Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Noveltellus. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Culture Shock; Open!
Topic Started: Feb 13 2017, 04:26 AM (288 Views)
Silver
Member Avatar
Illidaddy

Aloran, open to everyone!

Aloran was not a nervous centaur. He had enough life experience to know that his life was not in danger by going to a marketplace, even when it varied wildly from what he was used to. He'd come to Aesulla primarily for this purpose, after all. Going to see where the humans and elves did their shopping had been, he'd initially thought, an excellent opportunity to people watch. And it was, to an extent. There were people of all types scurrying here and there, some of them so involved in their business that they were completely oblivious to his presence. But the fact remained that he was a centaur, and most people had only caught glimpses of his people either in their televised Opening Ceremonies or through bits of news from Etharius. They were just as interested in watching him as he was in watching them, and this made his work difficult.

He'd attempted to make himself as presentable as possible for his outing. He'd received some assistance in braiding his tail, tied up and neatly out of the way. He'd been meticulously groomed so that his coat practically glimmered in the coastal sunlight, and all any of this served to do was make him stick out like a lame leg. Not, he noted, that appearing disheveled would have helped him in any way. His size alone made him noteworthy, and he couldn't truly fault them for their curiosity.

The people, in their defense, were unerringly polite. They gave him space where he walked, and most were polite enough not to ask too many questions. He almost wished they would, however. Their silent stares (discreet as they tried to be) were unsettling, and he did his best to avoid the more crowded thoroughfares. The side streets were more quiet, allowing him the opportunity to walk undisturbed. And while he did pride himself on having a good sense of direction, all of these buildings looked the same, more or less. He was soon turned around.

Prideful though he was, Aloran was also unerringly practical. He also was not afraid to ask questions, and so he approached the first likely looking individual, his smile closed-lipped but kind. "I beg your pardon." His voice was soft and pleasant, though whether that occurred naturally or was carefully cultivated was hard to tell. "I'm a bit lost. I was simply looking for an herbal shop," He explained. "If you have such a thing." At this point, he was ready to simply abandon his errand and return home. People were exhausting, and busy crowds more so. He longed for the peace and quiet of his little room, and he couldn't help but wonder if he appeared as exhausted as he felt.


Maksim and Fire/Sound Bolero | Dr. Vesparian Myland | Father Lysander and Seraphic/Life/Solar Ambrosolariel | Livna and Shadow/Floral Heifeiver | Aloran and Crystal Prince Renezneth | Nature/Dream Ballard | Rask Ward | Slot | Slot | Opt-in | Opt-in
My Inventory
My Thread Tracker
%mh%5034%mh%
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Heijale
Member Avatar
Cupcake Queen
[align=center]Candidate Elissaveta[/align]

Vee had taken this rare free time to wander around and snap pictures of everyone going about their every day life. She expected it to be a bit different than normal, as there were now candidates from all walks of life milling about. Not only herself, but others as well. And she wanted to capture them in their most natural state. That was where her talent lie; not in having people pose for her photography, but for having the knack to capture people in their every day life and routine. This was her passion and this was what she was going to indulge in on her day off.

She'd gotten a few good shots in with her mother's ancient camera, and a few middling ones with her phone camera. Despite the camera on her phone being much more modern, it somehow seemed to take worse pictures than her mother's old one. She blamed that on the auto focus, mostly. Everything on the big ancient camera was manual, so she could control everything that went into taking the pictures. The phone's camera took crisper photos, but the focus was complete and utter chaos. She could take twelve photos of the same thing, and in each one, the focus would find something new to hone in on. It drove her nuts, especially since she'd fiddled with the settings on the blasted thing many times, all to no avail. At least she'd managed to not make the settings any worse....

She was looking around, ancient camera in her hands, prepared for the next shot, when she was interrupted by someone. Despite how observant she was when it came to spotting the perfect photo opportunity, she was sadly oblivious when it came to noticing painfully obvious things that stuck out in a crowd. Like a lost centaur. One that she thought looked a little familiar, like perhaps she'd seen him before or something... She didn't realize how foolish she probably looked, staring at him for a few seconds as it registered that not only had he asked her a question, but that she actually did somewhat know him, insofar as that they were both candidates. That's all she could recall of him however, which was not surprising, given that she wasn't one to approach others unless absolutely necessary.

After her embarrassingly long moment of recollection, she smiled up at him pleasantly, letting her mind recall what he had asked her. "An herbal shop, was it? Yes, I think there's one down this way, if I remember correctly," she told him, turning to lead him to the building she thought she remembered as having some form of wares that he was searching for. She peered up at him from the corner of her eye, wanting so badly to ask his name, but not wanting him to know that she perhaps hadn't been paying much attention as she should have been when it came to learning of the other candidates.
| Amaranth Kairo & Blood/Sound Mendo | Elissaveta Korowyn & Water/Sound Serenade | Lava/Toxic Oknarel | Floral Twig | [slot] | [slot] | [slot] | [birthday slot] |

Heijale's Inventory | Threads
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Silver
Member Avatar
Illidaddy


Had he said something wrong? He worried that he might have done something off-color, though he couldn't really figure out what it might be. She was so quiet, and he tilted his head slightly, worried that he might have done something wrong. He nearly reached out a hand to touch her shoulder, and instead curled his fingers against his palm as she finally spoke up. Her smile was certainly pleasant enough, and he returned it with a soft one of his own. Like her, he wasn't the type to socialize for pleasure. He talked to people as a means to an end, more or less. It wasn't that he didn't like people; Quite the opposite. People were fascinating, but they were also exhausting, especially in such a foreign place. It'd been months, but he still wasn't completely used to living among and beside humans and elves.

