Featuring: Aria and Kidu
Date: June 24, 2004
IC Date: February 11, 3930
Summary: Two mongrels of different backgrounds happen across each other in a chance meeting as darkness falls over the city.
Mongrel Town - Parnassus
Like a dog resting at its master's feet, Mongrel Town is situated at the bottom of the bluff upon which the gleaming white walls of Parnassus reside. Sandwiched between the sheer wall of the bluff to the south and the salty tang of the estuary's waters to the north, the area has grown over the years to almost become a city within a city.Narrow but sturdy buildings made from the bricks of the earthy colored clay found near the river are packed closely with each other along a maze of twisting cobblestone streets that try to make the most of the limited room. Originally intended to house the Mongrel slaves that worked the docks or the fishing boats, the area has also become home to those that have earned their freedom, or even the occasional member of one of the 'pure' races. The further east one goes, the more the slip of land narrows and the poorer the buildings and residents become, until finally the one reaches the shanty town known commonly as 'The Bottoms'.
To the southwest, up along a high point of the hill before the bluff, the low wall of Castallia can be seen separated the magical enclave from the rest of the area. Directly to the west lies the warehouse district of the Navale while further down the hill to the northwest can be seen the bobbing masts of the ships moored in the dockyard.
As the last traces of the setting sun streaks the clouds nearest to the horizon a faint purple, night falls on mongrel town. Bringing her unkempt fur cloak tightly about her, Aria slips through the streets (well, alleys, really) on her way back to the Hostel, her gray-green eyes wary. A group of sailor's pass by, just getting started on their keg of ale and looking for a fresh lot of Cyprians for the night, and the mongrel girl freezes immediately in her steps, ducking down into a dark corner as she watches them pass.. dissolving into simply a pile of furs and leathers with bright gray eyes.
The night reveals itself and Kidu soon follows. He finds a relatively clean corner of a building lit by the fires in the windows above and leans back, advertising himself for those who know what he is selling. He smirks appreciatively at young daughter of a withered crone as the pair passes by, slyly turning his head to follow the young one's stride. The starlight is fresh, however, and Mongrels are not often his prime clients.
Ducking out of the way as the sailors pass, Aria still watches them as she stands and walks into the light. Unfortunately, it seems to be the same light as Kidu is standing and she trips over his feet and is sent crashing onto the floor again. "Sorry, sir." Her voice is sweet, delicate, far beyond the unkempt curls and fur that covers her. "I should've been watching where I was going." She even sounds truly apologetic too as she stands and brushes herself off, brushing back a riot of dark brown curls to reveal a pale and comparatively clean features.
The sailors look back quickly upon hearing the commotion, but continue walking after apparently deciding whatever it was not worth their time. Kidu offers a hand up to Aria, but finds the girl has already made herself vertical. He does not speak before he brushes off his sandals and his pants for any trace of dust, dirt or scuff, "It's quite alright," He flashes a reptilian grin to the young girl, "You probably shouldn't be out this late."
"I -am- trying to get back as quickly as I can.." Aria responds, a touch affronted at the man's seemingly condescending manner. She brushes off her own clothing and finds, to her dismay, yet another rip in her breeches. A light sigh. "What are you doing just standing around at this hour?" Her gray eyes flicker about. The hostel is not so far right now, the two lanterns just a couple doors down, should anything happen to her, she can afford to run. "You aren't one of those sailors or warehouse workers, are you. They always go wandering around, except when they've drunk themselves into a stupor, and then they're sleeping in a ditch somewhere." She looks back up at him. "Who are you?"
Kidu expresses with his eyebrows what could either be interpreted as worry or puzzlement, "I'm no sailor nor a warehouse grunt," he smirks one side of his face while managing to still have a look of worry in his brows and eyes, as if deciding if should say anything else, "I'm Kidu. And what's your name?"
"I am Aria." Aria responds simply, her gaze still taking the moment to flicker about. The sailors come carousing back down the alleyway, having found the Cyprians that they were looking for, inevitably. The girl's eyes look back at Kidu and she blinks. Having lived among Empyreans, the office and the presence of cupids are not so unusual. Of course, that does not necessarily mean that Aria has stood face to face speaking to one. "Oh... I am sorry. I'm interfering with your work by standing here, aren't I?"
Kidu nods with a slight, unhappy smirk, "Possibly, although it does not look like I have much business at the moment. Other Mongrels don't pay well. I should probably walk on to the bridge if I want Empyrean money tonight..." Kidu pauses and looks in the direction of the bridge, though it is out of sight from where he is standing, "I don't feel like working much today, however..." He stops himself from saying more.
Her gray-green eyes flickering over in the direction that the mongrel man looks, Aria smiles slightly at him in sympathy. She does not know what it is to live the life of a prostitute, but she is beginning to learn what a chore it is to have to work for money. "Maybe you should rest, just for this night. Many of Empyreans won't be on the bridge tonight, after all. They are too busy staying home and trying to ignore the fireworks from the hea-... whatever festival the Varati are having across the river."
It takes a moment for Kidu to realize Aria has said anything. "What? Oh... yeah, you're right," he draws a wrapped stick of leafy material from his belt pouch. With a metal tool he creates some sparks in a tinder cap and lights the stick, inhaling lightly. He blows the smoke away from Aria and mumbles, barely audibly, "Mum always said rest on your birthday," then turns, "You should be getting home now, it's getting darker."
Nodding, Aria glances over at the Hostel. "Corinthia will be angry if I'm not back in time to help her clear the plates at least." And when Corinthia's angry, there will be no supper for her. and not even a cot, either, if she is furious. The girl sighs and begins to walk towards the hostel, only turning back to ask. "Are you sure you don't want to join us? There is always plenty of food for a hungry mongrel there, so long as you have half a coin to pay for it."
Kidu removes the stick from his mouth and looks down to watch the ashes of 22 years settle into the dirt. He does not look up as he exhales the bitter smoke into the wind, "No, thank you," he says, "I need to work." Without a single look back to Aria he begins walking in the direction of the bridge. Soon he is embraced by the darkness and the quiet scratch of sandals on the gritty earth is all that betrays his existence.
