Stop and stare. [Ils'a]

[Nico]

Timestamp: 81 Summer. 512 AV. Early morning. As the sun rises above from the eastern horizon, it first strikes the highest point of the tallest tower in the great city of Nyka, home to thousands of humans and numbers of other races that can stand the contradictory of the great religious city. The light sweeps down the tower, turning it from soft grey to luminous light. Then other towers feel the touch of the light, waking up the city for a new wonderful day. The sunlight falls as the sun rises, until the entire city shines with lightness and soon after this the city is full of sounds when the people have woke up. Nico, a mixed blood, is currently in a rare mood to appreciate just how wonderful Nyka looks. He turns on his heels and walk down the street towards the center of the city. The silent boy walks proud, but doesn't show any emotion and gets long stares from people. Behind him, a couple clinging to each other whispering of the youngsters nowadays, are a pair of newlywed humans who have said the "'till death us part" and now acting all lovey-dovey in public. It made them easy to spot, at least. Nico shakes his head. “'till death us part? Pfft, what nonsense.” He mutters and looks up to the sky which started to gather dark clouds. Nico blinked his eyes a few times and looked back down, stopping just around a corner. The blonde leaned to the coarse stone wall and stared to the crowd with a bored look. Nothing unusual for him, but the emotion he made wasn't true. He actually was interested in what people were doing, but he couldn't 'make a face'. He moved his cold, mean eyes from one person to another, sometimes frowning. the people he was staring at were only normal everyday people like Monks, housewives, husbands and workers but they still had the interesting thing in them; The fact that they didn't know. They didn't know what HE had been trough or what HE was thinking right now and they didn't even know he was there. No one really ever knew he was there, a guy, lonely and bored. He was amused when someone actually stared back and as they did that, the blonde took the challenge. Staring was so much fun.

[Ils'a]

Ils’a let out a tiny huff of frustration. Once again, she had lost her way. And whenever she had stopped to ask anyone in this unfriendly city about anything, she always got a stare that made her feel like she must have grown a second head or something equally as alien and unpleasant. At the moment, she had been searching for the workshop that she had seen the day before, the one with the beautifully crafted sign above its plain stone archway. She had asked a few questions about it, the Blinding Light studio it was called. The responses had ranged from stony silence to downright rude remarks to finally, a curt but reasonably neutral answer. It was indeed a place where they crafted jewelry. So of course, having had no luck finding any jewelry in the open air market, Ils’a was interested in visiting this studio. Apparently it was run by a monk, and the craftsmen and apprentices were all monks too. Ils’a was truly getting a feel for this city. If you weren’t a monk, it seemed, you were pretty much a nobody.

But in any case, the Konti was trying to retrace her path of the day before, back to that quarter of the city controlled by the monks dedicated to Xannos. She had made a wrong turn though, and now found herself in a completely strange looking street. With a quiet sigh, she brushed the hair back from her face and glanced around. There wasn’t a single soul that she would classify as looking “friendly” or approachable. But she did spy a young man leaning against a wall, who at least did not have the fierce expression that most of the brown robed monks wore. He looked … bored. As she gazed at him, debating whether to wander over and put a request for directions to him, he stared back at her, as if he might resent her looking at him. Oh, bother, she thought to herself. Why must everyone in this city act as bristly as a sea urchin?

Still, as it didn’t seem likely that she would find another with a happier or more open demeanor, she squared her thin shoulders and walked towards the young man.

“Excuse me please,” she said, in tolerable common. “Do you know the way to the Blinding Light Studio?”

[Nico]

Nico looked at the woman who had surprisingly enough walked over to him and asked for the direction. He blankly looked at the woman from head to toe before crossing his arms, now looking at her face again. "You're not from here, are you?" he said, standing up straight. He shifted weight onto his right leg and slowly blinked his eyes, but still looked around without any emotion. "Travelers usually stay away from... Me." he mumbled and followed a shady guy with his gaze, slightly frowning but still concentrating on the traveler. He went trough the details in his head. Woman, probably Konti because she was pale and had light hair, adding the eyes. New in Nyka, but not a airhead like the other people he had met. He glared at the shady guy for a moment and finally slowly turned his head back to the Konti. "Blinding Light Studio? Sure, I know that place. I can show you the way." he said with a low voice, now again looking at the guy. The blonde was about to say something but only opened his mouth to shut it. "Let's go." he said quickly with the pretty bad Kontinese before turning around and looking to the sky. It was going to rain, soon.