"Well," He responded quietly once she'd finish giving her directions, "That's helpfully convenient. It appears I had some good sense in my wanderings." His lips twitched upwards again, one back hoof cocked against the road as he relaxed his stance. She was giving him the oddest look. He was certain there was nothing on his nose; Perhaps she'd never seen a centaur before?

"I take it you don't have much experience with centaurs," He offered, hoping to save her the embarrassment of admitting it herself. He didn't mind questions. He welcomed them, in fact, especially when the person on the other end was genuinely curious. The more he studied her, however, the more he rather thought she was familiar. A Candidate, perhaps? Certainly possible. There was well over a hundred of them.

"I am sorry," He clasped his hands lightly behind his back, rested them on his shoulders. "I have the strangest feeling that I've seen you before. Are you a Candidate?"



Maksim and Fire/Sound Bolero | Dr. Vesparian Myland | Father Lysander and Seraphic/Life/Solar Ambrosolariel | Livna and Shadow/Floral Heifeiver | Aloran and Crystal Prince Renezneth | Nature/Dream Ballard | Rask Ward | Slot | Slot | Opt-in | Opt-in
My Inventory
My Thread Tracker
%mh%5034%mh%
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Heijale
Member Avatar
Cupcake Queen
Vee was beyond relieved when not only did the centaur not take offense to, well, anything she'd said or done, but when he didn't seem to recall her name either. True, there was a huge number of candidates, but she still felt somewhat bad that she hadn't quite recalled one, especially one that wasn't an elf or human. Focus on not making a fool of yourself, girl. Not on having not recognized him, she lectured herself. She mentally shook her head clear of her thoughts and admonishment and instead continued to smile politely at the centaur. Convinced she wouldn't be taking any pictures for the next few minutes, she let the ancient camera dangle from it's thong around her neck and slipped her phone in her pocket.

"I am a candidate," she confirmed happily, her voice echoing her relief at having gotten out of the awkward situation that she had almost put them in. "My name's Elissaveta, but Vee's easier to say, and I much prefer it. And as much as I hate to admit it, you're also correct in your assumption surrounding my experience with centaurs. I'm hoping to change that, but I'll admit I'm not the most out-going of individuals." The smile on her face never vanished, but it did somewhat turn into more of a sheepish grin. She clasped her hands behind her back to hide the nervous habit that she'd picked up from her mother: picking at her cuticles.

She wished to point out that perhaps she could change the centaur circumstance by getting know him a bit more, but thought that to be a rather rude way of continuing the subject. He seemed a very proper sort, the kind one would refer to as a gentleman, and though he may not take offense to the wording or the sentiment behind it, she was sure it would put them in yet another awkward situation. She wondered if most, or even all, centaurs were as prim as this one, but again, she restrained herself from asking such a thing. Instead, she allowed herself the question of "May I inquire as to your name?" Somehow, getting that question out made her feel a touch less nervous, which caused her to bring her hands back from behind her, ending her cuticle picking and causing her to relax her posture just a bit.
| Amaranth Kairo & Blood/Sound Mendo | Elissaveta Korowyn & Water/Sound Serenade | Lava/Toxic Oknarel | Floral Twig | [slot] | [slot] | [slot] | [birthday slot] |

Heijale's Inventory | Threads
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Silver
Member Avatar
Illidaddy

Word Count: 641

Oh, the poor girl was nervous. It wasn't incredibly obvious, but Aloran prided himself on being able to read people rather quickly. Despite their cultural differences,elves and centaurs weren't terribly different when it came to displaying their uneasiness. It could even be argued that centaurs were a touch more telling, what with so much more body to have to keep under control. Centaurs pawed, flicked their tails, rippled the muscles beneath their skin. They shifted their weight and tensed their legs. All of these signs he had learned to read over the years; It was his job, over all, to assist his fellows with their mental and emotional health. He was less trained to deal with two-legged people, but even so he found her to be quite telling. Her hands fidgeted, and she clasped them behind her back, a classically submissive gesture. She was closing herself off to him even as she smiled, and he sought to change his body language accordingly. He relaxed his stance and cocked one hind leg on the ground in rest. He offered her an encouraging smile as she began to talk and nodded his head.

"Yes, I thought you might be." He stated. "My name is Aloran," He offered in polite response to her introduction, one hand lightly touching his chest. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." As an ambassador of his people (and also a trained shaman), he'd made a point of cultivating a polite, serene aura for himself. People responded better when the person who was listening appeared open and accepting, and his smile was warm as he nodded to the girl, this Vee.

"I assume most people haven't had much experience with centaurs," He acknowledged. "There are many of you, and only a few of us. We're a bit of a rarity, as it were." He gave a slight wave of his hand as he noticed her flustered grin.

