Flashback The City of Women [Matthew, Kavala]

[Tydus Tempest]

34 Summer, 508

Tydus was lost in the midst of what looked to be an ocean above the water. The Pale Ladies, as Tydus had taken to calling them, were obviously artisans of the highest caliber. Their structures carried with them a beauty that Tydus, in his travels about Sylira, had never before seen, but even then, it paled in comparison to what he knew. Pretty sights and glorious mockery of the oceans abound, Tydus preferred being on the seas rather than pretending. Of course, from what he had seen, as well, he noticed that the Pale Ladies made their home in the sea, as well, structures delving underwater and infusing into the sea itself, which was where Tydus' heart sank with yearning. A frown pursed his lips as he made his way about, his podmate, Mikaal, trailing behind him by several steps. Tydus heard Mikaal's voice, but it was garbled as if the boy was underwater. It was only when the younger Tempest shouted, "TYDUS!" that the elder Svefra finally answered.

The Tempest's ears rang with the volume of the Svefra's shout, his gaze flickering to each side to realize that several of the Pale Ladies strewn about the surrounding area had turned to stare at Mikaal, the peace and quiet shredded by the force of Fratava. A loud and rather boisterous language to begin with, it did not assist the matter to see Mikaal's frustration arise in the wash of Tydus' scattered thoughts. The Tempest chuckled, turning around and taking several paces forward, lightly punching his podbrother on each shoulder as he replied,

"Ye gotta learn to keep quiet onc'er twice, lad. The pretty girls might not want to talk to us if you continue to cause a fuss. Attract attention to yourself, but in a positive way."

Tydus then paused, gesturing for the Svefra lad to speak his mind,

"Right, right. Sorry, Ty. Anyway, t'was trying to see if you wanted to get a drink. Ye haven't had a sip since the Whitewaters were about, huh?"

Tydus frowned at the mention of the other Pod, vibrant memories rising in his mind, glazing his eyes for the moment as he was taken off again before he shrugged at the younger Tempest. There was no point going over it again. The shrew had taken what she wanted and his heart with her, but it only made it all the more obvious that it was something that was utterly trivial.

Mi's right. I haven't had a drink in forever. Better to steer the ship than stay back at the stern. Mi's got a few good ideas once in a while, but... no. It was my idea. That's how this'll be re-told.

The Svefra chuckled before moving his way towards his podbrother, reaching into the depth of his self, his soul, and drawing from it djed. He welled the djed within his throat as he looked upon his podbrother, a grin marking his features as he said,

"A sip? We'll go for the whole jug, lad. We always do, right?"

The Hypnotism was layered with the effect of triggering an emotional response. He sought to distract Mikaal from the idea, stirring a sense of excitement within his podbrother. The Hypnotism had its intended effect, though perhaps too well. Mikaal had begun running forward, and collided straight into Tydus, a cough escaping the Tempest's lips as he stumbled towards the floor, managing to fling out his arm and catch Mikaal mid-fall. He pulled on the younger Svefra's arm, balancing himself with the use of the boy's body as a level to pull himself upright before he pushed him away.

Tydus shook his head at his podbrother in disappointment before bursting into laughter, a shrug moving his shoulders before he looked to Mikaal,

"Where's the nearest watering hole, anyway? These buildings are nice'n all, but I'd prefer sometin I can identify. If a sober man can't find where to lift 'is mug, how's a drunk going to?"

The Tempests were lost in unfamiliar terrain. Tydus' tapped into the power of his gnosis to check for the distance to the ocean, but found nothing of use.

Damn islands... There's water on EVERY side, can't petching tell which way and how when it's e'ry way and all...

Count: 708.

[Matthew]

Matthew was up quite early on this particular morning. While he had made plans to meet Kavala for the daily exercises that Seth had imposed upon them, he had a few of his own tasks to fit in beforehand. First there was his daily cleansing, consisting of a quick but thorough bath that included soaps and shampoos, oils and lotions. He created a small little fire while he dried, going to the nearby beach him and his companion were to meet at, digging a hole to start the fire in. He stoked the flames and then let them slowly die down to leave a pile of smoldering embers. All of this was a bit of experiment, so hopefully it would turn out well. Cooking was mostly a science in his mind, but he also knew there was a bit of an art to it. He was no good at art.

Finding a piece of driftwood that had been smoothed over time by salt water pounding away at it, he laid out two slabs of fish and about two dozen grape tomatoes, both of which he had purchased from the Bountiful Sea. A small packet of premixed herbs was sprinkled onto both items, something that one of the kind Konti had assembled for him when it was realized how clueless he really was about the undertaking. After everything was arranged, the small piece of driftwood was lowered down into the hole that had once contained the fire. Smoke cured around the raw food and Matthew finished his idea off with a few thick strips of seaweed, harvesting them like Kavala had shown him, laying them over the length of the hole to trap the smoke inside.

The meal had a few different purposes. He wanted to increase his skill in bodybuilding, and part of increasing his skill included the sort of diet that he ate. A few Konti at the Suvai Pavilion had been happy to help suggest a few things, which had led him to creating a meal of smoked fish and tomatoes for himself and his Konti friend. They were apparently both good for giving the body the things it would need to rebuild the damage that a workout would cause. He still had some time until Kavala arrived, allowing him to finish off the last bit of his own personal plans. He went for a quick warm-up jog, warming up his legs and lungs, alternating a brisk walk with a slow run. He only ran a short ways up the beach and then back, just enough to get his body started. Then there was a short session of push-ups and sit-ups, then a few stretches.

