Log View

Source	Contents
Rishi	The rumored temple does not look like much from the outside, just a nice door in a wall, though a nice arch and mural showing the Lady of the Changing Waters has been painted upon the wall around it, it is still very humble compared with most other temples in the Holymaze district.
The Mournful Chorus	Getting from one point in Great Forks to another in a hurry is never easy, what with all the foot traffic, festivals, and the many enticing delicacies to sample. Leisurely strolling, on the other hand, works just fine. So that's what Ravi Voice-of-Longing has been doing for the past few hours. The sun hangs low in the West now, and her feet are starting to complain. Looking around, she sees temples and shrines everywhere. Not a surprise. But one of them catches her eye - although it looks unassuming, she remembers all the rumors floating around in teahouses and massage parlors. Time to verify them! Ravi gives a sharp whistle, and her pet monkey descends from the roof of a small shrine to sit on her shoulder. She pats him and hands him a peanut while pushing open the temple's door, peering inside first, then slips through and closes it behind her, shutting out the constant drone of prayer and revel on the street.
Rishi	the corridor inside is long and a bit cramped, but there are lanterns and mirrors that light it well enough. A melodious voice with a thick Firetongue accent calls out "Yes? Who is being coming?" Once through the corridor, it opens up into a small hall covered in blue and white tile with a great flowing fountain at the center, set under an open Occulus that shows the glorious riot of colors left by the setting sun and giving the room a rosy sparkle. It almost distracts from the beautiful woman standing there. Her cheerful smile, waterfall of long dark hair, and robe that can't hide her figure contrast with her large batwings, light fur coating, and clawed fingers, but she is beautiful regardless. "Good evening, are you wishing to be doing the employing of the miracle? Or are you being here for another of the reasons?" her voice is similarly musically lovely.
The Mournful Chorus	Out of the corridor comes a small woman dressed in a purple silk vest and matching pantaloons, contrasting nicely with a teal linen sash. A greenish-white leather girdle, incandescent when it catches the light, accentuates her waist. Several decorative belts are slung around her midsection and chest, clinking with coin-shaped gold ornaments. These, and the golden bells on her anklets, fill the vast hall with soft, high chimes. A silver-furred monkey sits on one of her bare shoulders, casting anxious glances about while loudly chewing on... something. The visitor strides forward confidently, armed with a radiant smile. Despite having never set foot into the place before, she somehow manages to step into the hall just at the correct spot for the colorful light to catch on her jewelry in the best possible way - as if she was entering a stage. After looking around, orienting herself and raising a hand to shield her eyes for a moment, her vision adjusts to the sparkling room, and she notices Rishi. And then, she does a double take. There's immense merit to being able to hide one's feelings well, especially when you don't know who or what you're dealing with. Chorus doesn't actually try to prevent her eyes from traveling the length of the other woman's body, but she doesn't let her gaze linger anywhere for too long, and soon drags it forcefully back to the priestress' face. Smiling amiably, she gives a respectful bow and addresses the woman in flawless Flametongue. "Good evening to you, too! I'm Ravi Voice-of-Longing... and you must be the fabled Rishi." After taking another look around and squinting at the occulus above, she scratches her neck, just below her short hairline, with a sheepish grin. "Look... I'm not actually here for any of your services. Just trying to get to know Great Forks a little better. From what I've heard, you're some kind of local celebrity, so..." She spreads her arms a bit and splays her fingers, palms facing Rishi. "If it's a bad time, feel free to give me a quick tour, or whatever your thing is, and kick me out, eh?"
Rishi	Rishi's eyes also flicker across the newcomer's pleasent form, her smile widening. Switching to Flametongue she says "It's true that I find helping people become their true selves immensely gratifying, I have to say I'm glad you're not planning on getting rid of your form any time soon. I'd hate to see such beauty be destroyed..." Rishi tilts her head to the side a little, her long waterfall of hair swaying and almost splashing as she does so. "...Though, if you are using makeup like that, perhaps you would like to rethink your position? If nothing else, one of the perks of becoming your true self is no longer needing such things." She waves a hand across her body. "Everything here is how I wish to be, always." she smirks momentarily, like she just said something funny. "Sorry, a private joke. But...yes, I'm not too busy right now. Though, well, this is really the only public room we have, so any tour would be a short one. We also have pamphlets if you'd like one!" Once Rishi can tear her eyes away from Ravi, she notices the Monkey and her head tilts farther, before she takes a gentle sniff, to perceive what can be scented.
