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 Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2023 2:19 pm
The last few days had been a flurry of activity as final preparations were underway for one of the biggest events at the academy. Omari had been constantly bouncing between artisans and paperwork, the hybrid running back and forth from the academy to the nearby shops as everything started to fall into place. It was just insane to him that it had been nearly two years now since he took over the Academy and proposed the idea of expanding it and building a museum. While the newer building was still small considering its age, there was some attention on it from sponsors of the school who were curious about what had been gathered over the last year or so. So why not make a night to celebrate the growth of the academy and introduce some members to each other while allowing the students to also show off some of their skills? Omari had been eager to put together the proposal, but now that it was in action the hybrid was nervous as could be despite showing a calm exterior to everyone he greeted that night. He was exhausted, his own body ached but the young noble pulled off an elegant entrance as he came down the main steps to the area where the party was. Like others, mostly the sponsors who consisted of wealthier merchants, nobles and artisans, Omari was dressed in Oban style silks but with deeper blue inspirations that had golden embroidery of ocean creatures going along the sash that was tied around his waist. His own hair was braided with golden ribbons and pearls while he wore soft slippers in the Oban style, the sounds of his steps muted by the comfortable material as he walked across the marble floors. There were also tables set around the outer patio, soft cushions for anyone to relax on while enjoying a glass or a bite to eat, and the patio itself kept cool with the gentle evening breeze that came with the colder desert nights pushing through the sheer curtains draped along the windows and doorways. It was the perfect time of day for an event, the earlier afternoon sun had truly been too scorching for anyone’s comfort while this was the perfect temperature for movement and for seventy or so bodies to be in such a space as students, mentors, sponsors and treasure hunters mingled. The tall archways of the Oban style building were draped in ribbons, gold and violet which represented the academy colors with stunning glass pieces holding flickering candles to light the way thanks to his oldest sister’s aid, while the room opened into the outer gardens where more guests mingled amongst the unique flora that was only possible because of water from an underground reservoir built decades ago by his wealthier grandparents who had loved the idea of greenery in the middle of the desert. Stone benches decorated the twisting paths lit by torches, a large fountain right outside of the dining hall depicting Oban gods and goddesses, and then the outer stage had gathered a crowd since several students were performing dances and music to entertain those watching. The other guarded building across the way held cases of items on display, older stone tablets with engravings of ancient tribal dances and the like, while rare gemstones and even pieces of ceremonial wear and older decorative weapons had been secured for showing as well. There was still a lot to research and to find out in the Oban desert and Omari was hoping to also bring in more pieces from the Matori islands along with whatever else others would donate from their home countries should he eventually get such powerful connections, a dream for the future should everything eventually fall into place for him. Now as softer music echoed through the gardens for those who lingered after the opening ceremony and dances, servants moving about with drinks and appetizers for those wanting them, Omari found himself drifting further back as his guests entertained themselves. He had finished greeting his main sponsors, saw some of his treasure hunters and was now just seeking a moment to recover from the crowd. He had been bouncing around since the doors opened earlier this evening and now he was taking a moment to walk around the much quieter museum, the majority of the crowd finished with looking through this place and instead enjoying their time in the gardens watching the performances. It was a shame that Noelani and Nanami had to depart early due to their surprising family guest from earlier, but Omari was thankful that they had been here for at least part of tonight’s celebrations. I’ll have to try and catch up with all of the explorers later this week if I don’t get to introduce myself to them all tonight. Omari thought, his fingers reaching out to trace the edge of a glass case that was holding a pair of ceremonial daggers with the blades dulled due to the years buried in the desert sands. With Noelani and Nanami out of the picture for a time there was the other group he would have to speak with soon, Kieran and Kaimana were supposedly recommended by Noelani so Omari would just have to trust them to be just as reliable as she was when it came to exploring and finding artifacts to bring back to the academy. A soft smile crossed his lips as he looked over the daggers, the hybrid simply enjoying a moment of peace with only the faint sound of music from the gardens floating through the open museum doors.
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 1:47 pm
Maia 1 Maia was feeling her first wave of culture shock. Not only was she in a whole new country, with its own aesthetic and culture, she was surrounded by people with no where to really hide. For the first time in her entire life, the sky was completely clear above her. If there were trees, they looked puny in comparison to the ones she was used to, the insects small against the trunks and leaves. Even in her own explorations, she'd never gone too close to the borders to Tale and Oba. The first time the trees started to clear up and seemingly shrink, revealing the large sky sprinkled with tiny lights and the bright moon, she'd spent a few minutes staring up at it until she crawled underneath her tent's roof, feeling instantly more comfortable with something above her head.
