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 Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:55 pm
Kaimana was seated inside the Lazy Quhar, a quaint tavern in the outer edges of Sulburi. The Matori much preferred this environment to the bigger, busier pubs in the center of the Oban capital. Here he could rest his elbows with ease on the main bar without bumping into anyone. The bar itself was in the center towards the serving area, and Kaimana could see beyond into an interior room full of barrels of homemade brew. The dark wooden boards making up the flooring were slightly dusty, a typical trait in many of the desert buildings, but they were solid and he had noticed someone even sweeping them earlier before another crowd of Obans came through bringing in more sand and dirt on their boots. The same group was being noisy at a table in the far back corner, their laughter only silenced by the occasional munching of food as they devoured the meal that the server set before them. Kaimana couldn’t help but to chuckle at the sight before turning back to the bar in front of him.
Despite the delicious smell of fresh food he hadn’t really ordered much himself, just a mug of deep amber ale that sparkled in the late afternoon light. For the most part the Matori was just waiting on his sister to return from her errands in the capital. Kaimana had already taken care of his own errands and now just found himself relaxing at the bar. Eventually Devika would return but it was still just the afternoon yet. Honestly it wouldn’t surprise him if his sister opted to stay the night in the city at her mentor’s place instead of some common tavern like this. At least that was what he had teased when she said that he didn’t have to wait up for her if he was too tired. Still worry did flicker across his expression. Despite the two of them growing up and finding their own paths these last couple of years Kaimana was fairly protective of his twin and knew that he couldn’t help worrying if she didn’t come back before tomorrow. But at the same time she would also maul him for babying her. All he could do was just trust that she would be fine. The thought made him sigh as he grabbed at his mug to take a swig of his drink. This was probably what she felt when he went away from Matori for the first time himself. And now to think that he had finally convinced her to travel overseas with him to explore a new land. Kaimana smiled faintly at the thought as he continued to sit quietly at the bar while lost in his thoughts.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 6:20 pm
When Sriina had opened her eyes that morning, she was in Oba. The man who had offered her a ride in the back of his cart had ushered her off and told her that he wasn't going any further for a few weeks yet. It was fine, she wasn't in any hurry to get anywhere in particular and she was just happy to be somewhere else.
Though after spending most of the day in Sulburi, the dust and dry heat was hanging over her and she remembered that she didn't miss Oba at all. After the war, she had been released with the others and hadn't taken a second look back, but here she was.
She pushed open the door to the tavern, the little sign outside had named it the Lazy Quhar. It was cute. Dusty just like everything else. She blew a piece of hair out of her face and took a seat at the bar. Without a place to go she might as well just enjoy a drink with her own inner thoughts.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 9:48 pm
Kaimana's golden gaze narrowed thoughtfully as he drew a finger along an imaginary map. He was contemplating ideas about the future journey to Kahikana, the road to Belrea and then to the new islands getting closer every day, and the Matori couldn't help but to feel excited. He could already imagine the sea breeze whipping through his hair, the feeling of the salty air tingling on his skin and the sounds of the waves as they crashed against the foreign shore. I'm not even in Oba for one full day and I'm already missing the ocean. Kaimana chuckled at himself before he finished his drink. If only there was something to distract him or just someone to speak with. The lancer glanced towards the corner where the Oban group was before shaking his head. Despite everything there was still a part of him that was reserved when it came to approaching such a group. A few drinks too many and it could mean trouble later which Kaimana wasn't particularly feeling today.
Thankfully though it seemed that he had a savior. The creak of the door alerted Kaimana to the Matori woman's entrance and he found himself blinking in surprise. He had wanted some company but he hadn't actually expected it to happen and especially for someone like that to enter! Not that Kaimana was upset, rather he was flustered to find that someone else was sitting next to him at the bar. Still, he couldn't help but to wave over the server, "I'll have another mug and maybe a mug for her as well? Some bread also." He glanced towards the stranger with a small smile, "I figured if you're sitting here that you'll want something to drink. Their homemade brew is quite good if you don't mind me suggesting it." As he spoke the server was already sliding down two freshly poured mugs of the golden ale, its contents nearly splashing as Kaimana caught both and passed one down to the newcomer.