The Mournful Chorus	"Nah, I'm good. No miraculous transformation needed. If that ever changes, I'll make sure to let you know." A very subtle frown appears on Ravi's brow, now that the priestess has led on that she could, in fact, recognize the disguising make-up as such. But the singer's smile hardly falters. If anything, it becomes more radiant. She nods eagerly at Rishi and gives a thumbs-up when offered a pamphlet - maybe this will distract her from looking at the monkey a bit too closely? The animal has just finished chewing and stares back at Rishi with orange eyes. Its gaze is a bit unsettling. "Pamphlets? Sure, why not. I've started collecting them, like any good tourist. Got a big stack of them already from... I don't even remember how many temples and shrines. There's ~a lot~." Ravi chuckles in a surprisingly deep tone, given that her speaking voice is on the higher end of the vocal range, then looks Rishi over appreciatively one more time. Because why not? "That temple looks like it's been here a good long while. You're from the South, aren't you? Did you inherit the place from your predecessor?" Her dark eyes search and find the famous fountain.
Rishi	One of Rishi's elegant eyebrows has gone up. "Your monkey is a very impressive piece of work. Did you do that yourself?" And then her eyes widen and she excitedly takes one of Ravi's hands. "Oh! /Ravi!/ I've heard of you! I haven't been able to see any of your shows yet, but just hearing you speak, I'm sure they'd be quite wonderful!" Her eyes are shining as she leans in a bit, all traces of priestly composure dropped. When asked about herself, Rishi does take herself in hand once more and lets go of Ravi's. "I apologize. As for myself, no, this was but a humble chapel dedicated to irregular meetings discussing the Lady...but, after visiting a few times, I found something in one of the texts that...well, I was inspired. After a difficult journey and much hardship, I returned being miraclous water and the Lady blessed me and through me, the fountain. We had ...many people who wished to partake of the miracle here for a little while, but it has slowed down significantly. And here we are. As I am also a healer, people sometimes come here to see me in that capacity."
The Mournful Chorus	Ravi looks actually surprised for a moment when Rishi asks about her monkey - but quickly regains her composure. Paradoxically, Rishi's reaction immediately following that seems to actually help reinforce her in overcoming that instance of being caught out, instead of making her even more flustered. Ravi breaks into full-out melodic laughter as soon as Rishi recognizes her. Her small hand is quite cool, but not unnaturally so. She give's Rishi's hand a slight reassuring squeeze, smiling with delight, before the other Chosen becomse self-conscious enough to let go. "Oh, thank you!", she replies to both reactions. "No, I didn't create him. And I would love to see you in the audience sometime. If you like music, you should definitely come!" After that, she cocks her head while listening to Rishi describing her journey, her becoming, in so few words. The Moonshadow takes note of how carefully the other woman chooses her phrasing, obviously tiptoeing around parts she doesn't want to reveal. "I feel like I've heard that story before", she says when Rishi has finished, with an easy smile. "There's so many variants of it told in this city's establishments." With a nod, she turns her body towards the fountain. For some reason, the monkey chooses this moment to jump down to the floor. After shaking himself, he eyes the architecture with interest. Probably looking for a way to climb up? "So this is the blessed fountain of your goddess... Not exactly a miracle you would partake of more than once in your life, maybe twice, hm?" She takes a few steps away from Rishi, approaching the waters to have a closer look. "And this Lady of Changing Waters... you're her... whatsitcalled... Exigent, aye?"
