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Post by cookies on Jul 2, 2009 9:56:39 GMT -5
 Yu glided gracefully through the streets, eyes on the ground. It was a wonder she wasn't falling over with her huge (if not quite full) knapsack, but then, her family had always valued grace in every situation. This place was crowded, which presented two problems. One, she wanted to avoid bumping into people, lest she have to make a properly polite and very long apology in the way she'd been taught. And two, she'd developed a strange but deep-set habit of having to bow to anyone who stood near her too long. That would be Yu, fanciful and polite to a fault. Mother was the one that had said she should seek her own fortune here, whatever that meant. Well, she knew it meant she'd have to leave her Highland home that she loved (where she was respected) to a new place, and she'd most likely have to keep travelling. Couldn't she just find a stroke of luck and race back home? That would be so much better than these filthy streets full of mannerless people. But of course that wouldn't happen. Trying to smile through her thick distaste, she thought of the fun that would be going home when she'd found her fortune. But the thing about finding fortune: You don't know where you'll find it. |
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Post by The Jenn on Jul 2, 2009 10:55:25 GMT -5
 The skyways of the Capital were far less congested than the pedestrian streets, prompting Khushrenada to take advantage of his aerial capabilities. It meant he had to use his animal form, but that was no hassle. Combined with his Diamond ability to allow him perfectly controlled and effortless flight, he could navigate around other winged city travelers with far less hassle than some of the ungainly species that happened to have wings attached to them and were trying to compete for air space with the avians. Stupid. He backwinged briefly and perched on the top of one brick shop, surveying the teeming masses below. He had conducted his business with an old military contact in the city, who had been pleased enough to see him but quite surprised by his still-youthful appearance. He had politely passed it off as good genes, inherited from others in the family, and left the matter at that. Now all that remained was a quick survey to see if any Avington bats were in the city today. In a perfect world, some wayward woman would be searching for her lost daughter. Sadly, this was not a perfect world and he had yet to encounter such a person. Something in him doubted that he ever would. Mirriam would be his responsibility for as long as he allowed it. |
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Post by cookies on Jul 2, 2009 11:30:42 GMT -5
Yu decided to take to the sky, she was a Bird, after all. She hoped she'd either find something worth doing or meet someone worth knowing. If there was nothing worth her time here, her venture had been completely useless. Hopefully, she could figure out what were the good things about this city. Every city had them. Right now, she'd just been wandering arounf aimlessly, and it bothered her to not have direction. Why would you go anywhere without purpose? Well, she had a purpose, but it was so vague that even she didn't understand it. Maybe she'd just find luck, which was good as fortune. She'd settle for just not being so bored. Her knapsack was way too big, and soon she was very tired.
She landed on a small roof. She settled, thinking about her future. Mother had sent her packing, demanding she bring a certain reputation back to her family. She'd told her to go off and seek her fortune. That was all well and good, but how was she to do that? This wasn't a fairy tale, and she didn't exactly know an old man with a bushel of straw or some such nonsense. Well, she wasn't going to just stay still. She had a LIFE ahead of her, and she would find something to do with it. Breaking away from her heavy thoughts and glancing around, she noticed another brilliant Bird.
Seeing him, she said, "Forgive me, sir, I did not see you there. My apologies for not obliging your presence. May I ask your name, please? I am called Yu....Forgive my rash manners, I have recently arrived in this fair city."
She flushed. How unobservant of her.
"If you don't mind, sir, what would be a fine form of spending my time in this city? I am a traveler."
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Post by The Jenn on Jul 2, 2009 13:29:11 GMT -5
Tucking his wings more comfortably against his sides, Khushrenada glanced over at the sound of wing beats not far away and watched another bird settle on the small building's brick-lined roof. She seemed rather preoccupied with her own thoughts and he remained silent, turning his attention back to the crowds of people below. This was near the intersection of two busier roads just before lunch time, and so the foot traffic was at its heaviest. His eyes looked to pick out any green forms and weed the Josiggy from the Avington when he heard a voice near at hand and realized that the Highlander on the roof was addressing him.
"It's no trouble," he replied absently, turning his mind from the likely futile search to the task of conversation. And, apparently, information kiosk. "Your manners leave little room for error. You will find that people are always more abrupt in the city."
She looked young, possibly fresh from her home realm and out exploring the world. Many did, and a good portion of them started with the Capital. A good number of them never ended up leaving. He was perhaps lucky to have gone straight from Avington to the Court, avoiding the lure of the sedentary city life. "Well, that would depend where your interests lie. I generally enjoy the military history museum and the public gardens. There are also some excellent local restaurants, if you have the money and want to challenge your palette." Odd how the overly formalized speech patterns came back to him even years after his lessons. The Court always kept it fresh in his mind, but time out campaigning deteriorated it slowly but surely in the face of common speech.
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Post by cookies on Jul 2, 2009 16:29:54 GMT -5
"Thank you, sir. I'm sorry, I do believe I did not quite catch your name? Not that I entreat to name, but I've learned that an abrupt manner comes from an abrupt search FOR manners, indeed. Could you please oblige to recommend a place for dining, sir?" said Yu, making a quick, florishing bow, as was her habit when she met a person.
There was her deeply ingrained sense of manners again, from her Highlander family who taught her respect and politeness form day one. She supposed if she really wanted to a less polite person, she could, but why would you when you could have the charming influence that came with those magic words of proper etiquette? There was always the trouble of people who were so common-sounding. Would she meet people here who did indeed have an abrupt manner? Really, the nerve of some folks! Well, can't blame the uneducated.
Returning to her conversation, she said, "I have arrived from the Highlands to seek my fortune, perchance, here in this fair city. Not that I fully understand what that entails....Success must have something to do with it, I suppose. Sir, have you any idea how fortune is to be found? For, after all, you do not know where to find it. Have you found yours? By the way, sir....Who are you? Where are you from? I cannot seem to tell. Again, I am called Yu....of the Highlands, but I suppose good sir could tell that. My apologies."
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Post by The Jenn on Jul 12, 2009 15:38:47 GMT -5
"Ah, my apologies, Miss Yu. It would seem that I have become too accustomed to this city myself. My name is Khushrenada, a resident and pseudo-King within the Court of Diamonds. I served under the late Queen Cerevanna and merely await my new Queen's pleasure for a Quest and title." How rude of him not to have responded to her introduction. Manners, true manners of the sort that this young lady sported, were in rare supply.
He concentrated on the Diamond charm to compensate and spread one wing over his chest in an intimation of a bow, though appropriate from his rank to hers. "Hem. Let me see. One of the more quality restaurants in the Capital would be the Golden Apple, though I would certainly wait until the evening to dine there. Some nights you need a reservation in order to garner a seat, but as this is the middle of the week... you would probably be able to find a seat without too much delay. Lunch options include the Point Cafe or, for something less formal, the Killian Snack."
Her fortune? That was interesting. Many came to the city for jobs, fame, glory, opportunities... some even found what they were looking for. "I come from Avington, though my father had some Highland blood in him and I turned out a mix of the two. I've been to the Highlands quite often and found it to be a lovely place. Personally, I found success in the military and then the Courts, though I wouldn't recommend that route to everyone."
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