The Golden Sands of Tawn-thay }{ (Open)

[Laughing Man]

Minh mimicked the tilt of her head, his half-elven features were all hidden, or at least the ones definable by sight. His eyes flicked over here, searching for any kind of object that would give him more information about her, but it seemed there wasn't much. Which either meant she lived here, or had left her belongings elsewhere,

"Camel?" The Harlquein's eyes searched a bit,

"I did not come HERE with a camel, no. Unfortunately, the sands claimed her shortly before our arrival." He explained while moving around a bit to continue studying the story on the walls. His movements were quiet and flowing from one footstep to the next,

"I had the fortunate misfortune of meeting that bothersome fellow all by his lonesome over there." He indicated gracefully the dragonborn who seemed to be sleeping or meditating or something by himself. While his arm was gesturing that way, his eyes were inspecting what she was doing, though mostly oblivious to danger the majority of the time, he still was curious as to who she was,

"Is there a name to place, upon the female grace, which now resides before my eyes?" intoned Minh, turning once again to go back to the story,

"Where are you in a hurry to go, if I may ask? We're not leaving any time soon. Unless you wish to die, that is. Sandstorms are nasty business."

As he finished the story he turned again toward her, watching for her reaction in an ever-swaying, fluid dance that his body seemed to carry.

[saqin]

Charissa opened her eyes again when the man started speaking and looked at him. When he looked her over, she suddenly remembered her pack, and considered if it would be safe where she'd left it. Though chances weren't big that someone else had gotten into the ruin while she was asleep, no she was quite sure no one had, it would probably be wise to fetch it as soon as possible.

”Pity.” Again without feeling, she answered the mans statement about the camel and then shifted her head a bit so that it followed him when he turned back to the wall. Meanwhile considering whether she should tell him her name, she smiled slightly at his wording. Truly, telling her name should not pose much danger since she rarely used it.

”Charissa is my name. May I know who stands before me without the wit to show his face?” She finished with a neutral smile. Fully aware that he held weapons and most likely knew how to use them much better than she'd ever be able to fight with a knife, she stood still, because she was also certain that she'd be out of his reach before they touched her skin. ”I'm but a nomad, heading where my nature calls me. The only reason I'd have to hurry, would be food. ”

Charissa reached up and tied her scarf around her neck, then she leaned back against the wall again with her eyes on him. And though it might not have looked like it, her muscles were tense, prepared for the change that might come.

[Laughing Man]

"Where they go,
Nobody shall know,
Without a home,
To old they grow,
On into the horizon,
The forever unknown..." Recited Minh casually,

"Nomads. I know that kind of lifestyle." He responded, his head taking its attention off the hieroglyphs at her mention of his mask,

"Without wit? Or without purpose nor care? It is my profession, it also offers a measure of protection from the sands and scorching sun." He reasoned, reaching up to remove the mask from his face and tucking it into the light pack on his back, off of which dangled a few Rose Quartz butterfly charms. His face held tattoos that ran from below his eyes down to disappear into the leather suit he wore. The coloration was rather off, a dark gray, yet when the firelight caught it at certain angles, it would flash a deep blue in those lighted areas. It could be surmised his entire body was covered in such tattoos, but he never really explained to anyone what they were for. His eyes were soft and hazel-brown dashed with gold flecks as if an entire field of stars were thrown into them at birth. The curvature and point in his ears were the only visible aspect that marked his elven linage, other than the lithe frame upon which his head sat, and the smooth, angular face,

"Charissa." He said thoughtfully, as if it reminded him of someone, more likely given his profession, it reminded him of a story, though that was up to question. He could very well be making up a story,

"So I take it you are not a fan of stories? Tales or epics of any kind? " He inquired quietly, gloved fingers still tracing over the hieroglyphs casually. He was a bit of loon, and rather disconnected from the normal world around him at times.

[saqin]

Charissa watched as he took of his mask, and then looked at his face for a few moments before answering, noting the pointy ears that marked him as a half elf and the tattoos that might just cover his body.

“Oh, tales can be interesting. I simply ca... don't have time to listen to them and I've never had much patience with reading." Her eyes looked at the floor when she paused for a moment in the middle of the sentence, finding words to use, but as soon as she did she looked up at him again.

"It is true that a mask is good protection against the sand, but since there is no sand in here to find it's way into your eyes I'd think it would be better to let others see your face instead of causing them to think badly of you. Now, will you honor me with revealing your name as well?” She smiled slightly at the end, then concentrated on listening for the noises of a rat or any other manner of creature that could serve as a meal.

