Flashback Driving a hard Bargain [Shesha]

[Ayatah]

The young girl became odder every moment. Her boasting of making kills made Ayatah smile ruefully. She remembered being similar as a young girl, though her own bragging had been because she felt she had had to prove herself as a true Myrian to her peers.

”Your parents should teach you not to brag, it’s not particularly Myrian-like.” They were an aggressive race; murder and killing were part and parcel of their lifestyle, ”And I imagine fire in a jungle could be diasterous.”

But the girl’s power was impressive - Ayatah was simply not a fan of magic, as such. She was impressed by physical strength, with neither side having a magical advantage. Kill fourteen non-magical beings without using your own magic and I’ll be impressed, she thought.

After politely refusing the offering of cake, Ayatah shifted her weight between her left and right foot, ”Am I meant to show you something interesting now?”

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Shesha]

"You'd be amazed, it's so hot but everything is wet all the time. A fire keeps going for maybe ten minutes. As far as bragging goes, well mom tells me not to, but dad likes it because he's proud. I guess they fight a lot." She said a bit unsure.

"So many of us use magic because we always have. Dad says before Myrians were Myrians that's how we survived. Something about swamps and bad materials. I was worried when I burnt my first tree though, I thought grammy was gonna beat me green. She uses Flux... she's super scary." The girl continued, then she realized she was babbling and answered the question.

"That was the deal, we were just taking a break" bellowing wolfing down some meat "back to work." Signaling it was time to do something.

[Ayatah]

Ayatah listened to the girl blabbing on, her interest growing a little. Her clan certainly seemed an out-of-the-ordinary - if there ever was an ‘ordinary’ within the Myrian clans.

She did not know anything about magic, but it had always been an interest to her, but in the same way people might be interested in music or art. She had never looked into learning magic, or the history of it. But it’d be handy, she thought, wondering if it was something that could be picked up at her age.

”I don’t have anything interesting to tell you,” she said, shrugging, ”is there anything in particular you want to know?” There was nothing that sprung out to Ayatah that would rouse the girl's interest. But then again, the child had seemed fascinated by Ayatah lying to the salesman - so perhaps small things interested small people.

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Shesha]

"Hmmm, well-" she wondered what to ask, then she knew, this lady was unusually pretty, this was too odd to not be questioned. It was time to get a bit harsh, this was a perfect way to test her. I wonder if she honors her word, let's see if she leaves... "you're one hell of a liar, you can get people to trust you. You're not even a full blooded Myrian are ya?" She said. She was careful about her tone. It needed to sound like a compliment but feel like an insult.

Her motivation is shady at best. Something along the lines of learning experience meets dark comedy. "I want to know that, I might even give you something extra interesting." Her tone childish and playful.

[Ayatah]

How could a child even know? Ayatah wondered. Men very often stated her mixed blood - after leering at her perversely. But it was something that she was used to be questioned about - sometimes politely, and sometimes not-so-impolitely.

”My father was a Eypharian.” She said, shrugging her shoulders. It was all she knew of her conception. Her mother and father were simply in the same place at the same time, and for long enough. The two did not get on - Eypharians being famously vindictive of the Myrians, who generally disliked any race but their own. There was no relationship between them, but a mutual dislike. But her mother had needs - and when she had undressed in front of him, the Eypharian suddenly forgot about their differences.

And so Ayatah was conceived. She looked back at the girl, thinking of what else to add to her statement. ”There is not much else to say. I am mixed blood.”

How can that be interesting?

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Shesha]

"Thank you, so can ya fight? I can show you the power of fire, but on two conditions." She was proud in her tone. She knew she had a friend.

"Come on, let's go somewhere, we're bein stagnent." She noted. She got up and said "Pick." with her face facing various directions.

She then signalled the lady to stand.

[Ayatah]

“Thank you, so can ya fight? I can show you the power of fire, but on two conditions”

Ayatah frowned and tilted her head to one side - a habit that indicated she was confused, or in thought. ”I… guess I can fight. What Myrian cannot?” She shrugged her shoulders, noting a sudden change in the girl’s tone of voice.

”Apparently, I have made a friend.

“Come on, let's go somewhere, we're bein stagnent."

That made Ayatah smile, ”You’re a bossy kid, aren’t you?” She said, nodding in the direction of the training grounds. ”Let’s go there.” And she began heading in that direction

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Shesha]

"Being able to fight and being able to FIGHT... two different thing. I whoop fighters all the time, most can't fight. My cousin Douba is like that." The girl cleared up.

"She was born to be a mom I guess. I never liked little kids, filthy squacking little things. To each his own I guess. Bleh..." she said, not even realizing the irony.

"You're a bossy kid, aren't you?

"Damn straight, never forget it" declared Shesha, confidently. Anyone paying attention would have noticed she was being controlled by a child, a very intelligent child. Ayatah was losing mental gymnastics but it was mutually beneficial.

The kid nodded in agreement, getting up to walk.

[Ayatah]

Ayatah’s dark eyes rolled in their sockets, and looked up to the murky sky as if to ask to Goddess for patience - or perhaps an excuse.

”Children are annoying,” she said pointedly giving the young girl a sideways glance. The girl reminded Ayatah of her own young brother: a bolshie boy who would have a lot to learn before he grew up. Ayatah often spent time with him as she was with this young girl now; entertaining him long enough just to learn what the child knew.

Ayatah smiled as the girl began heading the direction she had suggested. Children were fun, in some ways. There was a saying between the women of the Scattered Bones: A man is just like a child, but with less between his ears and more between the legs. It referred to how men and children liked to believe that they were in control of a given situation - even if they were not, in fact.

”So why aren’t you training, or out hunting?”

Light conversation was always the easiest way to fill time, Ayatah had found.

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Shesha]

Shesha heard the annoying comment.

"I can be, but you're following me, not the other way. Don't children follow adults?" She said so sarcastically and smug.

This ladies rolling of the eyes called for it.

"As far as training goes I had to do some acrobatics. I wanted to explore a bit though. Glad I did though." She said smiling and walking.