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 Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 8:59 am
Sulburi was so much bigger than anything Zerynthia could have prepared herself for. She’d been to the capital a time or two with family in her youth, but not once had she ever thought of living there. For the longest time she’d pictured herself with a bow, following in her father’s footsteps with Ezili by her side in the great wilds and yet – here she was.
Zerynthia sat her pack down by her feet and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. It was so much warmer here than she remembered or maybe that was because she hadn’t visited in a while? Had she grown so used to the cooler temperatures of Sauti and Tale that a little Oban heat made her melt? She pulled the hood her cloak down over her pale skin. Maybe this wasn’t such a grand idea after all.
And maybe she should have gotten a proper map. The inn she was supposed to be staying at – because she would not ask her family for help, not in any way – should have been around here and yet…Zerynthia turned once, then twice, before huffing and dropping down atop the nearest crate. “Great. This is just great.”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 9:00 am
Arkadios ll 1
Ari was in a bit of a pinch. The hybrid had come to the capital looking for work, and while he’d found a few odd jobs nothing paid well enough to get the sort of coin he needed. At best he was living hand to mouth and with room rent in the city climbing higher every day Arkadios knew something needed to change. You could always go home. Auntie Thea would let you stay with them again- But Ari already knew he wouldn’t do that. It was his turn to finally start providing for his family, not the other way around, and the best way to do that was to work.
And yet, when he wasn’t particularly talented with anything that paid well the amount of work was impossibly small.
So, he’d taken to wandering the general meeting areas, checking public boards and asking locals for any sort of hint. When he heard the little huff of noise to his right he didn’t pay much attention at first, but something in the tone caught his ear. And when Ari looked down-
-he saw what was possibly the palest, smallest woman he’d ever seen. Why is she here? Was she trying to burn herself? “Are you okay?”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 9:02 am
Zerynthia ll 2
When Zerynthia looked up she had to really look up. The smaller mage tilted her head back, even going so far as to lean back on the crate just to catch his eyes. And what a sight they were – so bright it was as if the colors of Tale had been captured inside them and placed into an Oban’s body. She’d never seen a sight like it before, even among pure blooded Taleans, and for a moment Zerynthia sat transfixed atop the crate. When she did speak it was only when the intensity of the sun caused her to lower her gaze. “No, not really.” Zeri answered truthfully. “I’m lost. I’m trying to find Jinora’s, and the directions I have said it was on this street, but-“ She gave a general wave to the area around her.
There was nothing around them save for vendors and pickpockets. She’d already had to burn two when they tried to nab her things; just little tiffs, but enough to send a message. “-Will you help me? I don’t have much coin so if you can just tell me if I’m in the right area that would be great.”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 9:03 am
Arkadios ll 2
“Jinora’s?” Why would she want to go there? Only the truly desperate stayed there and even if she said she didn’t have much coin everything about her demeanor said she was at least comfortable. Maybe not wealthy, but well off enough that she shouldn’t be in a place like that. Ari pursed his lips, debating heavily on whether he should just do as she asked, leaving her fate up to her, but he just couldn’t. It wouldn’t sit well on his consciousness.
“I don’t think you should go there,” He answered awkwardly and when she passed a questioning look his way he motioned for her to follow. “I’ll show you the way, but…I wouldn’t feel right leaving you when we get there.” She didn’t seem the type to just accept his words for what they were, so he’d just have to show her.
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 9:04 am
Zerynthia ll 3
What was so bad about it that a local wouldn’t take coin and leave? There was something about his face, in the way his features twisted that made Zerynthia’s gut drop. If she’d come all this way and didn’t have a place to stay….You could always ask Omari for help. No! No, she wouldn’t, absolutely WOULD NOT. That’s not why she was here! She was here to learn more than she ever could on her own and show her family exactly what sort of performer she really could be. And if that meant following a stranger into a city she had no business being in…well….”Fine.”
Snatching her pack up once more, Zerynthia stood up and started to follow him. It was impossible not to notice the sheer size difference between them. He was so tall – or maybe it was because she was just so short? – and his arms could have been the size of a tree back home. “…You really don’t have to do this. Whatever it is I could figure it out on my own.”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 9:05 am
Arkadios ll 3
And maybe he didn’t have to, but Ari felt that he did. Especially when she walked side by side with him, her smaller frame covered in the cloak she wore just to protect her skin from the sun. If something as natural as that could harm her then whatever lay before them would do much worse. When she spoke he couldn’t help the wry smile that took over his face. “Yeah but I’m getting paid, remember? A few coins for an escort trip; nothing big.” Even if it was a few copper, just enough to make sure she stayed safe and felt safe going along with it.
