Oceanic Rumors
Lala was sitting alongside his eldest brother Konah, watching as a few people came and went, taking in the chatter that was going on as they passed. There was the usual banter between people, all of which he was used to hearing. Who was dating who, who was fighting with who, that sort of normal sort of chatter. One conversation caused him to sit up though, his eyes going a little wide, a curious look on his face, "Ah? What were they saying, Konah? What's this about ocean dwellers?"
What did that mean? There were people living in the ocean? Why were people bringing it up now all of a sudden? Ah! The rain, right? He'd heard a lot of rumors that the rain was opening up paths that the long drought had long since locked off to the Kaha'iko and Menehune. He gave a humming sound as he turned, reaching up to catch hold of Konah's arm, and asked, "So what's going on? Are there really other tribes out there, brother? Are any of them planning to come and visit?" His quick rush of questions caused his older brother to turn to look at him, starring for a moment, before he set to laughing.
"I've only heard rumors as well, Lala. It seems as though the rains opened up a straight path into the ocean which has allowed us to meet with some lost clans of the ocean. At least that's what I've heard. How much of that is real and how much of that is just fanciful story telling I am uncertain." He said, giving a smile before he ruffled Lala's hair in a gentle manner even as his younger sibling continued to hang off of his arm.
Lala leaned over the counter, glancing down in the direction that the pair that had been chatting, wondering if they had actual information or if they were just repeating the rumors that were going around? He leaned back, settling down on his seat once more. So it seemed as though there might be some interesting things going on but there was the problem of trying to figure out if what was being said was true in any capacity or if one person actually heard real news and it had just gotten watered down until it finally reached Salicora, with people adding in their own embellishments along the way. What a bother... that meant that he wouldn't know exactly what was going on without a lot of leg work, something he really wasn't in the mood for.
Giving a little humming sound he found himself wondering if he should see about asking the various customers that came by. There were a lot of people that were friendly with Lala's family that stopped by on any given day just to chat. It would be the best way to go about learning a little more about if the ocean dwellers were even real and what they might be up to. Not to mention that Lala really wanted to know what they might look like. He knew what a Menehune looked like as he'd seen a couple from a distance but what about the Ocean Tribes? What set them apart from the two fresh water tribes save for where they lived? Where they dark and handsome like the Menehune? Were they more brightly colored and lovely like the Kaha'iko? Were they something special that was all their own?
"I really want to meet with some of the ocean tribe's members. Do you think that they will come here to Salicora, Konah?" Lala asked as he looked up at his brother, a hopeful look on his face. He wanted to make friends among the ocean dwellers! Especially if they were as beautiful as he hoped that they might be! Just thinking about it put a bright smile on his face and had him clapping his hands together in delight.
Konah glanced down at Lalaki for a moment before he said, "I can't say if they would come to Salicora. It's a big place, with a lot of villagers, and we sell a lot of goods here. It might make it a big enough draw such special visitors." He paused then said, "No promises though, I can't say that they would come here first. Especially since there are other villages between here and where the path to the ocean is said to be located." He didn't want his baby brother to get his hopes up when there was a chance that those of the ocean dwelling tribes might never come here to Salicora. Still, he didn't want to break Lala's heart when the boy was looking up at him in such a hopeful manner.
Lala gave a thoughtful sound in his throat before he said in a chirping tone of voice, "I see... well, let's hope that our village and it's reputation is enough to bring them here!" Surely this place was beautiful enough to draw the strangers here he thought to himself in a hopeful manner. Giving a happy sounds he set to tapping his hand against the counter that they had their products piled up on. He was pretty excited now even though he knew that there was the chance that they might come to visit. Sure, there was a chance that they might not make it but he wouldn't think about that. Instead he was going to think about the fact that they actually could come and visit, that he'd get to make friends with them. Here was to hoping they were as beautiful as he wanted them to be!
"I am going to believe in them! That they will be able to make it this far one day and that I will be able to make friends with them. Until then I think we should talk with some of our regulars and see if they know anything about the ocean dwellers that we don't." Now to be fair they had only the most minimal of information themselves but that just meant that they would need to ask that many more people to try to figure things out, right? If they asked the right people then maybe they would figure out who it was that got the information originally and they could get it in it's distill and closest to the truth form from said person.
The question became was it news that came from a fellow Kaha'iko or was it actually from a Menehune? If it was from the latter that would make it a lot more difficult for them to get the information from them since it was lightly that they would likely have gone home before they could find them. The second best thing they could find in that case would be the first person that the Menehune gave the news to. Lala looked as though he was deep in thought, feet kicking in the water, hands tapping on the counter, humming as he did so.
Konah watched for a time before he said, "Well, I guess we will just have to see how things go." His brother was being so optimistic about it all that he just couldn't say anything negative that might break his heart. Doing so was likely the worst thing possible since he so loved his little brother. Giving a smile he said, "For the time being how about we just continue with work? It seems like we have a few customers coming our way." A claim that had Lala perking up instantly.
"Remember, let's see about their needs first and once they have been tended to in a manner that makes them happy then you can ask them about the ocean dwellers. Deal?" As much as he'd like to leave him to his own devices he knew that their customers came first. He didn't want his little brother hassling them too much because he was so interested in the idea of the ocean dwellers. Not when it was something that might bother their customers and cause them to go to other shops. Best that he try to wrangle his brother's energy in the right direction.
Giving a rapid nod of his head Lala said, "Of course! I will see about making our customers happy! You know that I am not one that would slack off or chase off our customers! Especially the ones coming over. I rather like them!" He turned to lift a hand, waving to those that were approaching them. It was a married couple that had been friends with his parents for as long as he could remember and two of their children. He was almost positive that there was no way that he could bother them in anyway like Konah worried about but maybe it was more a warning for people that might come along after them? That was his guess at least.
"I'm so happy to see you all again! It's been too long since you've come here to shop." Alright, it was more like a week and a half but still, since he loved to chat with them it felt like it was far too long in his mind. He allowed his brother to take charge as far as sales went, focusing closely so that he could learn as Konah worked. He was more inclined to this half of the work that his family did after all so he should do his best to learn all the tricks so that he wouldn't have to go back to tailor training any time soon.
(( Word Count: 1580 ))
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