"Don't be embarrassed," He encouraged her. "Part of why we are here is to learn from each other," He reminded her. "I from you, and you from us. It's always better to ask questions than to wonder." He turned his head to follow the direction in which she was pointing, hooves shifting against the road. "If you weren't opposed," He offered after a moment, "Perhaps we might go together. I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, and I'll wager there are a few you have for me." He gestured to the camera around her neck.

"More specifically, I'd like to see what you do with your camera." He knew the word for it by now, as the opening ceremony and touching had been full of them. Hers was quite unlike all the other contraptions he'd seen, however. "We don't have much in the way of technology," He explained. "Most of it's new to me."

He still wasn't sure how he felt about actually being in Asuella. No one could deny that this was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the people with whom they'd soon be sharing their land, but it was also a place full of technology. As much as Aloran appreciated the genius such devices must have required to invent, he found he much preferred the tranquility of his tribe's plainland home. Everywhere in Asuella seemed to be filled with a mechanical, electric hum. He'd yet to find a place that was truly silent, and he wasn't sure yet if that said something about the people who lived here. Did they never take an opportunity to rest?

Belatedly, he realized that he'd drifted away from the conversation. He quickly brought himself back. "I don't mean to impose," He added, though he was certain he was doing no such thing . "If you'd prefer to be on your way, then I am happy to say farewell."


Maksim and Fire/Sound Bolero | Dr. Vesparian Myland | Father Lysander and Seraphic/Life/Solar Ambrosolariel | Livna and Shadow/Floral Heifeiver | Aloran and Crystal Prince Renezneth | Nature/Dream Ballard | Rask Ward | Slot | Slot | Opt-in | Opt-in
My Inventory
My Thread Tracker
%mh%5034%mh%
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Heijale
Member Avatar
Cupcake Queen
[align=center](Word Count: 620)[/align]

Just hearing the centaur speak helped to calm her. Whether it was some sort of training, magic, or something that just came naturally to him, she wasn't certain, but it did do the trick. The more he spoke to her, the calmer she became. Knowing she hadn't offended him also helped in calming her. True, she couldn't make her nervousness go away completely. Honestly, the only way that would happen would be to either get out of the situation, or get to know the centaur more so that she was comfortable around him. She opted to get to know him better.

To do so would mean that she would have to calm down.

When he asked about her camera, she felt almost all of her nervousness nearly disappear. Anyone that could pick out her mother's camera and ask her about it scored points in her book. Most would see it as an antique and instead try to force a newer model into her hands. It didn't matter if Aloran wasn't educated in photography; he'd done the perfect thing just by acknowledging it's existence. That simple thing caused her to relax further around him and made up her mind to accompany him to the store she had pointed out, as he had asked her.

"It's no imposition," she told him, giving him a true smile as she looked up at his much taller figure. "I can take photos just as easily alone as I can with you." And it was true. Photography came so naturally to her that she didn't feel the need to have to concentrate hard in order to get the perfect shot. She could take that shot just as easily while holding a conversation, as long as her conversation partner didn't mind the camera coming out at random intervals.

"It belonged to my mother," she started, holding the camera up higher so that he could see it better. "It's very old. An antique, by all standards, really. But it's my favorite one to use. Compared to my other ones, which are far more advanced, it takes the best pictures." And it allows Mum to be closer to me at all times, she wanted to say, but she wasn't one to share her past unless it was absolutely important to do so. She held it up further, to her eye, and turned to capture him perfectly in the viewfinder before pausing.

"I could take a few of you, if you'd like," she offered. "Being that it's so old, I'll have to develop the film by hand and give them to you on another day, but I don't mind. Unlike my other cameras, this one isn't digital. Those, I'd be able to show you the photo instantly." She pulled out her phone and tapped the camera onto the screen. "I can take an instant one on here, though, if you'd prefer?" She blinked at him for a moment, then grinned sheepishly again. "Of course, if you'd rather not have your photo taken, I can do neither." In her excitement of her craft and at having someone bring the topic up, she had quite forgotten that not everyone enjoyed having their picture taken. Some people downright hated it, in fact. But, well, if she got his permission to take one of these pictures, that meant that he wouldn't mind her taking photos when they got to the herbal store. She didn't mind taking the pictures to show him how the cameras worked, but she was rather looking forward to getting shots of him in his routine at the store. A place they should start heading to rather quickly, actually... Though the walk could wait until after photos, of course.
| Amaranth Kairo & Blood/Sound Mendo | Elissaveta Korowyn & Water/Sound Serenade | Lava/Toxic Oknarel | Floral Twig | [slot] | [slot] | [slot] | [birthday slot] |

Heijale's Inventory | Threads
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Silver
Member Avatar
Illidaddy



Word Count: 552


"Sometimes, our most beloved tools are the best," He commented with a smile, "Despite their age. "I understand that attachment," He assured her. "I dislike replacing my old things, even if I know I must. Your must have an even deeper significance, I would imagine, if it belonged to your mother." Centaurs, like Elves, were very family oriented. It wasn't unusual for families to have heirlooms passed down through the generations. In his own family, there were some relics of their ancestors well over five thousand years old. He could only imagine what a human (or even an elf) might think of keeping something for so long. Nothing in his family was quite like this, however. They were hardy things: Old battle armor, ceremonial blanketing, rune crystals. These things could last the test of time if cared for properly. In his personal opinion, no bit of technology could stand up to them.