Than she had to learn how to work around many other people, learn quickly the co-operation skills most did when they were still growing. And now was the worst shock of all.
A party.
What did one do at parties? Surely you didn't talk to strangers for hours, all night. But apparently you did, as one after another came up to her to greet her. Ask her what brought her all the way from neighboring Jauhar. How did she like the air here. How could she live with those nasty, giant insects. And so many other topics she had quickly lost track of. So much talking. After a hour of it, she had silently ran away, spending a while out in the gardens. People still tried to talk to her, but at least it was in less overwhelming numbers. When that, too, got to be too much, Maia went further away, where she spied even fewer people going towards. Surely it would be quieter.
The Shifter snuck inside on quiet feet, trailing along one wall, her now dark eyes scanning about the glass cases, keeping her hands tucked up into the long sleeves of her Oban-style outfit. The paleness of her fingers when they did show was so bright, she could only imagine what her face looked like in the room of darker skin tones that never shifted. She'd never be able to blend in anywhere but Jauhar.
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Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2023 6:28 am
Omari 2
A shifter? Omari’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully as he noticed someone else roaming the rows of glass cases. He had moved from the ceremonial daggers to look over etched stone tablets found near the Matori borders, the figures depicting some form of dance dedicated to On’os the god of fortune, but his attention had slowly slipped away from the relic towards the newcomer. He tried to recall who the person could be, the list of students and sponsors running through his mind but none bringing a name to the particular foreigner he was watching. His older brother’s partner had Shifter blood, but he didn’t shift like those with full blood so it was always fascinating to see the change in person especially since his school had very few Shifters. Still, even Omari had enough tact to not pester her with questions about Jahaur like others he had overheard throughout the evening. Surely she had to come with the treasure hunter party, that would explain why he didn’t recognize her as a sponsor or student since most of those were familiar faces for Omari. It would also explain her current position within the museum unless she was simply looking for a place to escape the party as he had.
“If you have any questions about relics on display, feel free to ask me. That particular piece is interesting since it features a yaotl yet is in Oban fashion, many Matori and Oban stories blended together over the years since the countries were so intertwined allowing ocean dragons into desert embroidery. One of the few interesting things to be taken in a positive light from the harsher past.” Omari found himself offering, his gaze bright as he walked up towards the Shifter and pointed out an embroidered sash from the Oban style that was carefully on display behind another protective case. “As it is, my apologies if I interrupted your thoughts. You seemed interested in the relics so I wanted to offer my help…that is unless you’d rather me ask more questions about menzuri and how you can stand being surrounded by trees bigger than buildings all the time in Jahaur?” He teased lightly, that bright gaze watching the Shifter to catch her reaction to his sudden commentary.
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 3:01 pm
Maia 2 The sound that came out of Maia's mouth was hardly attractive, part gasp and part grunt. Her whole body jumped, her hands fluttering slightly in front of her before settling back down where they were hovering over the glass display. Had she noticed others were in here? Of course. Hard to spot colorfully clothed Earthlings in one spot. Had she expected one to approach her? Not really, though now that she thought about it, she should have. It was a party after all. The whole point was to socialize with each other.
The Shifter turned towards the speaker, her startled heart still pounding in her chest. The sight of the man with the clearly dominate Matori features made her voice catch slightly in her throat. He looked so fancy! Standing beside him must make herself stand out even more than before. The outfit was hastily bought. Her hairstyle was the same as always, though she had tried to put a few ornaments in the braids that wrapped around the large blue bun that rested against her neck.
"Sorry," she apologized with a sheepish grin. "I didn't hear you. I was distracted looking at this." She gestured with her pale hands at the display. "It's beautiful." She turned her dark eyes back to look at it, catching the rest of what he was saying with a little groan, moving her gaze back. "Oh, please don't," she answered with a tiny laugh. "I know I really stand out right now and look so bright in the dark."
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 8:27 pm
Omari 3
Rather than being offended by the Shifter's reaction, Omari's gaze danced with amusement instead. His expression was warm as he grinned in returned and nodded his head at the apology. "Apology accepted, it was a fair response to someone so enraptured by history." If anything it had caught his interest even more to see someone else actually studying the display instead of glancing over it in favor of socializing with others at the event. It always made Omari happy to see others browsing the collection, their attention so focused on the displays that it was hard to not jump whenever someone approached. How could he be offended when that was what he hoped for whenever he put the collection together to share history and inspire others? It also would be a lie to say that he hadn't been startled by the approach of others when studying things himself, so who was he to judge?
