Event A Foreign Invasion

[Satevis]

"Are you sure?" Satevis asked Seraya. "I don't have much in the way of luxuries right now. I still haven't started constructing a house."

Which, by the way, was something he really needed to get started on. He caught sight of Randal in the crowd and considered talking to the man about hiring out the construction of his house, but decided that now was not the time. Randal was probably trying to enjoy the celebration. Besides, it seemed that he was already busy talking to the Chaktawe man.

Seraya seemed unmoved. She folded her arms and shrugged, leaning against the wall. "You have a tent?" she asked.

"Yes," Satevis said. His four-person tent was admittedly somewhat large for him. It was the sort of tent he - no, he reminded himself - it was the sort of tent Taras would have happily shared.

"Good enough for me," Seraya said. "I don't need much. Besides, I'm probably not going to have much better when I move in."

"Well, if you don't mind, I'll be happy to have you," Satevis said. "I'm sure we could learn a lot from each other." The chance to learn about these beings and their culture was not something that Satevis was willing to miss out on, particularly when an opportunity such as this had practically landed in his lap. Although it did mean that at some point, possibly some point very soon, he was going to have to explain his Ethaefalan nature, if Seraya didn't know about it already.

He glanced at the position of the sun and gauged that he probably had a little bit more time.

As he looked around, he caught sight of another familiar face. Ialari, talking with a dark-skinned Verusk that he thought he might recognize from the expedition. Satevis couldn't tell what the Isur had said to him, but she was now walking away. He frowned, considering her. Ialari's offer was still fresh in his mind. He would have to talk to her about it at some point. Her and Anibesa both.

"Kajun'tar," Seraya said from beside him. It took Satevis a moment to realize that she was speaking a name, another moment to recognize that she was referring to the Verusk that Ialari had left behind.

"A friend of yours?" Satevis asked, glancing at her.

Seraya shrugged. "He's alright. Kind of awkward. We don't really talk much." She glanced at Satevis. "He's a scholar, if you're interested in that sort of thing."

Satevis smiled in chagrin. "Am I that obvious?" he asked.

"You have that air," Seraya said. "You know the woman with the strange arm?"

Satevis nodded. "Ialari," he said. "We were on the expedition together."

"I figured. If you want to talk to her, you can go ahead. I need a drink."

He nodded as Seraya stepped away from the wall, heading over to the drink table. Satevis himself was still nursing his first drink of the evening; he saw no reason to get more. And if he was being honest with himself, he'd been wanting to talk to Ialari for a while. Her role as a Domineer...and the hint she had dropped, about being able to partially restore what he had lost...both of those things nagged at him. He doubted that this was the venue to discuss anything substantial, but he'd be remiss to not at least greet her.

He made his way over to Ialari.

"I see you're making friends," he told the Isur, looking slightly amused as he glanced at the Verusk she had just left.

Template by Sevaan
(•̀o•́)ง
Satevis

[Kelani]

The svefra felt a slight hint of embarrassment as she stood behind the bizarre verusk. A bit abnormal she was, but what really is normal when it came to the sentient race? Kelani was not sure and this emotion wore on her face. As she took a second to take in her surroundings, she saw other Verusk talking to the residents of Syka. They were also a diverse lot: a woman with a beautiful blue scarf, a pretty firey-haired girl, a man with eyes that starkly contrasted with his tan skin, a small woman with a metallic arm and another who was dancing that had a strange mark between her shoulders. The scene that laid out in front of her was wrapped in extraordinary circumstances and Kelani was anxious to learn more about them all.

Her attention was taken back to the couple with markings strewn across their faces as the woman responded to T’aidell. She saw an opportunity and the verusk couldn’t wait to retort. “Well as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is it not?” She offered a slight smile before laughing and putting one of her pointy claws on the shoulder of the man. “Of course, I am just teasing. I like to see you squirm, Chaktawe. I can sense your discomfort for change from a mile away. Interesting, it is.” Kelani caught his dark gaze, waiting to see what he might say, but T’aidell spoke up before he could get another word out. “Anyway, my wonderful host… oh, wait, what is your name, dear?” she turned back, facing the svefra to include her into the conversation.

“Kelani.” she piped for the first time.

