Beast Market
Tenebrae - Friday, February 28, 2014, 6:13 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A07: Local Alexandria Market District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-
Just west of the Northern Highbridge and east of the arena, commerce blooms. Noisy and bustling, most anything may be purchased here for a price. Vendors from all cultures sell their wares from exotically colored carts, and the smells of different nations and far-off city-states mix with local ones from Alexandria and its riverbanks.
For all its commerce, visitors are advised to keep hold of their purses. Even the merchants possess a certain, cunning look. Most are positioned at carts or stalls as opposed to a formal storefront, with trade here being mobile, and visiting from all parts of the world.
Though the quality of goods suffers here compared to Upper Alexandria, the options are more diverse. Too, the oversight of the Watch is slightly less, and during times events are held at the Arena, chaos abounds. After dark, the square becomes a hangout for bards and other entrepreneurs whose business is best conducted by night; the shadows at the edges of the square often contain furtive figures engaging in their own brand of business.
Mikilos slowly wanders his way across the market yard, a small group of beetles before him. The group may be small, but the beetles are not, each insect about a foot long. A bit like massive fireflies, the firebugs scurry about, occasionally pauseing to raise and fan their wings, ends flashing from red to white hot in a burst of heat. This -might- be why the wizard's path turns a large portion of the cobblestones from icy and damp to cleared and dry. Wizards.
There is a giant toad sitting in the middle of the market.
A giant toad. Its skin glistens with an oily sheenm reflecting the dying light of day in faint rainbows across its flesh. It is sitting in the midst of the area between stalls resting on its haunches, webbed hands the size of an orc's skull folded, head raised a little and bulbous eyes lidded. The picture of bizarre serenity. People don't seem to know what to make of it, so are simply giving it a wide berth and keeping a cautious eye on it.
Moonshadow strolls her way down the street and into the market, cherrfully nooding to people. UNtil she starts hearing of a frog in the middle of the marketplace. When she hears of this, she jogs her way towards where the rumored frog is and.....blinks at it. An odd thought occurs to her and she calmly rubs her face, with one question right afterwards.
"FIshbelly, is that you?"
Mikilos hesitates upon spying the large toad. This is Alexandros, weird stuff happens (says the man with a beetle hoard), but giant toads and a little atypical, even around here. Sending the bettles to scuttle around an empty outdoor cafe, the wizard heads towards the toad himself, nodding greeting to Moonshadow. "Wha? Fishbelly? ....that's new. Isn't it a little cold out for that sort of form?"
Those bulbous eyes open slowly, regarding the pair there before the toad. The throat sac inflates slowly, bulging outwards in a brilliant cyan display, and then he speaks in a deep, rumbling croak. As the sound fades, so too does the form of the amphibian slowly begin to shrink, compacting and easing downwards into the green-skinned form of the oruch, seated cross-legged upon the flagstones.
"Good evenin', beautiful," Fishbelly rumbles lowly, "Mikilos. Jus' practicing."
Moonshadow smirks a little bit at Fishbelly. "Seems you're getting that form down pat, Fishbelly. At least I could tell it was you." She says before waving to Mikilos. "Greetings Mikilos. I remembered having a conversation with Fishbelly about this particular form recently. Thankfully, I remembered."
Mikilos hesitates, making sure the 'beautiful' and 'Mikilos' are two seperate greetings. "Salutations yourself." A wave and gesture brings the hoard scurrying over, clearing ice and snow as they go. Though the beetles stay a fair pace away from the shapechanger. Giant insects and gaint toads typically don't get along so well. Gathering before the elf once more, the hoard flashes as one, a burst more light than heat, and fade back into their native dimension. "So what are you two up to today?"
Fishbelly's hands plant to the flag-stones beside him, and he rolls himself up to his feet, straightening slowly. "It is interestin', th'thoughts of a toad. It takes some gettin' used to..." A hearty chuckle, "An' it keeps th'riff-raff away. Dare I ask why y'have a bunch of bugs-- oh, they're gone."
Moonshadow says, "I imagine so if you're in a form not your own. it'd be like changing yourself into an elf, or a horse." She then looks to Mikilos. "Taken to summoning bugs, Mikilos? Though, a toad and a bunch of bug would make people disappear from the market."
Mikilos ponders a few moments. "Never really changed into anything else. Took the appearence several times, but not the same. Anyway, fire beetles, I'd been meaning to test out that version of the spell for a while, and some of the merchants asked if I could clear away some of the ice. Fire elementals are too hot, but several beetles can spead out and cover a wide area. Not the most practical method, but got the job done."
Fishbelly strokes a hand over his beard thoughtfully. "It makes sense... an' it's a lot more than jus' transformation. Normally, y'keep your own thoughts, in such a form. For a greater bond to th'shape, however, that takes work. Dedication."
