Ьȴʊє Ͻ a r a v a n 🚙 🚙 🚙 (new thread!)

Favorite Character Poll Round 10!

Lucien Balthazar Mchale - Vicious hunter of humans and dragons.	27.3%	[ 3 ]
Vasul Calim Shahrad - Crown Prince of Shahrazad and righteous eagle among a flock of vultures.	9.1%	[ 1 ]
Lorelei 'Ellie' Katerini - Knight Errant and Defender of Justice who will kick your butt!	18.2%	[ 2 ]
Inyri Ven - Sharp-minded beauty and budding lady of wares.	18.2%	[ 2 ]
Eriol Epheis - Mysterious man with an eye for the prize.	27.3%	[ 3 ]
Total Votes:			[ 11 ]

This poll closed on November 27, 2014.
No longer accepting new votes.

[Dayum We Roll Hard]

Somewhere in Lenti, Bethryl...

“What is this, what is this?”

The swish of fabric could be heard under the excited sounds of the man's voice. A fluorescent fluid was distilled from a test tube held between two slender fingers into an empty glass beaker. A beast sat at his heels, its crystal lattice pulsating in the dark as if the man's creation was panting.

“Oh my dear boy, this is great news indeed!”

The room was dimly lit, boxed in on all sides by solid concrete and a layer of magic that would muffle the strange noises that were not uncommon within the laboratory.

“Who could have thought, the Blue Caravan! I was wondering when it would come by.”

The mixture in the container held by the man began to froth. In one swift motion, he poured the entirety of the substance straight down and into the creature's mouth. It took it all down and licked its lips satisfactorily. A string of suspended pebbles wagged merrily.

“Well well well. You know what to do.”

The creature made a silent gesture, as if it was barking an affirmation, before turning tail to leave. When it reached the outside world, it would vanish from the visible spectrum under the morning star's light.

[jadeshaw88]

If only night could hold you...
Ari allowed her lips to curl into a small smile. The man was clearly frustrated with the situation but he seemed to have more manners than a few other men she knew. That was definitely a point in his favor in her book. She wondered what had brought him to the caravan. When things had been quieter with the Blue Caravan, she had known almost everyone's story. Now she hardly new one voice from another and even fewer faces. Jon, Velius, Medayo and this new noble woman were the only people who had seen her face in its entirety and she theirs. Obviously she knew Nesa as well but she was Mother knew where. That made her nervous. Nesa could take care of herself despite her age but she couldn't help but worry.

She felt a presence near one of her hands, a warmth that could only be the man. Not sure if it was what he intended her to do or not, she reached out her hand to touch whatever it was. A wrist. Oh good! If she molested the man, she would rather it be on purpose and she hadn't really known him long enough for that. She grasped the wrist a little more firmly and felt her way out of the wagon, sighing as her stiff leg muscles stretched. "Oh they spoke the same language as you do. Nearly everyone in this caravan speaks the common tongue, albeit some with more ease than others." Most of them made her cringe with how they garbled such a beautiful language with the uneducated jargon of the lower class. "The problem is that we have only just arrived and everyone is busy unloading and exploring. That and no one really knew how to direct you."

That said, she turned her head from side to side, listening to the different sounds in every direction. She could smell bread wafting from a noise center that could only be the marketplace. "Would you mind terribly if we took a walk to town? I lost my walking stick in an explosion and it needs to be replaced...again. I have the worst luck with walking sticks. I need to buy some new clothing as well." If he wanted all of this information, he was going to have to work for it. Of course, trusting him to take her there and back after he got his information was probably not the smartest plan. He sounded like he had manners but that could be because he wanted something from her rather than that he was actually polite. She was sure that Velius was polite too...when he wanted something...so long as it wasn't from her. She couldn't remember a time when that man was polite to her. All of his kindness came with a sharp edge and she was overtired of being cut.

She pushed those thoughts out of her head and cleared her own throat. "And Rashiek is gone. He left us stranded at an oasis in the middle of the desert. His son was sucked beneath the sand into some underground caverns along with some other caravan members." She wondered if she should mention how they knew to come here to retrieve them and decided against it. For once she was going to stay on the cautious side when it came to telling strangers about her abilities. "We discovered that the caverns opened up somewhere here in Bethryl and Rashiek left us because we would slow him down. Fatherly love and all that." She shrugged as if it were no big deal. "To be honest, I'm surprised that he stayed with us as long as he did. He didn't really have what it took to be a caravan leader. He hardly ever talked to anyone besides his slaver friend and he was awful when it came to organization. Even if he was here, the chances of you actually getting an audience would be slim." If she hadn't been a seer and such and effective hostage, she probably never would have spoken to him herself. "I hope you didn't come all this way just to meet him." He wasn't even that great! She was beginning to think that all the songs and stories she had heard about him were all exaggerations.

