Kayao sat on the large stone wall that wrapped around the entire perimeter of the Emperor's castle. Sitting under one of the four lookout towers balcony, his form mostly hidden by the shadows. His wings stretched slightly out around him as his eyes traced over the market's many streets, watching the people do their business. Pulling his wings in slightly as he heard the guards doing their hourly tower shift, keeping his form small as they peeked over the rail, crookedly grinning at them from the shadows. The guards moved to the center of the tower for whatever it is they did, Kayao didn't really pay much attention to the trivial guards as he scanned the crowds.

Moving a hand to hold his stomach with a soft sigh as his body groaned at him from lack of food. Getting to his feet, while still crouched he scuttled over to the edge before making sure no one was below. Hopping forward he stretched his wings out and beat them twice as he landed, making the couple hundred foot fall feel like a stumble. Sneaking about the alley, poking in and out of the many shop tents rear doors, he grabbed pieces of food while the owners or cooks weren't looking. Gathering some bread and fruits, along with a flash of water he stuffed it all into his robes while moving out of the alley. Walking through the crowd he used his wings to gently ease his way between people, arms keeping close as he moved. Sitting himself on a well next to a patch of grass and a tree, he watched the city's people from the more quiet corners of the market.

Reaching into his pockets he pulled out the flask and bread, eating as he leaned back on the post. Tapping his boots on the stone seat he had perched himself on, the armor around his legs clanked lightly while sand fell from in between the scales or steel. Idly fixing his hair as he watched for anyone he might need to keep an eye on, even if he had abandoned his guard post for recreational reasons.

Kit's heat-intolerance made her disgruntled expression understandable, what wasnt clear to anyone was why she was there in the midday sun in the first place. Not that anyone here knew her.. but being the capitol, no one knew anyone. For Kitiara, a blessing. Mortal kingdoms were so.. superstitious of strangers of late. Her thoughts distracting the dark-skinned woman, she honed in on a spot of shade under a fruit vendors' stall.
"Damn street kids, stole another - oh hello there!" the vendor was surprised to see a customer, but happy to help a, 'pretty lady'. Kit smiled tolerantly at the fat, grizzled old fruit vendor. She caused a minor scene when she paid with a small gemstone instead of the empire's currency; but being eventually assured of the gems value by an astonished nearby jewelist, she was on her way with "proper" empirical currency.

But as the sun kept beating down, she grew less tolerant of people. The inky cloak she wore frayed a little at the edges, her eyes flickering to the people pressing around her in the crowd. Kit pulled herself away from them, weaving as best she could along the edge of the street. Perhaps the press of people was too much, or the heat, but Kit paused a moment as an unseen, and mostly unfelt, wave of pressure rolled down the street. And people very obligingly seemed to, unconsciously, move out of the way. And she moved along unhindered.

Sharp eyes looked out from behind a mess of deep brown hair, as Kit quietly took in the new sights of the city. She didnt move like a newcomer, walking with a certain purpose through the streets- though if anyone had followed her they would have found a very haphazard trail. She turned down strange streets, browsing through carpets and jewelry, even to the fish markets on the far side of the inner city and back. It was astonishing, really, how much ground she covered. She seemed to pay special attention to lodging signs, looking up at them each a moment before passing on though the gradually dimming streets.

Having finished the bread, Kayao tossed the crumbs to the ground and chuckled as a few birds flew down to pick at them. Pulling his own wings in tightly as he straightened up, he began to pick at the numerous fruits lining his pockets. Stopping mid-selection, his feathers rustled as he felts a shift in the pressure bringing the man to his feet. Taking a few bites of a strawberry before tossing the scraps, his eyes picked at the crowed for a moment as he stepped back into an alley.

Looking up and eyeing the roofs as he crouched, his wings stretching up and out as he inched towards the ground. Jumping up and beating his wings, Kayao rocketed himself to the roof. His hand grabbing the ledge and pulling himself up as if he had hopped only a few feet. Looking over the rooftops, he began hopping from building to building unseen by the merchants and shoppers below. Holding onto a thin pulse from the pressure, he followed the source further from the populated areas into the darker side streets.

