10 Fall 525
A Tenday, as Willis had come to learn, was at once a complex and simple thing. A fire. Food. Revelry. Companionship. People talked. Some played music. Some danced. Some just ran around and experienced the vibes. Others stuck to their own metaphorical corner and just watched without saying much.
Earlier during the occasion Willis had tried out a few new foods, some odd kind of meat from a jungle animal along with a new baked treat he could not name he believed the older lady from the inn he stayed at had made. Now he stood there content, his belly full, just slowly moving about without really having a specific plan in mind. A bit away he could here someone drumming some kind of instrument, and someone else making occasional thrums of a stringed instrument. Not really playing anything himself Willis was not sure, but assumed the stringed instrument was just preparing to play not actually playing as it seemed to only emit single sounds at a time before halting for a good half chime and emitting another short sound.
At the moment the festivities were at a bit of a lull. The sky had grown dark, and much of the lighting was from the fire. However not much dancing or music playing had really gotten going. Willis was sure that before long such things would begin, but not quite yet.
While Willis pondered what to do next, several children came running by in a group while shoving and laughing. Boys and girls, they were not hurting anyone, not being a bother, just being children. Willis for his part was technically of age by human standards, and by his height he looked fully grown, but in reality he was just a teen himself. Not yet fully grown, not yet fully matured, still gangly, and to anyone looking closely more like an oversized child than an adult. He knew how to act well enough when he needed to, but he was no adult. Not were it really counted.
Having gone to tendays before but not having spoken to any of the kids without adults around, Willis realized he did not know them that well as one of the older boys came walking up to him with several other children in tow. The one approaching him now seemed human, but Willis was not too good at tell apart sub races and the like, so could not say for sure that he was one. "Who are you then? Where are you from?"
Rather than answering this right away Willis pondered for a moment, unsure what to say. Efram's ideas on their response were colorful, but probably not the best idea for a first meeting. Willis for his part decided to answer honestly, though without going into the finer details. But before that he needed to figure out what exactly was being asked.
"I'm Willis Efram. As for where I'm from... Well that is a long story. And honestly it depends on what you mean by that. Do you mean where I was born? Where I was before I came to Syka? Where I consider home? Where I've lived the longest? Could you be a bit more specific? And also I've introduced myself but I don't think I got your name..."
With that Willis held out his hand to offer it to the youth, a very human greeting that also was sometimes used by other races if not in the exact same way. An Akalak in his experience would probably do a hand shake while showing off their strength. And back on the island he had seen quite a few Konti use it while meeting his eyes in an unnerving gaze. Its uses were plentiful, as was the variances in how it could be used.
WC: 631
