Welcome to Gaia! ::

The small bell chymed as Thomas pushed his way through the glass-paned doorway into the small cafe'. It was nearly five so there weren't nearly as many people about as, say, the morning or after-school hours. A few lingering college students remained, pouring over their laptops or acne-ridden highschoolers on the guy's idea of a 'date' as the poor, unsuspecting girl thought it was just a simple request to learn more about the fascinating world of... long division with a cup of coffee to thank her for her time.

Thomas sneered at one such couple and limped his way to the counter. He stood quietly, looking over the menu, every item as always, every price, and reading every little description. He hardly knew why anymore, he came there every day- morning and afternoon, and knew the menu by heart. Perhaps it was the amusement he got out of the young barista's nervious but over-stressed grin as they both stood there for nearly eight and a half minutes waiting for Thomas' order. The small silver pigmey dragon shifted himself accross his master's shoulders, eyeing the tip jar and it's stacks of pennys. Finally, Thom ordered his usal- a large cup of hot raspberry tea and a cofee cake. Not that he ever ordered anything else... but again, the obvious annoyance in the barista's thoughts amused him. Once or twice the young boy would try to short Thom by a few cents only to have that same naked tunnel feeling in his mind as a warning. "My thanks." Thomas said dully as he dropped his change into the tip jar to make room in his free hand for the small plate and steaming cup. He'd learned how to conciel his limp, even use magic to lessen the effects his old war injury caused him but towards the end of the day he hardly saw a reason to- and he'd grown quite good at not spilling anything.

He sighed as he took a seat, setting his bag down off to the side and his cane propped up against the side of the table.

It was by sheer coincidence that, as the woman was out and about, she would stop into the small cafe. But today wasn't quite coincidence, no, it was just the same as the other days. Trying to make the most out of a few cents... Money was tight, if that wasn't apparent in her more brittle hair and thinner than average appearance, though hidden carefully under classy and well chosen clothes that reflected a fraction of the more regal side of her bloodline. A larger jacket hung over that, large pockets chosen carefully...
She took a spot in the small line, which wouldn't have even been a line had not the man infront of her taken a precariously long time to choose. As she reached the counter, taking no further note of the man, everything went into a very delicate situation, and a very well thought out one.

Dark blobs of something unrecognizable folded closly to her head, leaning ever so slightly on the coutner "Uhm... Could I get a water? Just tap..." She asked, trying to raise a polite and cute tone to her voice, which did little to aid the man's poor nature. She barely got more than a aggitated fine, as he turned to fetch the only free thing any store would ever give, and as soon as he turned it was a rather quick bout of actions, nimbly she shoved as many packs of sugar and other "free" condimental things into those large pockets, somehow puling it off with a suprising amount of silence; meaning she'd done this before...

She stopped, just in time for his return, and with a smile and a meaningless thanks she moved to settle down in a chair furthest away from anyone paired with a member of the oposite sex, offering only a breif scowl in onesdirection. She heavily settled into a seat, sipping gingerly at the water she'd received, watching the clock for it to tell her when she should leave and set stage once more.

Thomas looked up from his reading-which had only just begun-to watch the little scene. At first it was to simply enjoy the fact that their 'friendly' barista would be a bit sharp with anyone else for a good nine customers after him but his interest shifted with the woman's desperate scrambling for the little packets.

He sipped at his tea casually, arching a slow brow as the woman crammed just about all the sugar packets into her jacket then found her way to a seat nearby. "Mmm...", He folded the paper a bit then glanced over, his golden eyes rising up towards hers. It happened- wheather or not he wanted it to. In this case- he did. Just what was her story?

For the most part, she had avoided many of the stares and whispers the action had acheived, it wasn't like it was actually bad... They were free, so really she could take as many as she "needed." Still, the company would have frowned greatly apon it. However, one of the gawkers happend to have the nerve to stare ever so blatently in the respect of eyecontact, something that aroused a much mroe primal responce, tail shifting in her seat on instinct as her eyes rose to meet the 'challenge'. However, she held back any further canine responce.

But further than that, for the man's other reasons that were unknown to her, the mind of this paticular woman was beyond complicated; chaotic was an understatement. Memories were jumbled, missing peices, but there at the same time, different emotions connected to different events, some quite the oposite. If eyes were the window to a soul, this paticular house had suffered a tornado's effect. Even through all that, there were several distinct facts, such as the children, the move, the missing husband, the poor living conditions of the moment, and so on and so forth.

Thomas winced slightly, then quickly slammed his cup back down on his plate, spilling a bit on the bits of paper he had assembled there. Both hands went to his temples to rub at them sharply. Silverlorn squacked in suprize, flapping his wings and scrambling all over the man's shoulders, tangling his tail up in the long white hair for a moment. The headache and dragon were calmed quickly enough, a few smaller spells.

