The chatbox has been hidden for this page. It will reopen upon refresh. To hide the CBox permanently, select "Permanently Toggle Cbox" in your profile User Settings.
This chatbox is hidden. To reopen, edit your User Settings.
Delicate leather sandals protected the roughened soles of her feet as Neithotep walked down one of the long plankways in the port of Cairo, a white kalasiris playfully fluttering behind her in the breeze. The Nile was calm today, gently lapping at the shore with hardly a ripple. The sounds of bird calls overhead had Nia tilting her neck back to look, smiling as a pair of grebes darted after each other in hot pursuit. Overall, it was a peaceful, pleasant day that lifted her heart and spirits alike, especially in the wake of her last rather… tempestuous affair ending.
The only way it could have been better was if her mother hadn’t insisted on accompanying her.
Nia had announced she was going to the port to watch the ships come and go, in desperate need of a jaunt outside especially after the last couple days of unexpected rain. She thought she’d go mad if she had to spend one more hour cooped up indoors and as soon as the sun had broken the horizon with nary a cloud in sight… The woman was dressed and ready to go, pushing through the door with a hasty farewell as she sought to flee the attentions of her parents.
Unfortunately for her, Iaheru apparently had different plans, following her just as soon as she had left. Why her mother was intent on coming with her, Nia had no idea, but she couldn’t outright refuse her, either. She was her mother, after all, and if she was going to tag along, there wasn’t much she could do to stop her. Perhaps she was just as stir-crazy as her daughter. Or perhaps she had some hidden motive that was going to be revealed once they reached their destination. Who knew? Either way, she was stuck with her, whether she liked it or not, so she might as well make the most out of it.
Surprisingly enough, their walk had been rather serene, which only made Nia suspicious. Iaheru had never been the “quality time” type of mother, at least not with her. Was she truly here just to spend time with her oft-ignored daughter? Was she trying to make sure her fanciful child didn’t hop on one of the ships in her absence? Or was it something else entirely? Whatever it was, Neithotep couldn’t help but be uneasy and was just waiting for the inevitable thing she didn’t want to hear.
“Nice day, isn’t it?” Nia asked her mother as they approached the end of the dock, desperate to fill the uncharacteristic quiet with something. Turning to watch the water, she eyed one of the ships nearby, one that was clearly not an Egyptian vessel. At least judging from those that surrounded it. Greek, maybe? Somewhere else? It wasn’t like she knew much about such things.
She turned her attention back to Iaheru, dark eyes considering. “Though I didn’t think you much liked the port. I guess I never asked."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Delicate leather sandals protected the roughened soles of her feet as Neithotep walked down one of the long plankways in the port of Cairo, a white kalasiris playfully fluttering behind her in the breeze. The Nile was calm today, gently lapping at the shore with hardly a ripple. The sounds of bird calls overhead had Nia tilting her neck back to look, smiling as a pair of grebes darted after each other in hot pursuit. Overall, it was a peaceful, pleasant day that lifted her heart and spirits alike, especially in the wake of her last rather… tempestuous affair ending.
The only way it could have been better was if her mother hadn’t insisted on accompanying her.
Nia had announced she was going to the port to watch the ships come and go, in desperate need of a jaunt outside especially after the last couple days of unexpected rain. She thought she’d go mad if she had to spend one more hour cooped up indoors and as soon as the sun had broken the horizon with nary a cloud in sight… The woman was dressed and ready to go, pushing through the door with a hasty farewell as she sought to flee the attentions of her parents.
Unfortunately for her, Iaheru apparently had different plans, following her just as soon as she had left. Why her mother was intent on coming with her, Nia had no idea, but she couldn’t outright refuse her, either. She was her mother, after all, and if she was going to tag along, there wasn’t much she could do to stop her. Perhaps she was just as stir-crazy as her daughter. Or perhaps she had some hidden motive that was going to be revealed once they reached their destination. Who knew? Either way, she was stuck with her, whether she liked it or not, so she might as well make the most out of it.
Surprisingly enough, their walk had been rather serene, which only made Nia suspicious. Iaheru had never been the “quality time” type of mother, at least not with her. Was she truly here just to spend time with her oft-ignored daughter? Was she trying to make sure her fanciful child didn’t hop on one of the ships in her absence? Or was it something else entirely? Whatever it was, Neithotep couldn’t help but be uneasy and was just waiting for the inevitable thing she didn’t want to hear.
“Nice day, isn’t it?” Nia asked her mother as they approached the end of the dock, desperate to fill the uncharacteristic quiet with something. Turning to watch the water, she eyed one of the ships nearby, one that was clearly not an Egyptian vessel. At least judging from those that surrounded it. Greek, maybe? Somewhere else? It wasn’t like she knew much about such things.
She turned her attention back to Iaheru, dark eyes considering. “Though I didn’t think you much liked the port. I guess I never asked."
Delicate leather sandals protected the roughened soles of her feet as Neithotep walked down one of the long plankways in the port of Cairo, a white kalasiris playfully fluttering behind her in the breeze. The Nile was calm today, gently lapping at the shore with hardly a ripple. The sounds of bird calls overhead had Nia tilting her neck back to look, smiling as a pair of grebes darted after each other in hot pursuit. Overall, it was a peaceful, pleasant day that lifted her heart and spirits alike, especially in the wake of her last rather… tempestuous affair ending.
The only way it could have been better was if her mother hadn’t insisted on accompanying her.
Nia had announced she was going to the port to watch the ships come and go, in desperate need of a jaunt outside especially after the last couple days of unexpected rain. She thought she’d go mad if she had to spend one more hour cooped up indoors and as soon as the sun had broken the horizon with nary a cloud in sight… The woman was dressed and ready to go, pushing through the door with a hasty farewell as she sought to flee the attentions of her parents.
Unfortunately for her, Iaheru apparently had different plans, following her just as soon as she had left. Why her mother was intent on coming with her, Nia had no idea, but she couldn’t outright refuse her, either. She was her mother, after all, and if she was going to tag along, there wasn’t much she could do to stop her. Perhaps she was just as stir-crazy as her daughter. Or perhaps she had some hidden motive that was going to be revealed once they reached their destination. Who knew? Either way, she was stuck with her, whether she liked it or not, so she might as well make the most out of it.
Surprisingly enough, their walk had been rather serene, which only made Nia suspicious. Iaheru had never been the “quality time” type of mother, at least not with her. Was she truly here just to spend time with her oft-ignored daughter? Was she trying to make sure her fanciful child didn’t hop on one of the ships in her absence? Or was it something else entirely? Whatever it was, Neithotep couldn’t help but be uneasy and was just waiting for the inevitable thing she didn’t want to hear.
“Nice day, isn’t it?” Nia asked her mother as they approached the end of the dock, desperate to fill the uncharacteristic quiet with something. Turning to watch the water, she eyed one of the ships nearby, one that was clearly not an Egyptian vessel. At least judging from those that surrounded it. Greek, maybe? Somewhere else? It wasn’t like she knew much about such things.
She turned her attention back to Iaheru, dark eyes considering. “Though I didn’t think you much liked the port. I guess I never asked."
Iaheru took to the foyer of Hei Sheifa most afternoons. She spent the majority of her time in the open parlor staring at the powder blue sky while she watched the bustle of the daily activities. Life was incredibly sweet, but stiflingly hot as the rains soaked the Earth and hung around in the air. The stiff bricks of Hei Sheifa, smoothed down with plaster facade, did not make this sanguine suffering any more pleasant.
When she caught news of her daughter venturing to the docks, Iaheru was delighted, if not giddy at the prospect. If not for time spent with Neithotep, which was sometimes punctuated with unpleasantness, for the fondness she held for the docks. It was there that she cataloged frogs as a child, where she would watch for her father’s boat to dock and bother him while he finished his nightly work, and it was where she would wait for Onuphrious when he accompanied his crew to destinations far and wide. Onuphrious and her father worked together and very rarely did marriages of opportunity intersect with marriages of love.
She barely had time to fasten thick soled sandals, her feet no longer calloused and suitable to thin, attractive sandals, skin softened from meticulous care and high arches ached with unsupportive shoes. Bustling after her daughter, they share very little talk on the walk to the ports. Neithotep was always distant to her, as if they were suspended in crystalline water. Iaheru could see her daughter, reach out to her in the slippery, cold medium, but whatever Iaheru spoke was muffled and incoherent and Nia the same. Whatever connection was solely through the blood, and sometimes, that was just not enough.
But the day was mellow, a beautiful day, as Nia said, in the most wonderful city on Earth, Cairo. “Yes, it is Nia,” Iaheru nodded.
“The ports are my favorite place in Cairo. I grew up around the ports. I would wait here every evening I was able to watch the boats come in. Sometimes, I’d even spear fish. I met your father when I could sneak away from my Retainer duties when he worked the ports under his father. I’m quite glad I could accompany you.” Iaheru glanced at the foreign vessel next to their own boat, “It looks as if we have a visitor. We own just about every slip on this section of the Nile,” Iaheru gestured to a long expanse of slips, all marked with ochre banners stamped faintly and sun bleached with the Hei’s seal. That would not do, she glowered at the weathered banners. They would be replaced within the fortnight.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Iaheru took to the foyer of Hei Sheifa most afternoons. She spent the majority of her time in the open parlor staring at the powder blue sky while she watched the bustle of the daily activities. Life was incredibly sweet, but stiflingly hot as the rains soaked the Earth and hung around in the air. The stiff bricks of Hei Sheifa, smoothed down with plaster facade, did not make this sanguine suffering any more pleasant.
When she caught news of her daughter venturing to the docks, Iaheru was delighted, if not giddy at the prospect. If not for time spent with Neithotep, which was sometimes punctuated with unpleasantness, for the fondness she held for the docks. It was there that she cataloged frogs as a child, where she would watch for her father’s boat to dock and bother him while he finished his nightly work, and it was where she would wait for Onuphrious when he accompanied his crew to destinations far and wide. Onuphrious and her father worked together and very rarely did marriages of opportunity intersect with marriages of love.
She barely had time to fasten thick soled sandals, her feet no longer calloused and suitable to thin, attractive sandals, skin softened from meticulous care and high arches ached with unsupportive shoes. Bustling after her daughter, they share very little talk on the walk to the ports. Neithotep was always distant to her, as if they were suspended in crystalline water. Iaheru could see her daughter, reach out to her in the slippery, cold medium, but whatever Iaheru spoke was muffled and incoherent and Nia the same. Whatever connection was solely through the blood, and sometimes, that was just not enough.
But the day was mellow, a beautiful day, as Nia said, in the most wonderful city on Earth, Cairo. “Yes, it is Nia,” Iaheru nodded.
“The ports are my favorite place in Cairo. I grew up around the ports. I would wait here every evening I was able to watch the boats come in. Sometimes, I’d even spear fish. I met your father when I could sneak away from my Retainer duties when he worked the ports under his father. I’m quite glad I could accompany you.” Iaheru glanced at the foreign vessel next to their own boat, “It looks as if we have a visitor. We own just about every slip on this section of the Nile,” Iaheru gestured to a long expanse of slips, all marked with ochre banners stamped faintly and sun bleached with the Hei’s seal. That would not do, she glowered at the weathered banners. They would be replaced within the fortnight.
Iaheru took to the foyer of Hei Sheifa most afternoons. She spent the majority of her time in the open parlor staring at the powder blue sky while she watched the bustle of the daily activities. Life was incredibly sweet, but stiflingly hot as the rains soaked the Earth and hung around in the air. The stiff bricks of Hei Sheifa, smoothed down with plaster facade, did not make this sanguine suffering any more pleasant.
When she caught news of her daughter venturing to the docks, Iaheru was delighted, if not giddy at the prospect. If not for time spent with Neithotep, which was sometimes punctuated with unpleasantness, for the fondness she held for the docks. It was there that she cataloged frogs as a child, where she would watch for her father’s boat to dock and bother him while he finished his nightly work, and it was where she would wait for Onuphrious when he accompanied his crew to destinations far and wide. Onuphrious and her father worked together and very rarely did marriages of opportunity intersect with marriages of love.
