Sanctuary for Mul

It's a beautiful day, even though Daed has to squint a bit at the bright light, he can admit that the warmth of the day is pleasant. A strong wind pulses by him now and again, keeping him cool as he walks down the street. His black jacket is swung open revealing the red lining, and he let the wind take it for a moment. His hair too is whipped back, the long braid catching the wind, but he rounds the corner and the wind dies off. Caught in the alley between two of the houses here in the nobility district, there's not enough room for the wind to play. More's the shame.

Of course it is bright and the sun glaring. However, that only means that the shadows cast are all the deeper. An interesting dichotomy, that. Daechir's red-lined coat, stature, or complexion may conspire to make him more conspicuous amongst the day's travellers, but those familiar could pick him out, regardless... and some did.

A few strides into the alleyway, a familiar voice with familiar wry inquires from close behind him, "Are you enjoying the day's weather?" Aya has a brow appropriately lifted at the question, slightly leaning against one of the buildings forming the alleyway.

The familiar voice leads to a familiar figure, and Daed slows to a stop. His red gaze takes in Aya and he offers a somewhat small smile at her presence. "Enjoying it insomuch as one can when it is so bright out." He tilts his head back to look at the cloudless sky for a moment then warmly back at Aya. "What brings you to this area today Aya? I did not think that this was an area common to you. Did you come to see me?"

"It isn't so common, but neither do I actively avoid it," Aya notes with a roll of one shoulder. "I simply rarely have reason to. Today I did." An answer to his question(s), as she also gestures a hand in his direction. "Did I come at an inconvenient time?"

"Not at all." Daed states politely, moving toward her slightly. "Would you care to join me at my home? I can fix us a repast though I warn you that I am no professional cook." This is followed with a slight self-deprecating smile.

Aya arches a fresh brow at the invitation, or perhaps the implications that he dwells nearby. Not that the latter would be out of the question for him, of course. "I suppose that would be more comfortable than dark alleyways..." she shifts her eyes casually to the one in which they stand, "Though this one is not so bad, in comparison to some." Her eyes return to him and one corner of her mouth quirks upwards. "I am no expertise in cuisine, so I don't expect an issue." A hand gestures to him again, this time to relay control to him. "After you?"

Admittedly, the alleyways here are of a nicer quality than those in other places in the city, but Daed says nothing of this, instead offering a low nod of agreement to Aya, and leading the way to his house which is indeed nearby. It might be on the edge of the nobility district - but it is still close enough to it to have a small yard and that is saying quite a lot in a city of this size. Daechir leads the way into his house, which is large enough to hold its own in its local environment and has a look of distinguished age.

The house itself is well-cared for, and Daed holds the door for Aya before leading the way back into his kitchen which is at the back of the house. There is little in the way of anything personal inside the house, but it is decorated in such a manner that makes it seem at least inviting if perhaps... a touch cold. The kitchen then is a pleasant surprise and quite warm. There's a small island and Daed wanders about the space pulling various cupboards open to see what he has in store. "Have you any preference?"

Aya enters first at the polite door-propping, then follows him through to the kitchen. The intervening rooms receive a cursory glance, but she doesn't comment on the decor. She may well not be an expert of that, either. She rests a hip against the island as she watches him open cupboards.

"Non-poisonous." Her preference is delivered rather deadpan, though her tone and expression lighten as she adds, "I am not so particular. You need not make anything solely on my account."

"And what manner of host would I be if I did not attend my guests?" Asks Daechir with some small humor, pulling out a box of teas and setting the water in the tea pot to boil. A bowl from the corner is brought to the island, and thus to Aya. "Since you have no preference beyond a lack of poison, perhaps some fruit? I keep a variety on hand." Indeed, the bowl was well-stocked with various in-season fruits. Most of which are just now ripe or in the process of ripening to edibility.

With the stated lack of need, yet matters of polite protocols, and the bowl within reach (and possibly less likelihood that uncut fruit would be poinsoned?) Aya takes one with edible peel. She lifts it slightly in mild salute. "I would not wish to offend your sensibilities..." A brief sniff at it, perhaps to judge ripeness, and then she takes a bite. After chewing and swallowing it, she motions to their surroundings. "You seem to have done quite well for yourself. I don't imagine that anything in this district, given the preferential location and security, is inexpensive."

"Indeed it is not, but then... it is not really my home. It belongs to the family. My mother's family actually." There's something quiet and sad in his eyes at this fact, and he picks up a piece of fruit from the bowl for himself. Rather than eat it directly however, Daed sets to slicing it into pieces with practiced movements. "I am not quite welcome there so, they made this residence available to me instead."

"It is noteworthy that they did provide for you, in some respect," Aya opines, no wit in her tone as she may well understand, "even if it may not be what you preferred. I hold no such ties to my own family." She looks to the fruit again, as if to take another bite, yet pauses. Her lips purse into a frown. "I may no longer hold any to others here, as well."

Daed might have commented on the subject of his family, or perhaps Aya's but her last comment draws his dark eyebrow upwards and he looks at her in curiosity. "A curious statement to make. Would not Aryia have something to say about your lack of attachments? Even I might argue such a thing, if you would allow me to be so bold."

Aya's frown deepens, as does her study of the fruit for several moments. "There have been ...developments as of late. I am uncertain what her thoughts are of me at the moment, and ... concerned."

When she returns her eyes to him, the frown has mostly inverted, back to the typical, or nearly so, light smirk. With effort. "You may be so bold, though if -I- may be so... This may be one instance where the appearance of contacts is not as useful as actual contacts. You may have yet to receive the latest word." She expects that said word may well spread quickly enough, which may have been a motivation to seek him out now rather than later.

