A Sky Full Of A Thousand Stars (Open)

[Brig]

There she was! Brig looked up from the male figure in front of him and set his gaze on his friend. And his face lit up with a sudden smile of recognition, so much that the gesture briefly displayed his slightly elongated canine teeth for the observant. It was dark, but then the Kelvic had discovered already the previous night that maybe it was never truly dark in this strange city atop the hill, with its buildings that seemed to glow like they were stars themselves. A smile of recognition, and one of relief too. He’d decided that he had passed this spot a time or two already during his search, and he might have again if not for this chance encounter. But then the man on the street hopped up and scurried back and without thinking, Brig took a step backwards too as if to convey he meant no threat or offense. It wouldn’t last long, a posture that lacked any sense of challenge, not beyond his coming awareness of a third individual in the shadows. But for now the Kelvic smiled and considered what the man said. At least he’d said it in a language that Brig understood. He smiled back up at Haeli, he wasn’t only relieved that his search had finally resulted in finding her, but Brig suddenly realized that the days since he’d last seen her in the forest, had been lonelier than the ones just previous to that first meeting. None of his more familiar allies or rivals, either of them, had quite managed to fill the more silent void. ”Maybe they’re all busy looking for something, and never find it?” he wondered back. But then surely this man knew more of humans than he did. And knowing something of movements at night in the wilds at least, he glanced back at Tao briefly and asked, ”Do they see better at night here, than in the day?” It had never occurred to the Kelvic that among humans, there might be some differences in their senses from region to region or culture to culture. But then in all of his life he’d probably only known a dozen of them. And most of them, not very well. But he didn't wonder long. His eyes suddenly shot back up when Haeli crouched and retreated from the wall’s edge. If he’d had hackles in this form, they’d have risen straight up as his animal instincts leapt to the fore. He crouched himself, his dark amber eyes darting along the path where hers were looking and he had to fight back the impulse to shift then and there, and scamper up the wall to confront whatever had seemed to startle her. But he was clothed, and he knew if he did he’d be buried and tangled in his own cloak and breeches. The time it took to untangle himself, not to mention whatever startled response he brought from his companion on the street, even Brig knew it would ruin all his prospects for stealth or surprise. Before he could figure more options, the source emerged from the shadows and hopped down instead. Brig rose up, but his gaze remained fixed on a sort of figure he’d never seen before. He didn’t quite look human, not like any the Kelvic had seen before, even apart from seeming pale and thin. His scent wasn’t enough to help the mystery either. And he seemed jumpy. It left Brig curious, at the least. At any rate, he also seemed to know this other fellow. Which left the Kelvic unsure whether he ought to be posturing for a challenge. Or not, and be more hospitable instead. For all of his natural instincts, Brig wasn’t the best at perceiving lies. Animals were mostly blunt and honest creatures, even the creeping predators. If their actions didn't always speak true necessarily, there were things that did. But humans, Brig wasn’t familiar with enough of them to judge how quick some might be with an untruth, or what signs they might give off when they did. And he was sure of it, this one wasn’t human anyway. He looked to the other man to judge his reaction, ”My name is Brig,” he offered up. But before he supplied more, he glanced back up towards Haeli to learn her inclinations, before he decided if he should give chase or be more sociable.

[Tao]

Tao was a little wary of Vendaril's explanation; the Symenestra looked flustered and shaky, like he had been caught with his hand in a figurative cookie jar. On the other hand, he supposed that it wasn't entirely unusual, given how odd the man was in general. "You should probably be more careful." He said, disliking how uneasy his voice came out. "I don't know if the guards would like it if you do that." Behind him, Brig seemed to be all but snarling at him, crouched over like an angry cat, though he appeared to be watching him and the girl for reactions, like he was unsure as to whether he should be angry or not. He had asked him a question before, but Tao didn't know if it would be a good idea to turn and answer it just yet; Haleli had yet to react, the other man seemed to be taking a lot of his cues from her. He fidgeted with the edge of his pants, stuck in between a nervous Symenestra who appeared to possibly be annoyed with him, and the strange forest girl and her animalistic friend (Maybe he's a Kelvic? He wondered, thinking back on the few times that they had come into the restaurant.). He didn't want to take sides. Honestly, he didn't want to get involved in any sort of fight at all. This was really not how he had imagined his evening going. "Um..." He ventured forward in an attempt to try and dispel the tense and faintly hostile air. "I hope this was all just a misunderstanding..."

