Placeholder [Makutsi's Tower] New Blue Man

[Ssezzkero]

50th of Winter 514AV

"You're back." Sezkero made no attempt to hide the scowl in her voice or on her face when she heard the door open. Only one person, over the span of two seasons so far, ever walked into the Temple with such an air of excitement. For Sezkero, who was trying to nap on the cushioned flat of ground near the unlit fireplace, was repulsed by his excitement. She faintly remembered a short discussion about purchasing couches for the Tower when she first joined, but everyone has since lost interest.

"Kero, yes? I am Armath, I don't believe we exchanged names last time, but I learned yours from Kal." He completely ignored her obvious dislike for him, and she could hear the Akalak walking towards her, but she did not turn to greet the man. She could hear him lower himself to sit beside her on the small lounge. It was meant to be a comfortable, out-of-the-way area where people may observe the dances. But, as there were no dances going at the moment, Sezkero snuggled into the pillows and sought a nice long nap to spend her time at work. She hadn't even bothered to light the fire, so she was wrapped up in her cloak, scarf and mittens and had no qualms about her wet boots that rested on the pillows.

"No, we didn't." She confirmed, a shiver taking over her body for a second as the chill of the winter-ey room set in.

"Are you cold? Should we set the fire?" The Akalak seemed eager to help, to participate in the recluse and frigid temple. Usually, Sezkero would have been ecstatic about this observation, but now she just wanted him to go away. Funny how easily she settled into this new personality.

"We don't have any wood. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to wake ssssomeone if they are sssssleeping?" She snapped at the man, closing her eyes once more to try and return to her light slumber. Frankly she was entirely too cold, and simply didn't have the energy to build a fire. Getting to the temple itself in order to get paid was hard enough. She had hibernated, as a snake, for a few winters when she was younger, and with this Riverfall weather, she was seriously considering going out into the wilderness to see if there was a late den she might secure for a long rest.

Even if she was not herself this season, she knew that would be a fatal choice. She had missed the mark in Autumn when she could have made that decision, it would only be a slow and painful suicide now. Of the few benefits of the plague, Sezkero had become more self-aware, which made her realize just how strong her self-preservation was turning out to be. She usually never paid attention to herself, which made her wonder if she had the same conviction to live in seasons prior.

She felt the Akalak stand up from his perch on the edge of her mass of pillows, and a flood of relief replaced the agitation of his presence. She was too tired to listen in search of what he was doing as she walked through the main floor of the Tower without a word. It was not long before the small Iyvess found herself drifting off, comforted by a faint crackling noise not to far from her resting area.

Common | Snake-Tongue | Tukant | Thoughts | PC/NPC Talking

[Ssezzkero]

Sezkero, woke, in surprise, due to heat. She was still wrapped heavily in her winter-wear, but the room was no longer freezing. She could now clearly hear the crackle of fire in the massive hearth not to far from her. For a second, she had to think where she was, before she remembered coming to the Temple and then immediately laying down for a rest. Sleeping on the job was becoming more and more frequent. Hardly anyone actually participated in the upkeep of the religious Tower any longer, so one more wouldn't be noticed. It was already apparent that Sezkero was trying her hardest, let alone at all. She had no doubt that Kal was well aware of his staff's lack of interest in the work they had always been so passionate about.

But last season has proved that as long as she faked it, her Mizas would still come. So the snake yawned, taking a few seconds to fully wake up from her nap before sitting up. She was quick to shed her coat, gloves and scarf, now realizing how hot it was. Someone had started the fire. For a few chimes, the Iyvess simply stared at the fire. Lost in a haze of wishing to return to sleep and dreading the necessity of actually getting to work. So she simply sat a stared, letting her mind wander back into oblivion. It may only a few more bells yet before she can leave. But how many bells...

Sezkero head shifted to allow her to look out the window. It was just after noon, and while the sun, small and bright, was out, she had no deception about how cold it was outside. A thick layer of snow coated the ground and she was no fool to the frigid air of the outside. But the fire raged to her side, and it only helped her remain inside, instead of making the trek home and having to start her own fire.

You have to work now. She reminded her self, finally breaking-free of the just-woken haze that always followed a mid-day nap. Scrambling out from the pile of pillows that served as the temples's makeshift sitting area, Sezkero made her way to the fire, ready to add another log. She might as well start the ones on the upper floors as well, unless whoever started this one had gotten to them already. She could faintly hear the shuffle of feet on stone on the floors above her, so she knew someone would be moving around. She was lazy, and irrational this season. She hated working at the Temple and cringed at any God's name, but her generosity had amplified with the past season. She had always rarely thought of others, but now that she heard someone moving up stairs and imagined the chill that might be upstairs, she felt the need to help them.

The snake stood, leaving her coat where it was, but wrapping the scarf around her neck once more. She kept her boots on, even though the floor may not freeze her feet, the stone had so far proven it wasn't going to be comfortable this season.

Shuffling over to the opposite end of the hearth, Sezkero opened a cabinet that nestled into the wall. It was just a closet for logs to be stored, and inside was proof of the Temple's collection during the summer and spring seasons. The store had not been as big as it could have been, few had thought to bring in logs to completely fill the closet during the Fall, but at least they still had some. The firs thing she pulled from the closet was a small bundle of tinder, to start it with, and a pairing of flint and steel. She placed these aside briefly, selecting four logs that she could carry easily, and then piling the tinder and flint-and-steel on top to bring upstairs.

With a bump of her hips, she closed the opening in the wall and turned to trudge up the stairs.

Common | Snake-Tongue | Tukant | Thoughts | PC/NPC Talking