Scene Archives

is excitely bounding up to various fabric stands, flitting about from color to color, greeting the stallkeepers but clearly dazzled by the kaleidoscope of woven treasures. His eyes pull him to one of the fabrics in the particular Kesset color, the one that struck the party upon the time that they curved around the branches and through the woods.

: “Hello… what do you call this color?”

: “Alright. So. I need… a stack of paper. At least one vial of ink, but three would be ideal. A pinch of sulfur, or if that’s not available some old dirt that hasn’t been disturbed recently. A bit of incense. And… maybe a small, fragile bit of slate, though I can live without that. Does this seem like stuff we could find here, Daina? I also can use this to trade, if it helps -” He digs around in his pocket for a moment, then pulls out a shining red ruby the size of his fist.

: “You shouldn’t need to use that,” nodding at the ruby. “The crystals Wolf handed out should be sufficient, and you should be able to find slate and sulfur. Here,” she gestures to a stall where someone is selling various stones, and then further down where there are hawkers selling inks and paper and parchments.

: “Aha.” Back into the pocket the ruby goes as he makes his way to the stalls to pick up everything he needs, though without getting too far away from the Awoken.

: “It’s so brilliant! May I?” He holds out his hands, eager to feel.

rubs with his hands, and can’t help but gently nuzzle it a bit too, giving it a quick sniff. “Mmm… does it have a name?”

: “Hmm… oh!” Aurelius’ face lights up in surprise when they make it to the stall. “I didn’t realize fiend craft was so wide spread… Guess I had nothing to worry about at all.” The specific incense he wants is probably the most obscure thing he needs, but even that doesn’t seem to hard to dig up in the grand scheme of things.

wanders over to the textiles, running her fingers over the various fibers and colors. She lingers over a drapey, dusky blue linen and a deep purple cotton shot through with threads of blue, thinking of Unua and Archie, before she asks to see what kind of thread is available.

honestly seems more interested in letting this conversation happen than you might otherwise expect. Fiendcraft is interesting!

‘s excitement does not abade as the weaver weaves the tale of their craftsmanship. They’re beaming just as much as the color of the dye.

Once the stall owner seems to be winding down however: “I don’t tend to use Fiends in the Rite much myself, I mostly tend to use them for utility, or to help with gnosis control. Which reminds me - do you happen to have the ingredients on hand for the friend that makes you float in the air? You know, the -” He gestures an arm in the air, vaguely. “- Can’t remember what the proper name, it was always too hard for me to pronounce.”

: “Irrica by way of Ishcata, woven and dyed by a skilled weaver,” he finally is able to interject, when the weaver takes a long enough breath to be considered a full stop to a sentence. “I love it. I’ll need some lengths, and a little assistance for fitting- I would like to add some cuffs to my garb, and to also augment this tattered mantle of mine. It-” and there’s an odd pause there, where the Awoken blinks once during the silence. “-worn as it is, I feel as though I should not part with it yet, but I would instead fill it with this treasure found in a faraway land.”

: “I would like to carry the memory of Kesset forward with me, as now part of myself.”

is looking for something thick and decorative like embroidery floss, preferably in different colors, possibly in something that’s special to Kesset, and requires something practical for hemming. “I also could use some new needles. Mine are fairly dull at this point. Do you–” she wasn’t intending to listen to the Awoken’s conversation the stall over, but his words resonate with her and she stops to look at him for a long moment.

: “Yeah, it’s a bit of an ask. No worries if you’re out of stock, though.”

looks back to the young woman, and says, “you needn’t stand on ceremony so much. I’m not here in official capacity, just shopping with my companions.” She picks out several thick skeins of floss in cool greens and blues, a few in pearlescent white, and then some purple and a few deep reds. It’s more, strictly speaking, than she needs it’s light and easy to carry. There’s a shimmery blue that’s been imported from somewhere else–she remembers the place but she can’t remember the name–and she picks that up too. Some nice thread, bone needs, and two of crystal. “Allow me to reimburse you?” She knows it would be given to her, and freely, but has always tried to pay for the things she gets for herself.

