Closed A Cat and a Sailor

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

3rd of Winter, 512 AV The Docks It had been a long day for Kirvan, who by now was bored again. He'd spent the entire morning and most of the afternoon bells fishing, and for a bell or two afterwards he had docked in Syliras looking to sell his catch. There was something horribly mundane about it, not anything like the thrilling life he had set out to find, and the routine of it all meant that he was quickly tiring of it. But it gave him mizas, and he would not complain about having some extra spending money. Syna was beginning to sink into the sky, and though he had no reason to stick around the svefra wanted to do something different. He left his pod to escape the same kind of mundane routine everyday life that he was falling into, and right now he wanted to break that cycle. He wanted to go into the city, but last time he tried that he became horribly lost on his own. Turns out a son of the sea couldn't navigate as well within a giant stone structure. If he were to go in there, it would have to be with someone else who knew their way around, and people weren't exactly holding their arms open for any svefra in Syliras. So he paced back and forth along the docks, watching other sailors and captains make sure their ships were secure before heading into the city. As he paced, he debated with himself whether to just take his casinor and head out to sea looking for something or to try to maneuver his way through the city to find something, maybe a tavern. Doing so would risk him getting lost, and if he got drunk then he could forget about leaving that night, so he was indecisive as he continued his ironically routine route back and forth.

[Kyra]

Kyra slept through the morning then rose in the afternoon reluctantly. Morning was not the best time for her, and since she had spent her night staying up late, an early rising wasn't going to happen. Still she had to get up and go out. There was something that she needed to do. She was still searching for that man, the one she had learned about from the note, and the investigation into it's origin.

The lemon man, that was what he had been called. She had known someone once, a man that smelled of lemons, but if this was the same person, she wasn't sure. All that was left was to find this person and speak with them. Kyra had planned to do this with another, a man who also shared an affinity for masks as she did. However it didn't happen and when she had tried alone, the young kelvic had found herself lost on the search. But this day would be different she hoped, somehow she would fine the man that she had been searching for and question him.

Maybe he knew something about the note, and the writing on the inside, perhaps he didn't, but there was only one way to find out. So she headed off and out into the winter's air. Kyra pulled her cloak tightly around her and lifted the hood to rest onto her head, which hid most of her blondish hair from view. The rest of the cloak draped over her small shoulders and hung down to cover most of her boots, also hiding the corset and leather pants she wore beneath.

She started out then, trying to recall which places she had checked before, and what areas she hadn't wandered into. The Great Bazaar had to be there somewhere, though it had remained hidden from her so far. It was strange, for someone who could find their way through the forest would have so much trouble finding a single shop inside the city. The young kelvic continued on, her golden eyes looking right and left as she looked for the place that she had heard she would find the lemon man in.

Kyra wandered around for a few for chimes, and finding herself back in the same situation that she was in days before. But she wouldn't give up, she knew that she had to find him and she would. It was then that she noticed a tall blonde man in the short distance who seemed just as lost as she was. She wondered if he was also looking for the Great Bazaar since it was so hard to find. "Excuse me, are you looking for the Great Bazaar?"

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

A breeze blew through the docks, prompting Kirvan to wrap his blue cloak around him a bit tighter. It was cotton, not the best anti-winter nor anti-cold wear, but it was much better than nothing and all he had right now. He was used to these temperatures though, having grown up in the North Suvan and spent many a cold day splashing about in the freezing water. Though now that he had a steady source of mizas, he made a note to himself to buy a new cloak, some proper winter wear, just in case. To his right, a gentle voice asked him a question, and he turned to face the person who asked. She was a fragile-looking thing, slightly shorter than him (by a few inches) and with silvery-blonde hair that fell past her shoulders. Yellowish brownish eyes greeted his, mesmerizing and bright even in the cold weather, like two hearths to shelter during a storm. Her dark red cloak was a sudden and loud contrast in color with the surroundings, though whether it was intentional or not Kirvan could not say. "S-sorry?" he asked in answer after finding his voice. "Oh no, I'm not looking for anywhere in particular, just sort of... thinking." With that, he thought some more, looking out at sea. This girl was most likely from around here, and if so she might be able to lead him back here from wherever she was going. It was a chance to do something unexpected and still make it back easily. "Excuse me, do you mind if I accompany you into the city?" he requested, turning back to face her. As he looked into her eyes again, he suddenly noticed that her pupils were slanted slightly, not quite human. "Forgive me for prying," he apologized in advance, "but what are you exactly? Your eyes... they seem inhuman, a sort of animal quality in them. It's quite cool actually."