Rishi	Rishi sighs. "You would think. I have had some people who I have had to give some counceling to, ones that kept returning to bathe regularly. I was very concerned that they might be getting addicted to the process of changing, instead of trying to become themselves. Still, you are correct, that most only bathe once here." Rishi's smile returns to her face. "And yes, I am so very, very glad to have been Chosen by the Lady." A bloom of sparkling bluish light, with maybe a slight silver kiss, like light reflecting through water appears around her, with no caste mark on her forehead. As for the monkey, there is a large mirror upon the wall under the eaves, as well as several tiled pillars supporting the occulus, any of which could potentially be climbed.
The Mournful Chorus	Just in time, Ravi turns her head to see Rishi's anima ignite. She eyes the display with an interest so intense, it's almost tangible. Like it could develop a physical manifestation at any second. "It's gorgeous", she breathes. "You're blessed indeed." Meanwhile, the langur hops over to one of the pillars. Deft black fingers find purchase in the grooves and seams between tiles. His mistress notices and clears her throat. "Oh, whoops... Do you mind if Tabi climbs around your temple? He won't break anything. Probably."
Rishi	Rishi actually blushes a little a the compliment, then blinks and says "Ah, yes, but it would be best that he not climb through the occulus. There are sometimes animals up on the roof, so, it is quite possible that he might get into something nasty up there. Also, if he does fall into the fountain...I am not sure what will happen." Rishi turns back to the other woman. "Where did you find him? Was he ...like that when you found him or...?"
The Mournful Chorus	Craning her neck to look up at the occulus doesn't reveal anything threatening to Ravi, so she raises a questioning eyebrow at the other woman. "What, are you getting occasional visits from leopards or something? Still, this is Rishi's temple, and she's well within her rights to object to it being climbed, so the singer gives a nod, briefly raises a hand in a gesture of defeat - not being entirely serious - and whistles sharply in Tabi's direction. "Get back down here, now!", she tells him sternly. The monkey freezes mid-climb and shrieks back at her, clearly irritated, but after a bit of hesitation, he obeys and climbs back down. At the foot of the pillar, he sits on his haunches, huffs, and turns his back toward the two women. Ravi rolls her eyes at him and turns back to Rishi. "Oh, great. Now he's sulking... of course. Classic Tabi." She bites her lower lip, scrutinizing Rishi for a few moments before answering: "Nah, he was alive at some point. Found him on a tiny island, alone, when he was still young. No idea how he got there. Maybe someone just... left him there? He kept me company for many years. Almost like my first mate, although not a smart or friendly one." Here, she chuckles, then gestures dismissively. "Anyways, there was an... accident, and I couldn't really find it in my heart to let him go, so I payed a necromancer to, you know, do her thing." With a soft sigh, she glances at Tabi before turning back to Rishi. "Are you judging me for that?"
Rishi	"No, not leopards. But I have seen some birds up there, and I'd hate to see him get into any refuse they might have left." Rishi watches, smiling as the monkey comes back down and pulls a slice of fruit from her robe and tosses it to him once he's on the ground. Rishi nods at the story, grimacing at the accident, but nodding at the end. "He seems quite happy, so...no, I don't judge you for this." She headtilts, considering. "I am actually not having much experience with ...this side of necromancy." She frowns, remembering. "You ...hear stories of hungry ghosts and dangerous skeletal plagues and other terrible things, but... The ancestor religions and simply having a shrine to people you care about who have passed on, so that they can return to you periodically... I don't really have any experience with that."
The Mournful Chorus	Tabi glances over his shoulder at the morsel a few times before picking it up gingerly, and putting it into his mouth after sniffing it a few times. Chewing, he turns around, still remaining seated, now eying the two women much less grudgingly. Apparently, he's quite receptive to bribes. Ravi pays close attention to Rishi's body language and subtle, unconscious clues in her expression. There are also very telling pauses between her words. She nods in understanding, then arms herself with an amiable smile. "You might or might not have heard, but I don't have any compuction about performing for the dead - just like I do for the living, and for the gods, and for whoever wants to enjoy my show. There are so many honored ancestors here in Great Forks. People seek guidance from the ghosts of their dead throughout the Scavenger Lands..." A sweeping gesture. "With the White Nettle Lodge and other ancestor cults playing such an important role in the city's history, I'm actually surprised to hear you saying that you lack experience." Stepping away from Rishi to give herself more space, she spreads her arms wide, slowly turning around her axis, and grins joyously at the riot of colors flooding the hall. "Have you ever considered turning this place into a stage?"
