"Turnabout Concern"

Log Date:
	2/3/01

Log Cast:
	Salmalin, Faanshi

Log Intro:
	Many in Atesh-Gah doubtless still scoff at the notion of appointing
a drunkard to the position of Voice to the Sylvans -- yet that is exactly
what the Maharani has done. Over the last few weeks Faanshi has not seen
too terribly much of her ostensible superior. But then again, Faanshi _has_
been in mourning, doubly so now with the violent death of her young friend
Delilah of Clan Messala. And little does she know that while Salmalin may
be a drunkard, he is not unobservant... and not unconcerned about the 
maiden whose lot has been thrown in with his own, and who has more than once
seen to his comfort and care....

*===========================< In Character Time >===========================* 
             Time of day:  Late Morning 
          Date on Aether:  Thursday, October 20, 3907. 
           Year on Earth:  1507 A.D. 
       Phase of the Moon:  Waning Gibbous 
                  Season:  Fall 
                 Weather:  Clear Skies 
             Temperature:  Warm 
*==========================================================================*

Fountain - Courtyard - Atesh-Gah - Haven
      Concealed within the ring of tall, carefully groomed bushes and the 
  oddly comforting sight of droop-branched willows, is the merry and gurgling 
  presence of a marble fountain. As meticulously cleaned as the rest of 
  Atesh-Gah seems to be, the intricate stonework deceptively simple in 
  appearance. Perhaps ten feet across, the fountain itself is filled with 
  clear, cool water that bubbles forth from a raised pedestal in the centre of 
  the great circle. 
      Carefully tended gardens of bright flowers provide a colourful trim to 
  the circle of trees, their combined scent filling the air with a subtle and 
  sweet fragrance. The temptation to linger here and bask in the soothing 
  feast of the senses is only increased by the presence of the four stone 
  benches that are placed around the fountain. 
     You notice, through the thick greenery of bushes and ferns, a small 
  clearing to the north.
Contents:
Salmalin
Obvious exits:
Courtyard <C>

"Are we not just loving the attention. You certainly are playful when you want 
  to be," comes the soft voice of Salmalin. He sits in the middle of the 
  garden with his back to the entrance. With a lowered head he seems to be 
  playing with something in his lap, laughing and whispering sometimes. "A 
  wonder the wyverns have not gotten to you. But you are a smart one, yes? Of 
  course you are.. Lailah is no fool. Okay now.. careful.. that is my 
  finger..."

By now, the voice and figure and face and scent of the man who Thalia 
  Tritonides Khalida has made Varati ambassador to the Sylvans has joined the 
  ranks of those familiar to Kosha. And thus, the big dog easily spots him as 
  he comes scampering into the garden. A bark of greeting is the first herald 
  of Kosha's coming; the second, a playful nudge from a big befurred head as 
  Kosha lopes up behind the kshatri man.
Where the dog goes, so generally does Faanshi follow, though her entrance into 
  the garden is rather more subdued... as is usual. Her voice calls out softly 
  somewhere behind the hound, "Kosha...! Wait for me, you rogue...!"

Oh no. As the dog nears, Salmalin jumps up, taking with him a rather black cat 
  as well. Nail dig into his forearms and makes the man wince. "Okay now. 
  Shhh... shhh..." He says trying to calm the kitten. Ow. Must be more careful 
  next time. The cat does not leap from his arms, but it is certainly 
  contemplating hurting something. With a nervous grin at Kosha, the 
  ambassador looks toward Faanshi almost pleadingly. "I am not so sure that 
  Kali likes dogs..."

HEY. What's THAT and is it FOOD? Kosha snaps his attention up higher as 
  Salmalin leaps to his feet, for the kitten has thoroughly alerted the dog 
  now. Every muscle of Kosha's sizeable frame takes on a set of curiosity, and 
  his tail wags back and forth a time or two as he appears to contemplate the 
  small animal with affable interest. Faanshi, in the meantime, comes 
  hastening up in the canine's wake; her green gaze might be seen to flash for 
  a moment from dog to man and cat and back again. And she promptly and humbly 
  offers, "I can take him back to the kennels if you wish... I do not mean to 
  disturb you, I can do my sewing elsewhere..." Indeed, she bears a basket of 
  folded garments, atop which ride the oddiments of mending: thimble, a tiny 
  pincushion prickled with needles, spools of thread.

Salmalin shakes his head, looking down at the dog with a narrowing of his 
  eyes. Not food. He fumbles a little with the kitten and continues to stroke 
  her, gently whispering. As Faanshi comes closer he smiles, "No.. that is 
  okay. I will just.. keep Kali up here for a while. Perhaps they can 
  learn..." His voice trails off as the kitten decides to scratch at his arm 
  again. Does his arm say scratchpost somewhere? Appearantly the cat is not 
  too worried about the dog now as she has found something much more 
  interesting to play with. Great. "Please.. stay. I had wanted to talk with 
  you anyway. If you do not mind of course."