He frowned a bit, looking down at the mess he'd made, quite aware of the eyes on him now. He cleared his throat and stood himself up slowly, looking around the room much the way a noble might. It was enough to almost make the others in the resteraunt feel dumb for even looking. He had a strange air about him. The mess was cleaned up in the traditional fashion- a stack of napkins. Afterwards he requested more hot water for his tea then made his way over towards the strangewoman...he was curious. "Evening." He said simply, taking the vacent seat.

It was an interesting responce, from her perspective, giving the man a slightly raised brow, before losing intrest. The clock held much more importance to her at the moment, and the water was starting to rise nausia in her stomach, which lead to her cup being delicately sat down on the table before she leaned back to try and take in a few moments of peace without it.

Peace was not coming tonight however, as the same man found it his buisness to invade her table. His prospects weren't helped by his general air, the one that had shushed the room already, it made this woman feel increasingly uncomfortable, the wings at the side of her head held tighter, tail tucked some, and her shoulders hunched when he spoke. It reminded her of something way too long ago, and yet far too familiar, her less than desirable history of orphanage and discrimination was brought unwillingly to the surface. So she offered a tiny, awkard, 'evening' in responce out of curtousy.

Thomas glanced around slowly, shooting away any questioning eyes that had followed him to the table. A nifty trick he learned was quite effective on students during tests- the weaker minds of the cafe would suddenly feel that it was very much in their best interests to look away and keep it that way. With quiet satisfaction he turned back to the woman though this time it was quite apparent that he was making an effort to avoid her eyes- obviously not something he tried often.

"I couldn't help but notice...." he waved a hand a bit towards one of the pockets.

After a few moments, her mind snapped back to the important task of keeping time, and wandered past him to the clock on the wall again, idly sipping the water again just for something to do in the increasingly awkward feeling of his presence. Naturally she didn't notice the lack of eye contact, if anything it was better that way for her as well. Eyecontact still meant challenge, in her world.

There was a moment of silence after he spoke, until she managed something somewhat short and snappy: "..And?"

He couldn't help but note her tension, like an aggrivated old tabby cat cringing back from a hand or a dog snarling from the other side of a kennel. It was quite pathetic- a proud one then. He sneered inwardly but continued calmly, "Well one would assume that perhaps you'd have more appreciation for this coffee cake than I would." He pushed the small plate forward slightly. Just enough to put some emphisis on his quiet offer.

It was possibly more like the latter than he would know at the moment, however, pride conflicted hunger. Basic needs or her pride? Ofcourse, after the weird amount of food consumption, such a thing would possibly just make her ill... Still, whenever did a stray dog as herself deny free food? Pride argued that though, and inner debate flickered across her face as she eyed the food placed before her, until finally, honesty teamed up with needs and won out over pride. Almost defeated, she took the offered plate, and mumbling an equally defeated "Thank you." in return. The kids would like it, atleast.

"Will it be enough?" He offered, though still in that strange almost monotone voice of his. He wouldn't admit it out loud if there was an execution block under his throat- but he had a soft spot for woman. Always did though young ones was an exception...as far as he was concerned until children had grown there was no difference in gender. They all fought the same hormones, the same idiocy, the same rebelion.

Had it been another time, the kindness would have elicited a much difference responce, a much needier one, perhaps a tad more childish, but all around more feminine. Instead, she gave a sudden huff of air, one of those chuckles that ended as quickly as it had begun. "Give a man a fish..." Was the first bitter responce that left her mouth, until that same responce drove her to shake her head, and force out some spill to give a better regards to the offer than half a saying, "The kids will like it."

"You have children then." It sounded more like an observation than anything. He was bouncing the little tea bag around in the fresh warm water, kind of watching the tea bleed into it.

"Are you requesting that I...teach you to fish so to speak?"

She nodded, glancing to the clock once more, then deciding now might be good to start packing it in even if she had a few moments left. A few chugs of the water were taken before she left the cup on the table for someone else to clean, not feeling the energy to drag it all the way to the trash, and gather the coffee cake in a free hand. "Children I need to go and get..." she added, but in a much more poliet mannor than any of her other comments.

"And... I know how to fish, really, I just don't have the right bait..." She mused a moment over the analogy she'd just provided, but found it satisfactory for the moment.

"Mmmm...", Thomas glanced to his tea, a bit aggrivated it would seem. He'd heard sstories of single mothers and children who hardly got by... quite frankly it made him sick to wonder why there wasn't a father there to support them. He'd always been there for his-..........it didn't matter.

