Winging It

Log Info

• Title: Winging It
• Emitter: Slixvah
• Characters: Slixvah, Schara, Rocky
• Place: Temple District
• Time: November 13th, 2022
• Summary: A grumpy egalrin named Rin gets a free meal from the Althean temple, much to the confusion of an elvish woman meandering about. Going by Samara, she and a large makari named Rocky go back and forth trying to figure out what's up with this odd bird. Eventually, Samara comes clean that she can she through Rin, and offers some advice on how to sell it a bit better.

Temple District, Afternoon

An overcast day coupled with a biting wind makes being outdoors without something to break the gale a rough endeavor. Most avoid filling the space to take shelter from it. Winter is coming.

One brave soul ignoring the weather is that of a wood elf wrapped up in a scarf and heavy jacket, a few ribbons tied to their dark crimson hair trailing in the wind. The woman holds a sealed letter in hand, her eyeing the outside of it, but this is no place to read such literature.

It's stashed away, instead her walking around the statues in the plaza, a hand trailing across the base of them. She's got a look of deep concentration on her face, like she was sorting some equation out in her head.

Down from the steps of the Althean temple, an egalrin came clacking down the numerous stone steps leading from it, with a wooden tray in their hands laden with bread and soup that steamed in the chill air.. This time however, they appeared much like an oversized cardinal, with light brown feathers and a bright orange beak in a heavy coat. Expressions were difficult, but an actual egalrin could easily note a non insignificant amount of disgust on their features as they looked for a bench to take a seat at.

The clacking makes the wild elf's ear twitch, sky blues flicking over to- "... oh!" she chirps, a broad grin spreading across her tanned face. Whatever she was working on mentally was put on pause as she slides on over towards them.

"Hi hi!" she waves. "What's goin' on? Need a hand? That's not a good face for a pretty beak like yours."

GAME: Schara rolls disguise +10: (1)+0+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL)

The ruddy brown egalrin stops in their tracks, rebalancing the tray in their right hand as Slixvah wanders over. The egalrin puffs up a bit and shakes their head, dispelling whatever expression was still remaining.

"Oh, hello miss, thank you, but that's alright, I'm capable of carrying my food. I'm surprised that was obvious, but don't worry about it, I just really do not like being in places such as that, that's all." They reply in a quiet voice.

The elf leans to the side slightly, looking up and past the egalrin. "Mean, just kinda looks like someone dropped dirt in ya food is all, but ah..."

She shifts on her feet, leaning on the back one. "I can understand them temples bein' a lil' stuffy. Not ya dig? Too cramped on the inside fo' ya wings?"

"No, I doubt that they would soil the food they are giving out. That would turn away potential petitioners, after all." They reply with another flash of disgust. "It was not stuffed though, far from it. They spent an awful amount of gold on expensive stonework to make such a large building, after all." The shrug, stretching out their wings behind them a moment before they continu wandering to one of the benches.

"Meant ya face," the elf mentions, turning back to catch the grimace once more. There's a pause, and then she's lazily trailing behind the cardinal, hands in her pockets. "If you don't amusin' me, what's ya beef with the temple? Yeah, it's a bit gaudy, but the Altheans are like, one the most selfless ones up there. Stonework's expensive 'cause the labor ain't cheap. Can't put on an image and be the center of homeliness if ya ain't got a place ta back that up."

"My face is fine." The cardinal shrugs, reaching a bench where they can sit down, readjust their wings and set down the tray in their lap. "Selfless out of the clergy, at the very least. There's probably a catch somewhere, there always is. No one is giving out free food for no reason." They explain, picking up a spoon to poke at the food. "Most likely they will harass me for alms in the street later and hold this over my head."

Rocky exits from the temple of Daeus, pausing at the bottem of the steps to peer back at the temple and snorts, great plumes of foggy breath. Peering around, the greayscale considers, then begins lumbering his way towards the temple of Althena.

The wood elf tilts their head to the side, brow furrowed. "... n... no, there's no catch," she sighs, rubbing the side of her face. "They do it outta the kindness of their hearts. Just want ya fed. Heck. Ceiwen and Cernan except waaay more in return than Althea."

