OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part Five

[brave_kreyu]

In the morning, after they've both bathed, eaten, and they are finally dressed, she's explaining her plans for the morning to Skellig.

"I'm going to be doing two things at once," she explains. "A very overbooked artist has graciously squeezed me in for some henna work, so I'll be gone for a few hours. I'd bring you along, but she's not comfortable around men." Kreyu has her SUSPICIONS as to why, but she doesn't know.

"And since chatting is very much a part of the process, I'll be seeing what I can find out about any recent pirate attacks."

Comments

[brave_kreyu]

The merchant gives a thoughtful grunt. "Only because I need to travel back to my homeland soon, before my wife gives birth," he tells Skellig.

It's not a LOT of the golden yellow, perhaps a yard. Still, a successful haggle. These purchases too will be carefully wrapped up.

[27_53]

Skellig adds an few extra gemstones (what exactly they are, he isn't certain, but they were from Heka's hoard and they've worked for trade so far) along with the hefty handful of coin he passes over.

"My best wishes to you and your wife, and your child." He nods. "May your journey be safe, and the birth uneventful."

With the package secured, he takes his leave. He is getting somewhat hungry, but moreso thirsty as he wanders...glancing up again at the sky, which seems to hold no hint of trouble or foul weather. It is a few blocks of wandering before he catches the strong hint of spices coming from a stall, enough to fully pull him from his thoughts.

Is that tea?

Also, there is a cart nearby with breads, stuffed both sweet and savory...

[brave_kreyu]

The merchant is surprised at Skellig's addition of wealth and well wishes. "May you and your wife have many fine children, good Sir." It's a traditional well wish in his culture, but one that Skellig might find a bit odd.

It is indeed tea, and the woman operating the bread cart is arguing with the woman who operates the tea stall over the merits of various spices and proportions. (There's no heat, no anger to the argument. This is, apparently, just how they are.)

[27_53]

The odd wish from the merchant is also one reason why Skellig is a bit distracted until he reaches the tea stall and bread cart.

He does not outright interrupt their 'argument' - it would be rude after all - but takes his time by starting with browsing the various blends of teas that are set out as display for what is available for purchase in greater quantity.

The smells are all foreign and strange to him, as he is not at all a tea drinker, and would not know where to start. They are spicy and herbal and some have more of a citrus hint to them...

[brave_kreyu]

The argument breaks off in favor of business.

The woman running the tea stall catches on to how 'lost' Skellig is and takes pity on him. "You look thirsty, please try some of my house blend, on me." It's what his old world would call 'chai', black tea with some spices added. A hint of black pepper, cinnamon, and dried ginger."

She proffers a cup to him carefully.

[27_53]

Skellig is grateful for the offered cup - even with the heat of the day still looming, it is not outright oppressive quite yet. And the tea is a welcome drink to quench his thirst.

With a polite nod (not a bow) of his head, he takes the cup and sips.

Even with the scent easily noticed, the flavor profile is...quite unexpected, in a good way. But the woman will notice his reaction; this is simply something he has not experienced, ever. Which may seem odd, a man like him, of his status? Never having had 'chai' before?

"That is quite good," he says, sipping once more. "I was not prepared for the...pepper? But it blends well with the others."

[brave_kreyu]

"Helpful in a warm climate too, the pepper, helps you stay cooler."

She's not TOO surprised he hasn't had this before. This is still, by and large, beer country. THIS kind of tea is still a novelty. "If you would care to purchase some, I would be glad to prepare some for you. Or I have other teas, some of a more medicinal nature."

The bread seller snorts, loudly. "Medicinal, are they? You're no healer."

"Old home remedies," the seller replies. "I have customers who swear by them."

They might be medicinal, it might just be the placebo effect, it's hard to say.

[27_53]

"There is much to be said for word of mouth," Skellig offers with a shrug. "I would take some of this to enjoy now, and if possible some dried to purchase as well, so that I could prepare it later at home?"

Home is still a strange word for him to say out loud, but he doesn't show much of his awkwardness around the idea. (At least not in public.) "What sort of ailments would you claim could be treated, by your teas?"

There is something to be said for the placebo effect actually working - the act of preparing and drinking tea in and of itself can be soothing and calming to the central nervous system, and that alone could work to 'heal' a variety of ailments.

As she prepares him a cup, he watches closely - he'll have to replicate this later!

[brave_kreyu]

"Of course." The spices are toasted briefly in a pan over the fire, then roughly crushed in a mortar and pestle. Water is heated over the fire, then the tea mixed is added.

While waiting for water to heat, she prepares a small box of her tea mixture and briefly goes over the various 'medicinal' teas. Some of them are more likely to be effective than others. Teas to aid in sleep, calm ones nerves, help someone who is fatigued, these seem plausible. The one to help with a man's...stamina, less so.

The bread seller actually rolls her eyes at that one, before being distracted by another customer.

[27_53]

Skellig listens to her describe the various offerings - and while he does not roll his eyes, his lips pull into a hint of a smirk as the last one is described.

