Sisterlizzy Advice
Log Info
- Title: Sisterlizzy Advice
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Kira
- Place: A10: Temple District
- Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2020, 11:38 AM
- Summary: Cryosanthia is in the Temple District, looking at the ruined fountain, preparing for her expedition to find the rest of the summoning circle under Alexandria. Kira emerges from the temple and comes to speak with the sith. Cryo is still disturbed from the encounter with Seldan's mother and asks Kira if she has anything happy to talk about. The Paladin does, Darius' recent attention and intention to woo her. This hooks Cryo's interest as she is a strong fan of cheesy romance novels and plays, the kind produced by Crimson Pen. She explains sith-makar courting, which the females drive it, then launches into all the alien softskin methods she's seen explored in literature. Despite delivering a lot of bad advice, she does give some worthwhile suggestions at the end, and also explains two things about Darius that concern her. Finally Cryo has to go, and she notices that if she sits too long in a spot she leaves a frosty imprint.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* 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.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 267 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Kira 5'0" 120 Lb Human Female A young blonde woman wearing simple robes and an eye patch. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The Temple District, at the centrally located, shattered fountain.
There's not much left to see of the fountain, the patio surrounding it, and the walks-ways further out. There's a hole with rough edges that drops into the underground, and a pile of broken rubble at the bottom. Crushed in-between are the memorials to everyone slain by the giant, glittery ooze that attacked so recently. It's cruel how the tokens were destroyed, an extra insult to everyone who lost a loved one.
A white-scaled sith-makar woman stands, staring at the hole in the ground and the new memorial that has sprung up a distance away from it. Smaller than the last, as if that was tempting fate, it's still a sign that Alexandrians want to remember as well as move on. The sith herself wears layered wizard robes and carries a satchel in which she has several rolled scrolls. She has one clamped to a writing board and tucked under an arm, and a pencil in hand. For the moment, she's simply staring into the depths, lost in thought.
Kira emerges from The Healer's temple. Her robes are partly covered by an apron. The rest, including the apron, her hands, and some of her face, bears a light dusting of flour. The numerous loaves and pleasant smells from the temple do have to start somewhere. Now that the latest batch is baking, she heads towards the center of the square and the nascent memorial starting to spring up around the ruins of the old. It is both a heart-wrenching and a heart-warming sight. Not surprisingly, Kira's mood seems to lean to the latter, and her smile is bright despite the flour.
"Good morning!" she offers with exuberance when she spots Cryosanthia. Only afterwords does she realize she may have interrupted and adds a belatedly, more tentative. "I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?"
"Oh!" Cryosanthia's head jerks up, her neck straightening. She turns to look at Kira, facing directly. Subconsciously she brushes at the front of her snout, seeing the flour dusting on the human, "No, no. I was thinking about everything. Do you know there are a lot of demons wandering Alexandria in human form. If you have true sight, using it often would be useful. I'm supposed to be preparing for later but my mind wandered."
The sith turns, exhaling and making a small bow, "Peace on your Nest, Kira. You are well? Is Merek improving?" Despite a certain amount of liveliness to her voice, she sounds sad.
Kira is relieved when she wasn't rude and her smile lights back up fully. "Peace on your nest, Cryosanthia." The mention of demons does dim her countenance a shade, and she can't help but glance around. "I had heard some were skulking under the city some time ago, but I thought they had been driven away. I don't think I could tell them apart if they changed to look like us... but I would know if there were evil thoughts in their heads and hearts."
The question of Merek has her smile begin to grow, though cautiously, at first. "He seems to be improving, but I think he has a long path ahead of him. Speaking with him was somewhat ... confusing. He may need more rest."
Then back to full luminescence, hopefully not enough to begin cooking the flour, or Kira may wind up with a crust. "I am wonderful! How are you, today?"
The white sith looks for someplace to sit, and there simply isn't one. The edge of the fountain is deep in the hole. At best there are the long flat terrace steps. She spins down in a way that naturally sweeps her robes under her and leaves her tail curled along one leg and over her ankles, which she stretches out. Gazing up at Kira, she pats the ground, although she is tall enough she seems comfortable to continue looking up.
