted as the way the man said it. For some reason, common was fairly hard, harder than Vani. Vani's just singing words, and Infilia loved to sing, dance, and perform. Anything that involved Snowsong material. She headed into the changing room and changed, stripped mainly. She folded Alex's clothes carefully, as she wrapped her towel around her waist and grabbed his clothes that she's wearing and took them with her. She was afraid someone would steal them.

Infilia blushed some, she'd never shown herself in public before. Not in this state. She took off the towel and headed into the temperate water. It felt soothing as she made her way into the pool. Her eyes were a constant hue of purple, as she felt insecure. Though, she'd probably feel better when Alex comes.

OOCSorry about the content. If there's something wrong about the post, or there's something missing. Let me know.

|"Infilia." | "Vantha Speech." | "Common."|

Others | "Other Vantha." | "Other Common." |

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


Letting Infilia walk off into her own area of the changing rooms Alex stepped into the male side. Doffing his own gear he’d opted to leave his weapons behind A wise choice because he as far as he knew people wouldn’t take kindly to him taking them into a place of relative tranquillity. Rolling his shoulders he pondered over the situation. He’d opted to allow someone to stay with him that he didn’t know but knew quite plainly needed help. In a city that would quite easily slaughter her without a second thought if they found out the truth.

Something about that made the scar over his left shoulder throb with pain. An old wound but one enough that he knew clearly the cause of now. He clenched his fist at his side the towel in his hand his clothes and bag left in a small space in the changing room. To be honest the only thing he wore was the loop of sigils he always wore, the wooden figures hanging around his neck. However when he stepped into the pool itself he was a little taken a back. The internal looked like it was outside. With the spectrum of stars and lights above. The celling almost blending into open air and with the waters, it looked as if the reflection shone cleanly.

Stepping through the open space he glanced around, his eyes the only part of him openly moving. Assessing the other several people in the place. But searching for Infilia. Then he spotted her tucked up in a corner. Clearly uncertain about the situation but then again it was a fair point. The entire thing was dangerous. He stood next to her for a second before dropping the towel on the edge of the pool and stepping in. Arms spread out across the edge of the pool and behind her shoulders. Almost acting like a barrier. “You look a little uneasy. I see why though.” She really couldn’t hide here.

The best she could do was simply keep small and quiet. However unless someone was attentive enough to spot her eyes she just looked like another person. Albeit a very pretty one but he wasn’t going to say that aloud. “Just act natural. The more you hide away the more they’ll suspect.” He spoke softly and with a tone of calming trying to get across the point. “Don’t worry about eyes here. They’re hunting but not in that way.” The inflection on “that way” should have clued her in on what he meant. He also hoped she’d spot the sigils on his necklace of the gods of peace, hope and faith.

[Kaleidoscope]

The bathhouse wasn't busy, the few other patrons inside were relaxed and didn't seem threatening. A woman with exotically long, black hair and ivory-pale skin lounged nearby, idly flicking water over herself as she stared moodily up at the star-filled ceiling above. In the deeper sections, a man was standing in the inky water washing his hair. On the other side of Alex and Infilia, a dark-skinned woman with bright orange hair smiled at the two of them with a friendly smile. She winked at Alex before turning away.

The waters of the bath were shimmering with darkness, and a neutrally-dressed woman walked around the perimeter of the bath, relighting some candles that had blown out, and fixing up the neat stack of towels that were stacked on the side, ready for those that wanted to exit the pool. Not many did. An elderly lady with elegant coiffured hair bathed in the furthest corner, eyes half-shut. She looked like she'd been there since forever. The worker approached her then, handed her a hot beverage of some kind. Yes, she was a regular.

Overall, the atmosphere wasn't very threatening, despite Infilia's wariness. There was a cause to be wary, it was true. Even the outside of the bathhouse had one of the infamous posters stuck to the wall, but in general people wouldn't expect a Vantha to be so brazen. So, the people of the bathhouse didn't think to look at Infilia's eyes. Not yet, anyway. Only the orange-haired woman seemed interested, her gaze straying to the couple from time to time. But her demeanor was peaceful, so surely she couldn't mean them harm. Could she?

OOCHi folks. Feel free to carry on your replies. I'll pop in again later!

[Infilia Snowsong]

Timestamp |
Location |



“You look a little uneasy. I see why though.” Infilia looked up and smiled some, her eyes shifted a purple hue, she payed no mind to the others within the bathhouse, only though, she trusted no other than Alex so far. She wouldn't be able to trust the other Alvads, unless she knows that they're trusty.

