[Surya Plaza] Roadblock (Wedge, Open)

[Faolan]

Season of Spring, Day 2, 511 A glowing city, Faolán marveled. After leading Kinsley up the long winding path from the Amaranthine Gates, he stood star struck at the lively city center. There was a thin layer of snow covering the ground causing them to glow subdued colors of various tone. “Even the streets are glowing, Kinsley.” Faolán whispered; excitement and wonder vibrating through his voice. He was afraid to speak too loudly, incase whatever dream he was in fell apart before he could explore it. “This is a tale in itself. The city of stars. We’ve come to the right place.” After a long silence of wonder, Faolán realized his horse hadn’t moved. Well, neither of them had moved, but it was usually Kinsley that forced him to move on from his daydream. Looking back at his horse, Faolán grinned. His horse was also struck by the beauty of the city and was currently snuffing through the snow to see where the glowing light was coming from. “Come on Kinsley. We still have so much more to see!” But, neither of them moved. They were at a standstill, gaping at the magnificence of the city. Finally, after a few travelers jostled them from behind trying to maneuver around them, did they snap out of their daze and begin to move. They headed towards the center square where merchants were selling their goods, restaurants were serving food, and taverns were spilling with people. A large smile settled itself on Faolán’s face; his eyes were now completely golden with no hint of gray left. “I told you the city would wake me up.” Faolán told Kinsley smugly as he led him through the crowds. This was different from his Hold in Avanthal. Though there were a few travelers around, he was usually surrounded by people he knew. A small wave of homesickness washed over him, before his excitement took over. As he navigated through the crowds, he absorbed his surroundings, eyes wide as he took in everything from people to goods. Finally, he spotted a gap, a lapse of movement near the edge of one of the garden rows. He made his way there, suddenly feeling exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. “We made it here. The adventure getting here was grand in itself, but now that we’re here. We’ll have many more to add to our collection.” He said in tiredly to his horse before he sat down to collect his wits.

[Vergil]

This was not a good idea, and she had no idea why she thought it was in the first place. Sure there would more people out and about at night, those who could have offered directions and help to the newcomer, but she clearly did not think this through. The Lhavitians were active under a veil of stars, likely adapted to the dimly lit streets as it was the backdrop of their nightly lives, but sadly she was not. Her sharp vision was hardly useful under such low light, as the streets were barely visible to her despite their iridescent glow and the lit lanterns that dotted the path. It didn’t matter what Hachia had told her about the Cosmos Centre, how close in proximity it was to the gate and how taking an immediate right would lead her straight to it. Back then, she was still suffering the strange sensation of riding another creature, wishing to walk the awkward feeling off and getting herself lost in the process. Now, she was much too far from where she began, having stumbled blindly through the streets for at least several bells now, and gave up on her destination entirely. The Kelvic could barely enjoy the beauty that the city offered under such a thick blanket of night despite the ample amount of stars above her, only wishing to find the most well lit area so she may sit and relieve her hunger. Her stomach began another round of growling, not letting up for a chime to allow the squinting girl a moment’s peace. Sighing, she decided to head in a new direction and quickened her pace. They were like beacons of light, and quite literally, as she spotted a brightly lit area in the distance which she assumed was a market. Suddenly exasperated, Wedge tried to sooth the ache in her belly with one hand, the other tightening its grip on the bag slung over her shoulder as she dragged herself over. Careful to avoid any crowds, the Kelvic sat away from the main square beside a traveler and his horse, and dove into her bag without a moment’s hesitation. Tearing away at the package that separated her from the delicious, salted meat, she ate noisily, stunning a handful of tourists with the ferocity of her actions. Any pieces that escaped her rampage were quickly licked up or picked off from where they fell, much to the disgust of the wide eyed Lhavitians. Unaware of the inappropriate display she was making, Wedge finished her meal by licking her fingers and the packaging clean, wiped her hands on her dress and let loose an unrestrained sigh and satisfied smile.