[Ils'a]

The young man’s reply didn’t pulse with the warmth of Syna’s rays. Yet neither was it as frigid and icy as most that she had received during her short time in Nyka. It wasn’t exactly a direct answer to her inquiry, but Ils’a was a patient soul and thought perhaps he might be imposed upon to actually share the directions if she waited to see what else he might ask, or offer. He was certainly giving her a close scrutiny, up and down, and she returned his stare with a polite, slightly reserved expression. She was innately a quiet person, but she was friendly enough, if someone wished to strike up a conversation with her. So far, no-one in Nyka had shown the least inclination to do that. His reply, in the form of a question, then, could be taken for just such a prompt, though his tone was far from inviting. The boy’s voice matched his expression, carefully neutral and devoid of emotion. Ils’a had no idea what to make of that, so she didn’t try to puzzle it out. Instead, she opted for a straightforward reply.

“I’m from Mura,” she said simply, fingering the strap of her pack which she held over her shoulder. “I arrived here yesterday, so yes, I am very new to Nyka.”

When next he appended what seemed to be a very random yet slightly cryptic comment, she looked at him more closely. The Konti did not mean to be rude. She only wondered what he meant. He didn’t appear to be more fierce or belligerent than any of the others that she had seen walking the streets. Perhaps it was simply his flat affect that made people steer clear of him. Again, it was a puzzle, and she didn’t wish to pry, so she said nothing immediately, waiting to see if more was forthcoming, as the young blond man’s gaze left her to peruse another bystander. Soon though it returned to her and he offered to actually show her the way. That was a thousand times more than she had expected, from a stranger, and a resident of Nyka. Just that simple offer of help made her feel so much more at ease, here in this alien place.

Ils’a was naïve in many ways. But she had enough sense to know to be wary of walking off to just anywhere with a stranger in a strange city. She thought, though, that as long as he kept to the main streets, she would be safe, as safe as any might be in this bellicose city. Her caution was further allayed when she heard those words come a bit haltingly from his lips. The boy’s Kontinese accent was far from perfect, but the grammar was fine. Ils’a wasn’t sure why the fact that he knew some of her language was so reassuring. Perhaps it was simply that she had not heard a word of it spoken since she had set foot in this city the day before. In any case, she smiled at his use of Kontinese, watching him as he looked up at the threatening clouds above them.

“That’s very generous of you,” she said softly in the common tongue, with a little duck of her head in acknowledgement of his kindness. “Many thanks,” she added, in Kontinese, hoping he would understand that simple phrase.

The fair haired woman switched back to Common, not knowing how much of her own language he would understand. “You are the only person I’ve met here so far that has offered me any assistance. I’m very grateful. My name is Ils’a, by the way. May I ask, how do you know Kontinese?”

[Nico]

Nico put his hands in the pockets of his jacket and looked back over his shoulder to record the movements of the shady guy but also look at the woman, Ils'a. He had been right about the race, and that she was a traveler which made the situation bearable. The boy had always cared more for travelers than natives because of the fact that Nyka was a violent city and travelers wouldn't need to die a fearful death. Nico formed a tiny smile which was unnoticeable for people who didn't know about his loss or why he really didn't react to anything. He nodded and closed his eyes for a second, then he spoke with a little more 'happy' voice. "Mura... My dad used to talk about the place sometimes. Told me it's a nice place. Said that e wanted to move there..." his voice fading to the end of the sentence, followed by a sigh and a head shake. It was pretty difficult to talk to people cause Nico had never really trusted anyone too much, but there was something this time. He though himself pathetic, worthless baby when he got the feeling of talking to someone about his problems. Always before had he just killed a chicken or went training when he got the feeling, but no chickens were in sight and he couldn't leave the Konti in the city now. "Been 'ere for only a day, eh?" he said with a slightly amused tone. "I suppose you don't know much about the city yet? One thing is important; Stay away from the side alleys. Weird people lurking there." he announced, knowing that he himself was one of those lurks, too, waiting for some idiot to explore the alleys and get robbed. He shook his head again, now thinking of the fact that he was trained to that. He prayed in his mind the prayer that his mother had taught him. "Akajia bless the poor souls that...and give them shadows to hide in... may the sun fall upon a building and bring shadows... hide and seek was not always a game..." he mumbled silently and sighed after it, looking at the triangle tattoos on his wrists, then rolling up the sleeves of his jacket to reveal the flaming 'wristband'. "My fathers lover was a Konti so i had to learn that, too. I also speak Pavi 'cause my Mothers lover was a Drykas. Still trying to learn both languages." he wasn't proud, but no ashamed, either. He took a deep breath and held it.. held it.. and breathed out. He felt a few raindrops on his face and arms which made him shrug a little. "We should g before it starts pouring."

