[Riverfall City Gates] A Whole New World [Issima]

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

His brow beetled as he wondered why she was speaking about deception; perhaps this was some sort of baggage from a previous relationship. He didn't quite understand the workings of the female mind, but he wanted to. He was curious. When she caught herself, explained herself, he smiled, relaxed again. "I can go down to the common room, bring some food." There was a pitcher of water and a basin in front of a mirror for washing, though a true scrubbing would have to be done at the baths. But he could give her a chance to freshen up, have a drink and ask questions about what was going on in Riverfall. It was good to know these things before venturing out, especially know that he was responsible for his faux bride. "Whatever you like."

[Issima]

Wavering back into quiet, almost shy appreciation, Issima nodded, smiled. "That sounds nice." She waited until he had gone before she let forth the enormous yawn that she had been holding back. The wood of the floor felt strange and foreign beneath her bare feet, and she curled her toes against it. Standing, she sought out that basin of cool water, the novelty of the mirror, and hummed a soft, familiar lullaby as she washed the dirt from her face, her neck, whatever exposed skin she could reach without undressing. She missed the little tot which had become something of a son to her, something she hadn't expected to happen so soon. Mostly she worried that the others were not caring for him as well as she was able; they didn't slow down enough to sense his needs, which were most often easily met once understood. Perhaps it was haughty to think in such a way, but she couldn't help it. There was a reason the tiny child had attached himself to her like glue. He was simply overlooked in a bustling pavilion, and she had made time to understand him. Soon she was clean, and Sam had yet to return. There wasn't much in the room to amuse oneself with, and so she simply drifted about the small space, touching everything. Eventually it was Sam's cloak that captured her attention, discarded atop his things. She picked it up, running the fabric between her fingertips. It was imperfect, nothing special. Yet somehow the worn places were endearing, like it's owner, symbols of vitality and effort. She smiled to herself, and draped it across her shoulders. It was cool as evening wore on, even in these permanent walls. The cloak smelled like fire, like grass, like Sam. It was comforting. She stroked the hem, mulling over what sort of cloak he deserved. The design danced behind her eyelids, which she closed as she settled onto the bed, curled into his cloak like a sleepy kitten. It saddened her when she realized that Menali, though competent enough, would never be able to create something complex enough to be worthy of the kind soul who had borne her here. Perhaps she could make him one as a wedding gift, then. When he became family. In her sleepy state, she had no doubt that Uncle would relent and allow Menali to marry the young Watchman. Especially as his little pavilion began to grow, as Uncle began to realize how worthy Sam really was. As she drifted off to sleep, the smell of him all around her (despite the fact that her own cloak was within arms reach), she vaguely recognized her own discontent with that notion.

[Baku]

Thou has written, and thou has completed, so I award thee the following.... Sama’el Skills: +1 Singing, +1 Riding, +5 Observation, +5 Rhetoric, +3 Flirting, Lore: Keeping the Pace Slower, Deciding on Appearances, Reinvigoration, Encouraging the Adventurous Spirit, Unbraiding Hair, Issima Skills: +1 Riding, +5 Rhetoric, +5 Observation, +3 Flirting, Lore: The Need to Get Away, Deciding on Appearances, Riverfall City, Letting the Hair Down, Discovering Feelings, Additional Notes: A nice little teaser into a possible budding Romance. Hopefully you two don’t go all Romeo and Juliet though.