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 Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 1:58 pm
[1]
When her employer – ex employer – had mentioned there might be ‘malcontents’ at the wedding Mina assumed it was a jilted lover or perhaps some family drama. She knew that the job was cursory at best - watch over Nicosia, ensure his safety, work with the rest of the ‘hired help’ and go home. It should have been a simple job, but then the Oban military showed up and all hell broke loose.
The morning after Mino’aka found herself sitting next to a little fountain in a daze. She’d been formally dismissed, given a hefty severance and sent off with well wishes for a glorious stay in Oba. How…how was she supposed to do that after seeing something like that?! She hadn’t slept A WINK! With a nervous huff, the little Hapuna adjusted her sun hat and went…to look for…food? Wasn’t this the market district? Why were there so many districts, why were they so BIG and WHY WASN’T THIS MAP HELPFUL?!
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 1:59 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Anahita regretted coming into Oba a day late. According to gossip in the market a huge bust had happened at a wedding the day prior to her arrival. It would have been so exciting to get wrapped up in the chase, the ranger thriving on putting rogues in their places. Though she wasn't certain how the Oban military would take to her assistance, the girl realizing it probably was for the best that she missed out. Oh well At least she could shop for gifts before visiting her family in Oba.
Though it was hard not to be distracted, Anahita taking a double take as she passed a foreigner. "Oh!" She blinked as she studied the Kahi. Living in the forests had kept her from seeing anyone of the islanders, she had only heard stories for the most part, and she flushed when she realized her mistake in staring. "Sorry...I couldn't help but to notice you appeared lost." And that you look very much like a Kahi, definitely a rare sight in the desert nation of Oba.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:00 pm
[2]
Mino’aka had grown so used to others staring that she didn’t pay it much attention at first. Instead, she’d been so busy trying to decipher the map infront of her that she only truly noticed when she lifted her head and caught the earthling looking at her. For a moment she wasn’t sure what to say. This was a kind she hadn’t seen before; someone that looked Matorian, but not? And not in the way Oly was off.
Mina gave a pained smile. “That obvious?” She sat up a little straighter and brought her map into her lap. “I was trying to find someplace to buy breakfast and I thought I went to the right area, but I think I went to this district instead?” She pointed down at the map. “I’m not used to cities like this and…it’s all written in Oban so…” Her cheeks flushed a deep orange.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:01 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"A little." Replied Anahita with a small smile, her expression softening when the Kahi appeared genuinely lost and wasn't angry towards Ana for staring. "Well luckily have some family in the area so I can understand it a little." Her mother had made certain they knew the basics with Anahita taking up more when she decided to become a ranger, the girl wanting to be as knowledgeable as possible when reviewing contracts with merchants. "I can take a look." She offered as she took a couple of steps closer, bending so that she could ponder over the map.
"There's a cafe along that block, it's a little uppity but the tea is nice. Then the taverns along the other district can be rowdy but the food is good despite the crowd. Do you enjoy anything in particular?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:01 pm
[3]
“That’s very kind of you.” Mina angled the map a little more toward the other woman to make it easier for her to see and in doing so she unintentionally ended up giving the other some shade from her hap. Its wide brim was necessary on these scorching summer days where Mina felt as if her skin would dry up and flake off.
“I’m fine with most things except for thicker meats and anything with a lot of spice.” She admitted with a laugh, knowing full well that most of Oba loved it. “I really like mushrooms? If you know of any place that serves them?” It wasn’t as if she had to pick a place solely based on it’s price either; that seemed to be the one benefit to taking this job.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:02 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Anahita shifted, wondering if her hooded scarf had slipped a bit further over her eyes but then she realized it was the stranger's hat that had cast a bit more shade. Not that she blamed the Kahi for wearing such a thing, even Anahita kept her hood up most of the time while wandering Oba to avoid the desert heat especially when her skin used to burn so easily before. Now though she felt a little more resilient towards the heat and didn't mind it quite as much as before since traveling so often in the area for escort missions. "Avoiding spices are hard enough here, but mushrooms are a very specific request." She managed after a moment, taking her gaze from the map to look over at the Kahi with an amused smile. "But I happen to like them as well and know someone who can make a variety of mushroom dishes. That is if you don't mind going to the market to pick up some fresh ingredients instead of looking for a tavern or something like that." Surely her uncle wouldn't mind, right? She was going to be staying with him for a couple of nights as it was since coming into Oba and Basma made the best dishes at the academy, hopefully she would be there if they went and Anahita could ask her for a favor.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:04 pm
[4]
“If they’re too hard to come by here-,” or too expensive, “-I don’t mind going without.” It wasn’t as if she wasn’t already accustomed to adjusting her tastes to fit the area. First it had been in Matori and now with Oba. Although…the option to just buy ingredients… “Really? You don’t think they would mind?” It was tempting – incredibly so – but Mina wasn’t a complete fool. She knew if something looked too good it probably was.