"Most of my contacts are admittedly... Somewhat rusty of late thanks to my recent absence." Daed admits, putting his knife in the basin and lifting a piece of the fruit to his lips to take a bite. The fresh white inside of the fruit disappears quickly to his bite and yet he does not take another. "What news can I expect to hear of you?"

A pertinent question, that. One that Aya may mull over as she only now takes a second bite and her time in chewing. Only after consuming that does she answer. "I am somewhat curious as to that, myself, in what you might hear. Rumors tend to increase and expand with every telling, afterall. I'm not sure that I want to spoil the surprise."

The eyebrow arches up further and Daed eats another bit of fruit before moving to pull the tea pot off of the heat. Water is poured out for each of them and Daed adds tea a moment later. The scent of it is soon strong in the air. "If you do not wish to tell me, I will not pry, but it sounds like quite a story. One I would rather hear from you than retold and... fluffed in the retelling."

The scent of the tea promptly triggers a recent memory: bubbling brooks; pink pouncing of piscine prey; a family very much unlike Daechir's or her own. A fond memory, though one that also sparks the opposite. Her lips reflexively start to grin and then frown almost simultaneously, resulting in an odd, brief twisting. She is similarly torn whether to reach for the tea or avoid it.

She exhales. "At the simplest level, some might accuse me of consorting with fiends. An accusation that I cannot confirm nor deny to their satisfaction. As you might expect, most presume the worst." A shoulder rolls. "It is not even the first time I have been accused of such, yet now it appears to carry more weight."

Daed allows his tea to cool, not even touching it as he watches the expressions play out over Aya's face. He doesn't know their cause, but he knows pleasure and sorrow when he sees it. An odd combination indeed. "If these are just rumors, why do you concern yourself with them Aya? People expect the worst of us because of our heritage, but we know ourselves and that is what is important."

Aya finally decides to take up the cup, afterall, and a small sip once noting it had cooled well enough. She then holds the cup before her, brow wrinkling. "Many of those with whom I most closely associated were the first to hear, the most directly impacted. Much of what I had accomplished may well be undone." Cultivating contacts and associates is no small effort, from a purely clinical standpoint.

"Ah." Daed settles back, leaning against the counter in his kitchen and looking at Aya. "Such rumors about our people persist, but such things quickly die without the truth to support them. If you like, perhaps I can speak to some of these people on your behalf. Let them know that you are not bandying about with demons." He makes a small motion in the air with his fingers.

The offer does get a flicker of expression; a start of an upward tick that then fades back to pursed lips. It isn't quite as extreme as the prior twisting, but there are similarities. "I ...appreciate your offer, Daed. However, such rumors of our people include the assumption that we lie as we breathe. I expect that you have fought against those, yourself. I would not wish you to unravel your own efforts on my behalf. At worst, they could decide that you are in league with the same."

Daechir nods. "At worst I could make priahahs of both of us; you are not wrong." He sighs and spreads his hands. "Yet I am loathe to do nothing when your reputation is being smeared for what?" The man frowns and picks up his tea cup. "I would not worry yourself over it in any case Aya, surely the truth will come out eventually."

Aya takes another sip of the tea, possibly even taking the time to taste it, this time. She follows it with a dip of her head. "It is your choice, of course; I only suggest caution. Most involved are sith-makarai, which only complicates matters further as they have more reason to despise us than most. As for Aryia..."

She eyes her cup for a moment before setting it back to the island. "It is best that I speak to her, myself. She is -or was- my student."

Daed's lips thin and he shakes his head. "Perhaps you are right, at least, I would appreciate it if you let me know how things go with your... student. At least, know you are welcome here Aya." He shakes his head again and drinks a small taste of his tea. He sighs afterward. "Even if I can do nothing else to aid you, I can at least off you sanctuary."

Aya's brows lift at this offer, perhaps in surprise. Tea and conversation are one thing, and also before she shared some context of the situation. "I ... thank you. I will keep that in mind, and attempt to keep you informed." Having one's closest allies, even friends, suddenly fear she may bring ruin upon is rather ... awkward. Especially when she can't assure them otherwise. In fact, she cannot even assure herself that they are wrong.

Perhaps oddly, or perhaps not, he doesn't ask how she came to be suspected of dealing with demons or devils. He instead motions her over to the table in his dining area across from his kitchen. "Are you on the run then? Should I be concerned that people will be banging on my door to find you?" He seems almost amused at the thought, bringing the bowl of fruit with him to the table.

Aya shakes her head. "Matters are not yet to that point. They may become so, they may not. It remains to be seen. Still, I am making myself more inconspicuous, all the same. Should the situation degenerate to such, I will make you aware."

Daed nods, settling onto the seat and motioning for Aya to join him. "Then you do not expect them immediately. Good." He smiles, a flash of white teeth. "Then come and join me. Relax. No one is looking for you here."

Perhaps the mere question raises the concern and, despite her answer, Aya's lips are pursed in concern as she follows him to the table. She does not sit, and does not seem any more relaxed than has appeared. "All the same, I should not stay overlong," she notes, though her expression lightens in a genuine, if slender, half smile, "as enjoyable as your company may be."

The man rises to his feet, a soft laugh echoing in the room. A twinkling of bells. "Then my company is not enjoyable enough it seems. Ah, more's the shame. Would you like to be let out the back then? I am told that a walk through my garden is perhaps... more enjoyable than my company." He smiles here.

A blink and flicker in Aya's smile betrays some (perhaps fleeting?) concern that she, in fact, insulted her host. The boon of Charneth-popular (though not unique) verbal ambiguity and innuendo can also be a bane. She recovers with a nod as her smile solidifies and a rather short, "The garden sounds most enjoyable."

-End