• PM To Join • Alighting

[Vega]

83rd Trial of Zi'da during Arc 716

She hated boats. Every trial on a boat was a dificult, uncomfortable and downright miserable one for the young woman. Most people started to overcome their seasickness after a short enough time, but Vega had been seasick her entire life. At least this boat was not filled with other Biqaj all of whom were obviously chuckling behind their hands. If she hadn't been family, they'd have pointed and laughed, she was sure. Their mockery and laughter would ring out into the night and she would feel her cheeks flame red as she pretended not to care.

By the seas and stars, she missed them.

Family. That was what she had come here searching for. Or maybe it was understanding. As she stood, waiting her turn to disembark from the ship, Vega considered that of all the Bad Plans she had concocted over the arcs, this one might be Baddest Of Them All. She stood, bouncing on the soles of her feet and swinging her arms just slightly. Waiting. Why did she have to spend so much of her life waiting. Wait until you're older, Eva, wait until you get your sea legs, wait until you're old enough to understand. Wait, wait, wait some more and now wait to get off this cursed boat. So, she lifted her head and looked at the sky a while.

Finally, the fidgeting young woman got to step off the gangplank and, almost immediately, the nausea which had plagued her for the entire journey started to fade. She looked around with interest, trying to take it all in. Would she see someone here and recognise them, perhaps? Maybe glance over and be staring into her own eyes. Well, that was stupid, since her eyes were not one little bit Sev'ryn. Vega sighed and checked that she had her backpack secured, her sword belt done up, sword at her hip and her bow slung, unstrung, on her back.

Glancing around, she spotted someone who looked at sight more at home than she felt. She didn't really want to start this visit by talking to complete randoms, but then if he knew the way to the nearest bawdy Inn, it was a bonus. So, she walked up to him as he stepped onto the soil. The young woman approaching Ti'niva was tall, six foot in height with long red hair and eyes which were currently a deep blue. She wore a long green skirt and a yellow tunic under a green cloak.

"Excuse me, hello? I'm new here and I need to find somewhere to stay. Do you... or actually, just, can you give me some direction, please?" Vega looked at him with a polite smile, then added as an immediate afterthought, "If you don't mind, thank you."

[Ti'niva]

He had finally arrived back at home, the voyage had been uneventful. He wasn't sure if he was happy or unhappy about that, it had made the journey boring. However, at least it had been safe for him and Áine, he could think of nothing worse than dying this soon after finding her. He rested his hand on her back as he waited to get off the boat, besides her, the money he had earned while in Ne'haer and himself, he had nothing with him. He must have seemed such a strange traveler with so little equipment. He sure was glad to be home, he looked to the forest longingly missing his woodland home and, strangely, his bow. 'Come on Áine, let us go. It is time for you to see our home.' During his travels, with little else to do he had managed to practice and understand the mental communication, yet he would still occasionally slip up if distracted.

It came his turn to leave the boat and he walked down the gangplank, Áine followed him elegantly pouncing from the boat rather than walking the thin plank. 'I didn't like the look of that, it might have slipped.' He chuckled at the thought of his poor Familiar being plunged into the cold water. He scratched behind her ear as they continued along the jetty, he hadn't often been to the Mutums but he new the way home easily from the city proper. He was itching to get home and check how everything had fared without him he was more than excited to be back.

As he and Áine approached the land, Ti spotted a woman approaching him, one who seemed to be alone and, not from Desnind. His first clue to that was she had Red hair, an extremely rare trait among Sev'ryn. Second was that she had just gotten off of a boat. Third was her height, she was taller than the majority of Sev'ryn, she was taller than him and he was tall in Sev'ryn standards. She was soon stood before him and he had to look up to her. He felt Áine rubbing against his leg and purring gently beside him, her emotions fueled his curiosity and adventures side that wanted to know what she was doing here.

The final tell was that she spoke to him in Common, a language which he was improving at with the practice he got with Finn and on his travels. She asked about a place to stay. He thought for a moment searching for his common in his mind. "Hello." He said first reciprocating the greeting she had offered. That was the easy part now came answering the question. He searched his mind thinking of the tone and the sound of the language while he formulated his response. "I know Inn, I can show, it on my way. Better than direction." He said slower than normal and clearly as he enunciated each word to the best of his ability.