"This one is trying to recapture the feeling of having Tanith on her shoulder. Yesterday, my friend, Seldan... my mistress played a cruel trick on him. A battle ensued. During that a bard thought it would be helpful to make an illusion of..."
Cryo's voice is interrupted by a small, pained noise in her throat. She pulls her knees closer, takes hold of her tailtip. "... of my adult foundling, saying, 'Mother! Why?' This... hurt a lot, to think him alive again then realize it is a trick."
Kira's smile turns wistful as she mentions Tanith. Cryo was so taken by her... Then a gasp. "What? A battle?" That certainly puts a sizable dent in her mood, especially at mention of Seldan. "..Oh no..." She isn't sure she fully grasps Cryo's meaning in the explanation, but she can certainly note the pain and loss.
Moving to sit beside her on the step, she offers a hand and arm about her shoulder. "I'm so sorry. How can I help? Was anyone harmed? What happened?"
The sith leans into Kira when her arm is placed around her. She seems colder than usual, the air in her vicinity is not only cooler the whitescale feels like a solid piece of snow. Her neck takes on a 's' shape so Cryo can look into Kira's face. The sith's is expressionless, her scales gleaming. Her eyes flat, her words accidental. "My Mistress returned Seldan's mother, glorious and healed at sunset. His heart soared and they embraced. Malik, Acedia and I were there, at the Festival grounds. As the light faded, ooze bubbled from her. She became a vampire, deadly, fast, strong and moved to kill her child."
Cryosanthia closes her eyes, holds them closed, "This is a thing my Mistress has done before."
A cool breath escapes, her eyes open, "She was as strong as Kol, but still herself, she resisted enough, vanished. Seldan and the others escaped. The wounds are on the inside, he is at the Temple of Eluna. He may need comfort, that might help."
Kira does realize, cognizantly, that the first part of her revelation is not as joyous as it would seem... but this doesn't stop her face and smile from reflexively brightening. Only to fall all the farther at the shock of the truth. Her mouth opens to say something, initially, then closes. She can only imagine, maybe, what Seldan must have experienced.
She simply nods, as the suggestion helps with finding words, even if they're not terribly soothing. "Of course. I will visit him, give whatever aid I can." She doesn't even seem to notice the cold from the sith as she considers all of that.
"I could not turn my claws on his nest-mother, and even though wrestling is something sith are known for I'm not that skilled at it. She threw us off, easily." The palescale admits. She stares at a spot on the pavement, breathing, no indications of reaction or further thought. Suddenly, Cryo laughs.
"Malik can say without argument his mother-in-law is a monster! I wonder if she is mine too now. Zeke has adopted Seldan as kin, clutch-brother, that would include his blood relations then? My cihuaa is like a soft-skin husband, that would make Carissa nest-mother-in-law to this one? Ha! This twists worse than a tanglevine!"
Cryosanthia shakes her head, gazing at Kira, forcing an awkward smile, "Shall I think of it as family drama then? This one apologizes, my humor is broken, and all this crushes me, then rolls around and crushes me again. You are well, have happier things to speak of?"
Kira can't fault her for any of that. Not even the laugh and the jests, which do empower her own smile further nonetheless. "You don't need to apologize. You think of them as family, so they are. And humor, like hope, is very helpful."
She does give Cryo a squeeze to try and offset the crush, in the form of a half-hug. "I am well, and I did... though it seems ... small, now, with all that is happening." She lowers her eyes a bit guiltily.
The hug is well received and appreciated, and the sith's presence is mildly less chilly afterwards. She twists to sit facing more towards Kira, laying her knees over to the side. Her head bobs and she watches the human with predatory interest. She has a genuine smile, and nose-dipped, her teeth are mostly hidden. "Oh! Tell! We must nurture the small things, it is the only way. Why seeming so guilty?"
Kira does want to uplift her spirits, of course! Also, admittedly, has been anxious to share with someone, for various reasons. "Well..." she begins, still a bit hesitant, "...Darius, who very bravely went with us to the Queen of Air and Darkness, and gave his eye... He came to me at the Temple to console me for my own loss. He invited me to a meal with himself and his daughter." Ok, that makes her smile perk more. "She is a delightful young woman, very concerned for her father, and helpful!"