She barely had time to fasten thick soled sandals, her feet no longer calloused and suitable to thin, attractive sandals, skin softened from meticulous care and high arches ached with unsupportive shoes. Bustling after her daughter, they share very little talk on the walk to the ports. Neithotep was always distant to her, as if they were suspended in crystalline water. Iaheru could see her daughter, reach out to her in the slippery, cold medium, but whatever Iaheru spoke was muffled and incoherent and Nia the same. Whatever connection was solely through the blood, and sometimes, that was just not enough.
But the day was mellow, a beautiful day, as Nia said, in the most wonderful city on Earth, Cairo. “Yes, it is Nia,” Iaheru nodded.
“The ports are my favorite place in Cairo. I grew up around the ports. I would wait here every evening I was able to watch the boats come in. Sometimes, I’d even spear fish. I met your father when I could sneak away from my Retainer duties when he worked the ports under his father. I’m quite glad I could accompany you.” Iaheru glanced at the foreign vessel next to their own boat, “It looks as if we have a visitor. We own just about every slip on this section of the Nile,” Iaheru gestured to a long expanse of slips, all marked with ochre banners stamped faintly and sun bleached with the Hei’s seal. That would not do, she glowered at the weathered banners. They would be replaced within the fortnight.
The torrid rain had made the Nile swell up to the brim of its banks. Water pushed right up the stalks of the reeds and lifted the ships along the docks higher than they might otherwise have been. Usually he would have been off his ship and sleeping in a tavern or brothel somewhere, but he had made both himself and his crew stay on board so that all hands would be available if the moorings tethering the Aceton to the pylons accidently snapped. He didn’t put it past some of the other ship owners to potentially cut the moorings and send his ship drifting away, swiftly and completely out of reach until it crashed into an embankment somewhere.
The morning had dawned hot and was made all the hotter by the glaring sun on the water. Unlike the Egyptians around him, he didn’t paint his eyes in kohl but he was seriously thinking on it by the time that he was sitting on the ship’s upper railing with rope trailing off his lap as he braided it into double twisted coils. The sides of his ship were indeed different than those around him. The Aceton’s sides were painted a deep black and geometric squares inside two lines stretched along the top of its sides from stem to stern. At the ship’s prow, just above the water, a large eye was painted on either side, making the ship out to be an intimidating vessel to any who might dare to try and sink it.
He was lost in thought but looked up as their voices drew nearer. His gaze was first drawn to the mother, or the woman he assumed to be the mother, with her hair covered and her face aglow with delight as she described whatever it was she was talking about to her companion. From there, his dark eyes slid to the younger of the two. She was pretty and he liked, what seemed to him, at least, the haughty tilt to her chin. From their clothes, he had already surmised they were rich. From their conversation, which he was blatantly listening to at this point, he could confirm their noble status.
His gaze followed Iaheru’s as she looked down the warf but he couldn’t begin to guess what she was glaring at. Unless it was the male slaves or his own men prowling about the deck of his ship. Most, but not all, of his crew was greek. Due to the heat, quite a few of them were stripped to the waist, the same as the other sailors along this part of town. The slaves themselves were naked and still sweating.
Lukos was dark for a Greek but pale to the Egyptian eye. Every woman around here appeared exotic to him and he very much liked what he saw. His gaze had swept back and again rested on Nia.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
The torrid rain had made the Nile swell up to the brim of its banks. Water pushed right up the stalks of the reeds and lifted the ships along the docks higher than they might otherwise have been. Usually he would have been off his ship and sleeping in a tavern or brothel somewhere, but he had made both himself and his crew stay on board so that all hands would be available if the moorings tethering the Aceton to the pylons accidently snapped. He didn’t put it past some of the other ship owners to potentially cut the moorings and send his ship drifting away, swiftly and completely out of reach until it crashed into an embankment somewhere.
The morning had dawned hot and was made all the hotter by the glaring sun on the water. Unlike the Egyptians around him, he didn’t paint his eyes in kohl but he was seriously thinking on it by the time that he was sitting on the ship’s upper railing with rope trailing off his lap as he braided it into double twisted coils. The sides of his ship were indeed different than those around him. The Aceton’s sides were painted a deep black and geometric squares inside two lines stretched along the top of its sides from stem to stern. At the ship’s prow, just above the water, a large eye was painted on either side, making the ship out to be an intimidating vessel to any who might dare to try and sink it.
He was lost in thought but looked up as their voices drew nearer. His gaze was first drawn to the mother, or the woman he assumed to be the mother, with her hair covered and her face aglow with delight as she described whatever it was she was talking about to her companion. From there, his dark eyes slid to the younger of the two. She was pretty and he liked, what seemed to him, at least, the haughty tilt to her chin. From their clothes, he had already surmised they were rich. From their conversation, which he was blatantly listening to at this point, he could confirm their noble status.
His gaze followed Iaheru’s as she looked down the warf but he couldn’t begin to guess what she was glaring at. Unless it was the male slaves or his own men prowling about the deck of his ship. Most, but not all, of his crew was greek. Due to the heat, quite a few of them were stripped to the waist, the same as the other sailors along this part of town. The slaves themselves were naked and still sweating.
Lukos was dark for a Greek but pale to the Egyptian eye. Every woman around here appeared exotic to him and he very much liked what he saw. His gaze had swept back and again rested on Nia.
The torrid rain had made the Nile swell up to the brim of its banks. Water pushed right up the stalks of the reeds and lifted the ships along the docks higher than they might otherwise have been. Usually he would have been off his ship and sleeping in a tavern or brothel somewhere, but he had made both himself and his crew stay on board so that all hands would be available if the moorings tethering the Aceton to the pylons accidently snapped. He didn’t put it past some of the other ship owners to potentially cut the moorings and send his ship drifting away, swiftly and completely out of reach until it crashed into an embankment somewhere.
The morning had dawned hot and was made all the hotter by the glaring sun on the water. Unlike the Egyptians around him, he didn’t paint his eyes in kohl but he was seriously thinking on it by the time that he was sitting on the ship’s upper railing with rope trailing off his lap as he braided it into double twisted coils. The sides of his ship were indeed different than those around him. The Aceton’s sides were painted a deep black and geometric squares inside two lines stretched along the top of its sides from stem to stern. At the ship’s prow, just above the water, a large eye was painted on either side, making the ship out to be an intimidating vessel to any who might dare to try and sink it.
He was lost in thought but looked up as their voices drew nearer. His gaze was first drawn to the mother, or the woman he assumed to be the mother, with her hair covered and her face aglow with delight as she described whatever it was she was talking about to her companion. From there, his dark eyes slid to the younger of the two. She was pretty and he liked, what seemed to him, at least, the haughty tilt to her chin. From their clothes, he had already surmised they were rich. From their conversation, which he was blatantly listening to at this point, he could confirm their noble status.
His gaze followed Iaheru’s as she looked down the warf but he couldn’t begin to guess what she was glaring at. Unless it was the male slaves or his own men prowling about the deck of his ship. Most, but not all, of his crew was greek. Due to the heat, quite a few of them were stripped to the waist, the same as the other sailors along this part of town. The slaves themselves were naked and still sweating.
Lukos was dark for a Greek but pale to the Egyptian eye. Every woman around here appeared exotic to him and he very much liked what he saw. His gaze had swept back and again rested on Nia.
Nia listened to Iaheru with barely concealed surprise, watching the animation on the woman’s face with a twinge of guilt on her own. How could she know so little about her own mother, a woman she’d lived with for twenty five years? She felt like the woman was practically a stranger, but then again, neither had ever truly made an effort to learn about the other. With four other children and Neithotep the wildest, she couldn’t even blame Iaheru for being so distant. She probably thought her lost already.
Most of the time, Nia liked it that way. She preferred to keep out of her parents’ attention so that she might live her own life a little more freely. But hearing Iaheru speak so wistfully of her past and her connection to the docks made her feel bad for never even trying to connect with her, for always pushing away the attempts her mother made to do that very thing. Perhaps she hadn’t accompanied Nia today to scold her or keep an eye on her. Perhaps it really was purely for love of the port.
“I’m glad you could accompany me, too,” Nia replied with a smile, lightly squeezing Iaheru’s hand in an unusual display of affection. And for once, she actually meant it. It was nice to see a glimpse of the woman behind the stoic exterior she so often displayed. She wished she’d be this candid more often.
Glancing back at the ship her mother was talking about, she nodded absently in agreement. A visitor, indeed, but surely that was not so rare? The port of Cairo had always seemed to be such a busy place; there had to be visitors fairly often. Looking a little closer at the vessel, she noticed an olive-skinned Grecian man watching them from the railing, and the corners of her mouthed tilted in a catlike smile. When his eyes slid to her with frank admiration, she visibly preened, a slave to her nature. Catching his gaze, her lashes dropped in a wink, putting a little more sway into her hips as they drew closer.
This was one visitor she hoped might be staying a bit longer.
As happy as she had been moments ago to have her mother with her, she immediately regretted it, looking out longingly over the busy port as if she might simply disappear into its bustle. Was there a way she could distract or lose Iaheru entirely without it being overly obvious? It was hardly appropriate to start fawning over a stranger with her mother in tow.
Speaking loud enough that she knew the man would hear her if he was listening, Nia turned to Iaheru and asked, “Mother, I think I’d like to take a swim. Perhaps you’d like to keep walking around? It’s been a while since you’ve visited, has it not?”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Nia listened to Iaheru with barely concealed surprise, watching the animation on the woman’s face with a twinge of guilt on her own. How could she know so little about her own mother, a woman she’d lived with for twenty five years? She felt like the woman was practically a stranger, but then again, neither had ever truly made an effort to learn about the other. With four other children and Neithotep the wildest, she couldn’t even blame Iaheru for being so distant. She probably thought her lost already.
Most of the time, Nia liked it that way. She preferred to keep out of her parents’ attention so that she might live her own life a little more freely. But hearing Iaheru speak so wistfully of her past and her connection to the docks made her feel bad for never even trying to connect with her, for always pushing away the attempts her mother made to do that very thing. Perhaps she hadn’t accompanied Nia today to scold her or keep an eye on her. Perhaps it really was purely for love of the port.
“I’m glad you could accompany me, too,” Nia replied with a smile, lightly squeezing Iaheru’s hand in an unusual display of affection. And for once, she actually meant it. It was nice to see a glimpse of the woman behind the stoic exterior she so often displayed. She wished she’d be this candid more often.
Glancing back at the ship her mother was talking about, she nodded absently in agreement. A visitor, indeed, but surely that was not so rare? The port of Cairo had always seemed to be such a busy place; there had to be visitors fairly often. Looking a little closer at the vessel, she noticed an olive-skinned Grecian man watching them from the railing, and the corners of her mouthed tilted in a catlike smile. When his eyes slid to her with frank admiration, she visibly preened, a slave to her nature. Catching his gaze, her lashes dropped in a wink, putting a little more sway into her hips as they drew closer.
This was one visitor she hoped might be staying a bit longer.
As happy as she had been moments ago to have her mother with her, she immediately regretted it, looking out longingly over the busy port as if she might simply disappear into its bustle. Was there a way she could distract or lose Iaheru entirely without it being overly obvious? It was hardly appropriate to start fawning over a stranger with her mother in tow.
Speaking loud enough that she knew the man would hear her if he was listening, Nia turned to Iaheru and asked, “Mother, I think I’d like to take a swim. Perhaps you’d like to keep walking around? It’s been a while since you’ve visited, has it not?”
Nia listened to Iaheru with barely concealed surprise, watching the animation on the woman’s face with a twinge of guilt on her own. How could she know so little about her own mother, a woman she’d lived with for twenty five years? She felt like the woman was practically a stranger, but then again, neither had ever truly made an effort to learn about the other. With four other children and Neithotep the wildest, she couldn’t even blame Iaheru for being so distant. She probably thought her lost already.
Most of the time, Nia liked it that way. She preferred to keep out of her parents’ attention so that she might live her own life a little more freely. But hearing Iaheru speak so wistfully of her past and her connection to the docks made her feel bad for never even trying to connect with her, for always pushing away the attempts her mother made to do that very thing. Perhaps she hadn’t accompanied Nia today to scold her or keep an eye on her. Perhaps it really was purely for love of the port.