She seemed friendly with her smile and so he was happy to help, she carried a sword and she had a bow on her back, she seemed like someone who knew how to use them as well. "Follow." He said as he smiled and began to lead the way continuing to stroke Áine. 'Don't get carried away, I know you seek companionship, but keep your mind clear.' the voice echoed around his head immediately as he considered her attractive appearance. A slight twinge of frustration came into his face as his lips pursed together. He loved having found her, but the fact she knew what he thought made him feel a little uncomfortable, even if she was part of him.

[Vega]

Immortals save her from short men who couldn't speak common, she thought and looked at him with interest as he considered her words. But then, thankfully he did speak and Vega had to admit to being tired, somewhat grouchy and so probably not a fair judge. Obviously, he was either a very special kind of stupid or Common wasn't his first language and Vega sighed. Sev'ryn had their own language, of course they did. Did her mother speak it? She assumed so but could do no more than that. She nodded her head when he said it was on his way and he would show her. "Thank you. I appreciate it," she smiled at him and her eyes, blue just moments before were now a deep hazel brown. Sea blue, after all, was when she felt sick.

"Vega. My name is Vega. It's nice to meet you. Thank you for being kind and showing me," she didn't speak as slowly as she wanted to, but she did slow her speech down a little, aware that Common wasn't his native language. She followed him and looked around with disappointment evident on her face. She had thought, somehow, that some of it, something about it would be familiar but it wasn't. Nothing was.

There was no point to worry though so the fidgting young woman walked, one hand resting on the pommel of her sword. Ok. So, his common wasn't great, so she'd need to keep things straightforward. Hopefully, he wasn't stupid. Immortals but stupid people irritated her.

"I've never been here. My mother, she was Sev'ryn but she died in my birth," there was not really any emotion to Vega when she said that. Didn't have it, didn't miss it was her philosophy. Or so she told herself, anyhow. "I know she and my father met here."

Looking around she sighed a deep sigh as she realised a simple truth. She didn't belong here, either. A seasick Biqaj and a Sev'ryn who could not speak. Nowhere's child. She wouldn't stay here long, she thought. Why had she come? She thought she was going to just think the next thing, but she was a little surprised at herself when she said it. "I don't know why I came here. I just wanted to see." Vega smiled a bright smile, then and shook her head so that her red hair, which was already messy, moved and revealed the slightly pointed ears. "An Inn, yes, please. Thank you. Vega. My name is Vega," she repeated, "what is yours?"

[Ti'niva]

His suspicions had been correct, the woman was not full Sev'ryn. He kept walking as she explained her situation. She was looking for information about her mother, she had died birthing the girl. He wondered how she planned to learn this information, could she not have asked her father. No, he knew that wasn't possible his father had hated talking to him about his mother after she died. He decided not to press that sensitive topic on a first meeting. "Welcome, this Desnind." He said in response to her saying it was her first time. "You will find what you search. I sure. If any place provide answers it Desnind." He said praising his home city.

She seemed delighted with the idea of an Inn and he smiled at her interest. Vega, what an interesting name, he had never heard such a name before. The name was definitely not Sev'ryn, he would have heard it by now otherwise. Although, most Sev'ryn had unique names, it was not impossible. "I Ti'niva, you call me Ti if please you." He said as they entered into the forest city. He was sure to outsiders the city made from trees must have been fascinating and beautiful. This must have been the first time she saw it and he was there to bare witness to her reaction.

He looked over at her as they crossed the fresh hold and went into the city proper. At that moment he noticed her pointed ears, something he had never seen before. There was something foreign and outlandish about them, something rather appealing to him. He quickly looked away from them, not wanting to get caught staring. But while he averted his gaze he also observed that her eyes were no longer blue, they were now hazel. He was amazed, how could that be her eyes were a different colour from moments before. 'How beautiful' he thought, accidentally projecting the message to Áine. 'I told you, keep your mind in appropriate places, you are like an animal.' He struggled not to glare down at her for distracting him, but she was right. He needed to get better control of his urges and emotions.

