OoC - 36° Tessera 81379, no more than two others. BiC - Villi smelled... popcorn. Its scent, a blend of salt and fire, wafted past her. Once upon a time, such an aroma would have pleased the youngster, but now, she flinched. Smoke, fire, burning — it brought to her thoughts of her mother, and she did not want to think of her mother. Not even the happier times. This was how she was coping. By refusing to think about those things that hurt her. Thus, she took a tissue out of her backpack, tore it into two pieces, and plugged up her nostrils. Passerby glanced at the young thill as they passed by, wondering at her, at why she was alone, on a bench, on a sidewalk, on the main street of Aurius's main dome. And, why, by gods, did she have cloth tucked up her nose? A lot of pendragons looked, but not even one paused, or saw anything beyond a youthful lukuo, alone, by herself, feet swinging, sitting on the bench in the fall's morning air, a backpack at her side, her peculiar antennae quivering ever so lightly. Eventually, the odor of the popcorn ground through her self-made plug, and Villi frowned. She tore the tissue from her nostrils, mashed it up, and tossed it into a waste basket near the bench. She then grabbed her back pack, swung her feet to the sidewalk, and left, images of her house, burnt to the ground, charred, smoking, dancing in her mind like a teasing nightmare in her waking mind. Once she'd escaped the scent — though it seemed to linger on her, in her clothes, on her back pack, stuck in the tissue of her nose, absorbed into her very brain — Villi ducked into a shop. She didn't even bother to look at the sign. She just leaned against the glass door, heard the tinkle-tinkle of a small bell, and then found herself in a — deli? It was too early to be buying soups and sandwiches, so the place was empty except for an old kiom behind the counter. Villi tried not to look at her as she padded across the cool tile floor and took a seat next to a window that looked out on the street. Stencilled backwards and on the other side of the glass were the words "Djumpnu Tneshi's Delicatessen." As Villi sat there, small white form tucked into the cold, hard chair, the spikes on her ankles flared upwards, and her cheeks became heated. The smell of baking bread and chicken base being stirred with a wooden spoon could not chase it away — the pendragon behind the counter looked just like her mother, and to flee would be rude and weak.
Phoenix Feathering was moving down the crowded streets of Aurius, rather slowly, her head facing the ground. It had been a while though, since she had last came in the area. She fiddled around in her rather large bag for items she needed; Gardening scissors, hedge clippers, trimmers. It would be a long day. Business as usual, although the pay was pretty good. Still, Phoenix wished she was on vacation, back in her home in Swarj. She could be creating new medicine for pendragons, or doing something she really enjoy, eating. But lately she never had time for anything. Her schedule was completely filled. It was so bad that she had not seen her home in two months! She came to a store, not bothering to see the name, and marched inside. Being the clumsy dragon she was, Phoenix never saw Villi before it was too late. She tripped, falling right into the other dragon'. "I'm really sorry." she cried, standing on her legs. She was more worried about the other dragon', as she always was carring about others over her own well being. Sometimes that could be a good thing, or a bad one. Phoenix Featherwing fiddled with the frames of her glasses.
She sort of wanted to look up, and view this pendragon that looked like, but was not, her mother. However, Villi could not bring herself to do it. She'd been avoidant for almost a year, and didn't want to stop now. It was working so well — wasn't it? Besides, there was no other way for the little lukuo to deal with the fresh pain that wanted to cut her up from the inside, which grew stronger and more furious as the anniversary, just two days away, crept upon her. Villi's mind was suddenly filled by her father's face, and she felt a yearning within her. He'd called her school, and had requested that she take a few days off to return to Ajita to be with him for the anniversary of her mother's death. Now, spiked ankles swinging off the chair, the thill allowed herself to think of their plans, but not the reason why. She just wanted their get-together to be normal, not for any reason, least of all to celebrate a life that had been cut done so unfairly, so cruelly. Plicae was planning to take Villi out to dinner at a nice restaurant on mainland Ajita, though he wasn't sure which one yet. Other than that, he'd said she could choose what they did, whether that was a memorial of some sort, or just spending time together. Of course, Villi did not want to do a memorial. She would have to remember, then, the sad times as well as the happy ones, and she just wasn't prepared yet. She was still in denial, still trying to pretend that she wasn't hurting, that her mother was just on vacation, that none of it had happened. Even as the nine-year-old began to consider what she did want to do with her father, who would be picking her up via a submarine transport later this afternoon at an Aurius port, a sudden sound distracted her. Looking up, Villi's antennae twitched atop her head, and she had to brush her shoulder-length hair out of her face as she surveyed the pendragon that had just walked in. She was — ow! Before the young lukuo could even get a good look, the other pendragon had stumbled and fallen right into her; Villi's chair was forced backwards, its legs scraping against the tiled floor. "I'm... okay," the little while female said after a moment. She could see that the kiom that could have passed for her mother's twin was rushing out from behind the counter. "Are you all right?" she asked, training her rather colorless eyes upon the one that had fallen, trying not to look at what was doubtlessly Djumpnu Tneshi approaching from the side.
