Topic: The Adventures of Kith, the Cat, and the Khatun
Subject: Cloaking Devices
"No, we should not split up.” Aranwen remarked decisively, “Splitting up is what Morgana would want us to do, as we've already seen. She always has another puppet in play; when you think she's made her move, she has something else in play. It's impossible to read her movements with those constructs.”
Kithran looked beyond her at the wall of the estate once more, and nodded seriously. The chance to climb something she was absolutely not allowed to had always been thrilling to her, but she had been hoping if they went back into town she might actually have a chance to pilfer a new cloak. She sighed in resignation to her cloakless fate as she listened to Aranwen continue in her reasoning and their deciding to take the wall as their entry point.
“Speaking of being prepared,” the Cidal priest now said, “I must admit a short rest and some time spent in prayer might make me more useful to all of you in this venture. I’ve depleted myself a bit in tending your injuries, my friends, and some time communing with Falloes before we go charging into battle, again, would serve us well.”
Kithran looked up, determining it was only just after noon, and so they would have some time to spare indeed. She shrugged, “I am comfortable with that idea, Mosic, how much time would you need?”
“Hmm,” he rubbed his chin once more, “seven to eight hours should suffice.”
“S-Seven to eight . . . I am uncomfortable again. What are you two going to do while we wait?” She asks the Kazari and Sylvari as she pulls out her daggers, “Samuel, you wanna lose a fight? Oh, actually,” she resheathes her blades, “let’s fight when I get back. I am going to go find a cloak. Unless . . .” she looks pointedly at Aranwen’s bag, “If you can manage not to cry, I will take you back up on your offer?”
Kithran can’t tell if the bladesinger’s initial expression is one of irritation or humor at her jab, but she shakes her head either way, "Morgana has seen both of us wearing my cloak, so if you grab one, make sure it's not black," Aranwen suggested.
“Well then,” Kith claps her hands together once more, an eager grin spreading across her face, “I will be off then.” She jogs toward a corner in the opposite direction from which she, Ch’dau, and Mosic had come from, “I shouldn’t be too long, and I’ll stay nearby, but do not hesitate to rush valiantly in to rescue me if you hear me calling for Samuel.” And with that Kith rushed around the corner and into a small alley leading to the main streets.
((OOC: interject throughout that as you wish, restless Kith has her mind pretty made up, but I’ll revise as necessary!))
The day was wearing on and the streets were blessedly much more busy and easier to sink into. Of course, she also did not have in tow an armored bladesinger, a massive Kazari, or a cleric who despite his size was somehow as conspicuous as the others. It was easier to move not having to care about leading others through these streets, and it did not take long for Kith to find her target.
She was shorter than Kith, though most women were, but her cloak was finely made and would hopefully not stand out too much as she snuck around the halls of the necromancer’s lair. Green was of course not her preferred color, but Aranwen was probably right about staying away from the black for now. The dark green would look fantastic on her either way. Kithran would just need to do a simple “accidental bump”, loosen the tie in their fumble, and pull it away as she walked off. A trickier move, but then, Kith was incredibly snea--
“Whadd’re you doing, Kith-an?”
“Oh sh--!” Kithran nearly leaped into an oncoming cart at the sound of the little voice below her. She spun around and glared at the messy-haired little girl, relaxing as recognition came over her, “Oh, it’s just you. What are you doing? Didn’t Aranwen tell you to go find your parents or something?” She looked up at the cloak drifting further and further away from her and began trying to follow it once again.
The unassumingly sneaky little child skipped to keep up with her, “Pfft, I go where I wanna.”
“You think you might wanna go away?”
"I asked you first!" the little girl giggled and gave a carefree smile, lifting her arms behind her head, "Whadd're you doing?" she asked again, looking up at Kithran with sparkling eyes, "Shopping? Hiding? Looking for something?"