When Kavala came to meet him, she would find the curious student attempting to front-flip into the ocean. He had waded out to a depth that wouldn't end with him bumping his head when he tried to flip and failed, something which happened quite a lot. When Kavala appeared though, Matthew would aside his personal training to greet her and show her the breakfast he had tried to prepare for the two of them. She had cooked for him and now he was looking to return the favor. The food would be smoked nicely, though the seasonings would be uneven, betraying his lack of skill. Matthew noticed but didn't really mind, making a mental note for the next time he tried and then wolfing the food down. If Kavala had nothing else she wanted to do, the duo would then take off to begin their now-daily jog. Matthew stripped down to just a pair of simple black shorts, his toned body quickly producing a small layer of sweat as they went.

Their route would take them around the outskirts of the city and then lead them back into it, giving them a chance to slow and catch their breath and relax their burning muscles. He had started to notice that Kavala was the sort to pull a few stares, all of which were admiring, both from Konti and assorted males alike. Recalling some of the questions she had asked him a few nights ago, he wondered if she was completely blind to such stares. It was by pure chance that he overheard questioning words in a foreign language, causing Matthew to pause and glance at Kavala first, then the Tempests.

Svefra? He was familiar with them and their unique markings, having encountered them many a time back in Zeltiva. He stepped up to the small group, a polite smile on his handsome features, thirst for knowledge prompting him to intervene in a shamelessly bold manner.

"Hello. Svefra, I assume? I haven't had much interaction with your race but have heard the language before. I'd enjoy learning sometime. I am Matthew, this is Kavala." He turned, offering Kavala a polite smile and holding her eyes a moment to try and see if this distraction was alright. Turning back to Tydus, he offered a hand to shake, blue eyes flickering back and forth between the Svefra in front of him as he studied their features. He couldn't remember ever having direct interaction with their kind.

[Kavala]

Kavala had gotten used to Matthew in a way she hadn’t expected. He pushed her, like one of her brothers would, but not out of the competitive Denusk spirit (as she called it) but because he was so sharply intelligent that his mind wouldn’t allow him to be idle for long. They had an odd friendship, for certain, one based on desires that were both of the flesh and of the mind. Matthew had thoroughly addicted her to his body. But he was also always game to answer her questions about society which she frequently had being born Drykas and having lived her life out on the grass. So she’d have to say it was beyond the pleasure he often brought and went far more into the cerebral as well.

Matthew was keen to go find out answers to things she did not know, and wanted too, that he had no answers for. His knowledge of navigating society was invaluable to Kavala who barely knew what living in four walls was like. Matthew knew libraries, classrooms, shops, markets, and all the things the Konti didn’t understand. So she often quietly shadowed him, watching him shop, look up facts in the library, or do a hundred other things a child of society would take for granted. That’s why they more often than not spent time on the beach rather than in either of their student quarters.

Kavala’s narrow little floor pallet in her partially sunken quarters left no comfort to Matthew, nor did his dryland bed in his own student dorm give her any comfort. Oh sure, they’d tried it a time or two curled together against bad weather or frightfully hot days… but the beach was by far better. That’s why they had something of a permanent camp there especially in good weather. They ate most meals there, exercised, and studied both their individual courses and the courses they had together.

They had classes together now too, and that gave them something to do that passed the time rather quickly. Kavala had talked Matthew into a beginning auristics class and now that they were getting to the point where they could see the colors around people, she was eager to talk him into wandering around town utilizing it for various things. The class was unorthodox, one given by the research librarian Iva Suna.

They took it every third day and studied in between. Last evening had been a class and one of their first. Iva had just went over some basics. Being one of their first classes, they’d learned that everything had an aura, given off naturally, and that even things that weren’t alive had one. Things that were magical had big auras that shone brightly. And their lessons last night were focused on specific auras – one at a time – in order to isolate and really view. They weren’t supposed to tackle more than one aura at a time. They’d focused on each other’s so far, but that was in a pretty calm environment. As always, Kavala wanted to be challenged in a busy distracting environment where there were lots of people, auras, and noise.

A tavern or a pub would be ideal, but it was something Kavala wasn’t fully comfortable with. The Drykas never had such things, well perhaps only in Endrykas, and she’d never been allowed in. But she was braver with Matthew along. He knew etiquette she had no clues about. It wasn’t that crowds scared her. On the contrary, they thrilled her, but she was a bit wary of embarrassing herself not knowing what to do, how to order, what to drink, and what constituted too much. They just needed people, lots of people, with different wants and needs and intents to read and read again and read yet again until their practice was better.

So she’d headed to the camp once she’d gotten up, dressed, and gathered what she needed for studying that day. Windsong came along, speeding her trip, and giving her an excuse to loiter. Unlike some Konti she didn’t take time on hair, cosmetics, or attire. Kavala liked to dress plainly. There was no need for anything finer. She hadn’t the coin for a wardrobe full of dresses or every sandal type under the sun. Instead she had a simple white linen shirt she wore that looked more suitable for a boy and a pair of white cotton shorts that were rolled at the hems because she was shorter than the person they had originally been intended for. Her hair was swept back and confined with a white leather strip, but by the time she got to the camp it was mostly escaping. She had thing leather sandals on, ones that would come off and affix to her belt as they ran.

Matthew always ran. He was obsessed with his fitness and Kavala went along with it because he couldn’t run without thinking and often he thought aloud when in the company of others. She enjoyed eavesdropping on his thought process, even if it was borderline crazy. The young medical student tended to worry at problems like a dog, circling his thought processes around over and over again until something new struck him. Kavala would often interject, pointing out thing she could see in his logic that might be flawed or overlooked. For one, he was obsessing about Akalak reproduction. He was trying to figure out why they had such low reproductive rates. And he was writing some sort of research on it. So he’d often drift into thinking about that if something wasn’t otherwise capturing his attention. That meant that Kavala could interject at will, making suggestions and offering possible experiments he could try.

