View source for Home for a Think

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== Log Info ==
*Title: Home for a Think.
*Emitter: Cryosanthia
*Characters: Cryosanthia, Sabina
*Place: A03: The TarRaCe
*Time: Friday, September 25, 2020, 12:45 PM
*Summary: Cryosanthia and Sabina return to the Tarrace after their adventure. Sabina is still diminished by the poison, and the Sith is helping her with her gear. The Tarrace Staff has to be fended off, and the two women go into the baths to relax. They go for a swim, and talk about several topics. Lily, whom Cryo frequently discusses, and the Sith's maternal behaviour. The risks they underwent, and finally what the scorpion might have said, and some witty retorts that Cryo should have made. Then, the wine arrives. Fade to Wine.</div>

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.

The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.

Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.

To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties. 
            
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<pre>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Appearing --=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
 Cryosanthia     A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman
 Sabina          Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes
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Mission Accomplished!

For a generous definition of 'accomplished'. The caravaners were found, dead. The creatures that took them, hellish drop-scorpions were also found, and made dead. They also exploded, which didn't leave much to bring back if one wanted to. The meat might have made an interesting challenge for the TarRaCe's chefs, but not if it was packed along with the dead caravaners. Rotting is not something even a master chef can work with.

Sleds were made, primitive refrigeration was applied and MAC-B1G and Cryosanthia acted as mules and pulled them back. Sabina and her gear were able to ride along until she was able to walk herself. The poison effects take along time to fade. Cryo was slowed physically but kept up her talking as she did on the way out, managing to be entertaining and boost moral.

It was several days back, to a luke-warm reception at the Explorer's Guild. With the administration done, the group splits and Cryo helps 'Bina to her place.

Bina didn't speak too much that first day but made sure the group was all healed up to the best of her ability before riding on a sled. The second day she spoke more, engaging with Cryo and the others and trying to help with spirits bruised by exploding scorpions. Today she's on her own two feet but slower then normal and again Cryo has to play pack mule with her belongings. "Thank you so much, Cryosanthia. Please come in and lets get a bath and I can feed you to show my thanks." Says the Tarienite.

Cryo is happy to carry Sabina's gear. It's comforting, she expects a certain weight on her shoulders now, and this is a good substitute for Lily. Whom she also is concerned about, as she says so every couple hours. The kobold is clearly on her mind.

"Ok! I will never say no to bath and food. I'll need a short one though, Faran and Professor Waywalker may have pulled all their head-hair out and started on their feet." Bald Lucht feet! That's a mental image. "I've never been away from Lily this long, I don't know how she took it."

Bina chuckles and shakes her head, still looking pale from the poison. "I would think Faranmidahn would be just as pretty without hair as with. I'm not sure who Professor Waywalker is. And you've already started talking like a nest-mother, Cryosanthia. As for Lilly the young are adaptive. I suspect kobolds are even more so." She steps into the Tarrace and in moments there are calls for her attention from both staff and guest. Most take in her wain appearance and leave off fast. A few she has to speak to and beg for more time. "Tomorrow.. and yes. Oh, Mina, would you please bring Cryosanthia and myself glasses of wine? I'm in desperate need of a bath."

Cryo does her best to run interference, "She needs a rest, the expedition was very tough." She has a little innkeeping experience, and answers some questions that a few persistent staff ply the tsurian with. They aren't bad responses, overall.

"Oh, Professer Waywalker is Faran's mother, Serrendine. She was imprisoned in the Tower also, all her research destroyed. I've been helping her re-create some of her notes and research. She's been teaching Lily the small things."

The whitescale smiles, "And thanks. I'm still not a Nest-Mother. A Nest-Mother has made the nest, and laid. Clutch-Mother is a closer term, like 'Aunt' or foster mother in Tradespeak. Hopefully one day though." She swishes her tail high. "To the baths!"

Bina smiles to her friend. "Thank you for the help here as well. And thank you for clarifying the terms.. but I still think your thoughts are true to form of a real mother, my dear. I know your heart speaks like a mothers already. And I am reasonably sure that Lily will always think of you as her mother no mater what term you both use." She leans abit more on Cryo for balance as they step towards the baths.

"I hope so," Cryo says wistfully, supporting Sabina with a firm grip. She quickly adds, "I hope we'll find her real parents, I... I don't know what will happen then. I don't want to let go. Keeping her would be unfair. Everything I've already shown her, might be unfair. No one questions that I have a small youngling. When she is older and more clearly a kobold this city will be much harder on her."