Rishi	Rishi smiles, a little self-depreciatingly. "I'm a Healer. When someone dies, it means I've failed." She frowns. "And...well, no matter." When she suggests turning this place into a stage, Rishi is surprised. "No, no. This is being a holy place, for helping and healing. Besides, it is not large enough for a big group of people, unless the performers are in the pool. Even then, it would be hard."
The Mournful Chorus	Ravi lets her arms fall back to her sides, but doesn't admit defeat. "I've performed in temples before. Does your Lady object to someone singing hymns in her name?" She chuckles merrily, then sighs, sobering. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You can't help everyone, and death comes for us all, eventually." Nodding to herself, she steps close to the priestess again and locks eyes with her. "But really, the accoustics here are amazing. From the outside, your temple doesn't look like much. It's so, so different when you come in and see it for the first time..." After a small pause, she sighs softly. "The gossipers told me that Rishi, the Chosen of Changing Waters, was a woman of stunning beauty, and they were right... but they failed to mention that she also is blessed with a goddess's voice." A dashing, slightly mischievous smile, daring Rishi to deny that fact. "Don't you yearn to put it to use?"
Rishi	She's definitely flustered a bit now, flushed. "Well, if...if you're offering a private show that...that's different. I did very much want to hear you sing, so I'd cer.. *ahem* certainly appreciate it. As for singing with you, I'm...I haven't any formal training or anything. I don't know any local songs either."
The Mournful Chorus	"Oh, don't be shy! You're an Exalt." Ravi laughs, raucously this time, takes Rishi's hand and leads her into the center of the fading sun's light, right below the occulus. "Right here. It's perfect. I'm going to sing the first verse, then the chorus. Just follow my lead..." And with that, she launches into a song in Flametongue, solemn and heartbreaking at times, yet interspersed with more hopeful verses in between. It's about a lone wanderer seeking atonement for his sins, visiting shrine upon shrine, only to be turned away by every single deity... except one, the darkest and most terrifying of them all - yet she turns out to be the most compassionate. Both are outsiders, and the connection between them is immediate. At the end of the song, the lone wanderer and the goddess fall passionately in love with each other, and he abandons atonement in favor of fulfillment.
Rishi	Rishi listens carefully to the first part and Chorus can tell she's really responding well to the lonely wanderer finding love...so much so that when she finally joins in on the second pass for the chorus, the honest and naked emotion in her voice along with the light of her anima sparkling around her making her face glow, her voice so clear and perfect, yet raw with lonliness and then full of joy and love, ...she's perfect. That's it. She's ....perfection itself. Her voice twining around with Chorus's own amazing performance, the song has become sublime. When the song finishes, Rishi blinks, wiping tears she didn't know she was crying from her eyes. "that....that was amazing. You're ....amazing."
The Mournful Chorus	During the song, when Rishi is starting to get the hang of it and joins in, Ravi's beautiful voice with it's tremendous, almost otherworldly vocal range adapts and shifts to give her co-singer the room she deserves, expertly choosing the register best suited to Rishi's, aligning with her so perfectly at key moments in the chorus that anyone hearing the two of them sing might mistake them for two voices coming from the same throat. And when she diverges from that, going higher or lower as the song and Rishi's performance demand, she invokes the raw emotion of the wanderer's furious despair and, later, blessed fulfillment with such ferocity and such bliss that it's impossible to not have one's heart broken and mended multiple times by simply listening to her sing. After the echoes of their voices have faded away, she turns toward Rishi, displaying her teeth in a wide, blissful grin. "~We~ are amazing", she says. And then she attempts to kiss her.
