Upesdārgakmens
6 Brujames, 333
Daina
The town is fairly bustling around the market area but seems to settle a little as they leave that area. Daina smiles as she admires her new fabrics, still carrying them around for the moment. Angel's trip not quite over but nearer to the end than the beginning. Daina tries to bank back her urge to smile in greeting to those they pass, they didn't want to much attention. In fact she questions. "Do you think I should forgo the performing,. since we're trying to be... less noticeable?" Glancing to Slavina as they continue on through the port town.
Slavina
Although she's been a perfectly attentive translator for the day's shopping, Slavina has been (rather uncharacteristically) uninterested in most of the goods on display. She has, naturally, accepted the small gifts and "samples" many of the merchant pushed on them, including the stick of crystallized honey she's licking as they walk.
Slavina cocks her head and spares Daina a quizzical glance. "We are?" She looks over at Janin, then back to Daina, worried she's missed a key piece of behavioral requirements while in town.
Daina
Daina hums a little and her brow furrows a but "Um... well your cousin is?" she purses her lips. "Doesn't that extend to us?" she asks as she toys with the fabric, kinda petting it. "I don't want to make the trip harder just for a performance."
Slavina
"Oh. I see." Slavina takes another thoughtful lick, flicking her skirt back with one hand as they move through a particularly narrow area. She shrugs a little. "Depends what kind of attention you're talking about. Don't do anything that would bother the gods, but other than that... if a crowd wants to clap or stare at your boobs or whatever I doubt it's a problem for Vivka."
Fate
Janin works his way easily through the crowd, his various confectionary necklaces clacking against each other as he moves. "But if it's a goddess performing, isn't that likely to draw godly attention?" He speaks around one of the necklaces currently in his mouth.
Slavina
She considers that point carefully. "Depends on the performance, probably?"
Daina
Daina hmms softly "probably better to be safe than sorry eh? since we got a warning and all, don't want tempt fate."
Slavina
Slavina lets the topic drop as they get closer to the "Visitor Welcome Center," apparently the Nauvos Baltijos equivalent of an Official Information Office. The sign even has cheery-looking floral patterns painted around the letters. "Didn't Aaren say that the confectionaries are what's rotting people's teeth?" She muses, considering her honey-stick.
Daina
Daina shrugs "I mean ... we've got an Aaren though,... so we can nom all the candies" grins slightly as she admires the sign with a brighter smile. Pausing she looks around to see if anyone is watching.
Fate
Janin sends a glance Daina's way at her response, then says, "I mean, personally, me singing the healthy teeth song after is not a bad price to pay for something I may not get the opportunity to have again anytime soon."
Slavina
"Oh. That makes sense. I hadn't thought about Aaren healing teeth. I just remembered my aunt saying a bad tooth was the only thing that hurt worse than giving birth." She gives a deliberately illustrative grimace along with the statement.
Fate
Janin thoughtfully cracks one of the candy beads. "Really?" He crunches a couple times and says, "I thought it was kidney stones."
Slavina
Slavina finishes licking the sugar off her stick and disposes of the stick itself under a bush. "I guess she'd never had a kidney stone. Personally, I'll skip both."
Daina
Daina grimaces a little as well. "Birth seems to hurt pretty bad... " she notes as she starts growing a plant to match the illustrations on the sign, up to the sign and artfully around it so one can still read the words on it.
Slavina
"It does." Slavina pushes the door open and does the step-side-step half twirl she always does when entering a new place - the one that would make a wonderful chiming sound if she actually had bells on her. Her tone is more lively than it's been for most of the trip, but still very dry and bland when she's not making an effort. "The good thing is it hurts so bad you blank it out. Otherwise no one would ever have more than one."
Daina
Daina huh's softly "I reckon I'll wait to find out, lots to do first after all." She smiles uncertainly and gives a look around the area they'd stepped into. She was curious and also maybe wanted to change the subject. Her own bells barely chiming as she seems to almost be trying to sneak in.
Slavina
Slavina counterbalances any sneakiness Daina may have contributed immediately: she sashays straight up to the counter, makes a big sweeping gesture as she flicks her head-scarf back behind her shoulders, and gives the office attendant a small smile. "Good afternoon," she says, in Kalba. "We're looking for travel information. Is this the place?"
Daina
Daina is ok with Slavina taking notice away from her, makes it easier to hide. She'd been defiant about her behavior but guilt had started eating at her soon after and she was trying very hard to not be ... flashy or scary or anything.
