|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:09 pm
 Bright, almost obnoxious sunlight poured from between the gaps in the clouds as Lydda found herself following yet another trail on her never-ending journey. Her last few attempts to continue her search had been nothing short of a bust, ending in dead ends that had, surprisingly, still resulted in pleasant surprises. A small hint of a smile ghosted her features as she thought back on her trip to the Lost Village and its inhabitants, specifically a pair of brothers who had lived nearby. She considered returning at some point, perhaps with a gift as thanks for what they had done and given her.
The silhouette of a town loomed up ahead, glistening in the early daylight and bringing with it the soft din of a large crowd that would assuredly become louder and more chaotic as she continued closer. Sighing, the little Twilif shook her head, gently cradling one of her lanterns as though it were as precious as a baby, and indeed, it was. Had it not been a last-minute flight from a rather nasty-tempered Susikoira, she probably wouldn't have broken it, either. Being on the road meant it had to stay broken for the time being, but if she couldn't find the information she was looking for, maybe she could at least find a shot where she could repair it.
Almost absently, she started humming to herself, the various, scattered notes of one who wasn't particularly paying attention to what sounds they were making as their mind wandered elsewhere.
This place, surely, would have something. It had to. Lydda couldn't begin to imagine what she'd do if it didn't.
Apprehension began to take over as she neared the entrance to the town, clusters of people scattered here and there and though not staring at this newcomer - one of who knew however many - they weren't exactly moving out of the way, either, leaving her to maneuver her way through and hope she didn't step on anyone or anything.
"Excuse me...sorry..." She uttered the apologies out of habit as she passed by, hardly noticing who or what she passed.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:37 pm
 Kaantaa hadn't been in a town let alone this particular town in ages. The scars have healed but she still felt disgust for the some of the people here. She was on that old beaten path to the Lost village she had to visit a few people to get somethings she needed. As she was walking she already heard the noises of the towns people how annoying they were two here. They didn't have to make any gestures at her or whisper anything by her for her to be annoyed with them. Kaantaa sighed and placed her hands firmly on her hips as she pushed through the crowd. Really it was something around keeping the crowd at a distance. Though she may be bright in dress Kaantaa was of a rather dark nature. A nature that kept many at bay for fear of getting to close to her. She felt her eyebrow twitch as somebody whistled at then grabbed her butt. It wasn't but a second later that she sent that person flying on their own rear her screaming profanities at him. She took a deep breathe and walked away as his friends helped him screaming at her as she walked away closer to the town she heard such a soft voice. This small Twilif was trying to get through and nobody seemed to want to move. They were to preoccupied with themselves. Kaantaa rolled her eyes and moved toward the girl "young one do you need some help?" Kaantaa had a soft voice that was a little raspy with an exotic accent. It befit her scent as well which had many spicy and sweet herbs rolling around in it. She gentle placed her hand on the Twilif shoulder bending down to meet her at eye level.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:05 pm
Somewhere beyond sight, Lydda could hear people shouting, using some very creative vocabulary that made her flush slightly before using the diversion to get further ahead. It worked to an extent, but she wasn't entirely sure where to go for her needs. It was so far from home, and the cusory tour she'd been given some time ago hadn't included some of the artisan stations.
A soft, spicy scent wafted in the air around her as Lydda tried to make her way, followed by a hand on her shoulder that made her jump slightly, whirling around to find herself face to face with an exotic-looking constellation bedecked almost entirely in ivory and heavily blessed by nature. The Twilif blinked as she registered the question, recognizing the voice only faintly and recalling that this person obviously hadn't meant to startle her. Heavens, she was actually almost offering to help. The golden little Twilif offered a smile in return.
"I...maybe," she relented a bit sheepishly, as though it was almost embarrassing to admit it. "I need some specific supplies, but I don't know if this village will have them, or the appropriate workstation." A small frown creased her features. "I suppose a blacksmith might be workable, but I'm really not used to this place." She shook her head, aware she was close to babbling and realizing that she knew why teh voice had sounded familiar: she'd heard it only moments before. It was a far more pleasant voice when not shouting vulgarities across the village square. Her eyes darted around the place, as though emphasizing how lost she was, as well as her discomfort.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:36 pm
Kaantaa smiled softly at the young-ling as she drifted down to an item between her arms. "Oh well" she rose looking around it had been a while since she had been in town. She wasn't sure that she could be of any help but she did know a few people. "I know an Item peddler she might be able to point you in the right direction." She placed a hand to her pursed lips another on her round hips. Tapping a finger to her bottom lip "no that won't do she is on the other side of town."