She jabs a thumb over her shoulder, looking that wa- She blinks. "... hoooly shit that's a big sith..." she whispers. "Oi! Big guy! Save some fo' me if ya gettin' a bite from the temple!"

"I highly doubt it." The egalrin snorts. "I'm sure they have some sort of plan to make more gold out of this, they wouldn't help out of kindness, doubt it. Although if it is a choice between starving or not, it is simply worth whatever it may entail.

The egalrin takes a spoon of soup, and tucks in through the side of their beak. "You referred to the gods the way egalrin do. And no, I don't believe that is a sith makari. They are much too tall, I have no clue what exactly they are."

Rocky chuffs softly, looking over as he's called to, then heading towards the pair, nodding greeting as he gets close. "Peace unto your nests. This One appoligizes, was not listening. What of biteing temples?"

The elf squint some. "If they gettin' mo' gold out of it, then why do they use good ingredients and fresh food," she points out. "Honestly, sugar, looking a gift horse in the mouth right now. And yeah, I did. 'cause you're an eglarin."

She looks over to the grey sith walking over, her grinning some. "Peace on ya nest, big guy! I was just asking ya not to eat all the Althean course. I still needs a bite to eat!"

A glance down to the cardinal egalrin. "... you ain't seen a makari? That's one right there," the elf twitters off to the side to them in their native tongue. <Auran>

"I don't know what they're planning, but I don't-"

The cardinal freezes up and whips around, looking around. "There are no horses here, you should not scare someone like that, miss." They state with a bit of indignation and a huff. "No temple biting here, that I am aware of. If you need food miss, you can have some of my bread and soup, though."

Any windy speech just gets a confused tilt of the head.

Rocky peers for a moment, then nods. "This One has already eaten. This One is called Rocky." He eyes the cardinal a few moments before chuffing softly. "This One is a sir."

GAME: Slixvah rolls perception: (15)+12: 27

The wood elf tilts their head to the side. "... uh... it's just a saying..? Are... you okay?" she asks, a bit concerned for the egalrin. "I'm... good."

The tilt of the head makes the elf cant her skull the other way.

Slowly... she peels her gaze off the bird to address the large makari. They'll figure that out soon enough. "Ah, that is good. Pleasure ta meet ya Rocky, call me Samara! Or Sam. And this here is...?"

"Yes, I'm alright. Do not worry about it, that is just a strange saying." The egalrin admits. "Oh, no, I was not assuming you were male or female, I was referring to the elf here, Samara, I guess their name is, since they were hungry, Rocky. My name is Rin, nice to meet you."

Rocky nods to each. "Samara and Rin. Is good to meet you." The greyscale snorts another plum of foggy breath. "Why do you sit outside in the cold?"

Samara jabs a thumb to her sternum. "I was just going on a stroll, sorting out some thoughts. Rin here just seems ta be getting some show down."

She looks to Rin, something clicking in her head. "Say.. Rin. You uh, you ever seen a bird lady covered in ribbons befo'?" she inquires.

"I went to the Althean temple to get food. And I would rather spend as little time in there as possible, so I am eating out here. It isn't that cold." The egalrin shrugs, taking another sip of soup. "There aren't many egalrin here, you must mean miss Unmesi, probably? Yes, I have seen her, before." Rin nods.

Rocky chuffs. "Too cold. This One is not made for snow." Peering up at the temple, he inquires. "Why would you not wish to spend time inside?"

Samara pipes in with Rocky, "Yeah, tha's what I'm trying ta figure out too. All the temples are kinda stuffy, but that one is the most cozy."

The answer to her question, makes a little 'ah' crack in her throat. "Tha's her name? Interestin'."

"It's not that cold out though, the snow isn't even on the ground yet."

"I don't want to talk about why I dislike the temples, okay?" The egalrin states firmly. "Yes, well, that's her last name. I believe it's Slixvah Unmesi, but, why do you want to know if I know her?"