“What would they charge for making it? And what would you charge for taking me to him?” Was that the deal? Round up foreigners and bring them in for a meal they couldn’t afford? You’re being too negative! Well…it wasn’t as if it couldn’t happen.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 4:23 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Oh." Anahita blinked thoughtfully at the question. It was kind of a jump for her to offer something like that to a stranger out of the blue. Some of her siblings did often chastise her for being too ready to help out others, if the strangers weren't suspicious then it might make her appear a bit shady to be so willing at times. "Honestly, I might have not thought that through." Anahita gave a the Kahi a sheepish smile. "If you want and are comfortable with it, just pay for the ingredients and whatever you feel is best to the cook. I was fairly hungry anyways so it'll be worth splitting a meal and eating Basma's cooking after being gone from Oba for months is just too tempting for me." The hybrid nodded at the thought, her own stomach rumbling. She placed a hand on her chest and looked at the Kahi, trying to appear as genuine as possible. "My name is Anahita and my uncle has an academy around here, they were expecting me anyways so I can introduce you as a guest for breakfast. And if you're curious about a reason? I like to spread kindness on occasion, it would be my hope that I could one day receive help too if I were ever hungry and lost in a foreign city."
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 4:31 pm
[5]
Basma. So that was the cook? And from the way she talked this stranger was well enough acquainted with Oba to know her way around. She wanted to believe her, really she did, but it just seemed a little too convenient...
It's not like you can't escape if something goes bad. Which was true. She may have been dressed simply enough, but Mina was trained and just as fast at running away as she was at casting spells. So, what harm was there truly in giving a little trust?
"If you're sure it won't be a bother I'd love to take you up on your offer, Anahita." A name that may be fake, an Uncle that may not exist, but words so sweet Mina hoped they were real. Would it really be that strange to find someone kind in this country? "My name's Mino'aka, but you can call me Mina. I came to Oba for a little bit of work, but I think I've had my fill for now."
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2024 8:33 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"Not a bother at all." Anahita replied, a small smile of relief on her face that the Kahi trusted her enough. "Is that so? I was honestly curious about why you would want to visit Oba, considering how hot and stiffling the city could be, but that would explain it. Though it's a bit of a journey for you to work here, no? I personally only linger long enough to say hello to my uncle before either rushing the rest of the way to Matori to visit the rest of my family or returning back towards Tale. I much prefer the forests to the sandy landscape here." It was also just so hot, the very thought making Ana move the scarf around her neck slightly to try to get any type of breeze to cool off the back of her neck. It wasn't even the worst type of day, but she hated it already with how the desert sun blazed down on them. Even if she was more familiar with the heat, it didn't mean she enjoyed it that much either and so Ana was more than ready to guide the way towards the markets.
"We could go to the northern markets, in the upper district. They're a bit more pricy at times because of the location, but it's the closer to my uncle's place that way." They could save some coin by going down towards the docks, but it would add some time and possibly attract some dangers...not that Anahita would mind that either. Though she truly shouldn't try running off her new acquantice by swinging her fists at some thugs within the first hour, right? Shame though. She was always eager to try and put some ruffians in their places, no matter what country she was visiting at the moment.
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2024 8:33 am
[6]
“It’s scorching out here.” Normally Mina tried not to whine, but she couldn’t help the petulant cry that slipped out. Back home she would have been lounging in the reef by now and at the very least in Matori she could have found a beach. But here? All she had was a little fan she’d bought at the market and a big hat. “It was a long trip, but sometimes you get a bigger cut if you make a longer journey.” Honestly at the time all she’d thought about was how Mina could FINALLY have some consistency in her life, but then it was one miserable annoyance after the other.
“Maybe the northern markets then? That way we aren’t left with a long walk on empty stomachs.”
