Red Meets Black

[Red Daghul]

Her broken Nari did make things harder to understand, but Red was also caught up in his own thoughts about the matter. It did feel odd to be invaded in such a way, but as far as he could tell it didn't really affect him all that much. Then again he wasn't really sure what it would feel like if he didn't notice the thread of suggestions. It was different, and knowing that is was possible seemed only to really make him feel a bit more protected from it. It was fascinating more then a point he worried about, though he could feel that Daghul was uneasy with the concept.

Magic wasn't something he was unfamiliar with on a wide view of it. There are many forces out in the world that can do some amazing things, but to see it first hand was quite the experience. It begged the question of how often she had used it on him in the last few chimes, and how strong of a affect it could really have. Red didn't notice at first her more reserved nature coming out, or how she had changed till Daghul nudged him towards the matter.

"She didn't answer all your questions" the thought was simple and sent with a touch of kindness that Daghul didn't normally take too. Red looked up at his brother with questioning eyes as the bird seemed to push the need for him to be a bit more friendly rather than overwhelmed by the thought of magic.

Red reached out and brushed his hand against her with a friendly smile "thank you for being honest with me" he decided to use common instead of Nari hoping to ease some of the pressure. The Endal took a moment to observe the woman in front of him, with of course Daghul slowing him down, he kinda started to notice how out of place she was. A pang of guilt seemed to catch up to him at the thought that he might have just pushed her to feel even more of a outsider. Sometimes the Inarta people were to fast to act and not think through what they were doing.

Feeling as if he was leaving the moment a bit to awkward he opened his mouth with out thinking speaking in common again "tell you what enough about magic and what not, how about we find something to eat and maybe you could tell me a bit about yourself?" Daghul seemed happy with his approach and he looked down at his stinging torso and ringing head "and maybe some clean towels to deal with... this" he made motion that he was going to stand the feeling of pain a gentle... or not so gentle reminder that he had just come out of a fight.

[Lani Stranger]

Lani took the common with grace, surprised but appreciative of Red’s use of common. She could tell his grasp on the language was just as good as her grasp on Nari, but the sentiment behind the small action meant a lot to her. She wasn’t thinking too hard about adjusting her appearance or how she was perceived in order to be more acceptable or less noticeable. Kindness wasn’t foreign to her, but she was so used to having to work so hard for it, Lani almost didn’t know what to do with Red’s lack of xenophobia about all the things that were unknown to him. He seemed… curious.

”Oh, okay.” She agreed to his offer, the back of her mind counting the bells since noon to see if the kitchens would serve her at this hour. She could probably make it in the next half an hour, or she could sit quietly next to him while he ate. The latter seemed too much of a blow to her pride to be an option, but as was the way of life in the Reach. The caste system was like that. His words reminded her of his injuries, and Lani nodded. As far as a sword fights went, he had left relatively unscathed. There was the road rash, and would likely be some bruises or sore joints, but he had survived just fine. Although he was Endal and would get care in the Infirmary immediately and regardless of intensity of a wound, Lani forgot about the caste system for a tick. To her, the infirmary didn’t care for minimal wounds such as these, so Lani waved the man over to follow her.

”I fix you, not worry.” She assured him. Her mind was deciding if it was worth taking him back to her apartments, stop by the bathing rooms and miss eating herself, or to use her already ruined scarf and water from the kitchens to clean him up briefly. She didn’t doubt that it stung, perhaps mundane against his other bruises forming, however it must have still been a pain to him. Still, it was a bearable pain and so her worry for his well-being had evaporated quickly, falling into the back of her mind as she walked with the Endal out of the Courtyard of the Sky, and following him to the kitchens. The front of her mind focused on the issue of this Endal wanting to know her. Not that she didn’t mind dumping her life story on this stranger, it somehow seemed easier than doing so to her dearest childhood friend, but rather the confusion as to why he was treating her so well… and what it possibly could have meant.

[Red Daghul]

The Endal smiled at her desire to fix him even though there really wasn't to much to fix. As far as sword fighting went that was more of a fist fight that ended with swords, maybe she didn't understand the Endal way as much. Red was sure that the other Endal was simply trying to save some face for the lower caste as well as his own for having a defeat was bad enough, but not being willing to show that you were willing to go what ever length necessary to win would just add to the blow. From what Red would guess this would be something people talk about for a few weeks, and then mostly forget it for some other "important" news.