He took a couple of trills to admire the city, he had not seen it fro many a trial and he had to admit, he had missed it. "Come, Inn this way." He said as he guided her between the many tree houses. Sev'ryn children ran around playing together, and people walked carrying items to trade with others, the city was quite alive today. He assumed most were preparing for Cylus, it was only ten trials away and he had to make preparations himself. The Inn soon came into their line of sight. The large tree where the main building was what came into view first and Ti pointed to it high in the trees. "That is Inn." He said smiling casually.

[Vega]

"Desnind," Vega tried the name out on her tongue and she smiled at Ti'niva with about an equal mixture of pleasure and frustration. "I thought that I would recognise someone or something. I guess I've got to work out what question I'm asking, first." There was a truth there which just irritated her if she was honest. She looked at Ti'niva and wondered aloud, "Ti'niva? You are Sev'ryn, yes? Are you all so...." she made a gesture with her hand, palm down and towards the floor, moving it that way also, "short?" Biqaj were usually quite tall, so she must have inherited her height from her father. It was frustrating, having come from somewhere where she did not look like the others there, to somewhere where she really didn't look like them either. Vega sighed, shoving her hands into her belt and wondering just how stupid she was. Very, was the resounding conclusion.

They entered the forest city and Vega looked around in amazement. For a moment, the brash and almost-rude facade was wiped completely and she looked astonished. "They're all trees? Like... those are big trees, tall trees. They're... you live here?" She turned to look at him, her eyes an intense pink with gold sparkling in them. "It's beautiful. By the stars, it's beautiful." Even as she blinked the gold in her eyes started to fade, but the vivid pink and purple hues remained. Looking around her she stood still and just drank in the scenery. "I.... wow."

Looking back at Ti'niva, Vega smiled. "Sorry, you probably get that a lot. I've spent my life on boats, I've never seen anything like it." She walked with him again and then, they got to the Inn. She looked at Ti'niva and then at the tree and she gave him a smile.

"You've been very kind. Can I buy you a drink? Don't worry if you don't want to or you're busy, it's fine. Will they understand me in there?" That was a very real worry and she quirked an eyebrow at him, "I didn't really think about language being a bother. I should have."

[Ti'niva]

"Are you all so tall?" He jested. Making a gesture like hers with his hand as he let out a chuckle. "Yes, most." He said answering the question more clearly. He smiled at her reaction to the city, it was one he was sure many who were new there would experience. He again noticed her eyes, they turned pink and shimmered with gold, he felt himself staring. 'You're staring Ti.' Áine said as he continued to gaze at them. 'Ti... look away you are going to scare her.' She said again, nudging him with her head. His head shook slightly as he regained control and forced himself to look away and back towards the city. 'Did you see her eyes, they were so, fascinating... stunning.' He felt Áine's mental sigh at his lack of self control. 'You are like a little girl.' She said shaking her head a little.

He ignored her and focused on his new acquaintance. "I actually live in forest, alone." He said, he was still thinking about her eyes and struggling not to look at the still pinkish purple colours that were there. They kept walking and soon they reached the bottom of the tree in which the Inn was built. They stood at the bottom of the stairs that spiraled around the tree, the only way up to the main building.

She invited him to come for a drink with her, he didn’t drink really. He had a very limited experience with alcohol, but he might accompany her just for some water. “It up, I no rush so I can accompany you.” He said as they started to traverse the stairs. It was a long way up but the stairs were not too steep and walking them was relatively easy.

“They speak common, I think and cook be Biqaj. I can speak if you no can.” He said offering his services not only as a guide but also a translator if necessary. Ti was sure it would not be necessary, common after all was common. Many people spoke the language and in Desnind it was a rather common language to be heard besides Xanthea. “You have good stay here, but food… in Inn not so good if no like fish.” He said as he recalled the few times he had eaten there with his father and also what he had heard from other people. "May I ask about eyes? They very different from Sev'ryn." He said shyly, he hoped that wasn't too personal of a topic. He could feel Áine's disappointment at his actions again.

