[Flashback] Look at all the People

[Talya]

Timestamp: Summer 79, 513 AV The day was young, and as was often the case within the city of Ravok, it was warm. Not unnaturally so, or even uncomfortably slow, but warm all the same. The sky was left a pale blue, smattered with the occasional fluffy white cloud, which looked as though it could have been a sheep with all of its limbs cut off. The pale yellow sun ran between them, ducking behind in its own game of hide and go seek, with an opponent unknown to the quiet world far below. Talya sat on the roof of her apartment building, on top of the small ridge that had been erected to help keep small children from running off if they somehow found themselves alone on the roof. Her body was bathed within the sun's light, which seemed only to bleach the shade of her dress even further. Her dark eyes narrowed as they swept over the city which rested beneath her- the weavings of canals and apartments, the coming and goings of various people, with faces and forms, but no names. A part of her wondered what they were up to, and where they were going, but the larger portion didn't so much as care. The Ethaefal was simply happy to have found a quiet corner, a place where she could be alone. A place where she wasn't likely to be found, as not many ever bothered to look up, and take in the entirety of their surroundings. A place where she wasn't going to face any hardship for being whom and what she was. A place, where she could have peace, and perhaps, even a chance to study and practice some of the things she knew. A place to think. If she wanted. But Talya wasn't quite so sure that that was what she wanted. At least, not today. Today, she had an urge to keep on learning, and urge to practice, and so she would. So, she took a deep breath in through her nose, and out through her mouth, before looking down at all the people down below her, walking across a nearby bridge, which led from one end of the canal, to the other. These folks, she decided, would be her subjects for the day. Or at least, until she grew tired. Or even, bored. Talya took another deep breath before concentrating deeply on a middle aged man who was walking across the bridge. A man with dark brown hair, cropped into a mushroom sort of cut, with long bangs. A stranger with tanned skin, and a short stature. A man with a pot belly, and a jolly looking face, who wore a simple leather jerkin, with a white shirt beneath that, a belt, and long brown trousers. Trousers so long and loose that they fell unpleasantly out of their tuck at the top of his suede leather boots. The Ethaefal closed her eyes for an instant, before slowly opening them as the colors awakened; one of the three magical disciplines she knew, that of auristics. As she hadn't had much practice, she could only study one aura from a time, and she chose that of this man. A thin, misty veil rising around his form, silhouetting him as he went about his business. But it was something only she could see, as far as she knew. The misty veil was a pale yellow in shade. It seemed to have various hues to it, although, they were all pastel, and generally, washed out. As though they had been distilled with water, or something of that sort.

[Talya]

Talya wasn't quite sure what it meant, as she was still just beginning to learn the art of reading auras, and couldn't say that she had encountered many colors outside the range of black and brown, the more traditional ruddy tones. Or those that remained invisible- perhaps, outside her range of vision, or just those she could not see for one reason or another- lack of concentration, for example. So she decided to try and figure it out based off what little information she could glean, namely off of whatever she experienced while reading the man's aura. First, and quite simply, Talya realized that the aura made her feel warm. That it seemed inviting, and all encompassing, much in the way that she experienced the sun's light, and Leth's affection. It was an aura that made her smile, an aura that made her want to laugh, although it seemed to be doing such well enough on its own, as its ends wavered, undulating like the see. It was an aura that seemed tranquil, quiet and calm, and overall, happy, so she supposed that the man who bore it was a jolly fellow, with little care in the world. With eyes sparkling, she allowed the aura to fall as another individual began to make their way across the bridge. This one was younger looking than the man, a girl of perhaps fourteen. She was a tall, gangly thing, with arms which seemed to flow past her hips, and legs that ran high into her chest. She appeared an awkward willowy, wisp, with thin, pale reddish-brown hair, and olive colored skin. Her eyes were large, a doe's eyes, much to large for her face, and far to dark. Although, they seemed to lack any true vibrance, as though she were just barely holding onto life. Her nose was a beak of a thing, on the other hand, while her lips were a pale pink line, her cheeks sunken, and hands small. Fingers long and slender, her gait a stomping mess of awkward adolescence that caused her simple white dress to billow unpleasantly about her knees. As her pupils dilated, Talya peered into this girl's aura. Slowly, it sprang to life, rising like a flame above a candle, just after it had been lit. Although the Ethaefal was the only one who could see it, she felt as though it added another dimension to the figure in question. Another layer, which seemed to brighten up her features, although the aura itself was a royal, navy blue. Another shade she hadn't seen much of, although this, she recalled having seen once or twice before. She remembered being taught that blue auras were associated with loving and compassionate people. Expressive and nurturing folk, who often gave to others selflessly, expecting nothing back, even though it wasn't always in their best interest. And yet, as Talya studied the aura and the teenager it belonged to, she didn't suppose that it fit much. The waif being to slight to give much of anything, to shy, reserved, and meek looking to be either loving or friendly. Not to mention, the aura didn't feel loving to her. It just felt sad, and weak, and although the color was a strong one, if not an arguably pretty one, it still managed to look morose. Which made Talya think, that perhaps, the colors weren't always the same, and this poor girl was a rather unhappy one after all. The Ethaefal sighed as she broke her concentration, and forced a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, as she found she was feeling a bit out of breath. As she fought to return herself to equilibrium, she waited, as she had no further subjects anyway, and would have to wait a few minutes for another to cross the bridge she had been watching.

