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With the setting of the sun, Prajna found itself wandering the cobblestone streets of Durem once again. Namini had been in the shower when the Star departed and David, who knows where? Despite having left in such a rebellious and uncaring manner, Prajna felt nothing but boredom. Sometimes the androgynous soul wondered if humans got as easily bored as the Frei did. They did not have controllable or uncontrollable powers pulsating through their every vein, they did not not have legs, thus feeling nothing in their lower half, and they surely weren't as mysterious as some of the other Raevans Prajna had met. Mysterious or troublesome, the redhead thought as it recalled the numerous female Freis who had caused it much grief and irritation. Pausing a moment among the slowly quieting sidewalk, the pale adolescent looked down at its palms, covered in small, faded scratches from the endless fights it had participated in. Flexing its fingers and then curling them back into a fist, Prajna let out an irritated sigh as it knitted together its crimson brow.

It had been a while since the Star had encountered another Frei actually, and it began to wonder if the next one would be friend or foe.

That's when a loud hiss seemed to skiiiiiidddddddd directly through Prajna's train of thought. Even more aggravated now, the Frei caught itself staring at the disappearing back of another half-torso. Prajna mouthed an instinctive "Wait..." but the figure, like some kind of mystical shadow, disappeared among the hustling crowd exiting the latest train. As if guided by a need to place Prajna's bad mood on someone, the Star found itself weaving in and out of the humans, frowning deeply when a small child in particular bumped into its developing lower half.

"Get out of my way."

The child obeyed silently, wide eyed, as Prajna frantically continued to scan the crowd for the foreign soul. As more people pushed passed it and the sun disappeared further and further past the distant horizon, Prajna almost decided to give up, frowning at the quickly dropping outside temperatures as well, until... its clear cerulean eyes saw him. With one more shove past another exiting passenger, Prajna found itself staring at the King Cobra's sunlit silhouette, his dark hair whipping against his sharp features whenever a train hissed on by. The redhead couldn't figure out what to make of the new Raevan. Something about him... looked familiar. The scaly pattern of his clothes, the dark hair, the olive skin... Before Prajna's mind was able to label the stranger as a newfound "Cordelia 2", it was suddenly brought back to reality when a soft ringing reached its ears. Prajna tucked some of the stray hairs kissing its cheeks away behind an ear to get a better understanding of what it was hearing when it found itself calling out to the other Frei, "You are singing."

Straightforward and honest, Prajna suddenly felt uneasy in calling out to the other Frei so thoughtlessly. Its tone had not been rude or accusatory, simply factual, confused at most but not quite questioning. Prajna removed its delicate hand from playing with the uneven hair by its ear and narrowed its gaze. It did not know who this Frei was: friend or foe, friend or foe. Prajna did know, though, from past experiences, that when meeting other Raevans, it was best to be on the defensive...

"Who are you?" came the Star's eventual "introduction", its hands curled into small fists by its side now, preparing for the worst.

"I'm like you. But my name is Basil."

The reptilian foreigner's simple statements, oddly enough, sent shivers up what little spine Prajna had, extending as far as its neck, where the surprised nerves then spread the unsettling feeling throughout the rest of the Star's scalp, reaching, it seemed, to the tips of each spiky red lock of hair. This guy was not like the others. There was no more smile now, not even a faint one left over from the lullaby. What was the word Prajna was looking for? The tattered, burnt red spiral descending from the Star's torso swayed gently with the biting autumn wind and, as the skies began to dye themselves a slightly deeper navy, Prajna realized what Basil was: dangerous. The first Frei ever to make the Star feel that. Dangerous. Not dangerous like Lulu or Lucia or Cordelia in the way that they hissed and scratched land snarled like rabid Amazon women. Not dangerous like Vyn or Varun with tempting lips and an invigorating touch. But...

Like Rivener.
Except Basil didn't look like he'd cause the same kind of pain. He just looked like he'd cause SOME kind of pain and, for once, Prajna wasn't willing to find out what.

After thoroughly analyzing Basil's demeanor and recognizing his unusual level of unpredictability, the Star forced itself to relax and crack a smile. Oh man, what a weak smile it was, but it was the best the Star could produce. Shivering, or perhaps only pretending to be cold, Prajna pulled at the tie in its hair and then seemed to melt into an even more relaxed state as its crimson tresses whipped wildly against its face now. Instantly, its features became more feminine, more gentle.

"You are like Prajna. In some ways, some manner-likes," came the androgynous redhead's purr-like response. "Name is Prajna. Basil. Prajna.... Are you... new? Lost? Looking for---?"

Prajna winced as another snake-like blur slithered rapidly passed them, hissing loudly as it went. It frowned. Why would Basil come HERE if he was looking for something quiet? Goodness, this had to be the nosiest place in all of Durem.