...Where I can see you, my love

[Watervoir]

Ѵeȴɩus Kɩɾʈɑ
ɳoble





There was no warning, no hint, not a clue, but when the hood came down, it all came crashing down on him. My, my... What a surprise. But there was no mistaking that head of clipped silver-white. He hadn't counted on anyone from the caravan to be there while he recruited his puppets, and frankly he would have preferred it all the more if he was alone, but now that there was somebody, he couldn't simply let her be. It was better if he ended up ruining her day than if she ruined his. Besides that, it was always a pleasure to have a chat with the fairer sex while he lingered around with his hook in wait for a fish of gossip to swim past.

"Greetings." His voice was smooth and a pleasant grin laced his features as he slid into the seat beside her. "So what brings a jewel like yourself to this neck of the woods?" He honestly had no clue. His previous encounters with this woman were brief and gave him little more than an array of haphazard snapshots to her nature. He didn't have nearly enough to obtain a clear image of her yet, so in spite of her outburst at Aria and Jon the other afternoon, he wasn't sure of what to make of her and was rather apathetic to the girl's existence. But it was an easy enough task to pretend he cared.

[NlETZSCHE]

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Ayn sipped at the cool liquid, letting out a soft sigh and a smile at the refreshing drink. Her body had been waiting on a fresh drink since leaving the desert. Unlike everyone else, she'd missed her chance at filling up her barrels with water. She'd been starving and dying of thirst. Maybe she should order some food while she was there. Did they even sell food? She wondered, squinting her eyes as she stared at the list of things written across a chalk board in rushed chicken scratch. She gave up, eyeing the door. The list was clearly in a language she couldn't speak or read.

That wasn't true, it was just such sloppy writing she couldn't make it out.

When Velius slid his toosh next to her on his chair, she jumped, her eyes flying towards him, wide. Her pupils retracted in her face as she eyed him with shock. He'd snuck up on her. With a sudden gasp, she seemed...to...pass out. Clunk, her forehead came crashing down onto the counter in front of her. Her body instantly relaxed, becoming dead weight in an instant, and her cup of water tipped over. The cool rain covered the counter, spilling onto her face, and dripping onto her lap. The water curved in Velius' direction, coming to a stop at the edge of the counter where he sat. it had already found it's exit, right onto Ayn's lap.

First thought might be that she'd fallen dead, but one could see with a closer look that her shoulder's heaved with breath. As she fell deeper into sleep, she'd start making air bubbles into the puddle that now rested atop the table.

The bartender, and the room stared as the whole thing seemed quite dramatic.


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[Watervoir]

Ѵeȴɩus Kɩɾʈɑ
ɳoble

He heard a plop. And that was that. End of story.

Now really, what just happened?

He merely stared blankly at her sleeping form until it registered in his head that she was simply unconscious, for whatever reason. The temperature was a bit too mild for heat stroke. Dimissing the possibilities for the moment, his eyes rolled a rounded look over towards at the bartender, who was eyeing him back with an equally perplexed expression. He sighed. "Hey, don't look at me. What did you give her anyway?" The puddle dripping onto the women's lap was given the cold shoulder.

"Water, sir. She asked for it."

"Well, you gave it to her. Shouldn't you be worried? You prepared her that drink, and look at what she's landed in because of your handiwork. You could get in trouble," he remarked flatly before taking a calm sip of his drink. The majority of the room had forgotten about them and reverted to its busybody ways, having decided from Velius's lack of reaction as no reason to worry.

"Oh. Huh, man uh." The barman scratched his neck awkwardly. The collected young man seated before him threw him off. Wasn't he her friend? Why wasn't he worried about her too? "Uh... I could... ask for a doctor." But those were expensive. Hence why he was suggesting it rather than calling for one in a proactive and timely manner.

The waitress that greeted Velius earlier had scurried over. "Oh my! What happened?! Here, I'll call ma. She can fetch us a doctor..." She was obviously of the more compassionate sort.

"Ah well, that won't be necessary." His eyes landed on a bucket of water that sat on the floor on the bartender's side of the counter. There was a towel straddling the bucket's edge -- the pair was intended for cleaning. The water looked clear enough from where he was standing though. "Just dump that on her. She'll be up and as good as new before you know it." The duo looked at each other, apprehensive about complying with Velius's suggestion. The noble nodded internally. That response was very natural. Very appropriate.