[Vega]

She glanced at him when he asked if they were all so tall and gave a slight laugh, "Yes. Where I come from, I am average. Middle. Not tall, certainly." Vega considered that, however long she was here, at least she'd always be able to see over heads, since Ti'niva claimed that this was a city of short folk. Her amazement at the city of trees, though, overcame all concerns she had about the sense in visiting this place. She was sure that it was a phenomenally stupid thing to do in many ways but she was Biqaj and travel was in her blood, silver as it flowed. When Vega looked at him, Ti'niva was staring at her and she looked back at him, wondering just what he was looking at it. She had grown, after all, around people with eyes like hers and she found it odd that his eyes didn't, in truth.

"That sounds nice. No people, no noise?" Vega considered how living in the forest alone might be. He must be skilled in terms of survival though, moreso than her she thought, if he lived there full time. After all, the season was cold and getting colder before it heated up. "How cold is Cylus here? Will I be able to travel?" Really should have thought of that one, she considered.

Half way up the stairs, though, he said that the cook was a Biqaj and Vega turned to look at him, her eyes deep purple. "Biqaj? How long has he been here?" Did he know her father? He hadn't mentioned any of his family still here, but that didn't mean they weren't, her father was notoriously close-mouthed about everything to do with her mother. She let out a laugh though, when he said about the food, "I like to eat fish. My father tells me all that is good in the world to eat comes from the sea."

Ti'niva asked about her eyes and for a moment, Vega looked slightly confused before her expression cleared. "They change colour? Yes. I am," what to say, she considered? She had heard many things, mixed race, half breed, not one thing or the other, not fitting in anywhere? "My mother was Sev'ryn, my father is Biqaj. Height, eyes and ears." Vega lifted her hair, revealing the shape of her ear which he had spotted earlier. "I don't know about hair. I've not seen many red haired Biqaj, I thought it was Sev'ryn. But I don't see many now, either. But yes, my eyes change with my mood, with the moons, with the sea and skies and stars. Like all of me and all of you." So she had been taught anyway. When they were nearly there, her steps slowed and she sighed, slightly. The problem, she considered, with asking questions was that you ran the risk of not liking the answer. Were dreams better? But then, she was here and that was that so, with a stubborn expression on her face and a determined jutting of her jaw, she went into the Inn to order them some drinks and try and arrange herself a room.

[Ti'niva]

"It nice," he admitted with a nod of his head, "but, me like be alone and I be lonely in times." He said thinking of a discussion he had once had about his loneliness. He began to think about visiting the city more, maybe if he made some friends he would have more reason to be there. Part of him still struggled with the idea of being too close to anyone, ever since his father died he had decided self dependence would keep him free and happy. It was only recently that he was beginning to realise that maybe that wasn't the freedom he thought he knew. The idea was one he found uncomfortable and he was beginning to struggle not to be sucked into the difficult questions about his freedom, whether he had it or not. He was suddenly drawn back out of himself by Vega speaking again.

"It be cold and travel not easy, most stay home." He said showing his regret that people would be confined for most of the season. "The ice rain make it too cold for travel normally." He admitted. Harsh memories of the frozen rains that came with the dark season flashed in his minds eye. As a child he had once been caught out in one such storm, he had almost frozen to death, he was lucky he had his father to warm him while they made it back to their home. He shivered slightly at the memory his teeth clacking a few times as he shook his arms gently to rid himself of the chill.

She asked him of the Biqaj man who worked in the Inn, and Ti remained silent to express his lack of knowledge for the man briefly. He quickly decided to clear that up before she spoke, "I no know him well." He sounded regretful at his lack of knowledge for her, he was sure she could always ask the man whatever she wished to know. The stairs were beginning to get tiring, his legs had felt funny since the moment he had gotten off the boat and the more difficult stairs had tired them a little making it worse. It was a new experience for him he felt sort of like eh was still on the rocking boat, but he was coping with it and at least he didn't feel sick.

