Now What?... (Open)

[Alenias]

"Don't worry dear, Aello is fine," Yune chirped as Aello said nothing was wrong. Well, if they both said there was no problem then there couldn't be a problem.

"Yes, the sweet bread is really tasty," Alenias said with a smile, "But the merchant is grumpy. I'll be more careful this time so I can get us all some," she gave a small nod as she thought about how to get the bread. Dervish wouldn't be here this time to scare the merchant away.

She tilted her head slightly and blinked in a bit of confusion as Aello talked about more food. She didn't know what a delicacy was, or of any secret food, but she smiled brightly at the question of what had to be tried, "The sweet bread is the tastiest food I've ever had. Even better than the fruits in the Plaza. I could get you other things if you want, but the bread is the best."

Leading the way through the various people on the street Alenias made her way towards the place she remembered where the sweet bread had been. She was almost skipping at the combined happiness of having found Aello, and the coming tasty bread. Confusion came back though as Aello quickened her pace and started to pass Alenias. Blinking Alenias started to walk more quickly as well. Was something wrong? Had Aello seen someone bad? Moving closer to Aello she whispered, "What is it Aello? Is there someone bad?"

[Aello]

Aello stopped dead in her tracks again. She turned her head to face to Alenias again. It took her a moment to register the face; the apparent fear in the girl's eyes. She was the Kelvic we met earlier, our newfound translator. Aello blinked several times; slowly, as though she were trying to clear her eyes. It was several seconds before she replied. "There is no one Alenias," a slight pause. "There is no one and nothing around that could harm us, as far as we can tell." Aello turned away from the Kelvic, and peered ahead of them. She made sure to fall into step behind Alenias again, careful not to step out in front of her. After a few moments, Aello lifted her free hand and pointed to a stall a few feet away. "Is that it?" she asked, as several sweet smells swirled around beneath her nose, calling them to several of the shops that lined the street. Doesn't it make you want a bit of just bout everything? Aello returned her hand to her side as she continued walking, and waited for Alenias to reply to her. "Or is that just another random bakery?" Aello took in a deep breath. Everything simply smelled so good, it made her stomach rumble. We'll fill it soon enough with all of the treats the bakers are offering up to us today. The girls passed another shop and Aello asked, "do you remember how much the bread had cost Alenias?" If she listened closely, Aello was certain she could just make out the sound of her golden mizas clicking against one another as they rolled around in the bottom of her bag. It was an oddly comforting sound; in a way, it grounded the girl. How much of our mizas will we have to part with in order to receive a decent meal in this crazy town? Aello wondered, as her eyes scanned the streets. They seemed calm now, almost empty, as if the only people were her and her company, and those running the shops. Such a sharp contrast to how it was before.

[Alenias]

Alenias blinked a couple times at Aello's assurances that there was no one around. If there was nothing bad, then why was Aello nervous? As she turned back to lead the way to the sweet bread she had a sudden idea that sent a chill down her spine. Could Aello be hiding stuff from her like Treanas had? While that thought made her much less certain about her future she wasn't going to leave Aello. Where else did she have to go?

Pausing as Aello asked if a nearby stall was the right one Alenias looked it over, and then gave a shake of her head, "No, but we're close," standing up on her tippy toes she looked around the street they were on, and then gasped happily, "Ah! There it is!" she pointed to a stall several down from where they were.

Aello's next question was strange, and Alenias turned and blinked at her a couple times, "Cost?" she thought a moment, the word was familiar, "Oh! How many shinnies for it? Don't worry, you don't need shinnies. Just wait here and I'll go get some sweet bread for all of us," she smiled at Yune, "Even you Yune. It's really tasty, so I know you'll like it."

With that Alenias turned and crouched down slightly as she started to make her way quietly past the other stalls and towards the tasty bread. There weren't a lot of people around now, which would make it harder, but she was going to be really really careful this time.

[Aello]