Moonshadow says, "I don't think our teachings allows us to change into anything else." She says crossing her arms and putting her hand up to her chin. "Sounds like you're looking into something bigger, Fishbelly. But....why a toad?' She says before looking to Mikilos. "Well, if fire beetles work...""
Mikilos shrugs to Moonshadow, and nods to Fishbelly. "I've read some on the topic, but have very little practical experience." The elf ponders a few moments. "Suppose there was the week I was female, but that was the result of a prank, not research."
Fishbelly rumbles out a low, amused sound to Mikilos's words. "A prank indeed... an' why?" A broad grin, then, hands spreading, "Th'toad is th'herald of Rada. A creature that lives its life in both water an' land. It walks in both worlds, showing us that they are inseparable. Th'land cannot live without th'water."
Moonshadow says, "i dunno. I live as a woman every single day." She then snickers at Mikilos before looking to Fishbelly. "Water is a huge necessity, yes. Also, if we didn't have land, we'd just have a huge ball of water, wouldn't we?" She says with a shrug. "SO how did it feel to be a girl?""
Mikilos shrugs. "Unbalenced. My weight distrabution was diffrent, took some getting used to. Spent most of the time sitting down and reading, so wasn't too different." He nods to Fishbelly. "Much of the world is a duality, one half unable to exist without the other. Land and water being an important mix."
Fishbelly folds his hands before himself, and he inclines his head deeply. "Indeed. Th'Great Serpent knows this well. And as th'Toad is his herald, I have taken on its mantle..." A rough chuckle, "I would rather remain a man, m'self. Although Moonshadow here looks much finer as she is."
Moonshadow chuckles at Fishbelly. "Determined to flatter me, aren't ya, Fishbelly?" She says with a smile. But then then looks to Mikilos. "Being a girl is more than just sitting and studying......"
Mikilos nods, and shrugs. "Being a student researching elemental flux in conjurations is little more than sitting and studying, regardless of one's gender."
Fishbelly flashes that shameless grin of his back to Moonshadow. "...is it workin' yet?" A wink, and then he slants a wry look to Mikilos, "Wizards. They never change."
Moonshadow chuckles and puts her head to her hand, but her cheeks color a little bit. But instead of answering, she lightly punches Fishbelly on the arm. Of course, for a 'light' punch, it's still a stiff one.
Mikilos grins. "All things change, in their unchanging cycle. Except for the parts that are truely new and unique."
Fishbelly rocks back a bit from that punch, though he only grins the wider. "Y'like it," he teases, and then he admits, "True enough, wizard, true enough."
Moonshadow says, "Shut up." She says to Fishbelly, but the color doesn't leave her cheeks. She then looks to Mikilos for a needed distraction. "You should stay as a woman for a week, just to experience it.""
Mikilos hehs. "I did. But admit I was a little busy with other projects to appericate the change. Mayhaps some day I'll try it again." He glances innocently to Fishbelly. "I'm sure can find a method for you to try it as well."
"I think," Fishbelly replies gravely to Mikilos, "That I'll have t'experience femininity th'traditional way."
Moonshadow laughs at Fishbelly. "I don't think you could handle it." She then laughs more.
Mikilos chuckles a bit himself, and glances to Moonshadow. "Of course, it's no harder for you to try out being a male for a time."
"Oh..." Fishbelly slants a sly look up to Moonshadow, smile widening a bit, "...that sounds like a challenge, lass."
Boshter has arrived.
Moonshadow says, "No." She says softly. "not only would it be uncomfortable, and I know I couldn't handle it, but it would also disrupt my Ki. That would be....counter-productive to my training.""
Mikilos shrugs. "Not all changes are planned. Are many a curse that places one into a new form. But I suppose you know your training better than I."
Fishbelly exhales a snort. "I'd have t'stand against her assuming male form m'self," he says with a hearty chuckle, "But I s'pose that I'm biased."
Moonshadow lightly punches Fishbelly's shoulder again. "Shut up." She says with an amused tone.
"Where did all the ice and snow go?" Boshter has stopped dead in his tracks. The last of the winter storms, n doubt, had left that gift there and he almost seems /disappointed/ that it is gone. ANd a bit confused. He tugs on his beard once. SOmeone chatters to him about beetles, but he just looks even MORE confused now.
Mikilos chuckles once more, and starts off. "I'll leave you two to your flirting. I've a project that needs attention." Raseing a hand in greeting as he passes, the elf speaks to Boshter. "That was me. Some of the mercahnts were slipping on the ice, so helped melt it away. But I'm sure will be more soon enough. Anyway, good night!"