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 8:22 am
Sriina had only then noticed that there was someone else at the bar with her when a drink was already being passed her way. She was planning on getting a drink. And she was very surprised that it was another matori man who was handing it to her. "Ah, yes. Thank you." She said to him, her mind still moving slowly from the thoughts that had been filtering through it just a minute ago.
She looked down at the ale in front of her and inspected it. It looked alright. She held it up to her nose and gave it a quick sniff. You could smell the grains used to make it and... well she thought even a hint of citrus? She took a taste and it was definitely a citrus aftertaste. "It's good." She offered. "It's really good, thank you." She took another longer swallow and put the mug down gently onto the bar top. She wasn't very good at small talk but she felt like she should say something at this point, she wasn't really sure. "Are you from here?" She asked finally.
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:40 am
Kaimana couldn't resist grinning, "Right?" He nodded before taking a swig of his own, "No problem. I'm glad that I could help." He peeked across the room towards where the server was currently working, "Saves the time of them going through the whole ordeal of listing everything when the home brew is perfect as is. Unless of course you had something else in mind? If so that's my bad." He flushed lightly before turning back towards his mug. Either way the first round was on him for sure. Thankfully she had seemed to enjoy it so at least he wasn't so worried that he had offended her with his choice.
His gaze lit up as she spoke again and Kaimana turned slightly in his seat so that he could look at her. The question, however, made him crinkle his nose at the thought of being from Oba, "From here? Nah, I'm not that much into deserts and big bustling cities. It's just too much though I suppose it's not too awful if you can find good company at random taverns." Kaimana teased lightly, "I'm much more fond of the ocean but business is taking me out of Matori for a bit. How about you? Are you actually from Sulburi or just passing through?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:08 pm
She watched him as he spoke, and when he offered a sort of apology for ordering a drink for her she waved a hand briefly before swallowing what was in her mouth. "No, no need to apologize. I didn't know what I would drink." She confirmed for him. She wasn't used to having to order Oban ales herself so she wouldn't have known which to pick to begin with. It definitely wasn't a reason for an apology.
She could feel her own blush creep up with his teasing but she shook her head at his own questions. "No... I just got here." She offered at first before deciding to elaborate further. "I'm also traveling for a bit, but I have been in Matori for the last few years." She could feel a little bit of the heaviness dropping back onto her shoulders but with a little shrug and a large gulp of her mug she tried to fight it off. There was no reason to bring her troubles on this guy, whether she knew him or not. It wasn't right of her to unload like that.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 7:31 pm
"Okay good." Kaimana couldn't stop the bright smile that spread across his features, "I'm definitely happy to have been of service then." If she wasn't certain what to drink it either meant she was new to the area or not much of a drinker. Either way Kaimana couldn't help but to be interested. Perhaps it was just the dull day he had that he was truly excited for company or the fact that there was just something intriguing about the woman. He knew that sometimes he was a bit too open when it came to meeting others but Kaimana truly couldn't seem to help himself. He truly doubted that there would be any harm in talking over a few drinks with a stranger.
Kaimana leaned against the table and tapped his fingers lightly against the smooth surface of his mug as he listened to the other Matori. He felt like something was weighing on her shoulders and he couldn't help but to wonder just what it was. Kaimana's gaze was only momentarily distracted as the server dropped off a basket of bread in front of him which he quickly pushed towards the other Matori, "Since you've been traveling you'll probably want something more than just drink." He mused out loud with a smile, "After all as fellow travelers we should take care of each other, right? But first I should introduce myself! My name is Kaimana and you?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 1:44 pm
Her head moved in small nods as he spoke, her hands busy with the glass mug in her grasp. "Um, yes, I suppose so. Especially if that traveler is from so close to home." She agreed. She would be much more comfortable helping out this man than to offer her care to a traveling fire earthling for instance. But to her the war was still too close for comfort and a dark spot on her childhood.
