New Friends

Colosseum District, early afternoon

The Colosseum area is of interest to many people in the city, for many different reasons. Huian isn't really a fan of combat for entertainment. Challenging someone to prove superiority? Sure. As a show for others to watch? Nah.

Either way, Huian does happen to be in the area. For her, it's the vendors and shops that hold her interest. Having purchased a snack, she is eating that while perusing the goods on display. At the moment, she finds herself inspecting a couple of books on the History of the Jade Islands. She seems to be trying to negotiate a price there.

The Gcblin is here for the people. And architecture. Mostly people. Having found a comfortable spot atop a crate, her pencil wiggles back and forth as she sketches out the scene before her. Sometimes she pauses, eyeing a particularly noisy bit of haggling going on. One of the participants, a green-scaled Sith, remains calm, talking in a low voice devoid of any emotion, and this Sith becomes the focus of the image on her page.

Books are Aelmeh's passion which is fortuitous considering she is the daughter of a bookbinder and minor wizard. She steadfastly ignores the fact that the shops that interest her are in the Colosseum district. Alexandria's districts make little sense to outsiders unless they know its many layered history. There -is- a reason for the presence of book shops cheek-to-jowl with taverns and forges.

This street had been her route to temple school for many years, the shop facades and the clang of hammer on anvil, coming from the forges, are familiar friends. She slows when she catches sight of a beautifully bound book in the hands of a young woman, (she is helplessly nosey when it comes to books) on? She cranes her head. And as she slows to peer over the woman's shoulder a cart moves revealing a newly made friend.

"Simony! What brings you here?"

And indeed, Huian is shorter than average. Most folks might look at her and think of some kid sister type. She turns her head towards the woman peering over her shoulder. She politely lifts the book to make it more easily viewable. "Are you interested in this one? I am unsure if I wish to purchase it myself."

She shrugs and adds, "I was searching for one that might mention my family's school. I have yet to find one." That said, she turns more fully to face Aelmeh, bowing her head in greeting. "Forgive me. I am Cai Huian."

It takes a few moments for it to register that someone has spoken to the Goblin. The pencil stops moving, and Simony looks up, glancing around. "Oh!", she says, a smail forming on her lips. "Hello Aelmeh. How are you faring? I... I came here to watch people, and to draw."

The Gobbo offers a little wave to the two women.

Caught. Aelmeh's eyes widen when she is caught red-handed snooping, but she recovers quickly, dipping her head with a smile, "Nothing to forgive. I was snooping, it's a beautifully bound book, you know. Forgive me. I'm Aelmeh Runescriber, at your service."

She puts out her hand, "May I see it? I wasn't trying to get in the middle of your purchase."

"Excuse me." She turns to the Goblin woman, mirroring the wave, saying in an aside to Huian, "She is an acquaintance of mine."

Speaking loud enough to be heard over the noise of a cart passing by, "I'm much better, thank you. Rested. You?"

Nodding her head without speaking now, Huian simply closes the book and lays a few coins on the table for the bookseller. The coins add up to the cost the vendor most recently stated. She wordlessly nods to said vendor and then turns to regard the Gobbo. She smiles and waits patiently however.

Decorum is a big deal for her it seems. She herself is an oddball dichotomy of concepts. She wears light armor rather than robes or normal clothing. She carries a long slender sword with the scabbard tucked through the silk sash wrapping about her waist. And yet, she holds the book like it was precious to her, and does not behave brashly like many warrior types seem to enjoy doing.

Simony's notebook and pencil disappear into a pocket, before the Gobbo stands, and hops down from her former seat.

Weaving though the foot traffic, she comes to stand beside Aelmeh. "My wound has healed up nicely after the fight with that big creature and the little wooden automatons. It was rather concerning."

The book is eyed by the short woman, and she nods appreciatively. "It' is certainly colourful for a book, and well made. A good purchase, certainly."

She offers Huain a curtsey, "Simony Smithsdottir."

"So, how well do you both know the city? I'm not an expert, but I grew up here so there are parts of it I know fairly well. My father didn't give me complete run of the place?" Aelmeh's eyes sweep Huian's attire, "Let me guess?" she says with a faint smile and a glance at the book in her arms, "You are from the Jade Islands."