"I think I will stick with just this one for the time being," he says. "Though I can see how some of those would be quite...useful, if they worked as intended for those who swear by them."

[brave_kreyu]

"Of course. Feel free to stop by anytime!"

The wind shifts and Skellig can REALLY smell those breads now. Cheese and vegetables, lamb, dates and honey, so many options! There is also fish, but Skellig isn't going to be touching those.

[27_53]

The bread seller's cart is a clearly popular one, so the purchases are a bit more straightforward - he goes nowhere near the fish, and instead chooses two; cheese and vegetables, and lamb. He contemplates the dates and honey, but for some reason he feels odd getting that without Kreyu with him, so it is the savory options for now.

His cup he used to drink the tea is returned on his way back past her stall; he finished it while waiting in line for the breads.

And eventually he finds his way to the water's edge, with the breads, and perches himself lightly on a bench near some of the docks. There are ships of varying sizes here, and where there are ships, there are birds. Seabirds, hungry seabirds - who are eyeing his breads quite eagerly!

Skellig bites into the cheese and vegetable bread first.

"Not for you," he mutters under his breath, mildly amused.

The bird that approaches him is undeterred by this 'protest', hopping closer. Skellig cocks his head to the side as he takes another bite - it is a 'staring contest', now. Another bite. The bird hops closer. Ever hopeful...

...a piece of bread is torn off, and he throws it to the ground for the bird, who snatches it up eagerly. And then squawks, to tell his friends!

[brave_kreyu]

By the time Skellig is finishing the other bread, there is a small horde of sea birds hanging about.

The feeling of wind, of storm, is close now. Whoever or whatever it is must be in this section of the docks.

The docks are far from empty, people loading and unloading cargo, people passing back and forth. There are a lot of people to watch, but one in particular may catch his eye. The man is wearing a Chiton in bright blue, embroidered with colorful geometric designs and pinned at the shoulders with elaborate jeweled pins. His hair is gone entirely silver, but he looks hale. He's wearing a belt around his waist, his purse and other necessities hanging from it.

[27_53]

As close as the shift in the 'weather' has drawn (with still no visible changes to the sky) to him on the docks, Skellig is paying much closer attention to those who walk past him. There are a great number of people to watch, faces to study - some people look at him as they bustle by, some do not, this is not unusual - and while he is listening, he is also being careful to hold his own 'presence' close.

This feeling does not cause him to feel overtly as if he is in danger or threatened, which is why he has not yet moved from his spot on this bench. If he were in any danger - or if he felt Kreyu was in any danger - he would make haste at once to find wherever she has gone to.

"Interesting, that one," Skellig comments softly to the seabird sitting on the stone wall behind him at his right shoulder. He tips his head ever so slightly towards the silver-haired man in blue, the jeweled pins sparkling brightly in the sun. "No, I do not think he has any breads in that bag."

Under his breath, he laughs - at whatever the seabird's reply from an 'indignant' squawk is. "We shall see, if he comes this direction. I do not know what he seeks. I would not bother him, if you are wise."

Skellig will also not bother the man but his attention is focused (how could it not be, with such a brilliant blue to that fabric and the colorful designs embroidered upon it) as he draws nearer. And as he does so, his interest rises somewhat, as the energy in the open space shifts. It feels...familiar, but at the same time, not at all.

(Is he feeling Karma without realizing exactly what is being radiated beneath the surface of the lines of the world, as the 'elder' man walks closer?)

Subconsciously, he pulls his wings tighter to his back, tucking them closer against his body - he knows they are hidden with the power and work Kreyu put into his amulet he wears, but it is habit...

[brave_kreyu]

By fate or by chance, the man IS heading closer to Skellig, so he and the birds are likely to get a closer look at him soon.

Two people in the crowd see the man as prey, someone to be robbed. It's a very old trick, having one person, 'accidentally' collide with the target while someone ELSE cuts their purse or picks their pocket. With the life Skellig used to lead, he's probably seen it before.

The large man deliberately collides with the stranger in blue, apologizes profusely. The stranger lets HIM go with a friendly nod, but the would be cut purse has his hand grabbed as soon as it's around the purse. "I think you are trying to take something that does not belong to you, hm?" The voice is calm, serene, but firm as iron.

The would be cut-purse, closer to boyhood than manhood, struggles frantically in his grip. The man is calm, serene, and the boy doesn't know what to make of both being grabbed and held AND the man not being visibly angry. (He isn't angry, Skellig will feel, a strange combination of mildly annoyed and amused at the attempted theft.)

[27_53]

Watching with interest at the scene as it plays out - he has seen this countless times, and he might even be providing narration under his breath at a whisper to the bird beside him - Skellig is initially expecting a much harsher reaction from the man in blue.

He can feel the waves of panicked emotion and fear radiate sharply off the would be thief, and they grate roughly across his senses. But from the other man there is far less than expected. Which in all honesty, Skellig appreciates - as handling the associated negative energy around a beating (or a killing, for that matter) was really not on his list of things he wished to deal with.