“I’m glad you could accompany me, too,” Nia replied with a smile, lightly squeezing Iaheru’s hand in an unusual display of affection. And for once, she actually meant it. It was nice to see a glimpse of the woman behind the stoic exterior she so often displayed. She wished she’d be this candid more often.
Glancing back at the ship her mother was talking about, she nodded absently in agreement. A visitor, indeed, but surely that was not so rare? The port of Cairo had always seemed to be such a busy place; there had to be visitors fairly often. Looking a little closer at the vessel, she noticed an olive-skinned Grecian man watching them from the railing, and the corners of her mouthed tilted in a catlike smile. When his eyes slid to her with frank admiration, she visibly preened, a slave to her nature. Catching his gaze, her lashes dropped in a wink, putting a little more sway into her hips as they drew closer.
This was one visitor she hoped might be staying a bit longer.
As happy as she had been moments ago to have her mother with her, she immediately regretted it, looking out longingly over the busy port as if she might simply disappear into its bustle. Was there a way she could distract or lose Iaheru entirely without it being overly obvious? It was hardly appropriate to start fawning over a stranger with her mother in tow.
Speaking loud enough that she knew the man would hear her if he was listening, Nia turned to Iaheru and asked, “Mother, I think I’d like to take a swim. Perhaps you’d like to keep walking around? It’s been a while since you’ve visited, has it not?”
Iaheru’s heart melts, the gold glimmer to her face heightening in the sun. She did love all of her children, even those that lived outside of her influence, outside of her study and lessons. Iaheru squeezes the young woman’s hand in return. Eyes drift back towards the ship, her own threatening eyes trailing the bow and the men bustling about the deck, tanned skin hoisting supplies and busybodies lingering on the railings. A single brow twitches upwards. No, this ship was not permitted, Onuphrious would have greeted such a foreign vessel in his own flatboat.
Her smile fades momentarily at Nia’s request, the same analytical gaze that followed the workers for a hint of the vessel’s origin falling on a tanned man at the boat’s prow. Iaheru’s first instinct was to shake her head and lecture. The sun had melted her traditional demeanor. Iaheru, had she been younger, would have dipped her toes into the Nile, dragging the water on her face, dripping it through her hair and letting the sun bake the moisture into her face. As they approach the ship, Iaheru turned herself to Nia, “Of course. I’ll take my leave.” Iaheru smirks. In a louder voice to alert the ship’s captain, Iaheru adds, “I’ll be in the Customs House, overseeing the charters and slips. If you don't see me before then, come fetch me when you tire.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Iaheru’s heart melts, the gold glimmer to her face heightening in the sun. She did love all of her children, even those that lived outside of her influence, outside of her study and lessons. Iaheru squeezes the young woman’s hand in return. Eyes drift back towards the ship, her own threatening eyes trailing the bow and the men bustling about the deck, tanned skin hoisting supplies and busybodies lingering on the railings. A single brow twitches upwards. No, this ship was not permitted, Onuphrious would have greeted such a foreign vessel in his own flatboat.
Her smile fades momentarily at Nia’s request, the same analytical gaze that followed the workers for a hint of the vessel’s origin falling on a tanned man at the boat’s prow. Iaheru’s first instinct was to shake her head and lecture. The sun had melted her traditional demeanor. Iaheru, had she been younger, would have dipped her toes into the Nile, dragging the water on her face, dripping it through her hair and letting the sun bake the moisture into her face. As they approach the ship, Iaheru turned herself to Nia, “Of course. I’ll take my leave.” Iaheru smirks. In a louder voice to alert the ship’s captain, Iaheru adds, “I’ll be in the Customs House, overseeing the charters and slips. If you don't see me before then, come fetch me when you tire.”
Iaheru’s heart melts, the gold glimmer to her face heightening in the sun. She did love all of her children, even those that lived outside of her influence, outside of her study and lessons. Iaheru squeezes the young woman’s hand in return. Eyes drift back towards the ship, her own threatening eyes trailing the bow and the men bustling about the deck, tanned skin hoisting supplies and busybodies lingering on the railings. A single brow twitches upwards. No, this ship was not permitted, Onuphrious would have greeted such a foreign vessel in his own flatboat.
Her smile fades momentarily at Nia’s request, the same analytical gaze that followed the workers for a hint of the vessel’s origin falling on a tanned man at the boat’s prow. Iaheru’s first instinct was to shake her head and lecture. The sun had melted her traditional demeanor. Iaheru, had she been younger, would have dipped her toes into the Nile, dragging the water on her face, dripping it through her hair and letting the sun bake the moisture into her face. As they approach the ship, Iaheru turned herself to Nia, “Of course. I’ll take my leave.” Iaheru smirks. In a louder voice to alert the ship’s captain, Iaheru adds, “I’ll be in the Customs House, overseeing the charters and slips. If you don't see me before then, come fetch me when you tire.”
The wink had his eyebrows raising for just a second. She was clearly a lady of breeding but by all the gods in the heavens, he hoped she didn’t act like one. It was rare that one of the women from on high even noticed someone outside their own sphere of influence and, if she did happen to notice someone, it was always for the kind of conversations he loved to have. His attention was fixed once she started to dramatically swing her hips and he played her game by smirking at her as he listened to her getting rid of her mother.
When she mentioned going for a swim, his gaze slid to the Nile. Did she mean in there? With the crocodiles? Or did she have somewhere else in mind? Or was she swimming at all?
To his tremendous surprise, her mother not only agreed to leave, but told her daughter when to come back. Egypt was amazing. He watched her mother leave, waiting until the woman was out of earshot before inclining his head toward Nia. “Listening into people’s conversations is rude, but I feel bound to tell you that swimming with crocodiles is fairly dangerous.” He offered a half shrug and dropped the rope off his lap as he nimbly slid off the railing, onto the top deck of his ship. “At least, so goes the rumors in Greece.”
He spoke to her in accented koptic. His accent was definitely heavy, betraying him even more a foreigner, but he was fluent, at least and had perfectly understood the entire conversation he’d been eavesdropping on. Drumming down the stairs to the mid deck, where he was closer to the dock, he looked down at her, both hands on bracing himself on the railing, dark eyes trailing along her form. If she wanted to be obvious, he could be too. At worst she’d say no, but he had a sneaking suspicion she wouldn’t.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
The wink had his eyebrows raising for just a second. She was clearly a lady of breeding but by all the gods in the heavens, he hoped she didn’t act like one. It was rare that one of the women from on high even noticed someone outside their own sphere of influence and, if she did happen to notice someone, it was always for the kind of conversations he loved to have. His attention was fixed once she started to dramatically swing her hips and he played her game by smirking at her as he listened to her getting rid of her mother.
When she mentioned going for a swim, his gaze slid to the Nile. Did she mean in there? With the crocodiles? Or did she have somewhere else in mind? Or was she swimming at all?
To his tremendous surprise, her mother not only agreed to leave, but told her daughter when to come back. Egypt was amazing. He watched her mother leave, waiting until the woman was out of earshot before inclining his head toward Nia. “Listening into people’s conversations is rude, but I feel bound to tell you that swimming with crocodiles is fairly dangerous.” He offered a half shrug and dropped the rope off his lap as he nimbly slid off the railing, onto the top deck of his ship. “At least, so goes the rumors in Greece.”
He spoke to her in accented koptic. His accent was definitely heavy, betraying him even more a foreigner, but he was fluent, at least and had perfectly understood the entire conversation he’d been eavesdropping on. Drumming down the stairs to the mid deck, where he was closer to the dock, he looked down at her, both hands on bracing himself on the railing, dark eyes trailing along her form. If she wanted to be obvious, he could be too. At worst she’d say no, but he had a sneaking suspicion she wouldn’t.
The wink had his eyebrows raising for just a second. She was clearly a lady of breeding but by all the gods in the heavens, he hoped she didn’t act like one. It was rare that one of the women from on high even noticed someone outside their own sphere of influence and, if she did happen to notice someone, it was always for the kind of conversations he loved to have. His attention was fixed once she started to dramatically swing her hips and he played her game by smirking at her as he listened to her getting rid of her mother.
When she mentioned going for a swim, his gaze slid to the Nile. Did she mean in there? With the crocodiles? Or did she have somewhere else in mind? Or was she swimming at all?
To his tremendous surprise, her mother not only agreed to leave, but told her daughter when to come back. Egypt was amazing. He watched her mother leave, waiting until the woman was out of earshot before inclining his head toward Nia. “Listening into people’s conversations is rude, but I feel bound to tell you that swimming with crocodiles is fairly dangerous.” He offered a half shrug and dropped the rope off his lap as he nimbly slid off the railing, onto the top deck of his ship. “At least, so goes the rumors in Greece.”
He spoke to her in accented koptic. His accent was definitely heavy, betraying him even more a foreigner, but he was fluent, at least and had perfectly understood the entire conversation he’d been eavesdropping on. Drumming down the stairs to the mid deck, where he was closer to the dock, he looked down at her, both hands on bracing himself on the railing, dark eyes trailing along her form. If she wanted to be obvious, he could be too. At worst she’d say no, but he had a sneaking suspicion she wouldn’t.
The shock on Neithotep’s face was palpable when Iaheru agreed, quickly bringing her expression back under control. It worked? That easily? Had her mother come down here with an ulterior motive, after all, or was she just in that good of a mood? Either way, Nia wasn’t about to let her good fortune go to waste, bidding Iaheru farewell with a relieved smile.
“Of course, Mother. I’ll find you before sunset.” Maybe.
Dark eyes watched her mother disappear down the dock with a steadily growing smile before turning back to the stranger watching her with a smirk on his face. His scrutiny wasn’t lost on her; in fact, she reveled in it and returned it with equal regard. She’d have to come down to the port more often if these were the kinds of spoils she was likely to find. Just my lucky day…
Nia’s face lit with pleasure when the man started speaking to her, watching his progression down to the middle deck of his ship as she moved toward the edge of the dock. She was glad they shared a tongue in common, no matter how accented his speech was—though she was sure she could get her fairly simple message across without the use of words, it certainly sped the process along.
“Come now, where’s your sense of adventure?” she teased at his concern over the crocodiles, mahogany eyes twinkling with mischief. “Aren’t there scarier things out on the sea? Have you not swam with them before?”
The woman’s laughter was sweet and musical, leaning on a nearby piling and letting her own gaze travel down his body with mirrored appreciation. His stare was forward, it was true; another lady of her station might fight it offensive and turn up her nose. But not Nia. She appreciated a man who was direct with his wants and attentions, especially since she was that way herself; it made getting to the point that much easier.
“Truthfully, they’re little more than logs so long as you don’t disturb them. I’ve only seen one go after a man who got just a bit too close with a fishing spear.” She chuckled, her smirk deepening with a suggestive tilt of her brow. “But I wasn’t really planning on swimming today, anyway. It just seemed the easiest excuse.” Her smirk turned to a grin, another peal of laughter spilling from her lips. “Unless you’d care to take a dip with me? I’ll protect you from the crocs; they don’t scare me. Just think of the story you could take back to Greece, hm?” Offering another wink, she added, “Of course, I’m amenable to other options, as well. Cairo’s quite a lovely city, especially with the right… guide.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
The shock on Neithotep’s face was palpable when Iaheru agreed, quickly bringing her expression back under control. It worked? That easily? Had her mother come down here with an ulterior motive, after all, or was she just in that good of a mood? Either way, Nia wasn’t about to let her good fortune go to waste, bidding Iaheru farewell with a relieved smile.
“Of course, Mother. I’ll find you before sunset.” Maybe.
Dark eyes watched her mother disappear down the dock with a steadily growing smile before turning back to the stranger watching her with a smirk on his face. His scrutiny wasn’t lost on her; in fact, she reveled in it and returned it with equal regard. She’d have to come down to the port more often if these were the kinds of spoils she was likely to find. Just my lucky day…
Nia’s face lit with pleasure when the man started speaking to her, watching his progression down to the middle deck of his ship as she moved toward the edge of the dock. She was glad they shared a tongue in common, no matter how accented his speech was—though she was sure she could get her fairly simple message across without the use of words, it certainly sped the process along.