Rishi	Rishi accepts the kiss unhesitatingly, leaning in to it with great vigor and surprising passion. As she does, she feels something, memories returning....
Rishi	Long ago and far away, a beautiful but very frazzled woman resides in a tower room full of books. Books on every table, her attention flitting between them and her notes, as she furiously flips pages. "No, no, no! It's not here! Where....no! It... there's something in all this... but where! WHERE!" Another woman comes in and watches the researcher. "Morgen...when was the ...never mind." she crosses and gently grabs the researcher's arm. "You've been working too hard, come take a br-" she yanks harder on Morgen's arm. "....do you want me to break out the strong language. Let go! And go Relax!" and Morgen is, eventually, thrown out of the tower and ends up napping under a tree.
The Mournful Chorus	Ravi's body momentarily tenses in Rishi's embrace before she relaxes and returns the kiss just as passionately - a strange reaction, considering that she was the one who initiated this intimacy in the first place. Maybe she didn't anticipate such a ferocious reciprocation... ...or maybe it's the overwhelming sensation of a stranger's memories, rushing to her unbidden in the very moment when their lips touch, overpowering reality. The sun is a blinding haze above her, and the faceless crowds roar in agitation. "Instigator!", they scream. "Deceiver!" Objects are thrown into her direction, some of them hard and sharp, cutting her skin. "You promised us peace! You didn't even ask if we ~wanted~ it!" The angry masses stomp towards her, eyes blazing, weapons flashing. Her placating words are not enough. And so she turns, and runs, bolting from roof to roof. Blackout. There's blood everywhere, so much blood. Collapsed buildings. The smell of death. And still, she's running, fighting. But they are too many "Look at the destruction you wrought. Your lies!", screams the city. "This is ~your~ doing!" She can't run any longer, but just before they catch her, another voice rises in the crowd, drowning out all others, booming with a prince's unquestionable authority: "The enemy is at the gates! Hurry, now! They're breaking through!" In the sudden confusion, she makes her escape. Blackout. The prince extends a hand out to her, smiling wistfully. His shape blurs into a beautiful woman's face. "I brokered a deal with their prince's husband." The smile crumbles. "This is the last time. I'm tired of saving your ass, Silent Joy. Do you understand? No more." Blackout. The sun crawls towards the horizon... and dies.
Rishi	When Rishi eventually pulls away, she has a dreamy smile on her face, which melts away quickly. In Firetongue she says "What was that!" Her eyes narrow, "Who *are* you? A Solar? *My* Solar?" She backs away slightly and closes her eyes, the soft waters of her anima spilling over into dark, yet warm, night hues as a silver ring erupts on her forehead and her shadow stretches behind her. The ...Lunar? Her eyes are trained on Ravi and there is a sensation that many eyes are upon her from within the shadows of her anima. "WHO ARE YOU?"
The Mournful Chorus	The scent of herbal incense and sweet flowers withdraws from Rishi as Ravi stumbles backwards, although apparently not out of fear from the Lunar's display of power: Her eyes are only just beginning to focus on reality again, coming back from a place far, far away. She looks around, confused and disoriented, swaying. It takes her a good few heartbeats to catch herself. "What the fuck...?" A few rapid shakes of the head, as if trying to dislodge something stuck to her. "What just happened?" And then, she narrows her eyes at Rishi. Just like that, her face slams shut. It turns into a mask, bereft of feeling, of heart. Hiding what lies beneath. Rishi the healer might have seen corpses with more lifelike expressions than this one. "You're asking ~me~ who ~I~ am?" Suddenly, her voice is calm and composed, in complete control. "Who the fuck are ~you~?" Ravi glares back at the many eyes scrutinizing her, planting her feet in defiance. From the hall's corner, Tabi chitters in agitation, torn between hiding behind a pillar from the terrible thing that nice priestess has turned into, and helping his mistress.
Rishi	"....Right. Yes. I am sorry." Rishi calms down and the sense of power deflates a little, though her shadow is still peeking around her shoulder 'looking' at Ravi. "I am, as always, Rishi. I am just ...hiding my nature slightly. I'm sure you know how it is. Do you know anything about, well..." she taps her forehead. "Or do I need to explain this too?"