“My wonderful host Kelani has been so entranced by my presence that she has decided to take me in. What an honor to be accommodated by a lovely seafarer.” She had never really agreed to the whole ordeal of hosting, but was actually somewhat intimidated by what the woman would say if she declined. It would be a tough challenge fitting the two of them in her small casinor and she racked her brain for other options. She put this thought at the back of her mind to be considered more at a later time. Something else peaked her interest. Kelani immediately wondered how the verusk knew what race she and Nayato were. She didn't have a clue what a chaktawe was but was inclined to learn more.

Talivindra’s delightful singing voice was a saving grace from the interaction between the group. She politely navigated her way out of the conversation to convene with Mathias and Randal. The svefra and chaktawe’s eyes met once again before he got up to great and speak with the two men. She eavesdropped on the communication to find that Nayato was skilled in survival, hunting, treating ailments and wished to claim a spot of land here in Syka. It sounded like free land was offered in return for some contribution to their settlement. This made sense to the svefra, but the proposal had no leverage with the woman. Her true home would always be in the ocean.

As if T'aidell could read her mind, she spoke up. "Do you have land here? If not, we can find a place perfect for you and I. Surrounded by water for you, of course. And plenty of room to perform experiments for me. I could teach you a lot, you know? Things beyond your wildest dreams. However, I'd prefer not to reveal my secrets in front of this lot. I'll tell you more when we've the chance to speak alone. For now, I believe it is time for drinks. I'll be back!" She sauntered over to the table filled with sweet smelling liquids and poured some into four different cups for her acquaintances. As Nayato and Talivindra joined them once more, T'aidell came back and thrust the full cups into each of their hands. "Here, have this." she said, quickly knocking at least half of her juice down in one go. Kelani raised her brows quizzically but did the same, no stranger to the booze that slightly burned on its way down.

It occurred to her that she had literally only spoken one word to the group, and that was her name. She was normally not quiet in the slightest, but T'aidell's constant talking and interruption made it so the woman had no time to speak. She made a note to say something before T'aidell went off again. She put out her hand to the chaktawe in greeting. "It sounded like your name was Nayato. I'm Kelani. I arrived in Syka barely a bell ago. Good to meet you. I hear that you are trained to be a wilderness guide and I am in need of services like yours to aid me in the exploration of this jungle, if you are willing. I'd want to hear more about you as well, Talivindra. Your voice is the best I've ever heard here on land and sea." The svefra said these words with a sincere intentions and waited to see if the two were prone to her inquisition.

[/color]

[Ialari Pythone]

With Kajun'tar left to ponder his drink as well as Ialari's plan to pull him out on the floor to dance, she engaged in something she had only done a handful of times in her life, she mingled. Even with a few drinks in her, mingling at a party was not an easy task. She had little experience with dancing, didn't do well with socializing and overall lacked the knowledge of the nuances involved in interacting with others in a positive way. She tried to compensate for her awkwardness by mimicking the actions of those around her.

As she sipped her drink and moved about those gathered at the celebration, she watched how they moved, listened to how they talked and tried to emulate it. She watched how one person moved their feet as they danced and in turn moved her feet the same way. She observed the non-verbal cues others displayed while talking and mirrored them. It was far from easy and Ialari found herself feeling more and more exhausted. She didn't have a lot of sleep the night before and was gradually feeling the drain all her efforts were having.

Not one to easily give up in the face of adversity, she continued to mimic and pretend to be just like everyone else. When a familiar face, Satevis, approached, she felt ever so slightly relieved. Although she hadn't made up her mind about the man, even after their shared experience with the World Gate, there was still a sliver of a "normal" connection between them.

Following his gaze, Ialari replied to his comment; slowing her words and focusing on clearing her accent, "Kajun'tar? He's going to be something of a project. Like me, he's not much of social person. He presents a fun challenge. Besides, I've dealt with similar types before; antisocial, withdrawn, reserved. Of course those were 500 year old undead wizards obsessed with magic but still..." Ialari sipped her drink. "I gave him a little bit to have a drink and loosen up before I pull him out here to dance."

"Everyone keeps a bit of themselves behind a locked door. Fortunately, I'm pretty good at opening those. Anyway, how 'bout you? You seem to be getting along with the female over there." Ialari nodded in the direction of Seraya.

There was still a lot of time left in the day with the festivities set to continue throughout the night. Keeping that in mind, Ialari decided to not refill her drink as she finished it, at least not for awhile.