“Come now, where’s your sense of adventure?” she teased at his concern over the crocodiles, mahogany eyes twinkling with mischief. “Aren’t there scarier things out on the sea? Have you not swam with them before?”
The woman’s laughter was sweet and musical, leaning on a nearby piling and letting her own gaze travel down his body with mirrored appreciation. His stare was forward, it was true; another lady of her station might fight it offensive and turn up her nose. But not Nia. She appreciated a man who was direct with his wants and attentions, especially since she was that way herself; it made getting to the point that much easier.
“Truthfully, they’re little more than logs so long as you don’t disturb them. I’ve only seen one go after a man who got just a bit too close with a fishing spear.” She chuckled, her smirk deepening with a suggestive tilt of her brow. “But I wasn’t really planning on swimming today, anyway. It just seemed the easiest excuse.” Her smirk turned to a grin, another peal of laughter spilling from her lips. “Unless you’d care to take a dip with me? I’ll protect you from the crocs; they don’t scare me. Just think of the story you could take back to Greece, hm?” Offering another wink, she added, “Of course, I’m amenable to other options, as well. Cairo’s quite a lovely city, especially with the right… guide.”
The shock on Neithotep’s face was palpable when Iaheru agreed, quickly bringing her expression back under control. It worked? That easily? Had her mother come down here with an ulterior motive, after all, or was she just in that good of a mood? Either way, Nia wasn’t about to let her good fortune go to waste, bidding Iaheru farewell with a relieved smile.
“Of course, Mother. I’ll find you before sunset.” Maybe.
Dark eyes watched her mother disappear down the dock with a steadily growing smile before turning back to the stranger watching her with a smirk on his face. His scrutiny wasn’t lost on her; in fact, she reveled in it and returned it with equal regard. She’d have to come down to the port more often if these were the kinds of spoils she was likely to find. Just my lucky day…
Nia’s face lit with pleasure when the man started speaking to her, watching his progression down to the middle deck of his ship as she moved toward the edge of the dock. She was glad they shared a tongue in common, no matter how accented his speech was—though she was sure she could get her fairly simple message across without the use of words, it certainly sped the process along.
“Come now, where’s your sense of adventure?” she teased at his concern over the crocodiles, mahogany eyes twinkling with mischief. “Aren’t there scarier things out on the sea? Have you not swam with them before?”
The woman’s laughter was sweet and musical, leaning on a nearby piling and letting her own gaze travel down his body with mirrored appreciation. His stare was forward, it was true; another lady of her station might fight it offensive and turn up her nose. But not Nia. She appreciated a man who was direct with his wants and attentions, especially since she was that way herself; it made getting to the point that much easier.
“Truthfully, they’re little more than logs so long as you don’t disturb them. I’ve only seen one go after a man who got just a bit too close with a fishing spear.” She chuckled, her smirk deepening with a suggestive tilt of her brow. “But I wasn’t really planning on swimming today, anyway. It just seemed the easiest excuse.” Her smirk turned to a grin, another peal of laughter spilling from her lips. “Unless you’d care to take a dip with me? I’ll protect you from the crocs; they don’t scare me. Just think of the story you could take back to Greece, hm?” Offering another wink, she added, “Of course, I’m amenable to other options, as well. Cairo’s quite a lovely city, especially with the right… guide.”
He smiled genuinely at her once her face lit up. Why she’d chosen to speak to him specifically, he didn’t know, but he wasn’t about to argue with it. That would be like being presented with a treasure chest full of gold and asking if the person was sure that they wanted to part with it. If second thoughts were had, maybe the gold would be taken away. Definitely not something he wanted.
With the mother out of the way and Nia essentially saying without being terribly explicit that she wasn’t needed anywhere until sundown, she now had his complete, utter, and undivided attention. He watched as she edged closer to the ship and then crossed his arms on the railing, leaning on his elbows to support himself as she teased him, of all people, about not having a sense of adventure.
He’d take her up on the challenge, if she wanted...though he couldn’t swim. So...that part would have to be navigated carefully. And he wasn’t about to admit that to her. She laughed, though, moving on from the conversation and he shifted when he saw her looking him over. Raising up, he finally walked to the top of the gangway and tilted his head at her, considering whether or not he would come down to her or she up to him.
As she told him about how ‘docile’ the crocodiles really were, he smirked and gave a slight shake of her head. “Oh yes. House cats.” But then, after a second, he added, “You like to toy with danger, do you?” Then she finally admitted she hadn’t actually planned to swim, which was what finally brought him down the gangway to stand with his arms crossed in front of her. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, exposing his forearms.
She was even prettier close up. His gaze traveled her face and settled on her eyes. They were a deep brown, warm and reflective from catching the sunlight. His own were equally dark but he faced away from the light, rendering his looking more black than brown.
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do,” he said with a smirk and then half shrugged. “I have all day.”
It was then that his first mate, a massive, seven foot tall giant topped the stairs from the ship’s hold and looked down at Lukos and Nia. Arktos used a rag from his belt and mopped at his bald head, frowning. “Oy,” he nodded at Nia. “Who’s the girl?” He asked in Greek, to which Lukos also responded in kind. Arktos did not speak Coptic.
Lukos glanced at Arktos and shrugged. “I’ll be back,” he said, to which Arktos gave his ‘that’s not fair’ sigh.
“When you coming back?”
“When I’m back.” To Nia, he held out an arm in the direction away from where her mother went, and switched back to her native tongue. “Lead the way.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
He smiled genuinely at her once her face lit up. Why she’d chosen to speak to him specifically, he didn’t know, but he wasn’t about to argue with it. That would be like being presented with a treasure chest full of gold and asking if the person was sure that they wanted to part with it. If second thoughts were had, maybe the gold would be taken away. Definitely not something he wanted.
With the mother out of the way and Nia essentially saying without being terribly explicit that she wasn’t needed anywhere until sundown, she now had his complete, utter, and undivided attention. He watched as she edged closer to the ship and then crossed his arms on the railing, leaning on his elbows to support himself as she teased him, of all people, about not having a sense of adventure.
He’d take her up on the challenge, if she wanted...though he couldn’t swim. So...that part would have to be navigated carefully. And he wasn’t about to admit that to her. She laughed, though, moving on from the conversation and he shifted when he saw her looking him over. Raising up, he finally walked to the top of the gangway and tilted his head at her, considering whether or not he would come down to her or she up to him.
As she told him about how ‘docile’ the crocodiles really were, he smirked and gave a slight shake of her head. “Oh yes. House cats.” But then, after a second, he added, “You like to toy with danger, do you?” Then she finally admitted she hadn’t actually planned to swim, which was what finally brought him down the gangway to stand with his arms crossed in front of her. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, exposing his forearms.
She was even prettier close up. His gaze traveled her face and settled on her eyes. They were a deep brown, warm and reflective from catching the sunlight. His own were equally dark but he faced away from the light, rendering his looking more black than brown.
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do,” he said with a smirk and then half shrugged. “I have all day.”
It was then that his first mate, a massive, seven foot tall giant topped the stairs from the ship’s hold and looked down at Lukos and Nia. Arktos used a rag from his belt and mopped at his bald head, frowning. “Oy,” he nodded at Nia. “Who’s the girl?” He asked in Greek, to which Lukos also responded in kind. Arktos did not speak Coptic.
Lukos glanced at Arktos and shrugged. “I’ll be back,” he said, to which Arktos gave his ‘that’s not fair’ sigh.
“When you coming back?”
“When I’m back.” To Nia, he held out an arm in the direction away from where her mother went, and switched back to her native tongue. “Lead the way.”
He smiled genuinely at her once her face lit up. Why she’d chosen to speak to him specifically, he didn’t know, but he wasn’t about to argue with it. That would be like being presented with a treasure chest full of gold and asking if the person was sure that they wanted to part with it. If second thoughts were had, maybe the gold would be taken away. Definitely not something he wanted.
With the mother out of the way and Nia essentially saying without being terribly explicit that she wasn’t needed anywhere until sundown, she now had his complete, utter, and undivided attention. He watched as she edged closer to the ship and then crossed his arms on the railing, leaning on his elbows to support himself as she teased him, of all people, about not having a sense of adventure.
He’d take her up on the challenge, if she wanted...though he couldn’t swim. So...that part would have to be navigated carefully. And he wasn’t about to admit that to her. She laughed, though, moving on from the conversation and he shifted when he saw her looking him over. Raising up, he finally walked to the top of the gangway and tilted his head at her, considering whether or not he would come down to her or she up to him.
As she told him about how ‘docile’ the crocodiles really were, he smirked and gave a slight shake of her head. “Oh yes. House cats.” But then, after a second, he added, “You like to toy with danger, do you?” Then she finally admitted she hadn’t actually planned to swim, which was what finally brought him down the gangway to stand with his arms crossed in front of her. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, exposing his forearms.
She was even prettier close up. His gaze traveled her face and settled on her eyes. They were a deep brown, warm and reflective from catching the sunlight. His own were equally dark but he faced away from the light, rendering his looking more black than brown.
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do,” he said with a smirk and then half shrugged. “I have all day.”
It was then that his first mate, a massive, seven foot tall giant topped the stairs from the ship’s hold and looked down at Lukos and Nia. Arktos used a rag from his belt and mopped at his bald head, frowning. “Oy,” he nodded at Nia. “Who’s the girl?” He asked in Greek, to which Lukos also responded in kind. Arktos did not speak Coptic.
Lukos glanced at Arktos and shrugged. “I’ll be back,” he said, to which Arktos gave his ‘that’s not fair’ sigh.
“When you coming back?”
“When I’m back.” To Nia, he held out an arm in the direction away from where her mother went, and switched back to her native tongue. “Lead the way.”
You like to toy with danger, do you?
A deeper smile curled Neithotep’s lips, mischief sparkling in her eye. Nia? Toy with danger? A girl prone to indulging whatever whim might overtake her at any moment, yes, indeed, she was one to toy with danger. Luckily for her, the sort of dangers she’d encountered had rarely backfired, providing her with the thrill she sought, but not the consequence. Of course, one day, that was bound to change, but until it did… Chuckling, she shook her head. “You have no idea.”
Nia watched with increasing satisfaction as the man finally moved to join her, straightening up from the piling she was leaning against and meeting that assessing gaze. At his insistence that she could choose the day’s activity, she grinned, a suggestive cast to her features. What a delicious treat. The question was, could he keep up? “Whatever I want, eh? Who’s the one that likes to toy with danger now?” Leaning in closer and standing on tiptoe so she could murmur in his ear, she asked, “What if I want to do something very… bad?” There was a heat that underlay her tone, leaning back with a tilt of her brow before another man on the ship took her companion’s attention.
Even without speaking their tongue, the brief exchange was easy enough to interpret, Nia hiding a laugh behind her hand at the exasperation on the other’s face. When Lukos turned back to her and gestured for her to lead the way, she wiggled her fingers in farewell to the one who’d spoken, triumphantly blowing a kiss before starting off down the dock with her new ‘friend’ in tow.
“What’s your name?” Nia glanced over at him as they walked, weaving through the bustle of the crowd and out away from the dock where it was a little quieter. “I’m Neithotep. Nia, if you prefer.”
Stopping a vendor’s cart, a brief exchange resulted in the purchase of two honey cakes, offering one to her companion before biting into the other herself. Licking her lips at the sweetness that cloyed to them, she made a sound of appreciation before looking back at Lukos with mild interest. “So what brought you to Cairo, if I might ask? We don’t see many Greeks around, especially lately.” While Nia kept her nose out of most of the dirtier business of the country, even she was aware of the tension that lingered in the air, the whispers of war. “Have you been before?” Her gaze quickly raked over his form again with an appreciative smile. “If you have, I’m quite sorry I missed it.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
You like to toy with danger, do you?
A deeper smile curled Neithotep’s lips, mischief sparkling in her eye. Nia? Toy with danger? A girl prone to indulging whatever whim might overtake her at any moment, yes, indeed, she was one to toy with danger. Luckily for her, the sort of dangers she’d encountered had rarely backfired, providing her with the thrill she sought, but not the consequence. Of course, one day, that was bound to change, but until it did… Chuckling, she shook her head. “You have no idea.”