[Ils'a]

Her would-be guide looked about once more, as if he was surveying the street, noting the others that moved around them. Ils’a thought that it was sensible, to know what was going on and be observant, in a potentially dangerous place such as this city seemed to be. It was something she herself was quite used to, when she was swimming in the sea. Her senses told her much that she needed to know. If more was needed, she could touch any one of the life forms that lived under the waves and receive more input about its environment, and thus hers as well. On land, she wasn’t quite as much in tune with her surroundings. But, being Konti, she did have a small edge over some of the other beings in the world, when it came to sensing certain things. This, they said, was a product of imbibing the vision water that was only to be found in the island of her birth. In any case, she could appreciate that the young man was being careful, if not for both their sakes then at least for his own. That would benefit her too, indirectly, or so she could hope.

He then seemed to relax a little bit, and even shared with her a small smile. It certainly made his face seem more pleasant. His voice too, when he spoke again, was lighter in tone. She nodded in agreement with his father’s alleged assessment of the White Isle.

“Mura is a lovely place. I was born and raised there. It’s quite beautiful, though of course, I haven’t yet been too many other places. Perhaps I will find other cities that are lovelier still.” Ils’a had noted how the boy’s voice dropped off at the end of his comment, and the sigh that escaped his lips. But she would not be nosy and ask what was the cause of such seeming wistfulness, not from a stranger. The Konti considered for a moment that it would be nice to have a friend here in Nyka. That would make her explorations of the city so much easier and more pleasant. Then everyone would not be a complete stranger to her. At least she’d have one friendly face to look upon.

When he offered his piece of advice, Ils’a nodded silently, in agreement, for she had thought of such things, truly. But she held her tongue, as the young man seemed to momentarily drift into some silent meditation. She saw his lips move slightly but whatever words he was saying were in his head only. She waited respectfully but then was intrigued by the sight of his wrists, as he turned them up and the tattoos there became visible. The ones he revealed next on his forearms were even more complex and colorful, and she wondered what significance they held for him. But he offered no explanation of them, instead explaining how he came to know Kontinese, and Pavi also. It seemed strange to her, as she had been raised by her mother and grandmother only. She had never met her father, and no men had resided in their household, ever. So the idea of fathers and mothers and their various lovers was very foreign to her. But she knew the many different races of the world had many differing customs, so she did not spend too much time thinking about what the boy had just said.

His observation about the weather, though, and the raindrops which she too was just beginning to feel, made her nod again. “I think you’re right. It looks like it will be coming down pretty steadily in just a few minutes. Do you think we will make it all the way to the studio before we get soaked?” Ils’a herself didn’t ever mind getting wet but she thought perhaps humans would feel differently.

Her guide had begun to walk and she fell into step beside him, fat raindrops pattering on the paved road and on their heads and shoulders as well. Ils’a cast a sideways glance at her new companion, and asked, “Might I know your name? I’d like to know who I have to thank for showing me my way.”

[Nico]

The mixed blood wiped away the awfully wet drops from his face and put his hand back in his pocket. He didn't really mind some rain, but the most uncomfortable thing was that clothes would get wet. Suddenly the light rain made a change and came crashing down with big force and made the Mixed Blood sigh. He shook his head slightly and groaned. "I never like water... And if you really care, my name is Nico." he grunted, not comfortable telling people his name for some unknown reasons. Blankly focusing at his direction, but time after time staring at passing people, he finally was 'interested' enough to ask a question he asked most of the travelers. " Why did you come to Nyka?". Some would take the tone of his voice mocking, or even threatening if someone just randomly met him at the gates, a evening, without light. He knew this himself, sure, but he didn't really notice this himself. The blonde man looked at the Konti with the same emotionless face he was not aware of. If she was smart, she knew that Nyka was a violent place and all, but travelers come to Nyka just because of the beautiful city itself. The city was nice daytime with all the nice buildings and quarters, sophisticated people and some views. And at night everyone was asleep while Leth looked over the bloodstained city. Not denying that he, himself was also one of the men with blood on his hands and he had of course tried to wash it away... He looked down on the flooding street seeing only a few rain drops crashing to the ground and then it stopped. The blonde was relieved even if it wasn't notable. The blonde quickly ruffled his hair and wiped away some water from his face, then turning around the corner, almost tripping over a wooden box. He silently cursed and regained his balance, instinctively brushing off his clothes before looking around if anyone saw. Of course, no one else than Ils'a. His gaze moving at the ground close to the box, looking for something he had dropped. When he finally found the object, he quickly snatched it to himself and put it in his pocket. Not to be mistaken, he took a quick look and put it back in his pocket. No one could be mistaken, a dagger, of course. Nico, being aware of how suspicious it was to walk around with a knife in his pocket, leading a traveler to places he knew that a impression would be shocked. But he didn't know anything about Konti than some language and the tales his father used to tell, so there was no guarantees that the Konti would run away screaming for help. Not that it helped much in this bloody city, he thought but was almost about to take his words back. He looked at the woman, waiting for her reaction. If she saw the weapon, of course. Otherwise he could just turn on his heels and go to the Studio just around the corner.

