Not in the Cards

Log Info

• Title: Not in the Cards
• Emitter: Aftershock
• Characters: Kira, Darius, Cryosanthia
• Place: A10: Temple District
• Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 11:33 PM
• Summary: Kira chooses the Temple District fountain as a place to relax, and is immediately caught in an uncoordinated pincer attack by Darius and Cryosanthia. The warrior has recently returned to Alexandria, having withdrawn while it suffers the plague, and seeks Kira to re-kindle their romance. The white sith has been given a task to appeal to the various Gods of Light and ask for their help in removing her mark. The warrior defers to the sith, who explains she hasn't prayed in a while, eighty years or so and she's unsure if the gods will view her absence favourably even if it was only minutes in the real time. She is assured that heartfelt words will be heard. Darius is then confused by an apparent rejection from Kira, and Cryo steps in to say the paladin's feelings have not changed, however there was a matter of forgotten vows and not getting married is one of them. She then begs anxiety and withdraws to her magic hideaway in the Temple of Althea.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshipers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagstones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.

At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon and Stars at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.

Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    Blonde woman in simple robes with an eye patch.
Darius       6'4"     240 Lb     Human             Male      A tall, stocky and muscular human warrior.
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The evening warmth is nice to be in, especially as its cooler than it was during the day. The stillness doesn't help with the bit of fog or the temperature, but it's... peaceful. Kira exits The Healer's temple for the fountain. Such a focal point for many wild things, lately, she still finds it a relaxing and pleasant spot.

Arriving from the west, comes Darius, he seems to have a goal in mind as he walks with a purpose towards the Healer's Temple and towards Kira.

Another exits the Healer's Temple, stopping on the steps to gaze around, searching for something or someone whom she spots near the fountain. The Fountain. That is enough to give her pause, although there are happy memories around that as well. Only, not as many.

Steeling her resolve, the whitescale sith-makar heads towards it, and Kira and Darius with some anxious glances around and at the sky.

Maybe it's that her eye is on the fountain? The light fog? Lost in thought? In her defense, Kira isn't out searching for anyone as she walks to the fountain and gently takes a seat, dipping one hand in the waters. Certainly, she's not expecting either of the two approaching, and she's unaware for the moment that she has an incoming wayward wooer nor a tailed tail.

Darius speaks up then, "It's been a while, love..." He says this softly and says, "I am sorry that I have not been around in the past few months. The Plague nearly took my life and I thought it best to leave the city until it was safer to return."

Cryosanthia arrives in time to hear the address. She's wearing a strange set of leathers that seem to emphasize her reptilian nature, having ridges and small horns as well as a high back that frames her head and resembles folded wings.

"I... this one does not mean to interrupt. I had a favour to ask, though it can wait." Kira startles at the unexpected address...es, as well as their respective sources. A blink and she's standing again. "Darius?! You were ill?!" She takes a step towards, looking over him with concern. "You are well, now? Oh! How is Aika?"

"Cryo! How are you feeling? Please, you're not interrupting." Of the two she may have least expected to encounter here... they would be them.

Darius was about to reply to Kira when Cryo speaks up and he moves back so that Cryo can ask her favour of Kira and says, "I'll let Cryo speak first..."

"This one is fine," Cryosanthia says, dipping her head towards Kira, then Darius. She stands rather formally, "Seldan has set me a task, to appeal to the Gods of Light, as their attention is on Alexandria."

She hesitates, inhaling, "That one might take mercy and free me from her. Also, that the mark is one of control, which explains some things. It has been... many years since I've prayed, even if it has not been that long for the Gods, though what they might have heard from me lately has been angry..."

"I... needed some help, with that, the praying. If this is amenable to you."

Kira is momentarily torn, but assumes from Darius' polite waiting that all is well. She looks to Cryo as she listens, her worry softening as her sith sister speaks. Now it's to her she steps, reaching out with every intention of a hug. Kira-brand, patent pending. "Of course I will, Cryosanthia. I so wanted to ask for the angel's and Eluna's aid for you. All deserve to be freed from her; to have mercy and peace, but none more than you, sister."

Cryo wants and seems to need that hug, and embraces Kira. Her choice of leather apparel is an interesting contrast, it has quite a different feel than her scales, definitely less lively although a little warmer than usual for this sith. Cryo rests her head against the back of Kira's, her voice a relieved sigh, "he instructed me to ask at all, Eluna, Draco Solis, the others. As we spoke before, mine does not have a main temple here, and she is not counted amongst the Light ones, but... her answers... I should seek others. I am conflicted and uncertain. It does not need to be now, but soon. This one did not meant to interrupt your..."

Her head turns curiously towards Darius, "... date?"

