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Kahukura was in a bind.

She'd been in need of a healer after spraining her ankle attempting to catch an alol - they were just such strange little creatures - but had lacked funds. The amount of earthlings who were ready to trade services for odd stones and bits of seaglass were surprisingly slim, though the healer she'd been lead to had brought up another idea entirely. A blind date with an acquaintance of theirs and that....Well, at first she'd been ready to just wrap her wrist and be done with it. After a good deal of convincing the awkward hybrid had relented.

And now she waited. She'd tried to dress herself up nice like her twin might have, but seeing as Kura hadn't come with many clothing options she'd settled on a top that didn't have a hole in it. Maybe that was enough?

Kahukura did her best to make herself comfortable. The accommodations weren't to blame - even if the space was clearly tailored for earthling frames - but rather her unease with herself. She didn't normally spend so much time in towns and would much rather have been off in the jungle, left to her own devices. Elarian hybrids were in even shorter supply on the mainland which meant that no matter where she went she drew eyes and the naturally awkward girl melted under their curious gazes.

Especially since some of the older generations were less curious and more angry.

When she heard the approach of another Kura turned her head and her heart stuttered. She's gorgeous. She smelled of tea leaves and looked like the stars themselves had been sent in mortal form. "I do, but not if it's too sweet." Her voice was barely above a murmur and instead of outright staring at Lutana, Kahukura turned her gaze to the table instead.

Kahukura took a little steadying breath before moving forward to settle down at the table. Her legs brushed the underside, lifting it briefly much to her embarrassment, but she quickly grabbed the table's edge to keep it from lifting too much. "Sorry...sorry.." She shifted her legs to the side.

"Uh, yeah." If Rawiri were here she'd be pinching Kura's arm and urging her to say more but it was just so...This wasn't her element at all. "I used to live near Zinris and now...I don't." Well, it was a step, right? "Have you always lived here?" She looked the part of every other shifter in the area so Kura might have believed it if not for her hair. It was nearly as dark as the hue of her skin and that was odd. Shifters didn't normally have hair that dark, did they?

"Bitter is fine."

"You do?" If she did it was harder to tell, especially since Kahukura wasn't as experienced with spotting differences in hybrids and earthlings outside of Yael. In hindsight the question may have come across as rude, but she intended it with only the most cautious of curiosity. Was that why they'd been set up with each other? Because of their Aishan blood?

"Ah, no, I'm fine. This is okay." This wasn't the first time she'd sat with her legs to the side and wouldn't likely be her last. So long as she tucked one leg it was pretty comfortable and gave Kura enough space to crouch so she wasn't too stiff backed. "So do you sell tea and healing separately or do you heal through the tea? Like poultices and elixirs?" The thought made her look at the cups with a more skeptical eye, almost as if she were waiting to drink muck like what her papa might make when she was ill.

"Yael is like....Jauhar but if the dark were mists instead. You can hear sounds but you cannot see them and sometimes the ground has split into caverns overnight. If you aren't careful you'll disappear." She gave a little half smile, "I prefer it to the desert's heat, but Jauhar has been nice."

Puerh tea? She'd never heard of it, but Lutana knew her work so Kahukura left her to it. "Ah, uhm, sure. That sounds like a good idea..." Maybe it would help calm her some? She was subconsciously fiddling with the strapping at the edge of her top almost as if her fingers just couldn't be left alone.

"I wasn't expecting a date at all." Kahukura murmured. "Since coming to the mainland I've tried to stay to the wilds as much as possible. Some towns don't mind me and others have not been kind."

Kahukura's eyes widened. She was right; it wasn't as noticeable as what her own markings were, but it was lovely, never the less. A natural cosmetic and one that added allure to Lutana's already mysterious aesthetic.

"Ah- well - I suppose so." And just like that, Kura's voice had softened and she was looking everything but towards her date. "You would...want a second meeting? I just...w-why would you? With me?" She wasn't sociable like Rawiri, or charming like Rawiri, or confident or smart...Kahukura was a mess. Lutana seemed to have so much going for her that the thought of her wanting to do this again just seemed absurd.

"There are a number of caves that contain crystals and creatures that only exist underground. I've also heard of sisters - um, Elarian's - using them to transport goods instead of the main roads, but if you don't know the way you can die." Catching herself, Kahukura coughed. "Not that you would just by going down but you might. If you weren't careful. Maybe."

A kind place? Well, she was already being shown more than enough of that here. In truth she hadn't planned on staying in Jauhar for very long, but now...she might have to change her plans. Watching Lutana move was almost like seeing a bird in flight or a keldari, undulating through the leaves toward the sun. It was so captivating that she didn't even notice she was that close until Lutana was nearly upon Kahukura and her skin warmed.

"Thank you," With her voice barely above a murmur, Kura lifted her cup and took a sip. It's warmth held subtle hints of flavor that she both couldn't describe and didn't feel the need to. For the moment it was all she needed and the experience brought a smile to her face. "It's good. Really good."

Kahukura was at a loss. "You really..." When she looked up, her odd gaze found Lutana's silver one and a timid smile pulled through. "Actually...yeah, that does sound nice. I'd like to see what's around, especially if it's in nature and...less village." While this was only the second alkidike hybrid she'd met, Lutana was also the second mixed with shifter blood and she was pleasantly surprised to find her just as sweet as Morain had been. Far less flirty, though, and with far more of a mystical feel. It was as strange as it was alluring and maybe she would know where to find some local treasures.

Or find a hole to bury her in. Her eyes were a little too bright when Kahukura started speaking of death, but maybe she was just imaging it?

"I don't have much; just my pack and I, but I might have an idea." Pondering on it, Kahukura took another sip and mulled it over in her mind. If Lutana liked the macabre, then maybe... "Whenever you're ready for another date let me know and I'll take you someplace I think you would enjoy."

"Aren't you still technically working? Not that I would mind the escort, but I wouldn't want to get you in trouble." Another sip of her tea and Kura was still surprised by the flavor. For something so bitter it had a strong body that made the experience enjoyable. She had half a mind to ask about the tea leaves, but she also knew that Lutana would likely give her another cryptic answer.

"Sounds good. I'll be free." Whatever odd jobs she was hoping to drum up could be handled in the morning which would give Kura just enough time to get cleaned up. It would...be something different, for sure, and maybe something to write to her sister about. While she wasn't looking for anything particularly romantic to come out of this just the knowledge she was making a friend was something special.

"Ah, uhm, here. I want you to have this." Setting her tea cup down, Kahukura turned to dig through her satchel and when she found something special she pulled it up to give it to Lutana. "It's a keldari fang. If you p***k yourself with it under a new moon you'll have good luck all year round."