It worked out.

So when she came into camp, she wandered around, sniffed at the breakfast he’d prepared, and smiled in pleasure. Windsong was turned loose to graze, and her books and the bit of lunch she’d brought to contribute to food was left by the fire. Matthew had cooked breakfast, she saw. And mmmm it contained seaweed. She loved seaweed. Anything he combined it with tasted delicious in her mind. The Konti never had a lack of an appetite so she often ate far hardier than most women would. Her consumption however was always countered with her activity levels which were high. She was clean so she didn’t need the water, and she contented herself with watching Matthew work on back flips until he grew bored and came from the water. She left half the food for him, but had managed to eat all of hers when he arrived.

“Delicious breakfast. Thanks for thinking of making some.” She commented, while she licked a pointer finger and then swiped at the corner of her lip. Kavala didn't bring up the uneven spice. Her pallet wasn't nearly as educated as Matthew's was. “I brought some lunch items… nothing fancy. But I thought we could hunt later to augment the fruit and vegetables I brought from town.” She added, getting up, and beginning to stretch slightly. She twisted, popping her back, and stretching. Her shirt and shorts almost came off. She didn’t like running in clothing. But then again, if they hit the tavern she’d at least need to be decently dressed. So instead she tied the shirt up in a knot over her breasts, exposing her middle to the cooling breeze.

Kavala didn’t greet Matthew with a kiss or any other sign of affection. Their relationship wasn’t like that. They weren’t dating nor where they really a couple. They were more like good companions that needed no greeting, having grown comfortable in each other’s skin.

“Run?” She asked, knowing he’d want one, and enjoying the view he gave her removing his shirt and stripping down. “I had thought maybe we could hit town today… a busy market place or a tavern… so we could practice viewing isolated auras like Iva wants us to do.” She said, reaching down and grabbing her leg, bending her calf up and stretching first her thighs then calves. Kavala repeated the motion on the next leg, then bent over flat to press her palms into the ground between her legs. Her pony tail brushed the sand and she held her position there for a moment stretching up then back on her toes and heels.

When she stood upright she was ready to run and took off down the beach with Matthew. They did indeed head for town. Windsong followed along curiously for a while before he broke off and headed back to camp where there was tall salt grass to graze on. They chatted easily about the class, what they’d learned, and what sorts of things they could do to practice the new techniques. Kavala suggested the tavern, Matthew agreed, but he knew she was nervous about going herself.

Kavala concentrated on her running. She struck the sand with the balls of her feet and sprang up again with a minimal effort. Her elbows were tucked into her side, her hips moving easily, her shoulders up, supported and tipped slightly back. She breathed deeply, held it a moment, then exhaled as she’d been taught when running. Her swinging hips were moving easily and loosely, far more flexible than they’d been just from riding Windsong. Matthew had seen to that. She paced the longer legged human, having to work a bit harder than he did to keep up. That meant lengthening her stride and stretching as she ran. The technique worked to increase her pace without utilizing more energy and she was able to keep up with him without too much difficulty. It helped too that he shortened his stride a bit. The man was not huge, but he was growing more sleek as the summer progressed and he trained his body to be more fit. She would have called him soft when she first met him, but fitness agreed with the man he’d become.

They were on the outskirts of town when they ran into the Svefra. Kavala offered them a smile, but she was winded as they stopped and she walked slow circles a moment, kicking out her legs and catching her breath before she really attempted any dialog.

“Fine Morning.” She said, nodding to the young group. Her cheeks were flushed and she was breathing hard. Her hands were rested on her hips and she was walking in small circles and rolling her shoulders. Running felt good, but it felt even better to stop after pacing after Matthew’s longer stride.

Count: 1,750 Words

[Tydus Tempest]

The Tempest's frustrations were interrupted by Mikaal, the younger Svefra managing a laugh as he looked to a duo of Konti woman. His gaze moved from the pair back to Tydus, a laugh bubbling from his lips as he stated,

"By Laviku's Seas, they were right, Tydus. They're... beautiful. A whole island of just women? That's the dream, isn't it?"

The Tempest nodded in agreement. He had heard the legends of blonde, aquatic women that inhabited a single island of unparalleled beauty. Flawless faces met with scales which flawlessly and reliable turned to smooth, marble skin were plenty in this place. The Tempest was taken aback by just how true the legend was, considering that he had heard it from Cora.

Guess the bloodletter isn't as crazy as we think he is. He's older than Tatianna. Probably been around a bit more, too. I think... I'll start listening to him a bit more.

Of course, Cora was wiser than he let on, cryptic words that the other Tempests failed to comprehend filling his words, dismissing them as little more than parable and lies for attention as he sputtered about endless and fanatical faith. Laviku was to be revered, but Cora was insane. That much was clear.

The Tempest shook the thoughts free from his mind as he replied to Mikaal, a chuckle sounding once again from his lips as he said, "Try your luck then, Mi. I'll come join you in a little bit."

The Tempest was instead drawn to the Konti accompanying a human male, her attire distinctly different. Set for practicality rather than the flowing clothing that adorned the rest of the Konti, the woman was a sight to see, a grin materializing upon the Tempest's features before he turned to the man.

He spoke to the woman first, nodding slowly in response to her short greeting,

"All teh more wit' you around, love."

It was, after all, only proper form to address the woman, first. The man, Matthew from his introduction, was obviously the more sociable one, the Konti giving him the impression of being foreign. She dressed so different, her voice sounded so different from the giggles that he could hear Mikaal encounter. But, of course.

Whack.

Tydus heard it the short distance away, the younger Tempest obviously striking a nerve with the ladies, his descent from their location slow and downtrodden as Tydus looked to Matthew, instead.

