The Scorpion and the Frog [Satu & co.]

[Arianni D'Sorn]

Satu's words filled Arianni with ease, the taller Konti's conviction strengthening her own desire to help her friend. Satu seemed so different now - so worldly, so wise! Arianni felt safe - safer - in her company than she had ever felt since she stepped out of her sheltered life in Mura. And Satu's goals, they seemed important and big...bigger than Arianni could wrap her head around at the moment. This person that her friend was looking for must be a someone powerful and influential for Satu to speak of him...her?...so. She hoped the suvai fighter knew what she was getting them into. But her words were so genuine, so truthful and trustful, that Arianni could not help but want to go along with it, to help her friend, as much as she was able to. "I know what you mean," she murmured back, squeezing Satu's hand as she did so. "My first glimpse of the world had not been pleasant." Arianni shuddered as she remembered the time she had spent in Sunberth, a virtual prisoner to a woman who would have sold her into slavery, or worse, had she not escaped her clutches. She was ever thankful of finding Satu, another Konti that gave a little bit of familiarity to the strangeness of the outside world. Her friend seemed so much experienced now and Arianni was reassured that Satu would know what to do if something similar to what befell her in Sunberth happened again. Of course, it worked both ways, and whatever help Satu asked from her she would willingly give if it was within her capabilities. Right now, that seemed to be finding a way to speak to Videk. "We'll find away, Satu," Arianni tried to reassure her friend. Already her mind was working in overdrive on how to get in contact with a man condemned to death on the morrow without arousing suspicion, for surely he would have guards surrounding him. It was difficult, for they only had a small window to accomplish the task. For now though, they needed to find a place to settle down. Squeezing Satu's hand once more, Arianni offered the taller Konti one of her rare smiles before falling into step beside her. "Maybe we'll find your joy again when we do." Their walk towards the Safehaven Hostel led them to a bridge hanging over a large, ragged crevasse - like a giant wound on the surface of the earth, Arianni though. She had lagged behind her companions as they walked over the gap, peering down into it as if willing that darkness at the very bottom to part for her eyes. It was so dark down there, so - So much like the Void, don't you think? Cool, dark...inviting? the voice in her head whispered to her. Arianni only shuddered and ran to catch up with her companions. The voice only laughed as it faded into her mind. The woman who 'welcomed' them in the Safehaven Hostel actually did not look quite...welcoming. She seemed stiff and curt, much like the guards they encountered at the gates, though without the suspicious regard those guards leveled them when they first arrived. The man Satu called Asha'ney appeared to be dealing with her however as she, Satu, seemed to be letting him play the lead for now. The other woman, the Kelvic, seemed to be taking in the sights, sounds and smell like a predator would, regarding everything with a frown as if prepared to lash out. Arianni was content to stand quietly in the background, keeping near the equally silent Satu-doll.

[Tarot]

The female monk - it was truly impossible to think of this stout, hardened woman as a nun - accepted the money from Ash'eny. However, even his politically correct reply was not met with approvation. "I cannot sell you any food or drink but the daily rations allotted to you by virtue of staying here. You are not being discriminated against, mind you, not this time at least; we just feel food and drink to be far too precious to be bought or sold. Every citizen has a right to their ration, and no more. I will have yours ready within half a bell or so, and you can pack it and have your meal anywhere." Vysia pushed the second gold-rimmed gem-coin back towards Ash'eny. "Besides, I am just a caretaker for this place. I own nothing, myself," she explained patiently. What was with these foreigners who always barged in thinking their gold could open any door with its weight? She believed in Laat's teachings that metal is worthless and cruel when it's not touching the heart. "Let me show you to your rooms," she said. If anything she asked nothing of them, including names. There were no logs, for why should anyone waste paper and ink on names that were likely forgeries in the first place? The monk grabbed a large brass keyring and shifted her weight to the side. As she walked away from her reception desk, they could see that she had a bad limp. She's probably been stationed here because she could hardly be of use on active duty. She led the party up a dusty staircase, toiling over each step but bearing it in stoic silence. There were six rooms upstairs and probably just as many downstairs. Vysia opened three doors in turn, all close together, and handed the keys to whomever would take them. The furnishing was spartan, to put it mildly, but Vysia herself probably slept somewhere just as plain, if not more. The rooms consisted of one or two beds, a wardrobe, a small chest, a tiny desk and a chair. At least they seemed decent and not altogether unclean. The single and one of the double had a glimpse of a view on the main square, whereas the other double overlooked an alley on the wrong side of the building. "Enjoy your stay," said the monk, "there's only one more guest in here. If you feel the need to kill each other, don't do so on the premises. We have a dueling courtyard for that right next to the Gaol, not far from here." And with that odd tidbit of Nykan lore, Vysia glanced at the Satu-doll, shook her head and started climbing down the staircase. She had bunked them upstairs despite her handicap, probably to have them as far as possible from her own sleeping quarters.