Rocky snorts. "Just because it can be colder does not mean it is warm now." Letting the topic of temples drop, he looks to Samara as well, curious the line of questioning.

Samara shrugs slightly. "Fair," she drops it. "I dunno, it is gettin' lil' cold. But I don't have room to talk, used to being outside. Might have ta visit the bathhouse ta warm up more."

She looks to Rin. "Dunno. Just curious. Saw her the other day is all."

"Well, it's alright. I guess people like Rocky might be more sensitive to the cold." Rin shrugs, with just a hint of a wince in their eyes before the arms drop. She reaches for some more soup. "The tarrace has some nice baths, and they're quite cheap, a pair of copper per visit really. You're not making much sense, why are you wondering if I know her? Because I'm an egalrin as well?"

Rocky nods in agreement. "TaRaCe is very nice. Good food." He considers a moment. "Is shared ancestery not aa good reason to know someone?"

Samara takes it in stride. "Egalrin are totally about word of mouth," she elaborates. "I was just curious about if you knew her. Or Integrity C. Truefeather. Or his sister."

She smooths her hair back. "Anyways."

"I would not expect Samara to know every elf in the city though." The egalrin retorts. "Yes, I know Integrity as well, but I did not know he had a sister."

"It seems you're curious about a lot more than if I just know them."

Rocky considers, falling still a few moments. "...how many elves are there in the city? Too many humans to know them all, but maybe can know all the elves."

Samara shrugs. "Not every elf, but there is not very many elves in this city. Lot of humans and gobbers though. I feel like ya could know all the elves, Rocky, if ya spent ya time on it."

She just looks to Rin. "I'm just sayin', you might wanna do some reading up on your roots is all."

"It would take a lot of time to figure out every elf in the city. Maybe you could manage it, or you could study a census if you wanted to know."

The egalrin sighs and sips on some more soup. "That is not what you are saying. Your words are not what they mean, they are all chosen in some attempt at a secondary meaning."

Rocky looks between the two, picking up that there probably is subtext, but not catching what that subtext is.

Samara laughs. "Rocky's got a long time, I'm sure he could manage it!"

She smiles, looking at the accusations before giving a light sigh. "I'm tryin' ta be subtle, honey. But whatever ya got goin' on, try and pick someone that's not my friend's sister, yeah?"

"I didn't know Integrity had a sister. I thought he just liked dressing in women's clothing." Rin sighs, reaching and rubbing the side of their face and wincing again. "There aren't that many egalrin in the city, why do I keep running into you?"

Samara, or, whoever it is, shakes her head. "He moonlights as a dancer. Pretty good at it, I'd say! No, I don't know who you is, but what ya doin' looks really nice!"

"Just, ah, I'd read up on what ya bein', is my suggestion," the wood elf winks a sky blue eye.

The red eglrin shakes their head and seemingly gives up, shoving some of the untouched bread straight through their beak to tear a chunk out of it.

"There aren't that many egalrin in town, and all the books are in elemental tongues. I never learned those languages." Rin laments.

Samara chuckles, a lop sided grin on her face as she crosses her arms. "There aren't. But I'm just lucky that I run inta everyone at the right time."

She exhales some, pivoting on a foot to lean against the bench. "It's in Auran. But you're lookin' up egalrin books. Look up travel guides fo' the aerie here. And I'd also come up with a name tha's betta than Rin. Egal-Rin. Might I suggest..."

She taps her cheek. "... Nisanuel? Means Hidden-Cloud. Egalrin names are cheeky sometimes."

"Auran, yes, that's elemental speech, isn't it? Plane of air and all that." Rin suggests. "They make travel guides to the aerie? I thought it was just a place where egalrin get together."

"Nisanuel is an egalrin name? You aren't playing a trick on me are you? I have no clue what it means, it could mean anything."

Samara nods. "It is. But its the languages of the skies, which the egalrin live in. They do. That Aerie has dealings with the city."