Making his way along the city's rooftops on his search, wings folded into his robes neatly, nearly unseen. Kneeling down over the ledge of a bell tower, his eyes scanned over the crowds as his hands rest on the stone pillar next to him as well as the floor. Biting his lip for a moment with a soft sigh he grumbled, wondering who or what was loose in his home doing such things. Feeling the source was close, he fell back from the kneeling position onto his rear while crossing his arms. Eyes moving along the darker streets as the sensation from the pressure began to wear off. "Damn it.."

As the crowds thinned, the cloaked woman walked a bit slower, ambling through the open food markets. She bought tidbits from many vendors, moving among them easily. She didnt speak their quickly spoken language, but her purchases went smooth enough through the common tongue, though they spoke it haltingly. Nibbling on a speared piece of spiced meat that she couldnt identify, Kit continued on, leaving behind the food markets behind as well as her hunger.

Kitiara continued her walk, now pleasantly cool with the sun heavy and low in the sky. Ambling on until she was outside the palace walls in the upper class districts, the shouting and stalls of the vendors left behind. As they appeared, she considered the lodgings, disregarding them each in turn and moving on. She spoke to no one once she left the market, either not needing or caring about directions, her path just as haphazard as it had been all day.. But she strolled now, more comfortable without the heat and press of people. Kit took her time, mulling over what the city had showed her this day.

Kit brushed her hair out of her eyes, looking up as the city bell's tolled the evening hour. She studied the soaring towers in the distance, the spires of the palace rising safely behind it's walls. With an enigmatic smile, she moved on, turning at last into the doorway of an inn. 'Dancing Dove Inn & Tavern', read the carefully-lettered sign out front, in a convenient four languages. The marbled building was clearly used by traveling nobles or lesser ranked royal cousins, who hadnt merited an invitation to the palace itself. One of the nicer establishments, Kit was refused lodging, bearing no papers or title. But again, once she'd showed him another gemstone, she encountered no more resistance from the man in securing a room.

That settled, Kitiara nestled into a plush chair by the unlit hearth (the weather being much to hot for a fire still), and assumed an aloof, dignified air as she regarded the fellow patrons of the place. The common room she was in served as both dining room and bar, though the nobility currently occupying seats were much less rambunctious when drunk than the 'common' riffraff usually in such places.

After finally losing the only traces he had to the source of the pressure, he sighed softly. Wings perking up slightly as he heard the bell towers along the castle wall ringing, signaling for the change of night and day shift. Smiling to himself he stood and dusted himself off and making sure he looked presentable before hoping from rooftop to roof top, slowly crossing the city's residential district. Jumping from a tower, he beat his wings as he took to the air. Heading for the castle, to pick up the days earnings.

Landing on the wall, he shook his wings to settle his feathers and smooth them out. Stepping into the South East tower, he eyed the table, messy with papers that seemed to be thrown about. Taking multiple trips between the wall lined with rolled scrolls and the table he was arranging them on, he used small gems as to keep the light breeze from blowing the papers away. Laying out the guard positions for the night to come, as well as the following day he scratched at his head making a few final adjustments before smiling at the roster. Grabbing the small pouch hanging from a sconce in the towers doorway as he left the tower, he tossed it a few times as he had finished his job for the day. Looking over the market his eyes jumped from sign to sign, a small grin holding his lips as he stopped on the Dancing Dove. Gripping the pouch of money, he decided he would head to the Inn for a drink and a meal, possibly a room to sleep in without the care of picking up his mess.