Still, it was an interesting machine. There were centaur artisans, of course: They had their own artwork as well as their own music and dance. Centaurs were no strangers to the fine arts; Aloran considered himself a bit of an artist himself, when he could find the time to paint. He knew how to find different pigments from plants and animals alike: How to draw out reds and greens from the roots of various plants, how to crush browns from rocks, and how to even coax purples, greens, and blues from metallic insects. Paintings were lovely, but they took time and effort to create. He could understand why something like a camera, which could freeze a place in time, might be appealing. He could even see the potential of a camera being used artistically, although he had no doubt she would be happy to talk about that herself.

He laughed softly when she offered to take his photograph. He wasn't bashful, and he had to admit the idea was a charming one. He'd painted self-portraits before when inspiration struck, but self-portraits were always biased. It'd be interesting to see himself framed from another's point of view, even if it came from behind a machine.

"Very well," He amiably agreed. "I'd be interested to see what sort of photograph you might take. You do this artistically, then?" He asked as he moved off in the direction of the shop, walking carefully to prevent himself from slipping. Unlike the other centaurs, Aloran had elected not to wear the specialized rubber shoes. His hooves were hard and well-suited to handling terrain, and though that meant he didn't necessarily because easily footsore, it did mean he was more likely to slip on unforgiving surfaces. Perhaps he ought to look into wearing them, after all.

He led the way into the herbal store, hooves clopping loudly against the wooden floor. He ignored the astonished looks the shopkeepers gave him, and immediately made a beeline to barrels stuffed with fragrant lavender. He quickly scooped up a handful of the flowers and shifted through, occasionally holding some up to his nose. "Perhaps you could help me find some of the things I'm looking for?" He asked. "I'm searching particularly for aloe vera and eucalyptus." He hadn't managed to get his hands on such plants before, but was eager to try them in a few different salves.



Maksim and Fire/Sound Bolero | Dr. Vesparian Myland | Father Lysander and Seraphic/Life/Solar Ambrosolariel | Livna and Shadow/Floral Heifeiver | Aloran and Crystal Prince Renezneth | Nature/Dream Ballard | Rask Ward | Slot | Slot | Opt-in | Opt-in
My Inventory
My Thread Tracker
%mh%5034%mh%
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Heijale
Member Avatar
Cupcake Queen
[align=center](Word Count: 624)[/align]

Vee smiled brightly when her companion agreed to be her photography subject. She was happy to see that he wasn't one to shun her art. Not that many people did, and especially not to her face, but there were those that either thought it was a waste of time or not a form of art at all. She'd gotten "how hard could it be? It's not like you're actually going making it from hand" more times than she could count. To not get that response from a new acquaintance was a relief. She was liking Aloran, and by association, centaurs in general, more and more as she got to know him.

She walked with him to the herbal shop, fighting the urge to run a hand over the horse portion of his body. She knew that would have been the epitome of a rudeness, and so she kept her hands clasped together. As easy going as he seemed to be, she was certain that if she had made the mistake of doing what she had thought, he would have forgiven her. But it was best to not even put herself in that situation. Perhaps when they got to know each other better, he would allow her to inspect him a little more, as awful as that sounded. Learn more about him was a better way of putting it, right?

Once inside, she took a quick look around, then focused on following her companion. He looked so natural in a shop that sold herbs and medicinal salves. So natural in fact, that she couldn't help but pull her mother's camera up to her eye and started snapping away. This was the kind of situation she lived for, and Aloran was turning out to be the perfect subject. She paused long enough to nod in agreement to help him find the aloe vera and eucalyptus, then went right back to snapping pictures. Oh, she would help him; she fully intended to do so, but first, she wanted to get just a few more shots....

She backed up just slightly, in order to get a better angle and ended up bumping into a shelf. She straightened immediately, the camera flopping back against her chest heavily. Luckily, she had managed not to knock anything over, just jarr it slightly. She gave the shop owner an embarrassed wave and edged closer to the centaur. She gave him an apologetic smile for interrupting his search, then made good on her promise to help him look.

"So I take it you're a medic or a healer of some sort? Or are you just interested in these herbs for aromatherapy needs? Although, I suppose aromatherapy or the use of them as massage oils would also qualify as medicinal, wouldn't it?"

She realized she was talking in circles in an attempt to cover her embarrassment and quieted down immediately. She focused down on finding these two things he wanted, reading labels and looking in jars. She didn't get far when she pulled her camera back up to her eye and started snapping pictures of some of the vials and set-ups while still looking for the aloe vera. She couldn't help herself. Some of the vials, while being so very plain, were just so... pretty. She had no use of them, but she couldn't not capture them in a photo and have them that way.