Prajna decided then and there: Basil had to have the most aggravating personality out of all the Freis Prajna had ever met.

Prajna kept its face light, feminine, soft, tender, as it waited for Basil's reaction. The returning smile that Basil presented though made the Star felt like it was getting mocked, its crow-like wings the only things to openly express its sour mood. He was kidding right? That smile... Yeah, Prajna's grin had looked pretty artificial and forced but really? The redhead almost completely forgot how easily Basil had intimidated it and prepared to insult the snake, but suddenly the dark haired Frei, as the train trailed past, let out what had to be the world's most awful yell. Prajna was ... surprised wasn't even close enough of a word. Stunned. Frightened? Whatever the negative was, another feeling seemed to linger and slowly weave itself in and out of the first... the second feeling being what seemed to be... intrigue. Prajna had never met any male like this. One who screamed out of excitement, rather than anger. One who smiled like the world was ending. One who made the Star feel like, at any moment, it could potentially be so severely injured, begging for help or instantaneous death would do no good.

A twisted smirk pulled at the corners of the Inverted Flame's lips but just as it started to crawl onto Prajna's genderless features, the Cobra began to move. He was coming closer and Prajna suddenly felt like it was suffocating. It tried to float back a few inches but wondered if that would provoke him; Prajna stopped retreating and just peered up into Basil's abyssal eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in days, or perhaps a year. Just as Prajna parted its lips to ask what Basil was doing, the other Frei reached for one of Prajna's vulnerable hands and shook it. Quite violently. He was saying something. Another introduction, the same introduction, a mispronunciation. Prajna couldn't take the shaking!

"Basil. Stop shaking Prajna!" the redhead yelped as it tried to pry its small, cold hand out of the cobra's vice grip. Eat. Noise. Why. Prajna was too concentrated on removing its hand. It didn't want to be touched by him. The distrust was just too great! "Why is Prajna here? Prajna followed Basil. Prajna... "

Suddenly, a blush spread like drops of blood in a bowl of milk across the Frei's face. How could the Star have been so foolish to have such confessed such an awkward thing?!? It had to think fast. Finally removing its hand from Basil's passionate grip, Prajna spoke a bit more tenderly, a tad more carefully, "Prajna ... was looking for... adventure! Has Basil ever been adventure hunting?"

"Why would I want to?"

That was all Prajna needed to hear, still rubbing its hand soothingly. Prajna did not feel like explaining the need for adventure, the excitement that overwhelms one when one the brink of danger, the memories one can make in simple words. A small but growing part of the Star felt the urge to try and understand Basil more; it would be better for the redhead if it could get Basil on its side, rather than have him remain as the opposition. Prajna's twilight eyes flickered among the platforms, jumping from distant face to distant place like some kind of small blue pair of shooting stars, hopping about the dark void of space, the faint voice of some human echoing in the background. Prajna soon forgot about its "injury" and pointed something out to Basil: it was the small group of passengers getting on a cart a few platforms away.

As mischief overtook fear, Prajna tried its best to explain what it had it mind without letting its rapidly building, child-like imagination and need to explore overwhelm its voice, "Basil sees humans over there? Basil said you eat the noise, yes? What if... Prajna say Prajna can get Basil more close, close enough to enjoy LOUDER noise, crazy shaking, fast pictures, movement?"

Prajna was practically moaning in Basil's ear with delight! Prajna, itself, had never been on one of the box things, but it had seen documentaries on them on the History Channel, often, when the cartoons were nothing but replays; Prajna wondered though if Basil wanted to partake in any more of its company. Perhaps he had already decided on where his alliance lay? Perhaps ... the girl Freis had already spoken ill words about Prajna to him?! The Star had to try and fix their relationship, whatever it was, and fast!

It was now the redhead's turn to tug at the snake's hands. ...Hands which Prajna mentally noted were perhaps not the cleanliest. But whatever.

"Is Basil not hungry any more?" came Prajna's finally girly whimper.

As Prajna felt Basil tug his own hands out of the Star's cool palms, it felt very little offense or shame; The Star merely saw it as a mimicry of what it had done just moments before. Filled with new found confidence, Prajna floated past the tanner Raevan, instinctively taking the lead and looking for a clearer path in reaching their objective of "adventure." This was its time to impress! Prajna had to prove its worth, or let its pride (and potentially body...) take a nose dive. Scanning the shrinking crowd, Prajna watched as the official meticulously skimmed tickets and checked luggage and passengers as they boarded the train. That route looked the warmest, Prajna noted, as that specific cart seemed to be flooded with soft lighting and vibrant seats, but it also looked the most troublesome. Prajna glanced back over its shoulder at Basil.

Yeah.
Taking him down that route was definitely a no.

