A Wing and a Prayer|Haven | Ilyamen

[hisdivineshadow]

It was an unseasonably warm and sunny day in Ilyamen. The frost had already melted from the grass, though the sun had barely cleared the horizon, and there was hardly a cloud in sight.

A speck in the sky grew closer, becoming a bird-like silhouette that swooped over the city, first circling high, then steadily spiraling downward. After searching back and forth over a few of the still-empty streets, the flyer dropped down toward the roof of an inn, hovering in place before settling down with a soft thump.

A few moments later, a wingless figure swung down over the edge of the roof, dusted himself off, and went in the front door. "Excuse me, sir," he addressed the innkeeper, "I was hoping to find a friend of mine here . . ."

[Toyoll]

The inn keeper, a round man with a merchant's smile, spoke to the potential client with a booming voice, "Well, speek up, lad! There are all sorts o' people here! Just give me a name."
He laughed, not out of malice, but he was a generally joyous man. Always eager to earn a bit of coin, he asked: "While I'm at it, would you care for a room? Or are you here to mail a package?"

[hisdivineshadow]

"A package?" The stranger grinned. "Who would I speak to about that?"

[Toyoll]

The man smiled and pointed a thick finger toward the lounge area, "Miss Damani is the one you're lookin' for, she should be having lunch right about now. But go in anyway, you'll find her easily enough. "

In the lounge, Qwynh was grooming herself after a sweet meal of fresh fruit and salad, she licked her claws and combed her fur all while roosting from a wooden beam. A waitress was clearing the table under her and Qynh smiled, watching people scurry about up-side down never seemed to lose it's novelty. The fruit bat yawned mightily and shifted on the beam.
"Shall I bring you your drink, miss?" said the young waitress. "Thank you" chirpped Qwynh, "The usual please." The girl nodded and was off.

[hisdivineshadow]

It wasn't hard to spot Qwynh from across the room -- after all, how many residents of Ilyamen had fur and wings, and liked to hang upside down from rafters?

He slipped around the edge of the room and walked silently right up behind the gambian. With mirth in his voice, the new arrival asked her, "Comfy?"

[Toyoll]

Qwynh started violently, yelped and instinctively flared her wings, nearly knocking over a gentleman's drink. She immediately snapped her wings to her side and appologized profusely before craning her flexible neck to look behind her. Who she saw made her giggle nervously, "O-Oh, it's you!"

[hisdivineshadow]

Fahr laughed and ran a hand through his rather windblown-looking hair. His face was flushed, but he was grinning broadly. "Is it really me? Sometimes I wonder," he said with a chuckle.

Tilting his head sideways, he met her eyes and asked, "How have you been, Qwynh? It's been, what, almost a year now?"

[Toyoll]

"I-I've been fine!" she shuffled her feet around so she could see him eye to eye, "Forces, th-this is certainly a s-surprise! I almost never hear from clients a-after so long! How are you?"

Qwynh swung herself onto terra firma and smiled, "How rude of me, please, sit! C-can I offer you a drink?"

[hisdivineshadow]

He hesitated before answering, casting a glance toward the door, then shrugged and smiled. "Why not. I came this far, after all."

Fahr pulled a chair out for himself, then glanced at Qwynh thoughtfully. "You probably don't sit in chairs much, do you?" He chuckled, then sat down. "If you're more comfortable upside down, don't mind me. I can get used to it."

[Toyoll]

"N-no, I can sit just fine!" Qwynh said as she lowered herself in the opposite chair, "A-after living abroad for so long, I've gotten used to some things a-and found solutions for others!"

The waitress returned and placed a wine goblet of green tea on the table. The stem of the glass made it easier for Qwynh to pick up. The young girl looked at Fahr, then smiled at Qwynh, "Anything for you gentleman friend?"

[hisdivineshadow]

Fahr smiled at the waitress. "I'd actually like some of what Miss Qwynh's having, please."

Looking back at Qwynh, he nodded. "Okay, I just didn't want to inconvenience you." The waitress returned shortly with his tea, and he thanked her before she left.

After taking a sip, he leaned forward and folded his hands on the table. "So, what does the day hold for our intrepid delivery woman?"

[Toyoll]

"Not much, today. J-just one delivery this morning." She flicked an ear, "I'll see if I have more from the innkeep this afternoon, b-but I doubt it. U-usually, if I don't get any new orders before lunch, th-then I'll be free."

She tilted her head inquisitively, "A-and what brings you here, I-I wonder? I doubt you're simply dropping by..."

[hisdivineshadow]

He didn't answer at first, taking a moment for another sip of tea. The long sip gave him a chance to school his expression. He didn't want his excitement to show.

With the slightest hint of a grin, Fahr answered nonchalantly, "Well, actually, I was hoping you could help me with something. It's sort of a project I've been working on, the past few months. I think you'll find it interesting."

[Toyoll]

Qwynh's elegant, shell-shaped ears swivelled to the front as, once again, her curiosity got the best of her. "Project?" She blinked her large eyes, taking a sip of her own tea, "Well...um...wh-what is it?"

[hisdivineshadow]

"Well . . ." He paused for another sip, then explained, "It's something you really have to see. I'll show you outside, after we finish our drinks, okay?"