As it was, he was further amused by her reaction to his teasing about the questions others had already pestered her with. Omari let out a soft chuckle in return. "It was the menzuri, wasn't it? I promise nothing like that will be in Oba to bother you." His lips curved upwards into a slight smile as he studied the sash for a moment more, amusement still dancing across his features even as he didn't look directly at her. "We just have sand, plenty of it, with mostly four-legged creatures that have some sharp claws and fangs instead." Despite his words there was a slight warmth as he spoke about Oba, the man actually having affection for the country despite all of the lingering history and blistering heat that bothered others. Nothing would beat the soothing sounds of the ocean, but at the same time one could not ignore the beauty of a desert sunset or the appeal of an oasis out in the sands.
"Is that so?" Omari couldn't help teasing a bit more, an eyebrow raising as he looked over at Maia as if just now noticing her pale skin. "And here I was hoping it was my presence brightening the room, but I stand corrected." The hybrid shifted so that he could walk around Maia, his fingers tracing lightly over the metal edges of the case as he studied the contents inside. "I don't recognize you as one of the students nor do you appear to be a sponsor. May I assume that you are one of the treasure hunters from the new party?" He asked after a moment, his crimson gaze studying a dancer's fan that matched the sash, the silk being repaired after the piece was retrieved from a buried temple lost in the desert decades past. Even though he seemed focused on the fan, Omari was truly keeping his attention on the Shifter but refusing to stare at her since he worried such interest may make her nervous. Honestly, if it wasn't for the collection catching her attention the hybrid could easily imagine her disappearing from the event after receiving so many inquiries from others already.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 12:34 pm
Maia 3 "Yes," the Shifter answered a little absent-mindedly, looking back at the displays in front of her. "I like history." As soon as those words were out of her mouth, a blush crept onto her cheeks, already pale with the moonlight. It was like meeting Kieran and Kaimana all over again. She was saying more stupid things to show how inexperienced she was at her age. "I mean to say, I like learning about history. Always did." Yeah. That sounded better. Somewhat. She couldn't remember ever being inside a museum before. Back in Jauhar, she just kind of roamed the forests alone. Not really thinking about the different things she was picking up or where they were going. Nothing was ever as extravagant as something like in these cases. Just random pieces of pottery. Long forgotten crystals. A lost necklace once that had been stolen from a museum.
"No. I am used to them." Again, she spoke with only half interest, still gazing down at the artifacts. Thinking about how she really wanted to get out there and start finding some of her own. How amazing would that be, to find something actually worthwhile, that was important enough to put under protective glass. Than she blinked, realizing once more she'd said something dumb. The blush returned, the Shifter turning her head slightly away from the man to hide it. "Oh. You're teasing me. I'm afraid I'm not used to people." Which was another reason why she was avoiding the rest of the party. "I did notice your insects are small. I admit I am not complaining." Or the vines. She certainly wouldn't miss the vines.
She looked back up, just in time to see him start to move around her. Instinctively, Maia moved out of the way, keeping a bit of distance between them. Though she could behave quite civilized when around other Earthlings, sometimes the Shifter did feel somewhat feral herself. It was always difficult letting anyone get physically, or emotionally, close to her. She watched him move, noticing the tiny ornaments decorating his hair. "You are very fancy," she said, once more without thinking. Damn her quick mouth, always speaking without letting her brain catch up to it. She cleared her throat, tucking her hands underneath her sleeves. "Yes. I came here with Kieran and Kaimana." Don't say from Jauhar, that's quite obvious. "I'm Maia."
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:25 pm
Omari 4
“And I like those interested in history.” Replied Omari with a smile, his amused gaze only brightening more at the sight of a blush on the Shifter’s cheeks. Was she flustered since he had approached her? It was far more refreshing to see such a reaction instead of having others hound him so that he could listen to their gossip and give them his attention. He was almost tempted to feel guilty for bothering her, if he wasn’t amused by that blush. It would be ideal though to learn more about another treasure hunter gathered here tonight, Omari recognizing the others he had been earlier introduced to save for the Shifter. But it would also be a lie to say that he wasn’t tempted to tease her a bit.