The Mournful Chorus	After blinking a few times in rapid succession, Ravi just... stares at the Lunar for a while. Her guarded expression softens slightly, and she scowls, biting her lower lip as she does so. Then, she raises her palms towards Rishi in a placating gesture. "Hold on. Slow down. I don't get it. What... What's going on? I saw... something, some shit going down hard, and it felt as if I was there, but I clearly wasn't." She squints at Rishi's face, cocking her head. "Was that your doing? Some fucked-up power of yours, working its way into my heart?" A short pause, and her voice drops lower. "If it's you, better stop now. I don't like it one bit."
Rishi	Rishi tilts her head to the side, thinking. "Are you not having the memories of your previous lives? Mmm... Well, not all of us are having the strong ones. I...well never mind. From what I am being told, long ago, there was a set of sacred marriages between those such as you and those such as me. And, ever since, our souls are being ...joined. It is a little complicated." She brightens. "Ah! Perhaps more kissing will make the memories clearer!"
The Mournful Chorus	That explanation isn't received well. Ravi's eyes widen, and she takes another step back - another step away from Rishi, away from the last remnants of sunlight fracturing through the oculus above. Behind her, the corridor beckons, wrapped in darkness. Sensing her distress, the monkey finally decides to join her, bounding across the floor. A single high jump, and he lands on her shoulder, glaring at Rishi, peeling his lips back to give her a glimpse at long fangs. His mistress narrows her eyes and snarls at the woman before her: "Sacred marriage...? Are you shitting me? It was just a kiss. You're reading far too much into that."
Rishi	Rishi headtilts the other way, briefly considering. "Mmm... No. I know what this feels like. I can definitely say that we are connected. But... I can see that this is troubling you. It's ...strange for me too." Her voice is very soothing now. "If you want, you can sit and we can talk. Or you can go and we can discuss it later. I...need some time myself, but I can tell you what you want to know. Or at least the basics."
The Mournful Chorus	"You're damn right it's troubling to me", Ravi mutters, still bristling. But she puts a placating hand on Tabi's forehead, and the monkey deflates. No more bared fangs, at least for now. His owner looks Rishi up and down, taking some time to ponder her options. "Fine", she says. "Let's talk, then. I'm not particularly keen on walking out of here with at least double the amount of questions that I walked in with." She still keeps her distance to the Lunar - without actually showing something resembling fear. It's a statement, saying: I don't want to be close to you right now.
Rishi	Rishi gives her a happy smile. "So. What are you wanting to know? You are the ...Crowned Sun, yes?" She smiles wider. "It's very appropriate."
The Mournful Chorus	Ravi plucks the dead monkey from her shoulder and cradles himin her arms, hugging him like a baby. She gives Rishi a blank stare. "A ~what~ now...?" Pointing at her head, she guffaws. "That look like I'm wearing a fucking crown?" But this is about her asking questions, not answering them, so she immediately follows up with: "You called me 'my Solar'." Her voice is a hushed whisper, and she glances about, as if she was afraid of being overheard. "That you know what ~this~ feels like. How? Who told you?"
Rishi	"It means you are having the ring, like this," she taps her forehead," but the the small disk inside, yes?" She smiles gently. "You are the one that stands between, who seals oaths." She headtilts. "Do not try to trap me with one." "How I know...I have experienced this before. This connection. I have also be told about it by others. And, well, I think we were both just having memories of it just now. You are mine. I am yours." She looks away for a moment. "...I never actually expected to meet you. We will need to spend some time figuring out what...we want to be to each other."