[Wrenmae]

Getting used to nocturnal living was not the sort of thing one did in a day. Entering when the shadows were longer yesteday, Wrenmae had slept through his first 'day' in Lhavit. Having no actual place to stay, he'd played the part of a bum on his horse, Weaver trotting through alleys to find a suitable place to rest while Wrenmae hung off the saddle in an unconscious stupor. Tonight he had tried to stay up again, lost in a sea of experiences far greater than he could have hoped for. The storyteller in him leaped at the concepts of nocturnal living, a kingdom of raccoons and foxes...bats and owls. But the people here had adapted, leaving the well lit streets of morning to shadows and dust and the dark shadows of evening to revelry and commerce.

It had worked alright toward the beginning, a dark eyed Wrenmae smiling wanly at the sights and sounds of awakened Lhavit while riding his tired horse through crowd and alley. Now, however, he hung slightly askew from the saddle and Weaver had taken it upon himself to start a trot, jostling the storyteller from his lofty perch and bringing him crashing down on the stone ground.

No one can change in the space of a night, or at least not Wrenmae.

Although he did come to the world of the waking with sudden and irrevocable clarity, pain rippling across his brow like frenzied spiders. One foot was still caught in the stirrup, creating the comical image of the boy being dragged along by his mount. The mount, Weaver, was more than elated to cater to laughter, bringing up his legs in an almost stately strut...and bouncing his poor rider to strike the ground again and again, despite his cries of protest or flailing arms.

Most in Lhavit, weary of the foreginers and their strange customs, found a moment of laughter in the new arrival's peril...none actually stepping forward to help him. And so down the street he went, Weaver with a chortling whinny and Wrenmae crying out in pain with each new step, tasting the copper flair of blood on his tongue as the horse veered suddenly and smashed his unprotected face against a stall.

At the very least, it jostled the boy free, depositing his limp body, unmoving, on the stone. If people had been disgusted before at the girl and her uncouth eating habits, their attention shifted to the groaning rider pulling himself up from the ground in front of her horse. Weaver continued strutting, proud for the moment to be the champion of the rider/ridden duo. Ket, the cat, peered down at him from the saddlebag with something akin to lazy pity, but made no move to help him.

Wrenmae didn't blame her, and instead gingerly put a hand to his head. It came back bloody.

"At least I'm awake..." he muttered to himself, not quite buying that it was a good thing. Irately his eyes found Weaver.

"Hopefully the law of assault isn't above prosecuting a horse."

[Faolan]

oocAwesome post. I think I died of laughter for a good 10 minutes before I could think straight. XD Faolán watched the crowd mill about tiredly. Travelling and taking in all the sights without sleep was taking a toll on his body. His eyelids drooped slowly and began to doze off. Just as he was about to black out, he felt something warm on top of his head. Slowly, his senses came back as he tiredly tried to figure out what was on top of him. Finally, he tried to swat the thing off of him. But, instead he hit a solid chunk of flesh. “Whaaat?” He grumbled, finally opening his eyes to see Kinsley innocently chewing on his hair. He groaned, “Kinnsleyy. What is it?” The horse snorted, rolling his eyes. Faolán looked around to see a girl sitting beside him. When had she gotten there? What’s more she was ravenously eating beside him as if she hadn’t eaten in years. He stared at her, his eyes turning from grey to orange as he was amused by her display of a meal. It reminded him of the Kelvic mounts in the Icewatch, they had also eaten as if their life depended on it. He wondered vaguely if she was a Kelvic or if she was just really hungry. Either way, she seemed to be a traveler and rather interesting. So, he decided to strike up a conversation, his common not too rusty from all his days of travelling. “Greetings fellow traveler.” He smiled, irises blending into a warm blue and orange tone. “What brings you to Lhavit?” Faolán then felt a dull thud against the back of his head. “Ow! What was tha-“ He said as he turned to see why his horse had headbutted him. He stoped in mid sentence when his horse nickered towards another horse on the busy street. Judging by the rider’s weary, sleep deprived eyes, Faolán’s guessed he was also a traveler. Faolán tilted his head, not understanding until the horse took it upon itself to begin trotting. Faolán watched in amazement as the rider somehow ended up being dragged across the streets. He tried his best to stifle his laughter in the beginning, feeling sorry for boy. He then managed to tell Kinsley sternly as possible not to get any ideas. By the end however, he couldn’t help but start laughing out loud. He prayed to the gods that Kinsley wouldn’t get such ideas and mentally noted to get some sleep before attempting to ride his horse. After that display, he knew his horse would use any weakness to perform something similar. Seeing as no one was helping the poor fellow, he walked over to him. Faolán’s eyes had turned a bright yellow from the laughter and were now slowly changing to a subdued yellow-orange. “Impressive fall.” He said, grinning and offered his hand. “Unfortunately, I think horses are above all our laws.”