Stepping onto the wall his wings unfolded and clapped together, launching the harpy from his feet. Stretching his wings out he was able to ride the breeze, enjoying the controlled fall as he picked out what he'd eat along the way. Landing outside the Inn, he put the pouch into a pocket before opening the door slowly. Stepping into the foyer he closed the door behind him with his wing, before folding both rather lazily. Ignoring the nobles as he always did, he began to move towards the dining portion of the room as a barmaid quickly moved beside him and looked up at him for orders. Before the girl could speak, he spoke softly as he slowly picked out his own seat. "استیک، نه خون. ریز میوه و یک بطر شراب." He spoke quickly as he moved closer to the table he had been eyeing, the barmaid immediately nodded turning on her heel and vanished into the kitchen behind the bar.

Moving to a taller table, in the corner of the room he slowly pulled his seat out. It was tall and had two chunks missing from back of the chair on either side, giving room for the wings that stretched from just above the small of his back. As he got comfy, the barmaid returned with a bottle and glass, filling it promptly for the Harpy as he smiled to her. Taking the glass and sipping at it, he nodded before allowing her to finish filling the glass. Placing the bottle back into the ice filled stone bucket, the female bowed before leaving. Continuing to enjoy his drink Kayao relaxed fully for the first time that day, casually looking about the faces occupying the room.

Assessing her fellow patrons, Kit took no notice of some of the appreciative stares. After a short time, Kit rose and searched out her designated rooms, a decent suite of them in the upper stories. Locking the door behind her, Kit prowled around the rooms for a while, snooping into all the drawers and closets. She stopped the longest in front of a full-length mirror on the wall. Mirrors were still rare things, this one made of a highly burnished metal. She studied herself for a time, and there were minuscule adjustments to her appearance- her skin, already a deep copper, took on a sun-gilded tint, and her clothes lost the dust from the day's travels.

She removed the cloak, placing it on a hook by the door. She cast a wary eye at the windows, then sighed softly in relief as her wings unfurled. Her true wings, as it were, the smoky haze forming indistinct feathers behind her. Standing on the far side of the room, she flexed them once, the size and breadth of the wings filling the room behind her. But as she opened her door, they vanished from sight again.

Kitiara was tucked comfortably into the chair by the time the green feathered man showed up, her face half hidden behind a tattered book of sorts, the thick parchment bound with leather straps. She took him in quietly, though surprised at the easy acceptance by his fellow patrons. It wasnt often the case with rare species among a generally human crowd. Studying him unabashedly from behind her book, she watched until he had settled at his specialized chair. Kit dropped her gaze then, sipping at her amber-filled mug. So the harpies were in human lands.. Or else this was a singular occurrence.. Kit mused quietly, wondering idly to herself if the harpy queen knew one of her warriors went rogue.

Having finished the first of his wine, he set the glass down before grabbing the bottle from stone the pail full of ice. Removing the cork he slowly filled his glass, taking a swig from the bottle before closing and pacing it back in the ice. A pointed ear flicked as he looked up from his glass, eyes picking apart the door to the kitchen as his stomach groaned rather noticeably. Placing a hand over his gut he straightened up in his chair taking small sips from his glass as he awaited his meal, impatiently. Gazing about the room for a moment, he began to consider the recreational choices for the night, though his mind had already been set on his nightly rituals. A slight grin held his face letting a few teeth shine through, becoming excited for the night ahead.

Feathers rustled as he saw the barmaid from earlier come out from behind the bar with a large platter. Grinning and biting the corner of his lip he pushed the glass to the side allowing the woman room to set his food, nearly drooling as the plate of two large steaks. Numerous fruits and different types of spiced or seasoned breads were surrounding the large pieces of meat, giving the area an intoxicating scent. A side plate with sauces and seasons along with a full loaf of plane bread were placed next to his main dish, before the barmaid looked up to the man for his approval.

Nodding to her and giving her the money, she turned and disappeared into the kitchen once more, leaving the Harpy to his meal. Quickly setting the napkin on his lap and picking up his knife and fork, he tore into the first steak, not bothering to stop for a drink, sauces to dip the meat in, or even a breath. Slowing down after a moment, he took a drink as he picked up a piece of seasoned bread and ate it relaxing in his seat. A smile held his face for the duration of the meal, enjoying the taste as well as the early effects of a couple glasses of wine.

