It Always Feels Like...
Log Info
- Title: It always feels like...
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Seyardu, Merek
- Place: A07: Lower Alexandria Market District
- Time: Saturday, July 17, 2021, 4:10 PM
- Summary: Cryosanthia is having tea in the Lower Market, while Little Fang assembles a device. Seyardu passes by, clearly worried by something, and the whitescale calls her back. She will not go into detail, but admits something is amiss. Merek arrives. Cryo asks if the silverscale feels hunted, that no where is safe, and her presence constantly endagers others. Seyardu reluctantly admits this is true. Cryo explains there is no true solution to this, beyond ensuring one's lonely death, and that she should accept her friends are willing to take risks for her. She also suggests hanging around places where people who nominally enjoy danger and fighting are, such as the Explorer's Guild or the Colosseum. Merek counsells her to not give up hope, which is helpful, then suggests he'll casually stroll into the Iron Hells and kill Eclavdran and his whole family, which is less well received. Cryo offers some reminders which fall on deaf ears, although she receives an apology for his endangering Lily, which she appreciates. Recommending that Seyardu meet her at Mikilos', Cryo has Lily pack up so they can leave. Everyone's horrible stories of loss have prompted Lily to add her own, and her clutch-mother is saddened it has come to that. Also, Ezil is back in town.
-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A07: Lower Alexandria Market District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-
Just west of the Northern Highbridge and east of the arena, commerce blooms. Noisy and bustling, most anything may be purchased here for a price. Vendors from all cultures sell their wares from exotically colored carts, and the smells of different nations and far-off city-states mix with local ones from Alexandria and its riverbanks.
For all its commerce, visitors are advised to keep hold of their purses. Even the merchants possess a certain, cunning look. Most are positioned at carts or stalls as opposed to a formal storefront, with trade here being mobile, and visiting from all parts of the world.
Though the quality of goods suffers here compared to Upper Alexandria, the options are more diverse. Too, the oversight of the Watch is slightly less, and during times events are held at the Arena, chaos abounds. After dark, the square becomes a hangout for bards and other entrepreneurs whose business is best conducted by night; the shadows at the edges of the square often contain furtive figures engaging in their own brand of business.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Kaz 5'3" 115 Lb Shadow Elf Male Foppish Mul'niessa -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
It's hazy and hot, the Lower Market is bustling with crowd shopping for produce and odd trinkets from around the world.
Off in one of the corner shops, a white scaled Sith'Makar woman sits with a pot of tea, staring off into space. Watching everyone and no one at the same time.
At her table is a pink-scaled youngling, who has spread a bunch of mechanical parts over every available surface and is assembling, something. The device appears to involve a mechanical crab and a rather intimidating looking small crossbow.
It was a hot day in the city, something that didn't bother most of the sith-makar that were in the city, and Seyardu was no exception to the fact. Though, her movement through the bustling markets were quick. And they took her down some of the less populated streets, such as the corner where Cryosanthia and Lily were having tea.
It was hard to miss them passing by, the silver scales almost giving off glare in the relatively harsh sun. Doubly so when they stopped in place near the table with a glance to its occupants. There was some clear distress.
"Peace on your nests." Seyardu greets quickly, before she was already attempting to be on her way, at a faster pace than before.
Merek is not a fan of the weather either, though it looks like he's a little bit comfortable, while he walks along with the boots upon his feet, and will come upon people. Eventually, he does come by Cryosanthia, Lily, and Seyardu while on the way. "Good morning," he will offer, although it doesn't look like he will be staying to talk too long, still he will take the time to greet the people he knows.
The corner under the canopy with Cryosanthia's table was unusually cool, enough that some of it had spread to the nearby alleyway. On the table, and surrounding the whitescale was a small pattern of hoarfrost and misty air. A few of her youngling's metal pieces were inadvertently stuck to the table.
"What? Ah?" Cryo snaps out of her deep reverie, "Peace on your Nests!" She says automatically, as two random paths intersect near her.
Merek, Seyardu, Merek, Seyardu. What's wrong with the silverscale? She sits up. "Seyardu, what is amiss?"