Phoenix nodded, removing some ramathian currency from her bag. She was rather clumsy, and often fell into things at her home. "Here, surely for all the trouble I have caused." and folded the money into the dragons' hand. She turned away for a few seconds, before turning red. "Er, would you happen to know your way around Aurius, it's been years for me."
When the stranger shoved a wad of bills into Villi’s hand, the young lukuo blinked, and stared at the money. Why…? “For all the trouble I have caused," the female said, and Villi’s eyes shifted from the currency upwards. She wanted to shove it back at her, but thought that might be pretty rude. Instead, she slowly closed her hand around the small stack of bills, and then shoved her balled fist into a pocket, depositing the money there. When this was done, she shrugged lightly. “It’s fine…" the thill began to say, but then she realized that her mother’s look-alike was hovering nearby, looking uncertain. Villi refused to look up at her, and it didn’t take long for the kiom to decide that things were set straight. She shuffled away from the sight of the “accident," and once more slipped behind the counter. Having been trying her best to ignore Djumpnu Tneshi, Villi squeaked in response to Phoenix’s question. “Sure, I know my way around. I go to Uslumset College."
Phoenix nodded. Sure, I know my way around. I go to Uslumset College. She pulled her bag to the side (of which had been neatly strung on her shoulder), and handed Villi the notice she had recieved some mornings ago. "There's someone I need to meet there, but as you can clearly see, I have no idea where I am going." Of course, Phoenix was refering to the school grounds. She was a master in botany and herbology. One of the teachers needed her assistance. The reason remained even a secret to her. Was she that skilled that they would call her all the way from her gardens at home.
When the stranger thrust more paper into her hand – this time, it was a note – Villi’s mouth turned down at the edges. First, this kiom had fallen right into her, and now she was throwing money and notes at her. Not to mention, she was asking the young lukuo a favor now. She wanted to be guided around Aurius, and the Uslumset campus? Villi could have sworn her day had been quiet and unobtrusive about two seconds ago. How quickly things could change. “Do you have a map?" Villi spoke. The small spikes on her ankles laid flat against her fetlocks as she talked. “I’m not sure I can help you. My father is going to be picking me up soon, at one of the ports. I have to be there in a few minutes. I’m going home because…" Wait, no. Villi sealed her lips at this point. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell this strange kiom about her mother. It was just that, if she admitted aloud what she was doing, that her mother’s death anniversary was in two days’ time, she would have to admit to the world – and to herself – that it had actually happened. Then she would have to think about it. And that was unthinkable.
Phoenix nodded, her mouth curving into a smile. "I understand, dear." she said moving slightly away. She was already late by several hours, and should have been on the run. "I'm Phoenix Featherwing.", a rather simple introduction. Phoenix was far from being simple, and could be considered very bold. She was highly renowned in botany and herbology, achieving a master level from Jarnardan. She scrawled an address on a torn paper from her bag, and handed it to the dragon'. "If you ever need anything." Suddenly her stomach began to grumble, and Phoenix remembered that she had not had the chance to eat anything, all day. She slowly stepped away from Villi and approached the counter.
This pendragon – Phoenix, she’d said her name was – seemed very flighty, and even more generous. She pushed a third slip of paper at Villi, who took it and glanced down at it. It was an address, and Phoenix seemed to want the little white lukuo to contact her if she ever needed a favor. This elicited yet another blink from Villi, and she suddenly felt very sorry for this older thill. She didn’t know why, but she did. “Well… how about you…" As she spoke, Phoenix’s stomach began to grumble, and Villi had to stifle a smile. As the elder female moved towards the counter, the lukuo trailed at her side. “Why don’t you get something to eat, and then we can wait for my dad. He and I can help you get where you need to be," Villi concluded. As Phoenix began to place her order, which Djumpnu Tneshi took with a gracious smile and a flourish of a feathered pen, the young lukuo moved off to the side. She dug in her jeans pocket, and withdrew a cellular phone device. Flipping it open, she quickly went to the phonebook screen, and then dialed a number. As it rang, she held it close to her ear, and waited. Her tail flicked and the spines on her hocks flared a little, as if in impatience. “Dad? Hey, it’s Villi. Yeah. I’m fine. Yeah. Uh-huh. Hey, when you pick me up, do you mind if we take a walk around the city? There’s a woman here named Phoenix who needs to be shown… yeah. Needs to be shown to Uslumset College. I thought maybe we could show her. Mhm. No. Okay. We’re at a little café type place called Djumpnu Tneshi’s Delicatessen. All right. We’ll wait. See you in a few minutes. Bye, dad. I love you, too." Hanging up, Villi glanced at the two others in her company, shuffled over, and placed an elbow on the counter. She turned her colorless eyes upwards, and gave Phoenix a small smile. “My dad’s going to meet us here, and we’ll show you the way to Uslumset."
Phoenix smiled, holding out her hand once more to the dragon. "Thank you once more, for everything, it has been a most pleasurable time meeting you." she stated, checking her watch. Although she was slightly late, Phoenix had an idea which she could use to explain her absence. Strangely, everything appeared to had worked out perfectly. It was rather odd, at least she thought. Phoenix had an aura that always managed to mess things up. Perhaps that was the reason she had little friends. People tended to stray from such dragons.