In the meantime, Kajun'tar took a few more sips of his drink. The taste was growing on him although not terribly fast. He continued to watch the surrounding people, both his own as well as the settlers. He saw how easily some of his fellow Verusk interacted with their new comrades and took mental note of how they acted and reacted. Something of a student of different cultures, Kajun found it all rather fascinating how people so far separated from one another by time, race and even worlds could engage with one another as if such separations never existed.

His focus however kept returning to Ialari. There was something strange about her that he couldn't get past. Although his studies had revealed a bit about the isur, seeing and talking to one in person was turning out to be something quite different. It didn't help that she was also rather attractive even if she was a little weird. Her attempts at copying the actions of those around her also did not go unnoticed to Kajun. This one is indeed a mystery. He thought to himself before taking another sip of his drink.

[Satevis]

Satevis smiled at Ialari's assessment of Kajun'tar. It didn't escape his notice that, aside from the 'antisocial' comment, those same words had been used to describe him at one point or another. Although, he realized distractedly, it was entirely possible that 'antisocial' also applied. After all, when he had been studying at the University of Zeltiva, he'd seldom gone out of his way to speak with his peers. It hadn't been out of animosity or lack of interest--the thought just hadn't occurred to him. He supposed that 'antisocial' wasn't the sort of thing that people generally called someone to their face.

He certainly felt as though he kept things behind a locked door. Perhaps more than usual lately, but what was behind that door was likely of no concern to anyone but himself.

At Ialari's comment about Seraya, he glanced at her, but the Verusk woman seemed content to drink alone, watching the crowd without joining them. "Her name is Seraya. I think she'll be joining me for the new future. It promises to be an interesting season." He'd meant that he was excited to speak to Seraya about her culture and race, but realized as soon as he said the words that they could be taken another way. Heat rose to his face, a flush that, depending on how attentive Ialari was being, might or might not be noticeable against the dark of his skin.

"I-In a purely academic way, of course," he added hastily. Seraya was attractive he supposed, if he was really thinking about it, but he'd hardly paid attention to that when he first started speaking to her. It wasn't as though he was looking to make...that sort of connection. "I would never disrespect our guests like that."

The subject was getting uncomfortable, and Satevis quickly changed it, shifting the focus back onto Ialari and Kajun'tar. "Kajun'tar will be staying with you, then?" he asked. "I did mean to talk to you about our conversation during the expedition, but I suppose this isn't the time."

Template by Sevaan
(•̀o•́)ง
Satevis

[Tailyn]

Tai grinned back as the kelvic woman bloomed into all smiles. She had seemed to be quite tense a moment before, and Tai felt a little bubble of warmth that the girl seemed to have relaxed a bit from just a few words from her. Whatever shard of unease that Tai had been keeping herself seemed to relax as well.

As Nieve addressed Blue, Tai glanced at the bird and stroked Blue’s headfeathers. “This is Blue. She’s a hyacinth macaw. They’re a type of parrot.” Blue nibbled at Tai’s fingers as she brought them close to the bird’s beak, but Blue was also staring straight at Nieve. Tai had spent enough time around her bird to recognize her moods, and Blue was uncertain about Nieve. Not quite full out antagonistic, but enough to put Tai a little bit on guard. The bird’s body was tense, and she clipped her beak several times and croaked softly. Tai turned her body so that she was more directly between the bird and Nieve, and felt Blue relax slightly.

Tai was thinking up something to say to Nieve, probably more talk of parrots as per usual, when a verusk walked up behind her and Abanath. Tai glanced over her shoulder to observe the verusk. She was very pretty. Her skin glowed gold and green in the dim light of the torches and fading sun. Abanath inclined his head towards her very slightly. The gesture intrigued Tai. Abanath didn’t exactly strike Tai as rude or anything, but he seemed to at least know and respect this particular verusk.

The female verusk, meanwhile, ignored Tai and grabbed onto Nieve’s arm and clipped a few quick and sharp words to her that half sounded like a command. Nieve allowed herself to be dragged away, but snatched onto Tai’s hand just as she was nearly away.

”Come on! You should join us!”

Tai cast a wry look at Abanath, whose expression seemed to be a mixture of confusion and embarrassment.

“Oh don’t dance do you?” Tai grinned. “Me either. We can both make fools of ourselves.”

