thevaaniiofcrirtha

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi had lost her good manners, obviously, at the sight of the massive tail, their eyes growing large and then a grin appeared on their face. “Who am I?” they called. “Who cares!? What is that?” They pointed at the tail and hoisted the box on their shoulder in order to have one hand free to hold out to the tail. “Did you catch that? If so, where?” They imagined fighting such a creature, one handed perhaps. They checked the stranger for injuries but saw none. Frowning and reaching for the creature. 

The box completely forgotten, Vanathi wanted to know everything there was to know about the tail. And if questions did not come soon, the Vaanii was already holding out their hand to touch the green goo that sizzled out.

The knock to the door went unheard. No one was home to hear it. In fact, the homeowner was only just arriving. A carriage taxi that was commonly seen throughout the streets of Destarin pulled up outside of the building. It seemed a bit strange for such an average looking carriage, weathered and old to stop in front of this opulent looking home, enough to make one wonder if perhaps the taxi was simply in the wrong place because surely the owner or whoever lived here wouldn't be taking a taxi. Surely they should have their own private carriage. And yet, the door to the dingy carriage was opened and out stepped a man. He was dressed well, his suit clearly tailored, but it was perhaps the only thing which looked nice about him. Generally he had fairly average features but the most surprising part about him was the fact he was carrying a large severed reptilian tail that was dripping lime-green blood that ate away anything it dripped onto like a highly concentrated acid. Perhaps this was why he took the taxi rather than his own carriage for after exiting the taxi it was quite clear that the entire bottom had nearly melted away completely and the only parts which remained were one small section near the front to be used as a foothold.

"Send me the bill for the repairs," he stated plainly and the one driving the carriage taxi, a nervous looking kobold, simply nodded emphatically before snapping the reigns and ushering the horse drawn carriage away quickly before anymore damage could be done.

Valentin looked at the one stood outside the threshold of his estate and after giving them a brief but quick appraisal, asked unceremoniously, "And who are you?" The tail he held was massive, it was longer than his abdomen and was partly draped over the front of his shoulder, the severed part held away from his body as it dripped a puddle of sizzling green onto the stone ground.

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi, still slightly lost in thought, nodded. The experience so vivid she could barely believe she was the only one who’d gone through it. She gritted her teeth as she made sense of the stream of images that had flicked by. “They were like fixed moments in time, all passing by my eyes one after the other. I saw things that I feel like I’ve seen before, and things that were similar. Moments of blood and guts and death, and moments of drink and company and merrymaking.” 

They shrugged. “I don’t think I saw a baker's boy anywhere in there,” Vanathi admitted. “Though it was all going very fast. I can’t say what was past and future, but it left me mostly… excited.”

She sighed. “Probably not,” she agreed. Though there was of course another way she could be saved, the distress and danger didn’t have to be that big. Just to be swept off her feet would be enough. 

The Vaanii smiled at the offering of a sympathetic smile, it was rare for her to talk about her status as a demi-god at all, to speak of their past. “You assume they’re going to be angry and jealous?” She took a deep breath. “I want to hide for a while,” she said. “To be someone else, it’s probably wrong, to wish I could pretend, but I do enjoy being someone else.” 

She thought, anything that had stood out to her. She tapped a finger to her chin. “There was a dragon, and a soldier before the flames that I did not know,” she said. “I also saw a huge crocodile, moving through the harbour at great speed.” She shrugged, that was all that had stood out to her. 

Tajhana could not tell what Vanathi had seen, if she had seen anything, or how it had come to her. Certain teas were designed to focus in certain areas, to be more easily consumed, but one could never tell how a person would take to them, and love was an especially complex sort of future to seek. People could have many, or none, and some could be positively heart breaking.

When Vanathi seemed to disappear into herself for a moment Tajhana simply waited, patient until Vanathi spoke once more and seemed to find her mind in the teashop again. "I can't say if how you saw things is how I do," she answered with a light rising and falling of her shoulders. "What did you see?"