She backed away slightly from the display she was in front of and knelt down to one knee. She took the camera away from her eye and adjusted the focus slightly, then brought it back up. With a little more focus fiddling, she found the sweet spot and started snapping away, completely absorbed into her own photographic world.
| Amaranth Kairo & Blood/Sound Mendo | Elissaveta Korowyn & Water/Sound Serenade | Lava/Toxic Oknarel | Floral Twig | [slot] | [slot] | [slot] | [birthday slot] |

Heijale's Inventory | Threads
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Silver
Member Avatar
Illidaddy



Word Count: 558

He could plainly hear her snapping away on what he assumed was her camera. Centaurs had sensitive ears, and as he flicked one back toward her, he felt he could just about hear the mechanical whirring of the device. Admittedly, that could very well be imagined. He sometimes believed he heard mechanical sounds where they didn't actually exist. Asuella was so full of technology that the silence without the continuous electric hum was almost deafening. He really didn't mind that she was taking his photograph, either. If photography was anything like painting, he was honored to be chosen as a subject for her art.

He moved through the store, collecting prospective purchases in a bag slung across his torso. He paused here and there to inspect the wares, sometimes taking them out to smell, and other times (with the owner's permission), even snapping stalks in half to inspect the inner workings of the plant, or plucking a leaf to taste. He apparently knew what he was looking for: He sometimes pulled a face and discarded plants, but other times he would nod sagely to himself and slip a few samples into his bag. His ears flicked back towards her as she began to speak, and he paused in his work to give her a smile.

"Insightful," He complimented. So far, she was by far the most pleasant person he'd spoken to in Asuella. It was likely her age had something to do with it, if he could wager any guess. Elves might appear to be of a similar age to their peers, but most of them were at least a few hundred years old. They had more life experience and, he found, better conversationalists. Not that he disliked talking to humans: They were simply quick in all ways, and sometimes it was hard to keep up. But, he digressed. He nodded to the bag slung across his chest.

"I am a shaman," He confirmed. "A healer for my people. My efforts are focused on matters of the mind," Aloran explained. "I use a variety of therapies to help people overcome their problems, real or otherwise. What I truly excel at is assisting people through their dreams," He continued on, pleased at the opportunity to explain his work. "..Which tend to offer more insight to their problems than most people feel comfortable discussing face to face. Different herbs, when burned and their smoke inhaled, can produce different states of minD while a person dreams. They can also, of course, be used in tea or salves." He patted the bag at this side as he watched her move about the apothecary.

"Do Elves have something similar?" He wondered. "I've yet to hear much of anything about your views on medicine." He opened his mouth to ask something else, but quieted when he realized her attention was drawn elsewhere. He'd lost sight of her, and while this wasn't necessarily a cause for panic, it did make him frown. He moved as softly as he could through the store, careful not to step too loudly or knock anything over. He found her three displays away, on her knees and taking photographs of some of the herbal vials. He watched her for a minute or so before he spoke up, voice carrying a hint of a tease.

"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?"


Maksim and Fire/Sound Bolero | Dr. Vesparian Myland | Father Lysander and Seraphic/Life/Solar Ambrosolariel | Livna and Shadow/Floral Heifeiver | Aloran and Crystal Prince Renezneth | Nature/Dream Ballard | Rask Ward | Slot | Slot | Opt-in | Opt-in
My Inventory
My Thread Tracker
%mh%5034%mh%
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Heijale
Member Avatar
Cupcake Queen
[align=center](Word Count: 579)[/align]

Vee took her eye away from the viewfinder of the camera and looked up Aloran as he spoke to her. She picked up on the slight sarcasm in his voice and grinned. Pulling herself up to her feet, she let the camera hang back around her neck loosely. "Of course not," she told him, answering the teasing question he'd just asked her with the same teasing tone.

She hadn't been completely blocking him out when she was taking photos, and to prove that, she decided to bring the conversation back up as she continued looking for the herbs he wanted. "A shaman, huh? And you focus on mental health?" A healer that focused on matters of the mind weren't a rarity, though what he had said after that, was. So rare, in fact, that Vee couldn't recall having ever heard of anyone using dreams to help someone with their mental issues.

"What is it you do with the dreams? Do they play in front of you, like a movie of some sort? Can you interact with the dreams? Manipulate them?" She paused for a moment before laughing. "As you can tell, I don't have much knowledge when it comes to medicine. My brother used to swear by aromatherapy, but that's it."

She kept her attention on him while still looking for the aloe. She didn't find the aloe, but she happened upon some eucalyptus leaves. Instead of interrupting the man, she turned to face him while holding the find close to her chest. Surprisingly, she enjoyed listening to him talk about his work. She assumed he was just as passionate about it as she was about her photography. At least it had seemed that way when he had introduced himself as a shaman. His tone had changed, ever so slightly, and she had gotten the impression that this was how she acted when asked about her photography.

"I think I found that eucalyptus you were looking for," she told him when she was certain she wasn't interrupting him. She held the leaves out to him, displaying her find. "It looks like they have these, some ground leaf version, and an oil," she explained as she picked those up and handed them to him as well. Now all that was left was the aloe vera. She figured that it would probably be in the same forms as the eucalyptus was.

