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 Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:01 pm
Twilla balanced two large leather chests in her small arms, and eyed her wagon with a look of despair. The tiny, ratty wooden thing had definitely seen better days, with the intricate scrolling and woodwork chipped. The paint was falling off in chunks, revealing that the horrid purple and orange exterior had previously been a garish blue and red. The wheels were lopsided, the drapes tattered but there was one thing going for the tiny wagon.
It was hers.
Twilla wasn't smart enough, or important enough, to really warrant her own wagon, but she had rescued it from an Aishe who was about to burn it. They had become far too grand to use if for even their extra baggage, but Twilla had use of it.
Her mother had bore many children, and while she loved them all dearly, she felt trampled by the lot of them. It didn't help that the Veduni in their Caravan were encroaching on their business to such an extent that they actually ended their year with a loss, and Twilla had absolutely no offers and no dowry to try to move on up in life. It was sad, it was exasperating, but Twilla wanted to move on. There was more to life than trading her freedom for a better Caravan, and she was determined to do her best at what she loved.
A mere apprentice, Twilla had been wary of her master, who was more used to calling up flames of magic than catching them, as was her business. Her flames, she told herself silently, were of far superior quality, and she knew others would agree. Her flames, or "Witchlight" as she liked to call them, lasted indefinitely, and could be used for more than just gaudy lights. Having an eternal fire that heated without burning, or a vast resource of magical power waiting to be tapped, that was the ware that Twilla was touting. She was just having trouble... catching them.
Twilla shoved the two chests inside with a sudden force, her eyes shining. It would only be a matter of time before she could show everyone she COULD go it alone.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:59 am
Kiaran hummed to himself under his breath, a little off-key, but nobody would notice. Perhaps a Djardi shouldn't be sneaking so close to the Luminista encampments, but he wasn't there to spy on business secrets and steal knowledge. How should I say this? I wish to steal... your heart? Ugh. No. That sounds like the wicked witch from a storybook. He snorted quietly, exasperated.
Why could he tell such florid, delightful, flowery poems and tales in the interest of selling his Master's wares, but when it came to using his silver tongue for his own benefit, it turned useless in his mouth?
She probably won't care for you, anyway. Kiaran sighed. He had to get her out of his mind. He'd spotted the young Luminista a week ago across the marketplace and been unable to think of much else since. It was completely stupid, and it was beginning to affect his work. Master Kitling had had to smack him no few times to get his patter back on track and his mind on selling perfumes and incense rather than on pretty Mizenya, with her cloud-white hair and her beautiful horns and-
The young Ursarin buck shook his head, sharply, and kept moving forward. If he could at least meet her, then-
With a thump, he realized there was another Ursari nearby; he scurried around. A girl... could it be...
"Mizeny-oh..." No, it wasn't her... and damn, now he'd blown his cover. Kiaran's ears tipped back and he offered the other young Ursari a quick half-bow. "Terribly sorry, case of mistaken identity, I'm not here for anything-" Damn, damn, damn.
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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:15 am
Mizenya strode briskly down the freshly trodden path leading the the Luminista wagons. She'd just come from an audience with the Clan Mother herself to discuss a few very important matters (important to Mizenya anyway), and hell if it didn't go just the way she'd been hoping! For the last two weeks she had fussed and planned and pulled at her poof of white hair until she thought she'd go mad waiting for her meeting date. She felt good now that everything was settled.
Well... Ok, so she hadn't actually talked to Twilla about it yet... but that was what she planned to do right after she stashed her recent earnings and took care of a few things. And anyway, she couldn't fathom why her sister would say no.
Mizenya casually checked the thickly strapped leather and silk satchel slung across her shoulder. Nothing fancy, but it did have an enchantment on it designed to muffle the sound of jingling money (a common charm among Ursarin merchants). Presently, the satchel held the entirety of Mizenya's worth- minus the few things she'd left at her master's wagon. This meant, naturally, that every single person in the crowd was a potential thief, and the girl eyed them all suspiciously. No one payed much attention to her, though. One slightly shifty-eyed individual amidst a crowd of barter-hardened merchants (who were also rather shifty-eyed) was hardly interesting.