"I am not sure a bakers boy would have much ability to save you, were you to be a damsel in distress," Tajhana commented. Tajhana herself did not think she would be able to do that kind of thing. She had no magic or strength, she had survived by isolation and usefulness alone.

Tajhana offered a small sympathetic smile. "I think that is a fair way to feel," she offered in an attempt to comfort. "All you love will likely die regardless of status, would it be easier to watch someone die who could not fathom the meaning of what you are? Who would be angry and jealous?" Tajhana posed the question if only for Vanathi to perhaps process some of her feelings, to see them from another light.

"Did you see anything that stood out to you?" Tajhana then asked of Vanathi's vision.

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

@valentinstjohn

Mansions and castles and palaces weren't anything new to Vanathi, perhaps she'd even grown to dislike them rather than to enjoy their splendour like she once had. In her opinion, those with horrible taste usually occupied those spaces.

She had a whole box of produce with her, order by someone around this part of town, but she hadn't exactly paid ample attention to the directions, nor had she written it down. Leaving her, rather annoyingly, to just knock on doors and ask around. Surely someone had need of veggies and fruits.

The box in her hands, she knocked on the big door with her feet. Hard enough to kick it in should it accidentally be locked.

This place could come straight from one of those steamy novels she used to read on long trips.

"Hello! Anyone home?"

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi was certain she’d get her chance to meet Zaya’s other half, though what he looked like reamined a mystery to her, perhaps she’d have to look for those who seemed to have animal-like qualities to them. Which… well, there were plenty of those. Merely calling Zaya’s name might give her the answers. She liked a challenge regardless. And Zaya clearly was a challenge all on her own, much firmer in her responses than most of the people Vanathi knew, she actually loved the directness. It didn’t leave her fishing, she hated when too many words were spilled, they were often useless. “I am,” she agreed. “And I’ll call him your odiokaokan from now on,” she concluded. Intending to look for this human who worked at a tavern. 

“I look forward to visiting you some day,” the Vaanii said, genuinely. “And if you ever need some gossip, I work at the grocer: at Kormos.”

end.

It felt equally as strange hearing someone use her words as it did when they didn't, like it just didn't feel the same as home, but Zaya appreciated the effort and allowed the thought to simply remain a sad one in her mind. "He is likely at work," Zaya shrugged, not intending to lead the person to their home regardless. Even if she liked them Zaya also liked their privacy and the fact most did not know where they lived, it meant that he could be pandok as he liked without scaring people as well.

"I could," Zaya responded, only because she was technically correct even if Zaya didn't personally see much of a point to that sort of communication. They were the sort of people who thrived in community and experiences, their retellings were done by word not by hand as it seemed was done here. It felt almost contrary to her nature and so she simply would not but she also didn't feel a constant desire to explain herself, even fighting to make it known how she was connected to Yazi was concerted effort on her part that she didn't think she should need to do.

"Creature isn't a word I like either," she responded, her eyes flickering away as she had been headed home when the woman spoke to her. "You really are a gossip," Zaya asserted, once more not meaning it as an insult but the questions were beginning to feel overwhelming. "I keep him looking human, it is for the best," she answered, not wishing to say what Yazi was beyond this for fear he would be called a creature again. "He works at a tavern, you might find him there."

"I will go home now," Zaya informed her, not half so polite as the kingdom's in these continents were as to gently request or announce her leave. "If you wish to see me in town I work at the flower shop."

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi tried out the words on her tongue. “Idajia okaon,” she said, and then “odiokaokan.” They rolled off nicely, far better than ‘familiar’. She leaned forward, armoured by this idea of mind and heart, of love and truths. If only she could find her baker’s boy and pretend they carried the other half of her heart. “That’s… beautiful actually, way cooler than familiar, I get why you’re annoyed if people compare the two, sounds like a very bad comparison. I must meet this odiokaokan of yours, if he is the other half of you, then I haven’t properly met you until I meet him.” Why couldn’t she have been born in a place like that? Instead of at the mercy of her grandfather’s bloody legend. 

