At the Bards' Guild, several of the members of the guild find cheap (if second-or-worse-rate) housing, while they aren't out traversing the globe, or taking short trips down to the surface and back again during Rephidim's wanderings.

While many of the bards keep to themselves, privacy is still somewhat of a premium, so sometimes word gets around about unusual goings on, and some bards are naturally curious…

Natilie knocks on a door.

After a moment of no answer, Natalie hmms and knocks on the door again, except louder.

Chiaroscuro turns from his unpacking, mostly finished except for a few clothes. .oO( Only two knocks… not Envoy… best be careful. ) He straightens his clothes and walks to the door, opening it slowly…

Natilie peeks into the crack of the door, looking at Chiaroscuro, "Hi!"

Bem turns at the first knock. Someone's at the door. The tall green-black insectoid warrior moves forward rapidly to just behind Chiaroscuro, then surveys the coyote-appearing bard that has appeared in the door.

Chiaroscuro blinks at the Hekoye before him… "Uhm… hello?"

Natilie smiles charismatically, "May I come in?"

Chiaroscuro uhhhmms uncertainly, then opens the door. "Certainly, Lady… ?" His head tilts slightly to the side, trying to recall if he's seen this person before.

Natilie looks around a bit as she walks in.

Inside, it can be seen that the room, kept reasonably tidy compared to many rooms at the Guild, has a small writing desk under the one little window, with some plants nearby, catching the light that filters through. A narrow cot is against one wall, while several hooks and pegs in the wall serve to hold a modest "wardrobe".

As a measure of great contrasts, a golden zolk evening gown hangs up next to an ugly purple sombrero. A few other clothes are halfway unpacked here and there, and a number of books and other items are set on a shelf. It would appear someone is in the process of moving.

Natilie turns around and offers her hand to Chiaroscuro, "The name is Natilie."

Chiaroscuro takes Natalie's paw, bending over to kiss it in a courtly fashion. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Natalie. I am Chiaroscuro Themyst." He smiles.

Natilie blushes gently, "Nice to meet you."

The Zelak rasps. A perfunctory greeting perhaps. The insectoid resumes its post as if waiting for something.

Chiaroscuro uhms, a bit embarrased. "If you were hoping to meet Lady Envoy, she is out on business, but shall return shortly, I believe.

Natilie blinks in surprise! "Lady Envoy?"

Natilie smiles, "Envoy the Bard?"

Chiaroscuro looks even more confused. "Yes, the very same. Was that not-" his voice trails off, tail flicking slightly behind him.

Natilie grins, "So… you're her… friend?"

Chiaroscuro nods to Natalie, not noticing the implied comment- or at least, not seeming to. "Indeed, for much of the time I have been on Rephidim. This is truly her room, though she has permitted me to move in to save on rent."

Natilie ohs and swishes her tail. "So you two aren't lovers?"

Three rapid knocks are made against the door.

Natilie stiffens.

Chiaroscuro gasps! "Wh-Wh-" He blushes furiously, and then blushes even worse at the knock on the door, jumping up quickly to answer it.

Envoy smiles, "I brought back some dinner, Chipper… oh, who's your guest?" The odd Exile looks over Natilie.

Natilie smiles over at the new face, "You must be Envoy."

Bem looks to Envoy, clacking, "You have received a visitor, designated Natilie, unarmed, apparently not hostile."

Chiaroscuro calms down a bit- still seeming a bit nervous and embarrassed. "This is Lady Natalie, Envoy."

Envoy shifts the large sack she's carrying to her left hand, and offers her right to the coyote. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Natilie. Are you one of Chipper's friends?"

Natilie shakes the Exile's hand, smiling. "Not quite. I was just curious as to whom lived next door to me."

Chiaroscuro rolls his eyes slightly in realization, then lets out a light sigh, and smiles.

Envoy smiles wider, "Oh! Are you a Bard then?" She sets the sack down on the edge of the cot. It smells vaguely of roast bird.

Natilie grins and nods, "I am."

Envoy says, "Would you like to join us for dinner then? I have some roast bird and bread and fruit. The chocolate dipped vermites are for Bem though."

Natilie blushes, "I… already have a dinner date. Maybe some other time?" She smiles weakly.

Envoy smiles, "Of course."

Natilie says, "I better get going… have a good dinner!"