A pause, and then her cheeks pinken; less in guilt and more modesty. "He taught me ways to better live with one eye, and announced he wanted to ... " another pause and then the last two words come out almost as one, "...woo me?!"
Cryosanthia listens, her sith expressions hard to read for the unfamiliar but they don't change, so presumably are still hopeful and curious. She nods at the appropriate moments, commenting, "This one knows of Darius and his daughter."
Then happy shock clearly hits, her head pulls back a little, her mouth goes into a much wider grin, "Woo you? Wooooooo! That is wonderful!." Cryo moves forward to tightly hug Kira, her embrace will never be warm, but it is firm and enthusiastic. As she pulls back her sapphire eyes glitter in the light, "This one is very interested in softskin mating rituals! I have studied the Crimson Pen extensively, and romantic plays! Will he be bringing you to Elly's wedding? Have you chosen a strategy? Will you be coy and reluctant, dramatically hot and cold, or intimidatingly strong and aggressive?"
"Do you need suggestions?" She seems quite eager. Cryo nods encouragingly. You need her suggestions.
Kira accepts the hug, and returns it. She IS good at hugs; it's a critical job skill, afterall. As for the rest, though... Her happiness is evident in her eye, though possibly dilluted as the eye grows wide with the sudden barrage of questions. "I was thinking of bringing him to the wedding, yes." That much she can answer promptly and with some assurance.
"I don't have a strategy... Should I have a strategy?! I don't know the rules or protocols... I... yes, please?" She admits. Yes, she needs suggestions. While she seems happy and excited, she also appears more than a little ... overwhelmed? lost?
Cryosanthia seems quite eager to interfere! Her inner white dragon is tapping away for her attention, as if it has something important to say, while the sith-fae part of her mind watches with clinical, scientific detachment. Overall though the romantic fangirl in her has taken charge and intends to fully explore her curiosity. "This one must say first, that among the people, the females choose, so we find a mate that satisfies us and must convince them. Some will be oblivious and may need much convincing and often we have to chase other females away. This one knows that is not the softskin way, which is why I have read."
The sith tilts her head, looking at Kira with one perfect sapphire coloured eye. Perhaps to mirror her loss? It's unclear but Cryo maintains the pose. "First I must know, do you care for him and are interested, or is it cruel distraction? Stories along those lines are quite dramatic and engaging, but there is much wreckage. I would be hesitant to advise those techniques."
Kira listens, nodding lightly as she clarifies the Sith practice, at least in synopsis. Then it is back to questions. "I don't think he is a cruel distraction, not at all. He's very polite, and kind, if sometimes a little ...forward? I'm flattered, and curious, and ... I don't think it happens like it does in those stories, does it?" Maybe she needs to borrow some of Mikilos' collection.
"Well, it can!" Cryo seems quite confident in this, "For example, if you enjoy men fighting over you and want to see how committed Darius is, you could find him a rival then encourage him and the rival to fight. It would show how he reacts under challenge, if he is interested or it is a passing fancy."
The sith taps at her chin with a finger, "there are dangers, the rival might develop an interest in you too, then you might lose control. I know one that wouldn't, Ezil, he fears a wife because of things he saw in the Vast. He's been occupied of late. Still, having a second interest does make one seem more attractive, desired. It will encourage recklessness."
"If a rival is not to your taste, some of the story women set challenges. Defeat a dr... an unspecified monster of great size and danger. Or, retrieve things, topple kingdoms. Even the Fae Queen of Darkness has chosen Mikilos as her champion, set him to defeat Winter. That is real, but sounds like a story. Hmm..."
Cryo tilts her head, still watching with one eye, "Do you follow so far?"
Kira nods more throughout. It is something she is adept at in addition to hugs! Perhaps one of the few things, in the current context. Afterwards, though, she shakes her head. "I understand, but I don't need anything like that. I certainly don't want anyone doing anything dangerous for me, and definitely not fighting over me." Her smile wobbles. "Nor do I need multiple suitors. I'm still trying to learn what to do with just one!"
