"Gift of a Name" Log Date: 7/13/00 Log Cast: Benja, Trina, Kaiulani, Akane and Ronan (NPC guards emitted by Kaiulani), Old Mongrel (NPC emitted by Kaiulani) Log Intro: Over the past many years, Benja -- Kaiulani's secret protector -- has left her small tokens of his feelings for her. As of late, inspired by seeing her on land and hearing her voice for the first time, the shark hunter has not abandoned this practice; indeed, he's stepped it up, taking the time to craft a comb for her hair from shell and coral and one of the many shark teeth he keeps as tokens of his hunts. Unknown to Benja or even Kaiulani, the maiden's two guards have been instructed to report any strange gifts which might come into her possession... though for the time being, Kai has managed to hide the comb's existence from Akane and Ronan. She does not yet know, either, that she is about to give her protector a return gift that will be music to his ears, even as he gets the opportunity to save her from yet another mishap... *===========================< In Character Time >===========================* Time of day: Morning Date on Aether: Saturday, October 11, 3906. Year on Earth: 1506 A.D. Phase of the Moon: Waxing Gibbous Season: Fall Weather: Clear Skies Temperature: Warm *==========================================================================* The northern road leads right into the thick of the Rialto. The Rialto - Haven(#159RDJM$) Reigning over the Rialto is the very heart of Haven: the Delphic Citadel. It dwarfs the other buildings, which cluster around it like so many children seeking a parent's protection. Day or night, rain or shine, its walls seem to glimmer with a light of their own, as if, over the centuries, the magic within had slowly permeated the entire structure. The main tower soars higher than the tallest tree, and each side tapers inward so that it resembles a giant obelisk. Four smaller towers stand at the four points of the compass, representing the unification of each race under Delphi's government. And here is where they all gather. The Rialto is the famed marketplace of Haven, full of shops, stalls, and brightly colored tents. The shouts of merchants, the haggling of patrons, the music of entertainers, and the laughter of children create a nigh-constant cacophony that assaults the senses. But the Rialto is nothing if not exciting, and crowds often gather here for important events and public addresses. (Note: 'places' are enabled here.) Contents: Trina A wooden fence Obvious Exits: Streets Delphic Citadel The Smithy Benja arrives right into the thick of the Rialto from the southwest. Benja has arrived. The crowds of the Rialto bustle to and fro, bright clouds of color and noise floating through the square as people go about the daily business of buying and selling and haggling and talking. Only a few spots seem to be empty, among the tight press of the crowd - and one of them is a stall nestled in the middle of the row of cloth merchants' counters. A mongrel or city Sylvan walks by every so often, but their eyes skim quickly across the rows of neatly-folded garments, and they move on. And behind the counter, as each one passes, the merchant lets out a sigh, and reaches forth a faded hand to rearrange the meticulously arranged wares on her stall. Trina is almost beginning to give up hope, it seems - with each missed opportunity, the young woman's moon face grows sadder and sadder, and her yellowish eyes gaze out more balefully over the crowds that continue to pass her by. Perhaps there comes someone, however, who will not pass Trina by. Flanked on either side by a pair of young Atlanteans doggedly tracking her through the marketplace, Kaiulani arrives on the scene with a set to her shoulders and expression that suggests she's determined to have an enjoyable time looking at the Rialto this morning. Regardless of who decides they might need to obstruct her. This morning, though, she's not chatting with her two escorts, and one of them, stocky green-haired Ronan, looks a trifle disappointed by this. Akane, his older brother, wears a contrasting expression of boredom -- or at least as much of one as a Son of Water is apt to wear. Kaiulani, however, strides with long determined steps through the crowd, looking for something, anything, upon which to fasten her restless attention. Trina's stall falls into her line of sight, and impulsively, she heads that way. She is out of the water today, and Benja delights in the opportunity to follow. Perhaps he can hear her voice again. Keeping a safe distance behind the guarded Kaiulani, the broad-shouldered, unusual looking Atlantean man tries to blend in with the crowd as best he can, though when she begins to commit to a location, so must he. He finds himself a shaded spot in the shadow of a stall not too far away, but out of her eyesight, and he watches. The sight of not one, but _three_ Atlanteans coming her way does a bit to rouse Trina out of her melancholy reverie, if only to let her round eyes rest on something besides the emptiness of the area in front of her shop. Almost unconsciously, it seems, she tilts her head back as they approach, letting her pale hair drop down her back and over the tiny wings that flutter ineffectively at her shoulderblades, clearly an attempt - if an unsuccessful one - to hide them. She straightens her shoulders, steeling herself to be passed by yet again...but no, the water-dwelling trio does _not_ keep going. "Good day," she ventures, her low hollow voice carrying out towards