She nodded, this was probably beyond her understanding as well, but she could understand how cultures could mean different experiences. She smiled. “You still write them?” they asked. She tried to imagine her own father being happy for her, she hoped that with time he’d be only annoyed at her choices, no longer enraged. 

“Frowning is very bad. People should frown less,” she decided. She crossed her arms in interest, her smile filled with the richness of gossip. “What did you say he was? A creature of some kind? Does he walk around the town as a creature too? Or just as a human?” 

"We say we are 'idajia okaon' and they are our 'odiokaokan.' Here it is like...," Zaya frowned trying to explain a concept that had taken her a while to understand because it was not the same for her back home. "Your truths are your mind and your love is your heart? For us they are the same. Your mind and heart are the same but half because someone else has the other half, so when you meet someone who has the other half you get um like tied together?" Zaya could feel her tongue twisting over analogies she didn't half understand. "So when we are alone we are only a half, then when we find them we are whole. He is my whole."

"Yes, but it is different for me," Zaya insisted. The difference being she knew the significance of what Yazi was to her, where as Yazi could not because he had not grown up with that understanding instilled. "My family understands and is happy for me," she further persisted in the difference, though she did not continue to ask on the other woman's own adventures since the answer had not made sense to her.

Baths. She wasn't sure having never seen or used one, not a common topic to arise. "Frowning is definitely bad," Zaya agreed instead. "He is of his kind, he will keep his wrinkles now by the time I match him." At least, Zaya chose to believe this.

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi looked back at the cup, then to Tajhana, then the cup. They thought about it for a moment, but given everything they’d been through… it wouldn’t be that big a risk to try and see their future. If it was much of one. 

So she took a sip, relishing in the delicious taste for a moment, before awaiting the future to roll before her eyes. And then it hit her all at once, images that quickly passed before her eyes, some she could make sense of, some not at all. It was, in fact, overwhelming. It was also much tamer than she’d braced herself for. Not too many images of blood and gore and guts. More so meetings and people and drink. The things she did enjoy. However, no baker’s boy either, or maybe it went all too quickly to find him. 

She sucked in a breath when the images disappeared and she was back in the teashop with Tajhana. “You… see this type of thing always?” she asked.

Vanathi chuckled. “Maybe,” she admitted. “I kind of want to be the damsel in distress for once,” she added. “But you’re right, I would also like some acknowledgement. Maybe I ask too much of my sweet baker’s boy.” But she could envision them, had been dreaming of them for years now. An escape, a way out, a different life. Yet she was also not ready to give up on her past memories. To bury the Vaanii. 

“I… not poor memories, no,” they stated. “I’ve simply seen too many of them perish, even the ones I grew close to. I’ve always felt indebted to them. They would die while I remain, and they’d know the outcome, and still accept it. I’m afraid of being with someone who’d know what I am, and accept that, and fear their life would be one day snuffed out for association with me. So I wish to escape it all.” As she’d been doing. Hiding in plain sight in Destarin.

"Drinking should be all you need do, it should come on quickly," she assured her. It may not end up making much sense and could, frequently, be overwhelming, especially if one had a long life and, in truth, with the Vaanii's powers there was potentially she could only even see up until her next death. Variables. Always. It was hard to move through them.

The narrowed eyes seemed a curious response to her words, watching as they eventually relaxed. "The appeal of a bakers boy, in concept, would be that you don't wish for them to see you as you are, even if you would hope to not be challenged. It would be hard to have both, to be able to be so unquestionable while also being unacknowledged."

Tajhana looked at the cooling glass of tea, ready for Vanathi's consumption. "Have you considered a soldier of some kind might be more fitting? Able to acknowledge who you are and respect your opinions without wanting to use what you can do? Or do you have poor memories of being around them?" Tajhana asked for clarity.