He found her explanation for the eyes interesting, it was certainly a unique thing, he doubted any other races could claim their eyes changed colour. Following the end of her explanation they entered the Inn and she seemed intent to get them a drink immediately going over to order. He, on the other hand, found his way to the nearest chair and dropped himself down resting his wobbly and weary legs. He watched her keeping his ears open in case she needed him for anything involving ordering the drink or even getting the room if she was doing that then. He leaned himself back recuperating for the rest of the interaction. Vega was an interesting person, different from anyone else he knew.

[Vega]

"You like to be alone and you are lonely? That is a contradiction," she said the word just a little slowly, clearly. He obviously didn't speak Common particularly well and she didn't want to confuse him, but whichever way she looked at it, he was speaking of an internal conlict there. Which meant it fell into none of her business, so Vega watch as he seemed to come to some sort of conclusion.

His description of Cylus caused her to sigh. That didn't sound like something she was going to just dance out of here during and it was nearly here. Vega had to admit that she was irritated at herself, because she really hadn't thought this through in the slightest. She listened to his description and tilted her head to the side. "When you say ice rain, do you mean snow? White and fluffy and lays on the ground like a blanket? Or do you mean hailstones? Small and painful balls of ice which land from the sky?" Not that it mattered, really, she considered, she was stuck here either way. But if knowing the words was helpful to him then she at least also got some idea. "So, I'm stuck here till that's over. I hope this Inn doesn't cost too much money, or I'm going to have to get a job." Not that she minded hard work, she didn't at all but it was all starting to sound just too.... fixed for her Biqaj blood.

She got them some drinks and a room for herself and she came back, putting two cups of mead down in front of them and she sat, curling her long legs underneath her as she did. "So, it appears that I'm stuck here." She ran her hand through her long hair, making it appear more dishevelled rather than less and she looked around at this place filled with strangers. He was going to be lonely in the forest and she rather thought that she was going to be lonely in an Inn. Vega gave a slight huff and picked up her glass of mead, which she knocked back and drank in one go. Then, she looked at it and gave a not. "Not bad. So, do you have any advice for a stupid half breed who didn't think things through one little bit and is now stuck in a place where she doesn't speak the language and knows no one?"

OOC: 2gn for drinks.

[Ti'niva]

He shrugged at her comment, maybe it was a contradiction but his situation was complicated. He didn't expect anybody else to really understand his situation, it was not something he imagined many experienced. Although, he was sure he would one day meet someone who did understand, a slight part of him remembered a woman who had once told him the truth about freedom, but it was distant and he wasn't even sure if it was real or not. But he hung onto the small parts he remembered, freedom is a state of mind. He decided not to go into a huge tangent on it with Vega and just moved on quickly.

She seemed oddly dismayed by the idea of remaining inside for the majority of Cylus, but he could not understand why someone would want to risk freezing to death. Then again there was definitely something unappealing about sitting in doors for hours on end. "You want leave in Cylus, you come with me and I keep you from death." He said offering himself to keep her safe if she wished to travel and see the forest during the season. "Frozen rain like half snow and hail." He added clearing up the idea. If anything it was like sleet, freezing cold but not snow and not hard like the small hail stones. It was not pleasant to spend time in that was for sure, it had been the death of a few people who didn't know about the dangers of the rain. He had managed to avoid getting caught out unprepared in a storm so far in his life and he hoped for it to remain that way.

He picked up the mug when she returned and swirled the coloured liquid around, it was not what he was used too. He saw her down the drink in one, was that how it was supposed to be drunk. He looked at the liquid and copied her motion swallowing it all in two big gulps. The slightly sweet taste surprised him and he found the drink rather enjoyably. "I no say stupid, I say hasty, quick thinking, but no stupid." He smiled casually. He never considered a person stupid, he nearly always thought there was another explanation for possibly foolish decisions. "You know me, I help you and show you how live here." He offered his services again, it was not like him to be so forward with his helping of others and leaving his solitude, but something within him had changed. Something deep inside him made him feel like it was time to move on, to leave his life of complete solitude behind. "I teach little Xanthea too, if you wish." He said.