[PRP] What's a Name [FINISHED]

[Daisicle]

Dementia Requiem Asumi

It had been.. a while, putting it politely, since she had seen a kind face. She had left her home in the middle of a very traumatic explosion and her precious bundle of joy had arrived not long after that. Needless to say life had thrown her a few too many curves for her to handle all at once. Belvah had moved herself and Valere out of the tree.



As it was, his little head popped over her shoulder to look at where they were. "Mama?" He asked, "Where at?"



Belvah reached up and gently patted his head. "Zamarada. Are you ready to walk with me Sweetling?" She cooed, kissing his cheek before setting him down.



Valere preened under her attentions, taking her hand and walking. He didn't see anything but trail, but he trusted Mama to know where they were going.



She straightened her spine, using her free hand to make the smallest of adjustments to her appearance. The faun around here surely knew who she had been, and she didn't want pity, nor did she need it. It did little to help her raise her son, and it did very little to keep her from remembering what she had done when she had the position. No, what she wanted now was simply a place to raise a child and the work to support him. That shouldn't be so hard to find.



It was about the end of her train of thought that they started approaching the entrance of the village, Valere having found something to stick in his mouth, causing a delay in their travels

Daisicle

The streets were busy within the walled confines of Zamarad, a busy humm not quite audible from the outside, but would grow louder as the mother and child eventually ventured further in, as would the flurry of pae coming here and there.

A winged rakshasha, blue and speckled like the night, was posted guard on the eastern entrance as the two approached. She stopped them curtly before they could enter - though this manner of speaking stemmed from this being a strictly-business interaction rather than any sort of innate distain for the two faun.

After all... This particular rak had four mixed-breed children and a mixed lover of her own, not that Belvah had any way to know of this.

Tanz's ear flicked away a fly as she spoke. "You're not a face I've seen before - welcome to Zamarad. Please state your business for visiting today. Will you be staying or passing through?"

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Belvah didn't look up from where she had paused to pull whatever Valere was chewing on out of her mouth. She was used to curt greetings from guards within the tree, and didn't think twice about it. "I'd looking for a home to raise my son. We've been on the road for quite some time, so if you have the room we would like to stay."



Valere whined, finally giving up his latest tasty treat. "Mama want eat it..." His small hands reached out for the bug she had rescued from this mouth, only to see it skitter away in fear of him towards a sparkly shiny guy.



Right then Belvah looked up, following Valere's attention. She blinked for a moment, a bit shocked she had managed to wander so far away from faun territory but at the same time almost grateful for it. She didn't want him to be an influence in Valere's life. "Thank you for the welcome." She extended her hand in greeting.



Valere squeaked and bowed with his arm over his chest, trying to copy the way his mama had showed him. He wasn't very good at it, but he still tried

Daisicle

Tanz nodded. "If you have coin or goods to barter, you should have no trouble renting a room at the inn until you can find work and settle in." She made a mental note to go write in the logbook that a faun mother and child were planning to stay - a rather unusual situation, honestly. They must have come from Breeheart, as most faun willing to travel away from the Tree did, given the subdued reaction to her own appearance. Even so... most of their faun-esque residents were mixed-breed - a full-blood was quite unique.

"You can find a job board posted in the Market Plaza..." she turned to gesture down the main road that continued from the entryway further in, "...just follow this road and you should hit it. You really can't miss it." Given the rak incorrectly assumed Belvah originated from Breeheart, not the Tree, she didn't point out that these job postings would be in Common Script and, therefore, illegible to a native faun.

With a nod and a bit of a smile, Tanz accepted the handshake with a firm grip. Her tail flicked behind her as she made eye contact, then broke it to take a step back and gesture for Belvah to continue in. "Welcome to Zamarad - I hope you're able to find what you're looking for here."

 

[Daisicle]

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Belvah nodded at the mention of coins or barter. She didn't have much, but she could barter some of the trinkets gifted to her for coin, or spend what coin she had left. Hopefully they would take labor for housing materials if this was where they decided to settle...

The silver faun snapped out of that train of thought, she needed to go to the Market Plaza, down that way. "Thank you again." She smiled, grateful for the kindness.