After finishing a large amount of the meat and fruits, he pushed the plates away and leaned back finishing his glass of wine. Pulling the bottle out and noting it half empty, he filled his glass before setting the bottle on the table while idly nibbling at some of the plain bread. His wings slowly stretched out behind him, feathers dusting along the floor as his wings fully opened. Occupying a number of feet behind him, he slowly pulled them back without care. As the corner was specifically designed for the members of the Harpy Guard. Even if there weren't many of them, it still wasn't uncommon for them to make use of other's personal space to make sure they don't have any cramps or knots in their muscles as it makes flight quite a pain.

Kit went back to her book as the man tucked in at his meal, having satisfied similar cravings from the free market vendors earlier. She appeared to take as little notice of him as any of the other patrons, until his wings opened. Then her eyes lifted automatically to the flash of feathered movement, straying over his wings a moment as if to assess them. There was a curious half smile on her face as she did so.

[erhumph. short, my apologies. -kit stares at- is not an acceptable answer, so..]

Finishing the last bit of his spiced bread, the Harpy grabbed his glass for a drink. His eyes caught the female's and he chuckled softly, assuming she simply had never seen his kind before. Using his fork to pick at the scraps of meat to make sure he got every edible bite, he slowly stretched his wing out in a tiny wave toward the woman. Loading his fork with a few fruits he piled them all into his mouth before leaning back, his cheeks colored faintly as he was nearing the last of his wine. Thinking for a moment, he grinned once more before waving a barmaid down, whispering with her and giving her a number of coins.

Topping off his glass with the last of his bottle he let his wings slouch, draped over the chair making it seem made from his feathers. The barmaid he had spoken with had left and returned to the kitchen, while he finished the last of his breads. Wiping his mouth with his napkin, he set it on the table before picking at the plain bread. The barmaid had returned from the kitchen carrying a small platter with a single drink. Moving through the tables she stopped next to Kitiara, placing the drink on the side table next to the plush chair. Pointing slightly with a grin, leaning over to the female she folded the platter under her arm as she spoke with a heavy accent. "From him." Her common tongue seemed forced and lacking, as it was a second tongue to the empire. Straightening up and turning, the barmaid left the female as Kayao had been peeking over the rim of his glass to watch.

The corners of Kits mouth tugged upwards in a smile as the stranger used a wing to wave at her. She hadnt looked away upon being caught staring, glancing away only when she was approached by the barmaid. Kits eyebrows rose slightly as the girl gave her message, and she nodded acceptance before the girl left for the kitchens. She cast a wary eye at the drink for a moment, before shaking off the paranoia and lifting it with a smile towards the man. Noone knew her from her courts, she had had to remind herself. Drinks would be no more than what they appeared.

Kit met his eyes as she sipped at the offering, head tilted slightly as she studied him a moment longer. Then with a swift movement she stood, unfolding herself from the chair easily. Straightening up, Kitiara moved through the cluttered tables to his, hopping up onto the taller seats with a very fluid gesture. She took another sip from the glass, watching him over the rim of the cup. Up close, her unusual eyes were impossible to miss.

Smiling easily as she twisted the glass idly in her hands, Kit greeted him with a simple hello in common.

Arching a brow and studying the other he traced over every freckle in the female's eyes. Leaning back a bit after breaking his stare and looking away a moment, he smiled and nodded back to her. "Hello, at first I wasn't sure.. but now I am positive, you aren't from anywhere around here are you?" He asked softly over his glass with a chuckle, before taking a sip to himself and setting the glass down, seemingly interested in the other. His accent seemed to chop words apart and though he had become skilled in speaking the second tongue, it still sounded foreign given his lighter toned skin. The Harpy's curiosity getting the best of him as he seemed to forget the thought of an introduction, along with a bottle of wine.