Kira gives Cryo a long, firm embrace. "The Healer is mercy. We can beseech Her aid together. Had I known that She, or any of the gods might have... I should have prayed more, too..." She releases her and straightens up, smile bright and warm... though she shakes her head slightly. "I think he's only just returned to the city. This is the first we've seen each other since... the market. How is Aika? Are you cured?" She then looks to Darius, a bit curious and expectant.

Darius looks at Cryo and says, "I am not a religious man, but I'm sure the Gods will heed your prayers if they are from your heart..." He glances at Kira and says to her, "No, I have just returned from quarantining myself from the Plague, I nearly died of it and needed the aid of Seldan and even then I needed time to recover fully." He smiles at Kira, "And Aika is just fine, chomping at the bit to see you, talking my ear off about how I should have come and taken you with us and elope..." He rolls his eyes and says, "I told her that was not in the cards."

"Prayers... are not usually answered by the appearance of an angel, but that may be what I need. My words will be heartfelt, I still wonder how they will be received." The white sith says. She smiles a little, "I'm glad to hear she's well, and you recovered. The sewers, both times, were not pleasant..."

Kira is already pleased to see them both, now heartened and hopeful for Cryosanthia. "I'm sure they will be received earnestly, Cryo." When Darius assures her that Aika is well, and he's recovered, the last of her immediate worries fade and her smile grows further. "She was probably lonely, and worried for you, Darius... but, yes, she has many fanciful ideas. I know very well that young women are very good at creating them." Her smile dims a little. Not in worry, per se. "I think she is very intent on finding her a mother, and you a wife. I am sorry that that ... isn't in the cards."

Darius blinks then and says, "Not... in the cards?" He asks hestitantly.

"This one should go, I think?" Cryo looks between Darius and Kira for confirmation, mostly Kira, taking a step backwards. She clasps her hands together so they aren't betraying anything. Her tail curls in, "I do not mean to drop eaves."

Now it's Kira's turn to blink, both at Darius' surprise and Cryo's step back. She looks between them, smile wavering some in confusion before it lands back upon Darius. "I'm sorry. Did I misspeak? I meant no offense... You said she wanted us to elope? As in marry?" She wonders if she misunderstood, since the terms, and topic, aren't her expertise. Quite the opposite, really.

A glance to Cryo, still with concern and confusion. "You don't need to go on my account, but I don't want to keep you from anything..." Back to Darius. Kira hasn't felt she's found the best or right words, recently, and wonders if she's done so again.

He raises an eyebrow and says, "Well, yes, but I had explained to her that if we married, it would take months before either of us were ready. We have barely begun to court... or has your feelings for me... changed?" His confusion is genuine.

"Her feelings have not changed..." Cryo says, answering on Kira's behalf, her words careful and even. Her Speaker instincts have activated, some things need to be said, and a third party doing so might make them easier to be heard. Or provide a messenger to shoot; it tends to work out. "Quite the contrary, her passions remain quite inflamed, strong and fulfilling. This one knows they are so."

The white sith pauses for a moment, "So much so my dear Kira forgot the oaths of her order. Recently recalled to her attention, reminded and renewed. One of which being not to wed."

Kira's cheeks pinken at Cryosanthia's explanation, though she is also grateful. "I've never been wooed, before." She could possibly blame the Crimson Pen, too... it's not the writer's fault. She did mention fanciful notions were a common trait? "I don't feel differently about you, Darius."

He smiles then, "I see... I'm glad..." He nods to Cryo, "Thank you for explaining it... though..." He tilts his head, "I doubt she feels so... ardent as your writings might intimate..." He takes Kira's hand and kisses the back of it, "I have missed you though... I intend to spend as much time as I can..." He grins wickedly, "Inflaming your passions as much as possible now that I am back..."

The white sith nods, grinning widely and wobbling her head a little. She touches a hand to her chest, "Ask anyone, this one is cold, no hot passions here." A statement that isn't accurate at all.

Cryo looks around, "I should go back to my room, the anxiety that I am watched has returned. I will think of things to ask the gods. Peace on your nests, this one hopes to see you soon."

Kira is modest, and might counter the notion of passions or inflaming them... but that's rather impossibl when her face looks like it's caught fire, itself. She can only turn it from Darius to Cryosantia, with the sith's worries helping to cool Kira's cheeks. "I understand. Peace on your nest, Cryosanthia. I will see you soon."

"I missed and was worried for you, too," she admits with a turn to Darius. "I am grateful that you and Aika are well and safe. I hope to see more of you..." she pauses, then corrects, "..see you more. There is still much we need to do to make the city safe, but I will make every effort."

The whitescale makes a bow to both then turns and actually runs back towards the Temple of Althea. She might be getting out now, but it's clear she is still harried by worries.