"Tank youuuuuu" Valere chimed in, following his mother's lead. She always said manners were important. Even if she didn't tell him why. Ooooo that tail was shiny, moss green eyes blinked as it swished. Maybe Mama wouldn't notice if he went after the shiny...



"Valere, sweetie, leave her tail alone. I know she's gorgeous and shiny, but I don't think sh'ed appreciate her tail being turned into your plaything." She scooped up the tot, giving Tanz an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, he's just starting to discover the world and what he likes." She apologized. "Thank you again for welcoming us and the directions!" Belvah was trying her best to be warm and friendly. She wanted to leave a good impression on the villagers here.



Valere pouted as he was held, he really wanted to play with the shiny things. But that didn't do any good when Mama seemed to know exactly what he was doing. And they were moving! Where where they going? He tried to lean over her shoulder but only saw the pretty lady in the background

Daisicle

Tanz's smile took on a more genuine, almost sympathetic note - she empathized greatly with the struggles of childrearing. "Don't mention it - he's already far better behaved than my own." She remembered when little Io was still full of wonder... not just angst... Guardians help her when the five little ones reach their teenage years... "If you continue to the opposite end of town, there's a nice place called the Waplei Inn that I'm sure would treat you well. A nice fae runs it." She nodded once more before turning around and returning her attention to her post.

As Belvah and Valere continued down the road, they'd notice the density of buildings increase, and the number of animals and vegetation decrease, but otherwise there was no dramatic shift in architecture. Carts moved about and were quite skilled at avoiding the pedestrians sharing the space. The noises of peddlers, shop owners vying for a curious eye, the mixture of aromas from the street food - some established stands with temporary seating and several workers, some simply a cart and owner - intensified. There were colorful displays of the city's unique textiles, clothing, and anything else they could use to catch a passerby's attention.

At some point they'd pass a bakery producing such a sweet and buttery scent that one didn't even need to look to know it was the outpost from Breeheart.

Soon thereafter the road would open up into a great open space, overflowing with the chaos and excitement of a flourishing open-air market. Tradesmen and craftspae alike filled the place, each working to make some money for the day. The sheer volume and variety of goods would surely be beyond anything Belvah had experienced before, as would the fact that some 70% of the pae were clearly of the Light. Mixed in them were harpies - including a pair currently performing with their singing - faun, and even some naga.

Welcome to Zamarad!

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Belvah took note of the inn as they walked, it was their first stop. Find a place to lay their head, and then a job to earn some coin. She smiled at the compliment to Valere, gently nudging him to smile at the other as well. He knew better even if he didn't understand why yet.

It wasn't long until Belvah was utterly overwhelmed. The delicious smells coming from the bakery were familiar and utterly unmistakable, but the sheer variation of pae that were here was overwhelming. At most she had seen naiads, or an angel or two. The pae guarding the entrance had thrown her off, but she couldn't have prepared herself for all of the Light pae she now found herself in the middle of.

The faun hugged her son a big tighter to her chest, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She could do this. This was exactly what she had wanted, right? This was definitely an adjustment, but she could handle it. She had Valere, and he needed her more than she needed hang ups given to her by pae older than Laisidhiel.



"Mama?" He poked her cheek, worried. She was hurting him. "Mama ow" Valere winced as she squeezed tighter before loosening her grip. Oh that felt better. "Where at?" He asked again, they were always moving.



"Zamarad, Little One." She pinched his cheek, looking up. Oh dear, she was utterly lost among all these pae. Where was the inn again? Goodness no, she should have been paying more attention to where she was going not Valere. "Oh no, it seems we're lost Valere, do you see anyone we can ask for help?" Talking herself through the situation should help right?

Daisicle

As Valere looked around the plaza, there were quite a few pae he may see.

Two harpies with brightly-contrasting plumage - one red, one blue - singing and performing to a growing crowd. Among one of those seemed to be a shetani of light yellow and blue, enamored by the song, but clearly just as much by the blue one specifically. Near the red one were two young, equally red-and-white chicks just sort of chilling out and waiting for their mother to finish work.

A pair of sisters, clearly twins, weaving through the crowd with an assortment of papers in their arms.

Various pae of the Light outside of a pair of religious buildings - one the Temple of Celebrations and Golden Fish Orphanage and one the Guardian Temple - offering words of the Light and love, and asking for monetary donation, to any who would listen.