“Used to various wild beasts and not people, it sounds like you’ve had an exciting life so far.” Mused Omari with a nod, it being nearly impossible to not tease the Shifter at this point. “You’re correct though. It’s hard to not tease someone with such a cute blush.” He looked back towards the case as if it was simply natural to compliment her and let out a soft laugh at the lack of complaints. “Smaller insects in trade for whatever lurks in our deserts. I wonder which you’ll prefer once you get more accustomed to the area. The latest dig will be in the northern desert where there may be traces of a tribe that had a ritual for summoning rain. I’m assuming you’ll be helping out there? If so then be wary of whatever sand creature or janarim may be prowling the wilderness there.” Omari was hoping they could retrieve more tablets, more engravings showing how the dances were portrayed so that the academy could study them and turn them into performances for future events. That way the ritual could be revived in a sense and maybe if they were lucky there would be some actual rain afterwards.
Omari paused and let out a laugh of surprise at the observation. “Am I? I hope it’s not too much.” He admitted with another chuckle before turning so that he could look over at Maia, his hands still lingering on the display as he opted to keep space in between them especially after noticing how she had moved away from him before. Omari enjoyed some teasing, but he was not one to push physical boundaries like that. It was simply bad manners and he respected the desire for space. “Kieran and Kaimana were highly recommended by Noelani, the treasure hunter I’ve been working with for the last couple of years, so I’m eager to see what they discover.” It was a shame that Noelani and Nanami would be away for a while, but he was happy knowing that he had another group to rely upon in the meantime so that work wouldn’t be halted. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maia. My apologies as I should have introduced myself earlier. My name is Omari and I’m thankful that you’ve come all this way to help out with these excursions.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 12:14 pm
Maia 4 A small smile flitted across the Shifter's full lips, the corners turning up ever so slightly as her dark eyes continued to roam over the different displays in front of her. The flush was starting to fade, as well, her embarrassing mishap apparently gone unnoticed. Good. Maybe it hadn't been as juvenile to say something like that as she'd always thought it sounded to her own ears. Maia desperately wanted to come off as more mature and grown-up, to finally take her place in a world that had interested in since her younger years. She just hadn't known it at the time, not until she had been given all these chances to fully explore that interest. It felt good to be appreciated by someone else for it. If she had to deal with someone else like Kaimana, again, she'd surely lose what was left of her mind.
"I wouldn't call it that. I just like to be outside a lot." She looked back over, figuring it would be impolite to continue to look away from someone who was talking to her. But than he said something else that made the previous blush at her own dumb comment come back with more force than before. "Uh..." she grappled for words, mouth open and eyes gone wide at the compliment. How was she supposed to respond to such a thing? And while he was looking down, as if it was normal to tell someone that? Was it normal in Oba? Maybe that was it. The other quests sure did like to compliment each other on their appearance, so maybe that was just it. Nonetheless, she coughed uncomfortably and looked away, turning her head to look at a different side of the room. And hide her face until the heat she felt on it died down. "I'll have to look for some books on the local wildlife before I go out there."
The comment about his own appearance made Maia turn her head back around, glancing at the pearls in his hair and the choice of clothes. "I wouldn't really know. Everyone here is way out of my league in terms of fashion." She couldn't help plucking at her own hastily found outfit. It didn't make her feel comfortable to wear it. Far too fancy for her liking. She missed her grey shirt and trousers. She stood quietly, nodded her head at everything he was saying. Still finding it difficult to wrestle with the fact Kaiamana was a respected member of treasure hunting teams with a reputation of his own. He still just seemed like a blow hard to her. "I'm afraid I don't have experience like they do. I do look forward to it." And she did. The tone of her voice rose slightly and a fresh flush came to her cheeks, a small one brought on by excitement at the new adventure she was about to undertake. Would she find something all on her own that would be displayed here one day? She really hoped so.
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Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:22 pm
Omari 5
Omari chuckled at the humble response. “Enjoying the outdoors, especially in Jahaur, is more adventurous than what most experience living in the cities. Though we do have some darker streets, those you must be wary of as that excitement is not worth the risk.” He acknowledged, thinking about how there were areas in Sulburi lurking with excitement as some would consider it. The maturity and concern faded though as Maia struggled with the compliment, her reaction causing Omari’s serious expression to turn into something more light hearted and amused. It looked like the shifter wasn’t accustomed to someone acknowledging her appearance and her reaction was just as cute as before which made it even more tempting for Omari to find more ways to tease her. “Books? We do have a library in the main manor, if you’d like a tour later. If you can handle my company and perhaps some more compliments along the way. You’re making it hard not to be interested in learning more about you, a reader and a lover of history is someone after my own heart.”
