[Surya Plaza] Looking for work [open]

by **Rivaal** on July 7th, 2011, 4:56 am

Rivaal glanced back at Arev. The determination in her eyes surprised him. He hadn't seen a trace of how powerful it was before. Her eyes were darting around as well. The new wizard of Lhavit laughed. "Relax. The Shinya are in full force tonight, and if you're worried about thieves, I can take care of them too. And keep your money. It's yours. Just help me pay the rent at a bigger place when I get a chance to get one."

Finding his way out of Surya plaza, he headed to a lower class residential area. Once they had left the plaza behind, things were still lively, but the lights were dim. Reverence for the Gods left a clearer sky. Rivaal looked up and sighed. "Nothing like the aurora in the north..." He turned to Arev once more, and his the tips of his hair shimmered green to match his eyes. "Are you learning the route? It might take a day or two to get work and a bigger place."

by **Arev Saatjian** on July 7th, 2011, 4:59 am

"No, it's your money," Arev said with a shake of her head. "What's mine is yours." Her gold eyes were narrowed slightly as she memorized the smells briefly, etching the path in her mind. She could pick his smell out of hundreds now, so it wasn't an issue. Then she studied him. "Do you miss the north? I'm sorry. It must be hard to leave your home."

The urge to go rub her cheek against his hand to comfort him surged up, but she fought it down. She doubted he would appreciate it. People could be so strange about such things.

by **Rivaal** on July 7th, 2011, 5:10 am

"The north? Sometimes. I was more comfortable in the cold, that's certain." He thought for a moment. "Still, I can't go back. I fled when I was still a kid to avoid an arranged marriage. I'd rather find someone important to me on my own, and really, don't worry about the money. If I need to borrow any, I'll ask, but it's yours."

He finally stopped, after winding down a couple of side streets, and getting far enough away that the Surya plaza was only a bright light behind them, at a well kept building. It belonged to a widow whose husband had died about a decade before in the Shinya. It did happen sometimes. With so much space, she had no problem renting out the upstairs for a temporary lodging. There was a staircase outside that Rivaal gestured towards and led the way up. Producing an iron key, he undid the lock and went inside, and held the door open for Arev.

"It's not much, but it's home - for now." He dropped into a chair for the moment and loosened his boots so he could kick them off. "Make yourself at home." He gave her a genuinely friendly smile that reflected in his eyes. "Vantha tradition, guests get the bed, so get comfortable."

by **Arev Saatjian** on July 7th, 2011, 5:14 am

"I'd rather sleep by the fire, if that's alright," Arev said, feeling a twinge of guilt at stealing his bed. She set her bag down carefully. So many smells. "I should get my horse from the stables by the gate and find it closer lodgings. I'd sell him, but I'm quite fond of him." Even if he said it wasn't much, it didn't matter. Home was home. And she considered him her master now.

The Kelvic settled down on the floor after pacing a little and circling around, pulling off her boots. It felt wonderful to be able to flex her toes and feel the ground again. She could never understand the fascination with shoes. She liked feeling the grass beneath.

Now if only she could scratch the itch behind her ear.... This was the good life.

by **Rivaal** on July 7th, 2011, 5:21 am

Rivaal was taken aback. It was rare to turn down that much hospitality. "Ah... Well, if you're sure." He got up and strode over to the cabinets. "There's food in this cabinet, and a pitcher of water in the other. I've got bread, cheese, dried meat, fruit, and a few other things. Help yourself if you're still hungry."

He was feeling guilty that she wasn't taking the bed, so he picked the blanket up from the bed and dropped it over his companion. "I don't use the blanket, so you can take that at least, and I won't take no for an answer. You shouldn't be sleeping on the floor as it is."

In an attempt to be friendly, he sat down beside Arev in front of the fire. The woman must have been up earlier since it was burning nicely in the small hearth. "Can I get you anything else?"

by **Arev Saatjian** on July 7th, 2011, 5:24 am

"Some dried meat?" she said hopefully, looking up at him. She wadded the blanket up into a roughly circular padding and sat on it, wiggling a bit to make a small hollow in the middle. She couldn't help her appetite. It took huge amounts of energy to switch between forms. "I'd never refuse a blanket." It makes you feel better, she added silently in her head. "Is there anything I can do around the place to help out?"

by **Rivaal** on July 7th, 2011, 5:27 am

He got up and went over to the cabinet with the meat. He kept a pitcher of water and some mugs in the other. He withdrew a good amount of the dried strips and set them on a plate. He also prepared and brought over a mug of water for the Kelvic girl too. He set them beside her and smiled. "Just get comfortable and make yourself at home, alright?"

by **Arev Saatjian** on July 7th, 2011, 5:30 am

"I think I can do that," Arev said with a content smile, looking at Rivaal with something bordering on adoration in her eyes. It was as if he was the greatest person she'd ever met. She wanted to thump her tail and roll over on her back to get her stomach scratched. They were weird urges, but she'd always identified strongly with her animal self. "You should sleep. You look tired. I think I will too...thank you very much for everything, Rivaal. You don't know how much it means to me."

by **Rivaal** on July 7th, 2011, 5:37 am

Rivaal nodded. Alright. Don't...well actually, stay up as late as you want. We're supposed to be nocturnal in this city.

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A few hours into his sleep, Rivaal woke up and glanced around the room when he sat up. He heard breathing. He glanced around until he remembered it was the lonely Kelvic girl he'd brought back, and then breathed a sigh of relief. He paused. Kelvic girl?

by **Arev Saatjian** on July 7th, 2011, 5:40 am

The wolf curled up at the foot of his bed snuggled closer to his feet, muzzle resting on his toes as she breathed in and out. Arev was much happier in her animal form, comfortable and stretched. And on the bright side, she was keeping his feet warm against her thickly furred, soft chest.

One paw twitched slightly as she chased something in her dreams, an ear flicking a little as Rivaal shifted on the bed. She seemed very happy where she was.