[Kyra]

Kyra stared curiously at the tall blonde man after he finally spoke, and saying very little. He wasn't much of a talker, and the young kelvic always found it odd when she met a human who didn't babble on and on like most seemed too. It only made her more curious as to why that was. With this man in particular, he seemed as if he had something on his mind, and she wondered what it could be. "Are you lost?" she asked, not even sure if he heard her as he turned to look at the sea again.

She followed his gaze, letting her own eyes draw to the mass of water in the opening. When she turned to look upon it, her eyes widen and her mouth fell open. She was at the docks now, and hadn't realized how far she had walked. Had she been so caught up in her inner thoughts that she had left the city walls without realizing it. It was proof of one thing however, something she knew but possibly hadn't realized. She was coming closer now to what she'd been searching for and her mind thought of nothing else, she needed to finish this and soon.

Kyra turned back to face the tall blonde man then, when he asked for an escort into the city. "Well alright then.." she said simply and turned to back track her steps. The Great Bazaar was inside the city somewhere, she just had to find it which was becoming harder than she had expected. It would have helped if she could catch the smell of lemons, but there was nothing and she wasn't sure of what else was at the place either.

She paused in thought, when the man spoke up again, and turned to look at him while walking backwards. He asked rather rudely what she was and it caused her to giggle aloud. "What a silly question. I am Alessa.." she said simply still walking backwards while staring at him. The young kelvic was still more or less undercover and so she continued to her other name. She smiled innocently as he complimented her on her eyes. "Do you really like my eyes?" she asked, lightly bating them. He wasn't the first person to compliment her about her eyes, and although she had heard it a few times, she was just as curious each time.

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

Grateful for the help, Kirvan followed his new guide into the city, keeping close enough to behind her so that he could follow easily but maintaining a respectful distance as he looked around at the tall walls and various entrances to the bustling innards of the fortress. Perhaps it was taking a leap of faith to rely so heavily on this one woman he just met, but he had no other choice and was confident he could find someone else to lead him back to the docks if it came to that. The svefra followed the helpful lass into one of the giant castles, and the sheer density was enough to shock the seafarer into awe. Having grown up on the open sea with the most crowded times being when the pod gathered its ships for a festival, seeing so many different households and people crammed in side by side in the restricting space seemed alien and hopelessly uncomfortable. How did people live like this? Didn't they feel cramped and claustrophobic? Didn't any of them feel the urge to just get out and breathe in fresh air in an open space, like the sea or a field or anything that didn't have people piled up in every corner. This was definitely a break in routine. She didn't exactly answer his question, but at least he had a name and the introduction was quite pleasant. For a quick moment he frowned in reflection of his use of the juvenile term 'cool' but didn't dwell too much on it as she batted her eyelids at him prettily. Kirvan had no shortage of experience with attractive women, but he was still always charmed by these slight seductions they performed every now and again. Sometimes he cursed himself for being so suggestible, most of the time he didn't care. "Yes," the svefra forced out eventually, answering Alessa's question after a brief pause. "There's a certain sense of... unfamiliar beauty in their shape. I definitely haven't seen anything like it before." Managing to draw his gaze away from hers, he looked around at the unfamiliar yet similar-looking surroundings of the fortress corridor. "My name is Kirvan by the way," he finally brought up, remembering that he had yet to introduce himself. "Pleased to meet you, and thanks again for helping me through the city." OOCSorry about the delayed reply.

[Kyra]

Kyra headed back into the city, leading the way, but barely. She retraced her steps and although that action did bring her back into the city, she still needed to find the Bazaar. "Thank you, I do like them myself, but I don't by clothing this color..it clashes." She said as her gaze wandered off. Kyra had a habit of giving off bits of information without explaining further, or speaking aloud her inner thoughts to people who had no way of understanding her rambles.