The redhead continued to search the cable cars and potential doorways, looking for one that was less exposed, less cramped with people who could spot them out too easily, more... There.

Prajna, ignoring Basil's dislike for the Star's touch, reached for the Cobra's wrist once more and pointed to one of the darker, rustier freight carts. It was difficult to see at first, but when another train passed by, its lights temporarily guided one's eyes to once unnoticeable spots, specifically... a door that had come slightly ajar from the halt at the station. As if it had been slammed too hard or gravity had pushed just too much and the door bounced back a bit, jamming itself open in rebellion. The cart fit all of the requirements of an adventure: there was potential danger! It was dark! And, in this case, in Basil's case, it seemed like it would create a great amount of noise.

Prajna pulled at Basil's hands once more, even more childishly, but with a genuine smile on its face now. It had someone to impress! It had someone to teach its ways! It was like having a star kitten that one could raise alllll on one's own~!

"Come Basil. Prajna promises. Noise. Food for Basil?" Prajna ended the suggestion in a bit of a flirty tone, hoping that Basil wasn't too unlike the other males Prajna had met: They all caved in at some point or another...

It had worked. Perhaps a little too well. Prajna tried to hide the brief scowl that had surfaced on its doll-like features as Basil brushed it aside and bolted on past it. Prajna's piercing blue eyes followed the nimble snake, watching curiously as he slithered in and out of the twisting shadows with ease. With his raised hood and dark hair, Basil looked like a ninja. Prajna made a brief mental note of the similarities between the ninjas Prajna had witnessed on television to the soul that was Basil: both were dark, swift beings. Both were very quiet but dangerous. Both seemed a little one-track minded. The frown lingered. If Basil was a ninja, Prajna wasn't sure how it was going to handle him; there had never been a movie that the Star had seen about DEFEATING or befriending a ninja. But the challenge was half the fun.

And on the note of challenge, Prajna jumped at the sound of the train's departing whistle. No! It had been so lost in its thoughts that it had yet to catch up to its faster counterpart. "Leaping" from the platform in an equally silent but more elegant fashion like Basil did, Prajna fluttered between tracks and shadows to the rusted freight car. Surprisingly, the heavy, ancient-looking door that had only been ajar wide enough for perhaps a kitten was now pushed further open. Big enough for a small human or perhaps, two half-torsos to fit through. Prajna seemed to hesitate for a moment as it watched Basil slip in. Was this really okay? Prajna was going to be alone with this...

this...

ninja.

A final whistle alerted Prajna that it was out of time and, with no other option left, the Star pulled itself into the decrepit cart, releasing a soft mixed sigh of worry and relief as it felt the train begin to shift its weight. There was no turning back now.

"Food for Basil!" came a voice Prajna thought was in its head, but proved to be Basil himself. No. That had to be a thought. Prajna was tempted to ask the newly crested ninja what that trickery was but the Star soon found itself staring directly into the depths of space. The landscape was utterly exposed to the slow moving train, as if a heavy curtain was tauntingly raising itself, slowly, slowly; Prajna couldn't help but release a small gasp at the galaxies and stardust that scattered across the rich, velvety sapphire skies. There was a heavy sinking feeling in Prajna's chest: a yearning. A feeling of being comforted but also being so absolutely helpless that you could do nothing more but fall into the arms of the person closest to you, whomever was willing to hold you. For a moment, the Inverted Flame turned its bright eyed gaze over to its ...partner? companion? to see him acting like the dogs on television, when they rode in cars. Even when he banged childishly against the metallic walls of the cart and produced an echo of rust and age so loud, it probably woke up distant cows and chickens, Prajna couldn't help but break into a tender smile, the kind of smile a mother would give a child who had just made a mess while in the process of making the mother a card.

Something about Basil's unrestricted mannerisms Prajna found endearing. As Basil let loose another hearty chuckle, the vibrations swallowing Prajna whole, like the dark beauty of the night, the Star let loose a small laugh of its own, the giggle sounding something more feminine than Basil's crazed roar, something more like a tinkering of bells. Slowly but surely, the androgynous Frei seemed to become more relaxed and trusting of the serpentine soul, yet the hesitation remained. Something lingered behind.

Prajna turned to look back out the car door, at the blurring scenery, the fading shapes and curling shadows. It kept its warm smile, as it pulled its ribbon close and wrapped its arms around itself to maintain warmth. Finally, to break the silence in its own way, Prajna asked quietly but solidly, "Basil. Does Basil some times miss some thing? Not like not remembering, not like forgets. Does Basil some times feel like... there is not.. enough? Needing more?"

Prajna didn't look at the black haired shadow but ran a thoughtful hand through its unruly hair, as if to hide the fact that a soft pinkness had started to press up against the Star's pale cheeks.