“Is that so? Despite your words I think you fit in well for tonight’s event. The Oban style suits you, they do say a lovely person can make most outfits glow.” Omari couldn’t help it, Maia simply made it too easy to throw in a compliment in the hopes of earning another blush. His family had never been full of subtle personalities, they often spoke their minds and Omari was very similar to that mindset. It was part of why he tried to avoid being surrounded by conversation at these events, the way nobles could spar with their underhanded comments had made him a bit more adept at navigating those conversations but he much preferred being open like this.
Omari nodded, accepting her introduction and acknowledgement of her standing with the other treasure hunters. “We all start somewhere, right? I had to grow and prove myself when I first started performing as a dancer, as most do with whatever path they pick. Hopefully you’ll find this excursion a good start to gaining your own experiences.” He offered a warm smile, optimistic about her chances since he was confident in the team that had gathered for the excursions. It was enough that even he felt like he would be venturing out into the desert to check on their progress at some point, the hybrid interested in seeing things for himself once the academy schedules were settled for the year. “As it is, if you’d like to pass some more time we could look around here or I could show you that library.” It would be more ideal than navigating that crowd, he had already gotten away with his introductions and it was refreshing to be around someone who didn’t jump at his name. Perhaps she didn’t know? Which was even better for him, Omari wanting to enjoy their interaction while he could.
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Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 5:52 pm
Maia 5 Maia supposed she could hardly argue against that. Having grown up in Jauhar, particularly in the actual wilderness, it was second nature to her to know her way around the large trunks of the forest. How to dodge the mimic vines and what to do about Menzuri webs. Not that there was much one could do unless you had a bottle of water on you. Which she was always sure to take an extra just in case she wasn't watching her surroundings as closely as she should be. It was just a fact of life for her. Nothing to be impressed over.
"I can't say I'm very interested in exploring the city," the Shifter responded, glancing over with only a little tilt of her head in Omari's direction. "But I appreciate the warning, nonetheless." No matter how large and strange the city, anywhere with lots of people wasn't something she was comfortable enough with. She'd secure herself a nice, small house somewhere as close to the outer border of the city and that was it. Trips there after returning from work. To the stores. That was all she planned on using the city for.
A perfect example right here about why she tended to avoid people. Maia quickly looked away, again, turned her head completely around as her face heated up once more. Each new flush felt stronger than the last, her heart now hammering against her, making her feel quite overwhelmed. As if she had stepped back into the party and been surrounded. How could one person do that on his own? Obans sure liked their compliments.
Turning her head slightly back so he wasn't staring at the back of her head, she placed a sleeve over her cheek, trying to block some of the blush. She really wasn't accustomed to getting such attention from others. The stray comment here or there was easy to deal with, at least when in a more comfortable situation than wearing strange clothes in an unfamiliar place with
a crowd of people she didn't know. No one certainly ever expressed a desire to know her better. She couldn't even think straight to respond back. If only her skin was darker, maybe it wouldn't be so noticeable.
"I....I wouldn't say I'm a big reader. I like to read about the wilderness so I'm prepared. So I would gladly accept some books. Your company is fine." When he was talking normally to her. He appeared to have a similar interest in history and ancient things as she did, which she couldn't lie wasn't intriging to find in another person. "I'm...Unsure about the compliments." Granted, dealing with it from only one person was still infinitely easier than a crowd. Still, she could easily function with less.
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:40 pm
Omari 6
“Is that so? It’s a bit of a shame. There’s quite a bit of architecture and the arts to enjoy within the walls despite the dangers of the darker streets.” Admitted Omari with a slight tilt of his head as if studying Maia to try to get a read on her, a hint of something more serious coming forward despite his playful antics. It would make sense if she was not fond of crowds, especially coming from a place like Jahaur where so many people rarely gathered together save for maybe in Neued. It would be overwhelming, wouldn’t it? Just as overwhelming as compliments appeared to be for the Shifter. Omari nearly let out a soft sigh at the realization, the hybrid torn between wanting to enjoy the sight of that blush and worried if he was pushing his luck with teasing her. And then the sleeve tactic! Omari had to jerk his gaze away as if focusing on another part of the display, the sight actually taking him off guard with how adorable the action was. It was a very different sight from the more outgoing dancers and nobles he dealt with on a daily basis, so much so that he nearly got caught in his own antics with how his cheeks nearly warmed at the sight.