[This feels badly pieced together.. but.. time for smaller posts. xD]

Kit smiled slightly- after all, there was no way to hide the fact that she was an outsider when she hadnt mastered their language. Which indirectly put her at a disadvantage she hadnt had in quite a long time. "No.. I've been in the trade cities to the east." Kit hadnt exactly said she lived there, but it wasnt untrue. "You dont look like you're from around here, either.." she studied him with a faintly arched brow, "But your ease says you at least know the area." Her common, matched against his, was so easily spoken it sounded flawless. But then, she had to.. She spent a lot more time conversing with other races than she dealt with her own.

"Royal Guard, actually." Kayao said with a laugh as he finished his drink. Setting the glass down he rubbed at his chin, crossing a leg as he continued to study the woman's eyes. "As for my origin, no it's not here. Long gone city, ruined years before humans came." He said with a slight shrugs, eyeing the other's in the room as he cocked his wings. Shaking his wings lightly to smooth the feathers the Harpy looked about the Inn again, giving a soft sigh as he looked back to the other. "While this is quite fun, there are other activities far more deserving of your time, if you ask me." He spoke with confidence, as well as a crooked grin as he groped the pouch in his pocket. "Think I could spare the coin to show a Lady why the empire is so.. sybaritic."

Kit was used to people noticing her eyes, and for the most part she looked back at him evenly as he did so. But whenever he shifted hiswings, her gaze would stray briefly. To pass among them Kit often lost the use of her own, and it never ceased to rankle her. "A tour of the city?" She mused with a smile, lifting the cup to her lips. In a gesture less common for women, Kit drained the 3/4 full glass all at once. "Though you needent spend anything on me to do so," she added, "still it would be rude to refuse, and I do wish to see more of this city."

"At this time of night there's not too much to see of the city, outside." He said with a grin as his legs uncrossed, his wings slouching slightly to give himself room. "After all, certain places are only open once the sun's gone away." Leaning forward with his hands clasped together on the table, he tilted his head at the other slightly. "Although first, it might be wise to remember basics, seeing as we seem to have never got to the introduction." Rubbing the back of his head he smiled with colored cheeks, bowing his head for a moment with a chuckle. "I am Kayao of the Immortal Harpy Guard, and you?" Questioning the other thile leaning in slightly, unaware of his curiosity driven action.

Kit raised a delicate eyebrow at him, intrigued despite herself. What places were these..? But then her lips quirked in a self deprecating smile as she realized she had let manners slip, and he introduced himself. She hadnt met many people in this new city (and none yet worth mentioning), thus being his name and title had no contest in her memory. She did slightly regret, however, encountering this man while still in this body.. Not that it was ill-suited, but that she had meant it mainly to blend in. Kits mind flashed further along this route, briefly designing and resetting plans yet again, as she did with every new change in the wind. Her thoughts silvered beneath her eyes, and crystallized into speech.

"I am Sarine," she replied, choosing of her oldest desert names, "on errand from my home courts." It had been centuries, and he could not know it. She smiled again, but tipped her head in question of him, "I had no idea there were still any of the People still in the cities here." though it sounded in tone more like an idle comment.

"It's nice to meet you, Sarine." Kayao spoke with a smile, the females wording making her see more familiar and common to him. Relaxing and leaning back in is seat slightly he bowed his head lightly and grinned at the other. "There are actually quite a few of us around here. Most not lucky enough to have such a rank as mine, stay to the alleys and slums.. " Trailing off slightly he shook his head to regain his train of thought, looking about the room for a moment. "Though I must say it is nice to meet someone who knows such terms, as opposed to countless questions about these buggers." He said shaking his wings playfully. "But as fun as an inn is.. there's something I had in mind all day for tonight.. Eyes returning to Sarine's, he lifted a hand waving it towards the door. "Smoke?" The harpy asked with a grin offering to treat his new found friend to his favorite pastime.