She's still speaking as they head into the baths, to the women's section. "I have to give her the best start I can, the best education. She's really clever, that will serve her well."

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A03: The TarRaCe - Bathhouse *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

A light, warm mist welcomes those entering the grand bathing chamber. Rising from pools warmed by unseen sources of heat, the moisture makes the air somewhat muggy but still comfortable to breathe. The room it fills has been divided into three portions - the dividing walls, like the bathing pools themselves, clad in pale marble that contrasts with the dark granite that bears the weight of it all.

Attendants politely direct people to changing areas and appropriate services, and ensure that no one winds up where they should not. The central pool is open to both sexes, with a strict requirement for bathing attire to be worn. Those located to either side are mirrors of each other, each restricted to one sex and discreetly guarded to preserve patrons' privacy.

Beyond the central pool a pair of massage tables offer another form of politely-supervised relaxation, with cabinets holding an impressive array of aromatic oils for the use of trained members of staff. More prosaically, signs announce the availability of a service to clean clothes while patrons wash themselves, so that they can return to the outer world fresh from head to toe.

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Bina's smile gets brighter as Cryo continues to speak. "And that is exactly what I mean. Your words. Your thoughts. They express hope and worry over Lily. Wanting more for her even at the cost of your own self. No one could ask for more from a mother, Cryosanthia. Take a deep breath and let the thought go that you're not kobold enough or that the fates may change. Take joy in the now." She sighs and gives Cryo a fake exasperated look. "Look what you made me do.. go all priestly talk on you."She laughs.

Cryo laughs, grinning widely. So many sharp teeth! A strange incongruity, her fangs and her maternal concerns. Then again, she is well suited for raising Lily, Little Fang, even if she isn't a kobold. She can be a very effective dragon-mom. "This one will try to. I long for the bath! I still feel after three days and so many prestidigitations that I have bits of scorpion stuck under my scales. It should be impossible, but the itch will not leave my mind."

She places a cool hand on Sabina's shoulder, "And I see how horribly the poison still grips you, even though you are much improved and a better colour. Enough for priestly advice! Did this one tell you she found Ceinara's travelling dance platform?"

Bina grins again at the words of dirtiness and nods in agreement. She lets go of Cryo's side and wills her clothing to change it's form. Her dress becoming a modest swimsuit all of one piece. "Then let us get into the bath." And she slowly eases down into the heated water. Her eyes shutting as she ducks under the surface and comes right back up with a sigh. "Now what, exactly, is a traveling dance platform?"

Cryo takes everything off, because her clothes are arranged around her mithril armour and once she's removed that the boots and gloves feel silly to keep on, and the sleeves end up going with them. No one should be looking anyhow on this side of the baths, and she hands over her gear to the attendants. It shouldn't need cleaning, she's magically cleaned them several times already and everything significant she has is enchanted. Habits.

She launches into the air, a long arcing dive with her tail whipping to give her extra distance, then going straight as she breaks the surface and glides in. Very few ripples, she loves diving into water. Surfacing with a splash and shaking droplets everywhere, she explains, "Well, it's a sectional flat surface that snaps together and has a bit of a rise so you're elevated, and the wood panels make a nice sound so it emphasizes footsteps. Its clearly a performance area, so people stay off unless they're willing to perform, and Ceinara is said to watch it."

The Tarien settles back into her lounging position with towel pillowing her head and ponders this device. "Is it heavy to tote about? It sounds as if it was meant to be carried via wagon and then set up. But still a clever idea and useful for whorshipers of Ceinara." She states. A small flush comes to Bina's skin as the heat soaks into her. "Oh..this is heavenly."

"Yes, there is usually a cart, and a few of the anointed who move it about and set it up." Cryo explains. She's swimming, gliding through the water and letting her arms and legs trail as her tail does the work. She flips over for the return, and her horns provide a drag that keeps pulling her nose under. She seems fine with water rushing over her face and up her snout.

A strong exhale to clear it, off to the side as she surfaces beside the Tsurian, "Your co-owner, Ygraine, she would be able to explain Ceinara better. There are some perceptive differences between the softskin and the people's interpretation. She is the Pale Green Dragon, to us."