“I see.” He managed after a moment, his composure regained so that he could look back at her with a confident smile. Omari may have been taken off guard by that reaction but he was grounded once more, his expression thoughtful as he pondered her words. “Taking the time to prepare by even reading instead of blindly diving in? That’s commendable. Some would avoid the extra work and just go with the group, relying upon their knowledge of the area.” His expression was amused, a bit of a sly smile crossing his lips once more though as their conversation continued. “I’m glad that my company is fine, I’ll do my best to show you around and see what books we have on the local flora and fauna. I have a pile of records from recent digs as well. You may be interested in seeing what those notes are like.” They would have sketches of the ruins, some notes on the wildlife found there and if there were any dangerous situations while bringing the artifacts out and back to Sulburi. Perhaps that would also interest her? At least that was Omari’s assumption based upon their conversation so far.
“Unsure but not unwelcoming?” Omari raised a brow towards the additional comment, that playful spark in his gaze lingering even as he kept his composure. “I’ll keep that in mind. I wouldn’t want to chase someone like you away, but it is awfully hard to not give compliments when due.” Still, he knew that it was best to not press their luck by lingering in one place. Should someone find him here then their conversation and tours of a library would be delayed, if not forfeit for the night. “Thankfully I happen to know the manor well so I can navigate us away from the crowds now if you’d like? I have access to the library so we can even browse through books until the event calms down more.” That would give her some solace from the crowd even if he would have to disappear to continue acting as host later on. “The path is only dimly lit though so I may need you to take my arm, if that’s acceptable.” He held out his arm, offering to guide her if she would allow him to do so. If so then they would be going out the backway of the museum, around the darker garden path that was not part of the brightly lit event and up the servant stairs of the manor that went to the upstairs library.
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2024 3:20 pm
Maia 6 Pursing her lips, Maia gave it a little bit of rethought. While it was true she had never been in a city quite like this before, it was also just as overwhelming for the Shifter to grasp her head around. Just being in the market streets caused her head to spin. So many colorful people in one place. So many different things to look at. So much noise. Even Neued on some days was too much to handle. The arts and architecture of a building had never interested her much before. She couldn't imagine it would now.
Lowering her raised arm, she clasped both behind her back, the whites of her hands only slightly visible over the billowy sleeves. "Jauhar isn't quite as fancy as Sulburi, true. But I don't really like places with a lot of, uh....People." She turned a slightly apologetic smile on him, her mind already having moved on from all the more embarrassing things he had been saying just moments before. Maia was never one to hold onto bad feelings for very long. "I wouldn't know where to go. I'd probably just get lost."
"I'm not really that strong or have any kind of battle training," she explained, holding up her arm as if to show off how small it was. The dagger she kept at her belt was meant more for cutting ropes or taking swipes to distract than it was for more practiced swings. "So books help. I would really appreciate the help." Than her composure shattered at mention of the rest, the Shifter's eyes widening in obvious interest, her face fully turning to look at the hybrid, all her defenses against further compliments forgotten. She had to hold her hands in front of her stomach to stop their trembling in excitement. Records of past digs?! "I-I cannot lie," she tried to say, failing to keep the emotion out of her voice. "I would love to see those." And take some mental notes on how to record them herself one day.
But the excitement was short lived. Maia coughed, turning her head to look back forward, dark eyes down on the display. She was finding it increasingly more difficult to look straight at him, for fear of what else he might say. "I...Uh.....Don't know." Was all she could think of to respond with. It was an interesting feeling to have someone seem so interested in her. Whether that was a good or bad thing, she couldn't quite say. "I don't think I'm really all that special." The woman breathed in a large lungful of air through her nose and released it, before turning to see Omari offering his arm to her. She stared at it a moment, as if it were something that might bite her. Than, as if a fog was blown away, she felt some of her usual fire returning. She narrowed her eyes, suddenly suspicious, but stepped closer nonetheless. "As you claim," she responded with some of her usual attitude, reaching out with a hand, trying to remember how the nobles at the party were linked in such a way. How she wished she had paid more attention, as she fumbled a little, her lips pursed in concentration and the flush to her cheeks returning. Gaining the courage to touch someone else, even just a little like this, felt far more intimate to her. It's only an arm. It's not like he's holding your hand. She finally settled on placing her fingers far too lightly against the man's inner arm, close to his elbow. She thought that was right. Or close enough.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:25 pm
“That’s why you have an escort to avoid getting lost.” Omari replied with a small smile in return. “If the urge to explore the city did ever strike you one day then feel free to ask for me. I’m always working here at the academy and an evening in the city is not something I’m completely opposed to with the right company.” It was very rare that he wasn’t here, that much was true even without disclosing exactly why he was always working at the academy. Still, it was best to offer since he would like to get to know those that worked with him better and even more so if he could get some amusement from teasing them along the way.