[Haeli]

Haeli relaxed visually when it seemed the man beneath the wall knew the man in the shadows knew each other. She'd already dismissed the one beneath the wall as careless and thus harmless because he was trusting. Trusting creatures generally didn't mean any harm. The one in the shadows came forth, exposing himself, and that reassured Haeli as well. Predators didn't give up their advantageous positions easily. She'd been wrong, no doubt, about feeling threatened by him. If he meant ill, he'd have surely kept to the shadows. Brig reacted physically almost exactly the same way Haeli had mentally. If she could have she would have growled and put her back up. Instead she had just moved away, then relaxed at the turn of events. Keeping her voice light, she willed Brig to relax as well. She didn't know the cities rules, but she was pretty sure fighting wasn't acceptable. Surely things were okay - Tao had greeted the man after all. "I'm glad you decided to come to town. And you could be right. They do seem to be looking for something always. But I don't think they see better or else why would they light up the city like they do?" She said abruptly to Brig, her eyes turning to scan outwards again. Curiosity filled her gaze. Then Tao spoke and she glanced between the Symenestra and him. His tone sounded cautionary but still courteous. He was worried about something and seemed mildly uneasy. It set Haeli back to caution. Maybe the kelvic and Haeli's own reactions had been appropriate. She said nothing but watched instead, cautiously. Again, after a few breaths and even more heartbeats, she spoke again. "My name is Haeli." She said, answering the Symenestra's question. "And honestly, I'm not sure what this is. Why were you hiding in the shadows watching us, sir? I saw you practicing nothing, just watching." It was better just to ask than to wonder. In many ways, Ozantha had kept Haeli in the dark about many things. The old Dhani had trusted that Haeli would live her life in the swamp, its guardian and protector. She'd never ventured out of its midstin the whole of Ozantha's life. So while she knew what a Symenestra was, she knew very little about their culture and ways.

[Vendaril]

OOCFor some reason Haeli I can't read your posts, all I can see is green. I had to check your code to find out what you wrote! At Tao’s nervous attempt to defuse the situation, Vendaril began to feel more at ease. Perhaps he could turn the circumstances to his favour, find out more about the girl. For one thing, he wanted to know what her relationship with the other man, Brig. Was he a bodyguard? Or just a friend. A lover maybe? He would need to find out more. Whoever he was, Brig certainly wasn’t accustomed to hiding his intentions. As soon as Vendaril had shown himself, the man seemed on edge. His apparent inexperience in social conduct, and bestial behavior caused the Symenestra to understand that he was a Kelvic. Having met several on his travels, he was not afraid of him for his species. However if he had developed a life-bond with the girl, that could be trouble. It would explain the looks he was giving her though, as if asking for guidance. In reply to Tao’s comment about the guards, the pale man scoffed. Those Shinya? Whilst I am sure they are excellent at keeping down pickpockets and muggers, do you truly believe they could prevent me from practicing my art? Not that they would need an excuse anyway, the local guards are always on the lookout for a reason to incarcerate some poor Symenestra. I myself have become quite adept at evading the local conscripts. I am a perfect specimen of my brood, with noble blood. They wouldn’t stand a chance.” He quickly steered of the topic of his own prowess in order to avoid appearing vain, but he felt he may have overstepped the mark a little. The young woman’s reply set Vendaril slightly on edge again. Alarm bells went off in his head as the girl – Haeli – questioned his actions on the rooftops. He quickly slipped on a relaxed smile and replied, “Why, I was practicing. You probably could not hear me – we Symenestra are renowned for our grace in the art of acrobatics. That said, at the time when I noticed you I was having a quick rest to catch my breath. I’m afraid I was so intrigued by the happenings down here that I forsook my vantage point on the rooftops and simply had to meet you all.” He took a few steps towards the trio, closing the gap that marked him as an outsider. He could tell that they had not met many Symenestra, otherwise he felt he would be even less welcome. Leaning against the wall which supported Haeli, he remarked, “Well enough about me, I could very well ask what you three are doing out on a night like this?”