Even though his body was mostly fine, the dull sting that came with each step was just enough to annoy him. It would make riding with Daghul a bit of a pain, and the throbbing in his head that decided to start as he stood up would most likely persist through the night... maybe the next day. With a sigh he moved on towards the kitchen at least a decent meal would give him some strength, and he had decided that if anything he would do his best at putting on a tough show for Lani.

Then again with this new news of her abilities could she see through his wall and just discover his pain. This was a game changer in a lot of ways for the way the Endal thought, he wasn't foreign to the idea of someone else knowing his thoughts and moods, but there was some give and take that came with that territory. It was neat to know that others had abilities like that, but the idea that it wasn't with just one other. The thought of having to hear more than just Daghul's thoughts almost made him sick, it would be overwhelming.

"How long have you been in the Reach?" Red offered up partly so that they would have to slow a bit to talk which was a bit of a welcomed pace, and two he felt he might have slipped into more thought then he had intended at first. Lani was a mystery to him, and for what ever reason he found himself wanting to know more. What he had yet to really decide was if that had to do with her, or her powers. For the most part he was just leaping blindly into a friendship, and he hadn't really decided what that was going to look like. "and where do you work?" he hadn't even thought about what she did, he was sure she wasn't more then a chiet just by the way she acted and dressed.

The Inarta in the market place still whispered and pointed at the Endal, and he could see the rumor spreading through the Reach almost as if it was a storm blowing across the expanse of the sky. It was something he wasn't used to he liked to be more in the shadows rather than the light, yet it did feel nice at the same time. Other than the whispers the market had found it's self moving back to normal with excitement and joy, loud sounds of voices trying to sell their wares. Normally wouldn't bother Red at all, but his head still thumped a bit. The kitchen wasn't that far away, he just had to make it there and he could sit and rest. The endal rubbed his eyes and then gave Lani a smile hoping his act was holding up.

[Lani Stranger]

Lani’s brain was spinning as she walked with Red. She didn’t particularly enjoy small conversation, and she wasn’t good at it, thanks to the language barrier. She felt like a child again, not understanding all the things being said. She could read a person’s face, she was very observant, but she had always relied on reading into the words that were given to her. With this hindered she found it more difficult, and with Red’ intention to have a full conversation with her over food, the idea was daunting. Still, she was watching him carefully, a mask of concern. Red was doing an excellent job of playing off the relatively small bumps and bruises he suffered. Even if it was the best possible outcome of such a fight, it was no surprise he was in pain, which was the point of fighting after all. But with her auristic enhanced finger tips, she could feel the warped and wavering pain that emanated from his aura, nearly as strong as the curiosity that radiated from him. Her hands swung by her side, picking up small details about his aura as he spoke, and she could feel him beginning to plan something, as if he was formulating a question. His steps slowed, and she knew it was not in response to the pain, but rather in preparation to the question.

”How long have you been in the Reach?" She was not surprised by his words, although she had expected the very common question of why. She was pleasantly surprised that that was not his question, although it did force her to take a few ticks to formulate her Nari words in response.

”Two season.” She answered, but his next question came quickly. Lani understood it, thankfully, but she studied him for a deliberate chime before answering, pushing her stride to walk only slightly faster than his. She wanted to encourage their earlier pace when he had been lost in thought, betting on his need to appear out of pain, and his Endal entitlement that would make him displeased to have a Chiet walking in front of him.

”The Enclave. I am scribe.” She answered his second question now, her perception of reality clicking into place. He wanted something. Everyone always wanted something, Red was no different. It was just a matter of figuring out what that was, and what she could do to mitigate the damage. It was also a matter of if he even knew what he wanted. She could read his curiosity in his aura, but she could not determine what it was for. Was it for her foreign appearance? Her relationship with his new enemy? Or perhaps her work within the reach? She knew there was some aspect of her that could benefit him, but did he know what it was? And would it hurt for him to achieve it?

When they reached the entrance of the communal kitchen’s, Lani was relieved. Red had drawn the attention of the crowds, and although she would never not be noticeable because of her hair and eyes, she wanted to stay as far away from center stage as possible. And now she was associating with not one, but two Endals, who had beef with one another. Great. But as they neared the kitchen’s, something occurred to Lani. She had gotten food just before going to the market place, and it had easily been two or three bells since then, and the food for the Chiet would not be open. Lani slowed near the entrance, not quite committing to going inside, unsure if she was allowed.