“Ah,” Kith replied, glancing down at the girl, then back to the fleeing cloak, “yes. Each of those things.” And she sighed as it turned the corner and the throng of patrons she had just been so grateful for hindered her advancement.
She stopped and glared at the space her cloak had been before crouching down in front of the girl, “I am a little busy, Saina. So unless you truly need something of me, or have a me-sized cloak laying about, I regretfully must take my leave.” She gave her a small wave, “So long,” and stood to weave her way back into the crowd.
Kithran felt a light tug at her pant leg, "Cloak? You size? Maybe at mom's store," the girl suggested, "Mom's always busy. Sewing or talking or sewing or talking. Buy this sell that, blah blah blah blah."
Kith crouched down again just as Saina stuck out her tongue in a huff, "So boring."
She looked up at Kithran, "What do you think?"
“Buying sounds terrible, but selling can be a great deal of fun. You seem to enjoy talking and are rather persistent yourself, Sai, I’m surprised you don’t find it more interesting.
Saina crossed her arms and huffed, "I ask things, want to know interesting things! Buy sell talk is just, how much, oh it's this much but maybe for you it can be this much, or other not interesting things."
“No, that is not interesting," Kithran agreed, "but convincing others that they are getting a deal on an item they did not want but that you have convinced them was their idea to purchase, that is a thrill.” She grinned at the girl’s unimpressed face, “Your mother, she sews? Sells clothing? Will you take me to her store?”
Looking at Kithran she nodded happily, "This way! This way!"
As Saina began to expertly weave around the legs of the various patrons, she certainly seemed to have the air of a Lover of Fortune about her with how unconcerned she was for her safety, which Kithran could appreciate. It was impressive, and reminiscent, as Kithran had done much the same through the dense streets and rooftops of Calestra at just about the same age. A darkness fell over her features at the thought of that beautiful city. Ten years was not enough space between them. She shook her head and the memories away, focusing on the back of the quick little girl’s head instead until they are before the Starsilks Store.
The exterior looks less a small store and more a small mansion. The wooden door swings inward, opening to a fresh scent of spring flowers as the connected bell chimes inside.
Racks of untailored clothing line the opposite walls, all visibly high quality, many embellished with fine embroidery. There are all manner of clothes here - tops, bottoms, skirts, dresses, evening gowns, and even what could only be an extravagant wedding dress displayed as the jewel of the floor, adorned by a wooden mannequin in the middle of the room.
For a mercy, the display mannequins, numbering five in total, have neither mask nor head, made of unmoving polished wood. Kithran halts suddenly, regardless, and brings her hands to the hilts of her daggers just in case.
Saina poked Kithran lightly, "Psst, message to Kith, why'd you stop? Something wrong? Or are you surprised how pretty it is?"
“What?” Kithran pulled her eyes away from the headless horrors and looked back down at the girl, “Oh, yes, very lovely. So where ar--”
"I'll be with you in just a moment!" a voice called from the back.
Saina wandered a bit further inside and as a familiar garb of reds and silvers caught Kithran’s eye, the girl called back, "It's just me! Not a cushtomer!"
"Ah, welcome back dear."
With a wink behind her to Kithran she pointed towards one of the racks - this one with a selection of fine cloaks. Saina kept walking and disappeared past the doorway leading further in to the mansion.
Kithran’s eyes were fixed on the outfit, somehow overshadowing her desire for a cloak. At least momentarily. She wandered over to examine it. The designs, the color pattern, the cut. She could have been back in Tara’s room at the Long Gamble, staring at her ceremonial Laughing Maiden garb hanging on the wall. She felt her heart begin to race at the thought . . . at how assured she was that it might even smell like--
Kith shook her head again. She had left them for a cloak and was finding only ghosts. The thief took a deep breath and turned to softly call out to the little girl, trying not to disturb her mother, “Saina, can you tell me about this item? Did your mother make this? Why does she have it?”