"I have enough coin to make it worth your trouble." The reconsideration racing behind the staff's eyes was obvious. "Well..." Velius smirked. "Just messing with you, although she would probably deserve it anyway," he commented offhandedly. He was thinking back to the little shouting match this lady had with Aria earlier. "Just help me lay her down somewhere and I'll watch over her and you can return to your business."

The waitress and the bartender were more than happy to roll with that, what now with eyes coming back to linger on the odd woman's sleeping form, and hopped to the task of relocating her to a bench off to the side immediately. Velius ordered a refill from the hands they called from the back while he watched others clean up the spilled water. Once it was finally all said and done, he was seated beside the woman, a leg crossed over the other and mind back on his previous task of combing through the crowds for their conversations...

[NlETZSCHE]

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Ayn was out cold. The water from the glass, nor the sudden maneuvering of her body to the bench seemed to even stir her. Her eyeballs could be seen, flicking back and forth under her eyelids, the sign of deep R.E.M sleep. Absolutely instant, it was very strange to say the least.

In her head, there wasn't a single movement or thought, just blankness...that was until her eyes shot open with a sudden flicker of life. She scuffled to her feet in a clumsy manner.

"Wait...don't go that way...The magic cloud fairy is this way..." Her pale white hand slowly rose from under cloak, catching the light. It looked almost paper like.

She changed her pose, almost suddenly, grappling her heart, "I've ne'er seeeen!!! SO MUCH TREASURE!!! Geof! get tha buckets!"

She turned to velius gripping his tunic in her fists. Staring at him was a familiar ghost-like face.. Her pupils were tiny in the pits of her eyes, and her iris' seemed almost as wide as a cats.

"PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!" a tear appeared in her eye and she dropped to her knees, "I need you here..." her voice shrank back into her body. Lots of napping people in this villiage.

She collapsed to the ground again, once again having the attention of the room on her again. Not on purpose, it's not like she asked for this. It wasn't uncommon though. These outbursts kept many a castle guard entertained at night. Some of them, not so much, especially when they learned things that they were never meant to learn. Many a things came out in the dreams of other's. Her "secret" that she worked so hard to protect was only a secret for others to keep from her. The girl had a gift, though at the moment she probably just looked like a crazy person.

She gasped again, sitting up on the floor. She gathered the exact same posture that she had at the bar counter, looking toward's Velius. "OH, you scared me. Hello. I'm not here for much, really. I'm just visiting a friend." She smiled, softly, suddenly, "How...did you get so tall?"

She didn't realize that she'd taken a seat on the floor in the "short time" that he'd scared the living daylights out of her. She didn't even realize that the counter, and the glass of water had drenched her garments and skin.

She reached for her glass of water that was supposed to be in front of her on the table. However, both had disappeared. "What on earth?" Her perplexed voice was soothing like an ocean breeze, even through the utter confusion.


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[_Siphon_Malice_]

Λ r i n Ģi l o u i s

____________xx T H ExxScholarxx
____________☇〔 intellect is the greatest weapon. 〕

『xxxI stand at the border of falling off my path.xxx』


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Arin remained still and rigid so that the blind woman would not loose her footing and end up in the dirt , because he was being fidgety, of course if she did fall he had an extra hand to catch her if she did, she seemed light, but with just the gentle press of her hand he could not tell for sure.He liked his women a little more on the dainty side, or at least women who had the courtesy of appearing so for a man.It was hard these days to find such women who did not have dragon tongues and short tempers.

“ You wish to go...shopping?” by Shahrazad’s a** when did his quest for knowledge turn into escorting a diabled woman around town to do her shopping?He could not just say no, not with the risk of loosing the only person who was even he least bit willing to assist him in gaining the information he needed. A exhausted sigh of defeat resonated through his body slumping his shoulders. as he nodded his head accepting her terms.

“ I don't see why it should be to terrible of an ordeal, Lenti’s market is not nearly as large as the District in Shahrazad, when lured into such things as this there, one could spend the entire day and night searching for things with a woman” He said falling into a leisure walk towards the town that he had just left,he was on a strict budget that he’d broken already purchasing the damned wheel from the merchants, but if it would help loosen the Blind woman’s tongue about certain things he would gladly spend it on clothing and such thing a frugal woman could not would not allow herself to afford.

“My what an ordeal you’ve been through, the desert indeed can be a most harsh mistress, and it is even more a shame that you had to loose part of your group.” He frowned a little as he reentered the town square and figured he would need to point out where each shop would be to make it a little easier for the woman on his arm.

“There is the seamstress, the bakery, the botanical shop and apothecary, the butcher,the Inn, and trading vendors that sale jewelry and produce the baker and butcher does not.” He’d been her for a few days and had learned the essential place that he needed to know, if their were others he did not bother seeking them out.