"When I find the aloe, which medium would you like it in?" She asked, looking through display after display. She had tried to look at everything on the displays, thinking maybe she could find something else that might be of use to him. But in the end, she'd given up and stuck to just trying to find the aloe. Besides the fact that she couldn't pronounce half the things she was coming across, she shouldn't even try to pretend that she would know what he wanted or needed. She was not a trained healer, so she stuck to what she knew she could do: look for what he had said he needed.

Though she did get distracted by a pretty blue vial that read 'Peppermint'. She picked it up and admired it. She knew, of course, that peppermint could be used in the preparation of food, but she wondered why it would be sold in a place that sold medicinal needs? She brought the pretty vial up to Aloran with her question. "So what, exactly, would you use this for?"
| Amaranth Kairo & Blood/Sound Mendo | Elissaveta Korowyn & Water/Sound Serenade | Lava/Toxic Oknarel | Floral Twig | [slot] | [slot] | [slot] | [birthday slot] |

Heijale's Inventory | Threads
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Silver
Member Avatar
Illidaddy


Word Count: 634

He chuckled softly in his throat, as she rose to her feet. He backed up to allow her the proper room to do so. The more he spoke, the more his words fell into a comfortable rhythm. He had a precise manner of speaking, almost as if he were reciting a monologue. He allowed his hands to brush over the different vials and plants as he spoke. He wasn't about to except her to find all of his purchases for him, after all. He assisted her in the search, and occasionally slipped something for purchase into his bag.

"Yes, and no," He responded to her question about dreams. "A movie or a play has actors who know their parts. A good actor will stick to their role no matter the interruption, and allow the presentation to continue. 'The show must go on'," He recited with a hint of a smile. "Dreams are different. More lifelike. I enter their dreams and have the ability to interact with the dreamer. Although I cannot direct effect their environment, I can encourage it to change around me. Most people, when they dream, are unaware that their surroundings can be affected. They've become an actor rather than an audience." That was the best way to explain it. It was difficult to explain the technicalities to someone who likely didn't have the same abilities as he. "When I dream, I am lucid," He continued. "I can watch dreams play out, and by refusing to adhere to my role, change the story. Ah--" He paused when he noticed the object in her hands. Excellent.

"The oil will suffice," He assured her, and reached out to take it carefully from her hands. "Thank you for your help. The aloe vera oil will be fine: I will be making these into salves. Aloe soothes burns and rashes, and eucalyptus has a variety of different uses. I've yet to explore them all," He admitted. "I've not been able to use it until now." Centaurs had lived away from two-legged people for a long, long time. As such, they didn't have the benefits of worldwide trade. What they used was local, and the prospect of using new ingredients in his work was exciting. Best not to talk her ear off about it, he reminded himself. Not everyone was as thrilled over the idea of making medicine as he.

He found the aloe vera on a high shelf, in both thick, aromatic leaves and bottled oil. He selected the oil for convenience, taking five vials of the stuff. He didn't intend to be sticking around Asuella once the Hatching was complete, after all. Sooner or later, he would return to his herd, and he hoped to bring some benefits of his stay along with him.

He turned when she asked about the peppermint, and gave a little laugh. "Ah, yes, The better question is what is peppermint not used for. Rather like asking what sort of pictures you might take with your camera: All kinds." He took the vial in his hand and turned it over to inspect the label. "It relieves stress and helps open airways when breathed. It assists in deadening toothaches. And," He continued on with a smile smile, "Helps an upset stomach." He handed it carefully back to her. "Thankfully, it's a plant I'm quite familiar with." And he didn't need any of it today.

"I've been talking long enough, and I believe I have what I came for." He patted the bag at this side. "Now, I'm curious to hear about what you do," He urged as he approached the counter to make his purchases from the still rather rattled looking clerk.

"You took pictures of me earlier," He noted. "What do you look for when taking a photograph?"



Maksim and Fire/Sound Bolero | Dr. Vesparian Myland | Father Lysander and Seraphic/Life/Solar Ambrosolariel | Livna and Shadow/Floral Heifeiver | Aloran and Crystal Prince Renezneth | Nature/Dream Ballard | Rask Ward | Slot | Slot | Opt-in | Opt-in
My Inventory
My Thread Tracker
%mh%5034%mh%
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Heijale
Member Avatar
Cupcake Queen
[align=center](Word Count: 507)[/align]

She took the vial back from him and stared at it for a moment more. It really was a very pretty vial; one she was having a very hard time putting back. But would she actually need it? Aloran had said that it had a plethora of uses. She wasn't prone to tooth aches or breathing issues, but one couldn't help it when a stomach ache hit. That aside, she did like the smell and could cook with it....

She followed him to the counter with her small vial, her tiny simple purchase, with a very happy smile on her face. She almost looked proud of herself, like a child buying their first pet fish. She waited patiently as Aloran paid for his wares, thinking over the best way to answer his question regarding her photography. It was a good question and one that she'd never really put real thought into. Finding the perfect shot just came so naturally to her. It took some real concentration to think of the answer. So much concentration, in fact, that she missed when he finished paying and it took her a moment or two to realize she was up next.

The transaction took no time at all and soon enough she was walking happily to the door, purchased vial in hand and an answer finally on her lips.