"Aye, lad. Mikaal and I 'ere are Svefra. From teh Tempest Pod. Me name's Tydus, by the way. Anyway, t'is Fratava ye heard, but I'm more interested in both of ye. Yeh both look like yer not from 'round these parts, yet know yer way 'round. Would ye care to show us where we could get a drink? Maybe we can share 'un and share stories."

When Mikaal returned to the Tempests side, Tydus returned his attention to the Svefra, chuckling as he resumed his usage of the Common tongue. A strange language, but he found his understanding of it to be adequate. Mikaal's was, as well, which was the reason Tydus brought him along qith him quite often. The tattoo artist was a suitable wingman.

"No dice, lad? T'is a shame, but come 'ere. We've got some friends I'd like ye to meet. T'is Matthew and Kavala."

Mikaal stepped forward, taking Matthew's and Kavala's hands in turn if they accepted themselves before he said,

"A'm Mikaal, lad and lass. T'is a pleasure to meet ye!"

The red mark from the slap was still visible upon the younger Tempest's face, Tydus chuckling behind his podbrother's back.

[Matthew]

He had never received any formalized classes in auristics. The student had jumped on the opportunity when it was presented. The two personal magics that he knew, he had learned on a whim. He had honed them and grew in them through self-discovery. It was one of the very few things in his life that he looked back on and regretted. It was incredibly interesting to learn magic in a formal way. The art of it all still made him feel cautious, but auristics was one that he had grown to feel comfortable with. The other, not so much. Whatever the case, perusing the city and studying what auras they could stumble across was certainly one of his preferred past-times now. He liked being able to apply official terms to the feats that he performed with the magic. While Kavala was imaginative and looked to push their limits and poke at their restrictions, Matthew was the opposite. He was the cautious one, perhaps the rope that kept her from flying too close to Syna. Sometimes she seemed annoyed by it, sometimes she seemed like she appreciated it. He never really knew if he was making an accurate assumption. He didn't even know if an 'accurate assumption' existed or not.

Kavala drew Tempest attention first, as expected. Matthew was well aware that she was attractive, and the way that she had worn her clothes showed off her body a bit more than usual. He didn't think that was her intention, she seemed to be the sort who valued practicality, it just so happened that practicality was also alluring in this particular instance. While he had expected her to draw some eyes, he hadn't quite been expecting the words that came out of Tydus's mouth. He tilted his head, ragged breaths slowly evening out as he recovered from their jog. The accent was the first thing to throw him off. Was it a regional thing or was it just the man wasn't extremely fluent with Common? Then there were the actual words themselves. The day was more fine with Kavala around?

The Konti would probably catch the curious look that Matthew tossed her, but the young student came to the answer almost the moment that he looked over. It had been a phrase used to flatter and charm. Ah. Ah. It was a casual manner of flirting. He wasn't good at such lines. He didn't have the wit. Apparently Tydus was witty.

His stare flicked from Tydus to Mikaal, locking upon the other Svefra as he approached. Another polite smile was offered, along with a small nod when Matthew returned the handshake. An eyebrow was raised at the red mark on the cheek, the whacking sound of earlier being recalled. Matthew was able to socialize about that sort of thing. "What did you do to get hit?" His tone wasn't mocking, merely curious. He would be more than happy to assist Mikaal in his conquest, though the end goals of the two men would probably be extremely different. He returned his attention to Tydus, another polite smile touching his lush lips as he responded. "I am from Zeltiva. I can't say that I know a location to drink, but I do believe we have wine back at our own personal camp. If you are willing to help us catch the food, I don't think we would mind sharing it." Another glance was cast over to Kavala, silently checking to make sure the sudden change in plans was okay with her. Most of their time together had actually been spent alone, now that he thought about it. The rules of interaction changed quite a bit when more people were added to the fray.

He was particularly interested in the dynamic of adding two more males to the group. He and Kavala weren't at all committed or anything of the sort, but he still pondered. Should he stake a claim? Was that appropriate? Would it be pleasing to his Konti associate? He didn't really have a claim, so that wouldn't make any sense. He nipped his lower lip, eyes growing distant. Perhaps he should hold her hand? No, that was more romantic. Grab her rear? No, too sexual. His mind twisted and turned, running over every little possible idea that he could. How best to please his partner, even in a social scenario that was as simple as this? Surely there was something that would satisfy her.

It was perhaps a dangerous line to walk, though his mind would not understand it. Not only did he seek to learn how to please their physical needs, he looked to please needs that were perhaps intimate. The line between being clear with his partner and leading them on was a very fine one.

Kavala had been given the final say when it came to escorting them to their camp. It was better that way, mostly because she was a lot better at navigating the island than he was. By the time they started to move, wherever they started to move to, Matthew would have made up his mind. He would be found beside Kavala, hips almost touching as they walked, just a bit closer than he normally was. It was a subtle thing that might not even go noticed, but he was curious of the effects. Instead of being apart, they could now be seen together. Not holding hands, which would signify a relationship, but not so far apart that their relationship was obviously platonic. It was something in-between.

[Kavala]

Kavala was slightly flattered that the young man addressed her first instead of Matthew. That would have not been the case had she been home among her people. Women were dismissed, afterthoughts, and the men did all the business together. But she was sure he was speaking to her because he looked right in her eyes and nodded to her greeting. She probably would have put more effort into it had she known he would be paying attention.

But for the life of her she couldn’t understand what he said. Kavala tilted her head and struggled with the thick accent. She started to ask him to repeat himself, embarrassed to have to do so, when a loud whack was heard.

All attention turned from her towards another of the seafarers’ kind that seemed to be in some sort of difficulty. He spoke again and she thought she caught a name. Mikaal? Tydus? She wasn’t sure which she heard assigned to him and she glanced at Matthew, hoping he was catching all of it.

