After a night of fun at the expense of her Xander's brothers, along with some dancing with Sabya and Nawar.. and then not getting a lot of sleep afterwards, which Xander certainly didn't voice any complaints over, Umeko manages to wake up closer to mid-morning the next day, still wearing most of her dancing costume. Xander is hurriedly getting dressed, noting something about an interview.
"Interview?" Umeko grumbles as she pushes herself upright. She looks a downright wreck, what with her mangled bed-hair sticking out this way and that. She even looks momentarily confused in her tired state when the hard studs in her mouth rub around a bit, but eventually she remembers having those done. "What interview?" she asks as she uses her claws to try and detangle her hair and mane.
"With the Guild director," Xander notes, adjusting his robes. Having just a thick thatch of fur on his head, he combs it into a less chaotic form with his fingers. "He needs to sign off on my rank application and approve a transit voucher to Caroban for me."
"I could intimidate him and remove the need for an interview," the Kiriga offers, then yawns widely. "And why do you need a voucher?"
"Oh.. well, so I don't have to pay for it," Xander notes. "You can't just fly to Caroban on a regular airship. And The Wandering Sylph is in port and just getting ready to go there, so I need to hurry."
"You can fly anywhere with the right status or money, Xander," Umeko notes as she rolls off the lumpy carpet-bed and finally stands up. "But, as you like. Is this where we part company?" she asks.
"Well.. while I go to the Guild, yes," Xander notes. "Unless.. ah.. you want to see Caroban? It's pretty nice, and you are my employer.."
"True. And I should see if I can find a cheaper mage, now that you're increasing your rates," Umeko remarks and stretches upward. It really does seem like her body lengthens some when she does that. "Do I need to get sign-off from this director as well as a visitor?"
"MMmmmmf," Xander goes as Umeko stretches. "What? Oh, I can ask for extra passes in this case. I mean.. it's sometimes a big deal, gaining a rank, and it's okay to invite loved ones and family."
"And employers?" Umeko verifies. She gives up on using her claws and gets a real brush to smooth out her mane. "And will I need to go sign anything at the guild? I need to know how much time I have to dress this morning."
"Oh, I'm sure we have plenty of time, it's just that paperwork can be slow here," Xander notes. "Everyone likes to take a nap at noon."
"But I should be able to get passes for you and Nawar, if you want to take her along as your.. handmaiden!" Xander notes.
"If she wishes to go," Umeko answers and bobs her head slightly. "And if we have time, well, then you can brush my hair. Or go wake Nawar and I'll have her do it..."
"I'm sure everyone else is already awake," Xander notes, "We overslept.. for some reason." He winks and gives Umeko a kiss on the cheek. Morning breath! "There's a bath house my mom goes to, and you can ask her about Nawar too.. I need to hurry or I'll miss my appointment!"
"Too much wine," Umeko claims. Her lips curl back, amused, and she shakes her head. "Off with you then. I do not suffer late employees, nor should the guild director," she says as she lightly swats his backside with the tip of her tail.
The buck squeaks from the smack, and runs off. Umeko can here him give a quick hello-goodby to his mother on the way out of the house as well.
Umeko sheds the remainder of her dancers clothing, though she does fold them up neatly and place them to the side to avoid damage. Now she picks up her Kimono and drapes that on, but only ties it loosely in case she will be going to a bath house this morning. Now that she looks decent-ish, she heads into the main part of the house.
"Good morning dear," Sabya says, wiping her hands on her apron before giving Umeko a hug. "I imagine you'd like a hot bath, to wash the spirit gum off?" she asks.
"Good morning," Umeko says in kind. "I would indeed, if it would not be too much of an imposition. I also have a question to ask of you, when you have the time."
"Well, I think we shall all go then," Sabya notes, can calls Nawar (without raising her voice). The coney arrives, and her mothers tells her to gather the bath supplies, which the girl runs off to do. "We can talk while we bathe," Sabya offers to Umeko.
Umeko nods once. "That is acceptable," the Kiriga says. "I do hope having me here has not caused undo hardship on your family. I know that I am ... odd, from the perspective of most mammals."
"It has been a great honor!" Sabya insists. "If not for you, I would not have had the opportunity to try a new recipe, or an excuse to visit my old friends at the dance studio. And Nawar seems taken with you, as well."
"Does she? I thought she seemed scared of me," Umeko admits as she finds a clear chair to settle onto while she waits for the coney to return with the requested supplies.
"Oh, she is a very timid girl by nature," Sabya insists. "But she actually talks around you, which is rare."
"Mm," Umeko notes, "So ... am I corrupting her?"
The girl returns shortly, carrying two wooden buckets filled with bottles, brushes and rolled-up towels.
"My my, I do not know if that would even be possible," Sabya says, and ruffles her daughters tuft of hair and ears. "She is a good girl! Now, let us be off, before they run out of lilac and cold yoghurt."
Umeko can't help herself, she tilts her head towards Nawar ... then sticks her tongue out at the coney, flashing the bits of silver in it. The kiriga then winks and rises from her seat. "Lead on, I shall follow," she says.