Villi continued to lean on the counter, now turning her face towards the grandmotherly pendragon behind it, who was preparing Phoenix’s order. How the kiom reminded her of the mother… soon enough, the lukuo glanced away, and even stopped a few paces away from the counter. She refocused her attention elsewhere – namely upon the door, as she waited for her father to appear. Just a few minutes later, Villi sighed in relief as his dark figure appeared outside, moving towards the front door. The small bell jingled as the tall, slender arden pushed his way in, and Villi gave him a rather bright smile. Plicae, however, looked distracted, even as his daughter stepped up to him and gave him a light hug. “Something wrong, dad?" the youth asked, backing up a few steps to gaze up at his face. “Ah, no, Villi’sla. How are you doing?" the black male responded, shaking his head as if to clear it and offering up a hand to touch his daughter’s temple. An affectionate light entered his eyes. “Where’s the thill we’re helping?" The little white lukuo smiled at her father, then turned a bit and pointed out Phoenix, who was still at the counter. “There."
The lady from behind the counter handed her a small paper bag, then moved aside to the next customer. Phoenix approached Villi and the arden who would surely be her father. "Phoenix Featherwing, sir" she said throwing out her hand to the other dragon. Phoenix was a little tired after all the running around she had done. Her busy schedule was starting to get to her head. After all, how long can a dragon go without sleep? A day or two? It had been almost a month since she had any sleep. The bags under her eyes could barely be covered, no matter how hard she tried. She smiled nervously, hoping to make a good impression on the father. He was, after all giving her a ride.
Well, it wasn’t going to be Plicae giving her a ride, so to speak, but he would show her where she could get a ride, and with Villi’s help, they would show Phoenix the way to Uslumset. “It’s nice to meet you," Plicae said, his voice honest but his gaze somewhat distracted. He outstretched his long, gracile arm and shook her hand. “Plicae Decatur at your service. I’m sure Villi has already introduced herself." The arden gave his daughter a fond smile, which was returned, and then both lukuos began to turn towards the door. Villi glanced behind her to make sure Phoenix was following, and trailed her father from the delicatessen. She dared not glance one last time at the kiom behind the counter, fearful that it would feel like she was abandoning her own mother. Gracefully leading, his gait swift due to his long legs, Plicae guided the two females to a bus stop. It was designated by a bright blue sign with aquamarine trim. He paused beneath it, then glanced down at his skinny wrist to check his timepiece. Plicae muttered to himself, and then sighed rather deeply, before glancing at his daughter and Phoenix. “The bus comes in a few moments. I am afraid that Villi and I cannot come with you. I was going to show you myself, but I am running very, very late," Plicae said apologetically. “When you board the bus, just tell the driver where you need to be. If I remember correctly, he’s a really friendly chap, right, Villi?" The little white lukuo peered at her dad wonderingly, but nodded. She was wondering why they could not give Phoenix Featherwing a personal tour, and her dad was never usually so hurried and drawn looking. She wondered what was wrong, though it was obvious, wasn’t it? The unthinkable date was approaching, and perhaps he was very upset over it. He sure was failing at trying to hide it, but, wait, her mother’s death day anniversary couldn’t be the only thing on his mind. What was he supposedly “late" for? “It was very, very nice meeting you, Phoenix, and I hope you find your way. I apologize for not being able to show you personally," Plicae finished up, his tail flicking as he then put a hand on Villi’s shoulder and began to steer her away, towards the nearest port. “Good luck!" he called before ushering Villi away down the walk. “Um, dad?" his daughter asked. “Yes?" he replied, his tone indicating that he knew what question was going to come next. “Where are we hurrying off to?" Villi asked, though she tried not to sound rude or petulant. She had wanted to show Phoenix around Uslumset a little bit, but it was not too large a disappointment. “Some very high political friends have decided to have a remembrance ceremony for your mother," the Decatur arden sighed, squeezing Villi’s shoulder. This elicited a rather blank, stony look, and his father’s heart shriveled a bit. “It will be hard to attend, but we must. It’s in only a few hours, so we have to hurry. The portal’s up here, we will catch a ride back. Villi?" “What, dad." “Be strong, baby girl."
Phoenix had overhead the conversation between the two. It was really hard to lose someone, she completely understood. Her brother had been murdered only a few months ago, under the shining moon. It sent shivers down her spine, and nightmares into her head. She was living in the shadow of a memory. She slowly waved, noticing the bus was only a few blocks away. "Thanks, I will be fine on my own" she assured them before turning away. "Perhaps we will meet again, sometime, and Villi, be strong for him". A tear welled in her eye. It was so hard sometimes, to say goodbye. The bus pulled up to the corner, as Phoenix carefully stepped on. She breathed deeply before taking her seat. She would hopefully be getting some sleep afterwords. It was going to be a rather long day of gardening and planting. Phoenix was sure that they would meet again one day.