[Vergil]

oocThat was quite an entrance. XD Free from the persistent ache of her stomach, she surveyed the multitude of onlookers with their eyes fixed on her small form. Many that met her gaze had quickly turned away, embarrassed to have been caught staring. Wedge had no idea why they were so fascinated in the first place, was it commonplace to find entertainment in watching another eat? Unfamiliar with etiquette and proper behaviour, the Kelvic was at a loss for an explanation. Thinking that perhaps their bellies were empty just as hers had been a moment ago, and that they simply hungered for her meal, she dismissed the thought. Disliking the attention, she diverted her eyes, still uncertain of the treatment of Kelvics in this city. Slowly, the bystanders returned to their own business and she was left alone, or so she had thought. Perhaps it was the cool night air nipping at her skin, but Wedge had a chilling feeling that she was still being watched. It didn't take long for her to find the culprit since the man was seated right beside her, looking quite amused. Almost immediately, she found herself ogling this man, his bright, colourful gaze reminding her of those who stalk the night. The girl really was horribly weak toward shiny objects of any kind, often displaying a child-like awe whenever one would come within sight. However she could only stare for so long as the man’s amiable voice broke off her trance, revealing a smile as he greeted her. Somewhat embarrassed, and feeling quite exposed, the girl replied in a surprisingly soft voice. "I wish to cure my curse.” She stated confidently, her smile looking more like a smirk due to her sharp features. “Perhaps learn a bit more about how humans operate, but that will likely follow should I find what I am looking for here.” Her eyes darted upward just in time to see the mount nudge his master rather violently on the head. The girl attempted to suppress a laugh at the man’s misfortune and for once, managed to do so. Wedge found herself envying their bond, understanding in an instant the sort of relationship they shared, and found herself wondering if the stallion was a Kelvic. She wouldn’t be surprised if he was, as the vagrant also found comfort in remaining in her true form, free from the constraints of human society and their numerous conventions. How they managed to keep all that in mind was beyond her, but perhaps that was just a small price to pay to for order. As the bright-eyed man turned away from her, Wedge followed his line of sight toward a groggy looking human on a horse. Staying onboard didn’t last long, the young man tipping over like a tree under the mighty power of an axe. His mount then took advantage of the situation and made a show of his rider’s pain, dragging the poor man down the plaza. Any giggles she had kept quiet began to pour from her lips, a loud, boisterous laugh looking unnatural as it exited her small body, making the crowd’s laughter look like snickering in comparison. However, Wedge grew silent when the young man collided with the wall, the merriment in her eyes quickly faded to concern. As she rose to help him, her gesture was intercepted by the man with eyes like stars. Either way, she wanted to make sure that the human was alright, if only to alleviate her conscience. Drawing close, she could hear the light-hearted conversation between the two riders and felt as though she was intruding. Still, she could not help but be curious about the two strangers, smiling easily at their words. “You can’t be thinking of punishing the poor stallion. He had no idea what was going on after all.” She quipped, knowing full well the mischievous nature of Gildings from the pair owned by the twins. “Though, I do hope you are alright.” She continued, her tone growing less jovial as she eyed the bloody gash. “That will need to be washed out and bandaged up I’m afraid. But first, you really must sit down, I can’t imagine it’d be easy to go anywhere in your current state of mind.” Her thin fingers then wrapped around his forearm and began to guide him back to where she had been seated, hoping that the other traveler would follow on his own accord. Suddenly, remembering what little manners she had, the Kelvic stopped dead in her tracks, turned and bowed to the both of them just as the siblings had taught her. “I apologize; I’ve forgotten to introduce myself. My name’s Wedge, or at least that’s what I’m called.”