“ One can not discern the nature of an individual, the important thing that you should remember from the man is that he did indeed lead you when you had no other to take up the mantle. I am not a spiritual man, but I believe that these things happen for a reason, it is the basic understanding of any logical thinker, there is a reason that the happen and they happen for that reason.” Arin never knew Rashiek and it looked like he never would, but something had to be left behind that pointed in the direction of Arin’s desire.

“ No It is not the man himself I sought out, but the truth behind the tales I’ve heard. I am Arin Gilous of Shahrazad , Scholar and seeker of knowledge. its a pleasure” He did not kiss her knuckles as was customary for a gentlemen. She was not noble and she was not shahrazadian as far as he knew and he could offend her. He settled for patting her hand gently with his other.

“ And since you are being so gracious as to guide me in the matters of the Caravan, let me treat you to something, But I have limited funds mind you, so no silk robes or any such things like that” He said it as a jest but seriously he couldn't afford that not even if he was still in his Lab with the man he apprenticed under, all of his good clothing was given to him by those who commissioned research and wanted to show off the intelligent men that had under there thumb.



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[anais nighteyed]

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artwork by Rainxxx

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Reluctantly she wandered away from the smithy and the nostalgia it brought. She pressed on aimlessly, and it was with a lost look on her face that she searched for something to do. She listened closely to the casual exchanges of the passerby on the street, but for all her eavesdropping she heard nothing of interest. Pleasantries, local gossip, but not one scrap of news to clue her in to the whereabouts of their lost companions. With a growing sense of dread she continued to wonder what had happened to them.

It wasn’t that she had no better way to spend her time. Setting up shop, getting a fire going, preparing a meal; there were several things she could have been doing, but they were all part of the daily routine. While she normally clung to rigid habits and was soothed by their stability, she found herself wanting a change. Kemun mulled over the idea of speaking to a barkeep about the caravan’s predicament. She drifted into the doorway of tavern, but the very instant she laid eyes on a recent customer of hers, she abruptly turned on her heel and quickly left. In all honesty, she wasn’t eager to reminisce about bygone days.

Wringing her hands, she made a hasty retreat in the direction of the encampment on the outskirts of town. As she did, she glimpsed the seer woman from the caravan accompanied by a man she didn’t recognize. Her pace slowed, and she paused for a moment to think. Kemun knew she would rather stay in town than return to her wagon and sit idly by. She had another chance to act on a whim, but her brow furrowed with uncertainty.

Inevitably she tried to rationalize her desire to spend time with a few new faces. She decided that being a reclusive merchant was bad for business, and in the end it helped her muster the courage to approach the pair. “Hello,” she said. She smiled shyly, nervously, with a hand tentatively raised in greeting. “I’ve been searching for some sign of our quarry, but nothing’s come up yet. I thought... I thought I might take some time to try to know this town. May I walk with you?”

[Watervoir]

Ѵeȴɩus Kɩɾʈɑ
ɳoble

He hadn't noticed when she had woken up, or at least seemed to. It was only after the girl had buckled out of her spot on the bench that his eyes were on her once again, having more or less forgotten about her existence during the few minutes prior. Her sudden cries about the magic cloud fairy was enough to break through anyone and everyone's concentration though, everyone being the sea of heads in the room. Again. But his current focus wasn't on that. He blinked, brows knitted together in confusion trying to make heads and tails out of her eccentricities. As she flickered through her various scenes, reminiscent of a novice thespian that couldn't decide on a singular role, he watched on with a face that was half bemused and the other amused, and not yet quite concerned. It was dandy until he felt the tug on the front of his shirt, and it became excessive. As his sharp red eyes crossed paths with the dilated brown hues of her own, the corner of a lip twitched irritably, threatening his composure. The 'please don't leave me' was timed to perfection on her part. He couldn't get up to ditch her with her holding him down like that, not without forcibly shoving her out of the way. Damn it with this girl! She would get the both of them kicked out at this rate.

It hit him like a good stoning what sort of ruckus this was steadily slipping into. But he refrained from taking his eyes off of the girl to observe the reactions on the faces around the diner. There was no need to look. He knew perfectly well what the faces of those shocked, curious and amused looked like. He could only wish he wouldn't wear the first and most offsetting expression of the three, but the wide-eyed bewilderment was evident on his face as the girl, as quickly as she had him in her iron grip, released him of it.

And then finally... "How...did you get so tall?"