[Satu]

The female monk did not approve of them, but then no native of Nyka did. Satu felt their disapproval, yet still it did not fully touch her. The Konti was beyond such a simple emotion. Only the strong feelings registered in the HeartSeer, only hurt or pain, or any emotion equally as heavy. So it was easy, and proper even for her to wait as Ash’ney took the first key from Vysia, before delicately taking her own from the female monk’s rough hand. Her blue eyes remained downcast; the shy Konti, the epitome of soft spoken and patient. She would share a room with the Golem. Inwardly though, Satu wasn’t patient. Each slow step Vysia made to travel down the steps grated on the suvai fighter’s nerves. Hurry up old wretch! Satu thought. Get down the stairs! The sound of the limp annoyed her. Were all the monks so injured, so scarred? But what did they fight? Why did they fight? They were just as other men and women, from all the other cities, Satu decided. Too quick to war! She judged them harshly for it. The rooms were small, and bare, but to the Konti, they almost appeared luxurious after so many nights of sleeping out in the open on the unforgiving ground, and waking to cold mornings. Once it would have been beneath her, but not now. Satu was a monk in her own mind - to Sagallius’ great and peaceful cause. She needed not finery, though there would be time for that later. Taking her hood down, she looked out of place in the simple room, beautifully pale in her flowing lace covered dress. Once long ago it had been pure and white, as she had been. The Konti wore it now like a queen who held court, and she ushered the others silently into the double room she had chosen, the one overlooking the courtyard. The Link Gem burned in her pocket. Walking to the window, she peered out for a time, half hidden from below as her eyes roamed out over the courtyard full of preparations for Videk’s death. Satu turned then and gestured for the Golem to close the door which it did, then stood silently, a quiet, eerie sentinel. “We must talk,” she whispered to the group, the paranoia strong. She could take no chances; a stranger was on the floor, perhaps in the next room or even listening at the door. No one could be trusted with her sacred quest, not when the Crone was involved. She paced, and looked up to show eyes sparkling with holy purpose. Satu, so reserved lately, had become more animated, more nervous once in the apartment behind the closed door. Her thoughts threatened to run wild, but she willed them to calm. For Sagaillus… “We have work to do… we must hurry. Yet, our meal will be ready soon…” Her eyes shifted from face to face as she tried to formulate a plan. “The dueling courtyard… there are bound to be monks there. They may speak more freely of Videk than the others in the square. Sparring loosens lips… Perhaps we can stop there first, before going to eat our meal in the main square... as any wandering traveler would-” And she would take the LinkGem. Let it point the way! “Do you understand… what it is we do?” She questioned, as if they were children. For she already believed everything had been explained fully and completely, at least the things they needed to know.