The palescale hums thoughtfully. It's actually a rather pleasant and somewhat musical sounds she's making. "Well... I've hardly ever seen this in the stories, but you might... try talking to him? See how he sees you. As an accessory that will look good on his arm, a bakery that will give him babies, or a maid that will care for his house and his daughter while he adventures? These are harsh, undesireable options. You would want to avoid one who desires them. Instead you would hope he seeks a partner, a second sword to watch his back, an equal. Do you worship the same gods? That can be... challenging, especially for the one whom loves a Blessed Warrior. This one has had quite the conflicts with Ezil over codes, and we are but friends."
Kira hrms, though it is a sound of thought, not music, as she considers these questions. They seem less overwhelming and (to her) more pertinent. "We have talked, some. He shared some of how he sees me." Her cheeks pinken (to ward off the sith's chill, certainly!). "He isn't one for riches or accessories, and wouldn't be seeking me if he were. Aika is very insistant on wanting a brother or sister, but she also wants a mother." So, it seems, there was already some advice given, from Day 0.
"I don't believe those are his wishes, or not his only wishes. Aika keeps him very busy all on her own. I doubt he could survive many, many children."
"I don't know what god or goddess he favors, but he knows off my Calling and duties."
"It's good you've talked!" Cryo says happily, taking Kira's hands and holding them. The sith's smile has many sharp teeth and with her head turned the length of her snout is quite obvious. "He should listen, and ask questions. Aika may well be a source of information. If she likes you, she will assist and if she doesn't you will be undermined and she will convince him to look elsewhere."
The palescale releases Kira's hands, puling them back to her lap where she catches her tailtip and holds onto it. She squeezes, and her words sound a little distant. "You should not force a parent to choose a love over an offspring. His concern should be for her, first. This one understands softskins keep the connections much longer than the people, you'd be wrong to cut them prematurely. He may woo you, but you will have to woo Aika. She will be family, you must be prepared for that."
Her mood brightens and she waves her hands wildly, "This one does recommend hatchlings!" Her glance drifts lower, then back up, "however that is managed! They are a joy. There is only one, perhaps two things, that concern me about the man."
Kira nods, twice, this time in agreement. "Aika is wonderful! I'm sure she can be ...trying, at times, and we only spoke for the evening. She is very concerned for his safety, and his happiness. We have that much in common, at least."
Another headshake, "I would never expect or want him to choose, or ever try to force him to." The talk of hatchlings and the glance causes her cheeks to redden again, though this is mitigated some by curiosity at her last words. "Yes?"
"It seems... sudden. His interest." Cryosanthia says carefully, her tailtip moving and worming around on her lap. She takes hold of it again, pulling her hand up to hold it against her chest. "It might be guilt, that you lost an eye for him. That might fade, if his injury is reversed or other things happen. People in a crisis can feel things that... don't last."
The sith makar looks away, and down. She pulls her knees in closer. Kira is not the focus of her attention. "The other is his sword. I've heard it, but not spoken. I believe it's an imprisoned dragon soul, and he doesn't respect it. Also the dragon is a red, and they are the worst. This one has been a possession, that he casually wields an evil slave... concerns me..."
"It seemed sudden to me," Kira agrees, with some concern, "though it could be that I didn't notice, before. People grieve and heal in different ways. I would be honored to be a part of that and help him how I can... but I understand what you mean." The matter of the sword, though, she did not know. "I ...don't know what to say of the sword. Does Darius know all of that? He might not?"
Cryo looks once more at Kira, taking her hands and cooly squeezing them, "This one hopes the crisis opened his eyes... eye to you, not that it is a fleeting thing. I say only that you should set a guard on your heart. We are adventurers, an end can come for us at any time even if our own desires stay strong." Advice she's probably taking herself, for every hope that appears after so many false ones.
"I've seen him speak with it, I've read some conversations recorded in Explorer Guild records. I don't know the whole story, but I doubt he's unaware. These... blades that contain people, Seldan's holds voluntary ancestors but they dislike each other. I imagine that to be as much torture as to be fashioned in a weapon and used in ways. Could you imagine being an axe in the hands of a Caracorothan? What might a Red whisper to him?"