The Mournful Chorus	Tabi makes a muffled noise of half-serious protest as Ravi presses him closer to her chest. The "Solar" still looks thoughtful... and still doesn't display any sign of happiness or elation at what Rishi just told her. "Crowned Sun. Right." Again, she tilts her head, habitually choosing the exact same direction as before, and eyes the Moon-Chosen for a few long moments before she begins to walk, slowly, in what will eventually turn out to be a half-circle around Rishi. "I don't belong to ~anyone~", she asserts. "And I claim no-one as mine. We don't even ~know~ each other. This connection... it's some really old shit, right? Someone came up with it long ago. How can it even still matter today?" Snarling in frustration, she looks away, towards the oculus. It's getting steadily darker. The sun is almost gone. "Whose wonderful idea was that anyway?"
Rishi	"I was told that it was done to stop a war. Two groups of powerful people, both wishing to be 'in charge,' neither group willing to budge... I do not know the details of what happened, but both groups decided to share power instead of continue fighting. I suppose they wanted us to always share power." Rishi shrugs. "I am not particularly interested in being in charge of things, so I would not have been fighting for it." "It matters because we can feel the connection. But it is up to us to choose what we do with that connection. As for getting to know each other, that is also simple to solve. We must talk."
The Mournful Chorus	Just short of passing into Rishi's shadow, Ravi stops, fully facing the Lunar. But her gaze is distant, cold... disconnected. She stares into nothingness for an uncomfortably long time before suddenly, with a shudder, she breaks free, and locks eyes with Rishi's. "You said something about memories. What's that about? How can I have someone else's memories?" Instead of warming up to her mate, the opposite seems to be the case: More information about their strange connection results in Ravi becoming even colder, even less approachable. The monkey, having had enough of this, dislodges from her and drops to the ground, sitting on his haunches and glaring up at the two human figures towering over him.
Rishi	Rishi's shadow looks at Ravi, studying her curiously, as Rishi considers. "You mentioned that you know something of the Realm of the Dead? Well, not everyone remains. I do not know the details, but, as our souls are reborn in new bodies, so too does our power. Once I am dead, another will be Chosen in my stead bearing my soul and some of me will live on with them." She headtilts. "I hope they are better at languages than I." She smiles, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "While I am happy to teach others, are you going to tell me anything about yourself today? I would like to know a little more about you."
The Mournful Chorus	While Rishi explains the concept of reincarnation, Ravi listens intently. But her face remains impassionate. However she feels about this, it's buried too deep to discover without almost inhuman effort. Considering that last question, she rubs her chin for a while. Time enough for Rishi to notice a few things about her, things shemight never have seen as actually relevant, had she not cause to study her "Solar" more closely now. Take, for example, the flowers. The silken clothes on Ravi's body are covered with delicate floral embroidery, with thread almost identical in color to the fabric it's been stitched on, making the decors only visible when the light hits them just right. To most people, they would be just beautiful flowers, strung on vines and leaves, but Rishi can identify almost all of them, except for a few that look completely alien even to her expert eyes: Poisonous, every single one. Several species native to the Dreaming Sea. And Ravi's perfume, the one Rishi could catch a whiff of when they were kissing? Very much the same. It contains the scent of herbs used to treat insomnia, or alleviate severe pain. In large enough doses, those who consume them never wake up again. Those bright colors... purple, violet and teal... aren't those the ones featuring prominently in funerals and memorials to the dead in some places? Rishi might have heard about Simharajalan customs, about their lavish, brightly-colored services to the deaad. Just like the monkey. Langurs are said to inhabit neglected graveyards in several stories told across the Dreaming Sea - according to some tales, the animals protect the dead; in others, they haunt the living. "No", says Ravi firmly, finally having reached a decision. Perhaps realizing how harsh that sounded, she follows it up with a softer voice: "No. Not today." Half grinning, half grimacing, she rubs her forehead. "Look. I came here for sightseeing, and then things escalated so fast. Now I find out that someone has sussed out my secret, just by kissing me, and I'm somehow bound to a complete stranger. I need... time."
Rishi	"...Yes," Rishi looks somewhat troubled suddenly. "Perhaps it would be best if we both took some time to think. Unless you know Sorcery, I can contact you in a few days time and we can meet in a less conspicuous place. There is a rocky badland near the city, that no-one goes near." She looks into Ravi's eyes, her own slitted, looking at the other woman carefully. "People say it's haunted, so it's usually empty, except for people like us."