Fate
The attendant, off-guard, straightens a little further. "Ah..." He glances at the sign above his head, as if checking. He shakes his head a little (as if to clear out the cobwebs) and looks back to Slavina and says, "Yes, yes it is. How can I help you?"
Slavina
"We're planning to leave town tomorrow or the day after..." Slavina briefly describes the early stages of their route. "Are there many merchant-caravans or the like going that way? And where is a good place to ask about road hazards?"
Daina
Daina looks around the room a little bit just seeing if they've got decor or religious artifacts, anything of interest.
Fate
There is plenty of decor to be found in the place. It's all quite inviting, with bright floral paintings contrasted with some clean intervals/negative space. One wall features a map of the town and some name badges pinned up to various places to indicate their locations. There's also a row of small, primarily functional altars lining another wall, framed by two bowls containing skittles.
Meanwhile, the fellow considers. "Well, I'm afraid all I can do is tell you to go around to trading posts and warehouses and ask there. You might be able to catch a merchant at the gates." Still, he hangs onto the conversation a bit. "You're headed forest-ward. Out that way are wolves, hares, harts, bears... bandits from time to time... mischievous spirits that find sport in leading travelers astray..." He scratches behind his ear. "The wilds there are Medeinė's territory, but she'll leave you alone if you don't cross her and don't stray too far from the roads. There's also Žilas Vilkas, who's as like to mislead you as guide you. Be kind and generous to any mysterious traveler you come across, as it might be him." The clerk rattles all this off as if it's obvious. Then he regards the group, a little more intent, his mouth pressed out in apology. "That's about all I can tell you."
Daina
Daina listens as she peruses the room and leans in to look at the map a bit more intently. She glances over her shoulder at the names, trying to place them but having no luck. She questions "does the mischievous one show up as a coyote sometimes?" moving to join Slavina and offering a small smile of greeting with her approach. She reaches up and tightens one of her ribbons in her curls.
Slavina
Slavina closes her eyes as he lists off information, in the manner of someone taking in beautiful music. Once he's done, she cracks one eye open, then the other, and nods. "I see, thank you. Are there any curfews in town, or laws governing the forest areas,camping, exports...?" She waves a hand in an etcetera etcetera type of way.
As a brief aside to Janin (and kind of to Daina), she says in English, "Was there anything else I'm supposed to ask?" She keeps her tone playful enough that only her family would be able to pick up on the hints of distress. "Something about the temple?"
Fate
The fellow shakes his head, a little puzzled by the comparison. "Coyote is Coyote. Žilas Vilkas is the Great Wolf. He and Medeinė protect the forest." Then he looks back to Slavina. "The gates close two hours after sundown and open one hour before sunrise. Aside from that, no curfews." He holds up a hand in caution. "Although, do be careful around the docks at night. Stick to well-lit areas, and travel with company." He lists off a couple specific neighborhoods to avoid after sundown. Then, after he finishes and lowers his hand, he says, "There aren't any laws out here about the forest—not that I know of, anyway." He offers a bit of a helpless smile and asks, "Is there anything you want to know about Upesdārgakmens itself?"
Daina
Daina nods her understanding and then questions "Is there someplace to learn how to make this fabric? I've got an aunt, I'd like to have something interesting to show her when I see her again" Smiling a bit and still holding the fabric in her arms. "oh and is there a place for ... like... performing or is that something that doesn't happen around here?" glancing to Slavina questioningly like... 'is this ok am I doing this right?'
Slavina
Slavina keeps an eye on the fellow's face, and once it's clear he understands English alright she doesn't bother translating. She falls silent while Daina picks up the slack.
Fate
Janin thoughtfully moves onto the next bead, searching his memory for other questions to ask.
"Ah... maybe?" the fellow says. Clearly unsatisfied with his own answer, he quickly adds, "Velvet's one of our major imports. You'll have more luck going to... mm... I think it was Zaube. That is, the closest city to us. Err, inland." He rubs behind his ear again. "As for performing, there are no restrictions on street performances, and some inns or restaurants might hire you, depending. You might be able to get a job entertaining craftsman, but that's more if you can read or sing or play music."
Slavina
"That's good to know." Slavina chimes in. "We're off route—normally we'd be in Domochlovek right now, and the rules that concern us there are much more... ah..." she plucks a polite term out of the air like some invisible flower, "...comprehensive."