Common wasn’t her first language. It was obvious to her that Common wasn’t the svefra’s either. He had a foreign accent that was both a delight to listen to and somewhat baffling because he pronounced nothing the right way. She heard him say the word round or around a few times and that made her even more curious. Kavala wished for a moment he’d slow down his speaking so at least she could catch more of what he was saying.

And sadly Kavala missed the flirtation completely. She did catch Matthew’s raised eyebrow and would definitely ask him why later. She returned his look with a baffled shrug. It might be obvious to one or both men she hadn’t caught more than a word or two of Tydus’ dialog.

The man raised his voice at the end of his second round of speech and it sounded a lot to Kavala like he was asking a question. She glanced at Matthew again, this time lifting her eyebrows in silent appeal. Her hands automatically flickered in grassland sign, tracing the gesture for confusion, which was something Matthew had seen from her before. Kavala talked with her hands to drive home her point or add emotions to her common words which clued Matthew in on what she as really saying. As soon as he’d started to assign mental states or emotions with the handsign, he’d started understanding more of what the Konti was really saying. For example, if she was hungry and said so, often she’d flash the sign for excited or happy if he was cooking.. If no one had done so, she’d sometimes make a separate gesture without realizing it, one that without a doubt said that she was cooking and there was no questioning it. That was the sign for resolve or resolved. She had signs for questions too… unconsciously formed with her hands when she spoke. I’m hungry, coupled with another question, was either an inquiry as to whether or not he wanted to cook or if he was cooking soon.

But unfortunately Tydus had no such exterior clues so Kavala needed Matthew to interpret. And thankfully he did, asking about the boy being struck first and then telling Tydus where he was from. Kavala expected Tydus had asked her the same thing so she answered promptly too. “Endrykas and the Sea of Grass. I’m sorry, but Pavi is my first language and with your accent I’m having trouble understanding you.” Kavala admitted, her accent thick too and her eyes apologetic.

It seemed Matthew invited the strangers to their camp. She was used to the cadence and tone of her friend’s voice. It was soothing in a way and reassured her that all was well even after the younger man seemed to be trying to get into trouble down the dock. Kavala nodded, knowing this was proper. Among the Drykas, welcome was always given strangers of another clan. “We have food and wine there, yes. You would be more than welcome.” She added, smiling slightly and suddenly glancing at Matthew who seemed distracted.

Kavala noticed something was amiss with Matthew immediately. He just seemed to withdraw for a few moments, leaving the group mentally though he was standing right there. Kavala had no idea why, but he was doing that thing he did with his eyes where he retreated into thought. Kavala knew the expression well and wondered what it was he was mulling over in his mind.

She turned to Tydus. “We were on our way to do some … study. But if its wine and relaxation you want, we would be glad to open up our fire and offer you that.” Her voice dropped and she glanced around, sure of what to say next but not sure it would be received well. “The places to socialize here are… filled with women. They will stare and make excuses to come speak with you. If one does not, then another will, repeatedly and you will get no relaxation. There are… not many males here. Two together without women would be exceedingly pleasing to the women here.” She added, not realizing that was probably exactly what Tydus was looking forward too. In Kavala’s mind it was annoying and embarrassing to see her fellow Konti make such a fuss over men who were not already escorted. Half the time she decided that’s why Matthew kept her so close. She was his buffer, in a way, to temper out the women who’s attention was unwanted.

And she never asked if he went out without her when he wanted such attention. It was not her right. Both Matthew and Kavala had come to an agreement long ago. She had obligations with her family and would return to The Sea of Grass to marry as a second or third wife sooner or later. And he, in turn, had promised no possessiveness and no messy relationships. All in all it was working out. And even if she had no right to it, Kavala noticed and was pleased when Matthew crowded her and staked a subtle claim over her just by his proximity.

She reached out and took Matthew’s arm politely and companionably. To her it seemed to solve his need to get close and stake a claim even if he wasn’t admitting it to himself. That was what he was doing right? Or was it something else? The Konti furrowed her brow and turned to Tydus again, deciding she’d flirt a bit with the Svefra anyhow… maybe even enjoy getting a bit drunk.

“You are from the sea, no? Svefra? I’ve never seen your people because my pavilion was not one that traveled close to the shores. We roamed the interior. Will you tell me something of your peoples? Then perhaps I can share something of mine with you if you have an interest.” She added. Her gaze slide over to Tydus’ younger companion. She offered him a kind smile and added another incentive. “I’m a healer as well. I can take the ege off a bruise or scrap if you need some care.” She added, smiling and then jerking her chin to indicate a direction.

“Camp is this way if you want to join us.” She added with a soft smile, indicating north up the beach away from town.

Count: 1,227

[Tydus Tempest]

Surprise materialized upon the elder Svefra's features as he listened to both of the strangers. As they spoke, the first, Matthew by introduction, moved closer to the lovely Konti lass, an inward chuckle present in his thoughts. Mikaal, who noticed the same gesture, was not so subtle, quickly raising his hand to his mouth to cover the suppressed laugh that choked through him. In his own culture, if any of the Svefra men had bothered to attempt some sort of claim over a woman, they'd be met with laughter and pushed over the edge of the boat and made to swim back.

The concept was laughable. Claiming a woman, or rather, claiming a person was something that was utterly ridiculous in the Svefra's eyes. The nature of the 'normals', one set on the principle of property and claim, ownership and marriage... It all made very little sense to him, and thus, though the Tempest scion understood Matthew's purpose behind what he did, he ignored it, instead listening to their polite invitation. Words immediately followed others, and though the Konti lass seemed to resent her fellows for their attachment to other males, the Tempest both understood it and would, later, perhaps seek to manipulate it. Mikaal, however, seemed much more prone to not waiting and looked to Tydus to speak. Fratava, the natural verse of the Svefra, flowed from Mikaal's lips as Tydus set out to listen,

"Why should we set out with only ONE woman when we can have the whole set, Tydus? Let's refuse their invitation and keep trying! You know you want to..."