There was a response. Seyardu was hoping to be out of earshot before anyone responded, but it was not to be. The silverscale froze in place again, glancing to Merek, and back to the table.
"Peace on your nest, Merek. This one hopes to find you well." She greets to the man before she turns to the table with a shake of her head. There was that scent again. Worry, distress.
"I will not lie and say nothing is amiss, Cryosanthia. But it is not a problem most likely, though I likely should not linger." She answers hastily.
Merek looks along to Seyardu and will nod a little bit, "Peace on your Nest, both of you," he will note. Then he takes a look along to Cryosanthia, "You are alright?" he asks the two while he takes the time to adjust the dark attire which he wears, then he's taking the time to check on a star chart which he keeps with him.
It is a very familiar scent, one that the whitescale knows well, often surprised by it when she returns to her nest to discover it permeates all. Not one easily addressed. It puts her on edge, alert, she finds herself responding as an Egg-Watcher has been trained to do. There is a threat, younglings are near. She adjusts, her feet beneath her, ready to spring.
"This one does not have many solutions, Seyardu, but might for your problems if you share. Why should you not linger?"
Her head turns, Cryo looking at Merek. She's about to answer when he starts adjusting his clothes, and then takes out a star char. She wonders, should she tell him who is back in town, or would it be upsetting to him. Finally she says, "What do our horoscopes say about how we are?"
It was clear that Seyardu was torn in some manner of way. Between leaving and staying to speak, though the former seemed just slightly more overpowering. It was not directed at Merek, however. "I am not alright, but it is fine." She answers Merek. "Sunguard Seldan was wishing to speak with you when you are free. Likely at the temple of Daeus, or wherever you may find him.
"I do not know if there are solutions for my problems, Cryosanthia. I would just wish not to put you or Lily at risk to discuss them. It would likely be better if I was elsewhere."
Merek looks thoughtful a moment when it's talked about risk being around all of them. The man doesn't really ask though and instead will answer Cryosanthia. He doesn't know what's on her mind, athough he thinks to himself, "I don't know. The only thing that I know is that there is a difficult path in front of the world. I am making preparations to take care these things although I'm working with new magic that will keep me from any tracking magic, which means I will be safe in Alexandria."
The whitescale knows these words. She has said similar things, and followed the logical path which concluded in them. She's not about to give false reassurances, that Alexandria is safe, as it is not. Nor that things will be all right, as that is unlikely, nor even that she might help. Cryo has become painfully aware of her limitations, and while she is weary of running and hiding she has no illusions regarding her abilities.
"You are being hunted, or scryed up." She guesses, "Here is not safe, and you endanger Alexandrians. Mictlan is not safe, as you would disobey Durrankar's orders to not bring trouble to the safe haven. You ponder joining a Lucht caravan, heading into the Desolation or up to Stormgarde, where what comes for you may do so without risk of others."
She fixes her gaze on Seyardu, firm in posture, in voice. In moments like these, whether she realizes it or not, Cryosanthia transforms her past injuries, past pain, into a fortress and radiates power, strength to match her cold. "Is this one close?"
A glance towards Merek, "Perhaps you can share it with Seyardu, when you are finished."
The silver sith-makar puased as she listened, and finally, as she thought, sighs deeply once Cryosanthia was finished. Everything spoken was, for the most part, a correct guess.
"You are correct for the most part. While protection from scrying is helpful, it does not fix everything. Especially when some may be invisible, looking around physically." She replies. "I would not endanger Mictlan even if I was not under orders, but I did so unknowingly regardless. But yes, this one, I should not put others in danger around me. I am tired of doing so."
Merek looks around a little bit, then he seems to think about it. "I don't know, I think... Yes, this world needs to be saved, although..." The man is often in thought, beyond what people would often think about, then he shifts that attention to Seyardu while he will answer, "No one is really in danger at the moment. I can offer you magic that will protect you from every magic sight, and permit you to see the invisible, if you like. Don't worry about the price, I will manage that."