Omari glanced over the arm and then nodded. “That’s reasonable enough. There should be some tactics in the books on wildlife, if anything I’ve heard that Kieran is also knowledgeable about animals. He may provide more insight than whatever you find in text though there may be additional information in the dig records for anything local.” If he remembered correctly then the notes from the digs had some insight on local flora and fauna thanks to Nanami who was very studious and made certain to record everything that the treasure hunters saw out in the desert. It was mostly her records that he would be showing Maia, the detailed logs a testimony to the scholar’s love of knowledge. Omari had browsed through them multiple times, sometimes side by side with Nanami, as he helped to categorize artifacts and place them within the museum. It was hard to hide the amusement that danced across his face, the excitement over the notes not lost to the hybrid as he teased her. “Then perhaps we should focus on the records first and go from there. I’m worried you won’t be able to focus on books with those lingering nearby.”
A soft chuckle left his lips. “Well, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of humility though eventually you may start seeing things differently. Just don’t get too arrogant when you do finally accept it.” Omari replied after a moment, a slight tease in his voice even though he did appreciate that Maia wasn’t terribly vain like others he dealt with. Still, it would be a lie to say that she was nothing especially after seeing her standing there and interacting with her, but Omari wouldn’t push it. Maybe being out in the digs would help build up the Shifter’s confidence, she would need it if she was to live in Oba after all. Ah, but there was a bit of fire to her. Omari tried his best to not chuckle at the spark and stood still as she prepared to take his arm, the hybrid only moving after her fingers finally settled on his inner arm. “You’ll see that I’m not one to lie about anything.” He advised with a sly smile, the reference being for more than simply the dark path as it included any compliments he had given her as well.
Indeed as he directed them around the last exhibit and through a side door towards the outer gardens there was barely a flickering torch on the path. The staff had kept it this way to deter any visitors from the main event coming out this way, the darkness a barrier against those who would have found more lit places to hang out while the party was continuing. There were some alcoves that the more daring still went towards despite that, Omari steering Maia away from one that had an obvious couple enjoying more than a simple drink together, and eventually he came up to the back entrance of the manor. “Watch your step. As you see, it is perhaps a bit dark here.” He whispered quietly, helping her up over the initial step that was hidden in shadows, the height of the first a bit steeper than most. Then with a key from around his neck, the man opened the door and guided them towards the side staircase and upstairs. “The library is the first door on the second floor, I’ll light some more lamps when we arrive.” And inside was the largest room of the manor holding rows of bookcases with scattered tables that were empty at the moment, the artifacts being either tucked away inside his own office or in the museum itself for tonight’s event. Other than one lit lamp left out on the table towards his office, there were only flickering lights from the garden below and the moonlight itself that came in through the tall stained glass windows towards that side of the library.
[Omari 7]
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 2:00 pm
Maia 7 Maia let the offer dangle in the air, unsure about how she felt about it. While it wasn't as if he'd given her any kind of a bad first impression over what kind of a person he might be, she still didn't feel all that comfortable being around others. Especially doing something so mundane as touring a city. She wasn't here to sightsee, after all. There was work out in the desert to do and she intended on proving to everyone around, and herself, that she could do the work just as well as the others could. It wasn't because a certain Matorian's words had gotten to her over the weeks. Of course not.
"I don't want to bother him too much with questions," the Shifter responded, feeling as if the man had done enough for her already. She had butt into his own investigation and tagged along with him long enough. Though she wouldn't say no to learning more from the Yaeli, the last thing she wanted was to distract him more from his own duties. And Kaimana was out of the question. She was considering her own employment a nice break away from him looking over her shoulder.