her potential customers. From many land-dwellers, Trina's wings might earn her strange looks. From these Atlanteans, however, there is no sign of apparent surprise. The guards halt at a discreet distance from the maiden, their expressions more or less impassive -- while Kaiulani herself ventures a small smile and inclines her head graciously in greeting. "My greetings to you," she replies, her careful accent suggesting one who is still taking care with the art of speech. A distraction. Distractions are good, at the moment! "May I look at your wares...?" That voice drifts over the noises of the crowd just barely, but to Benja it sings loudly. Settling himself to lean back against the stall he's found as shelter, he watches the interaction, pale green eyes moving impassively over the delicate wings on the woman and then toward the guards that follow Kaiulani, and pass on to watch anyone else who might come near his precious charge. Though only Benja thinks of her as such. The round eyes blink once, slowly, as Trina fits this new piece of information into her mind. "Yes," she replies, surprise lifting the word a note or two higher. "You may look at anything you like. Is there anything in particular you were looking for?" She too seems eager for distraction...or perhaps just eager, with her angled smile and lifted eyebrows. "At the moment," Kaiulani has to admit, sweeping a thoughtful glance over the Sylvan woman's booth, "I am looking mostly to see what is _here_... I am not yet accustomed to the clothing worn on land. Do you make these things...?" And she gestures with one slim finned hand at the garments and bolts of cloth she sees before her, taking an almost mischievous delight in the suspicion that she's going to be boring her guards looking at lander clothes. Well, if they're ordered to watch her, let them watch! "Yes," Trina replies, more than a hint of pride in her voice as she lifts her chin. "If you do not see anything to your liking, you can request something made to order." The stiffness in her manner is easing with every word, and her smile is becoming less painfully hopeful and more earnest. "Or I can make something in another color for you, if you see a design you like." There is a distinct amusement in Benja's eye as well, as he watches the men that seem to be appointed her guardians. He has tried to not be insulted by the gesture. They don't know he is there watching over her, after all, so placing men to protect her was a nice gesture by her family, he supposes. Little does he know that he is the reason they were placed there, if he did, it would be quite a different story. However, finding this place of concealment lacking a bit, the guardian begins moving through the crowd once more to find another place where he can watch. His eyes roam over her pearlish hair in search of the comb that found its way into her hands the other day... Not from this angle can it be seen -- nor this -- _there_. Kaiulani has done something with a portion of her hair, if one looks behind the coral headpiece that keeps most of it out of her face. Two braids flow loosely back from each of her temples, meeting at the base of her skull to accentuate the river of near-white tresses that spills down her back. And there, holding the two braids in place, might be glimpsed the comb of shell and coral and tooth. "There is so _much_ of it," Kaiulani answers the merchant, unaware of the scrutiny being given her hair... and its ornaments. "So many colors and textures..." She makes a rueful face, letting herself smile a bit more now. "But are they not heavy?" Trina shakes her head quickly, with a flurry of hair and feathers. "Oh no! They don't have to be - there are many lighter fabrics. This one, for instance..." Her hand alights on a filmy piece of cloth, barely holding its folds, so thin is it. "You should try something like this, if you are worried about clothes being too heavy..." The round eyes glance up at the angle of the sun, and Trina's thin lips twist in a thoughtful frown. "I will need to close up soon," she admits reluctantly. "Perhaps you could come back tomorrow, after you think some more about what you're looking for?" Given how little the Atlantean maiden is wearing, even with autumn coming over the city, it's perhaps not surprising to hear her uncertainty about heavier fabrics. But she nods, feeling a twinge of disappointment that she must abandon this conversation so soon -- though masking that disappointment well. "I'll come back," she promises, once more inclining her head. "Good!" Again, that note of eagerness is back, brightening Trina's voice far too much. "I will be here tomorrow, all day." Benja has become rather accustomed to the weight of the lander clothing, and occassionally wears it when in the water as well, which makes it even heavier. From his new vantage, of a different stall in another direction, he examines her hair and only begins to smile when he catches the subtle placement of his gift within the beautiful tresses. How he wishes he could have placed it there himself. As the hustle and bustle of the Rialto swirls about him, he is oblivious of all save that which comes near the lovely young woman wearing his comb. Which means that he is the first to note that a wagon passing by here is about to lose a wheel. Alarm strikes within his eyes and he is moving in that direction as quickly as possible, trying to hurry while not seeming overly conspicuous in the effort. Trying not to call attention. Trina has taken her break from