Summer 12th 482 AV
Lacerta sat in the White Crane, leaning on her wooden table. Her long legs were half bent to fit under the surface, but she was used to such a position. Luckily, Riverfall was built to accommodate such height, considering the massive Akalaks that live there. Her table was close to the wall, but not next to it, but she’d sat herself to the best view the rest of the room. A musician stood at one side, filling the room with a sweet combination of a lute, and singing. The sailor had spent quite a bit of time listening to the song, mentally criticising the various parts. However, the musicianwas quite skilled, and the only thing she could catch was more a personal preference than a real flaw. The man’s voice was a little… scratchy… for her taste… even for an Akalak.
Her attention had drifted from the music, however, and she watched the various people around her. A pair of men, one aging with grey, stringy hair, the other with a young face, were having an intense whispered conversation. She couldn’t hear any words or sounds, but by their faces…. It was important. Moving on to the next group, a trio of Akalaks were finishing off what had been a large dinner. Their skins created a dark rainbow, with blue, green, and magenta coloring. They were much more joyful than any of the others, laughing and joking among themselves. Their loud voices filled a lot of the room, until someone quieted them with a sharp hiss… they’d begun to overpower the music. Lacerta chuckled quietly to herself, finding their sheepish faces amusing.
She glanced at the woman who’d silenced the Akalaks, and spotted a pair of Konti. One looked like the former’s daughter, childlike, though age was hard to guess with the pale race. They were sharing cups of tea, and had returned to their calm conversation from before the disturbance. It was fun to watch how different people went through their evenings, and through dinner.
The Ethaefal herself was simply dressed, in breeches and a shirt. It was an early dinner, and the sun had yet to set, so she was still in her celestial form. Her horns instantly labeled her as non-human, their color a snowy white for the current season. Her gnosis mark was slightly more obvious than most, a single rayed sun around one eye.
A word broke the Ethaefal out of her intense thought, and she stared at the speaker in surprise. He was tall, though not quite her height… and…. Quite handsome, really. However, that was quickly explained when she spotted the man’s –Ethaefal, really- horns. They poked over his head, crossing in a simple, pretty, design. She raised an eyebrow, and nodded when she heard the next statement. “It is nice to meet another of my kind” he commented, taking the seat opposite to Lacerta.
She was a little put off by this, shifting in her seat awkwardly. The company of another of her kind made her feel nostalgic about their home, and she wished she could be alone rather than have company. However, he seemed like a nice man in general, so she allowed him to introduce himself. “I am Apus” he said, naming one of the constellations she knew. However, the name gave her another shot of pain as she remembered an owl she’d befriended… by the same name. “Lacerta” she replied, leaning back in her chair for the conversation she knew would come.
She was about to comment how the man wasn’t exactly a bird, because of his name, but realized it would be hypocritical. She wasn’t a lizard, after all. Instead, she gave a warm smile, before beginning a conversation. “So… a son of Syna? I’m curious, if you don’t mind my asking, but when did you fall?” She knew her own fall had been over three hundred years ago, and was curious to see if she was dealing with someone older or younger than herself. It was mere interest, not judgement, but she still received a raised eyebrow in reply. The Eth nearly scowled, but resisted the urge.. she had to be polite.
“Fifty or so years ago. I don’t really count. You? If we’re on this topic.” Fifty wasn’t too old, or too short. In her opinion, you stopped growing ‘wiser’ at that age. Humans might consider that elderly, but in her opinion it was more middle age, and the start of life like that for a long time. She’d had a lot of contact with those of long-lived races, especially from her time in Mura and Riverfall, so she had figured this out. The Konti especially never appeared older than 20… but their mentalities were different. Older race’s aging was generally complicated, and there were none more complicated than the Ethaefal. “Three hundred and… fifty years? Probably less though.” She grinned, realizing she was simply throwing the fifty around. “Have you lived in Riverfall for long?” she continued, sort of trying to keep the conversation going… though, only Syna knew why. She still wanted to be alone… but was still trying to keep talking.
Apus gave her a curious look before shrugging. His hair – a golden blonde – reached his shoulders, and moved as he shrugged. “Only a few years so far… I spent a lot of time in Yaheba.” He cocked his head, watching the other Eth for a moment. “You? You must have travelled a lot over three hundred years.” The musician frowned at the question, thinking over it for a while. “I have no idea the total time I’ve spent in Riverfall… I keep coming back. It’s been two seasons since I returned, however… I like spending most of my time in Laviku’s domain.” She gave Apus a small smile, relaxing slightly. She’d visited Yaheba as well, and vaguely wondered if his mortal form had something to do with that. She’d certainly felt a lot more welcome in Ahnatep than any other visitor, considering her appearance as an Ethaefal at day, and her Eypharian form at night.