[Laughing Man]

Minh froze at the stutter - that light pause, and change of sentence structure. He'd heard too many stories, read all the tales... She was hiding something, something with stories. Or maybe reading. His mind worked it a bit, but he stared at her quietly with his hazel eyes, steady and studious of her movements and reactions,

"Would you like to read this one with me?" He asked, gloved fingers gesturing to the tale woven behind him into the very structure of the walls,

"It's truly a magnificent tale, and so artistically presented. The story is part of the foundation of this very temple, just as the tale it tells is part of the civilization's culture? see? So fascinating were the older cultures. Art in everything they did." He rambled lightly, stopping only at her question which brought another smile to his face,

"Well that depends. What do you wish to call me? I have been known by many names, but the ones my... " He stopped for a moment, a light twitch on his face before continuing,

"The name I was given by the first people who raised me was Minh."

[saqin]

Charissa watched him gesture to the wall that held the hieroglyphs and nodded after a moments hesitation. She stepped away from the wall against which she was leaning, and began walking towards him.

”Very well, reading couldn't hurt.” She smiled sligthly as she said the last word, and then listened as he said his name. She nodded and turned towards the wall. Looking at it, Charissa realised that she was not as good at reading as she'd once been, and she had to look for a while before she remembered the meanings of the hieroglyphs. Then she stepped up next to him, reaching a hand out to follow some of the hieroglyphs, meanwhile being very aware his every move.

”Yes, an intriguing story... if it's true.” She did not trully believe that the tale the hieroglyphs depicted would be fake, but she'd seen many things that seemed legitimate, but had really been frauds. Herself for instance, she would be one of the biggest frauds of them all, Charissa thought, since she usually acted much more as an animal than a human.

[Laughing Man]

Raised an eyebrow curiously. The charms and icons on his outfit all screamed of his intense devotion to Desna, but the fluid manner in which he moved, even when relaxed, screamed of something ready to strike at a moment's notice. He moved like a cobra, always swaying and never sitting still,

"Does it have to be true to make it a good story?" He inquired curiously, turning to face her.


<< Sorry, I'm REALLY distracted. Work picked back up when I got home from this recent patrol, so I'm trying to get things together again.>>

[saqin]

"Perhaps not, but there isn't really any use in knowing it if it isn't true. Many things can seem true, but in fact be completely faked." Charissa didn't take her eyes of the wall while speaking, following the hieroglyphs with her hands. She listened to the very faint sounds the decorations on his clothes made when he moved, which he seemed to do all the time, to assure herself that he wasn't trying anything.

After a little while Charissa turned from the wall to look at Minh. ”Do you think this story is true?” She said, feet steady on the ground and her arms hanging by her sides. She stood as if ready to sprint, a creature that would choose flight instead of fight.

<<It's ok, I'm having a lot to do myself.>>

[Laughing Man]

The fluidly swaying Harlequin hung about for a moment, watching the rather ferally-oriented woman. She made Minh think of an animal, ready to flee. Like he was a predator and she was prey. The thought stirred something primal, but he bit it back and offered a gentle smile,

"Whether it is true is not as important as the values it portrays, or the warning it sends... A story is not about what is told, but about the meaning it holds." With a flick of his wrist that sent trinkets jangling, he pointed along the line,

"The story of Tawn-Thay is one of self-sacrifice, about giving back to your community and doing what is right for those you care about. The Worm gave his life to protect his people, and in doing so brought them into an age of prosperity. Without that sacrifice, they would have died away long ago. Only to be forgotten memories. But as we well know, the people of Tawn-thay still walk with us." He gave a bit of a skip-step and moved on down the line,

"So tell me... Charissa? Yes, I believe that was it. Do you have a favorite story? I bet I could tell it..." He had mostly avoided her question entirely. Diplomacy was rampant this afternoon, it seemed... With a shrug, the Harlequin did as he always did, and let it happen. Let it slide on like water over a creek's rocks. Because that was how he lived his life. And that was how he conducted himself.

[saqin]

"I suppose you're right. My father used to tell me a story about a warrior that got so caught up in the killing that in the end it did not matter to him what he did and he went mad. I think it was his way to tell me to be careful. If you're someone else long enough, you'll forget about yourself." Charissa smiled when mentioning her father, slightly wondering why Minh avoided the question, but let it be.

"Why are you headed this way, if I may ask? Even though some do manage to live in the desert, it is quite an unhospitable place for both humans and elves." She watched him as he moved, and crossed her arms as she smiled at him.

[Laughing Man]

Minh nodded softly as his gently swaying body listened. With a soft smile, and a fair voice, the Harlequin responded,

"That sounds like quite a few stories, actually. I've heard one involving a lion with such an ending and tale. Apparently he got so fat from eating everything he could no lonnger hunt, and died of starvation. Quite humorous." Chuckled the Half Elf gently as he adjusted parts of his clothing and dumped sand from between creases,

"It's a very long tale with no real purpose, such is life, and I wish not to relay the entire thing. Let's just say I was trying to help a friend, and got lost instead. So I ended up trying to help myself in order to get to helping my friend... And ended up here." He explained without actually explaining anything at all.