"I have no intentions on becoming arrogant," The statement had a bit more of a bite to it than she intended, her dark eyes drifting on their own towards the source of the distant noise of the party, the memory of all the nobles crowding her and asking questions or thinking they knew more than her about everything still very fresh in her memory. But all of her slowly returning fire was quenched quite fast as they began moving and she soon realized only lightly holding onto Omari's arm wouldn't do her any good if her grip happened to slip, as it likely would with how little pressure she was putting on him. Her other hand came around to lock with her other, the darkness feeling more oppressive than it normally did to her. She always kept a lot of distance between herself and others and this closeness was causing her to become too distracted. Which was fortunate. She wasn't paying much attention to anything he might be steering her away from as she started thinking about what he might be steering her towards. Just more examples of her stupidity. Why would someone agree to go into the dark night like this with someone they just met? Anyone could say they didn't lie. Didn't mean that itself wasn't a lie.
Of course, she couldn't very well just go back on her own, either. Not after looking back where they had come. She'd surely get lost. Very easily. She turned around just in time to see the door open, not questioning why he already had a key. For all she knew, it was normal for those who worked here to all have a key. To every exit or entrance, it seemed. She took in everything she saw with a wide-eyed expression, lips slightly parted. She'd never seen anything quite so spacious. Oba really was a whole different world than she was used to. It took Maia a moment to realize she was still linked with Omari and quickly stepped back, holding her hands behind her back and chewing on her lower lip. Hopefully she never had to do that, again. Her nerves couldn't handle someone so close. "Thank you for guiding me," she said in a polite voice, willing the heat in her cheeks to go away and the thumping of her heart to stop.
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:45 pm
Omari tilted his head thoughtfully before nodding. “I wouldn’t consider it bothering, especially if he’s a leader in this but that’s your decision.” He acknowledged, thinking about how he actually preferred when students or others came to him with questions. Omari sometimes felt exhausted after too many social events where it was all flattery and making connections, but it didn’t mean that he disliked conversation nor was he the type to turn away anyone asking for help. While he didn’t know much about Kieran yet the hybrid was hopeful that he would feel the same, especially as a seasoned explorer. Why not be excited to share your knowledge to help others?
“I believe you.” At first Omari’s lips had curled upwards at the bite, amusement dancing across his gaze that threatened another teasing comment until he noticed how she looked over towards the main event. It was that sight which made him utter those honest words instead of teasing more, that he truly did believe in her resolve to avoid becoming arrogant like them. Had they truly bothered her so much? His expression shifted thoughtfully but even Omari knew better than to press his luck with questions, especially when she had decided to go with him towards the library. It almost felt like approaching a flighty moracker, one wrong step and he would never see her again. Though that was not completely true considering the positions they were in now even if Maia didn’t quite understand Omari’s role here at the manor and how involved he would be with the treasure hunters. Even if she didn’t expect to see him going forward, they would probably be seeing quite a bit of each other over the next few months as the dig continued. Still, despite all of his teasing he was trying to be considerate and not invade her space even as he guided her. All he could do was quietly smile with amusement, his expression hidden by the darkness of the evening, as he felt Maia’s grip tighten around his arm. At least she trusted him enough to do that instead of risking a fall along the way.
And the reaction to the library was worth it. Omari chuckled softly, the hybrid nodding at the appreciation. “You’re most welcome.” He returned her polite voice with his own, Omari’s voice gentle as he allowed her time to absorb the sight of the library. As Maia stared around the man was already lighting a candle and placing it inside of a brass lantern, the sides made of stained glass and twisting metal courtesy of his eldest sister. The soft, colorful light created with the candle’s flickering flame helped to reveal more of the surrounding area. “You can feel free to browse the shelves with this smaller lantern here. I’m just going to set up a couple more lamps on that table there.” He pointed towards one that was in the center of the room, the shelves almost parted purposefully around it as an ideal gathering spot. The window was perfectly centered on the wall across from them to allow in more natural lighting as well. “Maps and such will be along the third shelf, maybe there’s some Oban wildlife mentioned there or within the historical scrolls below.”
As he gave Maia time to look around, Omari started to bring out other lanterns similar to the first and set a pair on either end of the table to help give them better reading light. He did though place a different type of lantern in the middle, a colored glass orb hanging from a curved metal stand allowing more light thanks to the tea candle nestled inside. “Alright.” Now for the most important part, the records that he brought out from around the corner where they were tucked away on the back shelves. Still, he couldn’t resist teasing Maia as he placed the records on the table and waited for her to join him. Already he had flipped one of the records open, looking over the journal pages and catching sight of a reference to janarim. “I know you’re probably bored and wishing to leave already, but I have the records here from some of the earlier excursions. Nanami was fairly detailed about recording the wildlife as well, I think this one has information on janarim and other things she found during their first trip into the desert.”
[Omari 8]
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