She caught Abanth’s hand wrist with her free hand and dragged him along with her and Nieve, a linked four person caravan. Abanath didn’t put up any resistance.

The crowd of dancers swelled around them. Everyone seemed to be swaying their hips and bobbing up and down and singing in keys both in and out of pitch creating a cacophony of sound. It was too much for Blue. She launched herself off of Tai’s shoulder with a squawk and made her way to a nearby abandoned cluster of trees. Tai wasn’t too worried for her bird. So long as she didn’t get into trouble she could generally take care of herself.

Tai had no real idea what she was doing. It didn’t matter really. She tried to hum along with the music and laughed as her voice went hilariously off pitch. She glanced over at Nieve and her verusk friend and saw the two of them swaying their hips with a highly varied amount of skill. She giggled from the sheer energy emanating from the pair, and knowing how utterly lacking her own skill was, Tai grinned and shook her hips with them.

Tai glanced at Abanath. The verusk was standing still and glancing around the area with a hint of nervousness. Well. He didn’t seem that old anyways. Tai could remember what it felt like to be lost in a crowd, sure you were going to be judged.

“Nobody’s looking at you!” Tai laughed at him grabbing his arm. He looked at her, startled.

“Just do whatever you want! Nobody cares!”

Tai felt her hand seized by Nieve, and grinned at the girl and mimicked her, bouncing up and down on her feet. Tendrils of hair started coming undone from her hair piece as she bounced. She grinned as a smile came over Abanath’s face and he followed their movements in suit.

Gods, it felt good to let loose!

[Ixtli]

Ixtli had spent the best part of the day working hard at preparing a great deal of food for the evening's celebration. She had enjoyed a refreshing bath and a short nap afterwards, but was now making her way to the party location. The Commons were conveniently close to her camp and her contribution to the meal had been brought there a bell ago, so she was walking hands free and feet bare, simply wearing her dark green tunic with the ever-present kukri hanging on the leather belt around her waist. The Myrian was not expecting to need it in any way but an old trained habit forbade her from leaving it out of reach for more than a few chimes.

Approaching the Commons, she noticed the colourful flower displays with their sweet perfumes filling the air and the bonfire ready to be lighten up when the light would fade. Many residents were already there, forming a small crowd in front of the stage were the two remaining Founders stood for a speech. At their side, Ixtli noticed with great interest the newcomers to Syka: the ten strangers, although built like most people she had met, had an odd reptilian tone to their humanoid appearance, with metallic skin and clawed hands, and Ixtli couldn't help but gaze at their exotic looks in wonder for several chimes. Were those creatures blessed by a deity she'd never heard about? What gifts could Caiyha have bestowed upon them, which abilities did they gain from their strange bodies?

But now Matthias called for attention; Ixtli's attention moved to the white-haired man and the crowd turned silent.
His speech was clear-spoken, his words accurate, and although Ixtli was not familiar with some of the concepts and words he used, she appreciated the simplicity of the speech. She remembered that an expedition had hastily left the settlement last season to go on a secret venture in the jungle, and although she had not heard about the World Gate before, the name and the fact that the newcomers had been trapped there spoke for itself. She learned with stupefaction that they lived for hundreds of year and now her gaze carried respect and wonder as it moved about the foreigners. The children of Velispars and Humans, the Founder said... What were Velipars? And how did the Verusks become trapped away from this world for so long?

Many questions spinned in her head, each unanswered arousing more interrogations.
The second part of the speech however sharpened her attention and brought a shine of interest to her hazel eyes.

The Verusks were to stay here, in the settlement, hosted by Syka's residents so that both parties could help and learn from each other. The prospect of having those otherworldly beings as neighbours for at least a season meant many opportunities for the Myrian to understand more about the place they came from, about the Pavena, and about the knowledge they possessed, and she enthusiastically agreed with the idea.

The speech over and the Verusks introduced to the assembly one by one, Ixtli approached the buffet and grabbed a few pieces of fruits absent-mindedly, her hazel eyes still following the children of Velispars around the Commons. The Mercantile girl had begun to play a festive air and soon every person present moved about and mingled. Ixtli observed silently as foreigners and residents made their first contacts; she noted that some of Syka's settlers were new to her, like the man with the unsettling entirely black eyes, and others she had seen but not met formally yet. Conversation pairs formed and a dance even started as the party unfolded into the gentle lights of dusk.