Cryo waves her hand, and light trickles from her heart out along her arm, then above the baths a rough figure flies over. Hazy, like a cloud, draconic in shape, a pale pastel. "She is known as a drink, and inspiration, and the one who watches."

The Tsurian nods lightly and watches the shape take form and move off with gentle smile. "I am glad you have found a patron to follow. And that you are taking to that following with a will." She turns her head to look at Cryo. "Have you had moments of closeness with your god now? I know that you seem pleased when you are on the stage and performing."

"Well..." Cryosanthia pulls up to the edge of the pool, rests on it with elbows, supporting herself, "This one always followed her. This one had the mistake of... expectations."

Her washes about under water, "Nothing could reach us in the Tower, not even Daeus' light. To expect help from her was unreasonable. She does not concern herself with Good, Evil, Law, Order. Life is chaotic and things happen, and no relevance exists to them except what meaning one can find. That is her teachings, make the most of what happens to you, find inspiration therein. The world is a stage, and it moves and if you're lucky you will catch her fickle attention and the spotlight, and she might clap. At the end of your life, ask, 'So how was your story?'."

Cryo exhales, staring across the steaming pool, with a little more of the steam rising around her. "When you are lost in the song, and the dance, and the audience, there is the closeness. When everything you are is alive, that's when." She looks at the water, "Sometimes I've felt it, sometimes."

Bina again nods slowly and thoughtfully. "I've been closest to Tarien durring the funniest of times.. but also when things were at their worst. Such as after the fight with the scorpions. Pain. I had a lot of pain and yet I could laugh because I was alive. We were all alive." She grins over to Cryo and shrugs. "I think it's those small moments that allow us to move forward."

"I felt very alive the second time one exploded in my face. I felt so many things." Cryo laughs. She's examining her arms and her chest scales, which for the most part look perfectly fine. Especially after healing, the nicks and scratches in her scales vanishing, and bruises do not show through them. She looks ok, though a tenderness remains. "I was moved. About a meter back. Or maybe it was forward."

Bina snickers and then laugh. "Oh! I think it was back considering I ended up on my backside and you and I were faced in the same direction. Granted my memory of the event was something akin to shock an hurt. So my memory could be wrong." She sighs and settles back down but the smile remains. "Have I told you I'm glad you're my friend? And glad that we all lived?"

Cryo gives Bina a sudden and unexpected sneak attack hug. Lizards in the water! Beware! The embrace is firm but not too tight, injuries considered, and an odd mix of sensations with her cool body and the hot water. "This one is glad you are too! Whatever you need, ask, I will be there. I'm glad we lived, I'm glad you tell me things I need to hear, that you took the time to collect the pieces of me when they were falling off everywhere. When there is nothing you need, this one can fill the empty moments with songs or a joke."

She pulls back a little, tilting her head slyly, "but no... you have not said so. So you must now so this one can eat the words."

Bina giggles as she's hugged and returns the hug in turn. Eyes bright with mirth she nods and then states it. "I am glad you are my friend. And I am glad we both lived to do more silly things together. Like look over the edge of bridges where danger lurks." She heaves a sigh and then giggles again. "And I'm glad I can now honestly say I made a scorpion laugh too."

Cryo leans back her long neck and snaps randomly at the air, her head bobbing around in a dog-like manner as she pretends to catch treats. She grins, "I got them all."

She winks, "this one still wants to try those slippers, and it laughing was amazing! Tarien should be pleased! Did you know what it said?" She drifts backwards now, tail-treading water.

More giggles come from Bina and she nods to the part about slippers and Tarien's happiness. "Sadly no I do not know what it was saying. It surprised me a few times for being able to speak at all and I believe it was also trying to cast a spell at one point. I might have been delusional at that moment though. Do you know what it said?"

"Ha! No fair, this one asked first." Cryo sweeps her arms and rises a little out of the water, looking very much like an exquisite iceberg. Weight and momentum takes her back down till only her head and neck are showing, "It did seem to be doing something spell-like, that is true. It left itself open in ways I'm not used to creatures doing. I'm not sure what it said, I could find out with some work. This one would have to use memory spells and find someone who could speak... whatever it was speaking."

Bina nods. "Likely something dark and evil. A creature I would forgive for using a bridge as a hunting ground. An evil creature that can speak obviously set up the hunting ground there on purpose in order to hunt humanoids who used the road and bridge to go places. Evil. Likely all it said was.. 'I'll get you!' but it might be nice to know in-case it spoke of more foes we should know of."