her stall, and now Kaiulani is left to her own devices once again, trying to figure out what to do with herself next. She is supposed to study Haven for her cousin -- find out Pandion's position within it. But truth be told, she's not exactly eager to please Sarojin at the moment, and Sarojin's proxies, her guards, currently bear the brunt of her irritation. Kai sweeps onward through the marketplace, looking for the next stall she might investigate and not really caring what the merchant might sell. She wants to see it all. For the time being, though, she hasn't noticed that wagon as more than a detail to be briefly marked -- and passed, at the moment, in favor of a booth with shiny little trinkets and baubles that call Kaiulani's eye. The maiden smiles fleetingly at them, and starts in that direction. As the cart begins to rattle louder and the wheel finally ebbs its way off the axle, a loud creaking sound is followed by a crash as the wheel goes splintering off, headingg toward Kaiulani and her guards, with barrels and other items from the cart following closely in its wake. The commotion makes several heads in the crowd turn -- and among them those of Akane and Ronan, who suddenly look alive and move to close the distance they'd been keeping between themselves and their temperamental charge. It's Ronan that calls forth the urgent warning that brings the maiden's head round first, though, and Kai finds herself with -- Waters, what _is_ that headed towards her and which way can she dodge to get out of its path? Benja pushes a relatively small Varati man out of the way and is pushed back roughly. A growl comes to his throat, but there is no time to deal with the man, Kaiulani is in danger. And now, the decision. Does he chase the items and try to stop them, or move towards her to move her out of their way? Several items. One Kaiulani. Jumping over a small child with an ease that even surprises himself, Benja finally reaches her, though her back is to him, thankfully. Strong hands are suddenly about her arms and she is wrested from her feet and moved out of the way of a rolling barrel just before it crashes into the stall where she was just standing. Once she is out of danger, she is set quickly back to her feet, and released. Before she can turn around, and hopefully before the guards notice that she has been moved, the person who aided her escape is gone. Ducking behind a nearby stall and making a fast get away to the other side of the street where he will not be seen. Ah, but in a crowded marketplace, there's only so fast even a big, swift shark hunter can move. As she is plucked off her feet, Kaiulani spares only one instant in which to be thunderstruck -- in the next, she's immediately struggling, trying to wriggle around, to get a good look at the owner of the pair of strong arms that have just seized her. The spilled barrels off that wagon delay Akane and Ronan for a few precious seconds, long enough for the young woman to try to whirl about in a split second -- and get a glimpse of broad shoulders, of a tousled dark head. *Wait!* she calls, frenetically. And out loud, for good measure, as well. "_Wait_!" Was that _him_? Waters, was that him? It was indeed him. However, his arms, and therefore the wing-like fins are blocked from her view has he hurries away. He hears her cry, but will not head it. He knows better than to stop and go back, no matter how he longs to do so. She would only be dissappointed if she learns the truth of him. So, he keeps his distance and begins to circle back in a wide arch so he can continue is vigil. "Step aside!" barks Akane now, pushing his way past a couple of startled shoppers to finally reach Kaiulani, while Ronan scrambles to upright one of the fallen barrels -- politer than his brother, he's already seen their charge unharmed, and is taking a moment to help do his small part to help calm the mayhem. His dark blue brows drawn together over his eyes, the older guard steps up to the maiden, sweeping his gaze up and down her even as _she_ sweeps her wide-eyed gaze this way and that, trying to catch another glimpse of whoever it was that just grabbed her. _His hair,_ she thinks wildly, a smile tugging at her lips without her knowing. _I saw his hair...! He has dark hair..._ *My lady Kaiulani,* Akane breaks into her reverie, *are you all right?* Drifting into the crowd and then coming up again on the opposite side of the street, Benja watches the seen from the seclusion of a shadow, as usual. His eyes dance over the people around, and hope that none of the other witnesses happened to notice him or anything detailed enough to clue her in to who it was that saved her. Or her guards. Darn girl is so hard to keep out of harms way... Which is probably why it is so fun to guard her from it. A wry sort of smile comes to Ben's lips as he watches the guard speak to her as he never will. Without voice. A few other curious concerned voices turn to the girl, now, as it becomes obvious that a well-born young Daughter of Water has just narrowly avoided being clobbered by a barrel of salted fish. Kaiulani glances around startledly, both to her guards and to the merchants and other market-goers in immediate view, waving a finned hand dismissively and announcing in distracted tones that she's quite all right, thank you, no harm done. Most of her attention, however, is clearly upon scanning her surroundings. Impulse strikes her to question some of these bystanders, and she abruptly turns to one of the older Mongrels helping Ronan gather scattered parcels, asking, "Sir, did you -- see someone, just now? He helped move me--" To this, Akane's eyes abruptly narrow, and the blue-haired guard starts instituting his _own_ sweep of the area. His brother on the other hand shoots Kaiulani a long, searching stare, while the Mongrel scratches his graying head and frowns in self-directed puzzlement. "Can't say's I did, lass, was too busy duckin' th' mackerel..." Tension forms within Benja's shoulders and his fingers curl into fists as he waits apprehensively for the mongrels answer. When at last it is given, a sigh of relief escapes his lips and he steadies his breathing, watching as the contents of the cart are picked up, order again replacing pandamonium. *Brother, what--* *If he is here, Ronan, you know our orders!