Finally, she reached the night-themed wagon tucked next to the base of a large tree. Mizenya sighed inwardly as she took a moment to admire it. Damn, but it was a gorgeous wagon. It was painted in shades of deepest blue and purple with silver tassels and duskwood accents. Star gems set in swirling designs twinkled on the roof and the wheels were enchanted for smooth travel. It was absurdly spacious, and the inside was pure opulence in velvet and silk. Mizenya's master, Loza'Drinya, had been a favored child from a skilled family of Pitivo camion merchants, and when she married into the Luministas she was given the exquisite wagon as a parting gift from her mother. Even for Pitivo craftsmanship, it was an extraordinarily beautiful thing.
"Dat should have been mine," Mizenya mumbled to herself, her accent thick. And, of course, the accent was fake, something she'd picked up from Loza'Drinya. Never hurt to have an exotic accent for added mystique, so Mama Loza said.
Alas, the wagon would not go to her. It was far too grandiose for someone of her rank and status. She was only an apprentice after all. Maybe if she'd made it to journeyman she could have petitioned for rights to the wagon since she was Loza's only pupil. As it stood, however, the gorgeous thing would be taken to the Clan Mother's auctions and sold to the highest bidders among the caravan families. The proceeds would go to maintaining the caravan, so Mizenya didn't feel bad about that much... but she knew without a doubt which family would be bidding the hardest. Mizenya had her own private suspicions about Loza's death... The Veduni were never shy about their admiration for Mama Loza's wagon, making many offers over the years. She wondered if any of the other families would risk disfavor from the Veduni and bid against them..
Probably not.
Freshly agitated, Mizenya climbed into the familiar doorway and set about the preparations she needed to make before the acquisitionist came to take the wagon away tomorrow morning. Maybe Twilla would make it easy and come visit her at the wagon so she wouldn't need to tramp around the encampments looking for her. In her head, Mizenya went over the plans she wanted to present her sister with and smiled.
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:12 am
The Luminista encampment was a veritable hive of interlopers -- some who might have not been so welcomed, such as Kiaran, and some who had permission to be there. Outside of the Clan Mother's grand caravan, one Thetana buck waited patiently for his master to emerge: he had been (quite unceremoniously, in his mind) ousted from his own final betrothal arrangements in favour of being made to stand outside as the haggling ended. This might have been because having Alix in there was, from his master's viewpoint, a liability: any untoward look or action might have brought up the price.
They had been lucky enough -- or so his master said -- to find a Luminista girl whose relative merits matched what had also been relatively cheap. They were getting a few enchantments out of it, too. Some Thetana could have been accused of distraction -- certainly at that moment, he was balancing a book in his arms with a sheaf of paper within as he copied down an inscription -- but never of being loose with their money. Alix's clan was wealthy, well-respected, an old clan of historians: you did not get much more Thetana than they, they often liked to comment. You didn't keep that by not being tight-fisted.
And so they had found a Luminista bride for Alix, one with her own caravan, having not mentioned that what he made up for in bride price he lacked in recalling what day of the week it was and in caring about things other than dead histories. He took off his classes and wiped them on his sleeve, managing to cannily not upset book and paper and charcoal nib, only inasmuch interested in his new wife than he was slightly put out that he was not present.
It was his history, after all. Rather banal, to wait outside and not hear the haggling of your future marriage, to know how much you were worth or not worth, and how much one's wife was to be worth: even if you'd only found out that the arrangements to marry you were going to be finalised that afternoon.
Well, if he had to wait outside, he wouldn't be idle. You couldn't, if your business was books. Alix stubbed the nib of the charcoal, and immediately unromantically forgot about his marriage and worried about sharpening it instead. (Cheap brides were one thing -- broken nibs were really more pressing!)
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:52 am
Twilla turned around, stifling a yawn. Her night out was getting the better of her, but there was too much to do that day.