She finally stopped just outside the entrance and peaked inside. It was largely empty, being in between even Avora eating times. There were a few Endal milling about and eating, but none of the lower classes, so it was obvious a Chiet like herself was outside of her eating times. It was not a rule she often had to worry about, since she worked shifts during the times she couldn’t eat she barely confronted that rule except on her days off, which she mostly spent… at work.

”It not my time to eat.” She turned to Red to inform him, as if he didn’t already know. Perhaps it hadn’t occurred to him, it wasn’t as if Endal followed many rules anyway. There was a small bit of her that hoped that this was enough to dissuade the man, because she liked him. She didn’t want to get to know the people that she wanted to befriend, it ruined it for the nomad.

[Red Daghul]

They were getting close as the black haired maiden started to answer his questions. Of course they were pretty short as far as answers went which he wondered if that had to do with her ability with Nari as he had noticed that she lacked the full grasp of it, or if it had more to do with being shy. Then again shy didn't seem right either. Thinking back to how she acted she seemed quite forward all things considered, no this was different there was more than met the eye he was sure.

She suddenly made a move to quicken her step something that Red had hoped wouldn't happen as his body was starting to lose some of the rush of the fight and pain started to cry at him more and more. Though it was no near what he had had in the past it still was anything from pleasant, but he felt bad at leaving this encounter only half way through. In some many ways it felt as if his honor would be stain somewhat by him. There were times where his Inartan blood seemed to get him in to scraps like this, not to mention the whole thing with Narth who knew where that would end up. That line of thought he and Daghul could process later.

Lani seemed distant... or at least closed off. Sure it could have been due to the fact that he didn't know her people, but than again she seemed to strive to be like the Inarta who were very very good at letting what they believed or thought flood the minds of those around them. Careless they were called. This seemed guarded, a lack of trust, or maybe a wound from the past that never healed. It was hard to say, and it was really not something that Red encountered on a normal day. Maybe that is why he felt the need to talk to her.

As they reached the kitchens Red moved forward with out a second thought in his head. As a Endal it was understood that they had needs that out weighed other castes and odd times of work so they could come and eat as they saw fit. Many of the kitchen workers would see that they had a meal ready for a Endal as they were walking up. Best not make them wait. Many of his caste were over zealous about their title and position. Red never much had a taste for that, he did his job because he wanted to see his people thrive.

”It not my time to eat.” her voice was softer or weaker it seemed as the Endal stopped dead in his tracks and his chest tightened with a small pang of guilt. It hadn't even occurred to him that she wouldn't be able to get food. Honestly he hadn't given that fact a thought, sure he gave time to thinking how Endal can hold their title over the lower caste, but he hadn't ever really stopped to put himself in the shoes of the other caste. Their lives were different, and he just never stopped to really consider how. Red spun on his feet seeing that he was now a few steps ahead of Lani, and his body reminded him that he really wasn't ready for that kind of action.

"I... um..." words seem to take a moment to come to him as he felt guilt, as well as a bit of awkwardness. Panic was sent out towards Daghul who must have been to far away to hear him, so Red did what any Inarta would and made the jump into the air with out a second thought "Right. I'm sorry I didn't think, how about you let me make it up to you" no need to think just act was what his blood told him "I am going on a hunting trip in a few weeks join me and Daghul? I promise it will be worth it" he gave a smile and waited for her answer.

[Lani Stranger]

Black speckled fingers twitched by her side as she tried to focus on Red’s aura. He seemed too eager, and it didn’t occur to the foreigner that he was simply expressing his thoughts as they came to him. She was not familiar enough with her magic or with this man to read the movements she could feel in his aura accurately, but she wanted to believe he had a motive. He had a motive, didn’t he?

The prospect of getting out of the city seemed too tempting through. She hadn’t gotten to leave the mountain with all the storms, and this freaky nice weather made her thing that Zulrav was done with his rage. Unable to help the eagerness that followed the longing for the outdoors, Lani nodded, a grin seeping into her gilded cheeks. She didn’t have a proper hunting weapon, only her sword… and her daggers. She was extremely rusty with the things, having learned how to throw them as a child, where she had enjoyed hunting the multicolored lizards that sometimes sprouted wings and flew away from her in Alvadas. She hadn’t really hunted anything in her life, but she had spent so much of her life travelling through the dangers of the wild, she missed the contact with nature, and the thrill of survival.