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi tapped her chin as she mulled it over, trying to find a word that would explain that bond better. It sounded more like she and her creature were equals, but she did have the power to control his form. “What is the word you use for it?” They asked.

The Vaanii nodded, she could imagine being sad if one had to leave behind not just all they’d ever known but also end up being the only of their kind. Like the dragons in the children stories that Vanathi would burn through on a daily basis when she had been young. “You do not miss your family?” She shook her head. “I’ve travelled much further than this continent,” she said. “Visited many places most haven’t heard of, plenty of islands and countries in search of… new alliances.” Or to kill old ones.

She beamed back at her, glad to have found someone who took skin care just as seriously. Perhaps when she ran out of her current cream she might ask the other what she was using. “My father has very good skin, my mother prepared his baths and always chided him for frowning.” She chuckled. “Maybe it is because he has scales? Or perhaps you haven’t found the right cream yet for him?” 

"It is this worlds closest term, but if he is mine, I am his, he just cannot do that sort of magic," she insisted. Familiar seemed an odd word to her, used in two ways but holding similar lines of thought. Zaya had wondered if she had grown up on this continent if she would have considered Yazi a 'familiar,' less than herself, and it made her stomach churn. Did witches here not fathom if something was aware enough to bond with them then they clearly should not have been witch and familiar but equal?

Nosey thing. Zaya wondered who she would tell. It didn't matter, she just sort of wondered. "I came to this continent when I was a young girl, to find Yazi, where I am from most find their 'familiars' very early but I could not find mine, so I came to search for him. I could go back but Yazi would not find any of his kind there, he would be sad," she insisted, though there were many reasons. "Have you always been on this continent?"

Zaya smiled when the girl shared she took care of herself, that her mother had too. No wonder she was so beautiful. "My mother was the same, the most beautiful woman. My father less so, but he had a lot of responsibilities that lined his face because of who he is," she reasoned. "Yazi is the same, lines on his face from who he is. No matter how much I try to take care of him they appear across his brow and on his scales."

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi chuckled, making a gesture with her hand and then bobbing her head. "Oh Tannas, you sweet man, I'll hear no such thing, I'll pretend it was especially made for me even if you repeat to me a million times it wasn't," she decided. Then took the glass in hand and twirled it a little, before bringing it to her lips. She threw back half of the drink in one go, not realising how thirsty she was - not necessarily for anything liquid but for anything new - and breathed out a happy breath.

"This is delicious, and it combines so well with the food." She licked her lips, still the bright big smile on her face. "Is it a secret recipe, or would you be willing to share it with me?" she asked, her eyes filled with mischief. She took a sip, savouring the taste, and then returned to her food. "You, my friendly dwelf friend, have a gift!"

"I did no such thing," returned the dwelf with a roll of his eyes and an indignant sniff, "Ain't nothing special. Just a lil' something," he mumbled and grumbled. "Go on and drink now, a'fore it runs off on ya."

He took up a dingy scrap of cloth and rubbed his hands on it before his attention was momentarily called away by another patron down the bar requesting another ale, which was promptly provided, sliding it down the bar top to them. Attention back to Vanathi, Tannas only looked at them from the edge of his vision as he rubbed at a spot on the bar with the cloth, "How's it?"

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

A familiar that could be changed form at the witch's request. She wondered what that was like. To have your own creature always at your fingertips. If she had one, she'd change it into a horse or a dragon and use it to fly and ride places she'd never been before. "What is the term you use in your world?" she asked, eyes still flashing in interest. "What is your world?" Having grown up at court, she did get into contact with other countries and nations and places, but it was usually fleeting and boring, people seemed intent on staying diplomatic, while Vanathi wanted to hear it all.

Her eyes were slightly filled with tears. It did sound bigger than 'familiar' could encompass. The fact that she would remain here for the sake of the one she was bonded with, because else he'd be sad, that was beautiful. How great would it have been if anyone could've noticed that doing her secret missions for years made her sad, and thus told her father that she shouldn't do those anymore? Instead of having to resort to running away. "He's very lucky to have you to watch out for his feelings," she noted. "But that's huge! You left your own home to find your... other half! How old were you?" Vanathi would've given everything to be that adventurous when she was younger, to have been able to explore more than just court.