[Brig]

Brig was nothing if not observant. In the wilds, maybe it was the same in a city full of people, it was a simple matter of survival. It was instinct, not learning. This strange new man who’d hopped down from the shadows talked quite a lot of boastful things…like a magpie Brig thought. Even if many of the words he used remained mysterious ones. The mention of guards by the man who seemed to already know him, didn’t do much to ease the Kelvic’s sense of caution. But he glanced towards Haeli and she seemed to relax some, and he thought that maybe he ought to try as well. He didn’t want to shame her by being needlessly unsociable on his second day in the city. Or worse by provoking something unnecessary. But he was no less watchful, not when the situation seemed to bring uncertainty even to a man who appeared to already know the pale one. He glanced back to Haeli and she hadn’t seemed to relax completely after all. It was impossible for Brig all told, at least not by great measure though he made an outward show of it. His first time in a proper city and his senses were being provoked from every direction, nearly to brimming over. ”He is your friend?” he asked Tao curiously. He had questions of his own to add to Haeli’s. Then he turned his curious, probing gaze to the Symenestra. ”Why would you want to hide from the guards? Is your art forbidden in Lhavit?” he asked. It was a question more of probing curiosity rather than a blunt accusation. After all, the Kelvic had seen a number of men that he’d decided must be peacekeepers of some sort for the city, and they hadn’t seemed to have disagreeable natures. As for what he was doing out, he tilted his head curiously and considered before he provided an answer that, maybe except for Haeli, left much to be interpreted. But not deliberately so. ”I’ve just come to the city, and I was looking for where I was meant to be. But I’ve found it now.” In reality, in spite of his continued watchfulness, Brig simply didn’t want to admit that for more than a day, he’d been sufficiently turned round to rate as good and lost.

[Haeli]

Haeli had to admit the more the Symenestra spoke the less she liked him. He was aware of himself in a way that was both prideful and disenchanting. The younger man that had sat at the base of the wall was almost the extreme opposite, insecure and seemingly lost. The sheer contrasts between the two distracted Haeli for a moment, taking her to another place, as her mind studied the oddities and soaked up the situation. Patterns. Haeli always saw them everywhere, along with the links between various things. There was a link between the human and the Symenestra but Haeli sensed it was a weak one bound more from politeness rather than anything she considered real. There were links between her and Brigs too. Those she didn't quite understand, though she felt somehow relieved and grateful to see him here in the dark. Him being what he was, the circumstances of him finding her after dark seemed fitting. After so long she'd thought he'd almost changed his mind about joining her. And truth be told, she was looking forward to the company and the ability to be herself without hiding her thoughts or her abilities due to others not understanding. A girl that liked spending time as a crocodile might not fit in so well in Lhavit. But with Brig around, it made her feel like she fit somehow a little better into the world. She knew it was because he was also a shapeshifter and one that did so flawlessly and naturally. Somehow, when you weren't the only one of something around, loneliness had a lot less of an opportunity to move in with you and take up the spare spaces of your life. Her eyes cast down to Tao once more. She watched him for a reaction. He was slightly uneasy too. She could tell by the way he warned his acquaintance and tried to smooth things over. But at his last words, she raised her blond eyebrow and peered down at him. "Misunderstanding? Is something happening here I don't ... that well... is everything okay?" She asked, turning to look at the symenestra again. Her skin felt like crawling there for a moment and just for a moment she wished for bigjaws form. Crocodiles up on walls though were ridiculous. And anyhow, impossible. She didn't have the time or energy to shift and defend herself. She wasn't even sure she needed defending or what exactly the threat was. Another pattern distracted her train of thought though. Brig's wording was odd, off almost, as he said the phrase 'where he was supposed to be' rather than 'where he was looking for or wanted to be.' Haeli shifted her gaze around, met his dark eyes, and though her expression didn't change - not really - he could tell the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. Humor was there. She hadn't missed the way he said it. And while the girl knew nothing of kelvics or their need to bond, she had her own needs and that was the need for a friend. Her reply was meant just for him, even though it came out loud enough for all the rest of them to hear as well. "Well then....' It wasn't as if she finished her thought or even made any sense to the rest of them. But perhaps Brig would understand what she meant to say was simply 'Oh, so that's how it is. Okay, I think I understand.' Wordlessly she smiled fully. It was as clear as a lantern in the dark of night. The thought, whatever she was thinking, made her happy. A friend had come. An ally. It was nice to have them around. The symenestra asked her a question directly, and though she was reluctant to truthfully answer him, she did. "I live here. This is going to be my Herb Garden." Haeli said abruptly, then suddenly wondered if that wasn't the perfect name after all. Haeli looked at the other two men, unsure where they'd fit into her life if at all. She settled again on top of the stone wall, comfortable after having absorbed the thought of not being alone. She'd let the men play out their dance of words and watch how the dialog fell. She hoped in the observing she'd figure out the unspoken concerns and danger Tao and Brig seemed to see that she did not.