: “Thank you, my dear. Your skill and stories have been a delight!” He unclasps his mantle, dramatically whipping it around and folding it over his hands, helping to measure out how much they’d need to unfray the edges and patch the trim.

offers up his wrists, hands open, palms up. Might have to pull at the sleeves a bit to fully straighten them out, but he’ll let the dyer do that. He watches their face as they work and measure and scribble and patter.

: “Haha, here’s hoping. Mostly wanted it in case of emergency since I’m traveling with a big group at the moment, and I doubt many of them have gone off path before. Much appreciated! My friend said these were generally acceptable to trade of marketplace goods - how much do I owe you for everything?” He holds up the small pouch of green gems.

sets out a generous amount of crystals–strictly speaking more than necessary. “And any message you might want to carry or leave for someone, of course, though that is not about payment.”

: “Or perhaps you’d like to tell me about who taught you your craft?”

: “Perfect! A pleasure doing business with you.”

thinks for a second. “Y’know… that’s a good question. Dealer’s choice, how about that?”

: “I will be walking many strange paths, and I will allow you to guide me through this one.”

: “What was your grandmother’s name? And what is your name? I will add it to my predecessors story.”

beams with admiration. “Absolutely perfect! Sew away, and the world will come to awe.”

: “You’re welcome, Nadia, granddaughter of Aenna, who was saved by my predecessor’s predecessor and tends the threads of Kesset.” Her smile is full and natural and at ease. This, she understands how to do. “I will think of your story whenever I sew with these threads. Though, if you wouldn’t mind, could you tell me if there are any Spoken Wood in or near Kesset? I need to speak with one.”

turns from the stall after he’s gathered his things - he’s got both hand full, and a pile coming up to his mouth. He glances to one side in the Awoken’s direction, then the other in Daina’s, before letting out a sign and mumbling “I am NOT fucking carrying slate all over the place…”

He glances around again, waiting for a particular moment. You know how on occasion, you can be in a crowd of hundreds of people and somehow none of their eyes fall on you? Aurelius seems to be very deliberately aware of when that precise moment happens - which strangely happens to line up with when he locks eyes with the Awoken. His eye the flash purple for a moment as he speaks, but somehow goes unheard by the crowd - Ur’d baisanchlan - mönkhöd tiim baikh boltugai. Khachin mushgia zamuudyg dakhin neegtün - ekh rüü, zorikh gazar ruu!“*

And then all the stuff in his hands are gone. As is the glow in his eyes. And the ambience in the market place returns to normal.

then makes his way over to the stall Daina’s at, waiting for her to finish speaking with the woman before saying anything himself.

stares, unblinking, in that uncanny way. His lips move but make no words, and after a few beats of that, his mouth closes to a sly grin.

: “Ah, sorry!” He headbows slightly. “I noticed one of my companions making an unusual signal. They’re full of surprises.”

: “Thank you. I’ll look for them there.” She excuses herself then, gathering her purchases into one of her pouches. “I take it you found what you were looking for?” she asks Aurelius.

: “Mmhm. The fiendcraft stall had a surprisingly robust selection.” He smiles. “Also I do recall you saying you were something of a story teller, but I hadn’t realized you were such a popular celebrity.”

: “It’s joyful every time they do so. Even the silent ones, you gotta watch out for them, too!”

: “The role of the Sword-Saint is a very respected one in Almachadta. Though I had sort of forgotten the … strength of peoples’ reactions.”

take a breath. This is not … quite within the bounds of her role, either as the Sword-Saint or as who she was before, but she says the next like setting a broken bone. “Just now–If you and the Awoken need time together this evening I believe we’ll be given private rooms at the inn. Or if we must share, I’m sure I can arrange it so you two have time alone.”

raises an eyebrow, then lets out a laugh while throwing an arm around Daina’s shoulder. “Aaah, you seem so much more alive now than you did two days ago! It’s refreshing.”