Ixtli was helping herself out to a pitcher of a alcoholic, fruity drink from the large table when the most relaxed-looking man she had ever seen addressed her with a broad smile and a friendly tone.
"Hi, I'm Stu, I don't think we have met yet. I own the Tidepool Bar." Stuvantis shook her hand energetically without leaving her time to react. "What you're drinking right now is actually my recipe," he added with a wink, and Ixtli glanced down at her glass before returning a faint smile. She hadn't expecting such a straightforward approach.
"I hope you're enjoying yourself," Stu continued. "You're Ixtli, right? You're dealing with Syka's food? I have been told about you, but it's good to meet you in person. I'm looking forward to try what you have in store. Say, we should get some work – some cooking – done together sometime. I'm sure I could learn from you about some jungle flavours and spices, and I can myself teach you a trick or two. What do you say? Well, yeah, it sounds good and you know where to find me. I have to be on my way now – it might not look like it but I have my responsabilities here! But come see me at the Tidepool and we'll figure something, alright?"
Ixtli barely had time for a nod to confirm his words and agree before the man was on the move again, weaving through the crowd with happy grins to all present and his smile growing even larger when he stopped by an elegantly dressed woman, and the two engaged in pleasant conversation as the Myrian could judge by the flirtatious sparks in their eyes.

A half-naked woman with curly hair danced with a female Verusk and another flame-haired resident right in front of Ixtli, and the Myrian noticed with amusement the grin on her face. She was obviously enjoying the party and Ixtli had a nostalgic but brief reminiscence of Taloba's festivals, bringing the entire city together in joyful celebration. She herself felt her head swinging and her bare foot tapping to the rythm against the wooden floor, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. The party mood was growing on her.

Common | Myrian Calls | Thoughts

[Ashka]

Chaya came bounding back after a while and grabbed Ashka's arm. "Come ON, Ash! Don't just sit there. Let's dance!"

Ashka looked at Kiveth. "We can talk more later?" It was as much plea as question.

Silver eyes gleamed in the last of the daylight. "If you host me."

"All right," Ashka muttered, and reluctantly let herself be towed away from her conversation onto the dance floor. Like the rest of the place, the floor was fairly full of people she didn't know, and not just Verusk people either. Either they were new arrivals, or she'd been keeping too much to herself. She made a mental note to bring more of her spinning down to the Commons and get to know some of these people. Verusk included.

Maybe then she wouldn't be caught off-guard by people and topic she didn't know - like the 'World Gate', whatever that was, and the ancient settlement on Syka's doorstep. Pavena? Was that the name? She shook herself out of her mood and paid attention to her sister instead. Wispy brown curls straggled out of Chaya's braids as she hopped from foot to foot, swirled her blue dress, and flapped her arms as if she was going to take off like a bird.

Another flash of blue snagged the corner of Ashka's eye, and she glanced over to see a real blue bird launch up and away from a red haired girl. As Juli started a song that she knew, Ashka smiled wryly, caught Chaya's hands and spun her around in circles. That meant she was turning in circles too, singing softly along to the music, while faces appeared and disappeared from her view.

A man with strange black eyes and a stripe on his face was talking to a Verusk with a stripe on her face. A small woman danced nearby with an arm like Aladon's which, Ashka reckoned, probably made them the same race. There was a woman with the look of the sea, and a man with the look of the desert, and a small woman wearing a scarf wrapped around her and little else. There was, finally, a familar face, as she caught a glimpse of Ixtli tapping her toe to the music before the circling took her away again.

Common, Pavi, Fratava

[Ialari Pythone]

Ialari raised an eyebrow at Satevis' reaction to his own comment regarding the Verusk, Seraya, joining him. Even with a couple of drinks in her, she was always watching others, trying to discern various details from actions both verbal and non. It was just how her mind had worked ever since her experiences in Sahova.

Ialari chuckled dryly, "Purely academic..." She shook her head. "Sound's like a fun class."

While Ialari was not one especially experienced in the ways of courtship, it didn't take an expert to see that Satevis felt some amount of attraction to Seraya. The way his eyes drifted toward her, the way his shoulders were positioned while he talked with her. Although paying only cursory attention to it earlier, Ialari could see that not only Satevis but many of the other settlers seemed enamored by the strange visitors. They were open and friendly to beings from another world, very old creatures locked away from Mizahar for a very long time. Perhaps the openness and overly-friendly attitudes were a bit unwarranted, at least as far as Ialari was concerned.