He led her past the common market, and down a side street. There was still enough light coming in from over head that it felt open, despite being surrounded by buildings on both sides. “So, how did you find out about Jinora’s? It’s not really a name that gets around most…circles.” Proper circles he’d nearly said, but Ari did well to keep his mouth shut.
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 9:11 am
Zerynthia ll 4
With the sun off her just the slightest bit, Zerynthia reached up to pull her hood back. Her hair had been pinned back into a bun on top of her head; stylish enough to look cute, but functional all the same. A few strands of ivory hair fell along her collarbone and if it weren’t so hot she might have tried to fix them. As it was she just let them go, keen on making it to their destination and finding out what was so wrong with it. “A friend of mine back home told me it was cheap lodging and that for having a pretty face I’d get a discount.” Even now, as she said it, Zeri’s face scrunched up. “It didn’t sound bad then, but now that I say it out loud…Spirits, I feel so stupid.” What if it was some sort of bandit ring? Or an earthling trafficking outfit? She could just see her father now and his disapproving eye. Idiot.
The longer they walked the heavier her pack became until she pulled up to a stop and dropped it. “Just…just a few minutes, okay?” Maybe the heat was getting to her more than she knew? Zerynthia reached into her things, desperately searching for her canteen and when she pulled it out the hybrid nearly choked herself to swallow a mouthful.
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 9:12 am
Arkadios ll 4
“How long have you been wandering around?” Arkadios frowned. For Spring it was a warm day and for someone unaccustomed to the area it could have been bad. Surely she’d stayed hydrated while exploring the city? Or maybe that was the last of her water? Whatever the case at least she had some, but still, there was no ignoring the flush to her cheeks. Ari gave her the time she needed to catch her breath, internally wondering if even going this far was a good idea, before a thought struck him. Before she could react he dipped down to snatch up her pack and almost immediately after held up his free hand. “I’m just going to carry this until we get there. Look, you uh…you’re not looking so good so I thought it might help. If you want me to drop it I can.”
On’os save him, what was in this bag? It hadn’t looked so heavy when she’d been lugging it around but now that he was holding it Ari thought that maybe she’d stuffed rocks in it just to mess with anyone foolish enough to take it. “Are you trying to throw out your back? How did you even carry this?”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 10:51 am
Zerynthia ll 5
From the top of her canteen Zerynthia fixed him with a leveled stare and when he reached for her bag a spark of flame lit up in her free hand. If he hadn’t raised a had to calm her she would have scorched his – plain as the sun in the sky – and that brief flash of fear in his eye snuffed out her fire. She didn’t want to scare him, but sometimes it was just…a necessary precaution. And it wasn’t as if she had control of her magic so really, a little light burn could have turned into something much wore and Zerynthia was secretly thrilled she didn’t have to find out which way it would fall today.
“Just don’t snoop.” She huffed and took another drink out of her canteen before they started to walk again. When he started to talk about the weight of it, though, she balked. “It’s not that heavy! It’s just a few necessities no woman should leave home without.” Like her cosmetics, a few outfits, boots, a couple daggers, a few trinkets from her siblings, a few dozen crystals…
“If you’re going to complain about it just give it back.”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 10:59 am
Arkadios ll 5
Ari scoffed. “What, like all the stones in Sauti?” He hefted it over his shoulder with a soft grunt and once the weight of the satchel settled the hybrid started his walk once more. The closer they got to their destination the sharper Arkadios’ eye became, until he made it a point to keep her in the corner of his eye. That little burst of flame though…Maybe he didn’t have to worry about watching out for her after all? She’d seemed so delicate at first – so out of place and fragile – that it hadn’t occurred to him magic might run through her veins.
And with an attitude like that she probably wouldn’t hesitate to use it, either.
“Well, we’re here. The ever illustrious Jinora’s.”
At the end of the block stood a building as polished as any other in the area and it may have gone unnoticed were it not for the red clothes draped around it’s front. Without the eye of the city upon it Jinora’s was able to be as brazen as it wanted to, which was good for it’s particular clientele. Even as they stood in the street Arkadios was able to see a few nearly nude employees snake their arms around a paying customer and lead him inside.