"Oh yes, I've been to a few islands nearby, but not far, and usually only for some diplomatic mission."

Vanathi nodded in understanding. Her father had been the same, and her brothers too, they tried to take care of their skin, but they would often be too concentrated on their duties. Her mother had always told her that the rules were different for them.

"He must be so jealous of your skin, it looks so soft."

"It is this worlds closest term, but if he is mine, I am his, he just cannot do that sort of magic," she insisted. Familiar seemed an odd word to her, used in two ways but holding similar lines of thought. Zaya had wondered if she had grown up on this continent if she would have considered Yazi a 'familiar,' less than herself, and it made her stomach churn. Did witches here not fathom if something was aware enough to bond with them then they clearly should not have been witch and familiar but equal?

Nosey thing. Zaya wondered who she would tell. It didn't matter, she just sort of wondered. "I came to this continent when I was a young girl, to find Yazi, where I am from most find their 'familiars' very early but I could not find mine, so I came to search for him. I could go back but Yazi would not find any of his kind there, he would be sad," she insisted, though there were many reasons. "Have you always been on this continent?"

Zaya smiled when the girl shared she took care of herself, that her mother had too. No wonder she was so beautiful. "My mother was the same, the most beautiful woman. My father less so, but he had a lot of responsibilities that lined his face because of who he is," she reasoned. "Yazi is the same, lines on his face from who he is. No matter how much I try to take care of him they appear across his brow and on his scales."

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi placed a hand on her chest and bobbed her head in apology. Cursed was indeed a bad word, she would never call herself that, but the ring that stayed on her finger no matter what was a curse of its own. It was not necessarily cursed however, she did not think so, it was spelled for sure. "Apologies," she said, then squinted their eyes. "At your desire? Is he your familiar?" they asked, still incredibly curious to hear about this great monster who defended the other's cabin in the woods against wolfs and monsters. They wondered if they could fight it.

"You get it," the Vaanii said with a wink and a flick of their hand. "Information is important, and most of all, it is amusing. I do enjoy hearing things that make me feel all the emotions. There is nothing like a good tale. And you certainly seem to have some good ones. Have you been in Destarin all your life? Or seen the world? Come from a place I've never heard of?"

It took Vanathi a moment to decipher what she meant exactly, but once there, they couldn't help but grin. "I make sure to rub in my body with coconut cream as often as possible," she admitted. "My mother taught me that skin is and should always be protected, from the weather, the sun, the air." She brushed a hand over her hands. She was lucky though, which she did not tell Zaya, that her skin healed itself whenever she resurrected, any scar she could've been gifted was brushed away. She hated dying, but she did not mind the feeling of being renewed afterwards. It was true that a god looked upon her.

"Cursed? Rude, he is not cursed," Zaya insisted of Yazi's condition. Cursed? Pfft. "He is lucky - gifted - to be able to shift for my desire, any which way," she described further of Yazi's state. He had been chosen by her, lucky that she had come to his land and picked him when he would not have been had she not travelled across the dangerous waters from her home to his.

At their admittance they were a gossip though Zaya's smile grew from the hurt on her face that Yazi had been cursed. "That is good, better to know things that destroy them," she concurred. Zaya wasn't opposed, she would defend herself by whatever means were required but there was a difference between necessity and desire. She didn't desire destruction.

"I know the names of the ugliest," she responded, a judgemental reflection to her eyes. "So many people need so much help. So many just let themselves burn and bruise and wrinkle," Zaya shook her head in disgust, as though it were their fault they aged and took on the labours of their day. Admittedly the pallid nature of many in this land was new to her, seeing them burn as they did seemed a stupidity she couldn't fathom and she had been attempting to find some sort of remedy to this but it was not a remedy she'd ever needed to make before. "You are lucky, you have a strong kind of pretty. Like a wood nymph."