[Ash'eny]

Ash'eny could only stare at the scarred woman as she spoke. Everything she said pissed off the rogue just a little bit more. Being Sunberth Born and Bred, Ash'eny was accustomed to all sorts of violence, hatred, cruelty, but this was different. This wasn't racism. This wasn't sexism. This was straight up hatred because they werent locals. That is, at least, how Ash'eny saw it. Ash'eny kept his tognue well bitten behind his clamped jaws though, a trait he was never really known for, yet there was somehting about this city that made him more timid, more cautious, more concerned about what could happen to him, to Satu, to his Worth. Ash'eny looked down at the counter. Ash'eny saw with a type of surprise which could almost be considered shock. The woman, rather than jumping at the extra money and pocketing it with a smile and nod as would have happened anywhere but here, simple slid it back to him as if it meant nothing. Ash'eny felt himself exhale, audibly, loudly, frustrated. Had Ash'eny felt this angry, or at least revealed his anger via blatant emotion like this since he had joined Satu? Ash'eny, for just that moment, swatted violently at the coin, sending that single gold-rimmed miza sailing from the tabletop to the corner of the room. If it was worthless to her, why should he be any lower and accept it? He knew it probably wasn't a strike against his pride or dignity, but something about this monk-woman just got under his skin. The sooner he was away from her, the better he would feel. 'Yes, enjoy our stay. You people make it so easy to do this.' Ash'eny took a brief moment to glance into each room from the entrance as they doors were unlocked and innards exposed. He noted the furniture, what little there was, and the windows, a place to watch from a safe place perhaps. One room, one double, offered only a splendid view into an alley, no use in watching the courtyard or city, but perhaps made for an easier,almost sacred escape route for a man more inclined ot sneak out in the middle of the night. Perhaps, a man attached to theivery and stealth as himself. No, he wasn't foolish enough to try and swipe anything here, Satu would kill him if she caught him, the monks would kill him if they caught him. Perhaps he could gather information though, while the Konti women slept. "I'll take this room." Ash'eny glanced at Arianni, for the first time of the day pretty much. This mysterious person and he, they didn't hardly ever speak. Ash'eny smirked. "If you get scared tonight, you can sleep in my bed." Was Satu panicky all of a sudden? Ash'eny thought she seemed a little worried. Sure, she was on a sacred mission that Ash'eny was not yet included in. Sure she probably had a purpose that he couldn't comprehend even if he had been included in. He just couldn't understand why now she was urgent for a plan. "That bitch..." Ash'eny spat on the floor as he mentioned the 'caretaker' of the inn, vile woman. "Mentioned another guest was here." Ash'eny was just thinking, probably far off, but there wasn't much Vysia told them. She told them about the rules, which was common. Vysia told them about the place where they could kill each other, and it sounded legal there, which was odd but still interesting. And third, there was another guest here. Ash'eny couldn't help but think that these three facts were all important in their own ways, and each a little less obvious than the prior. "I want to talk to this guest. May he is foreign as well."

[Arianni D'Sorn]

The female monk spoke with a level of honesty that Arianni found disconcerting. If she were to describe it, the small Konti would liken it to a very keen knife, for the woman's words seemed to cut at them even without meaning to. Already, she could sense their male companion Ash'eny's growing irritation at the woman, though the monk seemed oblivious of it. Or perhaps she just did not care. When she moved to lead them to their rooms and her limp became evident, Arianni started as if to assist her. "Do you need...um..." She was ignored of course, her voice too soft that it was doubtful anyone truly heard her. Shunted to the back of the group by her more dominant companions, Arianni was left to follow in their way as they in turn followed the monk as she led them to their rooms. The room themselves were rather bare, though two of them offered a good view of the square - and the execution that would be held in it on the morrow. Left with only the small single room, Arianni took the remaining key for herself. The human's comment had her mismatched eyes flashing up to his, only to have them dart back down to the ground as she came to realize what it meant. After her time she spent as an involuntary guest in the brothel in Sunberth, she knew exactly what happened between a man and a woman when they shared the same bed. Arianni's cheeks burned as she shuffled into Satu's chosen quarters. Her fellow Konti seemed like a ball of energy once the room's door was closed, pacing about the room in an attempt to bleed off her anxiety. Arianni could tell that the impending death of the monk Videk had the suvai fighter on edge. Whatever it was Satu wanted to learn from the man, the identity of this other mysterious person, must be very important indeed. "I know that you are after someone only this Videk seems to know," she replied softly to Satu's query. She did not add that she knew not exactly why Satu required this knowledge. Her explanation on the way to the inn was a little vague, but Arianni was not about to question her friend and the leader of their group. She said instead the point that nobody seemed to want to say. "He is a means to an end. That he would die tomorrow is inconsequential. His knowledge is all that you need." She almost sounded sad as she said the last part but she kept her eyes focused on the floor. "We are on a tight deadline to obtain this knowledge." Sitting on the edge of the bed beside the Konti doll, Arianni appeared like a child among her taller companions. OOCApologies for the super late reply, work and now fever kept me from posting.