Then he lifts up a finger which he will circle about, "Cryosanthia. I apologize, if I ever even put you into any danger. That said, I'm doing a lot to protect Alexandria from any issues like that again. I plan to travel in the Iron Hells and wipe out the demon family that is trying to bring the issue. Then I need to kill the Duke, and I have a plan in mind to do it."
"There is no solution to that." Cryosanthia says, with a hint of sadness.
"Makess Trapsss." Lily adds in her small voice, peering close at a screw and fiddling.
The whitescale observes Merek, listening. Still and motionless, even her tailtip which usually indicates idle thought. She is carefully controlling her reactions, in some ways seems otherworldly, her posture, body language, evoking her immortal ex-mistress. Finally, she speaks, "Ok. This one cannot advise you regarding that topic."
Turning once more to regard the silverscale, the whitescale says, "Traps might help. There is no where you can go that does not endanger others, or guarantee your lonely death without aid or assistance. It becomes a triage of choices."
"This one recommends spending time at the Explorer's Guild, or the Colosseum. Places where nominally, most in attendance are interested in joining battle and protecting others."
She snorts, "These heroes are often pretty thin on the ground when an actual threat arises, though they are quite willing to show up for a free lunch to discuss them, so this one does not feel untoward endangering them. They ate the lunch."
There was a certain acceptance to the silverscale. Or defeat, perhaps, as she listens. Another sigh. It certainly did not look like Seyardu was sleeping well, either.
"Even with such a boon, there is little I can do against them, and if I am around others, I am a risk."
"I have been wondering. If the choice is between endangering others, or a lonely death, if the latter is not more preferable for myself. And yet, I am unsure. If I go out of the city, then others may be at risk regardless. Sjach, they have found excuses to check on me before. So I know not what to do."
Merek looks then to Seyardu while he thinks about it, "Don't say that." The man nods a bit to the sith'makar, "I know you will be safe if we do it that way, and in the meanwhile you can use that time to prepare a defense." Then to Cryosanthia, "I think we can manage it, all the same," he places both of the hands to his pockets while he will watch the people, "You can't ever give up."
Cryosanthia stares at Merek. The temperature drops around her, "This one is not helping with the Duke. He kidnapped you and Kira, without effort. He bound Halani, Malik, Seldan, Acedia in debts that remain uncollected. He killed Verna, Aurana, Mikilos, Kira, Serene, in seconds. He held off the forces of Heaven, and the Queen of Air and Darkness' seemingly effortlessly for over a day."
"On the Queen's plane. Where she has more power over everything than a god. Where, like my Mistress, she could exclude gods."
"He may be heavily weakened, but this one is not joining you, not endangering Lily." She offers no opinions on the task, she has already stated she can offer no advice.
Looking once more to Seyardu, she says, "Choose life. My friends restrained me from chewing off my hand, and assured me they were willing to take the risks of association. Threats can be mitigated. You know this one sleeps in a Magic Mansion cast by Mikilos, that is why. Nothing enters unless he allows it. It's the only way this one has found to feel safe."
Cryo leans forward towards Seyardu, "you have to find your own haven, you also can't live your life in a box. It is foolish to abandon the securities offered to you. The Temple of the Mother Dragon, she will protect her younglings. Merek is right, at least, that you should not give up."
"These things, they are still above me." Seyardu admits with a shake of her head. "And if Seldan, Mikilos were killed, what would I do myself?"
"It is hard to not live in a box when others do so for you. I am sorry, there is much on my mind. I wish to speak more-" She glances to the young kobold and sighs. "Not around Lily. I should at the very least speak of it with someone I trust another time. Though I worry it may be unpleasant."
Merek looks then to Cryosanthia, "I didn't ask you to assist," he seems to be perplexed about the woman's words. "I was just offering Seyardu safety so she can come up with new plans for defense and protecting herself as well. Well, perhaps I didn't explain it well." Then it's along to Seyardu, "I can at least take a look about to make sure you're not followed while you take the time to think, if you like."
"Hunters came. They took them. Took them all. Momma and papa gone. Momma said hide, but I saw it. Saw them outside. They hit them and hit them and they didn't get up. All gone." Lily says calmly, without emotion, continuing to work with her devices. "Uncles and aunts and sisters and brothers and cousins. All gone."