There was an unlikely duo of a rak and angel lined up near one of he stalls, the lovey-dovey nature of their relationship evident even from afar... even if a newcomer wouldn't recognize them as the village heads taking time out of their day to share a meal together.

And if she ended up on a side, or even a back alley, she'd start happening upon either the 'entertainment' or craftsmen districts - it'd be notable which one by the obvious vibe and the sorts of establishments dotting the paths

 

[Daisicle]

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Valere looked around, tears forming in his eyes. He didn't like being lost. "No Mama" He pressed tiny fists to his eyes, wiping at the tears forming there.



Belvah started humming, "There there Valere, we'll find where we're going." She gently moved first one hand, and kissed his tears away, and then the other. This seemed to do the trick as he was looking around again for where they were going. "I think this is where we were supposed to go." She continued to hum, lightly bouncing the tot in her arms. There would be no tantrums in public on their first day here.



Valere whimpered at first when Mama moved his hands, only to start giggling when she kissed his closed eyes. That always tickled! When they started walking again, there were noises filling the streets, people making things and showing off their shiny things. He really wanted Mama to set him down so he could see the shiny stuff better!!!



Belvah booped his nose, seeing the mischief brewing in his eyes. "You'll stay right up here Little One. Mama doesn't have the money for you to go putting all of this in your mouth." She knew better than to let him down. There may not have been as many pae here than there were at the base of Laisidhiel before she left it, but she could easily lose track of one small child if he slipped out of her hands.



"Mamaaaaaaaaaaaa" He groaned, pushing away from her. "Want seeeeeee" The tiny faun squirmed as much as he could. Finally he did manage to break free! With his freedom he ran for it! There were shinies to be seen! Giggling, he hid under the nearest table hoping to see something pretty!

Daisicle

Dark smoke billowed from the chimney one of the nearby huts, its doors opened to let some airflow in and some embers and soot trail out. It was situated just off a branch from this alley so as to not disturb patrons looking for art - after all, the craftsman in this one generally had little use for handling customers himself. Inside was a faun striking metal with an almost melodic rhythm, each strike coming at an established pace. His appearance may have been considered somewhat unusual in the Tree, but here, it was undeniably fill faun.

Just as he was, having hailed from the Tree many seasons ago.

His loyalties to the Chieftain and the Earth remained strong even now, a resident of a foreign land, surrounded by the Light and others with dirty blood. But the Guild required a blacksmith to mint coins here, and he had been chosen to fulfill such a role - he'd lose his mark if he'd refused, as they had no need for one in the Tree.

He exhaled deeply as he looked over the piece he was working on and, with a nod and no hesitation, dunked it into a pot of water to steam and cool. He then set it aside and closed the door to his fire and used his forearm to wipe sweat from his brow.

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Belvah let out a very undignified squawk as the tot escaped her arms. Thankfully he wasn't very good at hiding and had only ducked inside of the hut with smoke plumes. She made the softest sounds possible as she stepped forward, sneaking towards her son, grabbing him by tickling his underarms.



He squealed, coming away from his hiding spot. "Mama!" Valere squirmed, her tickles were always the best. But something felt familiar here! "Mama who that?"



She paused, taking in the shop, or rather the forge. She hadn't been inside of one before, rarely having cause. The faun working inside was a welcome sight, even if he seemed busy. "That's a blacksmith. I'll bet you he came straiiiiight from the branches of Laisidhiel herself." Just because she didn't want him around him didn't mean he wasn't going to learn about his heritage. "I bet, if we ask nice we can learn his name."

Daisicle

Iroh was so engrossed in his work that he hadn't noticed that others had wandered into the workshop - if he had, he'd probably have yelled at them from his workbench or something. It was a dangerous placed filled with soot and dust, exceptionally hot, and with a low lighting that would have kept it no place for a child to wander.

He placed his tool on the ground near the forge and turned, his tail and ear concurrently flicking at he noticed the unexpected guests. Faun, at that - and the female... she seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it due in large part to the lighting. Had he known if was the former He then placed his hands on his thighs as he raised a brow.

"Can I... help you with something?"