Cryo swims back to the side of the pool, and also pushes a small wave of warm water towards Sabina. "This one feels bad for those men. Mines are dangerous places, the transport must be one of the safer jobs. Who wants to steal a wagon of rocks."

She exhales again, dipping her snout and blowing bubbles in the water. "The Guild said it was a half day from some rifts they have sent other Explorers out for. Purple worms? Other things? Intelligent actions are not accidents, that it speaks makes it worse. It may have been calling for help. I'll... see what I can find out, regarding a translation."

Bina makes a face at Cry oas the wave washes over her and gets her towel wet but then gives her a sad smile as well. "It shall be as it shall be. Perhaps I'll get my strength back soon enoung and go with you to find out."

Cryo rocks her head from side to side at the face, "Sorry." She purses her lips thoughtfully, "We could run around saying it, waiting for someone to gasp. Might not be the best idea. Someone at the Temple of Da... Eluna or Althea might recognize it."

She kicks her legs out, pushing herself backwards through the water to rest against the edge again, "there might be a poison treatment too. Speed things up, the rest of your life does not seem to want to wait for you."

The Tarienite grins widely at Cryo. "That would be something that I would do if I was feeling spunky. Mutter it during a church service and see who points at you and calls you heathen. As for hurrying things along.. I might. Then again I sort of see this as a warning to me via Tarien. Take it easy. Think things through before having too much fun again."

Cryo rises up, pushing her arms down and straightening her legs. She looks serious, facing Sabina, "Should I not have gone? Should we, not have? Is it too much of a risk, that I might leave Lily motherless again? The money helps and being involved in things and using my training is good, but it was a long way down to the river and an easy toss. I don't seek the pointless death, and that very easily could have been. We were lucky. Should I stop taking chances?"

Bina raises her hands up as if to surrender. "Easy Cryo. I ment nothing more then what I said. Looking back it was almost foolish of me to look over the side of the bridge. There were drag marks to be seen. Most assuredly something was under the bridge. A walk down and away from the bridge might have shown us what it was first. Allowed our shootist a better spot to shoot from. For me to bless us all. That sort of thing is what I'm speaking of. Not that we shouldn't have gone. If we had not others would have died to their hunts."

The white sith nods, "I see what you mean. This one was rushed, to get it finished quickly and not thinking through either. The approach you describe is much better than what we did. And at least we stopped their hunt, yes."

Her thoughts wander to some other hunts, still on going. She sinks lower on the side and then kicks with her legs so she rises up horizontal, and keeps kicking. "I wanted to taunt. I used to taunt a lot with swordfighting. I had no ideas at all. How does one tease a scorpion? 'Aha! I see your shell is a shadow of itself, more bell than hell!'"

Bina chuckles. "I would say taunt it when it missed. But it didn't seem to have much issue finding mark with us. I've not seen anything so large move so precisely and fast." She ponders the question and come up with one. "Which one of your eyes is looking at me. I can't tell and they're all ugly."

"Did you fall off the ugly cliff and hit every ugly tree all the way down, then go back for seconds?" Cryo asks with a playful tone. She snickers, rubbing at her nose, "That's good for anyone. I want to imagine scorpion, specific. 'Your claws go clickery-clack, well feel my blade, Snicker Snack!' or 'Did you get lost going back for legs and forget to get a head?'"

The last gets a chuckle from Bina. "There you go. That one is funny enough for us with heads. It may not have thought it ire-some but if you could uplift your own spirit you may just ire your foe."

"Oh! Oh!" Cryo splashes, standing up, holding both hands high with her index fingers extended. Her eyes gleam, "Look at the stinger and say, 'I've seen bigger.'"

She nods vigorously, "That's the idea, yes, increase their ire, keep them focused."

Bina is about to respond when the wine she asked for earlier arrives to the pair. The steamy air condensates on the chilled glasses as the server hands each of them one and departs with a smile. Bina brings it up to her nose and smiles at the scent. "I smell apple and pear. Sure to be a sweet wine." She takes a sip and then nods. "Not too sweet. Not too dry. Very nice."

"Oh!" The whitescale sith eagerly reaches for her glass. Of white, of course. She sniffs, her tongue flicking out, she takes a taste, then a sip. "Harvested late fall I think."

Sighing, the Sith leans back, basking in the heat, "Just a few more minutes, one glass."

Fade to Wine.

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