First Encounters(Dra-Seven)

[Troy]

Spring 51, 511 AV It was early morning as Troy walked through the crowd surging around the entrance to the Great Bazaar. Clutching his bulging pack to his chest Troy would look around wide eye'd. He had never seen so many people in one place, at least not from close up. And apparently this was just the outside of the bazaar, their was a whole floor in that giant castle filled like this. How could anyone stand it? Shaking his head he'd back up, the guitar slung over his shoulder shifting slightly as he try's to back out of the crowd. His breathing gets shallower as the press of people increase. Why were their more people here? just an hour ago it was quiet and people were still setting up. Maybe their charming em, or maybe their slaves as well finally getting around to working. Turning quickly he would bump into someone beside him. Turning again to try to apologize he'd once more bump into people. His eye's would widen more in panic as he keeps turning, stammering apologize to those in the crowd around him he keeps jostling. With every bump, even the tiniest he spins again once more stammering apologise. After a couple minutes of this he would turn and close his eye's, taking deep breaths trying to calm down before opening them and starting to dart off through the crowd. Looking back to apologize to those he bumped into while running he wouldn't notice theirs someone in front of him and run full into the person.

[Seven Xu]

If his body didn't ache yesterday, it sure as hell did today. Inwardly, Seven cursed himself for pushing so far with the riding lesson. "Damnit ..." Seven hissed as he made his way through the crowded marketplace. His thighs burned from an afternoon of learning the ins and outs of staying on top of a horse. Soothing Waters sounded like heaven, but he had errands to do.
Seven yawned, lifting a pale hand to cover his mouth. The half-blood had only been in Syliras for a couple of days and was still adapting to being active during the day rather than sleeping through the hot sun and doing his errands at night like he had in Lhavit. At least most of Syliras was protected from the sun. Shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, most of which smelled less than pleasant, Seven had successfully gotten a few days worth of fruit from a vendor before he had started to eagerly make his way out of the stifling crowd.

A panicked mess of blond hair and freckles came from seemingly nowhere and the figure slammed into Seven's chest, sending him a step backwards before he toppled to the ground with the stranger in tow. "Aah!" Seven cried out in shock. Crimson eyes grew wide and pale lips hanging open at the disheveled young man that was now sitting on top of his thin frame, looking equally as surprised. A shuffling crowd continued to move around them as if they were merely an obstacle, and Seven lifted his hands off of the ground before his fingers were trampled by someone's dirty boots and he gathered the bag of apples he had purchased in his arms protectively. Seven's unnerving red gaze remained fixed on the stranger, unable to speak.

[Troy]

Falling down ontop of the man in front of him he would blink, throwing his hands out in front of him during the fall to cushion the blow. The end result being his pack falling to the ground beside them and his hands on Seven's pecs. Blinking he would look down at the man he landed on and stare straight into those red eye's. Gulping he would reach over and grab his pack and quickly scramble up to his feet, his eye's never leaving Sevens. His guitar bumping against his legs as he does so he would look around at the uncaring crowd that still surges around them before back down at Seven's eyes. He would quickly reach a hand out to help seven up if he would take his hand. He would look around uttering apologise quickly to those who had to alter their course to go around them. Being distracted by this he would almost forget about Seven before he realises that their was a guy on the ground cause of him. Looking back to Seven he would start uttering even more apologise "oh i'm so sorry! i cant believe i did that, uh can you ever forgive me?" Taking a deep breath after that he would help Seven up if he took the help. Once Seven was up, Troy would start kneeling down and trying to brush seven off with his hands, trying to rub all the dirt off, even though his own hands were covered in a layer of dust. "Oh you dont know how sorry i am, i'm new in town and uh i guess i got affected by this crowd. It's so unusual, how can anyone stand being in it?" he would talk as fast he can, trying to be heard out and explain himself as he gives a slight blush of embarressment. "oh uh, i'm uh Troy by the way, umm sorry again for this, just let me help clean you up. umm sorry again."