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi beamed, bobbing her head along in sentiment. "If only either of us knew someone who could conjure up snow, like a weather magician, those exist right? I don't recall if I've ever seen someone like it. I did meet this gorgeous woman once, hair white as snow, dark skin, she could turn any body of water into ice. She once showed off by turning a whole lake into ice, freezing the boats, the fish, and bird caught in its waters. People awed and fawned and everyone worried for the longest time. Everyone was holding their breath, and then with one sweep of her arm, the ice turned back to water." She nodded, recalling how beautiful it had looked, how cold, how impressive. "Alas, I don't know anyone who can turn the skies cold enough to snow. Would you join me in a snow fight?" she asked, with a smirk.

"Ugh, you are preaching to the choir," Alex said, shaking his head. He had no issues making small talk with strangers - he was usually the one to start a nonsensical chat, so he was flattered that someone approached him - and the woman struck a very excitable nerve. Ever since he died, he was naturally colder than a person who wasn't undead. When he was human, he liked basking in the sun like a reptile, always getting sunburnt (he was pale even then) and loathed the winter months, where it was dark and cold and sent his body into shivers. Now, though, that was his happy spot - dark and cold. Fifteen years on and he just now was getting used to it. "I want snow so bad. I love the snow." He couldn't even remember if there was snow in Destarin... maybe a few times? it had been too long.

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi's eyes widened a bit - a bit too much, she was one for theatrics - and she gazed into the tea. She blew another breathe at the tea and then smiled back up at Tajhana. "I've always wanted to have a moment to be a seer," she said. Which meant she wished to look through Tajhana's eyes, to experience something that wasn't her deadly and deadening power. She certainly wouldn't mind to have more of Tajhana than this, but she understood that she was being being rejected... understood, but it hadn't yet completely sunk in.

"I do like that. How do I do that?" she asked, both her hands grasping around the mug. She shook her shoulders at the warmth.

She slightly narrowed her eyes, though of course, she should not be surprised anyone knowing of her background who was in fact a seer. Her narrowed eyes soon disappeared, as she focussed on a display of contemplation. "In a way I do," she admitted. "At least from those in higher positions, I do not wish to be recognised or have to explain my decisions."

Tajhana smiled, if only because she believed Vanathi would certainly be so generous with her words and simply happy she wasn't putting all of her eggs into Tajhana's basket. If Tajhana's lack of a desire for a lasting relationship was not already apparent she had forseen if they tried her lack of a desire for children would also eventually arise as a problem. Vanathi was fated for someone better, who, even if they couldn't carry a child or give her one to carry, would desire a family with the sweet woman.

"Our tea should allow you to have your own vision, not many people are open to it though," she admitted. It was hard to convince them too, she always tried. Tajhana felt people were more likely to believe with their own eyes than with hers, even if she could see more paths, determine chaos a little better, it didn't always result in people believing it. Not until they saw it for themselves.

As for her potential gender indifferent bakers boy... "You will but I can already tell your great love will be so much more than a kind hearted baker. Do you stay away from those who are like where you came from?" Tajhana asked.

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi almost clapped in their hands in excitement. They'd fought giant monsters - or well, they would find it unfair to call them monsters, they were simply creatures that were monstrous - and been killed by a few too. Not that they sought to be killed by this one in particular, but they did love the possibility of facing scary creatures. It was such an easy way out for people to call someone scary. They were scary too, in their own way. And they liked to embrace other scary ones too.

"As big as you'd like? Please tell me more? Do they grow big on command? Are they held back by some kind of spellbound curse? Or can they transform from a small creature into a larger creature?"