[Wrenmae]

OOC: I love to make an impression ^_^


For a moment, Wrenmae perceived Faolan's words as coming from his own horse. It seemed fitting, the horse speaking that is...Weaver had always played the part of a human better than the part of a horse. His eyes were too knowing, his animal noises too tinged with human emotion. Had he a mind to think otherwise, he'd assume Weaver was a Kelvic. But as darkness swam and bright lights rested lightly on his shifting eyes, another face focused above him.

And then a second.

He took the offered hand, mumbling half words to both himself and Faolan of apology and embarrassment. It was in no specific language, but the tone was easy to understand. Once on his feet, Wrenmae attempted to walk of his own accord but found his feet were not of like minds and he stumbled into the Kelvic. She was gentle, though her grip firm to keep the boy from falling over. Weaver eyed the Kelvic irately, seeming to be completely aware of her words and indignant that the victory of Wrenmae's embarrassment was stolen from him under the illusion of 'dumb animal'. Nevertheless, it followed, eying Faolan almost in an unspoken warning. Ket, now more awake from the commotion, poked her tawny head from a side saddle bag and looked on in alert interest. Second day to the city and the new smells had put her into a sensory overload. Now, with a point to focus on, she eyed the Kelvic with the most interest...as if smelling the bird on her.

"Weaver knows full well what he's done," Wrenmae mumbled as the Kelvic set him down gently on the ground. His vision undulated like the coils of a snake, around and around and around. The world simply would not stop tipping unduly, despite his best attempts to center it. "I don't think he likes me much right now, but thank you for helping."

He looked at both of them, marking the shifting eyes of the male and settling on them with a sort of woozy fascination. What a neat trick, those eyes...he would have to ask about them when he was of a better mind.

To the girl, he smiled, an entirely foolish expression of half-conscious grinning. "Wrenmae, Wrenmae Sek of Alvadas, pleased to meet you."

[Faolan]

As Faolán hefted him up, the young man mumbled something to him. Faolán frowned slightly, his eyes tinting red with concern. The young man was mumbling some sort of apology to him, if he wasn’t mistaken. He couldn’t help but wonder why he was apologizing to what was obviously a compliment. He must have hit his head pretty hard. Faolán watched as the young man stumbled along with the girl, who had also risen to help. He figured the girl to be a Kelvic, considering the way she has talked about humans. Faolán would have trailed along behind them, but seeing as the young man was in capable hands, he examined the traveler’s horse instead. Catching the warning glare the traveler’s horse directed at him, Faolán couldn’t help being amused and immediately began to follow him, his interest piqued. Nevertheless, he kept a safe distance away from the horse, although he was still amused by the glares it sent his way. He then spotted the kitten sticking its head from the saddle bag. Unable to help himself, he found himself attempting to pet it. “Hello there," He murmured in Vani. “I wonder what your name is…” Figuring, he would ask the traveler, he turned in time to catch the conversation. His eyes turned a cheery yellow as he listened, eventually taking hues of purple with curiosity. “You seem to a lot about wounds. Are you a healer perhaps, Wedge?” Faolán paused for a second at the name. It felt strange on this tongue, especially in common. It also seemed to be quite a peculiar name. Fearing to sound rude, he instead introduced himself. “I’m Faolán Frostfawn from Avanthal. I’m quite pleased to meet you both. How long have you been in this city? I myself have only been here for a few hours. I do hope to adjust my sleeping cycle soon. Although, your performance chased away any tiredness I had. For that, I thank you.” He said, grinning at Wrenmae. Faolán heard a small snort behind him. Realizing he had forgotten to introduce his horse, he said. “Oh, this is Kinsley, my trusty steed.” Kinsley shook his mane and snorted again, getting Faolán to grin rather sheepishly. “He’s also the one who keeps me on my toes.” “What are the names of your travelling companions Wrenmae Sek of Alvadas? They seem to have quite the personality, especially your horse.” Slowly, whatever small space they had secured near the gardens started to fill with more travelers and Lhavitians. Eyeing the growing crowd, he decided it would probably better they move elsewhere. “Could I interest anyone in a drink before we are swallowed by the crowds?” He smiled, “I’m sure we’ll have many interesting stories to share.” Taking Kinsley’s reins, he spotted a small bar nearby. He began to make his way there, leaving the other two to decide whether they wanted to follow.