The young kelvic bit her lip, holding back a giggle as she noticed the man struggling to look away from her. She liked his hair, it reminded her of her own, which was very different from most of the people that she had met during her travels across Syliras. She nodded towards him, offering another smile as she moved on. "Is there anyone you're here to see Kirvan?" she asked while looking around for the market shop.

He had said that he wasn't looking for anything in particular, but she knew there had to be more to it. Why was he there if he wasn't in search of something? And there was also that look, that far off look that he had when she first laid eyes on him. She was curious now, and wanted to know more about him even if he didn't wish to share. "I'm starting to feel hungry, perhaps we should find the indoor market?" Which was a half truth, her stomach had starting to growl a bit, but she didn't know enough of this man to openly tell him what her plans were, at least not yet.

She continued on then, walking through the streets as she tried once again to locate the shop. She had thought to ask someone, but the people in the city were a bit strange and not all that friendly. Finally, she crossed paths with an elderly woman pushing a tiny cart across the floor. "Excuse me," she said politely to get the woman's attention.

"Would you happen to know where the Great Bazaar is located?" The woman stood silent for a moment. Her eyes, pale shades of green looked over the tall man and then down to the petite girl beside him. "My, you two sure make a cute couple." she said with a wrinkled smile. Kyra glanced back up towards Kirvan, then back to the woman in front of her. "A couple? But..we've only just met."

"I see I see have it your way." the woman said shushing her own giggle. She turned away from them, reaching out her skinny arm towards the double doors to their left. "Go through those doors and you should find it easy enough." Kyra watched as the old woman slowly walked away, leaving her with a look of confusion on her face. "Shall we go?"

OOCNot a problem

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

When Alessa mentioned her colour clash, Kirvan shrugged. "I don't know a thing about fashion," he warned, "but I don't think you need to worry too much about it. They're pleasant to look at anyway." Chances were she didn't care what his opinion, people seldom do, but he felt like throwing his thoughts out there if she cared to hear them. He liked the way she bit her lip cutely as if to hide a giggle or laugh, though what she found so amusing he could only guess at. As much time as he spent in the company of such women, he still had no idea how they thought in the slightest, and to him a woman's mind was still as labyrinthine as the passages of Syliras. Appreciating the nod and smile, the svefra suddenly realized - with a start - that she had asked him a question. "Well," he began, buying some time. He had not come here looking for anyone in particular, though there were several people he knew and should probably visit while in the city. If he could find them. "There are a few people who I probably should see, though it hadn't crossed my mind to visit them. A woman I met a couple years back if she still remembers me, and a doctor I once found in the Soothing Waters last season. Actually, I think I owe him money." Kirvan grinned at his forgetfulness. Let it never be said he wasn't honest. "Also a rascal of a man I met at the docks, though I doubt I'd find him again, and an Inarta if I can find her, though it's been a while..." As his thoughts turned to Leisa, his mind began to wander and his fingers fell instinctively to the necklace of glass beads around his neck, hidden beneath his clothes. Her growling stomach and mention of hunger brought a smile to Kirvan's face. "You should have found me sooner," he said. "I would have kept some of my catch and we could have shared. As for the Great Bazaar, you likely know where it is better than I do." It had crossed his mind to ask somebody, though the citizen's mood towards a svefra was likely to be wary at best. Better if they could forgo interaction for as long as possible. Alessa seemed to have no such trepidation however, asking an elderly peddler directions towards the bazaar. The old woman's eyes looked towards Kirvan, and he began to worry that she recognized him as a Svefra and tell him to mind his own petching business, but surprisingly enough she smiled. The young seafarer couldn't help but do the same given her remark, even chuckling a bit with amusement. A couple? Though they'd only known each other for a few chimes, Kirvan knew of relationships that have been built on less, though he figured that Alessa probably didn't feel that way. The look on her face said much the same, no visible sign of shyness or blush in her cheeks, just confusion. That didn't bother Kirvan though, he knew there were plenty of fish in the sea. He'd seen quite a few himself. "After you," he replied, gesturing to the doors.