"And oddly enough, I don't know where Simony Smithsdottir hails from."

Nodding her head, Huian shrugs her shoulders. "I am indeed. I have only arrived in Alexandria within the last two weeks." she adds.

And then her hands lift and she holds the book out towards Aelmeh. "You wished to see this?" she asks before looking to Simony and bowing her head, "Cai Huian." she replies.

The Gobbo looks back and forth between the two women. "Nice to meet you.', she says softly to Huian.

To Aelmeh, she shakes her head lightly. "Not oddly at all, it has just not come up in conversation. We've been running from one thing to the next, yes?" Simony shrugs her shoulders. "I'm from a small burrow of Goblins sort of north from here. Lived here at the Monastery on the mountain for a few years."

She offers a wave once more. "I regret, I must run off, I have some tasks I must attend to, else I will be disciplined." She offers a nod and then runs, disappearing into the crowd in short order.

"By all means, attend to your errands." Aelmeh waves Simony off, following her retreating form down the street till she disappears, then turns her attention back to her new acquaintance. Unusual for her, she takes to the young woman's decorum immediately despite the weapon and armor, sensing honesty and directness under the politeness.

"That woman is very handy to have by one's side in a fight," she remarks as Simony disappears from sight.

"And how has the City been for you since you arrived?"

Dark eyes flickering over to observe the departing Goblin, Huian nods her head. "I will remember that. Trustworthy allies are difficult to stumble upon. My sifu once told me that... now how did he put it exactly?" she asks herself, eyes lifting as she accesses her memories, "A companion you can trust is better than an army of strangers."

She nods to herself, happy to have remembered the wisdom spoken to her so long ago. But then she returns her gaze to the Hal-Sil. "Interesting is a word that I would use. But at the same time, there is an ancient curse among my people." She pauses and smiles just a bit sardonically, "May you live in interesting times."

Tucking a stray lock of blond hair back behind her ears, Aelmeh considers the dictum for a moment before breaking into a brief wry grin. "We should have that engraved above the gates. Anyone who marks themselves as being new to the City is considered fair game by the worst elements."

She gestures into the street, "I was going for something for an afternoon break and you are welcome to join me. I...ah," she appears to lose some of her urbane self-assurance, " or not. I had a hankering for some of the sweets from a local shop."

"Well, this is your city. I am a visitor. I put myself in your hands." Though. The fact that she is quite handy with a blade means that she's not exactly concerned with someone trying to take advantage of her. She holds the book out once more and says, "If you are a binder of books, perhaps this will be of value to you?" she asks. "I am unsure of the Cai school of swordsmanship is within its pages. The school is only five generations old, and this book is mostly about ancient history within the boundaries of Xiang-Sei."

Extending a hand, Aelmeh dips her head, "Then let's go. Some of the best sweets in the City if you ask me." She steps out into the flow of shoppers and tradespeople after a cart laden with pots and pans jangles by. "So, I hope you don't mind me asking, what has brought you to Alexandria."

"That is... a complicated story. But one that involves a young arrogant girl who was far more impressed with herself than she was interested in maintaining the family's honor." begins Huian in a voice that carries, yet is not projected to seem loud.

"This girl needed a solid lesson in the way the world works. So she chose to accept exile and banishment from her home and her school, only to return home once she has achieved honor on her own, and proven that she is capable of learning from her mistakes."

But she smirks a bit and shakes her head, "I -am- however, a skilled swordswoman." she adds.

Navigating between shoppers, Aelmeh only glances from time to time at her companion. Her eyebrows furrow at how Huian casts the story in the third person, then clear as her meaning becomes clearer, nodding at certain points to encourage her to continue.

Aelmeh slows as they approach a shop with a sign proclaiming, 'Sekerleme' with three crescents under it. "They are famous for their crescent shaped cookies covered in powdered sugar."

Opening the door for Huian, she waits for her to enter. Aelmeh heads for one of the many small tables set with samovars and hangs her cloak over a cushioned hassock claiming it for the two of them, then goes to look at the display behind a glass case. An array of confections, including the famous crescent shaped cookies is set out on fancy plates of intricate design.