Nia watched with increasing satisfaction as the man finally moved to join her, straightening up from the piling she was leaning against and meeting that assessing gaze. At his insistence that she could choose the day’s activity, she grinned, a suggestive cast to her features. What a delicious treat. The question was, could he keep up? “Whatever I want, eh? Who’s the one that likes to toy with danger now?” Leaning in closer and standing on tiptoe so she could murmur in his ear, she asked, “What if I want to do something very… bad?” There was a heat that underlay her tone, leaning back with a tilt of her brow before another man on the ship took her companion’s attention.
Even without speaking their tongue, the brief exchange was easy enough to interpret, Nia hiding a laugh behind her hand at the exasperation on the other’s face. When Lukos turned back to her and gestured for her to lead the way, she wiggled her fingers in farewell to the one who’d spoken, triumphantly blowing a kiss before starting off down the dock with her new ‘friend’ in tow.
“What’s your name?” Nia glanced over at him as they walked, weaving through the bustle of the crowd and out away from the dock where it was a little quieter. “I’m Neithotep. Nia, if you prefer.”
Stopping a vendor’s cart, a brief exchange resulted in the purchase of two honey cakes, offering one to her companion before biting into the other herself. Licking her lips at the sweetness that cloyed to them, she made a sound of appreciation before looking back at Lukos with mild interest. “So what brought you to Cairo, if I might ask? We don’t see many Greeks around, especially lately.” While Nia kept her nose out of most of the dirtier business of the country, even she was aware of the tension that lingered in the air, the whispers of war. “Have you been before?” Her gaze quickly raked over his form again with an appreciative smile. “If you have, I’m quite sorry I missed it.”
You like to toy with danger, do you?
A deeper smile curled Neithotep’s lips, mischief sparkling in her eye. Nia? Toy with danger? A girl prone to indulging whatever whim might overtake her at any moment, yes, indeed, she was one to toy with danger. Luckily for her, the sort of dangers she’d encountered had rarely backfired, providing her with the thrill she sought, but not the consequence. Of course, one day, that was bound to change, but until it did… Chuckling, she shook her head. “You have no idea.”
Nia watched with increasing satisfaction as the man finally moved to join her, straightening up from the piling she was leaning against and meeting that assessing gaze. At his insistence that she could choose the day’s activity, she grinned, a suggestive cast to her features. What a delicious treat. The question was, could he keep up? “Whatever I want, eh? Who’s the one that likes to toy with danger now?” Leaning in closer and standing on tiptoe so she could murmur in his ear, she asked, “What if I want to do something very… bad?” There was a heat that underlay her tone, leaning back with a tilt of her brow before another man on the ship took her companion’s attention.
Even without speaking their tongue, the brief exchange was easy enough to interpret, Nia hiding a laugh behind her hand at the exasperation on the other’s face. When Lukos turned back to her and gestured for her to lead the way, she wiggled her fingers in farewell to the one who’d spoken, triumphantly blowing a kiss before starting off down the dock with her new ‘friend’ in tow.
“What’s your name?” Nia glanced over at him as they walked, weaving through the bustle of the crowd and out away from the dock where it was a little quieter. “I’m Neithotep. Nia, if you prefer.”
Stopping a vendor’s cart, a brief exchange resulted in the purchase of two honey cakes, offering one to her companion before biting into the other herself. Licking her lips at the sweetness that cloyed to them, she made a sound of appreciation before looking back at Lukos with mild interest. “So what brought you to Cairo, if I might ask? We don’t see many Greeks around, especially lately.” While Nia kept her nose out of most of the dirtier business of the country, even she was aware of the tension that lingered in the air, the whispers of war. “Have you been before?” Her gaze quickly raked over his form again with an appreciative smile. “If you have, I’m quite sorry I missed it.”
He'd not said anything before when she'd teased him about being the one who toyed with danger because it was true. He toyed with it all the time. Too much, probably and yet, here he was - still whole and in one piece, standing there with her breath on his ear and a renewed fire in his veins to get wherever she had in mind. When she'd pressed close enough to whisper, his gaze had dropped to her hip and he could smell the perfume she used. It hung in the air after she drew back, tantalizing and just as teasing.
He liked her playfulness and gave Arktos a last smirk as he followed Nia through the crowded streets. Trailing just behind her like a shadow, it was easy enough to shoulder their way through the gaps between this person and that person until they found themselves on a street that held less people. The contrast gave them a bit of breathing room and he moved up to walk beside her, rather than behind, like a slave would. At the stall she stopped at, he made zero objections as she paid for the honey cakes and took his with a nod.
Rather than biting into it immediately, he looked it over and watched as she tasted hers. Only then did he do the same. It was simultaneously thick on his tongue, which was unpleasant in this heat, but also a little too delicious to let go to waste. Honey was something he rarely had. In fact, he could count on both hands the number of times he'd gotten to eat it.
She'd told him her name just before she paid for the cakes and he waited until they were out of earshot of the vendor before stating his. "Lukos." He didn't bother with the province in which he was born. Without needing to ask, he knew she hadn't been out of Egypt and even if she had, never to Greece, or Colchis in particular, and there was no way on this planet that she would have ended up in a nowhere mining province.
"Not many Greeks, no," he agreed, not answering the first question. "Most of them are a little too paranoid to come. But I do because even the littlest cheap thing you produce here is a novelty back home. Take your earrings, for example. I could probably present them to Queen Yanni for a gift and she would have no idea they're one of your more simple ones."
He eyed them, and then her hands, looking for more rings. Finding one, he reached down and slid his fingers along hers, touching the band of her ring. "This I could make a lot of money off of too. Worth it to come down here for simple trinkets."
He didn't mention that he could make a killing selling her too. Her worth was already fixed in his head since the first few seconds he'd seen her. The sway of her hips, her flirtatious wink, the pleasant laughter she'd bestowed had all been numbers and he'd already decided she he could have gotten for her before she ever offered to play. It was a shame he couldn't do both…
"I've been here many, many times," he sucked the honey off one finger and looked her over. "I think it is best we met today and not last time I was here."
Last time he was taking on slaves. But not this trip. She'd promised 'bad' things but he had a suspicion that she'd never met someone quite as...dangerous to her person as he could be. She was likely talking about her bored, pretty, rich boys who liked to drink their days away and whore at night.
A far cry from his own job.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
He'd not said anything before when she'd teased him about being the one who toyed with danger because it was true. He toyed with it all the time. Too much, probably and yet, here he was - still whole and in one piece, standing there with her breath on his ear and a renewed fire in his veins to get wherever she had in mind. When she'd pressed close enough to whisper, his gaze had dropped to her hip and he could smell the perfume she used. It hung in the air after she drew back, tantalizing and just as teasing.
He liked her playfulness and gave Arktos a last smirk as he followed Nia through the crowded streets. Trailing just behind her like a shadow, it was easy enough to shoulder their way through the gaps between this person and that person until they found themselves on a street that held less people. The contrast gave them a bit of breathing room and he moved up to walk beside her, rather than behind, like a slave would. At the stall she stopped at, he made zero objections as she paid for the honey cakes and took his with a nod.
Rather than biting into it immediately, he looked it over and watched as she tasted hers. Only then did he do the same. It was simultaneously thick on his tongue, which was unpleasant in this heat, but also a little too delicious to let go to waste. Honey was something he rarely had. In fact, he could count on both hands the number of times he'd gotten to eat it.
She'd told him her name just before she paid for the cakes and he waited until they were out of earshot of the vendor before stating his. "Lukos." He didn't bother with the province in which he was born. Without needing to ask, he knew she hadn't been out of Egypt and even if she had, never to Greece, or Colchis in particular, and there was no way on this planet that she would have ended up in a nowhere mining province.
"Not many Greeks, no," he agreed, not answering the first question. "Most of them are a little too paranoid to come. But I do because even the littlest cheap thing you produce here is a novelty back home. Take your earrings, for example. I could probably present them to Queen Yanni for a gift and she would have no idea they're one of your more simple ones."
He eyed them, and then her hands, looking for more rings. Finding one, he reached down and slid his fingers along hers, touching the band of her ring. "This I could make a lot of money off of too. Worth it to come down here for simple trinkets."
He didn't mention that he could make a killing selling her too. Her worth was already fixed in his head since the first few seconds he'd seen her. The sway of her hips, her flirtatious wink, the pleasant laughter she'd bestowed had all been numbers and he'd already decided she he could have gotten for her before she ever offered to play. It was a shame he couldn't do both…
"I've been here many, many times," he sucked the honey off one finger and looked her over. "I think it is best we met today and not last time I was here."
Last time he was taking on slaves. But not this trip. She'd promised 'bad' things but he had a suspicion that she'd never met someone quite as...dangerous to her person as he could be. She was likely talking about her bored, pretty, rich boys who liked to drink their days away and whore at night.
A far cry from his own job.
He'd not said anything before when she'd teased him about being the one who toyed with danger because it was true. He toyed with it all the time. Too much, probably and yet, here he was - still whole and in one piece, standing there with her breath on his ear and a renewed fire in his veins to get wherever she had in mind. When she'd pressed close enough to whisper, his gaze had dropped to her hip and he could smell the perfume she used. It hung in the air after she drew back, tantalizing and just as teasing.
He liked her playfulness and gave Arktos a last smirk as he followed Nia through the crowded streets. Trailing just behind her like a shadow, it was easy enough to shoulder their way through the gaps between this person and that person until they found themselves on a street that held less people. The contrast gave them a bit of breathing room and he moved up to walk beside her, rather than behind, like a slave would. At the stall she stopped at, he made zero objections as she paid for the honey cakes and took his with a nod.
Rather than biting into it immediately, he looked it over and watched as she tasted hers. Only then did he do the same. It was simultaneously thick on his tongue, which was unpleasant in this heat, but also a little too delicious to let go to waste. Honey was something he rarely had. In fact, he could count on both hands the number of times he'd gotten to eat it.
She'd told him her name just before she paid for the cakes and he waited until they were out of earshot of the vendor before stating his. "Lukos." He didn't bother with the province in which he was born. Without needing to ask, he knew she hadn't been out of Egypt and even if she had, never to Greece, or Colchis in particular, and there was no way on this planet that she would have ended up in a nowhere mining province.
"Not many Greeks, no," he agreed, not answering the first question. "Most of them are a little too paranoid to come. But I do because even the littlest cheap thing you produce here is a novelty back home. Take your earrings, for example. I could probably present them to Queen Yanni for a gift and she would have no idea they're one of your more simple ones."
He eyed them, and then her hands, looking for more rings. Finding one, he reached down and slid his fingers along hers, touching the band of her ring. "This I could make a lot of money off of too. Worth it to come down here for simple trinkets."
He didn't mention that he could make a killing selling her too. Her worth was already fixed in his head since the first few seconds he'd seen her. The sway of her hips, her flirtatious wink, the pleasant laughter she'd bestowed had all been numbers and he'd already decided she he could have gotten for her before she ever offered to play. It was a shame he couldn't do both…
"I've been here many, many times," he sucked the honey off one finger and looked her over. "I think it is best we met today and not last time I was here."
Last time he was taking on slaves. But not this trip. She'd promised 'bad' things but he had a suspicion that she'd never met someone quite as...dangerous to her person as he could be. She was likely talking about her bored, pretty, rich boys who liked to drink their days away and whore at night.
A far cry from his own job.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lukos.” It was a nice name, one that rolled pleasantly off the tongue, and one that she hoped might indeed roll off her tongue a few more times as the day progressed.
A delighted little shiver crawled down Nia’s spine when his fingers brushed along hers, smirking as he detailed the potential wealth of her meager jewelry, items she rarely wore and usually only at her mother’s insistence. The young lady of Hei Sheifa was a far cry from most of the Egyptian nobility when it came to things like fashion and jewels, a carefree and inquisitive girl with an unquenchable lust for freedom and adventure. She cared for her status only in the luxuries that it could provide, such as the Grecian wine and uncut opium that kept her from succumbing to the wretched boredom her life often entailed. She ran off and escaped whenever she could, far more familiar with the back alleys and brothels of Cairo than she ever would be with the Palace. A mysterious foreign stranger in an unusual vessel who sneakily avoided questions held far more interest for her than any dull rich fop ever could.