[Talya]

Several minutes passed, in which Talya's breathing returned to normal, although, her eyes remained dilated, and they stung lightly within the sun's light. Her vision less keen, as though she were staring at near things from afar, and yet, she could still hear well enough. Could hear footsteps clopping across the bridge before another individual came into view. This, she could tell by the length of their rusty red hair was a man, with sideburns and a full beard framing his face. His skin, a sickly pale shade, and his nose, a long, pointy beak. His eyes were a weaker sea foam green in shade, and his clothes were washed out in hue- blue for his pants, and what might have once been yellow for his shirt, now appearing closer to an ivory, or even a creamy white. The Ethaefal took another deep breath in through her nose, and out through her mouth, before allowing herself to view the man while at the same time, allowing her vision to pass through him as his aura sprang from his flesh. A wavering mist that swept around him as easily as would have the wind. It was a murky brown in shade, with a deep violet rim. The Ethaefal had seen many a murky aura before, and knew well their meaning, but never the violet rim. In fact, as far as she remember, she hadn't ever seen two distinctly different colors within an aura before. Shades of the same, yes, but never more, and certainly not opposites on the color wheel, of all things. She knew that the muddy tones meant that the man was working through a number of things. That he was both stressed and troubled, and had a lot to sift through. She also knew that it meant he wasn't in the best of health, although one couldn't necessarily tell as much just by looking at him. And if she concentrated, she wasn't sure she could so much as begin to feel just how the man was feeling. What ailed him, what made him sick, so to speak, she simply knew that he was, (or so she thought), by the way the brown in the aura seemed to bubble and burst, as though it were mud being heated up in a cauldron. But what did the purple mean? And why was it resting on the outside of the largely brown aura? Again, Talya decided to concentrate on this one aspect of the aura- and see what sort of emotions it evoked, as it had to tell her of its nature, in some way, at the very least. But all she could discern, no matter how much she squinted to the point where it seemed as though she may have been constipated to onlookers, and no matter how hard she concentrated, all she could get was the sense that there was a regal aspect to that portion of the aura. Which to her, meant that the individual had some sort of great social standing, which she highly doubt based off his mode of dress alone, or, perhaps, he simply had a regal air about him, which again, didn't seem quite right, as he walked as though he were a three-legged dog. Which, left Talya with the notion that perhaps he saw himself as better than everyone else, for one reason for another. This, unfortunately she could neither approve or disprove unless of course she revealed herself and talked to the man, which she had no intention of doing. So, after another moment, she let the matter and the aura itself as she awaited yet another person. The last person, she decided she would read for that day, as she was getting tired after having used all of that magic.

[Talya]

Just as the aura faded away, Talya found that another person was approaching the far side of the bridge. The person was a male in his old age, with a wizened frame and stooped body. He had thin wisps of white hair atop his head, that looked like they had been blown into place by the wind, and ready to fly away just as easily. He had pale blue eyes, covered in several areas with a thick white film, and a large, flattened, bulbous nose. With big nostrils. His lips were a thin line, and he had freckles all over his pale cheeks. He walked with a cane, and wore brown pants that seemed to long on him, and so big, that he became lost inside. His white shirt, on the other hand, looked as though not only had it seen better days, but that it was several sizes to small. As her eyes passed over his sagging chin, dripping down his neck as though it were a double, Talya allowed her magic to flow through her, and for the man's aura to emerge. This aura was unlike the others, as it was a bright orange, akin to a fire without the subtle hues of yellow and red intermixed, and blue and white at the base. It even flicked liked a flame, as though it were not all quite there, or perhaps, were about to go out. The Ethaefal didn't suppose that this meant the man were about to die, although, he looked as though he may fall over at any moment, given the way he hobbled against the bridge, his entire body shaking with each step; the cane wobbling in his hand; wood clicking on wood. Instead, Talya guessed that the flickering of the aura was supposed to denote that the man was tired, or perhaps, simply feeble. (If it wasn't any sort of indication that she was reaching her own limit when it came to the use of her magic). While the color of the aura itself was not in any way associated with the way it moved. Talya guessed, based solely off the way the aura made her feel, that the man was vibrant, despite all appearances. The orange, as it flowed through her senses, made her feel alive. Like she was bursting with energy. So, she guessed, that despite his current state, the man still tried to live his live to the fullest. That he had what one may consider a "big" personality, filled with a wide range of emotions and desires, which he fought to feed, presumably because he knew he was running out of the time it would take to do all of those many things. The aura, Tal found, made her want to run, and skip, and play. And clean and perhaps even make a fancy dinner for herself, (which hopefully she wouldn't burn). It made her want to do everything and anything, because something about the color made her feel different, made her feel good, even though she wasn't interacting with the aura directly. It made her feel as though she could, like adrenaline was coursing through her veins, wild and unchecked, although she felt and knew no fear. It was both amazing and intoxicating, and suddenly, so very tiring that the aura dropped, and with it, Talya's mood came crashing. Suddenly, she felt sad and despondent, and more and more lethargic with each passing moment, to the point where she began to fight to keep her eyes open. Talya yawned, but didn't bother to cover her mouth as she sat back, and closed her eyes. Before slipping into a brief and dreamless sleep.

[Elias Caldera]

Behold, Your Just Reward!

Talya

Experience and Lore :

Skills

• Observation +4
• Auristics +4

Lores

• Auristics: Perceiving Feelings
• Auristics: Recognizing Physical Properties

Miscellaneous :

Injuries

• None

Loot and Expenses

• None

Comments :

A solid training thread. Enjoy your experience!

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