Caution, Child at Play

Seldan threads his way among the crowds and merchants and pallets of goods of every kind, the sun overhead and light breezes making it a fine day to shop or to conduct business here - or anywhere else. He seems intent on a specific errand, though he does pause to look at a thing here or display there.

"Ssa. Thesse are airsships, Ohtli," Svarshan is saying. Young or not. Seven years old or not, well past the age of riding on their father's shoulders--or even being associated with the hatch mother, or hatch father at all--Ohtli stands next to her hatch father. She looks like him, dark of scale, her build lean and the colors of her cloth the deep jungle-green of Am'shere. One who knows the People would scout her as hunter-caste, and Ohlti leans forward as the ships are pointed out. The massive, giant ships--some slowly moving overhead, others being loaded.

Svarshans next to her. Very close, weapons sheathed but present. Armor understated, but present, and one hand on her shoulder. He looks over at the sight of the other paladin, and offers a thump of his tail. "Peasse to you," he says.

Erendriel is accosted by a merchant trying to sell stuff to visible adventurers. "Flint and steel?" she laughs with surprise. "I already have them right here." She holds up her left hand "Flint." Then her right. "And steel. Good for starting any fire."

Hun'rar is jogging along, simple sturdy breaches and sleeveless shirt give the appearance he is exercising. What makes it unusual though is that he doing it blindfolded of all things. A strip of black material is wrapped around his eyes but he is happily and easily jogging along through the people and deftly avoiding any collisions or obstacles like he wasn't wearing it at all.

In the air up above wheels a raven, following the drifts and eddies of the air currents peacefully but with a watchful eye for the world down below. On such a beautiful day it's not difficult to see why any bird might be up in the sky, but it's a bit of an odd presence. A black blot on an otherwise blue sky. Which isn't to say that it's the only bird up there, but there aren't that many. Casually, and subtly it follows the tail of a man in dark clothing, his long dark hair swaying behind him as he walks. He comes to a stop somewhat at a distance from Svarshan and the sith-makar's offspring; waiting for various people to pass so that he can avoid running into anyone. Karasu takes that moment to nod politely to Seldan, whom he recognizes from previous engagements.

Svarshan raises his muzzle. "Ssa," he says, voice quiet and warm. He lans down, and grasps his hatch-daughter about the waist, and lifts her up into the air.

"Put me down! Waarrriiooor!" she says, and hisses. Kicks him in the shin! He makes an 'Ow' sound, and wraps his other arm around her--maneuvers so she's wrapped around behind him, like a giant, kicking, thumping belt-buckle. One could see the slow smile, the slow puff of dark smoke emanating from his muzzle.

"--arrior!" the word is muffled. And then, hissing, sputtering laughter.

"Mrmmm..." he says, sounding content. And looks to the others. "Peasse to your nessts. Thiss is Ohtli--"

"--hunter caaaaaste!" says the muffled, faux-belt. Kick. Kick kick kick! She looks about seven, eight? years old!

Seldan's weapons are also present, although his own armor is much lighter, and underneath the long surcoat that he wears, a garment long enough to brush the tops of his boots and loosely cut. Those who know him will recognize that it is subtly different from the one he normally wears, a touch nicer and accented with silver buttons at the top. He stops as he is greeted by multiple people, and inclines his head. "Peace to yours as well. It is a pleasure to see you again." Ohlti gets a curious look, but the sudden pick-up forestalls anything else he was about to say, and draws a smile as well.

Walery has never seen sith-makar child rearing before, did not know it consisted of a series of life-or-death trials. That is interesting to know. As he enters the Airstation, he bears witness to this trial. Presumably held here so that all will bear witness to this child's leap into adulthood. "How interesting," he observes.

Karasu's gaze flickers to Ohtli, but not even a flicker of a smile shows on his features. Instead he bows politely and formally to the sith-makar who has made a living tree of himself for his child to cling to. "Greetings." He says this with his face still lowered, and the raven above noticing the collection of people gathering flings himself down to Karasu's shoulder. "Pardon for intruding." He looks back up and stalls. There are a lot more people here than there were before. Including another familiar face.