Finishing off her honey cake in another couple bites, she pulled off the ring he’d touched, a simple gold band set with two lapis lazuli stones. It was a gift she’d received from an admirer years ago, a young man whose name had already been erased by the sands of time. It held no particular value to her, sentimental or otherwise, and so she took his hand and pressed it to his palm. Nia closed his fingers around it and let her own hand linger for a moment, her thumb brushing his knuckles before letting go. “Take it, then,” she told him with another smile. “Give it to your Queen or sell it, I don’t care, but at least your stop here won’t have been useless, eh? Then maybe your friend back there won’t be so huffy about me stealing you away.”
Nia stopped for a moment and looked around, glancing toward the path that led further into Cairo, then back toward a different path that traced down the side of the Nile. Either option came with a few lovely possibilities, though what sort of possibilities he was interested in, she wasn’t quite sure. Well, she certainly had an idea what he might be interested in, but was he the sort of man to just dive right in or take his time? Either way was fine with her, so long as the proper destination was reached in the end.
“So,” she said, turning back toward him. “What would you prefer? Should we head that way,” she pointed toward one of the paths that headed right, “I know a few good taverns in the area if you want to get a drink or something stronger.” Indicating the opposite path, she went on, “Or, if you’d like to go somewhere more private where we might… talk… there’s a nice spot by the river with a very pretty view.” Laughing, she added, “Could even dip your toes in with the crocs, if you like.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
“A pleasure to meet you, Lukos.” It was a nice name, one that rolled pleasantly off the tongue, and one that she hoped might indeed roll off her tongue a few more times as the day progressed.
A delighted little shiver crawled down Nia’s spine when his fingers brushed along hers, smirking as he detailed the potential wealth of her meager jewelry, items she rarely wore and usually only at her mother’s insistence. The young lady of Hei Sheifa was a far cry from most of the Egyptian nobility when it came to things like fashion and jewels, a carefree and inquisitive girl with an unquenchable lust for freedom and adventure. She cared for her status only in the luxuries that it could provide, such as the Grecian wine and uncut opium that kept her from succumbing to the wretched boredom her life often entailed. She ran off and escaped whenever she could, far more familiar with the back alleys and brothels of Cairo than she ever would be with the Palace. A mysterious foreign stranger in an unusual vessel who sneakily avoided questions held far more interest for her than any dull rich fop ever could.
Finishing off her honey cake in another couple bites, she pulled off the ring he’d touched, a simple gold band set with two lapis lazuli stones. It was a gift she’d received from an admirer years ago, a young man whose name had already been erased by the sands of time. It held no particular value to her, sentimental or otherwise, and so she took his hand and pressed it to his palm. Nia closed his fingers around it and let her own hand linger for a moment, her thumb brushing his knuckles before letting go. “Take it, then,” she told him with another smile. “Give it to your Queen or sell it, I don’t care, but at least your stop here won’t have been useless, eh? Then maybe your friend back there won’t be so huffy about me stealing you away.”
Nia stopped for a moment and looked around, glancing toward the path that led further into Cairo, then back toward a different path that traced down the side of the Nile. Either option came with a few lovely possibilities, though what sort of possibilities he was interested in, she wasn’t quite sure. Well, she certainly had an idea what he might be interested in, but was he the sort of man to just dive right in or take his time? Either way was fine with her, so long as the proper destination was reached in the end.
“So,” she said, turning back toward him. “What would you prefer? Should we head that way,” she pointed toward one of the paths that headed right, “I know a few good taverns in the area if you want to get a drink or something stronger.” Indicating the opposite path, she went on, “Or, if you’d like to go somewhere more private where we might… talk… there’s a nice spot by the river with a very pretty view.” Laughing, she added, “Could even dip your toes in with the crocs, if you like.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Lukos.” It was a nice name, one that rolled pleasantly off the tongue, and one that she hoped might indeed roll off her tongue a few more times as the day progressed.
A delighted little shiver crawled down Nia’s spine when his fingers brushed along hers, smirking as he detailed the potential wealth of her meager jewelry, items she rarely wore and usually only at her mother’s insistence. The young lady of Hei Sheifa was a far cry from most of the Egyptian nobility when it came to things like fashion and jewels, a carefree and inquisitive girl with an unquenchable lust for freedom and adventure. She cared for her status only in the luxuries that it could provide, such as the Grecian wine and uncut opium that kept her from succumbing to the wretched boredom her life often entailed. She ran off and escaped whenever she could, far more familiar with the back alleys and brothels of Cairo than she ever would be with the Palace. A mysterious foreign stranger in an unusual vessel who sneakily avoided questions held far more interest for her than any dull rich fop ever could.
Finishing off her honey cake in another couple bites, she pulled off the ring he’d touched, a simple gold band set with two lapis lazuli stones. It was a gift she’d received from an admirer years ago, a young man whose name had already been erased by the sands of time. It held no particular value to her, sentimental or otherwise, and so she took his hand and pressed it to his palm. Nia closed his fingers around it and let her own hand linger for a moment, her thumb brushing his knuckles before letting go. “Take it, then,” she told him with another smile. “Give it to your Queen or sell it, I don’t care, but at least your stop here won’t have been useless, eh? Then maybe your friend back there won’t be so huffy about me stealing you away.”
Nia stopped for a moment and looked around, glancing toward the path that led further into Cairo, then back toward a different path that traced down the side of the Nile. Either option came with a few lovely possibilities, though what sort of possibilities he was interested in, she wasn’t quite sure. Well, she certainly had an idea what he might be interested in, but was he the sort of man to just dive right in or take his time? Either way was fine with her, so long as the proper destination was reached in the end.
“So,” she said, turning back toward him. “What would you prefer? Should we head that way,” she pointed toward one of the paths that headed right, “I know a few good taverns in the area if you want to get a drink or something stronger.” Indicating the opposite path, she went on, “Or, if you’d like to go somewhere more private where we might… talk… there’s a nice spot by the river with a very pretty view.” Laughing, she added, “Could even dip your toes in with the crocs, if you like.”
He didn’t hide his astonishment when she slid the ring off her finger and pressed it into his palm. Frowning down at it, he brought the ring up to inspect it a little more closely. Why would she part with this so easily? It was a beautiful piece but he merely knew her name and her house and she knew next to nothing about him. Why give this away?
It didn’t make sense and the concept was so entirely foreign that he didn’t know what to make of it right at first. Was she toying with him? His dark gaze slid to her face, so open and full of light hearted flirtation. No...probably not. And then a new thought occurred to him. If this trinket meant nothing to her...how many more did she have?
His eyes flicked to her lips for just a moment before he forced them back up to her eyes. Then he smiled and slid the ring onto the little finger on his left hand. It barely fit. Her fingers were a lot more delicate and less rough than his, which was ideal for what he wanted her hands for. As she outlined who he should give it to, he shook his head. This would be gifted to no one. He could not be as free with his gold as she was with hers. He just didn’t have it in him.
When she mentioned Arktos getting huffy, Lukos grinned and laughed. “He whines and complains when he doesn’t get to play with pretty girls and I do.” He shrugged. “Pay him no mind.”
They came to a stop and he watched her trying to decide which route she would take. On the one hand, he did like the appeal of a tavern. His mind had already jumped from gambling and beer to the room he might be able to talk her into. Was very likely to be able to talk her into. But, she had a better point about being completely alone...but they could be alone with something stronger too...He wondered if she meant opium. It had been quite a while since he’d had any and he looked at her with new interest.
How wild was this one? Hopefully very.
When she teased him about the crocodiles, he gave her the same smile one of those reptiles might give her. Though he’d liked to have touched her again, he did not. Instead, he put his hands behind his head and thought aloud. “I dunno...we could be alone wherever we go...I don’t suppose your house is empty? I’m sure there’s a few interesting things in your room.” His tone was teasing but he was completely serious if the house was available. If not ...”Wherever you haven’t been lately. I like the idea of stronger stuff...but I don’t feel like sharing attention.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
He didn’t hide his astonishment when she slid the ring off her finger and pressed it into his palm. Frowning down at it, he brought the ring up to inspect it a little more closely. Why would she part with this so easily? It was a beautiful piece but he merely knew her name and her house and she knew next to nothing about him. Why give this away?
It didn’t make sense and the concept was so entirely foreign that he didn’t know what to make of it right at first. Was she toying with him? His dark gaze slid to her face, so open and full of light hearted flirtation. No...probably not. And then a new thought occurred to him. If this trinket meant nothing to her...how many more did she have?
His eyes flicked to her lips for just a moment before he forced them back up to her eyes. Then he smiled and slid the ring onto the little finger on his left hand. It barely fit. Her fingers were a lot more delicate and less rough than his, which was ideal for what he wanted her hands for. As she outlined who he should give it to, he shook his head. This would be gifted to no one. He could not be as free with his gold as she was with hers. He just didn’t have it in him.
When she mentioned Arktos getting huffy, Lukos grinned and laughed. “He whines and complains when he doesn’t get to play with pretty girls and I do.” He shrugged. “Pay him no mind.”
They came to a stop and he watched her trying to decide which route she would take. On the one hand, he did like the appeal of a tavern. His mind had already jumped from gambling and beer to the room he might be able to talk her into. Was very likely to be able to talk her into. But, she had a better point about being completely alone...but they could be alone with something stronger too...He wondered if she meant opium. It had been quite a while since he’d had any and he looked at her with new interest.
How wild was this one? Hopefully very.
When she teased him about the crocodiles, he gave her the same smile one of those reptiles might give her. Though he’d liked to have touched her again, he did not. Instead, he put his hands behind his head and thought aloud. “I dunno...we could be alone wherever we go...I don’t suppose your house is empty? I’m sure there’s a few interesting things in your room.” His tone was teasing but he was completely serious if the house was available. If not ...”Wherever you haven’t been lately. I like the idea of stronger stuff...but I don’t feel like sharing attention.”
He didn’t hide his astonishment when she slid the ring off her finger and pressed it into his palm. Frowning down at it, he brought the ring up to inspect it a little more closely. Why would she part with this so easily? It was a beautiful piece but he merely knew her name and her house and she knew next to nothing about him. Why give this away?
It didn’t make sense and the concept was so entirely foreign that he didn’t know what to make of it right at first. Was she toying with him? His dark gaze slid to her face, so open and full of light hearted flirtation. No...probably not. And then a new thought occurred to him. If this trinket meant nothing to her...how many more did she have?
His eyes flicked to her lips for just a moment before he forced them back up to her eyes. Then he smiled and slid the ring onto the little finger on his left hand. It barely fit. Her fingers were a lot more delicate and less rough than his, which was ideal for what he wanted her hands for. As she outlined who he should give it to, he shook his head. This would be gifted to no one. He could not be as free with his gold as she was with hers. He just didn’t have it in him.
When she mentioned Arktos getting huffy, Lukos grinned and laughed. “He whines and complains when he doesn’t get to play with pretty girls and I do.” He shrugged. “Pay him no mind.”
They came to a stop and he watched her trying to decide which route she would take. On the one hand, he did like the appeal of a tavern. His mind had already jumped from gambling and beer to the room he might be able to talk her into. Was very likely to be able to talk her into. But, she had a better point about being completely alone...but they could be alone with something stronger too...He wondered if she meant opium. It had been quite a while since he’d had any and he looked at her with new interest.
How wild was this one? Hopefully very.
When she teased him about the crocodiles, he gave her the same smile one of those reptiles might give her. Though he’d liked to have touched her again, he did not. Instead, he put his hands behind his head and thought aloud. “I dunno...we could be alone wherever we go...I don’t suppose your house is empty? I’m sure there’s a few interesting things in your room.” His tone was teasing but he was completely serious if the house was available. If not ...”Wherever you haven’t been lately. I like the idea of stronger stuff...but I don’t feel like sharing attention.”
Nia watched his reaction to her gift with the hint of a smile, one which turned to a full on grin as he slid it on his little finger. She’d wanted to leave an impression, and it seemed that she had, quipping lightly, “It looks better on you anyway.”