[Tao]

OOCHaeli, my apologies, but I just realised I've been spelling your name with an extra 'l' this whole time. Sorry about that. D: Tao couldn't help but feel that a lot of responsibility had been passed down to him without warning. Three sets of eyes were upon him, waiting for what he would say in response to the escalating questions. Perhaps identifying himself as Vendaril's friend had been a bad move; he liked the man well enough and enjoyed his company, but if he truly was up to no good, he didn't want to be associated with that. Haeli and Brig seemed to be moving back onto the defensive at his words, while the Symenestra was stepping closer, talking rapidly to excuse his actions. He stood there in the middle, gripping his cloak tightly with both hands, doing his best not to give anything else away until he was sure of where he wanted to stand. He had never really been good with people. He had waited tables and cooked for them, certainly, but in the end, that was little more than reading from a script. 'Hello, how are you today? That's good. What would you like?'. Take order, pass it on, rinse, repeat. Outside of working, he had kept to himself, either tailing after his father as he shopped or spoke with people about things that seemed mundane, or holed up in their tiny little home, reading. People never reacted the way they did in stories; on paper, there were patterns, modes of behaviour that fitted each stereotype. In a story, one could only be good or evil. In reality, there were a million shades of grey. This was reality, and things were complicated. Vendaril had been kind to him, spending the night with him and teaching him his language. It didn't absolve him of suspicion, but there was always the point that he had naively been alone with him for a night and come to no harm. Surely, if he were the sort to attack humans, he would have taken advantage of easy prey? The woman and her kelvic partner were both on edge, but at the same time carried a confident air, the one of allies. Both of them were waiting on his word; he was the one casting the thin Symenestra in the role of good or evil. And when it all came down to it... he didn't think he could do it. "It's... just that that there are stories I've heard, about Symenestra that kidnap women." He said finally; he couldn't make this choice, but he could try and put it back in their hands. Make it simple again. "Vendaril, you were kind to me, but... well, it's suspicious, that's all. I don't believe you're the sort to attack someone like that... Then again, I'm not the one you have to convince. I... I hope it's a misunderstanding." He took a deep breath and exhaled, attempting to force his body to relax with the breath. It didn't really work. He was tired, he was lost, and he honestly a little frightened. Who knew what sort of twists and turns the evening was going take if he stayed around much longer? "If I get out of this, I'm never talking to people again." He mumbled under his breath. He wasn't aware that he had said it out loud, but it was possibly the most comforting thought he had had all evening. To never have to worry about words or courtesies or having to defend a sort-of friend who may not actually be as innocent as he claims... Just himself, some books, and the stars. Waiting for the reactions of the others, he turned his eyes back to those stars, beginning to pick out constellations again to distract himself from situation.

[Vendaril]

The odd glow of the buildings lit the gathering in such a way that their eyes appeared obscured in a pit of shadow. So unlike in Kalinor, Vendaril thought to himself; the opalgloams illuminated everything at home with an even layer. Here, the darkness pooled on people’s faces, hiding their thoughts as deceit and lies congealed, running into their souls. Vendaril turned to Brig as he heard the words directed at him. The Kelvic appeared to have a rather loose grasp of Common, his words sounded awkward and misplaced. Of all the individuals here, he seemed the least understanding; he needed direction, someone to turn to – and if that person was not yet Haeli, perhaps it could be Vendaril. Regardless of what his social capacities were, he seemed an intelligent creature, constantly alert. Vendaril liked that, even if it did make potential plans of his a little more complex. “Well Brig,” He started in a friendly tone. Everyone here had seemed to notice something amiss, and of course, the Symenestra got the blame. He was used to it really, but it still hurt a little. He had to try and bridge the gap. “As you have probably realized, my kind are hardly the most tolerated species walking Mizahar, and climbing the rooftops at night would arouse anyone’s suspicions. However,” he gave Tao a cutting glare, “due to my race, some would consider circumstances to be slightly worse than if I were merely a petty cat burglar.” The air seemed to gain an extra bite to it as the conversation became laced with insult and implications. Vendaril imagined the chilling wind pulling at the cloaks and clothing of the assembly, as if to reveal their true intentions and cut through the tense, fleeting alliances that were forming through the looks in the gathered individuals eyes. The Symenestra realized he was being targeted by the bonds, purposefully excluding him, gathering against him and preparing the final blow which would knock him into the streets. Tao’s accusation caused Vendaril to falter. Sure, he could hardly deny it, but he was upset that his former associate would voice this opinion. Ah, who was he kidding, he was shocked he had enough backbone to talk at all. “It pains me that you would suggest such a thing of me, but I must concede that there is some truth in what you say. We do occasionally, how should I put this, extend our hospitality towards those who would bear a fine child. However, it is only occasionally, I only the eldest son of a family. I myself have an elder brother, by name of Draverdas, so you have nothing to worry of me. I stand by what I said, I was simply practicing my acrobatics – nothing more, nothing less. If you do not believe me, then I wonder if it is best that we part ways now before somebody has an unfortunate accident." He put little effort into disguising the menace in his voice.