: “There’s room enough in the world for all! And there’s always more space where it came from.”

is relieved she at least didn’t offend him. “Do I?”

: “You do. You and Wolf both, really, Seemed so stiff and halting, so hesitant and unsure of yourself. The exact opposite of how the people here seem to see you, really. Not so much now though.”

: “I couldn’t imagine either of you cracking a joke when we woke up in the Sanctuary, but look at you now!”

: “Bear themselves to the sky above, do they? Curious! But not unexpected. I imagine they’ll be easy to pick from a crowd.”

: “A joke?” She knows she has quite a sharp sense of humor, but she usually tries to keep it under wraps. “Oh. No. I. There just seems to be a tension between the two of you and I’ve found such things are usually worked out in the Rite or in a bed.”

: “Who are the Lightdrinkers? What do they bear, asides themselves?”

pauses for a second, then errupts into laughter again, letting him slide off Daina’s shoulder as he does.

: “Ahh…. aaaahhh!! Hahaha hah. Aaah….. Ha. Oh man.”

: “Whoo.”

by this point is flushed a deep red. She puts her face into her hands. “Usually I’m actually good at this sort of thing” she mutters into her palms. So distracted is she that she doesn’t notice the Awoken Causing Problems.

: “Not that I can recall!”

: “I suppose, then I should offer thanks for the consideration of the Saint…?” He’s mostly got the giggles out now. “But uh… no it’s nothing quite like that.”

: “Though I do wonder if he might be more forth coming during a Rite…”

also complies with shaking of the cuffs. They’re poofy and easy to wear, and won’t interfere with a sword in hand.

: “Please do not thank me for my consideration,” she says, face fully buried in hands now. “Though if a Rite will help perhaps you should consider it. Somewhere discreet.”

is interrupted from answering that first question by the second one. “Everything is excellent and splendid!” he says, clasping his hands together. “What do I owe you for the high-quality work, my dear?”

: “I do think the Awoken knows more than they’re letting on for what it’s worth and I am, perhaps, being a bit dramatic in trying to get him to tip his hand, but… Actually on the note of being discreet - are there like… laws, or rules, about when and where it’s appropriate to summon fiends in your world?”

: “And, ah, possibly a good spot to engage in a bit of Deep Magic.”

takes a deep breath and composes her face. When she pulls her hands away, the blush is mostly gone. “Of course he knows more than he’s letting on. So do you.”

: “In my defense I’ve never been asked to elaborate.”

: “There are rules to fiend-summoning, yes. It’s generally rude to perform a summing outside of the Rite or in public. There are specific places meant for such a summoning–I can show you. As for the Deep Magic … what kind?”

: “The Liminal kind. … I don’t think normal people can mess with that flavor of gnosis, at least.”

: “Ah, you mean the first question! Well!” He produces a crystal, rolling it over his knuckles and around the side of his thumb into his open palm offering it to the dyer, and then he says-

: “But uh it may involve opening a small window to the place we just were.”

: “I come from… a sunless road, far away from a home of callopie’d song of warmth and love.”

if he was expecting her to be surprised she isn’t. “Of course. There will be places along the route to the Courtyard where very little will be disturbed. If you don’t need a grove of particularly dense flourishing gnosis, then somewhere in the shadow of the mountains, where this is more rock than green, might be a good choice.”

: “The same feeling that held me to keep the rest of this mantle is why I cannot discard it so easily.”

: “In that, one day, I might remember its name.”

: “Flourishing will help with the fiend I want to make, but it’s not strictly necessary. The formula I’m familiar with doesn’t need a ton - which is good, as Beast didn’t have a lot of it laying around.”

cuts her eyes towards the Awoken and his metahuman tailor. “Do I want to know what’s transpired over there or …?”

: “Hmm…”

: “I feel like you’d feel like you should, but also you don’t really want too know in equal measure.”

