Social Thread

Hakumi was wandering around Hargeon, not sure what to do that day. She didn't want to take any jobs, she was hoping to do something fun with a guild member, but there didn't seem to be any one around. After aimlessly walking around for a while, she sat on a bench across from a clothing store. Looking in the store, she saw a few things she may want, considering to stray from her regular nun outfit. She hope that someone had walked past and noticed her boredom.

Akryn just happened to be walking by at that time, a box with a hat tucked under one arm, and a dry cleaning bag over his shoulder, a big grin on his face. The guild had certainly been picking up a lot lately, especially with some rather attractive young women. Some of them had taken an odd liking to Akryn, which he didn't really understand, but enjoyed. He liked their company and felt like he fit in with them. He loved his guild, all of them and was glad to have family again. He smiled as he saw the little nun, wandering over to sit down on the bench next to her. "You don't mind if I rest here do you?"

Hakumi looked up at Akryn and said,"No, go for it." She sighed and stood up on the bench looking for some place that looked a bit interesting.

Akryn looked at the small nun curiously. "How old are you? And what exactly are you looking for?" He asked, placing the box on the ground next to his feet.

Hakumi looked at Akryn and said,"I'm seventeen, although, in a few months I will be eighteen. I'm looking for somewhere interesting. I don't really want to take any jobs today, so I have nothing else to do."

Akryn blinked in utter surprise as he looked at the little nun. Seventeen? No way was this little girl really that old! She looked like someone you would find at a primer school! Akryn shook his head in disbelief before grinning a bit. People certainly did come in all shapes and sizes. "Well, you wont find much nteresting sitting around here. Have you tried the market?"

Hakumi looked disappointed and said,"Yes. There were a lot of people, but they seemed to not notice me. I bet your wondering why I'm so small. Well, even if you aren't, I'll tell you anyway. It's because of the genes in my clan. We remain this size until we are in our late 20's. Our bodies mature, but our faces usually stay the same."

"Oh.....ok.....its kinda cute really." he said, taking a moment to look her over slowly, still stunned at her age. Still, in Fiore, it made sense really. His family on his dads side mostly had the same eyes he did, odd ones that looked like oil in water. Why shouldn't there be a family that stayed looking like kids. "Well, you just gotta make yourself stand out then." he said with a grin.

There was a silence as Hakumi thought about how she could make her self known. There was a dumbfounded expression on her face. She couldn't think of a way to make herself known. "Making small noticeable is extremely hard." She said.

Akryn laughed as he stood up and opened the box he had been carrying, pulling out a beautiful, wide brimmed, black hat, and put it on her head. "Nonsense. It is not the size that matters, so much as the presentation. A gift in pretty wrapping and a bow always gets more attention than one in plain cardboard."

"This hat is pretty. But wont people notice the hat and not me? I need to find more things to do in my spare time. Thank you for your kindness. May I ask where you're going?" Hakumi said curiously.

Leya began her walk down the streets holding a paper in her hand. She looked around and then stopped dead in front of the two. "The guild hall is around here somewhere.... The boss wants me to deliver this pronto." She sighed and then with her head bowed down she bumped right into Akryn. However, her push into him sent him flying a good 20 feet. She stopped and looked over at the little person that he was hanging around. The masked girl put a hand behind her head and was a little silent. The sound of her metal greaves hitting the ground could be heard as she ran up to Akryn. She bent forward placing her hand on her knee then held her other gloved hand out to help the lad up. "I'm sorry, I need to be more careful." As she was bent forward, Akryn could get a good glimpse of the tattoo on her chest. It was almost like Eclipse Soul's, but carried a star in the center. "Let me help you up." She said.

Hakumi stared at the strange girl before finally noticing what had just happened. She helped Akryn up and stood in between Leya and him, a bit jealous.

Akryn accepted help from both ladies, taking a moment to admire Leya's cleavage before blinking. "That's odd. Your tattoo looks a lot like mine." he said as he reached down and grabbed the bottom of his shirt, lifting it to reveal washboard abs bearing a white and yellow guild tattoo. "That's actually pretty cool. You in a guild? I am Akryn of Eclipse Soul, and this is Hakumi, of should be in Eclipse Soul." he said, tossing a wink to the small nun.

"Maybe I would have joined Eclipse Soul if it had been formed a little while ago. I kind of recently joined a guild, but I still enjoy it, and don't see myself leaving it any time soon. But it would also be cool if you joined Lamia Scale, we always look for people such as yourself." Hakumi said holding up her palm revealing her Lamia Scale guild mark.

Leya put a hand on her tattoo. She looked down at her chest and then at Akryn's tattoo. It definitely did almost look the same. Leya then looked back down at her chest. Immediately she heard her own screams and a loud evil laugh in her head as she flashed back to the day she got it. "I'm Leya..." She said forcing herself back into the present. She thought of what to say. "I'm not in a guild. I'm actually here to deliver a message to Lamia Scale, but sense I have a representative from Eclipse Soul here. I guess I'll hit two birds with one stone." Leya handed Hakumi the paper then pulled another paper from her inside shirt pocket and handed that one to Akryn. "This is an invitation to the Magic Council's seating ceremony. Our new chairman is going to be there. He wants all of the aces and guild masters to come to a party after the ceremony. The chairman wants to extend his hand to all registered guilds to explain with them how he wishes to govern things." She looked at Akryn and Hakumi expecting a bored look. "I'm a contractor for them. I work hand in hand with the chairman and the Rune Knights. I'm not here to harm anyone." She then looked at Akryn. "I've heard from Fourth Chair Fancy Mel, that we need a guild like your's Akryn. A lot of 'lost causes' come to that guild looking for answers only to realize that they aren't.... Plus with Wizard Saint Zeno's help during the events in our hometown Era, we actually survived a major attack. Fancy Mel shows her gratitude every time your guild is mentioned."

She looked at Hakumi. "I sadly cannot join a guild. I will not fit in with your amusing group." She put a hand under her tattoo letting her fingers lay over the marking. This is the person I belong to, Leya thought. Body and soul... He knows I will not leave him for these guilds. Leya smiled and then bowed. "Please extend these invitations to your guild masters and aces. This isn't a matter of RSVPing with a yes or no. It's a matter of importance that they come."

"Sorry Hakumi, but I am in a strict, one guild relationship with eclipse soul." he said, winking at the tiny woman before turning and taking the invitation curiously. He bristled a bit at the words, not a yes or no thing. He never liked the idea of being forced into anything, and that feeling extended towards his guildmates. Still, it was a magic council sort of thing, and Akryn knew that they held themselves way to high on the pedestal. Akryn eye the invite, even going so far as to sniff it openly. He didn't need to though, he had an extremely good nose. But no harm putting on a bit of a show. "I will pass it on, but knowing my guild, there is no guarantee they will show."

Hakumi neglected her invitation, forgetting that she even had it. She looked at Akryn. "That's too bad, I could use more people like you in my guild. But I will respect your dedication to yours. And thanks for not calling me tiny."

Leya nodded to both of the mages and then bowed again showing her cleavage to Akryn as well. "Well, please tell Master Zeno that it will be expected that he be there and to bring his aces." She then straightened her stance and then looked at Hakumi. "And make sure Master Zuo gets his as well, please tell him to bring his aces too. Once again, this isn't a yes or no matter. This is a requirement that they attend." She turned around and then began to walk off. As soon as a person in the crowd blocked their vision of her and walked by she was gone. She had vanished.

(Exit Leya)