The Mournful Chorus	Ravi has already opened her mouth to voice a reply... but then Rishi drops the haunted bomb, and the "Crowned Sun" pauses, reconsidering. She blinks in bewilderment, looking for all the world as if she found the prospect of meeting at a spooky location quite concerning. "Wait, what...? Define 'haunted', will you?" With that, she crosses her arms.
Rishi	"I have heard there are ghosts there, but I have never seen one." She grins toothily. "Perhaps they are afraid of me. As for you, Ravi, something I have been taught?" She leans forward, looking Ravi in the eye. "When trying to deceive, the truth can be better than a lie. One who performs regularly for the dead, carries a ghost monkey, and wears poisonous flowers on her clothing? She should not be afraid of a haunted place." Rishi settles back, smiling. "So, now I too have learned something. What...I am not sure, but it will be most interesting to be learning more. I enjoy a good puzzle." Rishi smiles at her. "Do you have any other questions? Or should we postpone anything further until our next meeting in private? I hope you will feel safe enough to come as you truly are, whatever that is." She sighs. "That is why I'm here, after all. So that everyone can be who they are, so they don't have to suffer from not being themselves." She laughs. "It is most ironic, yes, that the Mates for one such as me, who wishes for honesty and is terrible at lies, should be so very, very good at them?"
The Mournful Chorus	Ravi grows still, then lets her shoulders drop slowly and sighs, smiling sheepishly. She doesn't avert her gaze. "Ironic indeed. You know what it's like, having so many enemies. You, most of all." Ruffling through her hair, she looks crestfallen for a moment. "Lies are a necessity for me to survive. Unlike you, I can't simply turn into a huge thing with claws and rip into whoever is trying to take my head. How am I supposed to know if I can trust you? That connection between us isn't assurance." She walks a few steps towards a nearby pillar and leans against it, then looks at Rishi. "I don't feel like discussing this matter any further now, but I also can't promise to be at your beck and call. I'm a busy woman, you know? Being a traveling entertainer means never sticking around in the same place for long. Who knows where I'm going to be in a few days? A week, a month?" The monkey makes a questioning sound, and Ravi smiles down at him affectionately. "The show must go on. " Her gaze returns to Rishi, earnest again now. "In the meantime, protect my secret. Don't tell anyone what I really am... that I'm anything but a gifted mortal. Swear to me, and I'll promise to keep what I've learned about your nature to myself." She pauses, as if to make a point, and a single corner of her mouth moves upward. "Am I going to sanctify that? You bet."
Rishi	"...I do not think I can make this promise yet. However, one such as I, in a prominent place in the community, is also vulnerable to others finding out my secrets. I do not think we have any reason to tell the public about each other yet either, for we will both lose if we do. The Northern Pure Way, your Immaculate Monks, we both do not want them checking the town, no? So, better that we both don't say anything about the other in public, right?" "However...once we are knowing each other a little better...I will reconsider. I understand that you are busy. I'm sure you can afford a messenger to contact me here when you are ready. Or I can send you a message with Sorcery wherever you are, if you forget to contact me." She smiles.
The Mournful Chorus	Again, Ravi sighs - this time in tired frustration. She shakes her head. There's nothing she can do to force Rishi, and so all that remains is to accept her decision. "That's... unfortunate. But I understand where you're coming from. You're not wrong about the monks either." With a cluck of her tongue, she coaxes Tabi into running to her, and picks him up, letting him settle on her shoulder once more. "So you can send me a message anywhere I am, just like that?" She snaps her fingers. "Huh. Sorcerers. Well, unless there's a way for me to respond to such a thing, non-sorcerously, you'll probably have to wait a while for an answer. In any case... I should probably get going." With that, she turns towards the corridor, walking a few steps, but pauses before actually stepping inside, and turns her head to look back at Rishi. A rueful smile makes her features appear even softer, even younger than they already are. "I'm sorry. I truly am." Then, she steps forward, and the shadows swallow her.