She listened to him mull over their options with a laugh, shaking her head with a dramatic sigh. “If only my house was empty,” Nia responded with a woeful look. “But no. My father, my sisters, and my brother are all home, and I’d rather not answer the questions that are sure to arise if they see you.” Tugging thoughtfully at her lower lip, she looked up at him and fought unsuccessfully to hide her smirk. So he didn’t want to share her attention? Good. She didn’t want to share his, either. River it was, then.
“Come on,” she urged, beckoning him after her as she started down the path to the left. “It’s a few minutes’ walk, but it will be worth it, I promise.” She was fairly certain she’d left something stashed there the last time she’d gone, but it had been a couple weeks. There was always the possibility someone had discovered it and made off with it, but that was something she doubted very strongly. With where she’d hidden it, who would think to look?
There were wooded and marshy areas located in strategic points around the river that stood in stark contrast to the desert that surrounded them. In some places the grass grew nearly as tall as her head while large trees stood nearby like watchful protectors. It was to one of these little oases that Nia led Lukos, the bushes and reeds tugging so at her kalasiris that she was ready to discard it by the time they were only halfway there. Growling in irritation as it caught on yet one more acacia branch, she tugged the ends of it up over her knees close to her hip, tying it off in a knot before continuing on.
By the time they reached their destination, she had a few more scratches on her legs than she’d had when they started, but as she’d told Lukos before, it was worth it. The trees overhead provided blissful relief from the midday sun, the grass beneath their feet springy and soft to the touch. The waters of the Nile lapped calmly at the shore, providing a soothing backdrop to the gentle wind that sifted through the leaves. The sun reflecting on the water illuminated the river with a rich tapestry of jeweled colors, the sky painted a rich cerulean in contrast. Overall, it was an idyllic scene, and best of all, there wasn’t another soul in sight.
“Here we are,” she announced with a broad gesture, looking over at her companion for his reaction. Apparently satisfied with what she saw on his face, Nia grinned and turned away, walking over to the nearest tree. Walking around its base, she seemed to find what she was looking for, nodding in satisfaction and dropping to her knees. A large, irregularly shaped rock rested on the ground, one which she pushed out of the way to reveal a small muddy box with a no longer recognizable etching on the top of it. Taking the edge of her gown where it spilled from its knot, she wiped away the worst of the mud before opening it, revealing a small amount of powdered latex that seemed undamaged by the recent rain.
Standing up, she walked back over to Lukos and held it out in front of her in offering. “You said you wanted something stronger, yeah? I don’t really have a way to smoke it out here, but if you’d like, you can take a pinch of the powder and inhale it as it is. Just be careful. It’ll burn like fire if you try to snort up too much.”
Plucking a bit of the opium dust between her fingers, Nia dabbed it on the back of her hand and handed him the box to do as willed. Using the longer nail on her middle finger, she pushed it into a thin line and brought her hand up to her face. Plugging one nostril, she sniffed up the powder in a single quick motion, closing her eyes and releasing a deep breath. Feeling her muscles start to relax one by one, she staggered a step or two before she opened her eyes and quirked a brow at him to see if he would do the same.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Nia watched his reaction to her gift with the hint of a smile, one which turned to a full on grin as he slid it on his little finger. She’d wanted to leave an impression, and it seemed that she had, quipping lightly, “It looks better on you anyway.”
She listened to him mull over their options with a laugh, shaking her head with a dramatic sigh. “If only my house was empty,” Nia responded with a woeful look. “But no. My father, my sisters, and my brother are all home, and I’d rather not answer the questions that are sure to arise if they see you.” Tugging thoughtfully at her lower lip, she looked up at him and fought unsuccessfully to hide her smirk. So he didn’t want to share her attention? Good. She didn’t want to share his, either. River it was, then.
“Come on,” she urged, beckoning him after her as she started down the path to the left. “It’s a few minutes’ walk, but it will be worth it, I promise.” She was fairly certain she’d left something stashed there the last time she’d gone, but it had been a couple weeks. There was always the possibility someone had discovered it and made off with it, but that was something she doubted very strongly. With where she’d hidden it, who would think to look?
There were wooded and marshy areas located in strategic points around the river that stood in stark contrast to the desert that surrounded them. In some places the grass grew nearly as tall as her head while large trees stood nearby like watchful protectors. It was to one of these little oases that Nia led Lukos, the bushes and reeds tugging so at her kalasiris that she was ready to discard it by the time they were only halfway there. Growling in irritation as it caught on yet one more acacia branch, she tugged the ends of it up over her knees close to her hip, tying it off in a knot before continuing on.
By the time they reached their destination, she had a few more scratches on her legs than she’d had when they started, but as she’d told Lukos before, it was worth it. The trees overhead provided blissful relief from the midday sun, the grass beneath their feet springy and soft to the touch. The waters of the Nile lapped calmly at the shore, providing a soothing backdrop to the gentle wind that sifted through the leaves. The sun reflecting on the water illuminated the river with a rich tapestry of jeweled colors, the sky painted a rich cerulean in contrast. Overall, it was an idyllic scene, and best of all, there wasn’t another soul in sight.
“Here we are,” she announced with a broad gesture, looking over at her companion for his reaction. Apparently satisfied with what she saw on his face, Nia grinned and turned away, walking over to the nearest tree. Walking around its base, she seemed to find what she was looking for, nodding in satisfaction and dropping to her knees. A large, irregularly shaped rock rested on the ground, one which she pushed out of the way to reveal a small muddy box with a no longer recognizable etching on the top of it. Taking the edge of her gown where it spilled from its knot, she wiped away the worst of the mud before opening it, revealing a small amount of powdered latex that seemed undamaged by the recent rain.
Standing up, she walked back over to Lukos and held it out in front of her in offering. “You said you wanted something stronger, yeah? I don’t really have a way to smoke it out here, but if you’d like, you can take a pinch of the powder and inhale it as it is. Just be careful. It’ll burn like fire if you try to snort up too much.”
Plucking a bit of the opium dust between her fingers, Nia dabbed it on the back of her hand and handed him the box to do as willed. Using the longer nail on her middle finger, she pushed it into a thin line and brought her hand up to her face. Plugging one nostril, she sniffed up the powder in a single quick motion, closing her eyes and releasing a deep breath. Feeling her muscles start to relax one by one, she staggered a step or two before she opened her eyes and quirked a brow at him to see if he would do the same.
Nia watched his reaction to her gift with the hint of a smile, one which turned to a full on grin as he slid it on his little finger. She’d wanted to leave an impression, and it seemed that she had, quipping lightly, “It looks better on you anyway.”
She listened to him mull over their options with a laugh, shaking her head with a dramatic sigh. “If only my house was empty,” Nia responded with a woeful look. “But no. My father, my sisters, and my brother are all home, and I’d rather not answer the questions that are sure to arise if they see you.” Tugging thoughtfully at her lower lip, she looked up at him and fought unsuccessfully to hide her smirk. So he didn’t want to share her attention? Good. She didn’t want to share his, either. River it was, then.
“Come on,” she urged, beckoning him after her as she started down the path to the left. “It’s a few minutes’ walk, but it will be worth it, I promise.” She was fairly certain she’d left something stashed there the last time she’d gone, but it had been a couple weeks. There was always the possibility someone had discovered it and made off with it, but that was something she doubted very strongly. With where she’d hidden it, who would think to look?
There were wooded and marshy areas located in strategic points around the river that stood in stark contrast to the desert that surrounded them. In some places the grass grew nearly as tall as her head while large trees stood nearby like watchful protectors. It was to one of these little oases that Nia led Lukos, the bushes and reeds tugging so at her kalasiris that she was ready to discard it by the time they were only halfway there. Growling in irritation as it caught on yet one more acacia branch, she tugged the ends of it up over her knees close to her hip, tying it off in a knot before continuing on.
By the time they reached their destination, she had a few more scratches on her legs than she’d had when they started, but as she’d told Lukos before, it was worth it. The trees overhead provided blissful relief from the midday sun, the grass beneath their feet springy and soft to the touch. The waters of the Nile lapped calmly at the shore, providing a soothing backdrop to the gentle wind that sifted through the leaves. The sun reflecting on the water illuminated the river with a rich tapestry of jeweled colors, the sky painted a rich cerulean in contrast. Overall, it was an idyllic scene, and best of all, there wasn’t another soul in sight.
“Here we are,” she announced with a broad gesture, looking over at her companion for his reaction. Apparently satisfied with what she saw on his face, Nia grinned and turned away, walking over to the nearest tree. Walking around its base, she seemed to find what she was looking for, nodding in satisfaction and dropping to her knees. A large, irregularly shaped rock rested on the ground, one which she pushed out of the way to reveal a small muddy box with a no longer recognizable etching on the top of it. Taking the edge of her gown where it spilled from its knot, she wiped away the worst of the mud before opening it, revealing a small amount of powdered latex that seemed undamaged by the recent rain.
Standing up, she walked back over to Lukos and held it out in front of her in offering. “You said you wanted something stronger, yeah? I don’t really have a way to smoke it out here, but if you’d like, you can take a pinch of the powder and inhale it as it is. Just be careful. It’ll burn like fire if you try to snort up too much.”
Plucking a bit of the opium dust between her fingers, Nia dabbed it on the back of her hand and handed him the box to do as willed. Using the longer nail on her middle finger, she pushed it into a thin line and brought her hand up to her face. Plugging one nostril, she sniffed up the powder in a single quick motion, closing her eyes and releasing a deep breath. Feeling her muscles start to relax one by one, she staggered a step or two before she opened her eyes and quirked a brow at him to see if he would do the same.
He smiled tightly as she outlined exactly who was home and how he was now very unlikely to be able to peruse the rest of her treasures at his leisure. The whole scenario had already played out in his mind, too. They’d have gone back to her house - it was likely a beautiful place, with terracotta floors and brightly painted walls. Statues of their gods would be everywhere. Maybe the two of them were already at each other before they topped the stairs and then the door to her room would shut and they’d play. After that, he’d wait until he was certain she was sleeping to then rise from the bed and have a little look through all the black lacquered boxes or vividly painted clay vases she had….more gold than just the ring would have been placed into the coin pouch he had on his belt.
Ah well.
He followed along behind her as she chose the Nile. Part of him seriously, seriously hoped she had no intention of swimming. There was no way he was going to admit to her that, yes. He was afraid of crocodiles and that she should be too. They were huge, ugly monsters and he was quite thankful that Greece didn’t have any kind of horrid thing lurking in the water. Not that he ever went swimming anyway...but he did wade and he never had to deal with scaly beasts attempting to remove limbs from his body.
The sun stared down on them in unrelenting, baking heat that attempted to burn his shoulders through his shirt. Luckily, there was a near constant breeze ruffling his hair and the fabric ends of his clothes. Because she knew where they were going, he let her lead, giving him ample time to study her person. Some of the looks were lustful ones but most were assessing. His entire profession was people - whether capturing them, buying from them, selling them, or selling to them. He needed to know what a person was thinking at the exact moment they were thinking it and body language was almost universally loud. It betrayed nearly everything about a person whether they knew it or not.
She struck him as fun, carefree, and deliciously fun. More than that, even though she’d obviously gotten into more than was good for her, she did seem wonderfully naive. He liked that part. It was useful. He glanced down at the ring on his finger. Very useful.
As they moved off the main path and into the more uncultivated landscape, he did not have the same trouble she was having. For one, he was wearing pants and for another, he had on boots, though as they got to soggier ground, he did remove those, not wanting them to get wet. So while she was getting scratches on her legs and having to hike up her dress, he was rolling his pant legs a bit and having to contend with the less pleasant aspects of sticks or stones along the ground.
He swiped hair out of his face as they walked and glanced off to the right, eyeing the gently swaying palm fronds and the shade beneath them. Thankfully, though, she looked to be leading them to a copse of acacia trees and he dropped his boots onto the ground the second they entered shade. “Hera’s headdress,” he sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing the back of his neck. “I forgot how fucking hot it is sometimes.”
While she went for her stashed box, his gaze swept the ground upon which they stood, checking for snakes or other unwanted company. Their steps had been fairly loud and he very much doubted even an adder would want to stick around and so, once he was sure that he wouldn’t die from snake venom, he sat down and watched her backside as she dug out the faded container. Just as he’d hoped, she brought out opium, though snorting it, he’d never done. Usually there was smoke that he breathed in.