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2024 2:17 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Anahita couldn't help but to chuckle at the reaction. "Right? I'm more than ready to get inside, away from this sun." If she was nearly as mischevious as Ezili or some of her other family members, the ranger might have even tried to propose splashing through the fountain that was in her uncle's courtyard. There were baths though so maybe that would be a good way to relax this evening, after she settled into the guest room that she would use for a couple of days while in Oba. "That's fair. I know my longer trips as a ranger are usually more rewarding, unless there's a higher chance of danger despite the shorter distance. I escorted some merchants who were traveling from Sauti to the markets here, but the few times I go into the northern areas of Zena it's usually even better pay because of how many dangers there are." Not that she wanted to freeze either, but when push came to shove the hybrid would take the path when other rangers couldn't.
"Sounds good to me." Anahita nodded before guiding the way, the girl skirting through the busier areas of the city until they came to the upper markets that were also abuzz with perhaps a little less yelling like in the lower district but with still plenty of bartering and sales to be had. There was a familiar stall that Anahita went towards, the larger stall area in front of a stone building that housed ingredients inside to keep them cool from the desert sun. It was through that doorway that Anahita guided them, the girl heading towards the back part where mushrooms and other ingredients were kept. "Feel free to look around though I definitely recommend those mushrooms there." She added, gesturing towards a basket of one of her personal favorites that carried a more earthy tone than some of the others that could taste a bit bland to the hybrid.
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2024 2:27 pm
[7]
“So you’re a ranger? What’s that?” Mina felt like she’d heard the term in passing, but never with any meaning or weight to it. With the way this woman spoke, though, she assumed it was a group? Who traveled? Rangers range out, I guess. “It must be lonely traveling so much. Or do you do it with friends?”
Making sure her map was tucked away into her satchel, Mino’aka stood up, brushed off her skirt and followed her guide. Occasionally the pair would garner a few odd looks, but for the most part everyone was too busy going about their daily lives and truthfully, she was grateful for it. That was the one thing a larger city had going for it as opposed to the smaller village she’d grown accustomed to. “Although, I suppose if you know people here to visit with traveling wouldn’t be so bad.”
Ahh, but there were the mushrooms! Her eyes had taken in the other ingredients, of course, but honestly Mino’aka found herself driven to her favorites. Some varieties she didn’t recognize, though their scent was delightful and ultimately the ones she picked up were the local ones she’d grown to love in Matori.
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 2:59 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Hmm?" Anahita blinked at the question before grinning. She was so accustomed to others in the area already knowing about her group that it was strange to have someone ask such a question. "A guide and bodyguard of sorts? Basically my group lives in the deeper forests of Tale and when others need a quicker passage they ask us for help since they can get easily lost in there. Other than that we help escort merchants to other countries as guards, to fight against bandits and the like. Sometimes we work in pairs or more and other times we go solo, it just depends on the mission. I'm alone here because my companion already started back home while I'm visiting family here. Not that I ever feel lonely with all the people I meet." She truly didn't mind, Anahita enjoyed meeting other people so that it rarely felt lonely with how many new faces she saw along the way.
"Mmhmm." Anahita agreed at the afterthought. "Having family in different regions helps a lot, a majority of my family is still in Oba or Matori though. How about you? Even if you don't have family in the area, hopefully you've made some friends along the way." She peeked back towards Mina as she grabbed a basket for them to toss the mushrooms and other ingredients in. There were some herbs that Anahita enjoyed mixed in with her breakfast, the ranger placing a few in the basket alongside of some cheese as well that was in the cooler area. "Got all the mushrooms you like?" She asked, holding up the basket to offer it towards Mina so that she could put whatever she wanted in there as well.
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 3:10 pm
[8]
"Are the forests in Tale really so thick?" It was hard to imagine, since she was used to more coastal areas, but it sounded almost whimsical. Almost as if you needed a particular person to show you the way otherwise the doorway wouldn't exist at all! "It sounds exciting." Mina glowed. "I do bodyguard work myself. My last job was the reason I came to Oba in the first place. I was recommended to help out with security at a wedding and it was a lot." She couldn't help the way the words slipped out. Almost as if she were too exhausted to speak them and once they were out she took a deep breath, just to shake it all loose.
"I have! I've been mainly staying in Matori and I've been fortunate enough to meet so many kind people." One in particular standing out among the rest. She rounded up her favorite picks - even snatching one or two that she'd never tried - before added them to Anahita's basket. "So you live in Tale, but you have family in Matori and Oba? That's so far; how do you keep up with everyone?"
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