[Kyra]

Kyra nodded with a smile to his kind comments. He seemed genuine, his eyes and the tone of his voice allowed her to notice this well enough. It was interesting, as he claimed to not know about fashion and yet he had given her more feed back than any other man. "For someone who knows nothing of fashion, you seem to have a mind for it."

The tall blonde was secretive, she thought, and somewhat vague in his responses. Was he like herself, there undercover, or perhaps investigating someone? She couldn't tell just yet, and it was just as possible that he was what he said...the little he did let out. "Do you not want to see these people?" she asked, thinking it odd that he would come to the city with no intention of meeting people that he knew. The only reason she could think of is if he didn't want to be involved with them.

Then he mentioned the Soothing Waters and Kyra's ears perked up when she realized who he was talking about. "You know Orion, the doctoring masseuse?" He really was a strange man, she thought and it seemed even he didn't know whether he wanted to be a doctor, a masseuse, or even a hunter. As far as she was concerned, the man was a masseuse. She had met him in the place where massages took place, and he had given her a massage, which made him a masseuse.

Kirvan continued, and his voice brought the girl out of her inner thoughts. "Inarta? What are those?" Syliras was an interesting place, and since she had arrived, the young kelvic had learned a lot about the outside world and the many beings that lived there.

She glanced down at her rumbling belly for a tick, then glanced back up to Kirvan with a curious look upon her features. He had mentioned his catch and she could only assume he meant fish, as that was what she had heard them referred to in the past. "You're a fisherman then?" she asked and waited for his reply. Kyra was known for asking questions, and it was always a different ending to the line, or how ever much the person she asked felt like telling her.

Once they had pasted the elderly woman, Kyra lead him past the doors that the woman had mentioned and stepped inside. From there, she traveled onward until she came to a stop, her gold eyes staring off in the distance. There was a man dressed in armor, a sword at his hip as he spoke somewhat in a lowered tone. It was a squire by rank, but to Kyra they were all Knights or soldiers of Syliras. The Squire went about questioning each and every person that he pasted, until he reached Kyra and Kirvan who were still close to the exit.

"You two, stay where you are. I need to speak to you." he demanded, as he hurried a bit to meet them. Kyra blinked lightly, as she watched the man coming towards him. He was taller than her, yet not as tall or muscular as Kirvan. Once he had reached them, the man straighten his back and looked them over before speaking.

"Have either of you seen a man come through here carrying a Knight's shield?" His voice was angry, and his look impatience. Kyra shrugged her tiny shoulders and said simply. "I haven't."

OOCFeel free to have the squire say as little or as much as you like. Question them more, or just move on.