She reached for a piece of the offered bread and took a small bite before introducing herself as well. "Thank you. I'm Sriina." The bread was good. It was still warm from the oven and soft on the inside while being crisp and flaky on the outside. "What brings you through Oba, if you don't mind me asking?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:52 pm
"I'm glad you agree. So please feel free to let me know if you need help or anything while you're passing through the city." Kaimana's gaze was warm while he studied Sriina. She was not far from the truth. The war had taken his parents from him and it was hard for him to be truly comfortable in Oba. It was much easier for him to be open with a fellow Matori or even almost any other foreigner as a result of his childhood loss. So being with a fellow Matori in Oba definitely was like finding an oasis in the desert, especially when the company was also very lovely. The thought made his cheeks flush ever so faintly before he focused on his own drink once more. I'm just being friendly like usual. That's all. It was how he got picked up by the Yaeli cartographer after all. If not for that he wouldn't even be here planning on traveling overseas.
Kaimana blinked at the question before glancing back over to Sriina, "I don't mind at all. I'm traveling for work." He admitted after a thoughtful pause, "I'm helping some merchants map out trade routes and such. They appreciate someone with a bit of artistic talent and it's a plus that I also know how to wield a trident if they get into any trouble." Kaimana took a piece of bread for himself, his movement placing him slightly closer to Sriina before he settled back in his seat, "We're planning on going to Belrea and then taking a ship to the new lands from there. What about you? Any real destination in mind for your journey?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:13 pm
The matori man sitting with her seemed to be quite welcoming of the company and Sriina felt that it was oddly comforting. She hadn't had much conversation in... well, in a long time. Even before she had left home she felt like she hadn't had much of a connection with the family and friends she had left. Her last few conversations had felt empty and difficult given her circumstances.
"That is interesting. I had heard that there was a new continent discovered, I just hadn't met anyone yet who was actually going." Sriina took another small bite of the bread and washed it down with drink before answering his own questions. "No... I really don't have a place to go yet." The more she drank and the more she spoke to Kaimana the more she felt herself loosening up. "I left pretty suddenly." She was trying not to let her emotions get to her, and to not let the heaviness of her feelings reflect on her face, but she couldn't tell if she was doing much of a good job.
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:15 pm
"Well consider me glad to be your first." Teased Kaimana lightly before his words registered and a faint flush spread across his cheeks, "One of the first explorers to hopefully make it that way unless our stop in Belrea takes too long." He quickly added before taking another long drink of his mug to hide his embarrassment, emptying it of its remaining contents and receiving a new mug full of the brew shortly after. Thankfully time with the merchants and others during his adventures had taught him to handle his drink better than others. It definitely was easier to hold down and to keep a somewhat clear mind than his first experience with the stronger ale.
Still the ale did help to loosen his tongue ever so slightly, "That sounds like the beginning to some sort of tale." He confessed as he studied Sriina, "You know the best thing about drinks are the stories that you can share over them while at the tavern. If you wanted to share then you can find a willing listener right here who does not judge. Perhaps I can even swap some stories with you and tempt you with the idea of travel if you truly have no place to go?" A bold offer that was perhaps inspired by drink but one that he truly meant. She seemed so forlorn in that moment that he simply wanted to offer her some comfort or even a future path. If she could fight then perhaps the merchants could use another guard?
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 12:31 pm
The idea was bold. Travel with Kaimana to the other continent. But with the drinks she had consumed it was sounding better and better by the second. She would be with someone familiar with her home, without having to aimlessly wander around by herself.
"Well, it may not be a tale you'd like to hear." she suggested to him before starting. It wasn't exactly an upbeat story to tell. She told him briefly about her arranged marriage, the feelings that they both had for other men, their secret agreement to keep the marriage as a front to be with who they really loved, and that her partner for years had been Ashta, Kyruie's brother. "But after all this time, all the sneaking around, they disappeared. Kyruie took off, and Ashta followed. He left me with no goodbyes, nothing but a short note that said not to follow." It was probably ruining the mood, but her tongue had been thoroughly loosened. "Part of me is heartbroken, and the other part of me is furious. That I meant nothing more to him than a note." She slammed back the rest of her third drink at that point and glanced over, realizing now that this man was probably not up for hearing her entire life story in a nutshell.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have dumped that on you." He just had seemed to willing to listen, it was something she couldn't get off of her chest with anyone else yet.