Daina
Daina nods a little to that "Velvet... that's what it's called?" she smiles a bit more "it's really nice, like... soft fur or something" she makes a mental note of the town name and then glances to Slavina "think we'll go past that town on our travels?" she questions before taking a couple of coins off her ring of them and sliding them over to the helpful gentleperson. She hmms "I could do some dancing on the streets then while we're here just to past the time and expend some energy ya know?" giving a slight roll of her shoulders and an almost animal like shiver. She was a bit hyper thanks to the candy... oh yeah she had candy. munch munch, eying the dude that runs the visitor center over her wrist which is wrapped up in candy jewelry. Her eyes holding a smile at least so she doesn't look scary just maybe a little odd?
Fate
"Ah." He lets out a wry little laugh at mention of Chlovak rules. "My sympathies." Then he takes the tip with a nod of thanks, politely waiting for further questions.
After a bit, Janin quietly gives up his search for questions. That seemed to cover it—not that he even knew what should concern them in the first place.
Slavina
Slavina gives him a wry smile, and an embellished curtsey. "We very much appreciate the famous Baltijan hospitality." Since Daina's taken care of a tip already, she ushers the group out. Once outside, she folds inward back into her more quiet, distant shape. "I don't think we'll pass Zaube. If you want more of that cloth, you should buy it here."
Daina
Daina gives a friendly wave and then hms "Maybe Jordan can figure it out from examining the fabric?" she questions as she holds the fabric against her side and nibbles on the bracelet at her wrist.
Slavina
Slavina shores herself up a little and proceeds in the direction of the temple - no directions needed since it's the tallest building around. "Speaking of that, Jansco, did you get anything to send home? I bet your mom would like some of that cloth and your brother would definitely like some candy..."
Fate
Janin offers Slavina a half-smile. "Good ideas." He scans around briefly. "I already got a postcard, and some earrings for Elzie." His smile fades some. "Debating between a tankard and a belt for Dad and Ulikas."
Daina
Daina glances over "no dos?" with a bit of a shrug before looking toward their destination and her brow furrowing as she ponders the deity that gets so much for just not being a dick. Hmmphs softly to herself about it.
Fate
"Because I'm trying not to spend too much money for one, and for two, I want to give everyone a unique gift." Janin rubs a hand over where his mustache would be had he not shaved. "Problem is Dad and Ulikas have such similar tastes that I can't pick." His eyes follow a group of young ladies—clearly friends—who pass by chattering away in Kalba.
Slavina
"Get the belt for your dad. More practical when he's travelling for work." Slavina takes a look at the ladies, then back to Janin. "You going to go flirt with them?" She asks.
Daina
Hmming she nods "Oh I get that." She too notices his look to the girls and questions "something interesting?" grinning a little and wiggling her brows, attempting to tease a little without being a jerk about it. She is a little curious though as she'd thought he and Slavina were a couple... but perhaps they were a relaxed couple like most seemed to be.
Fate
Janin considers Slavina's advice for a moment, then his thoughts come crashing short. "Huh?" As Daina teases him, he flushes a little. "I'm not—" He stops, then resets. "I... ah... I dunno." He glances at them again, covertly, but they're going down the street. "I'm just... noticing women a lot lately I guess. I mean, not that I didn't before, but..." The statement trails off without a conclusion as words fail him. He considers, then asks, clearly uncertain, "You think I should?"
Daina
Daina gives a faint little snicker "make sure you tell Aaren I'm sure she'll find that interesting" She leans and sort of checks the girls out a little, in a sort of, 'are they cute kinda way'.
Slavina
"Do you want to learn how?" Slavina asks. "It's better to practice when it doesn't matter. If you put your foot in your mouth here, you'll never have to see them again."
Daina
Pointing at Slavina..."hey that's a good point there"
Fate
Janin hesitates at Daina's initial statement. But then prospect Slavina offers seems to put him a little at ease. "I know how..." But definitely not as well as Slavina. He thinks about this, eyes once more straying to the ladies now across the way. Then he squares himself, regards her, and says, "Sure." He does take a moment to look at Daina and ask, "Is... ah... would Aaren actually want to know that or are you just teasing me?"
Daina
Daina hmms "I mean I think probably she would, you know it's part of the change right?" she questions "or did it change like with your period before? Is it the same now?"
Fate
"No, it wasn't until we got here that it started." He hesitates. "I think. Maybe. I'm not sure. Esta's... hard not to notice."