[Seven Xu]

Seven's heart sank as they locked eyes. He knew that look. It was a look of fear, something Seven was familiar with. As Seven took the boy's hand gladly and stood, he slung his pack over his back, but soon jumped backwards in surprise as Troy started to brush dirt off of his clothing. Seven certainly wasn't used to being touched and he made it rather apparent in his stiff demeanor. "Whoa, uh." His voice was clear, and not very deep, but eerily dreamy-calm despite his outwardly startled appearance. It was comforting. A hand extended to Troy and he pulled the boy to his feet again, shaking his head. "Please, you do not have to do that. It was a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes." In fact, Seven had done the exact same thing a few days before and a wonderful friendship had sparked from it.

Seven tilted his head sharply, motioning for Troy to follow him towards the edge of the market and out of the crowd. As he walked, he smoothed down his cotton vest and straightened the collar of his white shirt. Seven dressed well, outward appearance something he took pride in. Besides, when you could not change the fact that your mixed blood was unappealing to both races in which you were a part of, overcompensation was something that came naturally. "My name is Seven," He looked back over his shoulder at Troy as he walked. "And I am in the same boat as you. That is to say, I have only been here for a few nights." The albino was incredibly polite, although inwardly he wondered just where Troy had come from. He looked so young.

"So what brings you to a place like this, if you cannot stand crowds?" A question that just as easily could have been asked of him.

[Troy]

He would nod slightly, a small blush on his face as he's pulled up to his feet. He would look over Seven his eye's would widen as he notices the fancy clothes. His blush would grow even brighter as he looks down at his own baggy and dirty clothes, having worn his worse set of clothes on his travels. He would slowly follow after Seven. However he'd be quickly seperated as Troy patiently waits for everyone that wants to go in front of him to do so, not wanting to anger anyone. Finally theirs a gap in the crowd and he'd dash through it to stand beside Seven. "uh um, really? your new here to? you look um to nice dressed to not uh have been living here forever." shaking his head as he say's that he would start to smile somewhat. Maybe if he wasn't going to be beat for messing up, he could have some fun. "uh i came here after my" their would be a slight delay as he thinks of what to say "merchant caravan, and the owners got attacked and destroyed. um i was the only one to survive that i know of." Nodding he would blush again at the omision. "And uh, i only arrived in syliras an hour ago" Troy would look around before looking down at himself again and trying to smooth out his clothes, embaressed to be in such bad garments in front of this nicely dressed man. He would then reach up and readjust his guitar before looking back at Seven's eyes. "And uh, i didnt know their would be such a crowd. It wasn't busy earlier."

[Seven Xu]

Despite his most sincere efforts the morning spent at the Great Bazaar had yielded no results in his search. That search being a vain attempt to find his mother in the mess of a bustling crowd. Would she even come to something like this? Who am I to even know that? Something was obviously eating away at the silver-haired teenager.

A lot of 'ums' and 'ah's were coming from this boy. Nervous maybe? Seven couldn't help but smile himself as the thought of him actually intimidating anyone passed through his head. Usually, as soon as Seven opened his mouth any thoughts of him being the stereotypical Symenestra were abolished. Just a misunderstood hybrid, too small, too feminine. "An hour?" Seven's brows raised, though it was hard to tell if he was impressed or just incredibly interested. "I have been here for a few days, but this was my first trip down here. The busy market, I do not much like it." A quick head shake accompanied Seven's somewhat blunt response.

Seven lead Troy out of the Great Bazaar and stopped short at the entrance and the stairs that lead up and out to fresh air of the tight, but open area that many simply referred to as the Gates, but housed several small free standing taverns and shops. "It is nice to be able to breathe, hm?" Seven smiled back at Troy, making sure he hadn't gotten lost in the crowd before they entered the open area of Syliras and were bathed in the warmth of the early afternoon sun. "Ergh." Seven mumbled, shielding his eyes. His nose was tingling. "So bright, I --" Seven gasped, eyes squinting shut as his hands flew to his face and he sneezed. A blush colored skin so pale it seemed to glow in the sunlight. "Please excuse me."

A pause, then Seven wiped his hands off on his sides. "If you do not mind me asking, where did you come from?"