And he did. The Tempest was sorely tempted to accept Mikaal's invitation and spend the night being overwhelmed by sheer numbers of Konti women, but there was something about the two before him that intrigued the Tempest. Something that he could perhaps take advantage of. Possibilities lingered within the Tempest's thoughts, the term study brought about rather flippantly in his opinion, and Tydus, despite himself, found that there were perhaps greater works in place than the pursuit of women this evening. Mura was there and the Tempests, for the moment stuck on the island and attempting to fix their state of predicament, were not going anywhere. Despite the lingering desire to soothe the burns of past relations with the sweet kisses of foreign women, Tydus decided that he could, in fact, wait a night before this. The Konti weren't going anywhere.

"Not this time, Mi. I think I'll set out with these two and go for a drink. Seem like an interesting sort to pass up. Save me a lady and I'll see if I can come back in time to close a deal. If not, then they're all yours."

The elder Tempest's heart nearly broke at the stark realization that he was releasing what was a certain night of pleasure for an uncertain and mysterious possibility, but Tydus, unlike his podmate, was the sensible one in the situation. One night of pleasure could be sacrificed for the sake of cultivating a relationship and an understanding between people. It was something that he was taught years before, that the connections between people, the understanding that they shared and the intricate, fragile webs that connected them to each other and to the rest of those in their vicinity could be observed. More so, they could be plucked and manipulated. A powerful speaker, let alone a Hypnotist, could tear at the fabric of those strings, sever them and replace them with new ones. Or, he could strengthen some and add himself into the mix in order to cultivate an advantageous situation.

Though Tydus had no intention of attempting to manipulate just the sort of people who offered him the drink that he desired and the conversation that he craved, the reality was there, the thought process of what could perpetually earn Tydus Tempest the advantage was consistently and inexorably flowing through his mind. And it was that fact that turned him away from the sweet, black desires of pleasure in the arms of certainty. It was too simple and too easy to simply join Mikaal in his pursuits.

"I'll see you later, brother. Have fun 'fishing.'"

Mikaal smiled politely to the woman before shaking his head,

"I'm sorry, lass. I think... I'll stay around here. Tydus has always been more of the talker in these sorts of..."

He didn't quite finish his thought before Mikaal caught the gaze of yet another pretty young Konti, and off he went, out into pursuit of the inevitable. Tydus, on the other hand, was listening to the Konti's words. Several stuck to him with each bout of speaking, primarily the term 'Pavi', the earlier term 'study', and the rather subtle flirtation that he caught from Kavala's tone. The smile easily wore into the Tempest's features, and he decided, for both her sake and Matthew's, that he would slow down his speaking.

Fratava was a fast-paced and a language lacking in eloquence. It was the verse of the trader, who sought to quickly and efficiently handle business transactions before moving to the next one. The verse of the sailor, who required a clear, cutting tone to carry well over the crashing tides of the ocean and fill the ear drums with commands to carry forward and through any storm. And, it was the verse of the Svefra, a very boisterous, loud people who spoke the language as their own, claiming it and sharing its efficiency with the world, despite their dislike for other sailors and their tendency to avoid avoid traditional, currency exchange and stick to the bartering exchange that ran the Svefra lifestyle.

It was an adjustment to speak Common, and so, as the Tempest parted his lips again, his words took a much slower flow, the accent still cutting into his words, though perhaps they would be better understood.

"I think I'll have to 'pologize for Mi, there. Been nearly a season at sea with no one around 'cept the Pod and the one encounter with teh' Whitewaters. So, he's, understandably, a bit excited about meeting lots of women. But, I'll kindly accept yer invitation to yer camp fire."

Looking directly towards Kavala, the Svefra nodded, intent on sharing with her what it was to be Svefra,

"Aye, lass. A'm a Svefra. Born and raised on teh sea, ar' people tend to live freely. Love freely. Our lives carry on teh tides above the waters, at the mercy of Laviku's waves and creatures and Zulrav's blessed winds. We revel in these mercies due to teh fact that we love teh two of 'em, but primarily, we love one n'other. If we die at teh sea, we die wit everything we love right next to us. T'is, in me opinion, the only way to live."

The Svefra nodded as Mi made his way off, enrolling himself in conversation with the woman he had chosen as the Tempest waited for the Konti and 'normal, Kavala and Matthew, to lead him towards their camp.

"Love to learn more about yer people, too. But you two said you were studying? You tickled my curiosity a bit. What're ye tryin to learn?"

Fratava | Hypnotic Fratava | Common | Hypnotic Common | Vani

[Matthew]

Matthew had noticed that Kavala seemed to struggle a bit with the accent, which led him to wonder why he had been able to understand it. It was curious to the ear, but not too hard to puzzle through. Perhaps it was because they both weren't familiar with Common as a first language? Or perhaps it was because he had heard the Svefra tongue before, though he was pretty sure the accent had varied wildly? Matthew nodded at Kavala's shrug, noting that she hadn't made the same connection that he had. He would be sure to inform her later, as she would probably find the knowledge quite interesting. He would have to dissect and simplify his information before presenting it to her. He had learned that her eyes began to glaze over once he was a couple dozen sentences into his analysis of something. He appreciated that she made the effort to listen nonetheless. The hand symbol was also noted and Matthew furrowed his brow briefly, thinking back over the motions that she had shown him and he had asked about. It didn't take very long for him to make the connection, recalling past experiences and applying the knowledge. He flashed the same sign back to her, notably more awkward with his motion. He was just as confused as she was when it came to certain parts of their interactions with the Svefra, though he was eager to puzzle it out. It was quite interesting to experience an interaction with people from such a variety of cultures.

