Cold Winter Encounters

The Temple District, at an hour

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The Temple District was very much like it usually was - nowadays, mostly snow covered, with only few most faithful coming to deliver their words and sermon, while the rest go towards their respective destinations. In search of that blessed warmth.

Especially since there was quite a wintery storm that seemed to be picking up. Thick layers of snow were being folded by the white flecks falling from the sky, occasionally knocked by a heavy gust of wind. It was not a miserable weather - there was just a lot of snow coming down today, making it hard to see too far clearly.

And with the snow being, one figure was making slow walk across the district. A long glaive with a flame burning at the tip, held by a figure burdened under a large burlap sack hung over his back. If it wasn't so windy, one could even smell the freshly baked bread.

The copper-and-blue robes denote the wearer as an adherent of Navos, the colours contrasting with the snow that seems to be piling up at an alarming rate. The wee woman hovers about a foot off the ground, avoiding most of the snowdrifts by simply going over them. Errant gusts of wind threaten to carry off the Goblin, but she leans and struggles to make her way along.

While Eztli was not particularly bothered by the cold of the Alexandrian winter, there was one enduring problem, which was that they were relatively small. Which meant that mid snow storm, the small makari had to struggle through the heavy layer of snow that was covering the streets.

It was certainly not helped by a pair of leathery wings that were dragging behind them even in spite of folding close to their back, creating a long furrow in the snow behind them. Their very obvious tracks did eventually lead them to the temple district, where they stop, and immediately trudge through and over to one of the burning figures in the area. "Aelwyn, there you are! I was wondering where you've been these last few days." The small makari huffs. "Oh, and hello miss Simony, good to see you too." They add, waving in the floating gobber's direction.

There was not instantly a reaction from that retreating figure - he instead trudging towards the shorter figure struggling against the wind. It takes for a moment for him to reach - but then Aelwyn stands in front of the Goblin, working as a windbreaker. "Canvas!" He says over the weather. "You are well!"

Then Aelwyn turns around and looks towards Eztli, orange eyes looking towards her with what could be a bit of surprise. "This one apologizes, Spelldancer." He calls out, swiping at the snow over his eyes with the back of his hand. "Though this one is warmed that someone misses him." He flashes his teeth, and he rubs at his eyes once again. "Especially one with such wings."

The Goblin seems surprised at being noticed and called out to, glancing first to Eztli, and then up at the suddenly wind-breaker Aelwyn. Her eyes betray fear and have a haunted look to them.

"I see I am not the only one having trouble with the snow today.", she calls out to Eztli, before looking back up to the ruddy-scale Sith before her.

"I am alive, but I am not ... well. How are you faring, after... that?"

"Of course, if I stop by often enough, then it's going to be weird if you aren't around for shifts at the tarrace. Not sure what wings have to do with it, long story." The small makari huffs. "You weren't at the docks either, and I didn't think you were off on any jobs, so I'm wondering what you're up to."

Eztli tilts her head to one side, and the sorceress sighs. "Easy, I'm not here to cause any trouble, but I am having trouble with how bad the snow is. What's up and bothering you, then? And, Aelwyn, something happen to you?"

With the increasing snow, the mountain path is somewhat treacherous, even to those well-experienced with it. Thus it is that Verna arrives from above via a more direct approach. She is not flying, per se, and more falling... albeit slowly. There is no particular style nor grace to it, either, but she alights upon the snowy square at a comfortably-handled velocity.

Aelwyn tilts his head. Or attempts to. Snow falls off his head down his neck and he lets out a quiet hiss. "Ah, if this one only knew the scrutiny this one was under, he would have made a show out of it." He replies, then points at Eztli. "That long story demands to be told over a drink."

His unusually bright cheer was perhaps an odd contrast to the haunted look Simony carried. And with a glance as the draconian turns, his grin instantly fading away as well, wiped away like the snow from his scales. He drops down onto his knees to the snow and reaches out to wrap his arm around Simony. "He is alive. We all are." He lets out a chortling hiss. "How do you wish this one to feel?"

The arrival of Verna makes him turn his head around. The draconian's sharp teeth are exposed for a moment, but then he bows his head. "Mourner." He greets, but returns his attention on Simon, watching her reaction.

The little Temperance lifts a hand to wave to Verna, perhaps in commiseration with their shared difficulties with the snow.

"I mourn for what was lost, down there in the dark. And what was gained.", she says softly, to the Sith who pulls her into a half-embrace. "It was far more arduous than I ever expected, a far more devious means of perversion. I had hoped we were ... were free of the fiendish scourge, instead, it is far worse than before." Her voice is almost hollow, flat and lacking inflection.

"Peace on your nests," Verna offers greetings to all, beginning with the makari. "Temperance," she then addresses Simony by title. As well, her gaze lingers upon her as Verna offers, "I trust that all are as well as circumstances and weather allow." Afterwards, she considers several possible comments, observations, and/or opinions on fiendish scourages yet, in the end, voices nothing further on the topic.

"Fine, drinks are on me, you're not under scrutiny you're just, I don't know. Predictable in some ways?" The small makari huffs, turning her head skyward with something or someone catching their eye, and immediately back to the ground. Eztli shuffles a bit awkwardly on the spot, taking a glance around and sighing. "Oh right, peace on your nest, Verna, sounds like you and everyone needs it. I don't know what happened. I hope you'll all feel better at the very least, I know it's difficult to do in spite of things like this."

"And today _we are_." Aelwyn tells Simony firmly, now with a near hiss. "Thanks to _you_." There's an impatient, near desperate thump of his tail to the ground. "I shan't let you feel sad for what you did. For letting him smile again." He straightens though; to turn to look at the others.

The ruddy sith-makar stands and looks towards Verna. "This one would say they owe an apology, but at this point, this one owes a lot more than words and good spirit." He cannot resist the hint of teeth threatening to split his lips. "Is she recovering well?"

But, also to not leave Eztli out of the discussion, the Dragoon leans down to pick up his sack and give a more full twist of his lips at Eztli. "The Arcanist's Guild," He starts, "They saved my brother."

There's a moment, and then he rumbles, "And this one is not predictable."

"I am as well as one might be after that.. experience in the Arcanist's dungeon.", the Goblin says in response to Verna, before looking back to Aelwyn. "I am glad your brother lives, despite the intentions of the fiend, and at time, your brother." Simony hugs at Aelwyn suddenly, before turning and running (in the air) along the bridge and into the deeper city.

"You know, it is okay to feel bad about things even if it's the right thing. I get it, it's not easy sometimes." The small makari sighs. "And you are predictable in some ways Aelwyn, everyone is. People have certain ways they act you know? Like, yeah, you're one of the only people I'm going to worry about even when they're grinning ear to ear."

"But that's great, Aelwyn! Not what happened, I guess that's what that paper was talking about, but, I know they're important to you Aelwyn, and I'm glad they're okay. You'll have to tell me all you want when you're done with your jobs today or whenever you're free, promise?"

Aelwyn looks up when Simony hugs, and then runs off, though he does not look surprised at the sudden disappearance. The draconian then turns towards Eztli. Then flashes his teeth at her. He flashes his teeth at her and then bows. "Naturally." The draconian promises, before turning to pick up the sack on the snow. "This one shall find her, yes?" He tells her, before turning towards Verna again. "And her as well." Hoisting the sack over his shoulder, he starts to walk away; carrying his pieces of bread with him.