Kaantaa tapped the hand on her hip a small jingle came from something that was on her hip. It was a tiny orb with a few charms attached to it. "I am not sure you want to take anything to a blacksmith they can be quite brutal. Ah I know" she smacked her fist into her hand with a large smile. Her bust giggled with this swift movement "I know a jeweler who could help out though it may take a bit of time. I can take you there if you want?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:53 pm
Lydda carefully considered what the constellation was telling her, her brows furrowed as she went over her options. In truth, it was hard not to wonder how the woman was able to wear such tight clothing without popping out or having a constant backache, but the Twilif managed to keep her mouth shut and eyes averted. Twice in a row now, too: that meant she'd be in almost three times as much trouble when the next time came.
"I really don't want to," she admitted with a trace of the frown, "but there's not a whole lot of options. Besides, I'd be fixing it myself, so--" She shook her head and fell silent. The stranger didn't need to know the details, kind as she was. If the owner of the small shop was her only option, Lydda would be more than willing to go all the way across the town.
"Really?" She brightened considerably at the third option, eyes dancing. A gem merchant was a little risky because they didn't necessarily always work with their materials, but it was better than her other two choices. Glass and gems were different, to be sure, but they weren't so far apart as glass and metal or brass.
"Time isn't necessariy a problem right now," she admittedly, "but I'm going to have to take a look at the prices before I decide...that is, if you really don't mind showing me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:12 pm
Kaantaa couldn't help but giggle the girl was so meek it reminded her of Joey when they first met. His voice soft and humble it did put her mind more at ease knowing people like him were still out there. She almost completely forgot about the cost of the repairs to the item. Knowing that old bat she would up the charge just because she could. Kaantaa got deals for herself because she always had good trades with her.
She touched her hand to her chin "well now that I really think about it I own an old shop with a friend occupying it right now. She isn't paying rent so she wouldn't mind fixing it for free. Plus I have a bit of business with her" she sighed she reflexively touched her chest thinking of the shop occupant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:34 pm
For a moment, Lydda wondered why the constellation hadn't offered her own shop in the first place. It was the easiest way to ensure quality if you knew or did it yourself and a great way to keep business going by word of mouth. The Twilif blinked as the constellation thought over their options and mentioned a friend, aming it seem like a great chance to avoid a monumental charge.
"Well, if you're sure your friend won't mind..." She hesitated, not wanting to intrude, but knowing that things had to be done a certain way. "I...kind of need to fix it myself. It's a very precious to me and hard to repair, let alone seamlessly. I don't want to seem rude or offend your friend...do you think she'd mind if I borrowed her workshop? I could pay her for any supplies I used." It was difficult to explain just why: not only were her lanterns special to her, but Lydda was currently also using the broken one to store the two maps she had, and in some cases, the fewer questions asked, the better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:53 pm
"Oh no don't worry about it she wouldn't mind she is a very lazy thing." Kaantaa new all to well how lazy that woman could be and it would probably be best if the young-ling did it herself. Kaantaa held out her hand for her to take it "I am Kaantaa by the way it is like say Con-teh." She didn't mean to be rude but so used to people saying her name wrong did urk her. Kaantaa kept her warm smile to show that she really meant nothing by it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:19 pm
Lydda blinked in surprise at the Constellation's amused tone as she described her friend. Not that she didn't understand sentiments between close friends that picked on each other's flaws, but fully doing it without them in front of a total stranger? Plus it could almost be bad for business.
"Huh," she managed. Then, realizing that probably wasn't exactly the best thing to be saying, added actual words. "I'm glad she'll be okay with it, then. I'd hate to overstep my bounds or anything like that. I guess it's not too often a merchant has a customer taking over their shop." She gave a small grin and extended her hand, clasping the constellation's in a surprisingly firm grip.
"I'm Lydda. It's nice to meet you, Kaantaa. Thanks for the help." She seemed to look into the constellation's moonlit eyes for a moment before smiling a little once more, still awkward at meeting someone new in this place, but finding herself a little less wary. The Twilif had made sure to pronounce the name correctly, putting it to memory.
