An unusual caller

[Dulcie]

Kacela didn't care much for being in the town itself. It was somewhere she came when she had to, trading meat and fur for the coins that kept her living a mostly human existance in the tavern. It was a necessity and one that she had come to accept for what it was. Today was different. Today she wore shoes. These things were expected after all. She had been waiting in the alleyway near the Governor's house for a good portion of the morning. She had smelled his presence inside and she had no intention of seeking his mate while he was present. The less she had to see or have anything to do with Glenn Burnie the better. But she was patient, just as she was when she was stalking prey. The Governor had eventually left to go attend to whatever business a Governor attends to and she would continue to wait well beyond an hour, not just to ensure that he was truly gone but to give herself some time to prepare what she was going to say. Not that it would help, she never had the right words anyhow, and while she was sure she could converse with Rhaena the way she did with Kals she didn't want to. She'd take a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that felt all too present in her body. She shouldn't feel like she was about to leap into a battlefield and yet she found the feeling disturbingly similar. The wolf's presence within her seemed annoyed at her cowardice, but fear was what brought her presence to the surface, the wolf awake within her, present but not emerging.

Kacela decided that she was as ready as she was going to be and would push herself up out of the dark corner that she had been hidden in, keeping the small, flat leather wrapped package in her hand. It was an interesting looking shape, long and thin, about the right size to hold a dagger or a knife, though the wrapping itself was simple and rectangular with a sinew like thread that tied it closed. She stood in front of the door for longer than would have been appropriate. She could smell the Rain Wilder's presence within. She knew she was home, but she didn't know exactly what the other woman was going to do. Finally, Kacela would lift her hand to the door and would knock, the sound one sharp rap at the door and then a long pause before she would try again. She should have watched someone else do this. How many times was she supposed to knock? And with what force? She was frustrated already. She'd stop knocking, her brow furrowed as she listened instead to the noises inside. She'd know if Rhaena was coming to the door, there'd be no point in continued knocking. She wondered briefly then what Kals would think if he knew that she had come here. She hadn't told him she was going to do it, just like she hadn't told him about the teahouse. There were some things that were better left to be spoken about until after they had happened.

[Jirai]

Contrary to what some may think, given Rhaena's choice of clothing and actions of late, Rhaena did not spend her day sitting around drinking tea and eating bon-bons. Today, for example, there were accounts to be totaled and letters to be written, including a particularly tricky one for Lord Kostroma which Rhaena had been procrastinating on. So a knock at the door came as a welcome distraction from that particular task and quill and still-blank parchment were set aside as the second knock came, skirts smoothed out as the woman rose. Curious, perhaps, not exactly the typical knocking one usually heard at the door. Still, any distraction was a good distraction and, in a flurry of skirts, Rhaena herself would open the door. A startled expression crossed the woman's scaled face upon seeing who it was outside, but the look was swiftly smoothed away into welcoming politeness.

"Kacela, what a pleasant surprise!" She exclaimed. "Do come in!"

[Dulcie]

Skirts swishing and the sound of footsteps approaching from within. She was sure that Rhaena was approaching the door and she'd take a moment to try to free her own expression from the frustration she had felt about trying to figure out the knocking. Sweaty palms would be hastily wiped against her pants as she'd push down the emotions she got about it from the wolf. Now wasn't really the time for an internal argument about things. The door would open and Kacela would look towards the expression of the person opening it. A lot hinged on how the other woman reacted after all.

The startle she had expected and she began to open her mouth to explain her presence in the careful words she had decided on earlier, but Rhaena's sweep of welcoming politeness surprised her and stole away the words that she was about to say. She was dumb founded for a moment, taken aback by the one reaction she hadn't quite planned for. After an awkward pause she would bow her head forward a bit, her braids swaying with the motion.

"My thank yous." She'd return politely, and when Rhaena would step back she would step past the threshold and into the other woman's house, her deep brown eyes sweeping over her immediate surroundings. She had seen the houses in town, but other than some of the rickety farmhouses she had never been inside another Myrken home before. The place stunk of Glenn Burnie which stirred the wolf, but she was prepared for that, pushing aside that predatory instinct, instead drawing her eyes back to Rhaena. What did they do now in this situation? A farmer might have tried to hug her, or lead her to the kitchen. But this was not a farm and she really had no idea what to expect next. She had things to say, but she knew they weren't for hallways.