[Troy]

Troy would stand patiently as he watchs Seven closely. A soft smile crossing his lips as he watchs Seven contemplate whatevers on his mind. Now that he thought about it, Seven wasn't that much like the other men he had met. First off, he wasn't towering over Troy like everyone else. He was only a couple inches taller. Thats a nice change of pace, Troy thought to himself as his eyes wander up and down Seven examining him in closer detail as he waits. And he's not as muscular. More like me. Glad to see i'm not the only skinny guy. Troy's smile would widen as he see's Seven start to smile, this really was going to be a good meeting. He would start examining Seven again and in his thoughts of Seven he would almost miss the question, however he'd nod a quick yes to the quick question and his eye's snap back to Seven's as he listens to the rest of what Seven has to say. "Yea uh, i've never uh been in such a crowded place. At least um, a place crowded cause of people." Nodding he would follow after seven, his steps graceful and his hips swinging slightly as he walks. It would be as if he's trying to look his best for someone despite being in his travel-worn clothes. Not wanting to get left behind Troy would make sure this time to be a little more assertive while moving through the crowd, letting only every other person shove past him this time. Nodding he would open his mouth to answer Seven "Yea um, much better than that stuffy place." Quickly dashing up the steps behind Seven, Troy would stop suddenly as he see's Seven shielding his eye's. He would look around then up at the sky and then back to Seven, a curios look on his face. "Huh are you ok?" he would reach out to put a hand on Sevens arm thinking he was about to fall over. However before he managed to grab Seven, he would have sneezed. "Uh are you sure YOU like being outside? we can go back down if um you want to." Blinking Troy would look around as Seven wipes his hands on his sides before looking back to Seven and biting his lip as he hears the question. How should he answer this? he didnt want sympathy from this guy he just met, no matter how good looking he might be. He also didn't want to be put back into slavery, he had no idea what they did in Syliras but he was pretty sure they would send him away for it at least. But then again, if he lied to this guy he might ruin whatever friendship they had been developing. Opening his mouth to talk he would gulp first before saying, "I uh...Dont remember where i was uh born. We moved around a lot. And uh, Most of my life i uh worked as an Entertainer to special clients." He would shake his hips slightly and dip his shoulder, showing off his guitar strapped over his shoulder while at the same time showing off his lithe body. "And uh, where did you come from? i dont uh, know anyone with eye's like yours."

[Seven Xu]

Seven crossed his arms loosely across his chest and shook his head, blinking a few times as his eyes adjusted to the bright light. They were far better suited for seeing in the dark, but when the sun hit them they had the color and opacity of a pair of rubies. "I am still not entirely used to being so active during the day. Even when I was traveling I slept all day and kept watch on our caravan over night." They meandered through the narrow streets just north of Traveler's Row where it was difficult for as many people to congregate. "I am from Lhavit, a mountain city in western Kalea. As you can imagine, I had quite a trip." That was an understatement. He was still tired, but the way he had been pushing himself didn't help; and for a moment it showed in his face before it was replaced by a warm smile.

"Oh, so you are a musician?" Seven's eyes flickered over Troy's body for a moment as he turned to show him his instrument, the gesture nearly unnoticeable to the boy. He's even more feminine than I am; that's remarkable, Seven's eyebrow twitched upward before he looked away with a light blush. Do not stare. It wasn't as if Seven tried to be so soft-featured. He wished he was more muscular, taller, had a sharper jawline and maybe even the ability to evenly grow facial hair. The albino made up for what he lacked in general manliness in his excellent hygiene. A hand reached up to brush white bangs from his face and down behind one ear before falling to his side again and the faint smile returned.

Both hands slid back into his tight trouser pockets and he chewed his lower lip with one sharp canine. His long button-up shirt had been left un-tucked, the top button left undone and his vest was open; strangely there was a modicum of order in his admittedly messy manner of dressing. "Special clients, you say?" They passed The Rearing Stallion, and a thought crossed Seven's mind that nearly made him laugh. Ken, you petching lush. He had already started to make some pretty good friends and memories in this town. "What does that mean? Do you play for nobility?" The thought of his duster of a teenager playing beautiful music in lavish halls for dukes and duchesses made him smile wider. He looked more like a chimney sweeper than a bard.

Seven continued to check over his shoulder to ensure Troy was still following along, having noticed the boy fall behind a couple of times in the Great Bazaar. When he wasn't looking at Troy he could feel a pair of eyes boring into his back, never a comfortable feeling for the half-blood. In fact, being inspected often made him want to become invisible. There were far too many bad things that had come of people knowing too much about what he was. Seven exhaled, the faint blush on his cheeks returning. You're away from Lhavit now, remember that. A thought that did little to calm him.