[Vergil]

A clear, distinct laugh floated past her lips, the sound was harsh like that of a clap but innocent like a child’s own. Her smile was a small white crescent underneath the moonlight as she spoke, her eyes bright with intrigue. “Perhaps a long journey has tired him out as well.” Leaning close, she looked over the still wet gash on Wrenmae’s forehead, pursing her lips in concern. “Here, let me try to at least stop the bleeding for now.” Wedge knew next to nothing about medicine or healing, only ever been exposed to the craft when Vera treated her. Still, living in the wilderness for so many years was not easy even for a bird of prey, and she had to make due with her best guess and self-taught wisdom. Without shame, Wedge ripped the hem of her dress, revealing a strip of skin above her right knee. She knew it was important not to dirty the wound, and remembering how few times she wore clothing, the girl figured the dress would be clean enough, if not enough for the moment. Ignoring any potential protest from Wrenmae, she dabbed the cut as gently as she could before reclining back to admire her own handiwork. The man with the indecisive coloured eyes spoke again, now a vivid purple reflecting her attentive expression. “No I’m afraid not.” She rasped slightly, her lips drying against her will. Clearing her throat, Wedge continued with evident strength in her voice, perhaps enough to be called a defensive tone. “I’ve only ever been on the receiving end.” The Kelvic left it at that as she diverted her eyes momentarily, collecting her thoughts as she attempted to lubricate her throat with saliva. There was an unmistakable lull in conversation before the man introduced himself, but just enough for Wedge to shake off the burdensome weight upon her shoulders. Regaining their previous glimmer, her lips curved in sincere expression as she spoke. “Please to meet the both of you.” Throwing in the last bit, she realized she had forgotten to address the injured man in her haste. “I too am a recent arrival, but I am not quite as tired as I was hungry.” Her words were caught in her throat as Faolán’s last few words were said, her smile broadening. They are good people. She thought absentmindedly as she watched the two converse, golden eyes landing on the two animals being discussed. The cat she had long noticed, having seen tuffs of fur peek out of the satchel when the horse, Weaver, entertained the masses. Her sense of smell may not be as acute as others, but Wedge was blessed with rather sharp vision. In fact, if she were still hungry, she might’ve considered the cat as her next meal. As the number of people began to grow, a chill rang silently through her body, grazing every notch in her spine. Her foot tapped gently on the floor, eyes darted between different faces as her uneasiness grew. Wedge quite literally jumped on the idea with a “Yes please,” and stood motionless for a brief moment before leaning over to help Wrenmae up. Glad to be rid of the looming congregation of shoppers, she eagerly followed Faolán to wherever he had intended to lead them, just so long as it was far away from the plaza. It was a much shorter walk than she had expected, arriving quickly at a rather plain looking building that wasn’t all that much different from the others it stood beside. There was a sign hidden in the shadows, but due to the lack of reading capability and her poor night vision, Wedge had no idea where they had ended up. Unconcerned, but remaining on guard, she stepped inside and was hit with a wave of scents and sights. Even to her dull sense of smell, she could catch the scent of beer and wine weighing down the air. It wasn’t unpleasant, but definitely a new experience for the Kelvic as it was the first tavern she had ever stepped into. The number of patrons was few, much to Wedge’s relief, and those that cared turned to glance over at the newcomers before returning to their conversations. Despite her confusion, Wedge took a lesson from surviving in the wild and began to blend in, mimicking the other customers by sitting down, choosing a table in an open area far from the others. Completely forgetting their purpose for being here, the girl sat awkwardly in her wooden seat, looking to her new acquaintances in hopes that they would take charge.