[Tarot]

While the party was still busy planning their next moves, Vysia's harsh voice called out from downstairs. "Your rations are packed, o mysterious strangers! You can come get them any time. Yours as well, Kain or whatever you said your name was." A door opened across from their own room. A strong draft - an odd one, as there hadn't been any breeze until a moment ago - caused the door of Satu's room to open, as well. A rather unusual man walked out of his room, thereby granting Ash'eny's wish. He seemed to be middle-aged, perhaps a little overweight. His clothing had been popular five hundred years before, among a certain sector of chic bourgeoisie, but hardly anyone was seen with a top hat and a monocle nowadays. He was even wearing a strip of crimson cloth the most fashion-savvy might have recognized as a 'tie'. White gloves and clean gaiters attached to well-cut trousers and shiny black shoes. Not a speck of dust on his person. His black moustache was trimmed to perfection. He turned his head towards Satu's party through the now open door and tipped his hat. "Salutations, my friends. May this city see the goodness in your hearts, grant your fondest wishes and rain happiness upon you." His voice was a soft baritone. The dandy moved along as quickly as he'd arrived, but the two Konti were left with what their special sensibilities told them that the eye alone could not see. Arianni instantly knew his words were ones of sincerity, and that he meant them no harm. On the contrary, he had just announced himself as an ally. Satu had never seen such HeartColors as this person's. In fact, she wasn't even sure she could call him a person to begin with. She had seen many kinds of colors in her life. From the overwhelming colors of godhood, to the absolute lack of colors in golems. This one did have colors, except it was solid Boredom from start to finish. Never before had she seen such flat colors in anyone, with no shading whatsoever. His feelings began and ended with tedium. If they called out to him, he wouldn't respond. To make matters more unsettling, if they rushed out of the room, they'd see him already in front of Vysia's counter, collecting his rations and striding out of the Hostel. Hadn't he been upstairs but a moment ago? Certainly no man could be so quick on his feet. The Hostel's door slammed shut and they all felt that, if they decided to pursue, they would find he had literally vanished from the street. Far stranger things happened here.

[Satu]

“Arianni…” Satu almost purred, and her face welcomed a smile, the old smile. It was the young, pleased expression she had once carried always in Mura. Arianni had seen what needed to be done. Even with her gentle, timid spirit, Arianni understood. “You are right… it is time for hard choices.” Her gaze remained, warm and comforting upon her friend as she sat upon the bed. Memories began to stir… But Ash’ney’s words about the innkeeper pulled her thoughts from the past. Ash’ney… on the other hand… Satu paced once more to stop in front of him, her body close. Satu put up a hand to stop him, “Ash’aney. You have disappointed me…” Satu said evenly, almost softly with her lilted words and accent. “Do you wish to have us killed before we even begin? Do you wish to draw our enemies closer? Should it be me to stand with the hangman’s noose about my neck?” She lifted her delicate chin for him to imagine, it strangled blue around her scales, before her eyes looked away sadly, tragically. The Konti did not tell him what he had done to earn her disappointment… Let the man figure it out, she thought harshly. Let him grow the wiser. And soon! Otherwise she had no need of him… “Ash’aney? Is this what you wish? Who would be left to stand up for what is right if I am gone? Please,” the HeartSeer whispered, as a hand touched upon his broad chest to send the invisible Cordas threads to attach upon him. Satu would take no chances, if he could not learn to control himself, she would help him. “you must try harder to not disappoint me again.” A yell from below signaled their lunches were ready, and Satu nodded, once again full of purpose. “It is time to go,” she said simply. But the door opened, and Satu turned in surprise to watch it move upon its hinges. The other guest, Kain appeared in the doorway, in clothes the likes of which the Konti had never seen. His words meant nothing to her. But his Heart… His Heart! She stared and tried to make sense of it… Boredom. Tedium. She had never witnessed this type of emotion within someone’s Heart in such totality. The Konti took a step towards the strange man, the link gem folded within her fingers. And Satu did follow him to the top of the steps, but in truth it was his Heartcolors that she pursued. The HeartSeer was well aware that the Heart showed people’s true nature… and if there was a discrepancy such as his, that often meant something important. And she wanted to find out what. But the man stayed far ahead of her, and swift as her feet were on the wooden floor, too soon he was out the door. And gone. A glance toward his room showed a desire to look inside, though she said to whoever would please her, “Get our rations. I will wait downstairs.”