Holding out his hand, he watched her and then mimicked exactly what she did. His eyes watered and he held his nose as the burn seared up into the depths of his face. “Shit.” Pausing, he waited and it went away fairly quickly. Unlike smoking, he didn’t feel any nearly immediate euphoria. Leaning back on his elbows, he crossed his legs at the ankle and tilted his head at her, looking her over. “So when does this kick in?”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
He smiled tightly as she outlined exactly who was home and how he was now very unlikely to be able to peruse the rest of her treasures at his leisure. The whole scenario had already played out in his mind, too. They’d have gone back to her house - it was likely a beautiful place, with terracotta floors and brightly painted walls. Statues of their gods would be everywhere. Maybe the two of them were already at each other before they topped the stairs and then the door to her room would shut and they’d play. After that, he’d wait until he was certain she was sleeping to then rise from the bed and have a little look through all the black lacquered boxes or vividly painted clay vases she had….more gold than just the ring would have been placed into the coin pouch he had on his belt.
Ah well.
He followed along behind her as she chose the Nile. Part of him seriously, seriously hoped she had no intention of swimming. There was no way he was going to admit to her that, yes. He was afraid of crocodiles and that she should be too. They were huge, ugly monsters and he was quite thankful that Greece didn’t have any kind of horrid thing lurking in the water. Not that he ever went swimming anyway...but he did wade and he never had to deal with scaly beasts attempting to remove limbs from his body.
The sun stared down on them in unrelenting, baking heat that attempted to burn his shoulders through his shirt. Luckily, there was a near constant breeze ruffling his hair and the fabric ends of his clothes. Because she knew where they were going, he let her lead, giving him ample time to study her person. Some of the looks were lustful ones but most were assessing. His entire profession was people - whether capturing them, buying from them, selling them, or selling to them. He needed to know what a person was thinking at the exact moment they were thinking it and body language was almost universally loud. It betrayed nearly everything about a person whether they knew it or not.
She struck him as fun, carefree, and deliciously fun. More than that, even though she’d obviously gotten into more than was good for her, she did seem wonderfully naive. He liked that part. It was useful. He glanced down at the ring on his finger. Very useful.
As they moved off the main path and into the more uncultivated landscape, he did not have the same trouble she was having. For one, he was wearing pants and for another, he had on boots, though as they got to soggier ground, he did remove those, not wanting them to get wet. So while she was getting scratches on her legs and having to hike up her dress, he was rolling his pant legs a bit and having to contend with the less pleasant aspects of sticks or stones along the ground.
He swiped hair out of his face as they walked and glanced off to the right, eyeing the gently swaying palm fronds and the shade beneath them. Thankfully, though, she looked to be leading them to a copse of acacia trees and he dropped his boots onto the ground the second they entered shade. “Hera’s headdress,” he sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing the back of his neck. “I forgot how fucking hot it is sometimes.”
While she went for her stashed box, his gaze swept the ground upon which they stood, checking for snakes or other unwanted company. Their steps had been fairly loud and he very much doubted even an adder would want to stick around and so, once he was sure that he wouldn’t die from snake venom, he sat down and watched her backside as she dug out the faded container. Just as he’d hoped, she brought out opium, though snorting it, he’d never done. Usually there was smoke that he breathed in.
Holding out his hand, he watched her and then mimicked exactly what she did. His eyes watered and he held his nose as the burn seared up into the depths of his face. “Shit.” Pausing, he waited and it went away fairly quickly. Unlike smoking, he didn’t feel any nearly immediate euphoria. Leaning back on his elbows, he crossed his legs at the ankle and tilted his head at her, looking her over. “So when does this kick in?”
He smiled tightly as she outlined exactly who was home and how he was now very unlikely to be able to peruse the rest of her treasures at his leisure. The whole scenario had already played out in his mind, too. They’d have gone back to her house - it was likely a beautiful place, with terracotta floors and brightly painted walls. Statues of their gods would be everywhere. Maybe the two of them were already at each other before they topped the stairs and then the door to her room would shut and they’d play. After that, he’d wait until he was certain she was sleeping to then rise from the bed and have a little look through all the black lacquered boxes or vividly painted clay vases she had….more gold than just the ring would have been placed into the coin pouch he had on his belt.
Ah well.
He followed along behind her as she chose the Nile. Part of him seriously, seriously hoped she had no intention of swimming. There was no way he was going to admit to her that, yes. He was afraid of crocodiles and that she should be too. They were huge, ugly monsters and he was quite thankful that Greece didn’t have any kind of horrid thing lurking in the water. Not that he ever went swimming anyway...but he did wade and he never had to deal with scaly beasts attempting to remove limbs from his body.
The sun stared down on them in unrelenting, baking heat that attempted to burn his shoulders through his shirt. Luckily, there was a near constant breeze ruffling his hair and the fabric ends of his clothes. Because she knew where they were going, he let her lead, giving him ample time to study her person. Some of the looks were lustful ones but most were assessing. His entire profession was people - whether capturing them, buying from them, selling them, or selling to them. He needed to know what a person was thinking at the exact moment they were thinking it and body language was almost universally loud. It betrayed nearly everything about a person whether they knew it or not.
She struck him as fun, carefree, and deliciously fun. More than that, even though she’d obviously gotten into more than was good for her, she did seem wonderfully naive. He liked that part. It was useful. He glanced down at the ring on his finger. Very useful.
As they moved off the main path and into the more uncultivated landscape, he did not have the same trouble she was having. For one, he was wearing pants and for another, he had on boots, though as they got to soggier ground, he did remove those, not wanting them to get wet. So while she was getting scratches on her legs and having to hike up her dress, he was rolling his pant legs a bit and having to contend with the less pleasant aspects of sticks or stones along the ground.
He swiped hair out of his face as they walked and glanced off to the right, eyeing the gently swaying palm fronds and the shade beneath them. Thankfully, though, she looked to be leading them to a copse of acacia trees and he dropped his boots onto the ground the second they entered shade. “Hera’s headdress,” he sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing the back of his neck. “I forgot how fucking hot it is sometimes.”
While she went for her stashed box, his gaze swept the ground upon which they stood, checking for snakes or other unwanted company. Their steps had been fairly loud and he very much doubted even an adder would want to stick around and so, once he was sure that he wouldn’t die from snake venom, he sat down and watched her backside as she dug out the faded container. Just as he’d hoped, she brought out opium, though snorting it, he’d never done. Usually there was smoke that he breathed in.
Holding out his hand, he watched her and then mimicked exactly what she did. His eyes watered and he held his nose as the burn seared up into the depths of his face. “Shit.” Pausing, he waited and it went away fairly quickly. Unlike smoking, he didn’t feel any nearly immediate euphoria. Leaning back on his elbows, he crossed his legs at the ankle and tilted his head at her, looking her over. “So when does this kick in?”
Her laughter filled the little copse of trees as she sank to the ground beside him, shaking her head with a wry smile. “If you think this is hot, you should come back in the summer,” she told him, retrieving her little box and pinching another bit of powder between her fingers. “You’d be wishing for days like this. The sun gets so hot it feels like it’ll boil your blood.”
Spreading the latex in a line over her hand and repeating her motions from before, Nia snorted it up again, shuddering as her eyes watered. Pausing until her vision settled, she placed the small container between them and rolled to her side. She propped her head on her hand and looked over at him, a steady languor spreading through her limbs. “Do another line and give it a minute or two,” she murmured in response to his question, the slow halt of her speech and the steadily forming haze in her eyes making clear that it had already started to kick in for her. “Not quite the same as smoking it, but trust me, it still works.”
Dark eyes were half-lidded and heavy as she returned Lukos’s lingering stare, slowly roaming upward from his ankles to his face and taking in the hard lines of his shape that hinted at the muscle hidden beneath his clothing. Part of her was tempted to reach over and pluck away the barrier that kept it from her gaze, but she would keep her hands to herself, at least for the time being. There was no need to rush anything, not while they still had the rest of the day before them. And the anticipation… a slower build-up nearly always made it better in the end.
Besides, she’d been forward enough already. By now, he’d caught onto her game; she’d already made it rather clear what she was after. If he wanted it too (which she was certain he did), let the next move be his.
She did scoot in a little closer, however, close enough to catch the faint scent of brine that seemed standard with any sailor, along with a hint of a smokier, more exotic aroma unique to him alone. It was nice—masculine without being overpowering and tantalizing enough that it pulled her in closer still. Looking up to catch his eye, she gave him a coy smile, one with a heat that was almost palpable.
“So. Did I make the right choice? Beats a noisy tavern, don’t you think?”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Her laughter filled the little copse of trees as she sank to the ground beside him, shaking her head with a wry smile. “If you think this is hot, you should come back in the summer,” she told him, retrieving her little box and pinching another bit of powder between her fingers. “You’d be wishing for days like this. The sun gets so hot it feels like it’ll boil your blood.”
Spreading the latex in a line over her hand and repeating her motions from before, Nia snorted it up again, shuddering as her eyes watered. Pausing until her vision settled, she placed the small container between them and rolled to her side. She propped her head on her hand and looked over at him, a steady languor spreading through her limbs. “Do another line and give it a minute or two,” she murmured in response to his question, the slow halt of her speech and the steadily forming haze in her eyes making clear that it had already started to kick in for her. “Not quite the same as smoking it, but trust me, it still works.”
Dark eyes were half-lidded and heavy as she returned Lukos’s lingering stare, slowly roaming upward from his ankles to his face and taking in the hard lines of his shape that hinted at the muscle hidden beneath his clothing. Part of her was tempted to reach over and pluck away the barrier that kept it from her gaze, but she would keep her hands to herself, at least for the time being. There was no need to rush anything, not while they still had the rest of the day before them. And the anticipation… a slower build-up nearly always made it better in the end.
Besides, she’d been forward enough already. By now, he’d caught onto her game; she’d already made it rather clear what she was after. If he wanted it too (which she was certain he did), let the next move be his.
She did scoot in a little closer, however, close enough to catch the faint scent of brine that seemed standard with any sailor, along with a hint of a smokier, more exotic aroma unique to him alone. It was nice—masculine without being overpowering and tantalizing enough that it pulled her in closer still. Looking up to catch his eye, she gave him a coy smile, one with a heat that was almost palpable.
“So. Did I make the right choice? Beats a noisy tavern, don’t you think?”
Her laughter filled the little copse of trees as she sank to the ground beside him, shaking her head with a wry smile. “If you think this is hot, you should come back in the summer,” she told him, retrieving her little box and pinching another bit of powder between her fingers. “You’d be wishing for days like this. The sun gets so hot it feels like it’ll boil your blood.”
Spreading the latex in a line over her hand and repeating her motions from before, Nia snorted it up again, shuddering as her eyes watered. Pausing until her vision settled, she placed the small container between them and rolled to her side. She propped her head on her hand and looked over at him, a steady languor spreading through her limbs. “Do another line and give it a minute or two,” she murmured in response to his question, the slow halt of her speech and the steadily forming haze in her eyes making clear that it had already started to kick in for her. “Not quite the same as smoking it, but trust me, it still works.”
Dark eyes were half-lidded and heavy as she returned Lukos’s lingering stare, slowly roaming upward from his ankles to his face and taking in the hard lines of his shape that hinted at the muscle hidden beneath his clothing. Part of her was tempted to reach over and pluck away the barrier that kept it from her gaze, but she would keep her hands to herself, at least for the time being. There was no need to rush anything, not while they still had the rest of the day before them. And the anticipation… a slower build-up nearly always made it better in the end.
Besides, she’d been forward enough already. By now, he’d caught onto her game; she’d already made it rather clear what she was after. If he wanted it too (which she was certain he did), let the next move be his.
She did scoot in a little closer, however, close enough to catch the faint scent of brine that seemed standard with any sailor, along with a hint of a smokier, more exotic aroma unique to him alone. It was nice—masculine without being overpowering and tantalizing enough that it pulled her in closer still. Looking up to catch his eye, she gave him a coy smile, one with a heat that was almost palpable.
“So. Did I make the right choice? Beats a noisy tavern, don’t you think?”