Envoy says, "Thank you for dropping by, Natilie. And don't worry about Bem if you meet him in the hallway, he's very gentle."

Chiaroscuro smiles. "Fare thee well, Lady Natilie. A pleasure to have met you." He nods slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Natilie nods and leaves the room, shutting the door behind herself.

Chiaroscuro settles down on the bed, pulling out the dinner. "So how did things proceed at the Temple, Envoy?"

Envoy unpacks dinner. "Alright. There was a bit of confusion regarding the cookies, but it worked out okay. I found a Savanite that promised to deliver my other package to a Technopriest."

Chiaroscuro nods. "That is good, then. I had mostly unpacked when Natilie came in… I had thought she was a friend of yours." He shrugs. "I suppose that your fellows here in the guild drop by often?"

Envoy blinks, pausing as she sets out the bread. "Actually, none have ever visited me before. Although Veilanika has come by to pick me up now and then."

Envoy says, "I think the other Bards have avoided me for some reason."

Chiaroscuro nods, pausing to choose words most carefully. "Perhaps that is because they are jealous of your unique talents, or perhaps they have trouble understanding you. People do tend to associate with those most like them in my world, and I have not noticed different here thus far."

Envoy blinks three times. "I suppose that could be it. Or else they just think I'm bad luck to be around."

Envoy shrugs, "I'll have to ask Veilanika about it sometime." She gives the vermites to Bem, and then hands Chia a small loaf of bread stuffed with still-warm bird meat.

Bem inspects the vermites, then consumes them passively.

Chiaroscuro nods, taking the bread and eating it thoughtfully. "Mmmm-hmm." he comments.

Envoy perches on the end of the cot, and asks between bites of her own meal, "Do you have many Kavi friends, Chipper? I remember a lot of the females you performed with would follow you with their eyes after you were finished."

Chiaroscuro shakes his head… "A few Kavi friends, but not many. When Piti left with the performing crew, that was many of my friends." He pauses. "As for the females… some were friends, and many were desirous of… more.", he says.

Envoy nods, "The Kavi lifecycle being what it is, there must tremendous pressure to reproduce." She takes another big bite of her dinner. "Do you sleep laying down? I usually sit on the floor or stand."

Chiaroscuro tilts his head curiously. "Lifecycle?", he says, then continues: "Laying down, Lady Envoy. I only need the floor, though, if you wish the bed. It is still you whom is paying the rent… though I promise I will assist you as soon as I find a steady job."

Chiaroscuro finishes the rest of his meal quickly.

Envoy says, "Oh, I never use the cot. Except when I'm in a coma."

Envoy watches to see if her joke worked.

Chiaroscuro ahs, and chuckles lightly. "I see… then that will work well."

Envoy smiles, and cleans up the dinner crumbs while munching on an apple.

Chiaroscuro settles on the bed, crossing his legs and leaning back against the wall. "You had mentioned the Kavi… 'lifecycle'?"

Envoy nods, "They are the shortest lived of the sentient races here. The oldest Kavi I've heard of lived to the age of 30."

Envoy says, "I think the average is well below that though."

Chiaroscuro ohs… "I see… ". he says, in a hushed tone, and lowers his head slightly in thought.

Envoy says, "Except for the Aeonians, the others all seem to have more or less similar lifespans, although environment and occupation make a difference."

Envoy looks at the mongoose for a bit, then asks, "What were the people like on your world?"

Chiaroscuro smiles. "Quite a question, Lady Envoy. As for a lifetime, most of my people live for sixty years or more before we journey to The Garden. Rik' and Reyna are said to have lived for two hundred years, but since them, very very few have lived over a hundred.

Envoy says, "Was everyone like you?"

Chiaroscuro shakes his head. "There were my people, the ichuemoni, in Kitellia and Aynek. Nakh's spawn- snakes- lived in The Wasteland. The… " he searches for a Sinai term, "pig-rats, Chunachundre's descendents, live in South Cambria, and no one is sure of North Cambria. And the weaverbirds, who live all through Kittelia. There is much of the world unexplored… "

Envoy says, "Where is the garden? Is there only one? Do you live in houses? What are families like? Do you all study magic?"

Chiaroscuro holds up his hands… "One question at once, please!" He continues calmly. "To answer your last question first, no. There are few mages, only the Clerics of Rik'Tik'Tav, Nakh's minions, and the retcotheric mages.