Kira nods and squeezes back, her smile still there, though measured. "I ...hope so, too? But even if it didn't, that doesn't make his interested any less important to him. Or surprising to me. He is a professional warrior, he takes many risks..." Another nod of acceptance, though she adds, "I did give my word to Aika that I would do everything I can to keep him from returning hurt or bleeding. She's had to see that far too often."
The talk of Caracorothans dims her smile. "I don't know how much worse influence even the spirit of a dragon could have on one like that. I will keep it in mind, and at heart, though. He seems a very kind and honorable man and I wouldn't want that taken from him by something he thought was an ally."
Cryosanthia nods slowly, with a careful smile. She dips her nose. She's released her tail but it's returned to fidgiting down by her ankles. She exhales, "I know it's said the people are obsessed with dragons. We feel, the softskins do not respect them enough. We share their blood, we understand in our bones what it can do."
The whitescae turns her head away, staring off at the buildings, "Whites are extremely brutal. I am when I'm fighting. I struggle against these impulses. They are dangerous. I _know_ them."
The sith stares directly into Kira's face now, eye to eye and eye to eyepatch, "Merek has Black Dragon blood. I think he's surrendered to it. That is what the untamed power of dragons will do to a man. To have it and be human... the manners are all suspect. I know you do not believe this, but Dragons created the world. The gods are dragons, presenting a softskin face. Dragons are descended from them, their spirits are strong. Darius may not appreciate what his blade holds."
"I don't think I could ever understand dragons the way you and your people do," Kira admits, "but I respect them. I respect all life. It is all sacred, even when it is dangerous to others."
"I hope that you are wrong about Merek, that his struggles, whatever against, are not over. I think he should be aided in them; no one should need to face anything alone."
She takes a moment in the shift from one potential struggle to another. "Now that I know of Darius' weapon, I will try to better understand it. And him. With him. I think he would come to understand it and the dangers, if he doesn't already."
The white sith nods, smiling, "The conversation has made me feel better, and I know Elly has met him and had a positive association, so perhaps I'm worrying too much, but it is a thing I had to share about Darius. And Merek."
She exhales, looking in the direction of the Temple of Eluna, "He has been a good friend, but his actions lately frighten me, as if he was turning into some sort of planar being, disconnected from reality here. I'm glad you're able to help. It is... a strain, for me to be around him, and the scent of him upsets my cihuaa. I feel I've done something wrong if I must cleanse the smells of the day before approaching Zeke."
She makes a wide, exagerated grin and wobbles her head, "Relationships are hard!"
Kira nods yet again, sharing and understanding her concerns. Then her smile blooms anew at her last comment. She nearly laughs. "I was told, once, that the difficult journey has the most wondrous sights, and allows the time to enjoy them." Which strikes the unexpect thought that, maybe it is good omen, then, that she is confused and uncertain in regards to Darius.
Cryo grins, "A good phrase of the travelling folk! It is true. This one hopes your journey is filled with many sights and the proper amount of time." Her tail wags happily, she looks about, at a shadow cast by a spire.
"It's nearing time for my explorations, I should go get things ready. I hope to map underground, determine where the summoning circle is, perhaps find cultists!" She stands. Around where she's been sitting is a small patch of frosted flagstone. It's spread like crystal spiderwebs beneath her, leaving a tri-lobed heart impression. The sith glances at it, "Ah, it will fade."
She holds out her hand to help Kira up.
Kira accepts the hand up and nods. "Thank you, for the wishes AND the wisdom." The frosted stone gets only a brief glance, and doesn't seem to be a concern. She IS a white dragon(kin), afterall. Her interest piques at the news. "Oh? I did hear voices and movement when Malik and I were below, but we didn't get the chance to explore further..." Because tons of stone drop on Malik's head, mostly. "I would welcome the chance to help you, and stop whomever's responsible. No one appreciated an unhappy demon in the temple square."
Cryosanthia bobs her head again, "Okay, well meet me at the Soldier's Defense in a couple hours. I'll be heading there now. I'm glad you resuced Malik, Seldan has had a lot of shocks recently." She seems happy, if her tail is any indication.
With a slight curtsey the sith-makar adjusts her shoulder satchel and heads off for adventure!
<OOC> Kira tries not to giggle at frozen Sith butt-prints. Fails.