She loved her attitude, the directness of her speech. Vanathi had been at court for too long, the hidden niceties and the constant compliments that were meaningless and empty had always tired her out. No, she wanted to be asked directly, she wanted the rudeness of others not to stir the pot but to get all that ridiculous nonsense out of the way with. She too couldn't be bothered half of the time. "I am most certainly a gossip," she admitted. "At least more than I am a house destroying wolf!" She bobbed her head. "Though most would simply call me a horrendous flirt. I have to know the names of all those within Destarin who are far too beautiful."

"As big as I like," she asserted strongly. Zaya had made Yazi terrifyingly large and astonishingly small, she suspected he preferred the former, though not half as much as he preferred being pandok sized. "With wings and fire and the sharpest of teeth," Zaya proceeded to assert. "Skin so strong no sword could go through it and fire so hot it melts armour."

All the terrifying aspects she described would certainly not be what was found at her home. Not immediately anyway. When Zaya had left she had left Yazi in his two footed form, in case he needed to go to work himself or decided to see friends. She tended to leave him that way as often as she could, even if he'd have prefered be left as pandok.

"If you are not a house destroying wolf, are you just a gossip?" she asked, not intending the question as rude but as an assessment as to why this woman was asking. Gossip made sense to her. It was fun. And to be gossiped about seemed playful, except when it was people saying she was not a good witch to her Yazi.

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi rested her head on her hands, leaning forward a bit so she could see Tannas move behind the bar. Her smile was flirtatious, but only because it usually was. Destarin was just filled to the brim with lovely people: the loveliest. They were either incredibly attractive, kind, heroic, or all three. And when they were all three, she would go all out. She didn't mind if there was nothing to win. She just loved either seeing people blush or being made to blush herself.

As the food was presented, Vanathi leaned into it, making a show of smelling it, enjoying it, and loving it. She bobbed her head. "Delicious, my friend. I already love it and I haven't had a bite yet." They took a bite right after, using the spoon and filling it to the brim with stew.

They took a good sip and let it warm their insides as Tannas made the drink. In their eyes: it looked like a little show, but they could be reading into things.

"Ohhh, look at that," Vanathi said with great excitement. "It's purple." She held a hand to her heart. "You made this especially for me, Tannas, I'm intrigued."

After a slow tap of each callous tipped finger against the wooden counter, landing with a soft thud that was easily muted from the otherwise rowdy tavern, Tannas met and returned their gaze. Her sweetness was like honey, sticky and aromatic, it wanted to cling to him and trickle into all his coarse corners to make them equally as sweet. His eyes squinted in the face of her sweet smile and said not another word to her and only sucked on his teeth, upper lip curling in a curt manner before he hopped off of the stool and back onto the ground.

He was not so vertically challenged that he couldn't be seen behind the bar, for a half dwarf he was one of the taller ones, thanks to the elvish blood in him and so his head was still above the bar but not his shoulders. Still, with her vantage point, it was likely she'd be able to see him well as he crossed back to the hearth where a low mostly charcoaled fire was keeping a large cauldron pot warm. Tannas grabbed a wooden bowl along the way and once he reached the hearth, took the iron hook used to pull the cauldron pot closer, then ladled in a helping of the thick and creamy stew. Near the hearth, against some stones, Tannas pulled back a thick cloth to reveal that beneath it were rows of house made bread, warm and crusty. He pulled a healthy chunk off and added it to the side of the bowl. The inside of the bread was soft and airy, a sourdough type of bread that would go well with the hearty stew. Further from the hearth at the back table away from the heat, Tannas pulled down a wedge of hard cheese and carved off a piece of it. This was set on top of the bread in the bowl of stew. Finally, with the food all ready, Tannas went back to where Vanathi waited and without stepping back up onto his bucket, reached up to set and push the bowl of food over to her, only spilling a bit off the edge as he did. A wooden spoon was then thrown up onto the counter for them to use if she should chose and would land with a soft clatter.

Then came the making of her drink which consisted of him filling a goblet with honey mead, adding a splash of some kind of iridescent liquid, then cutting off a sprig of rosemary and using that to stir the liquid until the color changed to a pale purple shade and then he stepped up onto the bucket and set the drink before them with more care than he had previously done with the stew so it did not spill over the edge. "There," he said finally, "something sweet."