Daina
Daina snickers some "Oh man so I'm chopped liver huh?" clearly teasing still. "better hurry up and go see how ya do if you're going to" nodding towards the girls.
Slavina
Taking Janin's statement as a request for backup, Slavina changes course so they'll all be close enough for moral support. She shifts her stride to be more bouncy and attention-catching again, playing up the way light hits her jewelry and the movement of her sleeves and skirt as she walks. She hooks one arm through Daina's elbow, giving Janin a teeny bit more distance than normal as they approach the ladies. When they're within a few strides, she gives him a subtle nudge.
Fate
Janin, alarmed, rubs an arm. "No. You're just... in a class of your own. You and Aaren both. I don't think I could not notice you, either..." He struggles a moment for articulation. "Either before or after." He searches for more to say, but his attention is once more directed towards the circle of friends. He pulls up short, lowers his voice, and asks, "What do I say? I can't just go up to them from outta nowhere and... say things."
Daina
Daina makes a face at that like tsk but doesn't get into it. Instead she listens intently to Slavina's advice curious as to what it might be.
Slavina
Slavina laughs—her first genuine laugh in over a month. "How else do you start a conversation?" She shakes her head and covers her mouth with one hand. "If you can't think of something clever, just be honest. They caught your eye for a reason, right? It's not like they're the only female people on the street."
Slavina says quietly to Daina, in a snootily smug tone, "You see he didn't say anything about me. I'm completely unnoticeable. Practically invisible." She arches her neck a little in a perfect immitation of a haughty rich lady from Old Town.
Daina
Daina snorts softly at that "right or he's super scared of how cool you are with all the ... people interaction skills" she sounds a bit ... envious, in the most flattering sort of way.
Slavina
Slavina quirks an eyebrow at Daina as she re-ties the bow of her sash. "It's not that hard. You're a goddess. I'm sure you can learn." She takes a glance at the ladies out of the corner of her eye, and murmurs, "You could take a stab at flirting, too. Just pick one Janin's not talking to."
Daina
Daina wrinkles her nose a little "I'm not... I don't do great with people in a... focused way I mean I do alright but I don't think flirting is my thing" she notes as she shrugs a little.
Fate
At further teasing, the flusterment grows. "You're—" The conversation barrels on without him. "I'm —" Finally, Janin takes a moment to breathe. Then he gathers himself up in his best imitation of a stage presence. "What can I say?" He takes on a distinctly (if very amateurish) melodramatic timber. "My words are no match for you." He sweeps his hands up and down, to indicate Slavina entirely. "And even if they were, you know full well—far better than me—just how you catch the eye and coax out the heart's desire. I can offer you nothing worthy nor can I offer you something new, so I can only leave it in the hands of far better and more interesting people than me."
This draws some attention from the people in the market, not the least of which being the circle of ladies who are now in close proximity. Janin notices this a half-second later, and his stage presence falters as he waffles between dropping the act and maintaining it.
Slavina
Slavina relaxes into a familiar—if rusty—routine. "Tsk, Janutis, the problem is hardly a lack of newness... rather an overabundance. I prefer a more well-seasoned cut." She draws herself back in an exaggerated, arrogant pose, turning half away from him and fanning her face with the end of her scarf.
Daina
Daina looks between the two of them and then to the folks looking at them as well a slight chuckle. "And here I was worried about drawing too much attention" rolling her eyes a little.
Fate
Uncertain where to go next and not a terribly apt actor, Janin sorta just... lets the act drop with a glance Slavina's way, almost a signal were it not so reflexive. He offers an uneasy smile and a wave to the ladies. „Hi," he offers in Kalba. „Sorry. Just... some silly fun." He hangs onto the silence for a moment longer, uncertain, then says, „I'm Janin." He offers a hand. „Professional fool. Well, almost. I apparently have the talent for it, anyway."
This gets a couple laughs. One of the ladies steps forward and takes his hand. „Ieva." She nods to the ladies in order around her. „That's my sister Karena, and our friends Gabija and Vitalija."
Waves are offered in turn, and Janin gives a smile and nod to each.
„Where are you from?" asks Karena. „You speak Kalba like a natural."
Thus Janin is now part of a conversation...
Slavina
Slavina moves down the street a little ways, ostensibly looking at a window display. She makes sure to stay within Janin's line of sight, of course. "What kind of people interaction skills do you want, then?" She asks Daina, picking up the fraying threads of their prior conversation.