As Satevis changed the subject rather abruptly, turning to Kajun'tar, Ialari considered his question for a moment before responding, "I feel I owe him after our initial meeting. He is something of a mystery. Besides, even after all we've been through with these, Verusk, I don't entirely trust them. I think keeping him close is a good idea for now."

Ialari glanced back over at Kajun'tar. I looked like he had finally finished his first drink and was debating whether to pour another.

"If they are truly here to help, learn and teach, then there is an immense amount to be gained. I will hope for that outcome." Ialari said before turning her gaze from Kajun'tar and returning her attention to Satevis.

When Satevis brought up the conversation they had on their journey to the World Gate, Ialari shook her head. "This isn't the time or the place for such a discussion." She knew exactly what Satevis was referring to.

"I'll tell you what. Allow a few days to pass. After that, when you have a decent amount of free time, follow the beach to the west until you come to the Stair Step Falls. If you haven't been there before, you can't miss them. Travel the path near the base of the falls; it leads to the top. Then follow the eastern bank of the river until you come to a small feeder stream. Continue along that stream until you arrive at an hourglass-shaped cave. Be ready for a little swim. There, within a large, flooded cavern, I'll be waiting." Ialari paused and then added, "Bring with you only your faith. No weapons, no use of magic. Come alone."

Ialari then gave a half smile and said, "I think it's time to see how uncomfortable I can make that Verusk." Ialari motioned with her head to Kajun'tar and started walking toward him; leaving Satevis with her parting instructions.

Ialari returned to Kajun'tar who, when he looked up and saw her standing in front of him, had a quick look of fear flash across his face.

"Ok, I said I'd be back. So now, we are going to go out there and dance. You are going to loosen up a bit and when we are finished, I want to talk to you about some things. Alright?" She didn't wait for a response. Instead, she took his empty cup and bottle of spirits and sat them down on the table. She then took hold of his hand pulled up closer to the rest of the gathering. With little skill of her own, Ialari tried to move with the music while keeping a firm, metallic-handed grip on Kajun's arm. Although he felt horribly out-of-place, embarrassed and awkward, Kajun allowed himself to let go a bit as his attempted to dance as well.

The two looked absolutely ridiculous in their efforts to anyone who hadn't had at least a couple drinks. To those who embraced the festivities in one form or another, the extremely strange looking couple pretending to dance was of no consequence. Ialari and Kajun danced through a few different songs before she pulled him to a table and sat down.

After taking a moment to get their breaths, Ialari looked at Kajun and said, "Now, about those things I wanted to talk about."

Kajun, with a hint of a smile left on his face from the horrible dancing, grew a bit more serious. He also continued to try and avoid letting his gaze linger on Ialari's barely clothed body. He gave a nod to her.

"So, you are here to learn about our world as it is now, after the Valterrian?" Ialari asked.

Kajun cleared his throat and nodded once more, "Yes. Here we are able to find a better life; a life of our own choosing not at the whim of others. We are connected to this place specifically, at least in some small way. This is the home of our ancestors and we wish to learn from it, restore it and return it to the glory it once held." Kajun had a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I take it you know what you are looking for and what to do with it if you find it?" Ialari replied while referring to Pavena.

Kajun smiled slightly, something that he was starting to do a little more now after having come to the gathering. "As I mentioned before, I'm the Loremaster. I've spent my entire life trying to learn all I could about Mizahar and preserve that knowledge as well as the knowledge of Pavena in hopes of one day finding it. Back then, it was only a dream...a fantasy. Yet, here I am."

Ialari admitted to herself then that perhaps she and Kajun did have more in common than she would have initially thought. He was looking for something that existed only as a dream just as she was looking for something that existed as a nightmare.

[Satevis]

Satevis reddened a little more at Ialari's comment. He cleared his throat, coughing softly into his fist. "I, um, believe it will be interesting. Although not for those reasons." Denying it any further would probably only encourage Ialari to tease him. Satevis decided to drop the subject, although the sip he took of his drink afterwards was larger than he had intended.