The elf frowns. "Yes. It is an Egalrin name. And if you want to pass off being an egalrin, you might not want to grimace so bad when talking of the gods. Ceiwen and Cernan are heavily tied egalrin culture, so it looks sus as hell when dragging other orders through the dirt."

There's a moment to cycle a breath, and she rocks on her feet. "Take it as constructive criticism is all," she hums. "I find it flattering you're wanting to be this form."

"I guess I'll just have to trust you on that being true." Schara sighs. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make Egalrin look bad or anything, I don't have anything against the gods, just their clergy, and I'm not making anything dirtier."

"I don't mind looking like an egalrin, I guess, and I may need to look like one again. I'm sorry for pretending to look like you, but I really needed to use the bathhouse the other day."

Samara holds up a hand. "No need to apologize. I'm just letting you know that every disguise needs a backstory, no matter how brief, is all."

She giggles. "I won't ask why you looked like me, in fact, I thought it was really cute. Ya did a good job. But, I'd warn ya, people /looove/ coming up to me and givin' me hugs and love. So might wanna try somethin' diff. Want something easy? Just be brown all over. Egalrin women got muted colors, da boys get the pretty bright ones."

"Yes there is a reason to apologize, I don't want to go causing trouble for you or egalrin in general." The cardinal replies, shaking their head once. "What about you? I've seen you looking like three different people. What is the story behind this elf?"

Shara picks up the bowl in one hand, and tips it straight through their orange beak until the vessel was drained. "That's what I thought, Integrity kind of reminded me of a blue jay, and cardinals have a similar body shape to blue jays, so a brown would work. You're right though, I was not sure how to react like you. Especially with Aelwyn."

"That's easy, flirt back. But not too much, Aelwyn's a bit spicy for me," Samara answers readily. "Or, return the hug. Regardless. I... wouldn't copy me, I am the /furthest/ thing from an egalrin by egalrin standards. Not 'cause I don't want you to, but people that know me will pick it apart rather slick."

She taps her cheek. Smiles. "Oh? Samarathi'llin? She's a scholar for fun. Runs around the Society, visits the temples, idly spends her time learning all the small things that she can as she has all the time in the world."

The egalrin blinks.

"That's not easy in the slightest at all. Not looking like you is probably a lot easier. You are much too out going and wise in how the city works for me to even attempt to replicate it."

"That's, I wasn't expecting such an explanation, but it probably works a lot better like that."

Samarathi'llin fires off a finger gun. "And that's why I'm hot stuff, honey," she grins. "I love people, and people love me. Most of the time. Anywho. Best ta pick something that's generic. Make a simple story for 'em, then run with it."

The elf winks. "I'm winging it. And that's a skill ya gonna have ta figure out. Not just wit' ya guise, but with whatever ya work with."

She steps off. "Anywho, I got math equations to balance. If I run into you again and you look like me, I'm going to flirt with myself /so freaking hard/, so fair warning."

"I love my parents and my sister, and my brother gets on my nerves sometimes, but I still love him. I don't know if I could love everyone, I've already sounded pretty hateful of the clerics in there." Schara sighs. "I just don't know enough egalrin to make up something generic."

"Your wings sre tucked in behind you, based on the air flow. I will assume that's another turned phrase. Alright though, I might not look like you again. It's too stressful, and I don't want to look like you in the bathhouse if you show up. Your schedule is too erratic to plan around."

Samara- feh, screw it. Elf-Slixvah giggles. "Just a bit, yes. But everyone has their tick. Perhaps not an egalrin then? Maybe a human? Humans are easy ta copy."

Another laugh. "Yes, that's a phrase. Means I'm improvising. And my schedule is /everywhere/. Ya ain't gonna see me in the same place more than tree days in a row." She winks, starting to back away. "Besides, if ya looked like me in the bathhouse, wew. Free show!"

She snorts. "I'm just teasing ya. Anywho. Catch ya later probably! My people need me. Toodaloooo~!"

Ribboned wings pop out from behind her back, breaking the illusion slightly as the cold wind cutting through catches in them.

And the eccentric elf is whisked away into the skies.

-End Scene-