Daina
Daina wanders with Slavina and looks over a bit unsure. "I dunno ... just... hmm I guess to be more like a sewing needle and less like a mallet?" her gaze asking if that makes sense.
Slavina
Slavina dips her chin a little. She uses the window-glass as a mirror to fix her hair, and then eyes the display of toffee sculptures inside. "You don't think Aaren will know I had candy for lunch if I don't say anything, do you?" She asks. Since toffee is by far the most appealing lunch option they've come across.
Daina
Daina looks at the candy. "I think she will ... but if you ask her to remove the sugar from your teeth maybe it will be interesting enough for her to forgive us?" Big smile as she nudges Slavina gently with an elbow.
Slavina
After some consideration, she enters the shop and returns with a bag of toffee sheep and chickens. After all, the worst that happens is Aaren tells her to eat real lunch when they get home, right? She offers the bag out to Daina in case she wants some. "You have to get a feel for how people react."
Daina
Daina takes a piece of candy with a smile "oh thanks." num num num "I think I can do it ... with er ... an audience I just have trouble with specifics ... with smaller groups. It's harder to get the nuances"
Slavina
"Do you ever pretend to be someone else?" Slavina sits down on a bench, feet tucked in and back straight, as she carefully bites the head off a candy rooster.
Daina
"I used to pretend I was one of the Tsarbogs friends, going on adventures. I think that was me though not someone else. We did birthday plays and I'd pretend to be people in the play..." questioning if any of this is close to what Slavina means.
Slavina
Slavina shakes her head a little. "No, when you're talking to people. If I'm stumped, I'll be the person I'm talking to and then I know what to say to make me happy. Um, to make them happy. Or usually I'll just skip that and be whoever will get the reaction I want."
Daina
Daina tilts her head to one side. "That sounds... effective but... maybe not the way I can do it, you know?"
Slavina
Slavina crunches the remainder of her chicken and pops a shoulder up in a shruglike motion. "Yes."
Daina
Daina smiles a little "It's a good ... insight though, thanks for sharin'" Daina glances down the way towards Janin and the girls. "So you don't mind him flirting?" Daina questions curiously as she lifts her hand to nibble a little bit of candy off her finger.
Slavina
"Why would I?" She gives Daina a confused look. "He's terrible at it, but it's not like we need to make a living or anything." She checks back in on Janin just to make sure Daina didn't see something shockingly horrendous.
Daina
Daina shrugs "I know most people don't mind their partner having their fun I just didn't know if that was how you are too" She smiles some "maybe he'll get better with practice."
Slavina
She's still a little slower on the uptake than usual, so there's a very slight pause while Slavina puzzles out what's between the lines. "Oh."
Slavina shakes her head and plucks a goat out of the bag. She waves it carelessly as she talks. "We're not having sex with each other. Janin is my mentor for the Priest's Union. Even if I were attracted to him, the Union frowns on that kind of thing."
Daina
Daina makes a faint 'o' with her lips "I just figured, he's so ... protective like and sweet to you" She smiles to that. "He seems like a good friend along with a mentor" she holds her hand out like to pluck a candy. "Can I have another?"
Slavina
Slavina holds the bag out for Daina. "He's pretty nice, but you know people can be protective and sweet without having sex right?" She eats her goat, and adds, "Anyways he's like... your age. That'd be weird."
Daina
Daina chuckles "I mean of course I know that... I don't know I just figured you two were a couple since we found you together ... my brain made a connection of error apparently." shrugging a little and then takes a candy. " What's age to do with anything... heck you look younger than me" she notes with a playful gesture towards Slavina as if she's going to pinch her cheek but carefully to broadcast that she's not going to touch Slavina without permission.
Slavina
"I know, it's not a thing in hometown. But the idea of having a sex partner who was a kid when I was an adult squicks me. It just seems wrong." Slavina doesn't flinch away from the cheek pinching, but yoinks on one of Daina's curls in 'retaliation.'
"I do not look younger than you! I hope...?" She turns around to get another look at herself in the window.
Daina
Daina gives a squeak and giggle at the tug and laughs a little "You do look pretty young, but maybe not quite that young" She assures as she rubs her head where the tug was and adjusts her ribbons. "I get it... people are different that way right?" she smiles some "I don't really mind how people do their loving, or if they do it at all." she hmms "I haven't really figure out how I do it... like am I like hometown people or different... I don't think I'm like Mama... it was one of her things I think you know what I mean... made her happy."
