In the corridors of the Citadel.

[khephera]

She'd been headed for her secret garden in the upper reaches, but somewhere, she'd gotten turned around.  The corridors were no longer smooth sandstone, but were covered in some kind of paper.  It appeared to have coloured moss growing on it.  She trailed her fingers over the patterns.  Leaves, vines, little winged insects.  No, this was some kind

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[cristofano]

There is a scruffy young man with dark skin, mussed black hair, and all green clothing sitting on a table ignoring the rain over in the northern most corner of the room. The rain? Is orange.

He has tattoos, but not like hers. His are plants, all plants, as detailed as botanical paintings. They also don't spread as far as his face.

[khephera]

Khephera watches the prange rain for a few moments. Is there a leak in the roof perhaps? Yes that must be it. The sand from the desert floor is washing down and colouring the rain drops.

Only... Now they're turning blue.

She shakes her head and catches sight of the man on the table, starting a little.

"I'm sorry, I did not see you there. Hello." She dips her chin and closes her eyes briefly.

[cristofano]

"No worries." he says calmly (everything he does is calm) "It's cool. I'm pretty good at blending in."

Even with the Goth-goes-green style of his clothing. "New? Or returning visitor? So far I haven't met anyone who has been here before, as I count it, April."

[khephera]

She is noticing his tattoos now. Her eyes go wide for a moment.

"I'm new," she says absently, trying to place the species of plant along his forearms. It's something she's never seen before. She glances up into his face, a tiny smile crinkling the corners of her eyes. The veil hides everything else.

"I am Khephera. And I am afraid I must beg your forgiveness, as I do not know when April is..."

[brightobject]

There is a girl (with curly brown hair, and draped in a tarp rather than wearing actual clothing) standing in the lobby, watching an electric light.

...we might as well say up front she is probably not going to be the most help ever.

[khephera]

Khephera notices the girl. And then notices the light.

"OH." Is there a firebug trapped in glass? How in heaven's name does that work? She peers closer at the light, one hand raised to partially shield her eyes.

[brightobject]

"Yes," the girl finally says, looking... well, she's actually off Khephera's actual location by about two feet.

[khephera]

Khephera glances at the sound of the girl's voice. She had an aunt who lost her sight, and this is, she assumes, what is wrong with the girl.

"Hello." She dips her chin out of respect, suspecting the girl cannot see her at all.

[captainryan]

There's a man in an assortment of civilian clothes with interesting splotches of colour from the rain on the other side of the room. He seems to be studying it the walls in the manner of one who's never seen them before.

At the ding of the doors, he looks over with one brow slightly raised.

"Hello."

[khephera]

Khephera steps out into a puddle of green water. It quickly seeps up the hem of her robes, darkening and changing colours as it moves. She lifts her skirts out of the water, revealing simple if somewhat mud stained boots.

She looks up at him, her brow furrowed. "Hello." Her eyes skitter passed him to the expansive room beyond. "Where is this place?"

[captainryan]

"That's the question, isn't it? I was in Scotland this morning, but this place...isn't."

He pauses.

"I've been told we're all from separate worlds."

Privately he thinks this is all in his head.

[khephera]

"Scotland," she echoes, returning to his face. His garb is that of a tradesman, possibly from one of the coast cities. "I have not heard of this town. I was.. I mean, I thought I was walking along the corridor in the Citadel."

Absent-mindedly, she flicks her hand across her sleeve, brushing away the raindrops from the fabric. The water listens to her and streams away, turning to coloured mist before dissipating.

[homeless_pard]

There was the gentle sound of singing over the sound of the rain. The kitchens, one should note, were labeled today. With flashing arrows. Lacking a still, Khemrys had temporarily claimed the space for her own works...which at the moment meant standing atop the table to hang tea leaves from the rafters, her skirts pooling over the salt shaker and small bowl of...packets...

The song was a vesper, and just because it was to the Cup and Flame did not mean it wasn't a pretty song.

[khephera]

Khephera hears the woman's voice and follows it like a bird follows the gnats to water. She blinks up at the strange blinking signs.

She sees the woman hanging tea leaves (Tea! Something she recognises!) and calls to her quietly.

"Hello?"

[homeless_pard]

She paused, head and shoulders buried up in the festooned rafters. "Hello? If you will grant me but a moment..." a moment to tie the last strings. A moment to untangle a bundle from her hair. A moment to...

Well, it was several moments before she dipped her head to see her visitor. "Fair greeting...are you newly arrived? Has any thought to offer you guest cup yet?"

[khephera]

The woman in grey is wide-eyed, staring up at the bundles of tea leaves. "My mother used to hang her herbs this way. Save she would," she gestures with one hand, "wrap them in gauze, to keep the dust from them."

"Now our tea comes in boxes from the merchant in the market, and it just doesn't taste the same."

"And yes, to answer your question, I am newly arrived, and I'm not quite sure whose hospitality I am begging." Her eyes smile. "I am Khephera."