He stood himself up after her and tucked the papers under an arm, "Perhaps you won't mind a bit of company from a learned fisherman then."

There was a reason for this one, but even if he braved the depths of this woman's head he would find a rather loose ended story without an answere. Still... Things were how they were, nothing to do about it, right?

There was another moment of puzzlement, while she'd rather relished breifly in the chance to get away from the more high statured appearance of her company, he'd oddly wanted to keep along. Strange fellow, then again he probably just embelleshed on her situation and chose to take pity... Still, such a nicer gesture was so far from commonplace. No harm, though, right? "... I guess I wouldn't. It's a long walk, though." She shifted uncomfortably, still debting wether or not she wanted to brave the task of social pleasentries.

"Very good then." Thomas snatched his cane and limped himself along beside her. Even with his limp he hardly looked helpless or feeble- or old for that matter. The only trait about him that even hinted at his age was his white hair- even then it had been white from birth. The namun were much like humans- or elves...perhaps both in their own right. White hair was common for the nation of namun he'd been born into, as was coppery skin and bright eyes.

"Now, what sort of profession are you in persuit of then? Surely sugar snatching isn't your only talent."

The limp was probably the only thing that caught her eye, but it was quickly assessed as handled, and therefor not requiring her attention. The white hair was a feature they shared, although hers a touch more gray, he might have been said to resemble her sibling though... That aside, she herself was far more deceitful in her age, over a hundred years now was it? Average for either of her blood line as it was...

Profression... That was tricky. Her mouth twisted breifly, "I used to run an adoption center... Not enough money in that." What else was there? Nothing, really... As she led her company down the familiar sidewalks, she scraped her brain for something else of use. "I can do alot of things... I just... don't have experience." She added, "And I'd really be best as lumberjack, or something, I'm good in the forest and pretty strong... They don't hire women, though." The word woman was almost spat out in a vile fashion, and idly her free hand gave a small self-concious brush over her short hair.

"Lumberjack is not a profession that a lady should subject to." He said quite simply. "And while there's hardly enough money in raising children, it seems you've got your hands full with at least two." she did say 'kids'. Meaning...obviously, more than one. "So you've little choice or excuse but to apply yourself."

He nodded back towards the cafe, "Did you perhaps consider applying for a more common job?"

Lady, lady, lady. Woman, girl, female. No matter the term used, it made her tense, granted she was a bit more comfortable than she used to, for reasons she couldn't place, but in the end it still boiled down to a hate for her gender. Or the terms that came with it. It took a good deal of constraint to keep from lifting the man up off the ground and tossing him a few feet or so to emphasize her point... But, constraint was masterd, along with a general tired sense. So instead, "I'm not like normal women." sufficed.

As for the rest, it followed a same short line "I'm not good with people... Common jobs don't usually go well for me." Not to mention anyone of elven blood, which seemed to have dwindled and trickled down into many bloodlines, roused a great deal of anger towards her. But that was complicated, and not for this man's use to know of.

Thomas couldn't help but laugh, a strange sound coming from someone like himeslf, "If I may be so bold, this world is hardly one to speak of purity in bloodlines or anything for that matter... in all my days in all my travels this by far is the most chaotic and unorganized realm of existance to date. No official ruling company, no noble houses that I've heard of." He swept a hand over towards the street, indicating the world, "I've seen just about every race there is to speak of."

He look back down, "Surely there's little pregiduce for any race at a place such as a cafe..."

Ah of all the awkward subjects to reach, they just kept getting deeper and deeper in to her psyche, didn't they? And for once, Thom wasn't doing such a thing literally. "That's how it is now, yes." She noted, softly, at the end of his speech. But boiling point was close, and it only took a few seconds after that to reach it, and the pot spilled over so to speak, letting her open more than she'd normally allow. It just seemed better than beating around the bush at the moment, one of those cut the crap deals.

"I'm awkward with people. I had no parents, I grew up in the forest, I only learned some basic educations when I had to put a child through school." She paused, tryign to think of what else to summarize and give away "As for my bloodline, I'm part elf, part were... Granted, that doesn't rouse as much hate as it used to, but there's also matters of a curse and so on and so forth." A breath was taken, casting the man a look for the first time in awhile, waiting to see if the conversation would reach the end of his pity and fall awkwardly silent now.

"That is no excuse." He said simply, seemingly unphased by her outburst. He was mulling over it a bit though, bloodlines for some reason were always guarded dangerously. An elf with a werewolf was odd but not as hated as, say, a mystic and a drow, perhaps an elf and a dwarf- he shuddered to think.