Slavina
Slavina shifts a little so she's leaning against Daina a little more. She eats another piece of toffee then holds out the bag to Daina again. "Everyone's different. But it's not like you're in a hurry to have kids, so who cares? Take your time, when you meet someone who does it for you you can experiment and see what you like. It's not like you've had much chance yet with the way your town does things."
Daina
Daina settles a bit into the lean and accepts another piece of candy. "Hmmn yeah ... that's true...I sort of thought I could marry Shea and have a baby. He's sweet and he'd be a good dad... and he could stay with his family that way." Pauses "probably not my best idea" she admits.
Slavina
Slavina tucks the bag into one of the inside pockets of her overrobe and thinks that one over while she braids Daina's hair. "Yeah, that would be pretty messy politically speaking. And I doubt he'd want to move with you when you go to the Swan Maiden's house, so you'd have to be prepared for a divorce."
Daina
Daina nods her head a little "Well ... I was sort of thinking ... I wanted him to be free to do as he wanted and still be a dad... even if I never come back." she leans into the hair doing and sighs. "maybe not the worst reason to get married and have babbin's ... but probably not the best either" she smiles a bit and opens one eye. "Hows Janin doin'?" she questions
Slavina
Slavina finishes her first braid and starts on the second, weaving they towards each other to make a wreath shape on Daina's head. "Why else would you get married?" She asks. Then, to make sure the question doesn't seem flippant, she explains, "My family didn't do it the way hometown does. It's all worked out between the grandparents, you don't really choose for yourself."
She takes a look over at Janin, and seeing him heading their way she scoots down the bench to give him space to sit down.
Daina
Daina hmms "well you know... some people have these like... romantic ideas and ... like... Ahlaam and Ahloom. They're each other's and they picked each other... so it could be like that... I think I sort of like that idea... " she hedges, not sure if that seems... wrong. She smooths her hair and smiles a little more "thanks now I need some flowers" she reaches down and sneakily grows a bunch of daisies and buttercups to twine into the wreathed hair.
Fate
Janin sits, as quiet and unobtrusive as he can manage, his arms lightly crossed around himself as he listens to the conversation at hand.
Slavina
"I was always terrified of the idea. Not that I was anywhere near the top of the list, but still." She settles back in place once Janin is sitting down, resting her elbow on his shoulder while she arranges the lower bits of Daina's new 'do. "What about you, Janin? Ever consider getting married?"
Fate
A little taken aback, Janin lifts his brows. Then his eyes slide to the colorful cobbles as he considers a moment from beneath a furrowed brow.
"Sort of?" His gaze slides further and he runs a thumb over the veins in the back of his hand. "Mostly as... pressure, I guess. From my parents. It was... very... um... stressful. They assumed I would get married and have kids." He pauses, rolling back a couple steps. "Be a mother, I mean. They looked forward to it. Which... well, I mean, they meant well but... it felt like a massive lie that... that I wouldn't be able to escape from. It always made me depressed." Silence falls for another couple of moments, but he hangs onto it. Then he speaks again: "I guess now it'd be different, wouldn't it?" This is said absolutely neutral. Like he doesn't know how to feel about it.
Daina
Daina smiles a little to Slavina and arches her brows curiously at the question posed. A slight sort of ... 'I'm really happy for this person' expression on her face. "Yeah maybe just a little" she's still smiling. "Guess you've got more thinking to do now eh?" she pauses to allow for answer if offered and then questions. "How'd you do? Got a date for the evening?" trying to tease but gently.
Fate
Janin takes a deep breath, switches gears, and then briefly goes off into something like a thousand-yard stare. "No." He presses his lips flat, then says, "It was awkward." He finally sends a look to the two ladies and says, "But it was different." A bit of a smile edges in. "They treated me like... all I was was awkward. And not like some kind of... odd... pretender or liar. They didn't... forget, either. They took it for granted." He leans back against the bench. "So that's a plus." Then he says, matter-of-fact, "Don't think I wanted a date, anyway."
Slavina
Slavina listens as she works on Daina's hair, eyes almost closed. She pulls a few pins out from her hem and tucks them into the braid, tugs a few strands out artfully. "Keep it up. Someday you might get slapped for being too fresh."
Fate
He chuckles a little, wry. "I don't know how I feel about that."