The realization that it was all over took a moment to sink in. Velius stared, stunned into silence for a daunting second, and then, slowly, a chuckle broke out and wit rejoined him. "I'm not sure," he shrugged, easily playing in tune to her level of cool generated by her ignorance. This girl was fascinating, to say the least, but as a fruit of her actions, he now had a situation on his hands. The crowd was beginning to talk, the agitation spreading like a tidal wave to all four corners of the room. He had every intention to return to this place later, and his chances of a welcome back slimmed with each passing second that he remained there with her. The only option was to draw the chaos away. Casually, he stood. "You seem a bit tired. Maybe you should head back to the caravan and have a nap," he offered with voice of warm honey. Stepping past her, he returned his cup to the bar before exiting and effectively leaving behind the establishment. He proceeded a few yards from the entrance before choosing a seat at a bench from which to monitor the tavern door and allow his mind to quietly process the situation. Now what in the world did he just experience.

[NlETZSCHE]

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Ayn watched him carefully, his confusion only creating more confusion for herself. She watched him carefully, becoming uninterested in the smooth words that left the noble's lips, and more interested in the faces and eyes turned on her. Their expressions, and the distance she'd made it from the bar, told a tale that she wouldn't have been able to tell. She'd done it again. In the short five or so minutes of her sudden nap, she'd made a bloody fool of herself.

The stares she'd gained were ones of both pity, and disgust. She quickly gathered herself up from the floor, dusting herself off, noticing the cool water that lightly drenched her cloak, She didn't really know what to say for herself. She stared at the tavern floor, uneasy and then looked back up at the room filled with eyes. Some looked away, but others, mostly the annoyed ones glared.

The embarrassment flushed her face beat red, and she looked back at the noble. He was in a hurry to leave, suddenly. Had she said something to tick him off? Probably. She eyed the bar, having heard nothing that he'd said. For the last few seconds all she'd examined was silence. Across the room, silence.

For a moment, she stood there, wondering what to say, before she smiled, gracefully, brushing the bangs from her red face. "Such abysmal heat we've been having...." Her voice swayed on her tongue like ocean waves, shaky and uneven.

She bowed to the room, and swiftly walked for the door. "Excuse me..." She couldn't stay in there with all the faces glaring at her. Even she had her limits.

She barreled out the door, lifting her hood over her face once again, oblivious to Velius, oblivious to life. She took a quick look back to the inside of the tavern but quickly made her way to the building adjacent. Keeping her head low, she had a seat, and watched the doorway hoping to catch the blonde barmaid going in for a quick question.

She dropped her head back against the wall, drawing her knees to her chest and letting her head drop with a sigh. "Can't be helped...Can't be helped..." she whispered to herself.

Her eyes finally spotted Velius, being directly across from the bar. For a moment...she wasn't sure if he wanted her to leave him alone, but in the next she wanted to...apologize, for whatever. It took her a moment to decide to stand up and walk over to him. She stood there, in front of him for some time, staring before her mouth finally parted and her words came falling out like a waterfall.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go all crazy. If I did anything to tick you off, I didn't mean to,IwasjustheatstrickenandtiredandthirstyandIdidn'tmeantobotheryouandgiveyouascare,ifIgaveyouoneandIdidn'tmeantosayanythingoffensiveoranythinglikethat.Pleasedon'tbemad,it'snotsomethingIcancontrol" She didn't look at him. She looked at the wall behind him, something like a child being forced to apologize by their mentors.

Her entire posture was like that of a little boy's. Stiff in an apologetic way, clutching her cloak tightly. She hated....saying sorry.


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[Manuscripts and Pince-Nez]