[Ils'a]

It took no time at all for the preliminary spatters of rain to turn to big drops that splashed all about them, bouncing off the surface of the street, and quickly making Ils’a’s dress damp. Almost at the same moment as the heavens opened up, the boy answered her question and gave his name, though he seemed as ill disposed towards the surrender of it as he professed to be towards the precipitation. But the downpour did not create any sort of milieu that was conducive to conversation so the Konti simply nodded in recognition of his answer, and quickened her pace to keep up with his longer, faster stride.

Nico, however, was seemingly not as preoccupied by trying to escape the rain, and put his own question to the young woman beside him. As Ils’a was not averse to water in any venue, she answered easily enough, raising her quiet voice to be heard over the rainfall.

“I came here out of curiosity, I guess,” she replied, with a shrug of her shoulders. “I want to see some of the different parts of the world. I’ve been in Mura all my life. I though it was time to see something different. Nyka is one of the closest cities to my island, so I chose to begin here.” She was watching Nico as he looked at her, trying to read what level of interest he truly had in hearing her answer, trying to gauge if it was simple politeness that had him asking a stranger this question. He didn’t really strike her as a “polite” sort of young man, though. That is, he didn’t seem to be the kind of person who cared much if people found him polite or rude or however. But his expression told her nothing. It was simply flat and somewhat inscrutable. His tone had seemed perhaps… condescending, superior, but again, as she didn’t know him at all, maybe that was just the way he spoke. It certainly was a common thing to hear in Nyka, that sneering quality to those who had deemed her questions fit to reply to. With a sigh, she left her explanation at that, and almost miraculously, they had not gone another half block when the rain ceased, completely and abruptly.

With her eyes upturned in mild surprise, Ils’a fell a step or two behind her guide, and as she turned the corner to keep up with him, she saw him stumble against the box.

“Oh… “ she let out, an instinctive reaction. But Nico had already righted himself and did not fall. She came up right next to him, and he hesitated, casting his eyes about, obviously looking for something. Again, Ils’a spoke without thinking.

“Did you drop something?”

Almost as if on cue, the boy bent and retrieved the object he sought, and she saw it clearly in his hand. Nico did not appear to make any attempt to be covert about it. Ils’a eyes widened a bit, as Nico slid the knife into his pocket.

Her eyes lifted to his and she said softly, “I guess you found it.” Ils’a stood there, contemplating this stranger, who had offered her help. Had she been foolish to accept it? She was beginning to think that perhaps she was far less well equipped to deal with the world than she had assumed.

Instinctively, she clutched her arms about her chest. They were still on a street that had others traipsing in both directions. She didn’t feel unsafe, exactly. But she didn’t begin to walk right on. It didn’t seem so very odd to think of a young man to wish to be armed, in this risky place. But the sight of the weapon was a bit unsettling.

“Do all the citizens of Nyka go about armed?” she asked quietly. “Is that why you have that?” She nodded at his pocket, indicating the blade within. “For … protection?”

[Nico]

Nico noticed the negatively worried look in the Kontis eyes and that gave him the sign to start explaining, just like many times before. He cleared his voice and looked to the sky, slightly leaning back and chewed on his lip for a second before starting. "I haven't really turned pockets upside-down to see if everyone carries a blade with them, but i guess it's safer to do so. In this city, at least." he said and looked back down at Ils'a. He wasn't really sure if the Konti was stupid enough to believe that he hadn't ever hurt someone, or just kind enough to let it go. At least he didn't kill traveling women which was a nice relief. The mixed blood closed his eyes and sighed before turning around, almost tripping on the box again. "The Studio is just trough there." he noted with a monotone voice and pointed forward between two buildings. "I rather prefer to not come there. I don't believe they like my face so much." he ended his sentence and turned back to Ils'a, looking at her with a slight frown emotion. Was it really smart to let the lost woman continue without guidance or anything? It was a alley, anyway... He rolled his eyes and sat down on the box, patting the pockets of his jacked before leaning to his knees and crossing his fingers. He looked at the ground, then back to the Konti, back to the ground. "I don't think you need assistance anyway. Watch out for creepy people."