[Ash'eny]

Ash'eny stared silently at Satu while she scolded him. Of course he had no intentions to get them killed. Of course he didn't want to see her hanging for something he did. "No, I don't." Ash'eny sighed as she pressed her hand against his chest. It was either his suggestion of talking to the only other guest of the hostel that set Satu off, or it was his outburst with the Inn lady, who ignored him as if he were nothing but a wailing child. He might have well been. "It won't happen again." In truth, he wasn't sure what it was, not for certain, but choosing so poorly, he would make sure to watch what he did and said. When the the door was slung open and the called after to get their rations, they were greeted by the very man Ash'eny wanted to speak with. Yet, his style of dress was so bizarre that Ash'eny was at a loss for words. What was it that the rogue wanted to ask him? He had forgotten as he merely stared at the man. And his words, more bizarre than his fashion perhaps. "And you as well." Ash'eny muttered, half surprised that he actually said something genuinely polite. Since when had he cared enough to be polite to a stranger? The man left as suddenly as he had appeared, and Satu wasted no time to head downstairs herself, leaving Arianni and Ash'eny behind. "Will you get the rations? I left something in my room." A lie. He'd been caught lying before, Tucesi was able to read lies, which made him uncomfortable just being around her. It was odd being a thief and working for the Knights. Ash'eny smiled and gave Arianni a gentle push in the direction she needed to go, and waited until she was gone before he crossed the hall and to the intriguing man's room. Ash'eny had no special sight into the soul or truth or emotion as the Konti did. He needed to know things through different methods. He took the doorknob in his hand to give it a gentle twist, testing whether the man had locked the door or not. If not, he would simply walk in and look around. If locked, well he had his tools on him. It had been a while since he picked a lock, but not so long that he wasn't able to, hopefully.[/indent]

[Arianni D'Sorn]