"Yes." Infilia said with a simple as a nod as hers, she liked the water, it was soothing, and it certainly was working quite well. Infilia slowly sank into the water, cleaning her hair, washing out the mud from earlier before it dried with clumps and chunks. She could feel the muck washing away as she was cleaning her hair.

“Just act natural. The more you hide away the more they’ll suspect." Infilia heard the last few words. She registered them, and looked around with her still purple colored eyes, she hoped that she could sustain the purple for a long time. Mainly, until she's out of the bathhouse.
"Natural." She smiled, she hoped that Alex would notice that she was trying to keep her eyes at a purple. Infilia observed Alex's muscular abode. Alex looked quite muscular. He had a golden necklace around his neck, she wondered why he hadn't taken it off.
"Necklace?" Infilia asked, she pointed at the necklace of Hope and Faith.

She looked past her shoulder, and she felt wary of the orange headed woman, and the old woman. Everyone else, she felt content with, for the most part.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


Alex scanned the bathhouse taking note of the lack of patrons and the fact that excluding Vela there was only really one member of staff working. The woman with the long hair seemed to be minding her own business, at least in a sense. Across the pool from them a woman with deeply coppery skin. Clearly someone who’d either been born with a natural bronze tint to their flesh and then spent long hours out in the sun or who was born naturally that deep oddly inviting tint. The orange hair by contrast threw him somewhat. He thought that the only really strongly vibrant redheads were Inarta. He caught the small sink and flash of teeth. A subtle smile and gesture but he caught it. Letting his eyes linger a moment he returned the smile with a light reverie.

With a continued cursory look over the waters he spotted the gent washing his hair in the deep waters. And the elder woman simply relaxing and getting served a drink of some heated nature. From this distance and amongst the dizzying array of perfumes he wasn’t sure what it was. Even the worker that pattered across the marbled flooring didn’t escape his notice. Even Infilias purple tinted eyes seemed to stay stable there without showing real hints of flickering.

He hoped they’d stay that way but he couldn’t be too sure. But he was thankful from what he’d seen at least that she didn’t have a Morwen mark adorning her rather pale and blemish free skin. That would have given the jig up almost immediately. He kept his eyes surveying the outlying waters his posture presenting a façade of relaxation and peaceful tranquillity but within he was on full alert. Though he never fully stopped getting glances from the coppery skinned woman. Each and eye very time Ale’s own eyes caught her gaze and sent her that small smile back just letting her know he caught the glance and that it wasn’t unwelcomed.

After all the easiest way to hide was to play their games. Win or lose he at least played his cards. Though his attention was drawn a little when Infilia asked him about his necklace. “Oh this?” He spoke softly his voice still light and soothing. “It’s important. And these are yahal and Priskil.” He smiled down to her lightly a much warmer glance before settling into the missive and scooping up a handful of water over his hair to get the grim and nastiness from the jungle they’d just been in out of it.

It then dawned on him that the only person trying really to cover themselves in the pool was Infilia. Evidently not used to this sort of thing he would push her out of her comfort-zone any further than she already was but it became apparent that every other person here wasn’t even trying to hide themselves, letting the water simply do that for them.

[Infilia Snowsong]

Date, Time, Location

“It’s important. And these are yahal and Priskil.” Yahal, and Priskil? Infilia remembered hearing about them, of course. Priski- the Goddess of hope, right? Infilia wondered, she was sure that she was the Goddess of Hope, otherwise it might've been Sylir, or maybe she's confusing the two? Could she? The Vantha wasn't sure, nor was too interested in caring about Gods, as they seem to not care about Morwen and her people. Infilia prayed silently; that maybe... just maybe, their would be at least some Gods who would take Queen Morwen's side. Hopefully.

"Why do you... bear necklace?" Bear, as in hold. Alex smiled at her, she blushed, and her eyes shifted quickly to a gold-like purple mix in color. She hoped that none other than Alex would have seen her eye color, for she is basically touching water with her chin at this point. She was slightly embarrassed, but again, she was thankful that she hadn't been marked by Morwen as of yet. Does the Queen of Winter have something planned for her? Infilia wasn't so sure, and she hoped that everything would get back to normal soon. "You trust... the Gods?" Infilia asked, hopefully not allowing the others at the bathhouse understand that her common isn't as strong as it should be. Hopefully, the two won't have to stay here long, and they could just move on, hopefully. With a saddened look, she slowly sank back against the edge of the pool. She was just scared... scared, like any other Vantha in Mizahar.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


Her question didn’t go past his ears but he let her examine the symbols a little longer. Easily catching the deep crimson that spread across her fair skin. He pressed his back into the edge of the pool. Eyes still occasionally snapping out to keep an eye on his surroundings. And most of all the people He even caught the subtle shift in her eyes and the gold that crept into the purple.
“I carry. Because it’s a memento. A memory.” His words soft and still gentle as they cascaded from him and as she sank into the water down to her chin he lifted his right arm to gently pat her head.