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

"It's not that," he insisted when she suggested that he did not want to see these people. "If I could reliably find them and still make it back to the port then I probably would, but last time I came in here on my own it took me forever just to find the Soothing Waters. Something about navigating these indoor passages just messes with my head. I feel so lost whenever I come in here on my own, which is why I asked if I could tag along." He smiled, his warm blue eyes reiterating a silent thanks. Another smile lit up his face when she brought up the busy doctor. "Yep, that's the one. I once brought a girl who was in real dire straits here to Syliras, and he helped patch her up. She's probably found something else to do, she said something about her tribe and taking revenge, so I haven't bothered trying to check up on her, but I've tried to find Orion more than once. He's a good man he is, got a smart head on his shoulders. How do you know him?" When she asked, Kirvan wasn't quite sure how to answer. For so long he knew what the fiery redheads were that he simply accepted that most people knew about them, though logically it was quite clear even to him that not everybody could be aware of them. "From what I remember," he began, thinking back on what Leisa had told him, "they're a bunch of redheaded mountain-dwellers in some volcano in the northwest of Kalea. I don't know too much about them, never been there myself, but I've had secondhand accounts of what life is like there. It sounded like a very different place." "Yeah, I'm a fisherman," he sighed, looking around at the passage as they walked, suddenly finding interest in the claustrophobic surroundings. "It's all I seem to do these days. Been hoping to find something different to do, and then you found me by the docks." He smiled again, something he seemed to be doing frequently. Alessa just made him feel generally uplifted, not high and bouncy but a general feeling of just contentedness. Perhaps it was her easy conversational tone. As they kept walking, Kirvan noticed the armored man that hurried between spots as if busy to find something. Looked important he did, maybe one of them knights who kept the city in working order. Kirvan never talked to one since they don't frequently travel towards the docks, and he managed to stay on the good side of the law. As such, he was unfamiliar with their ranks and specific duties, not that he planned to get bogged down with the various inner workings of the giant stone city. Before they could move on however, the very armored person asked for them to stop and walked over, inquiring about a shield. He'd been with Kyra the entire time and they hadn't come across anything of the sort. Shaking his head sadly, Kirvan looked apologetically at the armored man. "Afraid not sir, we've just come from the docks and not seen anyone of the sort you're looking for." His common was pretty good, but he hoped it wouldn't get too specific or nuanced. "Blast," he exclaimed, a word that didn't need translating to convey his frustration. "It's the same all up and down this passage. It's a bloody shield! Not like they're exactly common issue." "Like I said, we just came from the docks. If we see anyone carrying a shield that looks like it doesn't belong, we'll let one of the knights know." The armored man just grumbled and carried on, not interest in what Kirvan had to say. It wasn't his problem, though he silently wished the man luck in his search. Chances were it was his, what with the great amount of frustration that was in his demeanor. "Ah, shyke," the svefra exclaimed suddenly. "Should have asked him for more specific directions. Oh well, didn't seem in the mood anyway."

[Kyra]

"Then you really are lost." she said softly, before turning away. The kelvic was just as lost, and between the two of them she had no idea of how they were supposed to get anywhere. She could understand his reasons and couldn't imagine herself at learning to navigate the city any more than was necessary. "I understand, this place is odd..and so many people." She nodded and smiled to the unspoken thanks, finding her gaze lifting to meet his. "I like your eyes as well, they are ..like the sea."

Kyra listened curiously as he told her of the good doctor's nice deeds. It seemed that he truly was a doctor and not just a masseuse with a good imagination. Although it was still interesting to hear, after the way he had suddenly excused himself on their first meeting. Kyra hadn't been sure if he was even supposed to be there at all. "I met him at the Soothing Waters. Is he really a good man? He surly seems to enjoy his work." She thought for a moment, trying to recall the path to the Soothing Waters. "I could take you to him perhaps, if you wish it?"

She did have others things to do but she figured it wouldn't take long, and it would lend him more aid with someone who actually knew where things were in the city. Her eyes grew wide, showing a glance of familiarity when he spoke of the redheaded mountain-dwellers. She had known a woman once with fiery red hair and now wondered if she was an Inartan. Though the woman didn't speak of any mountains. The woman had spoken of going some place, but Kyra couldn't remember where, perhaps she had gone back to the mountains Kirvan mentioned.

"Is that so?" she responded after he spoke of fishing. It seemed that she had arrived after he had finished though, given the fact that he didn't have any fish with him. "I've never fished before...what is it like?" Kyra didn't spend much time around the open sea, which seemed odd since she lived in a city surrounded by water, but she rarely ventured out to the docks. "There has to be something to do..something you like?" she asked, wondering what other things he enjoyed doing.

Their journey, however sudden and the twist and turns they had made as they navigated their way through the inner city had come to and end, and it seemed as if they had found the place that Kyra was looking for. But before they could enter a rather furious squire had call to them asking about a missing shield. Kyra noticed at once that he was without one and could only assume that it was his. "I haven't.." she responded, wondering if he had simply misplaced it or if, as he suggested someone had taken it.

Once he hurried off, Kyra huffed, agreeing with Kirvan that they should have asked for directions and anything else they could get from him. The kelvic pushed the thoughts from her mind as she made her way into the inside market. Suddenly a tall man rushed out, almost knocking her over. Kyra jumped back, her eyes falling upon the man and the strangely shaped object in his arms which he had covered with a large brown cloth. Kyra watched as the man headed out of the shop and down the opposite path that the knight took. She glanced back up towards Kirvan and shrugged. "I wonder if that could be the shield the Knight was searching for."