"Mizenya?" Twilla had caught the name, and her gaze sharpened, losing her sleepy drowsiness. What did this boy have to do with Mizenya? Looking him over, his clothes were quite expensive, and the numerous pots and glass bottles betrayed his family. It was good that her family were particularly friendly with the caravan's Djardi, what with her mothers consuming need for more children. She practically collected them.
"I'm about to go meet her, she's just taking her things from her master," Twilla finally said at last, losing her train of thought as she yawned widely,"Hn. You can follow me if you'd like."
Twilla didn't give him a chance to reply, and started walking with a lurch. The caravans had all clustered in their usual way, creating long walkways, and tiny alleys that created confusing intersections. The Ursari themselves were the only ones that used them, and Twilla made use of them now. Entering in to the large clearing that was sort of no mans land and yet free for all Ursari to use, Twilla looked around, wondering if the wagon had made it there yet. The familiar dark wagon sat gleaming in the corner, on the other side of the fountain (fake; merely an illusion). The clearing was mostly empty, but Twilla waved to her sister. She didn't see Twilla, and entered the caravan again.
With an idle curiousity, Twilla focused on to the boy standing outside of the matchmakers tent and wondered his purpose. Thetana, plainly, no one else dressed like them. So... plainly. And there was the matter with the book and the charcoal, he could be nothing else. About to turn away to more interesting things, her heart... leapt painfully, and she found herself taking one, two, many steps, all towards the dull boy.
"Hello," Twilla said breathlessly, her heart thumping painfully, as her feet brought her in front of him without a single thought on her part. Just what was going on?
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:33 am
Kiaran tried to mumble an apology, but his tongue tripped over itself quite nicely, and what came out was a mumble incomprehensible even to himself - just as well, since by that time the girl had already started moving and wouldn't have heard him anyway. Shouldn't have come here, this is stupid, you should get your fool head back to the Master's wagon... He stood alone for a moment, hesitating.
Then he sighed, rolled his eyes, and darted after the girl. If you're going to eat poison, lick the plate. He'd come this far. The worst that'd happen is he'd get caught and sent back and probably smacked for insolence or something. An aching heart or an aching arse.
Painful either way. Anyway, he might get caught going back regardless and then he'd have both.
The other Luminista girl had paused in one of the more public clearings, which made Kiaran relax a little - while he'd probably still get whomped by his Master for being out without permission, at least none of the other Ursari would think ill of him for being in this particular part of the encampment, as they might have if he'd been caught sneaking among the more private areas and work wagons. But he didn't see Mizenya anywhere.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. There was absolutely no reason for her to be wandering around like he was. This entire plan seemed more and more moronic by the second.
With a stubborn sigh, Kiaran stopped in the shadow of a wagon and sat down with a thump, leaning back against one massive wheel and pulling his knees up to his chest. He'd at least wait long enough to make the whole thing seem worthwhile before slinking back to his Master's wagon.
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:14 pm
Usually it might have taken a second hello for the Thetana buck to respond, and indeed he paused: but Alix raised his head quite slowly up to see Twilla's face, broken-nibbed charcoal forgotten, bride price forgotten, and the expression on his face was interesting -- he looked like a man about to be martyred, prepared to go down with his ship, a growing kind of horror and realisation and sick fascination. He closed the book on parchment and nib both, and he took off his glasses. His eyes were very blue, and utterly bemused.
"Hello," he said, mouth forming it without really paying attention -- he tried to shake his head out, as though to clear cobwebs, but raised it again when it was obviously not working. It was also taking valuable tiny moments away from looking at her. He pinched himself, waited for the reaction, and shrugged it off.
"Hello," Alix said again, "a second time, hello; in case the first one didn't stick -- would you like a third. I can give you a third one. Hello."
Kiaran might have sympathised with the slightly punch-drunk expression on his face.
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:47 pm
"Oy!"
Mizenya bristled, her tail swishing like an angry cat. She likely would have placed her hands on her hips but they were currently occupied with three rather large and ancient looking books. She had just been about to carry the old tomes to the small stack of her personal belongings sitting under the nearby tree when she'd turned the corner of the wagon and found him. Just who the heck was this little furball of a buck that she'd discovered leaning on the wheels of her master's wagon? From the look of him, he wasn't even Luminista.. Ok sure this was a mostly public area, but still! Everyone knew it was right on the border of her family's allotted territory. And dammit if their encampment wasn't small enough already. She wasn't going to put up with interlopers deciding to just park their merry little tails wherever they pleased.