"Is it far from here, your friend's shop?" Now that the prospect of achieving her goal was in sight, Lydda was anxious and more than ready to move on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:57 pm
Kaantaa winked with a giggle "she will have to be I own the place so she doesn't have much say. But she won't mind as long as she gets some company" he face dropped for a second the smile went to a shadow. Kaantaa knew why many didn't visit the place and it had nothing to do with the occupant.
Kaantaa shock it off gently guiding the girl to the shop "not at all she is near the entrance of town." It didn't take but a few moments to get her to the shop. The place wasn't run down as one would think that got so few visitors. It was awfully bright there were flowers out front with many different designs in the windows. It was a wooden shop painted blue with lightly drawn pale pink lotus.
She opened the door there was a chime as she slid the door open. Kaantaa let go of Lydda's hand as she opened the door "Hello Mama-kun" she wandered in the inside ot the shop was as light as the outside. The shop inside looked like a cafe with a bar and tables big enough to seat a small crowd. She waved her hand for Lydda to follow her to the back.
Kaantaa pushed open a curtain only to be pounced on "damnit Mama-kun" she almost growled out these words.
Mama-kun smiled like a cat as she helped Kaantaa up "hehe you know I love you." Mama-kun stood no more than four feet and spoke with a almost childish voice. Her clothing matched the shop to a t with plae pink blubbled dress. A lotus hair clip matching Kaantaas and lacey brown gloves with matching boots.
Kaantaa sighed turning around to Lydda "sorry she is a bit herself" she rolled her eyes as Mama-kun laughed.
Mama-kun grabbed Kaantaa's bust giving them a firm squeezes before speaking. Making Kaantaa turn red "oh my who is this?"
Kaantaa rubbed her head and held her hand out to Lydda "this young-ling is Lydda she needs to repair something... I will understand completely if you wish to leave. If not Mama-kun will show you the workshop."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:17 pm
Lydda's smile quirked a little at Kaantaa's assurance, realizing that whoever the constellation's partner was, they were obviously quite close. The shadow that flickered across the constellation's face didn't pass unnoticed by the little Twilif, but she chose not to say anything. A personal matter was not the concern of a stranger. The trip was short and uneventful, for which she was grateful.
The shop, when they arrived, was brightly - almost garishly - colored, reminding Lydda of a carnival's vivid flags and canvass. The paintings were pretty and stood out against the blue, and so busy that the Twilif found her focus leaping from one thing to the next, especially when the inside was just as bright. The lotus motif was nice, but it left her to wonder what kind of shop it was.
'Mama-kun...?' She blinked, unsure if she'd heard right and staying near the doorway as Kaantaa searched for her business partner, only to be surprised by a colorfully-clad, petite woman who all but leapt from behind a large curtain. She was about the same size as Lydda herself and clad in bright pink, a style similar to Kaantaa's own ivory garb. The playful growl and roll of Kaantaa's eyes assured the Twilif that whoever this was, they were okay, and it dawned on her that maybe this was Kaantaa's "friend" who worked the shop. She gave a small, somewhat friendly smile, still somewhat intimidate. It wasn't so much that she was shy as the fact that she had absolutely no idea how to act around the woman.
"Ah..." Lydda's cheeks colored slightly as she took a step back to make room for the other woman, suddenly feeling sorry for Kaantaa and hoping she wouldn't wind up being squished in a rib-crushing hug or anything. Before she could say anything, however, the constellation had introduced her and left Lydda to fend for herself.
"No, no, it's fine," she assured them with a smile before turning her attention to the small woman. "Thank you for allowing me to use your shop. I promise I'll do my best to stay out of the way."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:50 am
Kaantaa covered Mama-kun's mouth before she could even say anything. "Of course she doesn't mind" Kaantaa side looked at Mama-kun. "After all she is here for free and the tools do belong to me" she said it as if it were a threat but kept a smile on her face. Kaantaa gently pushed Mama-kun to the side as she heard a few people coming it. They were some of the more aged crowd but what seemed to be overly accustomed customers.
Mama-kun glared at Kaantaa as she walked over to greet the customers putting on a lavish display to greet them.
Kaantaa just giggled and winked at Lydda and waved her hand to follow her behind the curtain as she went through it herself. Behind it was a small room which looked like a tiny bedroom. A blanket on the floor a few pillows scattered around the room and a few sheleves and hooks. From all the hooks and shelves there was something on it a trinket, necklace, scarf, scraps of metal and fabric, along with wood work anything and everything.