"It doesn't require money?" Aello whispered to herself. But how could that be? Everything in this world seems to require money. "Unless that is one very generous baker," Aello commented. "But then again, didn't Alenias mention him being somewhat grumpy?" Aello tilted her head to the side as she watched the girl go. "Don't you think it a bit strange Yune, that she is acting that way?" Alenias seemed to be slinking off, as though she were trying to hide. Who does that? Unless... Aello's eyes narrowed as she took a half step forward. "Do you think she'll try to steal the bread Yune?" Aello whispered under her breath. The bird chirped once, before stopping. "Does that mean you agree Yune?" Aello inquired. "Alenias is acting a bit strange?" Another chirp. The girl sighed heavily. If only she spoke bird, this would be so much easier. Too bad your translator just ran off. "Perhaps we'd better go look after her. Make sure she doesn't get in trouble..." Aello said absently. "Just try not to make any noise Yune," Aello whispered as she began to step forward. The young spiritist drew next to no attention as she walked along the city street. To everyone, she was little more than another person going about their day; not a likely customer considering how she was dressed. A long black cloak, concealed, trying to hide from the world. Aello had lost sight of the Kelvic a few minutes beforehand as she stood around, wondering what to do. She knew Alenias had to be close, but how close? She couldn't have simply disappeared. As the girl crept through the street, her eyes darted back and forth. There seemed to be nothing but bakeries, but which one was the one that Alenias had pointed to? After several minutes of looking, Aello thought she had spotted the girl up ahead. She sighed heavily, relieved. "Now we can keep an eye on her," Aello whispered as she walked over to a shop directly across the street from where she had spotted the Kelvic. The shop was small, nothing more than a hole in the wall. The girl leaned up against one of the wooden walls, a few feet to the left of the large window and door that invited all customers inside. Hopefully she doesn't try anything stupid.

[Alenias]

As Alenias moved away from Aello and Yune she heard Yune chirp, "No, she's very nice," and then, "A little."

She was curious what was going on, but she didn't want to look back. She had to show Aello how good she was at getting stuff, and so she had to be as careful now as she had been when getting things for Treanas. Head down and hunched over a little she slowly made her way along the street. She didn't go straight towards the bread, but instead wound her way back and forth as she walked and took cover behind the things she could. Another stand, some containers stacked up, or even the occasional person walking this way or that.

Eventually she arrived at a spot a little ways away from the bread, and she stopped in her walking to crouch down near the ground and hold her hands up to the few people who walked by. She'd seen other people do that on the streets, and almost no one looked at them. In fact everyone seemed to look the other way, like they didn't want to see people doing it. She didn't understand why, but if it worked she would do it. As she sat there she looked at the nearby breads out of the corner of her eye.

Before she'd gotten a large piece of bread, and the merchant had seen her. So this time she would get two smaller pieces, so she wouldn't be seen and Aello would see how good she was. Spotting a pair of smaller pieces near the edge of the stall she started to slowly move closer. Sliding one foot and then the other along the street slowly she inched closer and closer.

When she got close enough to be able to quickly grab the bread she stopped moving again, holding her hands up to the passing people who ignored her as she waited for her chance. Her eyes darted around, watching the various things going on, and finally her chance came. Someone came up and started to talk to the merchant, and Alenias leaned over and quietly claimed both the pieces of bread she had picked out. Hiding them inside her cloak against her body she lifted her hands back up towards the passing people. Whatever trick worked to make people look away should keep the merchant from noticing her as she slowly slid her feet along the street to get further away from the stall.

OOCI've sent the PM to Seth, but with how busy he is it'll probably be a while till he can mod the result. Do ya wanna start up another thread while we wait?

[Aello]

"Hey Yune, did Alenias just do what we think she did?" Aello inquired, as she bit her bottom lip until the blood rushed away from her milky white teeth, turning the flesh just beneath them a darker red, and then a pale purple. Chirp! Chirp! the bird replied. "Well, it did look like she just snuck over there didn't she?" Chirp! Chirp! "Now, if she was going to go over there and just buy some bread for all of us, she wouldn't be sneaking around now would she?" Aello asked. There was a slight pause before she spoke again, "she would simply walk over there, head held high, and ask for some. Then when the guy gave it to her, she'd pay him in mizas, and be on her merry way." There was another pause before Aello continued, although this time, her voice was far softer. Not like anyone could have overheard her if she spoke any louder, but... she felt the need to be cautious. "She stole that bread didn't she?" Aello inquired, an uneasy grin spreading from cheek to cheek. Aello had met a few pickpockets, as well as a couple of rogues before, but she hadn't bothered to befriend one, nor had she ever tried to steal much of anything. She had never been too sneaky, nor any good at getting by undetected in the past. Thus, stealing, well, it wasn't exactly for her. But Alenias, she seemed good at this, like she had done it hundreds of times before. And although it made Aello feel somewhat uneasy, considering the consequences should the girl be caught, she couldn't help but grow all the more fond of Alenias. She is going to be pretty handy to have around, isn't she? Aello nodded, as she crossed her hands over her chest. "Very, very handy indeed," she whispered. Chirp! Chirp! Aello followed Alenias with her eyes as she moved through the crowd. She'd be coming back now, and they'd be able to slip away into the shadows, to eat what the girl had brought. As long as she doesn't get caught.