[Tao]

Vendaril turned on him only seconds after the words had left his lips, and he flinched, stepping back from Symenestra completely. He could hear the anger in his voice, low and fierce and clearly directed at him. Maybe it had been a mistake to voice his opinion. The situation was beginning to steadily degrade, and now there were actual threats of violence coming about. Abruptly, admist the twist of fear and frustration rose a bubble of anger. He had not accused the man, only explained his concern! If anything, he had spoken in his favour! He was supposed to be safe at home in bed, not in the middle of this mess! "What is your problem?" He snapped, knowing full well that the anger was the only thing keeping him going and the moment he stopped he would probably have to run for his life. "You say things like that, threaten me, and don't expect people to treat you with suspicion?! I never accused you! I said that there were stories. How can you expect me not to be concerned? If you saw a human with their sword drawn coming towards you, wouldn't you be wary too?!" He stopped to draw a breath, not caring that he had just taken out a day's worth of frustration on someone who probably didn't deserve it. Gripping his cloak tightly to hide the fact that he was trembling, he felt that momentary righteous fury fizzle out, leaving him alone with a furious Symenestra who sounded like he was quite happy to take his head off. "... If you do attack me, I'll call the guards." He said, in a much lower voice. It was a weak threat, he knew, but it could be enough to make him pause. He started looking around for an avenue to escape as subtly as he could, someplace small where he could slip through and Vendaril couldn't. Haeli and Brig could be able to defend themselves, but he was not a fighter.

[Brig]

Brig had very quickly decided that his animal cousins were much less complicated, and much easier to understand than humans or those like them. Sure, this was a very small sampling in a short time. But he couldn’t help but think of the wisdom that an elderly brother raccoon had offered him from the animal kingdom’s point of view, when he’d told him he was leaving for Lhavit…Some of those two footers, very unpredictable and dangerous, especially in packs. Better you don’t feed that kind from your hand. It had made the Kelvic wonder if humanoids got the madness too. Haeli didn’t at all, Brig would know. The quieter of the two men seemed sensible, likeable too. But he was beginning to wonder about the long limbed pale one. That trail of thought was interrupted though by Haeli’s bright smile, shining down on him like a beacon. He could sense, even smell aggression or fear seeping from the pores of another in close proximity and there was plenty of that surrounding him. But he could also sense warmth and welcome and it handily cut through the other sensations long enough to bring a broad smile that he angled back up at her. It oozed from him too, it was something like the sense of belonging and finding home after being lost. It lasted at least until Tao revealed the reputation of what the pale man seemed to be. It spoke straight to Brig’s instincts, not only as raccoon but as Kelvic. Was this one stalking Haeli? But Tao seemed to believe this one was different or misunderstood in spite of his curious behavior. Maybe it would be better for Brig to keep his impulses to himself for now, and consider that the man had to say. Which in the end didn’t help much. He hadn’t known before now, why Symenestras might be disliked or viewed with unwarranted suspicion. But now something impulsive in Brig wanted to point out that if he didn’t cling to shadows and watch females without them knowing, others might not worry or mistake him for his kind’s poor reputation. He didn’t say it though, he didn’t have time, just as well. Maybe two footers weren’t so different after all. When wild things felt cornered or threatened they predictably postured or struck out, or they fled. He was seeing both tendencies at work in two different men, each in their own way. As for Brig, he’d seen his share of scraps. But tonight he didn’t want to get caught up in a fight, neither did Tao from what he could see. He didn’t want to risk the guards coming and locking him up in a cage either if there was no reason to. But if anyone was parting ways, it wasn’t him that was going. This was home, and he was staying just where he was. At the moment, silently, purposely placed between Haeli and the scene on the ground.