: “Thank you for sharing your skill and warmth with me.” He takes the dyer’s hand, bringing it to his lips with a kiss.

: “Remember me as ‘Awoken.’ And… yourself?” He tilts his head in question.

sees the dramatic and kiss and shrugs at Aurelius, saying “well, I’m glad I was wrong about the nature of the tension between you. I want to go look at some of the cut stone over there. Kesset is known for it.”

: “…Though I can’t imagine she’s going to remember the finer points of their conversation so it’s probably fine…” Aurelius holds a hand out and shakes his side to side.

snorts back another couple of laughs. “Of course, you’ve humored us so we can certainly humor you in turn for a bit.”

heads determinedly for the irrica vendor, curious what kinds of carved and polished pieces of stone will be on offer. She remembers she … owned something precious made of irrica once. She can remember how it felt, though not the exact contours.

: “After that the fiend summoning location, though!” A pause, “What do you use cut stone for anyway, it didn’t seem - oh! GEMstones. Okay that makes more sense.”

: “Iosi. All the leaves and stones will know your name after they ask who did such fabulous tailoring.” He retrieves his hand, and has subtly palmed the crystal into theirs as he withdraws it. He dons his mantle over his shoulders once more, and gives a small bow and nod.

: “Well, not a gemstone like the one you showed me but something close. They mine it here. The summoning location is … a decent distance from the city. I can point you in the direction or take you in a bit.”

: “What kind of fiend are you looking to summon?”

: “Farewell, Iosi! May we meet again along these strange paths.” He turns to leave, giving them a glance over the shoulder and another wave, before trotting off to catch up to Daina and Aurelius.

: “Hrmm what was it called it, I just had it… crypto… cart… Cartogrix? I’m not sure if it’s common on this world, but it’s a highly specialized papyrus variant that’s used to automatically generate detailed maps as you roam about, so long as you’ve got ink to keep feeding it and paper to draw it on.”

looks at the irrica, then up at the vendor. “These are beautiful. Are they your work?” eyes drawn to the wood-and-irrica jewelry

hustles up to the two, easier now that they’ve stopped. “The crafters here are amazing! I knew I must wear this color the moment I saw it, but they really went above and beyond!” he says, showing off his cuffs, spinning once to show the mantle.

smiles at her. “It would indeed. One moment.” She turns to the Awoken, admiring his mantle and ruffles. It does suit him. “I also bought something for you,” she says, pulling out the shimmering blue skein of embroidery floss that almost exactly matches his eyes. “I thought you might like it.”

: “You look leagues less scruffy now, I’m impressed. What was with that out bursting font of charm back there, anyway? You always act like a bizarre little gremlin around us.”

: “Iosi indeed! They’re incredible and worth every shaving.” He gasps in delight at having a gift! For him! He gently takes it with both hands. “Ahh… what a beautiful hue. Now I must think of the perfect location to accent this, as well! Thank you, Daina!” He broadly smiles, bowing slightly to her in thanks.

: “I heard what you said about carrying a bit of Kesset with you everywhere and … well, that color is from somewhere else in Almachadta, but I thought it might be nice to carry too.”

: “Though Aurelius is right. We did see a different side of you.”

then turns his head to look to Aurelius, and snorts a quick chuckle. “Bizzare little gremlin!”

makes a ‘yeah thats what i said and the people agree’ sort of nodding gesture in response.

: “Is that how I appear? Hahahahah! Ahh…”

: “…How did you think you were coming across…?”

tilts his head. “I wasn’t particularly worried about such a thing, to be honest.”

: “I mean, fair enough, but still. You seemed like a totally different person.”

realizes she’s being quite rude, and turns back to the pieces. She’s looking for a bracelet or a necklace, something unique, something that speaks to her.

: “I don’t think about it too often, but… I suppose I do meet those where they meet me.”

waves a hand towards Aurelius. “You’re a fairly open guy, you know a thing or two about a thing or two, or four, or eight, or sixteen, but right now you’re content to only show two. But it’s not as though it’s chilled me any towards you, no?”