A panel is removed, the pinkscale fiddles with something inside.
Cryosanthia stares silently at Lily, watching her work, then turns towards Seyardu, 'Someone you can trust to speak to, is a good idea. Yes.'
She swallows her tea in a fast gulp, stands, 'Lily, pack up, we need to move.' She bows formally to Merek, 'This one apologizes and mistook your use of 'we' in your sentences. Tradespeak is still my second language.' <draconic>
Seyardu says, "Perhaps it would not be a bad idea." Seyardu notes with a nod as Merek speaks. "I should not give up completely. It would not be right."
Seyardu looked like she was about to say more, but then Lily spoke up, and she did nothing but listen. It was as if the silverscale had shut down nearly completely, and though Cryosanthia had been preoccupied the previous time, it was a similar mess of emotional signals that had been present at the pub when Zeke returned.
"This one, yes. This one is sorry, did not mean to linger so long. Apologies, for interrupting you afternoon." They say flatly."
Merek looks then to Lily, and seems to kind of... Think a little, then he takes a look along to Cryosanthia, "It's alright. I wouldn't bring you into anything dangerous if I can keep from it, you deserve peace and happiness with Lily. I don't think that she could ask for anyone better to claim her as a foundling." It is clear that he means that, "You two do be safe," he then takes a look along to Seyardu while he will take a moment to offer a small pat to the woman's shoulder, "Sey, come on. They'll be alright, you will too. I'll look around a little."
Cryosanthia is watching Little Fang, who is watching Seyarud, causing her attention to go there. The silver Sith's emotional cues, in scents and body language are impossible for them to miss.
Cryo makes a quiet rumbling noise in her throat. A thrumming, used to calm younglings. Not unlike a purr, although of a more reptilian nature. Her crest flares a little, she smells calm. Her scent is powerful and washing the area. She smells very lizardy, to non-sith. "Thank you Merek."
To a sith, she smells powerful, maternal and strong. "Come to Mikilos', when you have finished your errand. Do not venture places alone, keep track of guards." Cryo points across the market where two stand, whom she may have been aware of all along.
"Yesssss." Lily responds, having put her project away. She pushes the box towards her Ssassa, then hops on the ground to run over and hug Seyardu's leg, "Makesss Fisssh tank."
There was a long moment where Seyardu was staring off at nothing particular after she spoke. It was the pat on her shoulder that broke it, and she exhaled slowly.
"I pray you are correct Merek." They respond. "If this one is to do so, it is not critical. But this one has gold to spare for the sleeves which change into shapes and colors of clothes. But not the most important."
There was the calming sort of presence again, and for a moment, Seyardu seemed to tense up more, before she relaxed some, and nodded. "This one will go." She agrees, finally chuckling faintly as her leg was hugged, and she reached down to pat the pink Kobold on the head. "I will see what has been created, as well. And be careful."
"I will work on that then," Merek will note about sleeves. Then he's smiling while he takes the time to adjust his scarf, while he works on the magic he will need to begin looking about the place. That, and of course the fact he naturally can see quite a lot, all the same he will watch the three, "Be safe, I'll do what I can for you all. If you ever need anything." There does seem to be interest when fish get mentioned, likely to be perhaps one of the few things that the man likes.
The little pink youngling stares up Seyardu's leg, and gives her knee a squeeze before hopping up on the table. Cryosanthia has already put the work-kit and parts away in her haversack and holds out an arm. Much like a balance-beam, Lily runs up it and settles on the saddle portion of the pack that is between her Ssassa's shoulders.
"Get the sleeves, Seyardu, they pay for themselves over the years. Adventuring is hard on the clothes." As is scrubbing the floor. The whitescales shrugs her shoulders, making an adjustment. Individuals with magic sight, such as Merek, will recognize she has her partial wings disguised and hidden. They still take up space and hurt.
"Peace on your nest, Seyardu." Cryo says, looking at her, then looking at Merek for a time. Her lips purse, the usual good-byes seem inappropriate. She settles for a more unusual one, "Ezil is back in town."
With that information shared, the whitescale departs.