Come out and fight and I will take your life

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The blonde woman visibly recoiled at the priest’s glare and raised her hands, showing her open palms as a sign of peace. Phedre was terrible to holy people, never knew how to act around them properly. For all her years, she put them into two cathegories: those who made cheese and alcohol and had fat, rosy cheeks, and every other priest except those five that fit into the first group. Giving a nervous laugh she excused herself
“I am sorry, friend, I have misheard your words, then!” Better to just admit when one was in the wrong and not risk something terrible or other. Like, a curse or something equally creepy. She wasn’t sure what priests here did. This priest was very strange, but she assumed that it was the norm in this strange land. Phedre found herself thrown out of track every other day since she arrived here by the most banal of things from the clothes, then the accents and all the way to the birds. The blond had no doubt that she would settle in eventually, but the last few months were very adventurous for her, who was used to the more or less routine life of a knight and wife, what with all the running away and stealing and general throwing of reason to the curb.
Caden’s voice brought her back to the present and she gave a wide grin, crossing her arms in favour of leaning against something.
“Thanks, I’m good at standing still and staring. I think they should have arrived by now.” She stepped to the side and listened to what everyone else had to say. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she walked in on something tense, especially the way Caden and the Priest were making eyes at each other. The mention of some man made her raise an eyebrow in curiosity. They must have found out something while she was gone as well, but it was probably risky if they were not going to this man right away.
Did he live in the forest? In the blond’s experience, men who lived in forests tended to be either lumberjacks (in which case she would have no problem seeing that man, she had a soft spot for people who could lift trees, they made her knees weak) or a lunatic that went ‘mua ha ha’.
When the priest spoke again, she stepped forward with a look in her eye that was not so much unkind but rather stern
“Calm down, everything will turn out fine. But it is in our best interests to stay together. “ This was something familiar, planning moves, deciding the best course of action; something she did with her fellow knights and footmen and Phedre felt rather safe in her own words.
“If our bodies were in pieces, we would probably know that and not be here. Getting separated is risky, especially when there is only so few of us here now. We already lost one person so rolling the dice again and hoping for the best is not something we want to do. I, personally, think that we should try our chances with the Caravan, if nothing just to see how long they are staying here and then we can move on as he said” She nodded in Caden’s direction and gave everyone a reassuring smile.
“We have all the time in the world now, or at least until our bodies rot, no hurry.Stay close and do not get lost. ” Phedre said decisively and walked back into the woods, taking care not to go too fast but not too slow either and with her arm raised high up so that everyone could see her. Staying close was the key, they could not afford someone else going missing, it would destroy the morale.
She missed her horse.



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“Oh, they’ve settled in nicely” Phedre commented with a smile on her face and her hands on her hips as she stood in the newly formed crowd of people of the caravan members. She didn’t know a single one of them, but they still brought her some form of hope. A pout quickly returned to her face as she started thinking about her situation a bit more. What would happen to her if…when they eventually got their bodies back? Would she be welcome on the caravan? She hadn’t exactly proven herself in any way to be useful, maybe no one would bother? The thought made her slightly sad, but the woman forced herself to ignore it.The first priority was to make sure everyone returned to their bodies safely and then she could figure out where to go from there.
Crossing her arms again, the blond searched for Jafar with her eyes. Maybe they left the horse in the desert? No, one does not simply leave a perfectly functional stolen horse behind. Those things were useful!
“Let us try to listen in, maybe learn their departure time?” As soon as she said that, she saw a familiar brown animal in the vicinity.
“Jafar!” She exclaimed happily, not bothering to come too close to the animal as he probably could not see or hear her, but rather just close enough to see the animal properly and still be nearby her ghostly friends. Unecpectedly, Jafar raised his head and looked in her direction with a look on his face that was probably meant to be surprise.
Thinking that she had imagined it, but wanting to make sure, Phedre called out again, but this time changing back to her neighing
“Jafar, horse friend! You hear me!”
And she got an answer
“Oh my stars and ladies garters, you’re alive!”
The blond knight grinned from ear to ear and ran towards the horse, trying to embrace it before realizing that she couldn’t
“Listen,Jafar, we’re in a bit of a predicament here
“You don’t say”
“I need you to leave a message for everyone here, I’ll instruct you on how to move your hooves and-“
“Lady, calm your sword, I got this”
“But-“
“I said I got this!” Leaving the knight speechless, Jafar trotted away to more sandy piece of land. Phedre just looked and everyone else and shrugged her shoulders in a ‘I don’t even know’ way.
She didn’t expect much, back then when she stole Jafar off her lover, maybe someone to talk to and carry her weight, but a horse that could write? That was very odd.
“This land of yours is very odd indeed, if horses can write! “The knight exclaimed happily to Caden, watching as Jafar went to work.
A few minutes later there was a big message in the sand in big letters that read LOOSE BODIES, SOME HELP WOULD BE NICE WE FELL DOWN SOME HOLES IN THE SAND
“….look, he even put a comma!”

But if you stay I am taking your pride

[H3p4tic4]

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What was it about Jon that made her forget exactly it was she was doing.Halima ended up smiling slightly at his peculiar antics, cradling the jar of scented oil in her hands while he fumbled over himself and his words, moving almost like one of the undead. She had to stifle the laugh that she would have had at his expense when she handed the jar to the merchant when prompted for inspection, and with Jon automated state she really hopped he didn't hand over more then was necessary to the man, merchant weren't always the most honest of individual and she would hate to have Jon suffer a lost because he was distracted by...something he was clearing taking into a different context then what she meant.

In the end she could tell him that what she offered wasn't purely non sexual, because she was enjoying this speechless, dazed Jon rather a lot. Accepting the jar back with the okay she left the shop, looking up at Jon when he finally snapped out of his funk. She gave a sigh a little and shook her head still smiling what little she did.

