Closed [Temple] Closer Things [Piraen]

[Valdar Aretino]

30 Spring 514 AV
Temple Courtyard

Misery and Company made themselves at home on the lump in the blankets that was Valdar Aretino. Misery, mostly black, was sprawled out on the man's messy-haired head, and Company, mostly white, slept curled up on his stomach like a lady. These moments with his cats were something Valdar would never admit he enjoyed, but he treasured them.

Reluctantly, the man scooped the cats up off him. First went Mis, who posed a threat to his sight if he was allowed to continue sleeping on his head. After setting the black cat down, he picked up Nee and gently set her back on his bed, giving him time to get up.

When Valdar finally stood up and stretched out with a yawn, catlike in appearance as he did so, he took his sweet time getting dressed in simple pants and a shirt. Boots were next, followed by a petting session with Mis and Nee. He still wasn't sure exactly when or how the nicknames had came up, but it was easier to call them Mis and Nee than it was to call them Misery and Company. Their names had come to him on a whim after hearing someone repeat the phrase 'misery loves company' to a moping man during a visit to the Temple one day, and it stuck with him.

Oh, shyke. The Temple!

Visiting the Temple to pray to Rhysol was a ritual for Valdar, a tradition started when he was very small that continued into his adolescence and beyond. Three times a season (on the 30th, 60th, and 90th days) he would visit the Temple of the Black Sun to show reverence to the god Rhysol. He'd almost forgotten this morning because he was sleepy, but now he needed to make haste to the inner city.

Pulling his nice black coat over his shoulders as he walked out the door-and, of course, giving Mis and Nee one last scratch-Valdar set off for the Temple.

[Piraen Saneka]

Piraen watched a group of birds circle the top of the temple. They dipped and weaved around some unseen obstacle course. Occasionally one bird would fly off to the side. This was a short-lived adventure, though, because the group would swoop over and collect their missing part. Pi thought it was amazing; an upwards of thirty animals moving as though they were one creature. Watching them almost made up for the fact that he himself could not fly.

Hiding who he was has always been a part of Piraen's Ravokian life. At first, it was necessity; if a slaver caught him before his papers were finalized, all his hopes of owning a shop were shot. After he was an official citizen, pretending to be human was more for comfort. Ravok ran rampant with prejudice, and Pi was sure that not many Ravokians would give their business to a new Kelvic over those at Azure. If making his dreams a reality meant deny part of who he was, Piraen would just have to live with that.

Pi turned his eyes back to the courtyard. He often found himself here not only for the bird watching, but for the people watching as well. It was a strange habit he had, and he wasn't quite sure where he had picked it up. Perhaps it was from his mother's acting lessons in Alvadas, or from his time wandering. Though those might have contributed, Piraen thought the habit originated from his bestial form, the kite. Thanks to his kelvic genes, the tailor was able to see miniscule details, track movements far easier than a human, and see ultraviolet colors. It would surely be a waste not to put those skills to use.

Piraen smiled slightly as a boy began to dance spastically nearby. Obviously, the child was bored. The lanky toddler wildly swung his arms and stomped his feet, whining at the adult next to him. This caused Pi to laugh, which, in turn, caused the boy to look over. The pair locked eyes for a couple ticks. The child stared at Pi as though he were a new toy, his eyes rife with curiosity. He took a small step forward, and that was that; Pi quickly turned his head away, and the boy's wrist was snagged by the adult.

Pi heard the boy's fast words of fascination as he was dragged away. Clearly, he had never seen a kelvic before. Though Pi was relieved that he didn't have more noticeable kelvic features, he was no fool. If one looked at him long enough, they'd connect the dots: disproportionately long arms, nonexistent scleras, the nervous twitch caused by excessive movements...

Piraen looked back at the boy as he exited the temple's yard. The boy stomped, pointing back over his shoulder. Pi shook his head, thankful that the adult pulled the boy away when they did. Explanations were awkward. Pi watched the boy make one more motion of desperation before they stepped onto the walkway, almost hitting a fast-moving man as he exited the walkway into the temple.