The room had three doors on each side Kaantaa went for the door on the right and slide it open. The shop was much bigger than it looked a kiln was in the back of the room and a table the safe distance away from it. There was a table on the left wall and on the right it was full of many things. Stuff that was worked on scarp from projects and some discarded projects that never were finished.
Kaantaa sighed as she walked in the place was full of dust and was in need of cleaning. Anyone could tell that it hadn't been used in quite some time except that a little table a few feet form the door. This table was set up for jewelry making mostly with metal jewelry and not much for gems. There were some unfinished work on the table she glanced over at it and let out a long sighs.
"Honey this table is the one you can use" she walked over to the nearest table placing her hand on it. Going farther to the room she grabbed a stool tall enough for the table of Lydda to sit on. Kaantaa smiled and walked off "I am just going to tidy the place up a bit" speaking as she walked away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:23 pm
It didn't pass unnoticed the way Kaantaa treated her mother, the smile veiled with a threat that left Lydda to wonder if the shorter woman ever had a say in the matter to begin with. Her gaze darted to the room behind her at the sound of a small group of people entering, and the Twilif stepped aside as the constellation shoved the shorter woman through to tend to their needs. The cheery, almost bubbly voice managed to carry through to the back room, but the words were forgotten as Kaantaa captured Lydda's attention once again.
When the constellation opened the curtain, Lydda could see a dust-covered workroom, large and full of various tools and supplies. The only sign of use was a less dusty table cluttered with bits of metal, apparently in the hopes of making jewelry.
"Thank you," she said with a polite nod as she followed Kaantaa to the table, eying the stool with apprehension and a little dislike; Lydda couldn't' stand the fact that she somehow managed to be smaller than the average Twilif. She looked around, frowning slightly before turning her attention to the busty constellation.
"Do you have a piece of cloth or canvas I can use? I'm going to have to lay a few things out, and some of them are a little delicated."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:35 am
Kaantaa had got a broom to sweep up some of the scraps that scattered around the room. She was opening a window when she heard Lydda speaking. As she took her shoes off "that isn't a problem" she held the broom in one hand her shoes in the other. Walking by the door she placed them next to it out of the path of the door. Resting the broom on the wall she looked around the room but was stopped by looking at Lydda.
She had forgotten to take in account for how small the girl was. Kaantaa wasn't much taller herself only a foot and four inches taller than the girl. Her shoes gave her a great lift when it came to reaching for things and what not.She didn't know what to do about the table and stool but she could get the cloth like the girl asked for.
She didn't have any canvas that were empty laying around she tapped her bottom lip. Walking over to the pile she pulled out a kimono that was missing a sleeve. "I wish that girl would respect her elders things a bit better." The kimono was of a dark blue color with a faint starry pattern starting at the bottom circling around the kimono. Kaantaa sighed and shook the kimono out it brought back some memories for her. "That was the past ol girl let it go."
She walked over to Lydda the kimono crooked in her arm "will this do?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:27 pm
For a moment, Lydda had wondered if Kaantaa had heard her over the window's squeak of protest at being opened, but the exotic constellation turned to her with a frown, as though momentarily lost in thought. The Twilif didn't understand how the other could take her shoes off and traipse in the dust to clean, but stockings were better than bare feet, she supposed. At least she hadn't gotten a run in one of them yet.
Though Lydda was indeed small, she'd learned to make due a long time ago and had perched herself on the bottom rung of the stool, allowing for what wasn't the most comfortable height when compared to the table, but it worked. Most of the time, the Twilif usually just sat with her things laid out before her unless it was absolutely necessary - and this particular situation counted as such.
"You two seem very close," she said absently, head tilted to the side. "It must be nice." Having no siblings or anything to speak of, Lydda tended to forget the benefit of closer relationships. Not that she was a loner or anything, but she was usually so busy doing other things that she forgot to just go out and say hello sometimes.
She watched as Kaantaa searched the workshop, muttering to herself as she went and pulling out a blue garment with a missing sleeve. A small frown of concern painted the Twilif's features as she shook her head.
"Thank you, but...I'd rather not use something that fine. Besides, you could still wear it with the proper mending. I'd hate to let my things ruin something like that."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