He listened to Ialari's comments about Kajun'tar, nodding his head. Her concern was certainly warranted, after everything that had happened in the jungle. "You make a good point," he said. "I will keep my eyes open as well. One of these days, though, I wouldn't mind speaking to Kajun'tar about the knowledge that he's collected, if you wouldn't mind the company." There was no rush. From the sound of things, the Verusk would be staying for a while. If they were going to be long-term residents of Syka, Satevis could speak to Kajun'tar, and any of the other Verusk, at any time.

He listened closely to her instructions, taking note of them and carefully memorizing them. Although he tried to tell himself to manage his expectations, to not get his hopes up in case of disappointment, Ialari's words awakened a yearning inside of him. If he could go home, even to some small, inconsequential part of his home--

--The hopeful yearning was soured by the memory of what Kultra had said, muting his excitement. Something in his belly lurched, churning uncomfortably. He masked his change in expression by finishing off his drink.

"I will do that," he told Ialari instead, speaking in a whisper. "I will see you as soon as I can get away. Enjoy the party."

As Ialari went off to torment Kajun'tar some more, Satevis returned her smile, shaking his head in amusement. He turned away and nearly crashed into Seraya, who had crept up on him. She was holding two drinks in her hands, and stepped back smoothly to avoid him knocking into her, barely spilling either of them.

"Good meeting?" Seraya asked. "You look like a guy who could use another drink. I got you one."

Satevis looked down at his empty cup, setting it aside on a nearby table. "Thank you, Seraya, but I don't drink much," he said, accepting the drink from her with a smile. He wasn't even sure what was in the cup--one of Stuvantis's concoctions, no doubt.

Seraya shrugged. "More for me, then," she said, taking a swig of her own drink. Satevis considered the drink in his hand for a moment, before scanning the crowd again. More people had arrived, from the looks of it, but still few that he recognized. The Chaktawe man was now speaking to a Svefra woman he did not know, a pair of Verusk accompanying them. Several more people were dancing; he shot the dance floor a dubious look.

"You weren't thinking of dancing, were you?" he asked Seraya.

"Not yet," Seraya said, tipping back her cup. "Not until I have a few more of these in me, anyway."

Satevis nodded, making his way over to Nayato and Kelani. He would never get anywhere if he refused to talk to anyone, after all. As he approached them, he found himself thinking over what he would say. Surely, it couldn’t be so difficult to just introduce himself, could it? People did things like that all the time.

He approached Nayato first, Seraya following him. The Chaktawe man was more familiar to him, even if all his memories of them had been from another life. With the sun still up, Satevis still appeared as a Benshira, and he knew that that would be recognizable to Nayato as he turned towards the man.

“Interesting to see another from Eyktol all the way out here,” Satevis said, putting a welcoming smile on his face. “Are you a new resident?”

Seraya, meanwhile, turned towards Talivindra, folding her arms. “Talivindra, are you bothering this man?” she asked. “He probably has better things to do.”

Template by Sevaan
(•̀o•́)ง
Satevis

[Ashka]

Chaya tired of dancing at last, and it was Ashka's turn to drag her sister around. She headed for the food and drink. Chaya guzzled coconut water while Ashka settled for cold fruit tea. Her gaze swept across the options and she went first for the fried shrimp, and then for vegetables and sauce wrapped in thin slices of ham. There was bread. There was cheese, there was eggs and chicken and fish and pork. Ashka filled her own plate - and stopped Chaya from filling hers with nothing more than bananas fried with sugar - and slipped off to a table to eat.

The bananas were very good when she snagged one of them, and she tried to remember them to make herself later, but the sauce and meat was even better for being a rarer treat. They ate a lot of fish, but bread was also a treat more than a staple, and likely to get even rarer if James and the Veronica didn't come back with flour to make it with. Chaya ate, and curled up on the chair beside Ashka with her head resting against Ashka's shoulder. Ashka shifted position to wrap an arm around her sister, steadying her and easing her into a more comfortable position.

There was movement as someone took a chair on the opposite side of the table. Ashka looked up to see Kiveth lounging there, one long-fingered hand tapping to the beat of the music from the stage. He met her gaze and offered a small smile. "Did she finish dancing, or did dancing finish her?"

Ashka looked back at her dozing sister. "Something of both. I should take her home..."

"May I come? If you meant it about hosting me, I'd like to see where, before I get lost among the trees..."

Ashka sighed. "Yes, all right. This way." They slipped out, supporting a sleepy Chaya between them, and headed back along the beach towards Ashka's acres.

Common, Pavi, Fratava