"Beauty, mostly," She started, still admiring her purchase. "Not the kind of beauty one usually thinks, though. It's not the same as looking at an attractive person and thinking to yourself 'how beautiful!'. It's more along the lines of looking at a sunset through some trees or a bare tree against a snowy background. The beauty is in the balance of all things in the picture, playing off one another. It's the symmetry of life that gives me inspiration and that's what I like to document."

She smiled up at him before continuing. "That's what I was capturing when I was taking your pictures. The chemistry just seemed to flow with you looking for your herbs. Like it was meant to be, which I suppose, with you being a type of healer, it was. It was just... beautiful. So beautiful I had to capture it. That's the kind of thing I live for, and why I love photography as an art form so much!"

She bit her lip as she realized she was rambling. He'd asked her simple question and she hadn't meant to go off on a tangent. She was just so passionate about photography, and she quite enjoyed it when others found even the slightest interest in it as well.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to completely take over the conversation," she apologized, feeling somewhat guilty for doing so. So she did what she thought was the best course of action for doing such a thing: brought the conversation back to focus on him. "Why did you decide to become a shaman? Does it run in your family? Or is it something you decided to pursue on your own?"
| Amaranth Kairo & Blood/Sound Mendo | Elissaveta Korowyn & Water/Sound Serenade | Lava/Toxic Oknarel | Floral Twig | [slot] | [slot] | [slot] | [birthday slot] |

Heijale's Inventory | Threads
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Silver
Member Avatar
Illidaddy


Word Count: 621

He blinked against the sunlight as they exited the shop. With his errands finished for the day, he was content to find somewhere quiet to rest and perhaps talk to his new companion. He did know of a park that was supposedly somewhere off the main road, and he began to head in that direction. He assumed that she would follow him, and he hoped that he was right. So far, Vee was a pleasant companion. He enjoyed her creativity and the way she spoke about her work: It spoke volumes of the passion she had for the art she made. The way she spoke about photography made sense, and the way she framed it was lovingly thoughtful.

He allowed her to speak uninterrupted as they walked, and in time they came to the edge of the park. It was nothing compared to the plains he was used to, but they would suffice for the peace and quiet he sought. Aloran found solace in the trees and grass, and there was plenty of both here. There was also, no doubt, countless places for Vee to work her craft. He found a calm, shady spot and paused there. He pawed once at the found beneath him to test the give of the grass, and then folded his front legs carefully. He rested his weight on his knees for a moment, rump in the air, before he dropped his hindquarters down with a muffled thump. He kicked his hind legs out to the side, one front gathered beneath him while the other stretched out to rest upon the grass. He set his bag down and dug inside of it as he pondered a response.

"You speak lovingly about your craft," He commented. "I have no doubts that you perform it lovingly. Here," he held up a couple of small vials to the light. One was labeled lavender oil, the other as tea tree oil. He held them out to her in offering, a slight smile on his face. "These are for you, to remember our meeting by. I saw that you purchased the peppermint, " He explained. "I have no doubts you will find these to be equally as useful. Lavender helps sleep, and tea tree reduces stress. Just a dab will do," He warned her. "Too much, and you might find yourself overpowered."

He shook his head as she apologized. "Do not apologize," He reassured her. "I enjoy listening to people talk about their passions. As I do not know much about photography, " He reminded her, "The conversation is as equally interesting as it is pleasant. I'd see any work you might have printed," He added. "If you carry such things with you."

He quieted when she posed her question. It was a good one, but it had no simple answer. "Many things drove me to become a shaman," he answered at last. "Although shamans are no so much made as they are chosen . There are certain requirements," He explained. "Paired with a drive to serve. It requires a certain personality. Patience. Compassion. Not everyone is suited for the work. " It was not spoken with any sort of arrogance. There were many important jobs, after all, and each one was vital to their society. He simply played his part.

"Primarily," He sighed, "I was born with the correct elements to aid me in my work. Dream," He held out one hand, palm up, "And Spirit. With these, I am able to interpret dreams even as I interpret wounds. In short? I am well equipped to deal with injuries of all sorts." He quirks a smile. "Luck of the draw, as they say. And you?" He nodded to her. "What drove you to photography?"



Maksim and Fire/Sound Bolero | Dr. Vesparian Myland | Father Lysander and Seraphic/Life/Solar Ambrosolariel | Livna and Shadow/Floral Heifeiver | Aloran and Crystal Prince Renezneth | Nature/Dream Ballard | Rask Ward | Slot | Slot | Opt-in | Opt-in
My Inventory
My Thread Tracker
%mh%5034%mh%
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Heijale
Member Avatar
Cupcake Queen
[align=center](Word Count: 662)[/align]

She was somewhat afraid that once everything was said and done, he had made his purchase and she, her's, that once she was done rambling, they would part ways. However, he seemed somewhat content to continue listening to her, and as he did so, he seemed to be leading her somewhere. She was just as happy to follow, not wanting to end their outing any time soon. She was also quite happy to see that he also seemed to want to prolong their time together.

When she saw it was the park he was taking her to, she could have laughed with relief. The park was one of her favorite places. It was peaceful and a great place to catch people in their natural state. Her camera was constantly in hand when she came here. It had been a while, sadly, since she'd last come. Her candidacy made free time a precious commodity, and one that unfortunately, didn't involve the park and her camera.