[Troy]

Running his hand through his messy locks he would smile up at the curios eye's looking back at him. If he wasn't careful he would be lost in those rubies. But why? he had never before been attracted to anyone he had seen, so why were those eyes so enticing? He had never once met anyone who was as interesting as this man in front of him, but what did that mean? He couldn't be sure but he thought this man might be cute. Wait, where had that thought come from? Troy had never before thought of anyone in that light. He had always been complemented on his body, but never complemented anyone else. Not even in his head. He had always assumed everyone was fat, hairy and smelly. But this man here, no he was different. Very different. "Uh yea, it must have been quiet a trip. Though um, dont make fun of me please but i dont know where that is. I um, didn't even know this city existed before." Taking a deep breath he would blush slightly and look down. What am i doing, Troy thought, Why am i so embaressed by what this stranger thinks of me? Taking a deep breath Troy would nod slightly to the question, "Uh um Yea i'm a musician. Along with uh other things." He had been stareing into those ruby eye's as he talked. Did those eye's move down to look at his body or had he imagined it cause he wanted this man to take note of him? Blushing slightly he would continue stareing up at Seven, that curios expression still on his face as Seven brushes his bangs out of his face. "Uh um, yea special clients. I uh dont know if they were well off enough to be noble however as i didnt choose them. Or talk to them much, they uh chose me out of all my masters performers." His blush would persist throughout him talking as his eye's flicker down in a tell-tale sign of his omision. Obviously something was bothering this boy everytime he talked about his past. Moving quickly Troy would follow Seven, staying a couple steps behind so he can continue examining Seven when he wasn't looking. The first time Seven looked back at him he would have been only a step behind, having not wanted anything to come between him and his new hopeful friend. However after a couple of blocks they walked along Troy would suddenly stop. "uh, this is so strange" Looking around Troy would lick his lips as he watchs a someone carrying a heavy load walk by. "Uh Seven, where's all the uh slaves? and uh, why is everyone doing their work by themselves? Oh for that matter, why are you? your rich right?" Troy would motion to Seven's outfit as if that explained everything.

[Seven Xu]

Stop looking right through me. Seven blushed deeply, lowering his head as he walked, hands still in his pockets. Had this boy ever seen a Symenestra before?

Seven looked mildly shocked when Troy assumed he would tease him. "Oh, do not worry about it. Lhavit is so far away, I would not expect many people here to know where it is." Another wistful smile and the shocked expression melted away. Seven would not admit that he was already homesick. Despite the will-breaking racism, his family was there. As they passed the Golden Dragon Inn, a notoriously shady place in Seven's mind -- something clicked. Among other things. My master's performers. The way Troy would wiggle his hips as he moved as if every gesture was for show. The way he stared him down, perhaps as a potential customer. Seven blessed the fact that his back was turned to Troy as his brow wrinkled in thought. Prostitution was a terrible, disgraceful profession. How anyone could stand to live with such little self-respect boggled even him. Was this ... child a prostitute?

Troy snapped him back to reality with a rather strange inquiry. So strange, in fact, Seven was caught off guard and let out a nervous laugh. "Rich? Me? By Gods, no! Blame the way I dress on my upbringing, I was not wealthy but I had two sisters." Another soft, more comfortable laugh before he calmed down with a deep breath and audible sigh. Seven turned to glare at the boy and stopped when he realized Troy was stationary, leering around at the general public. "Slaves?" He said the word as if it were foreign, and his light brows slid upwards until they were hidden beneath his white bangs. "I do not believe I have seen any in the city since I arrived." Slaves were something Seven had little knowledge of. Wealthier denizens of Lhavit had servants, a class of people called Shimobe; dirty, undesirable people that often worked in matters that a respectable Lhavitian would simply never do. But slaves? No. They were free, as far as Seven knew.

Seven's heart began to beat rapidly in his chest, and a blush darkened on his cheeks. He licked his lips and scratched the back of his neck, an unreadable expression wrinkling his soft features. There was something in Troy's tone of voice whenever he mentioned anything about himself. Something that told Seven there was more to the story. Maybe more than Seven wanted to know. "Why do you ask about slaves?"