[Wrenmae]

Sitting in the light-tossed shadows of the small inn, Wrenmae breathed a sigh. His head had not stopped aching, not yet anyways, and he'd left Weaver and Sek outside the inn. They'd be fine out there, staring in at him with accusing eyes. To them he gave a short wave, promising himself he'd find a way to pay Weaver back in full later.

"The horse is named Weaver," Wrenmae said at last, hand against his head as though holding it together, "The cat is named Ket, and she has far more class than my horse." He smiled, it was a pained thing of migraine and agony, but one nonetheless. To the two he sat with, the storyteller was at odds. They were a different sort of people, the energy they gave off was somehow...altered, and that was without the shifting color of Faolon's eyes. But were they truly more curious than he? An aura of pestilence swirled its invisible spectral travel around his body, the touch of Vayt on both his soul and the area around him. To those who knew him, he was a storyteller and a rather bumbling one at that.

To those who didn't he was a pestilence bringer, the unexplained means by which people passed and grew weary of life. Looking at the two now, laughing and smiling, carrying on as they were, Wrenmae was struck at how perfect a choice Vayt had made. He could have chosen a hermit, but instead he put his touch upon a socialite, a man who desired only the companionship of others.

"I've been in the city for a day or so," he said at last, easing back against the chair to let his head rest, "I don't know how anyone can get used to sleeping in the day and living at night...I'm doing a poor job of it myself, but at least my accident helped you keep your own vigilance." He looked slant-wise out of his eyes at Faolan, then closed them again.

"What are you all doing in the city? I came for the stories, the sights, the people I suppose...it's an enchanting place." His answer was a bit vague, the answer of a tourist with a star in his heart and the city mirrored in his eyes. But his place was not to tell his own story, that itself was a short and morbid affair. He was far more interested in the tales his companions had to tell.

[Isette]

“Filthy Shimobe!” Things did not always go to plan. Isette learned that lesson quickly. One second she was sitting at a table minding her own business (more or less), and the next she was getting shoved into a table of foreigners. It wasn’t fair. “Get out, go on. This place is for customers only.” The feline Kelvic scowled and reached into her bag, pulling out a few kina. She could be a customer. Just because she looked like a wreck didn’t mean she was kinaless. So her dark hair fell around her in a tangled mane. And her white dress was dirty and torn. That didn’t mean she had nothing. Isette had a few ways of getting money. The man glared at her and walked away, muttering. Isette didn’t even think he worked there. Maybe he did. She didn’t know. She’d never been to that bar before. But how could she possibly have stayed away? She had followed them there. The foreigners. Interesting people. There was the man with eyes like the sky, changing and beautiful and mesmerizing, the man with the funny horse, and the other Kelvic. All three held their own source of fascination for her. Isette couldn’t help but follow them into the bar. She hadn’t quite found the courage to say hello, a thing which she heavily regretted since she had just been pushed into their table rather roughly. Isette was humiliated. She flushed and her cheeks took on rosy hue. Or rather, a tomato-ish one. Rosy was far too much of a compliment. She turned towards the others in a vain attempt to regain her lost dignity, certain that they would be able to hear the rapid beating of her heart. “I apologize,” she said with a bow. She spoke in Common only because that’s what she had heard them speaking. “I did not intend disturbance.” Her words were slow and awkward. Isette wasn’t very good at Common, though she practiced as often as she could. A curious expression came into her feline eyes and she almost looked like a cat begging for food. Isette really liked people. The last thing she wanted was to leave a bad first impression. The second to last thing she wanted was to leave. The feline was starved for companionship and foreigners told the best stories. They also had a tendency to be infinitely kinder towards a ‘filthy Shimobe.’