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 Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 1:44 pm
Another day out gathering herbs in the market. Alinta sighed as she shifted the basket on her arms, the hybrid preferring to wear casual attire and her long hair in a simple braid on errand days, and it seemed to be working fairly well since no one really gave her much notice. Save for those who decided that a pretty hybrid from Sauti may deserve a second glance over, perhaps even a whistle or two, but Alinta’s reaction to flash them a finger often made the potential flirts back away. Other than that she tried her best to keep to the open street where others could keep an eye on things, the Oban patrols hopefully being close enough where she could easily call for help if something ever did happen. That was until she had decided to seek out some nightshade that her mother was researching because she was determined to find helpful uses for the poisonous plant. It wasn’t as if anyone could just grow herbs throughout the desert and so Alinta had volunteered to go to the market to search. However, upon further inspection she quickly realized that certain herbs were not as openly sold to the public and so to the underground she went. I just won’t tell my mother about this. Alinta clutched cloak tightly to her chest, only letting out a curse as a pair of teens sped past and surprised her. Her basket went spinning, the handle broken at impact and the lid was askew by the time she gathered herself and went to pick it up. Thankfully nothing poisonous had been placed inside, but the herbs she had bought from the normal day market were now littering the street. “I must have been cursed to drop things.” Muttered Alinta with a sigh, reaching for the nearest herb as she began to gather her belongings again.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 2:32 pm
While Xariy didn't run in the underground circles like she once had, she did like to purchase certain things from them every now and again. Old habits died hard, and she simply liked being able to have access to the more exciting aspects of Oba's underbelly. It was why she was there now, listening in on any good information and seeing if she could purchase a smuggled spitorog for her daughter. She had been minding her own business focusing on that when she noticed the breaking of the basket, rushing over to assist in picking up runaway herbs off the ground. "You okay? People can be real jerks around here," Xariy said, smiling at the girl as she handed back some of the herbs she'd retrieved.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 3:59 pm
Alinta flinched whenever someone rushed over, but was surprised to see that the Oban woman was actually helping her by handing over herbs. "Really? I couldn't notice." She replied, a small smile on her lips. "Thank you though." Alinta scooped up a few more herbs and placed them in the basket with a soft sigh. She didn't know how many of those would be useable after being trampled, but hopefully she could just gather more after browsing around a bit. It was kind of intimidating though to see so many shifty people walking around, some prepared to defend themselves or potentially screw over another.
"So...do you shop down here often?" That was a stupid question, wasn't it? Alinta frowned, realizing that she was not doing the best to really blend in considering the circumstances. Casual clothing or not she had to be careful or the coins she was carrying under her sash would quickly be nabbed.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:21 pm
"Off and on. Depending on what I need. Looking for a pet today, if I'm being honest," Xariy explained, casting a threatening glance over at one of the shifty people getting a bit to close, hand settling onto one dagger. "Though it depends. You don't really look the type to be wandering around here. That's probably why there are a few individuals attempting to move closer."Xariy huffed as she stood closer to the girl, motioning for her to continue forward. "Go ahead then. I can keep you company while you shop."
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:41 pm
"A pet...okay then." Alinta blinked in confusion, not expecting that answer in all honesty. "What type of familiars are even here, do I dare ask?" She noticed the glance and immediately her shoulders tensed, the girl clutching her broken basket closer. She had hoped that the sight of herbs would deter some people, but then again no one could guess what else she was carrying on her person. The explanation from the Oban woman confirmed her doubts and she let out a soft swear. "Dammit, really? I suppose that would make sense." A sigh left her before the offer to keep her company brightened her features...but then again she was wary a moment later. Perhaps helping her was just a trap to get her to lower her guard?
Yet, what choice did she have? Alinta was not blind, she saw others creeping around them and so she nodded. "Can I have your name at least? You can call me, Ali. I would appreciate the help."
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 7:59 pm
"Oh yeah, of course. Sorry about that. I'm Xariy. Reformed shady person," Xariy laughed, not so subtly shifting her hand to show off her daggers to the darkness. She wasn't afraid to stab someone given she had certainly before, but in polite company she worried she may scare the girl off. Xariy smiled at her question, rubbing the back of her neck. "I've been struggling to find a creature for my daughter. She saw a spitorog in a book we had and they're not really local to the area so I figured I'd come looking here."
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Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:40 pm
"Reformed shady person, ah." Replied Alinta with a slow and careful nod, her gaze staying on Xariy as she studied her closely. "Guess I wasn't expecting to hear that when I came to this area." She admitted after a moment before shrugging slightly as if just accepting it for now. If the Oban wanted to rob her then this was a very intricate way to do so, at least in comparison to the boys who had bumped into her. Alinta had sacrificed the basket on purpose, her elbows tight against her sash where she hid her money purse, but even then she hadn't meant to lose so many herbs.
"A spitorog?" Alinta tilted her head thoughtfully. "If you can't find one here then I may know something." She admitted after a moment. "There's a shop in the upper district..." Her voice lowered, "I heard rumors that some nobles like strange pets for their children and behind the perzi and such is a room of amphibians and stranger creatures that they keep." She didn't know if it was shady or not but in the backroom it was definitely cooler which would make sense for certain animals, not that she knew a lot about spitorogs though...all things considered.