"You too," Sarine said after him, smiling as he relaxed. She'd banked on the familiarity all the People felt for each other, and as he opened up slightly itd paid off. A brief look of distaste passed over her face as he mentioned their ilk in the slums, and her eyes shuttered closed, unreadable. Her expression smoothed over quickly and she smiled as he shook his wings playfully. "Smoke?" She repeated idly, letting thecuriousity in her voice answer as yes.

Grinning to the other Kayao nodded slightly before leaning over the table slightly, his cheeks dark pink as the bottle of wine settled. "It's quite the treat." He spoke casually as he eased his chair back, nearly hopping to his feet while dusting bread crumbs from his pants. Smiling to the other as he folded his wings tightly behind him and settled his hands on the back of Sarine's chair, eyes trailing the ceiling for a moment before he looked over the door thinking. "I'm thinking sweet, for tonight." He said with a playful smirk as his sharpened nails clicked against the chair.

Sarine looked askance at him, tilting her head back slightly to keep him in view as he moved behind her. She nodded at his comments, having no input to offer to them. Sweet what, anyways? Sarine gave a slightly sardonic grin at her own ignorance, then demurely slid off the stool to his side- the details of his nails not lost on the Queen. "Where to, then?" she inquired smoothly, smiling a bit. New things...

(Sorry its so horribly short. -brainfried- )

Grinning to the other Kayao set off for the door, his wings draped around his legs wrapping over the harpy's knees. "I believe the two names I could properly translate it into are, shisha or.. it's rather goofy, hookah." Opening the door from the Inn for the other, his wings trembles ruffling his feathers. "You smoke it, it tastes however you want it to and there are special ones with an added this or that." Arching a brow as he spoke he eyed the streets looking over the signs, nit picking the pros and cons of each establishment.

Sarine's skeptical look followed him out the door and into the street, the only things she'd had, smoke wise, tasted like whatever it was. The only real flavoring was vanillas or other oils.. This sounded something like that, she decided in her mind. "Hookah?" she tested that word, and it sounded strange to her ears, like an owl's cough. Sarine smiled to herself, watching him scan the signs up and down the street, clearing looking for one she wasnt familiar with. When he choose a direction she walked after, not bothering to pull her cloak tight.. The warm evenings were quite soothing, especially after the heat of the days. "So where to?" she asked easily after a moment.

As they walked down the stone street for a few minutes, the harpy scratched at his head and chin thinking over the choices. After a while, Kayao stopped and looked up to the castle, arching his brow as a thought popped into his head. Looking the other over slowly, he peeked between the two and crossed his arms. Giving Sarine a rather sly smirk he looked over the signs one last time before reaching into a pocket, removing a small scroll and quill. Looking about casually as he scribbled on the paper, choosing to ignore the quill's rather luminous strokes. "Two questions.." He finally spoke after finishing his scribbles, rolling the scroll back up as he spoke. "I've gained a decent amount of your trust, right?" Questioning the other, with reasonable doubt he idly flicked his wrist, the scroll ignited mid flick and quickly burned to ash in the air in an arcane fashion.

Sarine paused as he did, turning slightly to face him. She didnt seem alarmed by the puff of ignited parchment, rather only curious. Indeed she was so intent on this that his question went unheard for a moment as she followed the scroll - after a pause violet eyes lifted to his. Trust? What was this man, an imbecile? "I trust you," she answered cautiously, though her thoughts didnt reflect her words. But here she had no reason for her suspicions- and Kit let them go unheeded. "Why?" was the next thing she asked, eyes lingering on him doubtfully.

"Good!" The harpy barked with a grin, his wings stretching out behind him as his arms mocked them. Arms out as he offered what seemed like a hug to the female, his wings trembling, ruffling his feathers. "Afraid of heights at all?" He asked as he cocked his head, watching her eyes while the warm night's breeze played through his robes and hair. "I figure, why spend on lower quality things, when I have the finest in the empire." He said with a nod up to the castle before returning his gaze to Sarine. "It also lacks the runts who can't hold their weight.." Laughing as he said this, he beat his wings once kicking up a ring of dust.

[[ ...Imbesullen. ]]