Envoy says, "So are you also a cleric?"

Chiaroscuro shakes his head. "I had trained to be one, at first. But it was not meant as my path, despite the great urging of my family. Retcotheric magic came to me with an ease, and I chose to follow its ways- though remaining true to Rik', of course."

Envoy says, "Have you met Rik'? What's he like? Does he do stunts like you do?"

Chiaroscuro laughs… "What questions you ask… There I time I can feel Rik'Tik'Tav running by my side, to guard and protect me… and in my prayers, I speak to him and I can feel his answers. But he has not appeared in a vision to me, I have never been such blessed."

Envoy rubs the side of her muzzle. "What about Nakh? Why is he your enemy?"

Chiaroscuro's voice deepens as he tells the tale: how Rik'Tik'Tav came to The Garden and became its protector; how Nakh tried many times to kill Rik', but failed; of the final battle where Rik' slew Nakh and threw him in the dust-heap, of the helpers of Rik', Darzee and Darziel, the weaverbirds, and Chunachundre the muskrat.

Envoy hmms. "If Nakh was defeated, why are the ophid… the Nagas of your world still your enemies? Have you ever tried for peace?"

Chiaroscuro's eyes glint just a bit red as he speaks, "Nakh's children are all as craven, deceitful, and foul as he is. Twice pacts have been signed, and twice they turned on us and violated it. There will never be peace." He shakes his head firmly.

Envoy decides not to question further along that line. "What was your family like?"

Chiaroscuro smiles… "The Clan Themyst has been a great one… many of us were clerics, our family name comes from 'Tah Mystos', 'Searchers for hidden things'. Father was a warrior of the castle guard, and mother has been the court cleric to both King Ruhtyir the third and Kitell the Sixth!"

Envoy's eyebrows arch in surprise.

Chiaroscuro shakes his head slightly at Envoy. "I make it sound more important than it is, perhaps. All of Kitellia is perhaps twenty thousand in number, and the court cleric is far under the High Clerics and the Rik-ya'-breta. But she is my mother, so I am permitted to be proud of her status.", he says with a grin.

Envoy says, "What is she like?"

Chiaroscuro shifts position on the bed a bit. "Very full of Rik's spirit. When I had a question, I went to her before my father, knowing she would know just the answer. She is very compassionate, always giving me encouragement, always with an open ear."

Chiaroscuro sighs slightly… "It hurt her when I chose to quit cleric training, however. She trusted that my new path was right for me, but still I know she was disappointed."

Envoy says, "Do you miss her?"

Chiaroscuro nods to Envoy… "I miss her and Father… sometimes very greatly."

Envoy nods as well. "I can understand missing your parents."

Chiaroscuro says, "And you miss your old life before this world, Envoy?"

Envoy blinks and considers. "It was very different for me before," she admits.

Chiaroscuro leans forward a bit. "In what ways?", he says interestedly.

Envoy tries to find a way to explain it. "If you lost one of your hands, you would learn to live without it, wouldn't you?"

Chiaroscuro says, "Indeed… though I would feel the loss greatly at first, in time I would grow accustomed."

Envoy nods. "But the hand, severed from your heart and mind, would not live, correct?"

Chiaroscuro tilts his head slightly. "No, it would not."

Envoy says, "I am like a severed hand that didn't die. I have my own mind and heart, but I will always feel severed. Incomplete."

Chiaroscuro rests a paw on Envoy's shoulder, gently. "I- I wish I had words of comfort, Envoy."

Envoy blinks and looks at Chipper. "Comfort?"

Chiaroscuro looks at Envoy, and says quietly, "A way that you would stop feeling incomplete."

Envoy glances past Chia briefly, to look at Bem. "I'm part of Shkarkin Hive now. It's something, at least."

Bem clacks once, but otherwise makes no comment.

Chiaroscuro grows quiet, tail twitching lightly.

Envoy stands up. "I need to rest for a few hours now. You'll wake me if anything happens?"

Chiaroscuro makes a slight nod. "Certainly, Envoy. Sleep well." He smiles just a bit.

Envoy sits down with her back to the wall, and closes her eyes. Apparently, that's how she sleeps.

Chiaroscuro watches Envoy sleep for a while… thinking a multitude of things. After a while, he grows sleepy as well, and curls up on the bed, falling into dreams…