”Yes, I like that,” She spoke with a thick accent and a little too much eagerness in her voice. ”I travel all time as child, but now I not know a… um… ‘weapon’?” She faltered at the end of her sentence, using the common word for weapon, hoping he would understand. ”I not know a ‘weapon’ use for hunting… just Talon Sword.” She said. It occurred to her that it might be taken as a dissuasion from his offer, which she definitely did not want to do. ”Yes, I want to come, I good in travel.” She added with a slight grin. It occurred to her then that she would not be able to just go. Although she didn’t doubt that Red knew the rules better than she, and how exactly to get a Chiet off of their regular job, the know-it-all part of Lani needed to speak up.

”Yes, I like that. But you must… must you? Must you tell Kavisan, in the Enclave. I work there all time, he will not know where I go.” She tried to explain, forgetting her reserved coolness with Red, and placing a hand on his arm. With such close contact to the man, his aura sent a wave of his pain to her magical senses, and she cringed for him. He had been acting like he wasn’t hurt, and she hadn’t been paying attention to those movements in his aura, and so she felt bad that she had not been treating him appropriately. ”Hope you feel good again.” She added, brushing his forearm slightly as if it would undo any pain the rough grab might have caused him.

And then, because the mixed blood had no idea what else to do, she dropped her arm, turned away from him, and simply walked away. Her bare padded feet had a brisk pace to their step as she made a beeline for the Enclave, wanting to bury herself into something familiar like the Konti prayer book. Today had been eventful, and the meddling Lani had enjoyed it, but the prospect of yet another kind soul who didn’t hate her simply because she was… well, that had been an unexpected result. But it wasn’t bad. Lani decided she liked Red, he was kind. She could be kind too.

[Ssezzkero]

Red Daghul
Riding: Wind Eagle +1, Leadership +3, Observation +5, Socialization +5, Planning +1, Rhetoric +2, Dancing +2, Endurance +5, Unarmed Combat +2, Weapon: Talon Sword +2, Persuasion +1, Tactics +1, Acting +2, Arcanology +1, Market Day: Always Crowded, Orchestrating aerial tricks on a Wind Eagle, Spotting a foreigner in Wind Reach, Lani: Strange black eyes, Lani: Has some relationship with Narth, Narth: Enemy, Lani: Chiet, Socialization: Making another feel less awkward, Narth: Usually level-headed, Lani: A mage, Leadership: Attempting to diffuse a situation, Narth: A flightleader, Resisting Hypnotism, Wind Reach: The people love a good fight, Unarmed Combat: Fighting another Endal, Narth: Has ulterior motives, Endal: Fight each other for pride, Unarmed Combat: Don’t overcomplicate it, Persuasion: Attempting to de-escalate a fight with words, Tactic: Keep your opponent from regaining their balance, Acting: Hiding one’s physical pain, Arcanology: There is a magic that meddles with people’s thoughts, Lani: Forward but aloof, Daghul: Supportive, Leadership: Planning the next interaction


Lani Stranger
Impersonation +2, Morphing +2, Subterfuge +5, Socialization +5, Leadership +3, Seduction +2, Planning +3, Dancing +3, Hypnotism +5, Persuasion +2, Acting +3, Auristics +3, Medicine +1, Teaching +1, Adopting Inarta Culture, Morphing: Requires practice to get right, Culture: Inarta dance style, Seduction: “Innocent” flirting, Observation: Recognizing the different Wind Reach castes, Morphing: Is recognizable, Hypnotism: Suggestions, Hypnotism: Emotional Response, Heightening the hostility of a social encounter, How to start a fight with Hypnotism, Diffusing a hostile social encounter with hypnotism, Controlling the intensity of a fight with hypnotism, Narth and Red: Hostile towards one another, Medicine: Apply pressure to a fresh wound, Red: An Endal, Red: Kind, Red: A terrible dancer, Subterfuge: Knowing when to tell the truth, Teaching: Introducing one to magic, Red: Knows some common tongue, Subterfuge: Avoiding questions without follow-up, Red: Wants to take you hunting