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 10:38 am
Kaimana grinned as he leaned towards Sriina, "Try me. I tend to surprise people." He teased as he quietly began to listen to her story. His amber gaze was gentle and patient, the mischievous light disappearing as her story continued along. His heart truly ached for the other Matori. Kaimana had never experienced love himself yet and was told many times that he was oblivious to flirtations while growing up but he had always thought it was sweet to see couples together. His gaze shifted as the story changed in tone and went from complicated romance to being even more heartbreaking. "How could someone just leave like that?" He found himself asking, his own heart breaking for her before anger settled in its place. Even if they had just met he could tell that she was a good person and her story was touching! Kaimana felt as if he knew Sriina a lot more now and it made him completely astounded to hear that anyone would leave such a woman.
"No, no." Kaimana moved closer and gently placed a hand on the Matori's shoulder, "You're fine. Something like that should not be bottled up and I'm glad to listen. Am I happy about what you just told me? Absolutely not." He began with a frown, "Not because I'm bothered by sharing your sorrows with you but rather because I'm furious as well. Why would anyone leave someone as lovely as you behind?" Kaimana was being purely honest and not even thinking about flirting as he shook a fist in the air as if to defend her honor while punching the disappeared lover in the face, "He's a fool for leaving you. I've only known you for a short while....well actually just this afternoon but I can already tell that he left behind someone wonderful and amazing who is far more deserving than a simple note." Grabbing another round of mugs for the both of them, Kaimana slid it over to Sriina but his fingers lingered whenever they accidentally brushed against her own. "Honestly it's ridiculous and I'm so sorry. That man sounds like a coward who doesn't deserve you." His fingers squeezed her hand comfortingly as he stared at her, his amber gaze sincere despite the drinks. "If anything maybe a trip is exactly what you need. An adventure to Belrea for some fresh air and a new start?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:01 pm
He seemed to be taking it well, and Sriina felt a little relieved that she hadn't scared away the one person she was happy to talk to at the moment. He felt her frustrations, listened to her sadness, and returned with sentiments that she was able to accept and appreciate. "I... well, I don't know why he wouldn't have at least said goodbye in person, but it hurts nonetheless." She admitted.
He gripped her hand and stared into her eyes, and he offered her a real place on his journeying and she returned his look. "I do think a trip is exactly what I need." She nodded her head. She would be more than happy to go with Kaimana and learn to heal from the tragedies of her past with others than alone with no one to talk to but herself. "If you really don't mind me going with you."
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:27 pm
"I could imagine." Kaimana replied quietly, "I lost my parents when I was young and at the time I didn't understand that they couldn't really say goodbye before leaving. Regardless of the reason, I still felt so hurt by their departure." His cheeks flushed a little as he realized his slight confession, "Sorry I didn't mean to bring the mood down even more with that." He shook his head, a few stray strands of hair falling into his face with the movement. "I just wanted to express that I can imagine your hurt in a sense." Losing his parents as a child was a faded memory at this point but he could still somewhat remember the hurt that he had felt. Why had they thought a war more important than staying to help raise him and his sister? Perhaps it was a bit childish of him to throw a fit over that but at the time he was young and he had wanted his family. I suppose it is different from suddenly losing a lover without reason in a sense. But surely it was somewhat similar? Either way he knew that it was not a pleasant feeling and his heart did ache for Sriina.
Still, he forced himself to look back up at her and when she agreed with his idea a brilliant smile spread across his lips. "I wouldn't mind at all! I think your presence would be a great addition to our team. You seem tough, a fighter?" He managed as he focused on happier thoughts. "The merchants and cartographer I'm traveling with could surely use some more help against any potential dangers." As he realized that his hand was still lingering over her own, a flush created by both drink and their conversation continued to decorate his cheeks. Kaimana studied their hands before sheepishly pulling away, his fingers slowly wrapping around his own mug. "It would take perhaps even a year before we would return. Would that be acceptable? We'll go to Belrea first and then over towards Kahikana."
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