 

[Daisicle]

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Belvah felt a firm handle on the tiny one, and caution held her back. Did he actually know who they might be? Spirits help them if this somehow got back to...



"We lost!" Valere sang, it was dark in here and hot. But the big guy looked strong and cool! "Mama needs help find horse!" He proclaimed with confidence for them. Words weren't his strong suit.



Belvah, now mortified, "I'm so sorry. He means we're new in town and a bit lost." She gently pressed a single finger over Valere's lips to shush him. "We didn't mean to bother you but you're the first faun we've seen since we passed through Breeheart."

Daisicle

Dai sighed softly as she realized that Discord deleted her reply.

Iroh, on the other hand, was now focused on the two faun in front of him. He nodded, affirming her statement. "There are few faun here - it's far from Home, after all." He didn't particularly consider those with mixed blood to be one of his own, so his statement was true.

Dementia Requiem Asumi

"We hadn't realized we had gotten so far away from Laisidhiel." She smiled apologetically, having caught the double meaning. Belvah wondered briefly if he would know who she had been, or figure it out...



"Missr, who you?" He couldn't wait for Mama to stop talking. This place looked cool! And he had hooves, he was 100% okay in Valere's books

Daisicle

Iroh would probably figure out once (or if) he left his forge, but for now, Belvah was in the clear.

He looked to the child and spoke briefly. "I'm Iroh, a blacksmith with the Guild." He then looked back to Belvah. "Where are you trying to go?"

 

[Daisicle]

Dementia Requiem Asumi

"What's a guild? What's a blacksmith? Mama, where going?" Valere forgot his manners, excited someone was entertaining his questions.



He was with the guild? "Way out here? I didn't think Rais would have sent anyone out after..." She trailed off, realizing where that train of thought would take her. "We were trying to find the inn and job board in the market plaza."

Daisicle

Iroh nodded, more to Belvah than to the child, with utmost seriousness in his look. "Yes, the Guild. As this is a village where the blood pae use coin for their goods, and I am here to make those coins and other items. You can imagine how hard it was to be told I must leave Her..." His eyes drifted downwards, the pain of leaving - his family (in the community sense) - when he departed the Tree still fresh. When he returned his eyes upwards, there was passion in his gaze. He knew she'd understand what he was about to say. She was one of his family after all.

"But don't worry, my loyalties to Her and to our Paeple burns strong, even out here. Even with so many blood pae around."

"Should the Chieftain ever need anything of me, I wouldn't hesitate even a moment!" Even now, he fed intel to the Pathfinders as they passed through.

His body language relaxed somewhat and he raised a brow. "The job board? It's all in the Blood (common) Script. You wouldn't be able to read it..."

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Belvah chewed her lip a bit. He knew a great deal of pain and suffering if he had been sent from their home at his request. "She has been home longer than she has not been." She smiled at his passion, having not grown up within her branches.



"Mama, who Cheif?" He asked, looking between the two adults. He was sure he knew the word and had heard it before, but it was still confusing.



The silvery faun gently brushed her son's hair out of his face. "Cheiftan Rais, he takes care of all the faun that are loyal to Laisidhiel." Her attention turned once more to the blacksmith, "It's in Blood Script?" She sounded disappointed. He was right, she wouldn't be able to read it. "Broken branches, that's not-" She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Can you help me please? You're right, I can't read their language."

Daisicle

Iroh's eyes were finally begining to re-adjust to the forge's lighting, and there was something about this woman that struck him as super familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

He nodded once, a serious expression on his face. "If you stay here, horrible and it feels, you will with time." He sighed, then stroked his small beard in thought. "What is it you want to do?"

 

[Daisicle]

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Belvah shifted Valere from one hip to the other, pondering his question. She didn't keep up on many of the skills she had learned before her time within The Tree, and what she had done there was mostly hospitality and trying not to lose another pregnancy..

She frown a bit, "I'm not sure what I can do. A long time ago I worked with fabrics, making them. Before Ra- Ch-" Belvah took only a second to straighten her speech out. "Before we set out."



"Mama! Mama! I know Chief!" The gears in Valere's ever growing brain had finally clicked. "Chief is Pap-" A hand was slid over his mouth very quickly before he could finish what he was saying.