"Raaaaarrr--!" Ohtli says, and tries to bite her hatch-father. Svarshan maneuvers though, shifting here and there to juuuuuuust keep his hide out of reach. Raaaar! *shift-shift-shift* Raaaar! *press-to-sides* Raaaaar! *tilt-child-askew*

It's juggling. or grappling. Juggling. Child-rearing.

Same thing??

"Ssa. One brought her out to ssee. The sships. Sshe has chosen hunter-caste," *PUFF-CHEST DAD PRIIIIIDE* "--and will travel far, ssome day." Then, "Perhapss. Hrmmm...one heard of many candiess being delivered from. Rune, today. Perhapss that essplains the crowd. Chocolate. Leaping frogss and many-flavor. Candy beanss?" the sith-makar suggests, words slow and warm. "It iss good to sshare words again, Warrior," he says to Hun'rar, and then thumps his tail at the others he recognizes.

• juggle-child* "RAAAAaaarrr!" *bite bite bite*

"Hun'rar, a pleasure to see you. Practice?" Seldan peers curiously at the blindfold, but turns back to Svarshan and the child, now openly chuckling as he realizes that this is a child. "Karasu," he inclines his head to the Xian as well. "No, I seek charter back to Bryn Myridorn." His smile fades, in the way of one who is not looking forward to this.

Erendriel takes in the 'belt' as the loudest, most prominent feature of the entire airstation right now. Folding her arms, watching, snickering the entire time. "Good afternoon..." she says to everyone, there being too many familiar people to greet individually just yet.

Hun'rar nods and returns the blindfold to cover his eyes "Practice of sorts. The power of my heartfire grows and I can feel everything around me now without seeing them. Where people stand, what's in my way... I'm trying to get used it, makes it as easy to rely on as my natural senses." he says with a grin.

"I had heard nothing of treats being brought in." And yet now that it's been said Karasu seems to give the impression that this knowledge has been filed away carefully. Even the crow on his shoulder seems to be listening intently. Though the raven seems keenly intent on the child making such a racket while Karasu seems to be paying attention to anything else. Including the greeting from Seldan. "Karasu Himura." The dark-haired man introduces himself to those present that do not know his name. "Greetings again Seldan. What takes you to Bryn Myridorn?"

Walery continues to watch and take it all in. He'll smile to Erendriel as she almost greets him. But he's used to that sort of reception from women. He hrms as Hun'rar explains about his powers of perception expanding, and getting to the discussion late, wonders, "Is this after eating some sort of tree bark? Or something else?"

A glance towards Hun'rar. A faint grin, the faintest of teeth--but Svarshan is more careful, holding the precious thing he has in his hands at the moment. "That iss...good. We will have to practisse, next time we are out. Hunting."

"Raaaarrr!" The youngling has his hand, and is trying to gnaw on it. He twists his wrist around, and pushes the hand towards her, braking the grip and forcing her to reposition. Ohtli makes another grab!

"One iss glad, warrior. One iss very glad. Ssa," Svarshan says, and looks to Karasu, and then to Seldan, "...why do you not wissh to go to. ...the words you used," he asks.

"ARraaarrrr!"

"My parents wish to see me," Seldan explains in response to the questions, trying on a small smile. "I have not seen them since I was Called, and Mother made it clear she wishes to see me. That is a useful skill, Hun'rar. I should like to see how you do that."

Erendriel hums and nods. "Yes, I agree, being able to see without seeing sounds very useful. Say, Walery... you don't enchant armor right? I'm wondering if I should get some work done. Things have been getting more dangerous lately..." Then to Seldan. "How long will you stay?" The whole time she keeps glancing back to the child.

Walery hrms to Erendriel, "Enchant? Oh, no, nothing like that," he says disnissively. "All sorts of people in this city enchant armor, though, you can ask them. Probably half the wizards in this town make their money at that, I think. Or magic swords. Very popular, your basic magic sword."

The warrior-caste tilts his head to the side. Svarshan's silent a moment, a long moment--the arms and hands working to juggle the youth. ...who he lets go of behind-the-knees, and lets Ohtli tumble-drop to the earth.

He looks quickly her way and steps closer, before looking to Seldan. But Seldan only has part of his attention. "Ssa...one ssomewhat undersstands. One sserved in a...Myrrissh houssehold for a. Time. The relationsships were complicated..."

