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 Posted: Thu May 30, 2024 7:37 pm
 ilistohpost oneOba was quite a lovely place. Too warm sometimes, but Ilistoh didn't mind all that much. It was nice to have an excuse to shed the layers he'd picked up in the north.
This was meant to be another stop on a longer tour of the continent—of the world—and it still would be, but right now his intended timetable was being pushed back a little. He was looking for a museum he'd heard rumor of and he was lost.
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2024 8:47 pm
 taarumpost oneTaarum stood outside the pet shop, waiting for the wards to notice him. They were in a pen by the door, too preoccupied by being outside in the sun to notice the looming boy. He knew he should just reach in and pick one up—that's what they were there for—but he felt a little weird being so forward. He wouldn't like it very much if someone grabbed him from behind and lifted him into the air.
He noticed a shuffling sound coming from just behind him and turned to see a wind guy with dyed hair looking everywhere but his own feet. Feet that were about to trip over an unfortunately placed bench.
"Excuse me, sir? Do you need any help?"
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 8:23 am
ilistohpost two"Oh!" Ilistoh looked down just before his foot made contact with an ornate iron bench. "I do, actually, thanks!"
The child who had addressed him was tall and slight, with a sharpness to his eyes that suggested he was older than Ilistoh had initially thought. Shifter eyes. He almost said something—I'm a shifter too!!—but kept quiet when he decided it had nothing to do with the conversation.
"I was looking for Dolyr Road? The Oban History Museum? Do you know where that is?"
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 9:03 am
taarumpost two"Um... I've been there before, but I don't know how to get there," Taarum admitted. "If you've got a minute to wait for my mother, I'm sure she'd be able to show you which way to go."
Now that the man was standing closer, Taarum could see that, whoever he was, he wasn't all wind. His ears were pointy like Fiiadri's. Maybe his hair really was that color?
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 9:54 am
ilistohpost threeHis immediate reaction was wariness, but it didn't last long. Ilistoh briefly thought that he should work on his self-preservation before he nodded, truly paying attention to what this kid was standing in front of. What were those?
"I don't want to be any trouble, but I'd appreciate it." He smiled. "I'm Ilistoh. Do you live here? What kinds of animals are these? I don't think I've ever seen them before."
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 9:58 am
taarumpost threeThe boy nodded. "I do live in Oba. I'm Taarum." He didn't see any reason to lie. It was broad daylight out and Mama was only two stores away.
"These are wards. Most of the time, they run around the streets eating out of restaurant pantries and causing trouble, but these are fancy. They were bred to be pets. They're more colorful and their hair is floofier."
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 10:36 am
ilistohpost four"That's interesting! This is only my second time in Oba and I've never been here for long. I can't believe I haven't come across one!" Ilistoh took a step closer to the pen, standing on the opposite side of it from Taarum. "Are we allowed to touch them?"
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 11:46 am
taarumpost four"Yeah!" Taarum said with a grin. "That's kind of why they're here. To attract people closer to the shop. I like to wait until they're calm and used to me standing here, then let them come to me. Like this." He kneeled, slowly lowering his hand into the pen and resting it in an empty spot. It took a silent half a minute before one of the wards approached and sniffed at his fingers.
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 12:56 pm
ilistohpost fiveAgainst his own instincts, Ilistoh tried to stay quiet, watching Taarum interact with the ward.
"Neat. If I did that, I'm sure they'd scatter." He watched for a little while longer, then cleared his throat as subtly as possible.
"So, what's your story? What do you like to do? But, um, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to! I can tell you about me."
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 1:24 pm
taarumpost five"I'm just..." Taarum paused, giving the animal he'd attracted a pat. "I don't really have a story? I like animals a lot, but that's it, kind of." Maybe he should work on that. Becoming more interesting.
"I'd like to hear more about what you're doing here!"
Taarum had lived in Oba his whole life. He couldn't imagine anyone coming here on purpose if they were looking for fun.
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 1:47 pm
ilistohpost six"Well, like I said, I'm looking for the Oban History Museum while I'm in town, but after that... well... I'm planning on making my way through the whole country and then maybe heading to Yael if I can afford it. I'm originally from Sauti though. I'm trying to become a proper trader, but I think people trust us better when we tell a good story."
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 1:59 pm
taarumpost sixNow that was something to think about. Taarum pictured his sister and her tricks, and how much more attentively people listened when she accompanied them with a lot of talking. He nodded.
"Yeah, I understand. That's a big trip though! I don't think I could ever do that by myself. Is it scary?"
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 2:09 pm
ilistohpost seven"Maybe? I'm mostly excited, but I guess in times like this when I don't know where I'm going I feel a little weird."
Ilistoh shrugged. "It'll all work out. It always has. People are usually willing to help. Like you!"
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 3:23 pm
taarumpost sevenTaarum laughed. "Yeah, of course!" Mama was still inside, but he was sure she would help once she got here. Until then...
"Have you thought about getting any pets to come with you? I think it would be fun to have, like, a bird riding on your shoulder or something."
He scooped up the ward he'd been petting and offered it to Ilistoh.
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2024 5:16 pm
ilistohpost eight"Oh, hey!" he said, chuckling as the rodent was placed into his unsuspecting hands. It snuffled at his thumb before trying to crawl past his wrist and onto his arm.
"So, how'd you get into animals anyway?" Ilistoh hadn't grown up with any pets, and he'd rarely seen people traveling with any either. Maybe his parents had just kept him inside when they passed.
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