[Jirai]

The governor's house was certainly nicer than the farmhouses that Kacela might have seen, but by no means as opulent as one might have guessed. Quite nice, surely, but not extravagent. And where a farmer might have hugged such a visitor, Rhaena made no such motions, but simply ushered her guest further in, gesturing towards the room Rhaena typically used for both her work and for entertaining guests - a room that reflected that dual usage. "Please, come in, have a seat!" She seemed genuinely pleased to see the wild woman. "Would you care for some tea or wine, perhaps?" The gowned woman - and weren't they such a study in contrasts, these two? - continued to chatter. "I must say, I had been hoping to speak to you at some point, so it's wonderful to find you at my door!"

[Dulcie]

The house was not extravagent to an ordinary person, but it was quite different from what Kacela was used to. Her eyes would sweep over the details of the house until Rhaena finally ushered her into the room that seemed to be made for entertaining and working, an entirely foreign concept to the woman who didn't write or entertain. She'd stand in the middle of the room, her curious eyes still looking over everything until she was informed that she should take a seat. Immediately she looked for a hearth as she usually seated herself on the floor near the one in the tavern, but she reminded herself of where she was and selected a chair instead. She'd sit down awkwardly, looking horribly out of place sitting in a chair, though she'd take a minute to set the little package she brought with her down onto the nearby table.

Tea and wine, choices that brought a little wrinkle to her nose, though she tried very hard not to let the other woman see it. Wine was a poison and tea was for sick people. It wasn't much of a choice really, but Kacela was here on her very best behavior and she didn't want to insult her host by refusing her. "Tea." She said simply, lacking the manners to tack on a please. She shifted in her seat, trying to find place to settle her legs, her hands, all of her limbs seeming to be just a little out of place until she finally seemed to still.

"I have been wanting to talk to you also. I have many things to say."

[Jirai]

No hearth in this room, and with Kacela less than gracefully seated, Rhaena smiled. "Tea it shall be, then. A moment, please." And the gowned woman swept out of the room, a few orders given to an unseen servant before Rhaena returned to take a seat of her own with the barest of glances for Kacela's package.

"Well, I'm pleased you've come. And I'm quite happy that you seem to be making my brother happy, if I may say so." She would term Kals her brother even if he had effectively expelled her from the family.

It would only be a minute or two before a maid entered quietly with a pot of tea and two cups. She set them on the table and then whisked away as quietly as she had come. Rhaena herself poured the tea into the delicate cups.

[Dulcie]

She'd watch the exchange between Rhaena and the unseen maid in the hallway with fascination. She had never been to a home where someone had someone else to do things for them. She thought such people were reserved for the taverns and shops. Apparently she had been wrong. She'd try to wait politely, but mostly she was just uncomfortable.

When Rhaena expressed pleasure that she had come Kacela would cock her head slightly to the side, studying her for a moment.

"You are pleased? Your mate does not like me." She seemed puzzled by the woman's reaction to her presence, having expected something less welcoming. She'd even subtly sniff at the air, trying to sense if there was a lie in the woman's words.

Tea was poured and large brown eyes would watch the servent who whisked off back into the house, continuing to find that whole interaction strange as well. It would figure that Glenn Burnie's home would be full of strange things. She'd reach for the tea cup that was to be hers, capturing it in both of her hands, ignoring the tiny delicate little ring on it's side that it was meant to be held by. She'd probably break the cup if she tried to hold it properly. She'd lift it up, studying it for a moment as she remembered a number of the ones she had smashed in the teahouse. Good riddance really. She'd sniff at the cup of tea briefly before she'd finally bring it to her lips, taking a tiny drink of it and strongly holding back the face that she desperately wanted to make about how it tasted.

[Jirai]

Rhaena had someone else to do things for her, certainly - how else would she manage to get dressed in the mornings? She definitely could not lace herself into such gowns as she wore! And the hair, that definitely needed another's hands! She smiled at Kacela's question, and there had been no lie in her words. Rhaena was genuine, odd as it might sometimes seem.

"Of course I am pleased. We both want Kals to be happy. You make him happy. Why would we not be pleased with that?" Again, the woman was absolutely genuine. She picked up her own cup of tea and took a delicate sip. "That makes you family, Kacela."

[Dulcie]

Family. One word that meant so many things and for a moment Rhaena would likely see a few expressions cross the wild woman's face, first one of confusion followed by another of quiet contemplation. Things just weren't at all how she had expected that they would go, and she had to re-think a little about the plan that she had made for herself. After a pause that was far too long to be socially appropriate Kacela would finally speak again.