* The exchange between the guards is not audible to anyone else nearby -- except for Kaiulani, who shoots them both a horrified reply of her own: *You _will not_! Not here, in front of the landers!* The guardsmen's gazes both come back around to her then, Ronan's conveying a keen regret, that of Akane stern and uncompromising. * If your guardian will not present himself, Lady, we _must_ acquire him. If you do not want him damaged, I would strongly suggest you assist us in the search, if he is indeed <_emphasis_> _here_!* If Benja could hear these thoughts, he would very likely have a reaction of his own to them. However, as it stands, he only watches from his place of relative safety from detection. His eyes, however, are keen upon Kaiulani's face, and if her features show the signs of distress, he will surely know something is wrong, if not what. Distress, indeed, is etched upon the maiden's countenance now, as she winces with the force of Akane's insistence that he must follow his orders. For a fraction of an instant the maiden reels back -- but only for an instant. Her eyes are turning suspiciously liquid, but she is Pandion. She is royal. And she draws herself up to her full height, pinning the older of her two guards with as frigid a regard as she can muster; if Sarojin can do it, so can she! *I. Do. Not. Want. Him. Damaged!* The Children of Water might be conversing mind to mind -- but that doesn't mind that some sign of their urgent argument might not be read upon their faces by the bystanders. If Benja can espy Kaiulani's emotions from his hidden vantage point, they're all the clearer to the grizzled Mongrel nearby, who squints at the maiden and asks concernedly, "Lass, there summat amiss, then...? They'll be settin' th' wagon t' rights, dinnae fret..." That snaps Kaiulani's attention around, and only after she's broken stares with Akane do her features falter, signs of desperation beginning to leak through her gaze as well as her thoughts. The latter's enough to make _Ronan_ wince, now. "I... merely wanted... to thank whatever kind soul pulled me aside, sir, is all," she manages to answer, striving for a tone of grace. "Pandion Kaiulani owes him a debt, now." The thoughts swirl about Benja's mind as he look on to the silent contest of wills. Are they upsetting her? His brows furrow as he watches her face most intently. One step is taken leaving only half of him concealed. A rush of pride mingles with concern as she obviously seems to be staring down the guards about something, and then comes her utterance, which just barely makes it to his ears over the noise of the streets. Joy at the thought of her wishing to speak to him floods through him, but is quickly chased by that nagging reality of impossibility. Still, he cannot help but smile at her last statement, though it is a sad smile. She thinks she... Was that her name?? Eyes widen and he glances around quickly as if that might give him the answer. Kaiulani? Is that her name or another's? Excitement builds as his heart thumps in his chest. Eight syllables, liquid and light, and they make the Mongrel cackle hoarsely. "That'd be you, then, lass? Name like that, I'd think ye almost a whole city t' yerself, eh? Take yer thanks an' be happy with it I would, but it weren't me that grabbed ye and that's a fact, and I'm sorry I didnae see who did." The fellow smiles as kindly as his weathered face can allow, especially with the attention of the guards on him now. "Can't hae gone far though, yer wantin' we should spread out an' 'elp ye find 'im then?" That question makes Akane almost smile to himself, victoriously, while Ronan's tanned throat convulses once in a swallow. It's Kai's question to answer, though, and while the others in the immediate vicinity keep going about the business of cleaning up the mess from the wagon, the maiden stands, torn. She wants to find her strange nameless guardian, more than anything else at this moment -- but not at the risk of putting him in danger. "No... thank you, sir... I...." And again she smiles, wanly. "I will have to find him another time, thank him face to face. For now, we'll help, here..." And she gestures sharply to the two young men with her, turning around to give them a look and a sending bidding them do just that: continue to help with the cleanup. Triumph of his own washes over Benja's face. "Pannndddiiiuuuun..." He begins to sound out the name beneath his breath quite happily. And since it seems that whatever had bothered her is not past, he buys a bit of beef from a nearby vendor and sets himself on a seat, and watches the clean up from across the street. He will be sure that she is home and safe before he begins practicing that wonderful name... [End log.]