"...but one hass never undersstood. Ssmall oness are preciouss. A treassure beyond the Ssun, Himsself." Hey, Daeus. If I ever have to choose between You and Family. There will be words, claws. And fire. Svarshan looks to Hun'rar then, and thumps his tail. "Perhapss. We will sshare words with the priessts, and arrange a venture into the Hells. It hass been ssome time. The jawss ache with. Emptiness."

For a brief moment Karasu's eyes flicker from Seldan to the child that Svarshan is playing with. It's just a brief glance and then Karasu ducks his head to Seldan. It seems to say that he is sorry wordlessly. So he offers nothing verbally, though those who are paying close attention might notice that he is somewhat more reserved now than he had been a moment ago.

Arrange a venture into the Hells? Seldan's eyebrows threaten to rocket off of his face, so quickly do they ascend towards his hairline. "A few weeks, hopefully not more. Father would have had me serve the Sunlord, and is unlikely to take my choice of service well," he explains briefly, carefully. "But I need not burden you with my troubles. She is beautiful."

Erendriel smiles weakly to Walery. "That's too bad, I'd be a customer... I just don't need much more armor. I don't know if I'll ever again buy armor to be honest. This might last me forever." Then to Seldan she keeps that same awkward smile. "That's a long trip, hopefully you can um... make the most of it and not talk about divine politics."

Hun'rar furrows his brow "Good luck, Gilead's blessing on this venture." he says to Seldan. "After all, you are a sorcerer and in service to good, what more could anyone want?" he adds with a grin.

Walery does, though, wonder if maybe he should take up enchanting of armor. It'd make his armory a bit more full-service. But ... that's really not something he's interested in. He's got to separate life into useful things, things that make money, and things that are interesting. "Well," he says to Erendriel, "I would hope you hadn't bought armor, then didn't like the style after a few months. Armor -is- supposed to be a long term investment."

Seldan could not have chosen better words.

• DAD PUFFCHEST*

"Ssshe is a perfect. Angel," Svarshan returns warmly, as the angel attempts to grab his arm. And gnaw on it. Ohtli is in full play mode, now. He grasps her around the waist, and lifts her over a shoulder. This results in her attempting to bite, and claw at his sides and back.

This is fine. It is perfectly fine, and Ohtli, who now gnaws on his forearm, is a prefect, precious angel. Perfect. Practically. In every way.

• gnaw gnaw drool* she goes. And, Svarshan may or may not take a step closer to Hun'rar.

Seldan half-smiles at that. "I hope to make it a worthwhile trip. My thanks for the blessings, and I pray for Her light and wisdom on it as well. If you will excuse me a moment ..." Seldan takes one last look back at the child now play-wrangling with her father before stepping away to complete his errand.

Seldan half-smiles at that. "I hope to make it a worthwhile trip. My thanks for the blessings, and I pray for Her light and wisdom on it as well. If you will excuse me a moment ..." Seldan takes one last look back at the child now play-wrangling with her father before stepping away to complete his errand.

The raven on Karasu's shoulder lets out a sudden harsh caw, and Karasu looks over at it sharply. The raven tilts its head down to Karasu and the man inexplicably gives a soft exhalation of breath. He nods low to everyone, though perhaps Svarshan specifically. "Children are a gift, peace on your nest warrior-caste, and to your hunter-caste." Those few words show more understanding of sith culture than previously suggested. Then he turns his gaze fully to Seldan. "I wish you well on your venture Seldan."

Erendriel giggles at the child's, well, allegedly perfect, behavior. "I'd better go see if that seller is going to sell me what I asked for. Safe trip everyone who's going somewhere..."

Karasu gets an odd, penetrating look from the sith-makar. He thumps his tail at the man, with a solemn, "Peasse to your nesst," before: “Ohtli," Svarshan says, voice slow and warm. The youth pauses, and peers at him. Bright-eyed. Filled to the brim with vibrating levels of child-energy. One might read the situation, easily: a parental need to address that.

"Perhapss we will insspect the. Sships?" he tells her, and gets a sudden interested, and focused look. He looks to Hun'rar, then. A silent invitation for the other warrior to join them. It means probably, being gnawed on, tho.

Hun'rar nods to Svarshan "Sure thing, let's go have a look." he says following along, putting his blindfold back on.

-End