Saina peeked her head back out of the inner doorway at hearing her name, and then skipped back over to Kithran to take a look at what she saw, "That? Yes, mom made it," she shrugged her shoulders, "Why? I dunno. It was made a while ago. When not for someone, she often makes things she's seen before. Or things out of in-in.. Uh, in-spear? Things she thinks might be bought by someone maybe."
Kithran touched the fabric lightly, then pulled her hand away as if shocked. It was so close to perfect. Not exact, but too much for her now. She turned back toward the cloaks and plastered a grin on her face, “Sorry, I used to know someone who wore something like that, but that was also a long time ago. Now," she clapped her hands together once, "I believe there are some cloaks calling my name.” And she made her way to the racks draped in various, elegantly made cloaks.
As she sifted through she couldn’t help but dwell on how lucky it was that Saina had fallen into their path. Sure it was simply for a piece of clothing, but . . . she ground her teeth. No, it was coincidence. Not luck. Go away.
It hadn’t been so long since she had left the others, but the Lovers, the Maidens, Calestra, Shinara, Tara, him . . . everything she had worked so hard not to think about now crowded her mind. She shook her head again and pulled away a navy blue cloak, tossing it over her shoulders and tying it on.
She grinned at the little girl as she flipped the hood up and in one swift motion, drew her blades and jumped down into a crouched, attacking position.
“What do you think? If I look anything less than incredible, you must let me know.”
Saina gave a soft ooh as she clapped her hands together, softly so as not to let the sound echo back through the mansion. She circled around Kithran, examining her from all angles, "You look danger-us," the girl replied, her face beaming at Kithran, "You like? Where're your friends? Shouldn't they see too? They should see! Ara should see!"
Kithran nodded and stood back up, pulling her hood back as she did so, “Yes, you are right, little one. They are likely in a frenzy worrying about me now.”
Saina twirled about on one foot happily.
Kith waited for her to come back to a halt and crouched down before her, “Very well done, Saina! Now, I know you despise this part, but I would like to offer you payment for this fantastic cloak.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the pouch she had swiped from the little girl as they had first entered the store, “Will this suffice?”
"That looks like..." Saina's hands went to her waist band, patting the now empty space. Her eyes widened in surprise and awe as she looked up at Kithran, "Hooooooow?!" she asked, reaching out to receive the pouch back.
Kithran laughed quietly as she handed the pouch over and wriggled her fingers in the girl’s face, “Magic.” She sprung back up , “I should be off then, thank you Saina. If you can’t seem to stay near your mother, at the very least try to stay safe. Goodbye!”
Saina giggled, "Magic! Show me again some time!" she begged as Kithran went to the door, before offering a wave "Bye-bye!"
Kith slipped the dark blue hood of the finely-made cloak over her head, and slinked out of the store. She felt the heavy flow of traffic once again obscure her and weaved through it toward the small garden. Judging by the amount of people and the brightness of the sky, she hadn’t been away for too long, but she was curious at what they had been up to.
Kithran had begun to enter the alleyway and noticed . . . that it would not be too difficult to climb to the roof. Just an easy pounce off that cart, and a scramble up that ledge . . . Kith ducked down as she reached the top, drawing her new bow and setting an arrow. Just a little arrow, right by the cat. She would aim a safe distance away, but close enough to prove to him that she was not such a little ki--
“Kithran,” the bladesinger calls up to her, “I see you up there. What are you doing?”
Kith stands, irritatedly tossing the bow back over her shoulder and the arrow back in its quiver, “How, Aranwen?!” Her plot dismantled, she finds her way down and jogs back over to the others.
"I ran into your little girl, Aranwen, that Saina, and took this from her mother's shop." She steps back and turns, holding her arms out to show off the dark blue cloak, "Nice, huh?" She hops back over to them, "So, what did you talk about while I was away? Was it me?"
Posted on 2019-12-05 at 14:11:28.
Edited on 2019-12-06 at 12:21:32 by breebles
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