Children had a way of saying things in the exact way they didn't need to be said. "It seems we've been outed." She was blushing, but not trying to hide much of what her precious child had said

Daisicle

'Chief is pap,' Iroh crossed his arms and raised a brow at the child and his mother's reaction - was he about to say something offensive? Pap...? Pop......?? He furrowed his brows, aware something should be there, but not quite seeing it.

It'd come to him later when he has less pressing things preventing him from mulling it over.

"Back to the topic of your working here... I hate to suggest having anything to do with these blood pae, but..." He paused. "There are a few craftspae here I do business with that should be tolerable. Let me check with them, but I'm sure one or two would be fine taking an apprentice."

Dementia Requiem Asumi

Belvah was shocked Iroh didn't catch Valere's slip instantly. But then, he hadn't recognized her yet either. Thank the Spirits for small blessings. "I think that's likely the only option. I'm not well suited to your craft, weak constitution and all that." She laughed, making a joke at her own expense. It was at least partially true, even if she was making light of it.



Valere was confused. Mama didn't want him to talk about Papa? He crossed his arms. "I want here." His already dubious speech devolving a hair in his state of confusion.



"We're staying in this village Valere. Is that what you mean?" She prodded him, getting a shake of his head. "Do you want to work here?" He nodded, "I think you're just a touch too young to start an apprenticeship with Iroh. Let's get you to bed, and school first and then you can ask again when you're older, how's that?"



He huffed, "Kaaaaaay. Still want know about Papa." Valere mumbled, yawning loudly at the end. Long days were long.



Right, back to Iroh and working with the blook pae. "I'm so sorry, I realized I forgot to give you my name. I'm Belvah, this is Valere."

Daisicle

Iroh gave a hearty laugh to that and slapped the top of his thigh. "Tell you what young lad, come here when you're older and I'll work you til you're tired of this place." The kid would probably forget about this whim soon enough - the life of a blacksmith was a hard one.

Iroh's expression grew tense at the formal introduction, and his eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. "Lady Belvah?!" He abruptly stood to move to take a knee. "My Lady, why are you so far away from Laisidhiel? And with..." He looked to Valere, his eyes lighting up. "So She (the Tree) finally blessed you with a child - and a son at that!"

 

[Daisicle]

Dementia Requiem Asumi

"Yay!" Valere raised his hands in the air with excitement. If he wasn't currently being held by his mother he'd have wiggled and squirmed in his form of a dance.



"Please stand, there's no reason to treat me with such respect." Belvah stepped forward to touch his shoulder. "Rais and I parted ways amicably, before Valere was born." She looked at the young one in her arms. Hearts wept when he came into her life, that was certain. "We left Laisidhiel to raise Valere and not irritate his father. No matter how agreeable both parties were about it." It was still a sore spot for her

Daisicle

Well that was news to Iroh, even if it wouldn't have been to most other loyalists. His information stream was one-way, after all. Still, the confusion and concern were evident on his face. "Yes, I see you've parted... Though I can't fathom why the Chief would have his son raised away from Her embrace and His paeple..." But he wouldn't openly question his reasoning - he was their leader for a reason. "...But all the more reason you shouldn't be here alone - surely he sent you with some support. These are dangerous times for a faun away from the Tree."

Dementia Requiem Asumi

"Its a long story not for little ears." Belvah offered, nodding to Valere. Some things she didn't want her son to know. Especially when she herself was still healing from what ultimately culminated in self-inflicted wounds.



"Mama, 'mm seepy.." He yawned, rubbing one of his eyes. He wasn't sleepy. He wanted to hear what she was talking about.



The silver fauness gently carded her fingers through Valere's hair, "we'll get you to a bed soon." Her eyes once more on Iroh. "I'll tell you as much as I'm able when little ears aren't around." She offered

Daisicle

Iroh stood. "You don't need to do that..." But he ended that statement there, deciding it wasn't his place to say at the moment. Instead he stood up and walked past her to the forge entrance. "Come... Let me show you to the inn. Which one was it again?" After confirming the name, he guided Belvah there and insisted on covering about a week's worth of stay to give her time to settle in and find work.

To think the Chieftain's Wife would be in the territory of blood pae... Having to work with them... Live with them... After they'd hurt their Mother so gravely...

What in the Branches was the Chieftain thinking?