Mikaal's chuckle wasn't at all missed, but Matthew was so completely clueless about the context behind it that he could even begin to be insulted. He practically wasn't capable of feeling insulted in the first place, just because of the way his mind worked. The men had began to converse again in their native tongue, giving Matthew another moment to retreat back inside of himself.

Kavala had assumed right when it came to Matthew and the attention that he could receive. He was naturally blessed with good looks and was often hit on. He took no pride in it though, and had recently started to become annoyed by it. At first it was a way to practice flirting, to hone his knowledge and applied skill. With Kavala though, he had a companion who he could attempt to flirt with at any point. It was helpful to have a single person to work with then to have to practice on a random variety of test subjects. Ever since having the beautiful Konti woman accompany him during most of the day, most advances from other women had became slightly annoying. They had stopped rather quickly though. Perhaps because of Kavala's presence? The thought hadn't actually occurred to him before now so he clung to it, making a mental note to explore it later.

Kavala thankfully took his slim and defined arm, allowing him the comfort of knowing that this distance was a pleasing one. If she hadn't, he probably would have ended up endlessly adjusting his distance from her by half-a-step or so throughout their entire walk back to camp. What was most-likely a simple gesture to her was one that he was actually quite thankful for, as it gave him an instant result to his over-thought experiment. Now, what if Kavala began to flirt with the Svefra or the Svefra decided to flirt with her more? Was this enough? Would it be best if he tried to express some form of jealousy, or was silent confidence enough? He had seen a few women who enjoyed seeing men who fought over them. It seemed slightly silly to him, but every woman was different. That same idea was probably best applied in this situation as well. Everyone was different. It was best to just observe a bit more before making any sort of assumption and then basing an action upon that.

Mikaal politely declined, Matthew offering the man a small nod and a polite smile. Tydus began to speak and Matthew listened, thankful for the new tone that the man had started to use. It was easier to follow and reminded him of how the Svefra he had met back home spoke. Kavala's gesture in the direction of their campsite had jogged Matthew's memory, so the human set off in a steady pace back to their little retreat. This was the first time they had shown it to someone else, he thought. He didn't really have an opinion about the fact one way or the other, it was just something that was absentmindedly noted. Matthew did a lot of that. It would only be in the years to come that he would slowly begin to learn to focus the speedy blur of a dozen thoughts at once. One of the trains of thought was already racing through all the information that Tydus had revealed about his kind while another was preparing to respond.

"Quite a few things, actually. I am from Zeltiva and study medicine there. I took a season to come here to help support those studies. Herbalism, philtering, a bit of horseback riding, anatomy, medicine and other related topics." He naturally left out some of the more intimate details of their studies, the thought not even really occurring to him. It was a private thing so he instinctively and easily kept it in a private section of his thought process. The magical studies weren't mentioned merely because he had always been taught to keep such abilities a secret. He certainly wouldn't be offended if Kavala revealed them, though.

He didn't say much after that, just went quiet and focused on remembering how to get back to camp. Eventually they would find themselves walking on a sandy shore, the young student fairly certain he was headed in the right direction.

[Kavala]

Kavala watched Tydus curiously. He had a swagger that was something she’d never seen before and an easy grace that bespoke confidence or cockiness, a combination of traits she couldn’t decide between. When he gave her a title to his people, Kavala nodded thoughtfully.

Svefra. It made sense. They were roamers on the water, part fish if the legends of her people taught her correctly, and people who put great value on blue eyes. She studied Tydus’ orbs and decided the trio made an interesting group because they were all blue eyed. Laviku’s favor? Kavala wondered if it were so.

Tydus began to speak again and Kavala listened closely. Ahh… the other Svefra was going to meet women? The Konti nodded. When she spoke, her accent was tinged with Pavi. And she had to release Matthew’s arm to make a few gestures to go with her words. “Yes. I don’t think you need to apologize. The women of the city will be excited to have a new male in the city. Is he here hoping to bed one? I suspect he will get lots of offers before the night is through. Or did you mean he’s come to find a wife? There are quite a few looking for that as well. If he has no luck on his own, I could introduce him to some of the Konti I know that wish a way to leave their mothers and get out of this place. It is quite a common occurrence here.” Kavala said, perhaps in a misguided attempt to reassure the man that his friend would be in good hands.

Kavala tilted her head at Tydus’ next words. “Is not everyone free to life as they want and love as they will?” The Konti asked, not really following the rest of what he said. They loved to die? Or were free to die when they loved too? Gods, she wished he’d slow down. She liked the way his voice sounded, but he was confusing to listen too.

“I’m trying to learn everything I can. Medicine, herbalism, poison, even magics if I can get class approval. It is my year to expand and make myself marketable before I return to my home and I take a second or third wife position somewhere. So far… Mura has been very helpful. Even Matthew is teaching me things… about the city, how to negotiate things like libraries, cooking… even sex.” Kavala said with a grateful smile towards Matthew. She had such lovely friends, even if they did have some personal hang-ups like giant emotional roadblocks.

“So what about you? Do you and your… Pod come here to trade or is it just for women? I know my people must move about to make sure the animals don’t graze the grasses down too much. But what causes your people to move? I have heard your kind can sail all of Mizahar on a whim. If that was true, I think Mura would be the last place I would come. Too many women…” Kavala said with a shudder then a slight chuckle.

She adjusted surreptitiously Matthew’s course so they wouldn’t miss the access to the beach and then took the correct fork in the trail that lead down to the bay where they were staying. Kavala’s horse was lurking in their camp, cat-napping in the sun. He opened one eye and snorted before dropping his buckskin head and going back to sleep once he noticed it was only his mistress and two men returning If nothing needed chasing off, Windsong was fully committed to killing time in Mura sleeping.