[Alenias]

It had worked! Alenias was smiling softly to herself as she finally stood back up and walked away from the stall, cradling the two pieces of bread inside her cloak. After a little while she paused, looking for Aello, and once she spotted the woman and Yune her smile brightened even more and she quickly made her way through the crowd and toward the woman.

Reaching Aello quickly Alenias slid a hand out of her cloak and and quickly took the woman's hand. It wasn't good to eat bread out with all of these people, "This way," she said quickly as she lead the way off of the main street, down a few side streets, and then finally into a dark little alcove nestled between two buildings.

Crouching down Alenias opened her cloak to reveal the two pieces of bread, and then held one up to Aello with a bright smile, "See, tasty sweet bread! I got one for you, and one for me and Yune, and I didn't have to give any shinnies or run and hide."

She hoped Aello was happy with the bread, it was the tastiest thing Alenias had had, and that she would really want to take care of Alenias now.

[Aello]

Aello walked in silence as Alenias led her away. It's probably a good thing that she is, we wouldn't want anyone to see us eating whatever she may have stolen. There was a pause, it is stolen, right? As soon as the girl had pulled out the bread she had taken, and spoken once more, Aello knew for certain. Although she didn't quite agree with stealing, she doubt it was a good idea to go and give it back now. Who knows what the baker would do, let alone the stryfe. Aello shivered as she took the bread from Alenias. "Thanks little one," she whispered, as she broke off a small piece of bread, and handed it up to Yune. The sparrow extended her head to Aello's outstretched finger tips, and plucked several grains from the bit of bread. She flapped her wings once, as she tilted her head back and swallowed the mouthful. Chirp! "It looks like she likes it," Aello said with a soft smile, as she bent over at the waist and placed the bit of bread she had broken off for Yune on the ground. The bird hopped off Aello's shoulder, and continued eating. She seems like she was hungry, Aello thought as she took a bite of the bread Alenias had gotten for her. The crust seemed to crumble into the young spiritist's mouth. Tiny grains gathered around her lips, and several crumbs fell from the loaf onto the girl's clothing, and then the ground. After she had taken her first bite, Aello ripped the bread away from her lips. She began to chew slowly, doing her best to savor the bread. The inside was warm still, rather fluffy. It began by tasting just like every other bread, but after a few bites, you could taste something like sugar. Or perhaps honey with a hint of cinnamon. The girl couldn't quite tell. As soon as the bread had gone soft, Aello swallowed with a loud gulping sound. "You were right, Alenias, it is really good." Chirp! Chirp! Aello took another bite of bread, and began to chew on it thoughtfully. Should Alenias travel with us some more in the future, you may want to consider talking to her about her stealing though. Although she managed to stay out of trouble this time, she may not always be so lucky. Aello nodded as she swallowed and took another bite. It would be a good idea, she thought, as she simply watched the Kelvic eat. OOCHockay, so, I am not sure where else we could go with this, so if you want to wrap it up feel free, if not, feel free to pm me and I can send it in for grading. =)

[Alenias]

Alenias gave a smile at Aello's thanks as she took the bread, and from her crouched position she watched eagerly as Aello gave some to Yune to try. At Yune's chirp of, "Delightful!" Alenias gave a little giggle and took a bite of her own bread.

The bread was just as tasty as she remembered, and Alenias happily took several bites as Aello tried her one bite. She eagerly kept chewing and swallowing the tasty bread until Aello gave her loud gulp at which point she paused and looked up at Aello hopefully. Aello's words, along with Yune's chirps of, "This is the best!" brought a huge, bread crumb speckled, smile to Alenias' face.

"I'm glad you like it Aello and Yune," Alenias said before going back to happily eating her own bread. The emptiness was still there, but she figured it would go away as she spent more time with Aello. Finally she had found someone new to take care of her!

[Verilian]

Alenias +5 Socialization +3 Begging +2 Stealth +1 Larceny Lores: Lost.. in More Ways than One, Speaking to Strangers, Breaking Down, Telling of the Past, Money Doesn't Buy Friends, Aello is a Nice Person, Getting to Know Aello Aello +1 Auristics +5 Socialization +2 Observation Lores: Paranoia, Trying to Comfort the Crying, Declining a Bribe, Softy at Heart, Getting to Know Alenias, Sweet Bread is the Tastiest, Kelvic's are Very Handy You Question My Logic? : Okay, so this was mostly a social thread, hence the points in socialization. Aello got the points for watching while Alenias got the points for stealing. And of course there was the auristics, which should be obvious. Anyway, if you feel I left anything out or mis-graded you in some way, just send me a PM and I'll happily look it over. Notes: Aw, how sweet.