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi chuckled, and nodded appreciatively. "Oh they are, shared with so many." She giggled at her own inside joke. "Not just for beautiful tea shop owners," she assured Tajhana. Though not just compliments, Vanathi shared far more words and ideas than anyone taught at court did. But they'd always enjoyed making people flattered or shy or blush.

Her goal had been to flirt, but she knew Tajhana had skills that went beyond most. She knew she could request a tea and a fortune perhaps, to learn of what was in store for her future. Unlike those with long life-spans, Vananthi knew she would die. She was aging already, she would age like any regular human. She might find her true death before then, might die at a younger age.

"I wouldn't turn down such a gracious offer," the Vaanii said with a grin. "Maybe your visions can tell me if I'm to find my baker's boy one day?" Gender-neutral of course, though she did wish to have children one day.

Tajhana did not believe she could shine even the light of a tea candle on Vanathi, she was known in the town but she was not something great or amazing that could draw attention, or gift it in some grand scale. Tajhana might have considered a tryst for a time, if she did not know it would hurt the vaanii in the end. She could not be so cruel.

"There is prettiness and beauty surrounding you...," she insisted of the establishment itself, of the people within, of the town, a slow gesture to the space to indicate as much. "I think your compliments should be spread widely."

"That I would hope," she smirked of the compliments for her tea.

Still, she said she had come for a purpose, Tajhana wondering if the flirting was simply to delay something that brought nerves to her. "You were looking for guidance though? Perhaps some of our vision tea will help?" she suggested, unsure if Vanathi would be open to seeing her own future in her mind.

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi couldn't help the bubbling and extensive laugh that followed. House destructive wolves, she thought she'd heard that story. The beautiful woman said it with a voice of reason. That and the clear talk that there was a terrifying monster protecting her hut. Meaning she did indeed live in a hut. It wasn't the reaction that she'd expected, it was much better.

"I promise you I am not," Vanathi said, a hand to her heart. "I could certainly not face up against a terrifying monster. How terrifying are we talking? Sharp teeth? Fire breathing? Wings? How big?" Vanathi put her food down and extended her arms. "This big?"

This was not her best flirting, it wasn't flirting at all, but she was now caught on by the house destroying wolves and the terrifying monster. Always one for the stories, because she most certainly adored the tales of heroes and villains. Just to see herself as a hero.

Zaya had lived in Destarin a while now and still could not totally grasp all the traditions they had this time of year, all she had really come to understand was just how many people seemed to die in this land. Death had, obviously, existed where she was from but it did not seem to carry the same burdens she felt it often did here, and yet...the burdens felt reasonable when she considered what they would be like if applied to her. What would she do if she lost Yazi? The other part of her.

Still, she tended to return home quickly from work so she did not accidentally insult someone's offering or step on something left out for the dead. It was as she made this journey home she heard a chipper tone speaking to her, Zaya's dark eyes darting over her shoulder at the brunette who had spoken and raising one of her brows.

"You're not one of those house destructive wolves are you?" Zaya asked, as though the tale of the three little pigs and their homes was very much factual. "Because my hut is protected by a terrifying monster, you couldn't take them."

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

@dxmergues

Vanathi felt some freedom to do whatever she liked now that she had completely her tasks as someone who'd survived. Though she couldn't help continuing the offerings, even if it was a little much. Her plate at the cafe was doubled, one she would later throw into the fire for the ghosts of those who had passed, while she was absent-mindedly eating from the other.

With a content sigh she watched the busy cafe. All tables were taken, people were seated next to strangers, and there was a run of the mill of rumours and stories.

But for once, she didn't feel like she needed to hear about them. "I am kindly wishing for it to snow, but I suppose that might not be normal weather in Destarin," she noted to the person sitting next to her. "I'd organise a snow fight."