"As for me I was hoping to find an herbalist that sells some nightshade, is that possible?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:41 am
"If I can't find anything here I'll have to look into that as an option. I don't know what my daughter's sudden obsession with the little creature is, but I won't deny her," Xariy admitted, shaking her head at her daughter's insistence on having one. It didn't surprise her that the nobles would keep strange creatures given their tendencies, but if she could avoid them she would much rather deal with the questionable individuals. They were probably getting them from the same source anyway. "Isn't nightshade a poison plant? Thinking of getting rid of someone whose done you wrong hm, miss?" Xariy paused, realizing she hadn't gotten the girl's name.
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:43 pm
"From what I've seen in books, they look fairly....oblivious?" Replied Alinta with a thoughtful frown. "Sometimes people find that adorable, plus younger children do enjoy things that look squishy." At least she remembered the boys when they were all younglings liking things that squished, like wet sand and such. The spitorog was slimy and looked squishy enough.
The question about poison and getting rid of someone made Alinta pause. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she quickly shook her head. "Not getting rid of anyone. My mother is a healer so she's trying to figure out uses for nightshade that don't end in death." Explained Alinta quickly, glancing around just in case. What if someone did think she was up to no good?! Then again...not many people in this particular area of the city were ever up to anything decent, so it wasn't as if the guard was going to appear and start questioning her. "But it does make the plant rather hard to purchase in the normal market, hence why I came here."
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:23 pm
"They look like they have exactly zero braincells and it's why my daughter really wanted one. Because she wanted to help it to be smarter. Apparently," Xariy shrugged, wandering down the alleyway assuming Alinta would follow behind her. A healer wanting nightshade was a curious thing considering she'd only heard it being used as a poison, but if she'd learn anything when it came to healers it was that they were a resourceful bunch. "That sounds a bit uh....dangerous? But more power to her I suppose. Whatever to help people out, huh? Though nightshade is an interesting plant to focus on."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 5:48 am
"Pfft." Alinta shook her head, a small smile on her lips at the reasoning. "Maybe your daughter will become a mentor one day." She proposed, still amused that a youngling would want a spitorog out of all things to teach. Xariy's daughter must truly want a challenge!
"Mmhmm." Alinta nodded. "My mother has done a bit of research, I'm curious to see whatever it is that she comes up with." She just hoped that the older Matori would be safe, the last thing she wanted was to think about losing her to some research over new potential medicines..."Ah, what about that shop?" Alinta pointed down the alleyway, a corner building that was tucked neatly into the shadows keeping it cool from the desert sun. "Looks like they may have some dried herbs hanging in the windows?" From what she could see at least, there looked like vines hanging there or was the building simply abandoned?
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:20 am
"Maybe. She definitely gets her love of animals from her father." Xariy scrunched her nose, thinking of the army of poscuta in their home. "I could see it. Her need for pets exceeds a normal child's desire I think." Xariy listened to Alinta's explanation, nodding in agreement at her curiosity. If she could manage to obtain something from her it would probably make her famous in some capacity. If there was such thing as being famous for a discovery. Maybe the Belreans would appreciate it. "Could work. Haven't heard much about the shop. Though no harm in wandering in," Xariy smiles, acknowledging the shop.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:35 am
"Is he a beast tamer of sorts?" Alinta asked with interest, her thoughts wandering back to her previous interaction with a soldier and their talk of xaraan. What would it be like to tame and work with beasts all the time? Her lips pressed together thoughtfully before she focused again. "If not him, then perhaps your daughter would like to keep working with beasts unless the spitorog changes her mind." Maybe the squishy and thoughtless thing would make her reconsider, especially when it didn't learn anything. Or the girl could surprise all of them and teach a spitorog something after all. She did so hope that Xariy could find one, just to see what would happen.
Alinta gave the shop a curious glance over. Could it be a trap? Xariy seemed so relaxed though, but then again she could be really good at this. Blind faith, it is. Alinta decided before heading forward with a nod, the door creaking beneath her hands as she pushed it open. Inside the air smelt musty but that was because of all the various potted plants and dirt scattered about in the cooler and damp building.
"Ah, welcome. Careful not to pluck anything, ask if you need help." An older Oban man, with one eye fogged over and a scar cutting across a cheek, grinned at the pair.
"Will do. I'm looking for nightshade." Managed Alinta quietly, keeping her head held high despite the strangeness of this shadowy store with its creeping vines and various plants for sell. "Have some?"
"Nightshade, eh?" The grin returned, this time a hint of interest gleaming in his one good eye. "I'll go see what I can gather, feel free to look around in the meantime." He nodded and started to walk slowly towards the back of the store, a beaded curtain blocking out another room from view.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 5:16 pm
"Oh definitely not. I don't think he has the patience to do the sort of work beast tamers do. He works odd jobs mostly, was a bodyguard before that. A bit of a beefy boy." Xariy explains casually as she stood close to some of the plants. She wondered if they were all for mysterious purposes or if some of them were simply decorative. In a back alley shop like this there really was no telling. "Anything else you see that you may like? I'm sure there could be some arrangement made if you're interested," Xariy suggested, slipping her dagger out of its sheath and gently nudging the leaf of a bright plant. "Maybe it'll explode if I touch it too much."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 5:38 pm
"I see." Alinta blinked thoughtfully. A bodyguard and a reformed underground person? It sounded like Xariy had an interesting story, almost like one of the books in her mother's library back home. "Here's hoping that your daughter has patience for the spitorog then." Joked Alinta lightly before looking over at the plant that Xariy was eyeing.
"I would rather it not." She admitted with a slight frown. "I would also be afraid of anything in here." Alinta gestured towards a plant hanging with dark indigo fruits the size of her palm. "I recognize those from a book, they let out a foul smell if you toss them hard enough and they explode on the ground. Probably not advisable to eat them either."
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