Grave eyes peek once more over Faanshi's veil, and then the maiden inclines 
  her head, murmuring to her hound, "Sit, Kosha, sit..." Her free hand reaches 
  for a moment into her basket, and from it she produces a long strip of 
  knotted rope, well-frayed and having seen much apparent wear. When she 
  tosses this over to Kosha it is just as apparent where that wear originated, 
  for the dog falls upon the rope with vigor and begins to gnaw at the knots. 
  With Kosha distracted, the maiden settles down to sit nearby, gaze modestly 
  lowered as always. "I do not mind," she murmurs in shy tones. "Of what do 
  you wish to speak...?"

Salmalin is grateful as the dog bounds away and with the distraction Kali 
  decides to leap from his arms. Perhaps she too wishes to play? But no, the 
  kitten runs elsewhere, pawing at some poor insect. Hmmm. Salmalin follows 
  the shudra and sits eside her before speaking. "I thought to inquire as to 
  your health.. I know it is a bit late, but it seems there is always 
  something getting in the way. I just wanted to let you know that I am here 
  to help you when you need it." How odd does that sound? The words bring a 
  bit of a frown to his face. Is he getting soft? "I also wanted to ask you 
  something about Mehul."

Before some, Faanshi would be comfortable enough that she would attend to her 
  mending while conversing -- but before Salmalin, she remains unsure. He has 
  spoken words that hint of friendship to her, but yet, he is kshatri; before 
  kshatri, she must pay direct attention, but what must she do with him? For 
  the time being she settles for listening, though when the Voice makes his 
  latter request a subtle little start of reaction might perchance be noted to 
  quiver through her slender frame. Tentatively she replies, "I am rested 
  enough again, and can perform my duties..." But her voice turns a bit more 
  hesitant as she goes on, "And... what... do you wish to know?" She turns a 
  bit more towards him, half her instincts still putting her into the posture 
  of Servant Being Questioned By Her Superior.

Salmalin does not seem so superior with his bare feet and his being shirtless. 
  He looks more like he should be a shudra instead of the other way around. 
  With a smile he nods. "I am glad to hear that. With the way Mehul was acting 
  I thought you had been threatened to near death by someone. So long as you 
  are well, though." He looks over at the playing Kosha and laughs somewhat 
  before drawing a leg up onto the fountain edge. Leaning against it he looks 
  at Faanshi curiously. "Perhaps it is not my place... but I am worried. I 
  like Mehul," when he can, "but I wonder about his affections toward you. 
  Sometimes one's feelings can cloud their judgement and make them do things 
  they normally would not."

The maiden's consternation at this sort of questioning might well be easily 
  read in her as well, veil or no veil. Her head lifts up unconsciously in her 
  startlement, and those liquid, plaintive eyes of hers blink a time or two. 
  "I know that he was worried," she begins unsurely, "but I-I did not tell him 
  where I went, and I _did_ go into Bordertown, and it is dangerous at 
  night..."

Salmalin shakes his head, his lips starting to move as though he might soothe 
  her the same way he did the cat. He stops himself, though and just smiles 
  gently. "He was more than worried, Faanshi. And the way he acts around 
  you... I just wonder if he is not growing too possessive." Oh how open he 
  speaks of his concerns for her. He might as well be speaking about his 
  favorite wine. But for one of the few times in his life he is not drunk. "I 
  do not want to get in the way if it is a mutual relationship. I would be the 
  first one cheering, of course. I just do not want to see you get hurt."

For a few moments Faanshi's gaze looks ever so slightly... lost, though her 
  blush goes unseen as it always does with her veil concealing her features. 
  "I... I-I am in mourning," she whispers, "and thus... th-there is no... 
  um... relationship... not yet..." Her gaze ducks down again, helping to hide 
  the surprise in what little is visible of her expression as well, surprise 
  that the Voice would actually speak of these things to one such as her.

The Voice is but a man despite the titles that were put upon his unwilling 
  person. He never claimed to be anything else. Salmlain firmly believes that 
  some cosmic mistake was made in his birth. However, he must make do with 
  what he has. "I am not sure Mehul..." He stops himself and sighs softly. "I 
  just want to make sure you are okay and I end up sounding like a mother. I 
  certainly know how to make a mess of things. My apologies. Perhaps I should 
  not intrude where I am not needed."

"I..." Faanshi pauses, torn between her still-present embarrassment, a strange 
  little sense of being deeply touched, and a tremor of fear buried far down 
  within her: if Salmalin is becoming a friend, does this put him in danger of 
  the fate that appears to befall those that grow close to her? With an effort 
  that does not diminish the utter earnestness of her gentle voice, she 
  murmurs awkwardly in the direction of her basket, "I-I do not mind... if you 
  sound like a mother... I do not hear it much..."

Salmalin looks at Faanshi with a bit of relief and wonder. Does she feel as 
  awkward as he does? "You can always tell me when I have overstepped my 
  boundries you know? Whatever you think of me.. I am not much of a kshatri 
  and am better at just being helpful." He smiles a bit and then lets a hand 
  lower to the water of the fountain, letting it run about his hand. With a 
  wistful smile he stands and looks down at her, "Just be careful."

[End log.]