"It is good to hear you say these words. It has been a long time since I have had family." She'd look at the tea cup then briefly, considering taking another sip before she decided against it. "It is good hearing that you will be happy when Kals and I are.." She'd stop there, a visible look of concentration coming to her face as she tried to think of the word that they used, determined to use the one that was most appropriate for this culture. It'd take her a few seconds before she'd have it and finally add on, "married."

[Jirai]

Family. Whatever Kals said, even if she wasn't welcome back home. Still family. Rhaena did not seem to be bothered by Kacela's long pauses, simply using the time to take careful sips of her tea. "Family is important." She agreed. "Have you and Kals decided when to get married?" Last she'd heard from her brother, he was going to talk to their parents about it.

[Dulcie]

The news was clearly not a surprise to Rhaena, though her knowledge of it was something of a surprise to the wild woman, giving her a few thoughts to think upon. A question was asked however and she'd shake her head lightly, her little braids clattering with the motion. "No. There are things to be doing. Right ways to ask." She didn't seem inclined to give much more explanation than that, though she'd add shortly there after. "I am going to meet your family. It is the way of my people to give gifts. Family IS important." She emphasized, repeating Rhaena's own words. "I have a gift for you too. For family." She'd say simply, setting down her teacup carefully before she'd nudge the little package forward towards Rhaena.

When the other woman would pick it up she'd find it to be light, easy to lift and clearly incapable of holding anything as heavy as a dagger or a knife which the size of the package might have suggested earlier on.

[Jirai]

She'd had her suspicions after running into the two of them at their archery lesson or whatever it had been. A talk with her brother had confirmed it, especially since Rhaena had been able to keep the conversation on her brother's love life rather than her own. Really, it was the first completely civil conversation the two siblings had managed in ages (but that was Kals' own fault, not Rhaena's! Rhaena was -always- polite!).

"Oh, how lovely!" She exclaimed as the gift is mentioned and the package indicated. Obligingly, Rhaena would pick up the small package with a delighted smile, opening it carefully.

[Dulcie]

She watched as Rhaena took the package, her eyes watching the other woman's reactions to both the news and to the item that she had given to her. As Rhaena would unwrap the small leather package inside she'd find a single feather. Truly it was nothing extraordinary, the feather itself hues of dull brown, and it was only adorned with a single red bead and a thin leather thong that dangled it's twin lengths from the base of the feather.

Kacela wouldn't hesitate to explain her gift, the teacup set down as she leaned across the table, her dark fingertip moving to touch lightly down along the length of the feather. "To my people when two will be mated the families give gifts to each other. I do not have family so I give gifts." She'd let her fingertip rest along the feather for a moment, close to the bead. "A feather is a gift from the spirits and I share it with you, so they will keep you safe." She had been practicing clearly, her common speech almost passably decent. Her fingertip would tap the bead for a moment. "To wish you a long life." She'd explain before her fingertip moved down to pinch one of the leather ties between thumb and finger. "To hang in your home, to keep the dark spirits away." She'd remove her hand from her gift then, settling it back down in her lap as she'd look back at Rhaena, waiting to see what she'd think or say.

[Jirai]

Rhaena smiled as the feather was unveiled, handling the gift delicately with her flesh-and-blood hand. "Thank you, Kacela, it's lovely. And long life and safety are always needed wishes here." For a moment, she simply looks down at the feather in her hand, but then her face brightens. "Ahh! A moment, Kacela, if you will?" Without waiting for a response she set the gift down ever so carefully on the table before bouncing to her feet and heading over to a set of bookshelves. Some of the shelves are full of books but others hold different items, and it's amongst the latter that she is rummaging, looking for something specific. It takes a moment or two, but eventually she turns around with a small wooden box, intricately carved, in her hands. "Has Kals showed you one of these?" She asks.

[Dulcie]

The wild woman seemed to relax once her gift was accepted, her body visibly losing some of the tension that had been resting in her shoulders and arms, and she leaned back into her chair a little more easily than she had initially. It was the other woman's quick movements that gave her a start, finding them unexpected and not at all in line with what she thought would be happening at this point. But Rhaena asked her to stay a moment and so Kacela would, her eyes following each bouncing movement until the other woman turned about with the wooden box in her hands.

"It is a box that shows pictures in the mind?" It was the only way she could describe it, but it looked like the one that Kals had used to show her his memories. She sounded unsure however, finding the idea almost impossible that more than one of such a thing could exist.