She watched as he sought out a spot and made himself comfortable. The way he settled himself brought a smile to her face. She wished to take some shots of him, settled in the grass, but knew that was rude and completely uncalled for. Instead, she settled herself on the grass as well, right by his side but not close enough to be uncomfortable. She watched as he dug in his bag, and she shrugged off her own shoulder pack, settling it down slightly behind herself. When he pulled out the two vials and offered them to her, she stared at them for a brief moment before taking them gently from him. Lavender and tea tree oil. She held them to her chest for a moment, as she thanked him breathlessly for such a great gift, before putting them gently into her pack. Despite the fact that they were just two vials of essential oils, the thought behind the gift spoke volumes to her.

She pulled her knees up to her chest as she listened to him explain what it had taken to become a shaman. It did seem that he had been chosen for his lot in life. And it didn't sound like he had fought it any at all. Though with that kind of thing, she supposed there really was no fighting it. She knew she couldn't fight it when the urge to take pictures took over.

She'd already planned to pull out some photos that she kept in her pack to show him, but when he'd asked what had drawn her to photography, she knew the exact one she was going to show him first. It wasn't one she had taken at all. In fact, no one had really taken it, as it had been set to the timer option, but it had been her mother who had set the timer and set the camera's position. She pulled the stack of pictures from her bag and shuffled until the one she was looking for was on top of the pile, and she handed it to him. It was of a much younger version of herself with a woman that looked very much like her. The two were holding each other in a tight embrace and laughing.

"My mother was a photographer. A very talented one. She imparted that love and knowledge on my older sister and I. My other siblings took after my father, who worked in IT, but Killanadera and I, we adored doing what my mother loved doing. That's why I have her camera. It's the one she took all her photos on. Even that one." She handed the rest of the stack of photos to him. "These are some examples of my work. They might not be the best, artistically, but they're my favorites, for different reasons. Most of them are just of random people doing their thing around town, but there are a few landscapes and portraits in there as well."
| Amaranth Kairo & Blood/Sound Mendo | Elissaveta Korowyn & Water/Sound Serenade | Lava/Toxic Oknarel | Floral Twig | [slot] | [slot] | [slot] | [birthday slot] |

Heijale's Inventory | Threads
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Silver
Member Avatar
Illidaddy


Word Count: 507

He carefully took the photograph she offered him. The paper (was it paper?) felt strange between his fingers, slick like fish scales. He worried about smudging the image off the surface, and so instead held it carefully by its edges. The image it showed was a heartwarming one: A mother with her child. Such a subject, he imagined, but readily be photographed by such artists. There were few things in the world as powerful as love between family members, and this photograph gave a clear view of such. He almost felt ashamed to look at it, as if he were personally witnessing the tender moment from the other side of a window. But then, that was the nature of photographs, was it not? To allow the viewer some insight on what the artist saw and felt?

"You did not take this photograph," He realized. That girl in the photo must be her. She confirmed his thoughts only moments later, and he gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. He wondered again if there was some tragedy here: The way she spoke of her mother was fond, but in a soft, longing sort of way. He didn't mean to pry, but he reminded himself to ask about it later. For now, he shifted through her other photos, handling each one with utmost care. Through the lens of her camera, he saw serene trees, crisp landscapes, and soaring cities. His brow scrunched as he looked at them, and he sat for a while in silence as he took his time to examine each one.

At length, he looked up from his work. "Photographs are quite personal." He commented. "In some, I feel as if I am standing where you stand. I suspect that's the idea," He quirked a quick smile. "I find it startling," He admitted, "That you are so willing to share insight on your private life with a stranger. Centaurs are more private. Make no mistake," He added quickly, "I am glad for the opportunity. I simply wonder what drives you to share such things," He explained. "Are there subject matters people do not photograph?" In truth, he found it incredible that she was so open with her life and her experiences. Aloran himself was a private individual, and while he could see himself taking a camera to photograph things of beauty, he found the most striking compositions to be the ones which included people. People had such expressive body language, and freezing them in time allowed the viewer the unique opportunity to study them as they were most vulnerable.

And perhaps that was what made him uncomfortable, he realized. He could not imagine being studied in such a way, and he made a point of securing himself, protecting himself against unwanted scrutiny. He slowly handed the photos back.

"Thank you for sharing them with me. I am grateful for the opportunity. Perhaps I might learn to use a camera one day," He mused. "But I suspect I might still prefer painting as a manner of expression."



Maksim and Fire/Sound Bolero | Dr. Vesparian Myland | Father Lysander and Seraphic/Life/Solar Ambrosolariel | Livna and Shadow/Floral Heifeiver | Aloran and Crystal Prince Renezneth | Nature/Dream Ballard | Rask Ward | Slot | Slot | Opt-in | Opt-in
My Inventory
My Thread Tracker
%mh%5034%mh%
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create a free forum in seconds.
Learn More · Register for Free
« Previous Topic · Marketplace & Residential Living Quarters · Next Topic »
Add Reply



Dark Water created by tiptopolive of the Zetaboards Theme Zone