“ I’m beginning to think that its second nature for you to speak so to a woman” Did she find it a problem. only slightly, for it gave her the image that Jon sought only to sweeten her to him , simply to bed her. Sure he was a Bard and that entailed charming words. but the consistency in which he spoke them made her wonder, the only conclusion was that he did it upon nature and she should view it as such.Still, she liked him well enough for a person, she though stepping over the threshold and out onto the street to see a person she really didn't expect to see this soon.

Her first reaction was to stumble backwards, reeling the get out of sight before Arin saw her there with Jon.....holding something she couldn't have possibly paid for herself.Suddenly the whole excursion seemed a bad idea. She should have been back at the Caravan doing as she had been told to do, not whatever it was this was with Jon. Fear gripped her and she was quickly trying to make up the excuses hat she would use to pacify the man. She could find out nothing, Rasheik had left the Caravan, the quest was for not, she had found out nothing of the secret of his supposed immortality, not even if it was true at all. Yes surely he would understand. No....no he would. Hal lifted a hand to her head feeling slightly dizzy. Arin would find someway to twist this to his advantage and her chagrin.

Her saving grace though that He had not seen her yet, not with the Seeress and... the pale haired merchant from the Caravan? perhaps they would provide enough of a distraction to slip around him without notice...or maybe she should just go back into the shop and hide there until the cost was clear. Turning she came face to chest with Jon and had to lift her hands to keep from toppling over him.

" Oh e-excuse me, I think I forgot something"She said, feeling more then a little flushed about the whole situation.

[jadeshaw88]

If only night could hold you...
Ari wasn't exactly surprised to hear the lack of enthusiasm in his voice when he discovered she wished to go shopping. Men liked to visit the marketplace but shopping was rarely on their minds. Well and so, it needed to be done and she would rather go with this possibly handsome stranger than Velius or Jon. She was more than happy to tell him everything she knew about Rashiek the Bold but he would have to escort her to market whether he liked it or not. Still, she had expected the disappointment and might even make up for it later...if he didn't get on her bad side, anyway.

The mention of the market in Shahrazad made her stomach twist. That slaver, she was glad that he was gone for good. At least Rashiek had been good for that much. Amir had tainted that wonderful city for her and she was wary of returning. She had likely lost the majority of her business when he burned down the tavern anyway. Maybe by the time she returned to the place, everything will have settled down. The Inn would likely be rebuilt by then, it was too much of an attraction to leave it in ashy ruins. She had always been fond of Shahrazad though she couldn't say why. She couldn't even remember where she had come from. All she remembered was the temple and a city. She supposed it could have been Shahrazad but she doubted that she would have loved it as much if that was where the temple was located. It was so long ago...

She pushed those thoughts out of her head and focused on what the man was saying. He did not seem to hold women in a very high regard. "I think that perhaps you have been around the wrong women, sir." She told him in a teasing tone. She might have gotten huffy with him about the whole thing but she wanted to make some friends here. Relying on Velius and Jon was turning out to be a horrible plan. She needed to meet nicer people. "Although I can spend a whole day in a marketplace, I seek only to replenish my supplies today. It has been a long time since I have taken a client and I am a long way from the banks where I have notes in my name." She wouldn't tell him what sort of business she did...he would likely think the worst of her but that was fine...for now. If he joined the caravan, he would learn her trade soon enough. There were many wagging tongues in their group, herself included.

She listened to him name off the different locations and decided that she needed to see the seamstress first. She had the clothes she was wearing now and one other change of clothes but they both smelled of smoke. "I need clothes first. Then I would see the baker and a produce vendor. I also need to buy new canteens and replace my water supply. As I said, this is not a luxury shopping excursion." Perhaps that would be enough to prove that she wasn't such a spendthrift that she would waste her money on useless things.

His talk of Rashiek annoyed her. She got enough praise about him from Jon and she didn't need another enthusiast. People who thought highly of the man, clearly had not met him. If he had been great at all, it must have been long before they met him for the only impressive thing he had done in their presence had been his take over. Really, how great was that? He had become leader of a lightly guarded caravan full of merchants, nobles, women, children and a crippled seer. "The man wouldn't have had to lead us if he hadn't done away with our leader in the first place. Your admiration is misplaced, I assure you. Rashiek the Bold may have been epic at one point in his life but he is far from it now. It is understandable that you might view him as some god but you did not know him. I did." She would let it go at that though. She wasn't sure what sort of information he wanted about the man but everything she would give him would be tainted by her personal feelings.