: “Hmm… so because our initial impressive of you was a bit odd, you acted a bit more odd than normal… and because the stall keeper had the impression of you as a suave, handsome wanderer you were more…. well, however you were just now?*

folds his arms over his chest, thinking. “Suppose when you put it that way it’s not so odd, I guess most people are like that to some extent.”

: “Daina, so closed of at the beginning, her and Wolf opening up more once the home world was within feeling… but now, always stealing glances at me, keeping me in her field of vision, thinking of the color of my eyes when seeing the embroidery…”

lowers his voice. “If we must share, I’m sure there’s more… private rooms at the inn.”

glances between the Awoken and Daina once. There’s another beat. And then he starts laughing even harder and louder than he laughed at Daina earlier, leaning forward and holding his sides.

absolutely said that towards Daina while she was mid-conversation with the vendor.

hand is drawn towards the bangle, but stops when she hears the Awoken’s words. “One moment,” she tells the vendor, then glances at the Awoken. “I do suppose I deserved that. Would you believe your words touched me and at the same time I find you immensely frustrating?”

gives the vendor a Look like, ‘am I right, or am I right?’

She looks longingly at Aurelius, like she’d like to kick him but doesn’t want to invoke the Rite

trys. tries SO HARD. But can’t. Stop laughing.

: “Ahh, so there is tension.” He straightens up. “Well! Far be it from me to not resolve unseen quandries of space, time, and the heart without a double-footed leap forward. I do believe those words, Daina. Fully and truthfully, though I think it’s not altogether too uncommon a set of emotions to hold.”

: “Oh don’t worry. They’re resolving themselves rather swiftly in one direction.”

slapping his hand against the stall, as gently as he can.

rocks back onto his heels. “Like I answered with Aurelius… all one needs to do is ask.”

: “Oh Goddess above I can’t - I -”

takes in a deeeeep breath, then slowly lets it out.

: “Woooo. Okay. Okay. OKAY! Okay. Man. What happened in those brief moments where you looked shell shocked, before this switch got flipped?”

is the Sword-Saint, and this is inappropriate behavior for pretty much anyone, let alone her. Still, she finds herself saying, “which one of my beloveds will buy me that bracelet I want so very much then? I am asking, after all.”

She pitches her voice loud enough she talks over Aurelius

: “Oh! Allow me!” He snatches another crystal from somewhere (it was just in his other palm), and holds it up to the vendor. “Here you are. Or is it…” He collapses his fingers, and opens them- now there’s two!

waves a hand dismissively, then flicks his thumb towards the stall owner. One of those green crystals is laying on the display case, next to the bracelet. Still a little giggly.

tugs free a lock of hair from her brains and curls it around her finger, lowering her eyelashes what she hopes is coquettishly. She’s never actually done anything like it, so the effect might be a bit … not that. She’s used to playing roles, just not this one. “Partners. You know how it can be,” she says to the vendor.

nearly collapses as he starts up with the laughter fit again.

She takes the bracelet carefully, with both hands, and then more sincerely says, “thank you,” to the vendor, tucks the bracelet into one of her myriad pouches, and loops one arm through the Awoken’s, the other through Aurelius. “Come beloveds,” she says, barely managing to keep her voice even and hoping, desperately, that Wolf saw none of this.

suppress a snort of laughter. But the second one… he fails with the second one. He’s more than happy to be looped about, and whirls to keep in step with Daina, not hiding his mirth from the surrounding marketplace and its goers.

: “We - we’re - we’re goin’. Ahahahaha.” He lets himself get drug off while struggling to reign in the laughter a third time.

finds that she can’t help it either, and also gives in to the peals of laughter. She’s going to–well. She can’t decide if Badri is going to be disappointed in her, or congratulate her, or something else. Maybe she should lose a duel on the way to the Courtyard.