"Just wat do you theenk you are doing, you leetle-..." she trailed off suddenly, her bright blue and violet eyes going wide as she finally got a good look at him. At that moment, the world seemed to shift a little and she stumbled several steps toward him, feeling off-balance. It was almost like... well it felt a lot like someone had just given her inner compass a magnetic north. Mizenya's face flushed in embarrassment and confusion.
"Ahm..." she said stupidly, her thoughts blanking. She scrambled for something cute or witty or.. just anything to say.
"Sorry for.. ah.. I mean.." She fidgeted, moving the large books so that they rested on her hip. ".. Hi," she finally mumbled, offering a sheepish smile.
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:02 pm
Kiaran had actually nearly fallen asleep, only to be snapped back to full waking by a sudden angry shout. He jumped a mile and scrambled quickly (if awkwardly) to his feet even before his brain was fully in gear, an instinct learned from many being shouted out of bed by the Masters. "I-uh-sorry-"
He stopped suddenly as he realized exactly who was addressing him. Not only addressing him, but staring at him... in a way that wasn't entirely unkind...? One hand wandered down to pinch at his other arm, just to make sure. He winced. Nope. Not a dream. "H-hi?" he offered, smiling back, suddenly shy. He'd packed a few perfumes for the occasion, but they were entirely forgotten right now. "I, um... was looking for... for you, I guess?" He blinked at her.
Great. Now what? Think of something. THINK OF SOMETHING!
"Umm.... I'm Kiaran?" he offered.
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:26 pm
Twilla closed her eyes slowly, her fluttering eyelashes mimicking her fluttering heart, in an attempt to calm herself down. She hadn't a clue what had gotten in to her, and while it scared her, it was also exciting. She had never been someone to throw herself in to gossip, always feeling far too grounded to be caught up in the silly giggling of the other girls. But Twilla found herself opening her mouth, and horror of horrors, a giggle escaped. She tried to cover it with a yawn but it was out for everyone to hear, and she dearly did not want to seem vapid to the boy standing in front of her.
The giggle was forgotten as she focused on him, taking in every aspect of him as she possibly could. Her gaze was intense as she took in his startling blue eyes, his rich but slightly dirty clothing. She noticed the charcoal, and the books, and knew he was a Thetana, though she had assumed before.
"Hello," She whispered breezily, and paused, as if weighing her words carefully, "I'm Twilla."
Gesturing towards the boy, she smiled brightly, and touched his shirt. Half of her was shocked at her forwardness. The other half of her blushed red hot as her horns turned an interesting hue; some could even say they glowed. Twilla had no idea anything had happened, and continued to smile in a sappy, joyful way.
"What's your name?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:43 pm
Alix found that he had, in fact, forgotten his own name momentarily. He looked at her -- she was dressed as most Luminista girls were, richly, covered in trinkets, smoky blues and purples -- it took a moment for his brain, which normally registered facts and recounted questions in a heartbeat, to respond and say, "Alix. Thetana."
He took her hand as though in greeting, but abruptly forgot to let it go again. They were standing there smiling stupidly at each other, totally unaware of anything that was happening around them -- if a meteor came out of the sky and squashed the caravan behind them flat, they never would have known it. He was hyper-aware of how messy his hair must have been, of the charcoal smudges on his fingers, of the jangle of beads fluttered by the wind as she stood in front of him.
She had giggled. It was enchanting. If she had sneezed it would have been music.
"Twilla," he said. It was immeasurably satisfying to say her name, and he put his glasses perched back on his nose. The book was forgotten under his arm, and he would not have let go of her hand if ordered to. "I don't know if anyone has ever told you this, but having not had any opinion previously, Twilla is the most beautiful name for any girl I have ever heard in my life. I didn't really consider it before, if I told you the truth, but now I know, so -- if you could spell it for me. I need to write it down."