"My name is Aria Jenkins and I have no home but the Blue Caravan. I am...a traveler and a merchant both, I suppose." Her lips curled into a smirk at the end. "I ply my trade in the large cities we visit and the smaller towns if the people can afford it. I do give discounts to those who join the caravan and even free sessions to those that I like." She was well aware that this could be taken the wrong way and she wished that she could see the look on his face as this sunk in. Her real job was rather harmless but her words were not.

His offer to buy her things was sweet but unnecessary. "You needn't spend your own coin on my purchases, sir. I have money to support myself though your offer is kind. All I wish from you is your company. I have so few friends of late and it might be nice to find one in you." She thought about offering him a free session for his kindness but she didn't want to frighten him off with her game. Some people could be so touchy and she knew very little about this man.

It was then that she was distracted by another voice. A familiar one that she hadn't heard since Belorner. What had Jon called her? His moonbeam or something like that. "Hello." Ari replied to the woman. A female friend might be nice as well, especially with Nesa missing. Not that she intended to stop searching for her. When the light faded, she meant to start a search of her own. "Of course you may walk with us, my dear, do not be shy." She held out her other hand in the direction the woman's voice had come from. "I mean to replace my clothing, another woman's thoughts would be appreciated."

...Where I can see you, my love

[_Siphon_Malice_]

Λ r i n Ģi l o u i s

____________xx T H ExxScholarxx
____________☇〔 intellect is the greatest weapon. 〕

『xxxI stand at the border of falling off my path.xxx』


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“Its a wonder I have been around women at all Madam” It was only half a joke,but the truth was that he found majority of the women he had become acquainted with so very tiresome.The daughters of the wealthy at least. So wrapped up they were in there own world, the schemes the played, and pointless gossip.Their most important goal in life was he merry rich, which in turn attracted snakes who wished to buy them only because of their dowries . It was a different kind of slavery in Arins honest opinion, and the chit provided wonderful insight into the happenings of court life if one had the skill to dissect and shift through the nonsense they spewed. It was only good that his own allowance made him undesirable to any lady of money. They were good for momentary distractions is all.

“ I am disinclined to believe those words madam,you will find something that is not apart of you initial list of purchases and you will buy it, I have found that to be true with all women regardless of.....occipation” He wasn't sure, be her words alluded to her being more then a simple blind woman. there were few jobs that used the word “clients” in mention of a patron. She seemed a little to clean washed, but then again their were different degree’s of prostitution, maybe she was one of the cleaner, and there for more expensive ones. Perhaps it was a good vocation for a blind woman, in that she couldn't see the faces of those who bought her time and body.

Arin had no problem with the act of whoring. it was a job and she was not a beggar. not living of the kindness of stranger,their were courtesans who worked in fairly expensive brothels, beauties that wold charge a man most of his coin for only one night. Arin though was entirely to prudent with his money to spend it on a night with a woman. His thoughts were finally pulled from the idea of her being a pricey whore when she spoke on Rashiek, and a bit bitterly too.It appeared he hit some rather sore with her, and a slight frown creased his dark brow in his own annoyance at her words.

“ You misinterpret my word’s madam, I seek only knowledge about his gifts on a scientific scale. Admiration and praise have no founding in my judgement to have sought him out, neither is the act of knowing him above the aspect of his particular talents. I ask you to politely to not assume such things” His mood was soured then, and even her alluding to her whoring did not break the now tense man, He would not pay to lay with her. But he had to put aside his offended pride and he shrugged his shoulders when she thanked him for his offer.

“ It is what a man of good standing would do, but in all truthfulness I do not think I will make a very good friend”He wasn't sure exactly what she sought in his friendship but either , what was true was true, he was not very good in putting others before himself.

He was musing on that when jade eyed beauty approached them with her soft words, asking permission to walk the town with them. In her presence she smelled of something very familiar. Another deep breath and he recognized the scent of tea leaves, it was what Atticus’s study constantly smelled liked. Giving this woman his best unalarming smile and nodded his head.

“ It seems my companion has no trouble with you joining us then I have non either, perhaps you can balance out our troubles should we have them, we are headed to the seamstress now” He would have offered the woman his other arm, but the only reason he had done so with Miss Jenkins was because of her blindness.

“ quarry? are you hunting something?” He said looking up just intime to see the shocked, pale face of Halima about a yard away inside the apothecary shop. Their eyes met for a split second before the slave turned and tried to flee, her way being blocked by another patron trying to exit the shop. Her actions were obviously suspicious, was he trying to flee for freedom? break the deal they had? no Halima was to sensible a girl to do that. But despite his curiosity on the matter, he did not want to draw attention to her as someone he was acquainted with, perhaps later when there was somewhere private they could be.


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