Arianni's face was passive as she watched the smile bloom upon her friend's face because of her words. She was observant enough and intelligent enough to know what Satu's objective was with the monk Videk, and her validating it seemed to please the more experienced Konti, giving a flash of her curved lips, a smile they had shared so long ago. But Arianni still did not know her friend's agenda so she remained expressionless, her mind traveling through pathways of logic in an attempt to understand Satu's true intentions. Her concentration was momentarily interrupted when her friend turned upon the human and berated him, presumably for his daring words earlier. Arianni started after the two, hoping to placate Satu and to remind her that perhaps it was not the best idea to have conflict within their group. Already they were surrounded by an unfriendly and suspicious people, it would not do well to have friction within their party as well. But to her surprise, the brash human took Satu's harsh words quite well. Looking closely, Arianni thought she detected some level of devotion for the Konti from the man. Curious. But she could hear clearly that his reply to Satu was not full truth however, but merely something to placate her. Arianni did not speak out about it. How many white lies had she told her own mother just so she would not worry about her? It was much the same thing with this Ash'eny. The sudden opening of the door startled the jumpy Konti, and she turned to find a strangely dressed man by their doorway. Didn't Satu close that door properly just now? She could have sworn she heard the latch catch too, so how had the door...? And had he been listening to them all this time? But no, she thought she heard another door open when Vysia called them for their rations. This must be the person she called by name. Kain. His greeting to them was genuine enough. Sincere. Arianni found his choice of words curious though, for it came off as rather personal. What did he know? Kain was gone before any of them could reply and Satu followed him downstairs. "I'll...I'll get the rations for you," Arianni called after her when Ash'eny nudged her to follow their leader. Her mismatched eyes flicked over to him for a moment; the man had spoken an outright lie this time as he gave the excuse about leaving something in his room, when he had not even gone into it earlier. Again, she did not contest his words, merely saying, "Al...alright, Sir Ash. Please be...be mindful of...of..." She could not finish, merely looking down on her small sandaled feet as she thought of what she really wanted to say. The Kain gentleman did not seem to be a bad sort. Arianni hoped Ash'eny would not do anything to offend the older man. There was something...strange...about him. She considered letting him know of her suspicions but was she really sure about them? In the end, the Konti chose to run downstairs after Satu. Vysia was at the counter waiting with their packed meals. Arianni made a beeline towards here and hefted the wrapped bundles, arranging them carefully inside her pack. "I...I'm sure these will be d-delicious," she stammered in an awkward attempt at small talk. She coughed once, avoiding the monk's eyes. It was funny, but she never got used to the discordant sound lies made.

[Tarot]

Asheny did the thing he did best - lie - and forged an excuse to go check the exquisite gentleman's room. Meanwhile, Arianni, Satu and the rest of the party went downstairs to collect the rations from the crippled monk. The woman handed Arianni a rough linen tied into a primitive bundle and dropped it in her hands. Dried meat, most likely, with some hard bread and cheese. Water could probably be had at some public fountain. Vysia smirked at her confidence in the food's quality. "No," she said, "they won't. In fact, it's probably like eating a rat's ass. Foreigners get leftovers, you know, but they'll feed you just the same. Taste is an illusion of the flesh. It's only going to be a burden for you here." She eyed Satu and decided the party was about to get out. It was getting pretty late in the afternoon, and she frowned. "If you're going to take a walk around the city, do remember we have a night curfew in place. That's for everyone, citizens and strangers. Only the monks should be out after sundown. It's simple safety, really. We rule the city by day, the city rules us by night. We are all guests here in a way, and there are rules to go by. To stay out is to invite bad luck." She patted her crippled leg for emphasis. "We had to replace the front door just last season. We found scratch marks in the morning, half an inch deep and two feet long. I would've kept the door, mind you, but the Priors decided otherwise." Asheny found the door to the man's room locked, but the lock was pretty insignificant to pick. Half a chime later it swung open with a satisfying 'click'. The room looked much like their own, and it was pretty much untouched. The bed was still made, the wardrobes were all empty. There was dust over the floor and furniture, suggesting that nobody had been here for any substantial period in quite a long time, certainly more than a few days. The chest would require another easy round of lockpicking, and it was also empty except for two copper coins with the face of a plump-looking fellow and the inscription 'Laat' on the head, and a simple square on the tails side - the local currency. As Asheny inspected the chest, he felt something that could be best described as a lightning bolt, a lance between his ears. Colors lost their substances and lines got blurry all of a sudden, yet it was nothing like passing out. Distant drums seemed to play in his head and he found himself completely paralyzed, unable even to blink. Suddenly a young woman in a catsuit wearing an elaborate mask was standing in front of him, shaking her head. "Poor Asheny," she said, "you don't even know what you've got yourself into. That Konti will be your undoing and that's a shame... you can be so much fun when you're not wagging your tongue like a puppy. Well, we might just meet if you live to tell this tale, so don't you die just yet, okay? Oh, sorry, I forgot... we're embedded sideways in time and you can't respond. Dance well, puppet, and let me know if you ever want to cut off your strings..." Then, suddenly, the vision was gone, and Asheny found himself in an empty room once more.