Like any good Drykas woman, Kavala paused at the entrance to their camp and welcomed Tydus with full Drykas hospitality. She raided their stash of fruit, offering him a bowl, and then handing him a wineskin that held one of the better wines Matthew had recommended she get in the city.

The Drykas drank mead and fermented horse milk that was strong, so wine was a rare treat for Kavala and one she’d taken to nicely on Mura. “Be welcome to our camp. Drink of our drink and feast of our food. And may the grasses be always tall and the winds always fair.” She added, roaming around restlessly fussing. Kavala got the fire going though there was no need in the heat. If they wanted to cook, it woudn’t have to be waited on.

The camp consisted of a alcove overlooking the sea. Two, almost three, walls were made appropriately of a rock shelf that rose up to form a cliff above them. Two large driftwood logs had been dragged up from the firmer sand – most likely by the horse – and placed in a half circle to enclose the rest of it. There was a large firepit with a tripod sitting above it. The log provided ample seating for quite a few people, and there was a chest with stores in it that could be moved back and forth. The chest currently held on its cover most of Windsong’s tack. A makeshift clothesline was strewn about off to the left where a path lead to a freshwater creek that drained out into the bay. A small refuse pile littered the other side of the camp, primarily made up of clam shells, crab legs which had been cracked open and the delicate meat removed, and other assorted ofal. It looked like it was something that was either buried or hauled away periodically.

Two temporary writing desks were erected at one end of the camp using stones and flat wooden boards. Writing materials were stored under them in waterskin bags. Behind the desks up against the rock wall where the fire would reflect heat and warm stone all night, was a large pallet that was well big enough for two. The place looked a lot like sort of nest for students not interested in remaining in the city.

“Are you hungry beyond fruit? We could put on a stew or something…” Kavala said, hesitating a little because Matthew was clearly the better cook. She didn’t want to offer to have him cook if he didn’t want too and her food might not be up to the stranger’s standards.

[Tydus Tempest]

Free love was by and far more complicated in the words of those that enchained themselves to the concept of marriage. Tydus disagreed that anything could be truly free and liberated if consequences were present for tipping away from that love in order to give it space to nurture and grow. It was what the Tempest had learned and why the Goddess of Love, despite Tydus being quite unable to remember her name, did not overlook the Svefra and their lifestyle. Tydus had a retort for Kavala's question, an answer to protest her opinion, but he decided that it was best to keep it to himself.

Besides, both Matthew and Kavala had offered perspective on exactly what they were studying here. Both went in with the study of medicine, which while intriguing, Tydus was quite unable to keep a vested interest in. His mind did not work in the way where he could find himself responsible for the health of another person, merely their pleasures and their feelings. Anatomy was an interesting concept as well, but it was what Kavala said, about magic that most drew Tydus' attention. The Tempest child was a practitioner of Hypnotism, an art that Tydus knew was magic, but never truly labeled as such. Tydus believed that magic was something that must be learned and studied intensively, and for him, and with Hypnotism, it was simply not the case. He learned it intrinsically, through use and social experimentation. And he found that he was rather talented at it.

However, the possibility of learning another magic was not one that he would deny himself of. A surprised smile graced the Tempest scion's lips as he turned towards Matthew, the reply upon his lips emerging easily, though once more, his tone was carefully metered in his attempt to encourage understanding of his accent. His ocean-blue eyes denoted bright curiosity, a match to his body posture, which showed his attention to the matter. Like Kavala, his hand gestures accompanied his words as he motioned about towards the camp that the two had made,

"And you two look so prepared tah study! T'is something that I never have the chance to do on the Fist. Me pod and I are here to re-stock and repair our ship. We've been at sea for a while, just sailed south from the frozen northern waters. Apparently, we're going ta head back up there in the future, but fer the moment, we're here to stay. I'm one of the few in the pod that bothers speaking Common, and I always like ta speak more to learn how to speak it better."

His words were candidly spoken, his hands moving towards the sea as he described his journey before returning to point at himself, a smile gracing his lips as he took the fruit that Kavala offered him, but he did not yet partake,

"Ye're studying medicine and anatomy? And,

The Tempest motioned to Kavala before continuing,

"Kavala here mentioned the study of magic? T'is an interesting subject. One I've never been able to discuss with me podmates. But, there was a man I knew in teh past... He studied a magic. T'was an interesting journey, that one."

Afterwards, Kavala offered additional hospitality, and an alternative to fruit. Tydus had no idea what stew was, but as he looked to their surroundings, noting the presence of three rock walls, a rather strange formation in it of itself, and the presence of the ocean nearby, a smile graced the Tempest's features.

"Do ye eat fish? I could help, if you do. Some fish caught straight from Laviku's seas and served right away makes for a good meal over a campfire. Can't say that I'm the best cook, but I could call a few fish for someone else to cook if ye'd like."

The Tempest was comfortable in the current climate. Matthew seemed to be edging to and away from Kavala as the trio spoke, but the Tempest paid it no mind. He was here to enjoy himself. If he wanted a woman, he'd just follow Kavala's likely unintended advice and go 'fishing' for one. A guaranteed catch was no fun, but at the end of the night, pleasure was the most important thing.

Good thing the night wasn't over yet.

Tydus took a bite of an apple that was offered to him as he cast his gaze over to the ocean, his thoughts geared toward how the rock walls, rather unnatural in their formation, closed off the view of the ocean in its entirety. But, he'd ask about them later.

For now, he would listen.

Fratava | Hypnotic Fratava | Common | Hypnotic Common | Vani