It all made a great deal of sense to him. Flirting-wise it was pretty insane.
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 12:08 am
Blushing furiously, Twilla repeated her name spelling, and watched as he scratched in his book, mesmerized by his small but dextrous hands.
Those'll come in handy later Twilla covered her mouth again, even though those words never left her mouth. She was horrified that she would even think like that, but she realized that perhaps... whatever it was that was happening was far more potent that the silly love potions that the Djardi liked to sell, which just gave one a euphoric high and didn't much help anything... Other than consummation.
"I'm a lumista, by the way," Twilla said, though she had already seen him write 'Luminista' down in his book. Moving closer to him, she peered in to his book, fascinated. It was odd, for Twilla to be fascinated by anything for more than a few seconds. She was always up far too late, hunting those elusive witchlights, and even now she was teetering on her feet. It was far past her time to nap, and she found her eyes closing sleepily. She focused on his face, but her body ignored her heart, and Twilla found herself slumping on to his shoulder, her chest rising lightly as she passed in to a blissful, content sleep.
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 12:22 am
Normally he would have been worried or at the very least perturbed. Normally, though, Alix would not have abandoned his copying entirely to write down with the blunted broken nib underneath -- Twilla. Luminista. And, judiciously, careful not to joggle her: Sleeping fits. Her blush had not gone unnoticed: he found himself writing beautiful circulation, and frowned at it a little. He might as well have written something inane like sleeps impeccably.
So he wrote for later reference: Noonday. Nearly an hour into my matchmaking, I meet Twilla.
Ah. The matchmaking. He wondered how much of a bother it would be to try to get it called off: normally no Ursari would care, nor get a marriage called off for any reason and especially not the -- reason he was thinking -- but Alix found himself caring, caring terribly.
Twilla's breathing was deep and even. He hoped that he would stopped being charmed soon by the fact that she had good breathing passages. It was a little undignified.
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 5:53 am
"Kiaran," Mizenya repeated, almost sighing. Her gaze was intent as she took in the various bottles and vials on his person and decided he was Djardi. It caused her to muse about the possibilities of drugging a name. Mizenya's heart was doing acrobatics in her chest every time she said his name in her head.
Kiaran...
It took a moment for her to realize she should probably introduce herself too. "I am Mizenya... ah.. Luminista." She bit her lip as her muddled thoughts caught up the rest of what he'd said.
"You were... looking for me?" Any other time, she'd have been immediately suspicious and likely would have grilled him on the spot for information. But instead she was entirely flattered and charmed and though she tried not to, she was probably looking rather pleased with herself... For absolutely no reason that made sense! The thought had sprung up in her mind, but it was quickly squashed under the weight of whatever madness had gripped her.
Mizenya finally knelt to put the books on the ground so that she could offer a slightly tentative hand in greeting. "Is there.. sometheeng I can do for you maybe?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:52 am
"Er, yes..." Kiaran began, then stopped up short as his logical brain informed him that what he'd been doing, in order:
a.) sneaking out of his Master's encampment
b.) to search for a girl he'd only seen once or twice across the marketplace
c.) whose name he'd had to wheedle out of a passerby by offering her a quite unauthorized discount on some perfume
d.) skulking around the Luminista encampment like a thief
e.) at night
... sounded an awful lot like stalking. Which was creepy.
Oh gods! Kiaran thought, transfixed by horror. I'm creepy! She's going to think I'm a creepy dangerous stalker and- "I-I'm sorry!" he said, quickly, tripping over the words. "I... didn't mean to be... I'm not..."
And suddenly her hand was extended towards him, and - glory be - it wasn't to smack him or something. He blinked at it dumbly for a minute, trapped between what his irritated logical mind was telling him and what his utterly not logical emotions were screaming. "Ehe... um. I... don't think this is the best introduction I've ever had. Um. I saw you the other day, and... er... I wanted to meet you..."
He reached out and took her hand, awkwardly, and immediately changed his opinion. It was the best introduction he'd ever had. "Um."
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