A symbol of trying to re assure her that everything would be alright. Then her next question hit a little closer to home. Did he trust them? After all these weren’t peaceful times, the vantha were in abject despair and misery, and to top it all off everything fell out of balance. “To be honest.” He spoke with a tone of quiet resignation. “I don’t know. I believe in what they stand for. And that’s all I can really do.” He caught the look of sullen sadness in her face.

“Y’know.” He spoke softly trying to explain something in a roundabout way. To hide the truth. “Your common is coming along wonderfully.” What better way to hide it then to nullify it as an issue? He shifted his glance towards her with another warm yet soft smile as his eyes then swung back out over the pool. As much as his concentration was on trying to help hide who and what she was. He knew nothing about the other five people that littered the room around him. Uncertain as to motives and predispositions. If any one of them had gleaned the truth this could end extremely poorly. Not just for Infilia but for himself as well…

[Infilia Snowsong]

Date, Time, Location

“I carry. Because it’s a memento. A memory.”
"Memory?" Infilia wondered aloud, how could the necklace be... memorable? Did he get it from his parents, did Alex even have family, where did he get the necklace from? A market, a special store of some sort. Infilia wondered so much, but she didn't know much outside her own comfort zone. It was quite tiring. The water within the bathhouse was still quite warm, and Infilia also wished to stay in for quite some time, her hair was quite rough still, and she continued to wash her hair while Alex talked.

“To be honest.” The man started, Infilia stopped and looked at the man, her eyes still with a sudden purple hue, but a flicker, nonetheless, not so visible to the naked eye, but a flicker of silvery platinum slowly etched within her iris. She was slowly becoming comfortable with Alex, and she could trust Alex's words. Though, on the other hand, it was everyone within the bathhouse that she was still adamant about and she didn't feel safe, especially with Alex having no weapon at his sides.

“I don’t know. I believe in what they stand for. And that’s all I can really do.” Infilia leaned in closer to Alex, attempting to make sure that the others won't hear her speak about Morwen.

"Priskil, on Morwens side?" Infilia whispered to him, she was curious. If the Goddess of Hope and Light. She was edgy as she looked past Alex's shoulder, and watched the others. Infilia glanced at the old woman, who seemed to be enjoying her time here, nonetheless, even old people could be cruel. The red head/orange head, continued to look around, but Infilia wondered what she was up to. Vela was wandering around, customer to customer. She seemed quite busy. With everyone being occupied, Infilia hoped that'll stay that way for quite some time, that is of course, unless Alex wants to leave, but perhaps they could wait a few chimes?

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


Was Priskil on Morwen’s side? He pondered that question for a few ticks. Thinking would she? Would she actively be on the side of a goddess who’d abandoned her people? No probably not however he did find a compromise. Alex lowered himself finto the waters just enough to be even level with Infili and cupped his hand over his mouth and leant into her ear. His soft voice even quieter and now guarded he spoke. Voice comforting like a warm blanket.

“No, but Priskil is on the Vantha’s side.” His words meaning more than simply the fact that Priskil wasn’t condoning Morwen but that the ones protecting the children of Morwen were the ones who worshiped hope. For when was hope needed more than when the night seemed it’s darkest? And as if to give her a little reassurance he reached around her shoulders with his arm and lightly pulled her up and onto his knee. Giving her something akin to a soft, protective hug. Even in the face of injustice he wasn’t one to visibly show worry. Staying remarkably calm in the whole situation on the outside but within as he was all over the place running around like a madman. Worry, panic, fright.

Something in the last season had changed him, he’d settled down a lot and become more of a man and less of a boy. His eyes swill swept over the place continually scanning but in an aloof, almost bored way. Like he was just searching for something to do. Despite the completely naked and slender woman sitting now on his leg. As much as he was still a young man he had a purpose and that was to make sure she was safe, to build up a feeling of trust in her and give her a small hope that things would be better than they currently were. Even now what he was doing as much as it might have looked like affection to the outside was in his mind a show of protection.