"Interesting indeed," he mutters. He allows his hearing to focus a bit closer, so that he does not miss anything in subtle conversation. Both he and the seabird are watching the exchange, now.

[brave_kreyu]

The man in blue has dropped his voice low, but thanks to Skellig's hearing he can still pick it up. "A wolf pack must be careful with which beast it chooses to cut from the herd." He smiles wryly. "Choose your prey more carefully next time, little wolf. Or ask for aid, if need drives you." He fishes a silver coin out of his purse, presses it into the hand of the now open mouthed cut purse. The man in blue lets go of him and makes a shooing motion. "Go on now, off with you."

The wind shifts, blowing from Skellig toward the man in blue. His head tilts, turns Skellig's direction as if something has caught his attention. His course is now directly toward Skellig, although he does not seem hurried or upset in any way, just curious.

[27_53]

As the man's attention and direction of travel changes, Skellig resists the urge to use his own abilities to 'nudge' him past, as while typically he would do so...he has found all of this incredibly interesting. The situation, the encounter, the man himself.

Who, as he draws nearer, the sense in the air of storm and wind grows stronger in Skellig's mind. The hairs on the back of his arms threaten to prickle with static charge, and he can taste the scent of wet earth and stone on his tongue, like after a strong summer's rain.

It is clear now, that this silver-haired man in blue is not simply an ordinary man. But just what kind of being is he? Skellig is still not sure.

There is such a familiarity to him that ripples across his senses in soft waves; the seabirds grow nervous and strut hurriedly across the dock to the far side, near the water's edge. Ready to flee from such a predator! One is screeching loudly at Skellig - flee, run, fly!!

"Hush, you." He mutters. (It is at least well-directed at the seabird, so the man should not think he is speaking to him as he draws near.) And while he is tempted to rise to his feet, to be better in a position to defend himself, he remains sitting.

[brave_kreyu]

"Well met," the stranger says, friendly, as he sits on the other edge of the bench. "There are not many who would speak to the birds in a place like this, it caught my interest."

Admittedly, only AFTER he had smelled Kreyu and sex on Skellig, but that's hardly something to open a conversation with!

He offers a forearm to be clasped, as it the custom in this area. "I am called Elihu."

[27_53]

"They are better conversationalists than most," Skellig offers with a shrug, as 'explanation' when the man sits. And then it is when his name is offered over, as well as the forearm...it clicks.

Elihu.
The familiarity to the energy.
Dragon.
Her brother.

To his credit, there is only a mild outward reaction of surprise on Skellig's part - it is deference which causes him to tip his head (not quite a bow, he would not show weakness, but this is not weakness this is respect) as he clasps Elihu's forearm.

"Well met, Elihu. I am called Skellig."

[brave_kreyu]

"Skellig," Elihu tries the name, tastes it. "Not a name I have heard before, but I feel you have perhaps heard mine?"

He did pick up on the surprise when he said his name, after all. And the answer Skellig chooses to give will tell Elihu more about him.

[27_53]

It is not easy that Skellig trusts others - and while this man claims to be Elihu, who is it to say that he is not simply a different dragon, one who would say he is Kreyu's brother, if only to gain closer access to her? That would not be something Skellig would stand for, nor would he wish to endanger her.

So his reply is a bit measured, cautious. Careful.

"I have heard it spoken," he says in confirmation. "But I do not make assumptions of another man from spoken word alone, as often it is full of rumors and falsehoods."

He isn't quite sure how he will be able to ascertain that this truly is her brother. But he will cross that bridge when they come to it.

[brave_kreyu]

"You are cautious, that is wise," Elihu replies. "I am glad that my sister has spent time with someone more cautious than she is."

He sighs softly, and his tone is one of fond exasperation. "My little sister is very brave, but she is young and tends to dive into things headfirst."

[27_53]

That helps.

It also tells Skellig that Elihu at least knows some of what he and Kreyu have been...up to. He refrains from comment on that subject, because this is her brother (technically his brother-in-law!) and while Skellig does not have siblings, he knows how they can act. And Kreyu warned him.

"She is quite brave," he agrees. "But also quite smart, and not afraid to take heed of signals to slow down...if the situation allows for it."

His eyes fall to the tattoo on his forearm, and he considers something a moment. "Did she know you were coming early, and send me off to encounter you alone?" Skellig glances up, a slight smirk. "Or did you find a tailwind for aid?"

[brave_kreyu]

"I have not yet informed her of my arrival," Elihu admits. "I was...generous in estimating my arrival time."

In other words, he wanted to poke around before she knew he was here. He caught Skellig's glance at the tattoo, but doesn't grasp its meaning in this context. "You thought she might send you to meet me?" His tone implies he is curious about that. That Skellig would think such a thing suggests that he is more than a night's amusement or a brief fling.

"We have been worried about her, and we did not part on the best of terms. I don't know how much she's told you about our family?" For all Elihu knows, Skellig might not even know Kreyu is a dragon!