"Your blood only tells what you are. It's what you do with what you are that determines part of who you are. Right now you are a mother of multiple- single perhaps. Obviously you've not eaten well yourself, I can only imagine the state of your home and children." He looked over, "If your own pride or pity in your thin blood is punishing them as well as yourself I think you are in need of a re-thinking of your priorities."

"You misunderstand me. It has nothing to do with excuses, or my bloodline, moreso my reactions. Groups of people... Or conflicts, I have varied reactions, most of which arn't suitible for civil living. Either way I still have a job, two infact, I work in the storage department, and really before you decide the state of my house or my children, you should wait until you see them." Suprisingly, she spoke calmer than she felt. Even with the good intentions, insulting the hungry struggling single mother wasn't the best approach.

Luckally for them, and the tension arising in the air, atleast from her side, they arrived at a feild. One of those usual community centers, to which a small smile light her frowning face as she gave a sudden burst of energy to get to the fence and look out at the end of a game of soccar, automatically spotting her children... Iteru was on the bench, ofcourse, Colette and Ilori beside him, and the boys; Taikobo, Akira and Futoeki all out in the feild.

Thomas obviously didn't run to keep up with her. He'd not loose sight of her and if he did- what a shame. Eventually he limped his way up beside the woman and watched the game. One child, he could safely assume, he knew to be hers. He didn't assume much farther than that. Perhaps the other...others? Were all out somewhere else. Who knew?

"Never did understand this game..."

She hadn't really expected him to, moreso she expected him not to come up at all... But he seemed rather persistant, which was respectable atleast. Or maybe just irritating... "Atleast they have fun." She offered.

The game soon ended, and the mix gave a round of applause for the group, drawing the attention of the children. Naturally, her bunch responded, Iteru making some noise to the other two with him on the bench. Colette grinned, picking Ilori up and waving Iteru along after her to meet their mother at the fence, another call back was given from the white-haired boy, to which three others all responded, giving quick waves to the friends that had played along, and then they too were coming over in a rush only children could muster. They all looked rather healthy, much opposed to the woman herself, all six of them. They came around the fencing, and she met them halfway, immediatly attacked in a rush of hugs and rambles about how the day went, only the eldest, Colette, seemed to notice the man that was with her.

Thomas quirked a brow at the number of children moreso their healthy state. Six children...and alone raising them. He looked off to the side a bit, kind of gripping at his cane. He and his wife had managed with just one child, but six?

He glanced back shortly, taking in the fact that they were, indeed, well fed while she was thin as all hell. Either way, it was no good for the children either. For once he looked a bit embarassed, maybe disappointed. It was hard to say. His emotions seemed limited.

Arafel, for the moment, had apparently forgotten about her guest, focused on commiting their stories to her memory... Iteru and Futoeki looked the closet to herself, Taikobo and Akira were both human, not looking much like her, Colette another human, looking even less like her mother, and lastly, the furthest from Arafel (Rather than hair color) was Ilori, the small naga girl. Either Arafel was quite a.. busy woman, or that adoption center she'd mentioned earlier had played a part.

Ofcourse, her ignorance broke when Colette drew her attention, trying to shush her siblings in light of hte importance of a man after so long, "Who's that?" She asked, innocently smiling.

Arafel paused, glancing back a tad nervously, uponrealizing she'd forgotten him. "This is..." Oh dear, she hadn't even gotten his name.

"Thomas Barkhelm." He finished her little introduction, "Professor rather, if you please." He smirked a bit. Well a title was a title. It did well enough to send the little kiddos into awe at his place of employment...though Allen rather scoffed that he fanciedthe title 'professor' rather than 'teacher'...but then again many 'teachers' never studied school for thirty years or even saw a battlefield involving magic....he felt he'd earned it.

"Good evening."

"Professor Barkhelm." She followed up, emphasising for the sake of the younger children to get the correct wish of the name. Professor was an important thing, afterall. "I'm Arafel." She answered, looking to the eldest first to go down their introductions. Colettes was first, and by far the most lady-like, accompanied by a small curtsy. "Colette." Taikobo followed up with a bracefilled smile "Taikobo... Bo works too." Next came an unorthodox burst of energy from Futoeki, "Futoeki and Iteru Kyomutentan." He recited skillfully, dragging his much shier looking twin along side him. And finally, the two toddlers were introduced by Arafel with hand gestures to accompany the names . "Akira," She pointed to the boy "And Ilori." The naga.

The whole introduction ended with a unison "Nice to meet you." from the children, to which Arafel smiled in a softer mannor.

Ofcourse, that faultered when Colette gave her a more knowing look than any other of the children, to which she gave a prompt "No." Futoeki quickly hurried forward, straight up to the stranger, staring with large eyes. "What do you teach?" was the first of a series of questions likely to follow.