“So, uhm…You can still go, if you want to, but this isn’t…really an ‘inn’. People don’t exactly stay the entire night, if you catch my drift.”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 11:06 am
Zerynthia ll 6
Zerynthia’s cheeks burned. The moment she saw those telltale lamps in the courtyard, the ones Zeri knew would glow with a rich, scarlet hue, her heart sank. “They led me to a brothel,” Her voice was barely above a squeak, “And I just went along with it.” Not once had she even questioned it until someone else found the obvious flaws in her plans. Maybe if she’d bothered to speak to her family first, the actual locals in the area, she would have known…And now…Zerynthia’s mouth just hung as she watched men and women alike stroll about without a care in the world.
While her own flared with a thousand worries.
Where was she supposed to go now? She didn’t have a backup, there wasn’t enough coin in her purse for a backup and she….You have to go to them now. Just face it. You messed up and you need help.
“Thank you…for bringing me here.” She’d very nearly forgotten the man entirely until she saw him out of the corner of her eye. With a dejected sigh, Zerynthia reached around for her coin purse, “You can go; I’ll figure something else out from here.”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 11:14 am
Arkadios ll 6
You can’t just leave her like this. He could, he very well could, but that wouldn’t make him feel any better than it would have been to let her walk out this way on her own. Just the act of watching this girl’s glowing amber eyes – so rich and warm, like molten gold – fall into despair tugged at his heart. So, when she reached for her coin he reached for her shoulder to stop her.
“Don’t.” Ari shook his head and offered a small, empathetic smile. “It’s okay. Listen, if you need a place to stay in the city, why don’t you try Vira’s? It’s an actual boarding house, near the southern end, and anyone around will vouch for her.” She was a truly kind soul who had opened her family’s once illustrious estate and transformed it into a place where travelers could stay. Perhaps it was because her bloodline had fallen from grace and she needed the coin or maybe it was just Vira’s kind heart; either way, she’d earned Ari’s trust.
“I’ve been staying there since I came to Sulburi. First floor is the common areas, second is for men and top floor is for women.”
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 11:30 am
Zerynthia ll 7
The hand on her shoulder reminded her so much of being at home, surrounded by her family, that Zerynthia really could have cried. She wanted so badly to make a name for herself that she hadn’t thought about what doing that would take. What it would feel like to be out here on her own in the world without anyone to support her. Despite her best efforts she felt little pricks of moisture building her eyes.
And yet, here he was; a stranger with a kind heart. If he’d wanted to try to rob her he could have and if he’d wanted to push her toward the brothel all it would have taken was one shove. Still, he was giving her hope and encouragement which was so much more than she deserved. “Thank you.” Zerynthia’s voice wobbled and she swallowed it back. “Y-you’re very…you’re very sweet. Uhm…yeah, let’s…let’s go and check it out. If you’ve got the time; I don’t want to keep you.” If what he was saying was actually true then it would be the start she actually needed and spirits knew Zerynthia just wanted something good to happen today.
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 11:59 am
Arkadios ll 7
Ari gave her shoulder a squeeze before letting go and readjusting her satchel. Whatever brought her to Sulburi must have meant a lot if she was going to this much trouble. “Nah, it’s fine. Today was kind of a loss for me too.” It was already late enough that any sort of meaningful work had already been taken up by the other laborers so as far as he was concerned Ari was better off relaxing in his room.
Motioning with a nod of his head, the taller hybrid started to walk away from Jinora’s. “My name’s Arkadios, by the way. Ari for short. If you need someone to help organize a team to hoist your bag to your room later let me know.” Hopefully the jab would be enough to break through her shell and at least keep the poor thing from crying.
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2024 12:04 pm
Zerynthia ll 8
With a gasp, Zerynthia hustled to catch up with Ari before giving his arm a good-natured shove. “Stop saying that! It’s not that heavy! Come on, give it here.” She reached up for the bag and tried to nab it from him, only to have the taller hybrid hoist it even further from her grasp. “If you’re just…going…to…whine…” When he lowered it, only to pull it back when she jumped again Zerynthia smacked his arm.
It was hard enough to draw a cry from him, but not enough to keep him from laughing afterward. All of which just made her more frustrated but it felt…sort of like home? Like she wasn’t completely swallowed up in her loneliness anymore and maybe feeling a little better?
Still didn’t stop her from scowling at him. “Either carry it and earn your keep or drop the stupid thing.”
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