Daina
Daina nods a little. "Sounds like it's going well... being you all the way I mean" She smiles faintly. "You might get mistaken for a wee kiddo but I mean Slavina is totally going to have that problem" she teases Slavina a little. "But yup baby faced but still... a boyish baby face." reaching out playfully and possibly scruffling his hair unless he seems unwilling to be touched.
Slavina
Slavina pauses her pinning when Daina shifts so as not to stab a goddess in the scalp. "I don't particularly recommend it." She taps a finger on her cheek and makes a humorous wince. "Don't feel too bad about being awkward. The first few weeks I was a man I had to seriously adjust my flirting style, but it gets to be second nature before long."
Fate
Janin doesn't seem to mind being touched terribly much. But he doesn't seem terribly fond of the idea of being mistaken for a wee kiddo. Still, his next statement addresses Slavina. "Well. I can deal with the flirting being awkward. I'm not very good at it." Janin presses his knees together, looking up at the sky. "It's not being able to predict what'll make me hard that's the problem." His tone is caught somewhere between matter-of-fact forthrightness and vulnerability. He tucks his hands in his lap. "I mean, I'd rather complain about that then... well, everything that happened in the rest of my life. I just also hope a few weeks is all it'll take me."
Daina
Daina hmms and considers for a moment "hey I bet you can learn a song for it" she rubs her chin and ponders "oooo I bet I could make a ... no excitement flower. I mean Flowers are so about sexy times... so if I make one that has a no human sexy time scent, and yet is a sexy time for the flower scent..." Clearly this seems like an interesting exercise, as well as a possible help. She pokes her tongue out and looks at the daisies she grew. "if I juuuuuust..."
Slavina
"I've never personally had that issue, but I can tell you my male cousins very much appreciated tunics made out of stiff heavy cloth. I think some of that velvet might work well." She's totally lost by the flower thing, so decides not to comment on it.
Fate
He shakes his head. "No, I don't—" He sighs. "I just want to know. How I work now, I mean. And how to cope." This is clearly unsatisfying, but Janin eagerly moves on to Slavina's suggestion. "Does that... is it effective?"
Daina
Daina halts and doesn't fuss with the flower as he seems unenthused with the idea. She smiles some "yeah ... bodies right?" she shakes her head "Glad I only need to get to know mine once."
Slavina
Slavina nods. "Especially with lots of layers or ruffles. Basically the same principle as hiding breasts, just lower down." After putting the final pin in Daina's braid, she spins the younger woman around to see herself in the "mirror." Then she pulls the bag of toffee creatures out and offers it to Janin.
Daina
Spun she smiles as she catches sight of her hair. "ooooh I love this" she beams "Thank you!" patting her hair, worried it'll fall down if she touches it too much. She tries to pose all haughtily as she's seen Slavina do. "How fancy do I look?!" Her smile and laughing eyes no doubt ruin this effect but that's ok.
Fate
Janin absorbs Slavina's advice, and then takes out a toffee creature. It ends up being a wolf. So, naturally he starts at the tail.
Slavina
"I don't know. My understanding of fancy is apparently abnormal." Slavina looks to Janin for assistance, eyebrows raised.
Daina
Daina tilts her head "really I mean you ... well yeah that's fair, everything is very fancy on you after all, even if it's not" this is clearly meant to be a compliment about how Slavina carries and presents herself when she's putting forth the effort.
Fate
"Yeah, fancy is more about how you wear things, and less about what you wear." Janin still examines Daina's 'do, though. "Still, it's pretty."
Daina
Daina smiles cheerily "thank you" head bob and turn to admire the do a little more before looking to Slavina. "So... how would you wear this?" her brow furrowing a little as she tilts her head in a canine way.
Slavina
"What, the hair?" Slavina asks.
Daina
Daina nods again "yeah"
Slavina
She thinks about this carefully. "I picked something I thought went with your current style. You don't think it works?" Aside from being composed of intricate braids, Daina's hair doesn't have much in common with any style Slavina uses for herself. A deep gonging tone peals out as the town clock hits a new hour. Slavina takes that as a cue to start heading onward to the temple.
Daina
Daina hmms "Oh it... hmm I think it does actually... it just ... feels really ... you know..." she frowns and looks to the side trying to find the words. "It's not usual for me so it feels different but it probably does go with my er... style ... I guess if I have one even..." she looks down at the pants and tunic in Hometown colors and shrugs. Walking with Slavina as she starts on the way to the temple once more.
Fate
Janin is quick to follow, taking a bite out of a leg as he does.