The walk to the bath house isn't very long, but the day is pleasant and Sabya takes her time, often pointing out the gardens of neighbors along the way, or exchanging pleasantries with someone she knows. The bath house itself has a vaguely Imperial style to it, although that seems overlayed on top of Olympian. This is likely from the proprietor being a heavy-looking Naga woman, with a cobra hood and striking colors. Sabya leads her charges to the changing area, and then to the women's bathing room, which includes benches and mirrors along with the actual walk-in pool of circulating hot water.
"This is ... " Umeko remarks as her head tilts this way and that just before entering the changing room. "Quite elegant," she decides, "Far more artistic than I would have expected. It is almost Jadaian, but it lacks the touch of nature." She undoes her kimono and slips it off, offering it to Nawar. "Fold this for me?" she asks the young girl.
The coney takes a moment to figure out the proper way of doing it, having to start over once. But she does get it folded properly, apparently based on just having seen it folded once before.
"You are a quick learner," Umeko observes. "Do you attend any schools yet?"
"She has been tutored, and knows her letters," Sabya notes. "She seemed fond of calligraphy." Nawar just smiles shyly and nods along. "I can do ..." she fumbles for a moment, searching for the proper Standard term, "wrathmatic."
"Have you considered more ... formal training of your daughter?" Umeko asks Sabya. "Since I am establishing a new house in the lands of Viper's Hold, I will need servants and handmaidens to tend to smaller matters. I think it is something your daughter may excel at and she has the honor of being offered the first position. If she so desired, she could also learn the ways of combat from me; but I should warn that it would not be easy."
"My, my little girl, traveling to exotic lands?" Sabya says, looking thoughtful as she enters the water. Despite having had four children, some of her dancer's form is still there. "And there would be no other Lapi, save for Xander?"
Umeko follows Sabya into the swirling, warm, water. She sighs softly as warmth is almost always appreciated by those of reptilian heritage. "At the moment, yes. I may see if one of the family servants from Jadai would come for a time, and I may try to recruit help from one of the local tribes of Savanites ... friends of mine. But beyond that, I have not fully decided how the estate will be structured," she explains.
Nawar begins setting out the supplies, dipping one bucket into the water and using it to pour water down her mother and Umeko's backs. "It would be very educational then, and perhaps help Nawar bloom," Sabya notes, as she watches the girl. "Do you want to go with your brother and Lady Umeko, Nawar?" she asks.
The girl pauses, holding the bottle of shampoo in one hand and chewing on her lower lip, her ears down. "I.. would like to see other places," she admits.
"It will be scary," Umeko tells the coney, "I do, at times, have to deal with important, and dangerous people, such as the Generals of the Imperial army. Would being around them scare you too much?"
"I'm scared around everyone now," Nawar answers quietly, and nervously squeezes the bottle. Remembering it, she pours some shampoo into her hands, and then stands behind Umeko to begin washing through her hair. Sabya nods approvingly, and uses the shampoo herself - of course, being covered in fur she uses a bit more.
"What is it that scares you?" Umeko asks as she closes her eyes to keep from getting soap in them. "Do I scare you?"
"Being noticed frightens me," Nawar says, apparently feeling fine being behind Umeko. "You are very impressive, Lady Umeko, but not so scary because you are with Xander. And Xander is gentle and goofy."
"Then what is scary to you?" Umeko asks. "What are the aspects that make you fear?"
NOTE: change Sabya to Sabah (Sabya was the dance instructor)
"Eye contact," Nawar whispers. "I want to freeze. I do not want to be seen as trying to challenge, but cannot look down.."
"What is wrong with challenging?" Umeko continues with her questions. "Why does it frighten you? What part of it do you fear?"
"I should not be challenging people, it is inappropriate," Nawar states. "A girl my age should be demure and obedient," she notes, just before dumping a bucket-full of water over Umeko's head to rinse out the soap.
Wisely not speaking as she's being nearly drowned, Umeko ends up smirking slightly instead. "I am ... not the best person to be around if that is what you truly believe. I was rarely demure and obedient at your age ... or even now," she admits, "Which caused much difficulty with my family."
"I.. I can teach you?" Nawar offers a bit guardedly. "At least.. how to fake it? And you will teach me to be bold and fearless?"
"I think I can fake it ... most of the time," Umeko admits, "But perhaps there is more I could learn. As for teaching you ... what matters most is finding something that will motivate you. As for being fearless ... that is impossible. There is always fear; what matters is how you react to it."
"Really?" Nawar asks, sounding surprised. "Even after I have a husband to protect me?"
"Do you need a husband to protect you? I have no husband," Umeko notes.
"You have Xander, who is a powerful Fire Mage and can slay entire armies!" Nawar says, letting it be known what she thinks of her brother.
"Dear child, I defend him more often than he does me," Umeko notes, an amused smile on her lips. "But that is not important. Is one of your goals in life to get a husband?"
"Of course!" Nawar says. "I want a gentle man, who likes to shower me with gifts, and has no more than three other wives."
"Why not a man with only one wife, you?" Umeko suggests, "Or ... multiple husbands?"
"Because a man with multiple wives is prosperous, and will not be too demanding of attention from me," Nawar reasons. "And no woman has multiple husbands! Ah-la! Imagine all of the work that would involve!"
Here Sabah has to laugh.
Umeko does as well. "Travel will do you well. There are many ... viewpoints in the world," the Kiriga notes. "Now, welcome to the household. I suppose your lessons should begin. Today you will learn how to care for talons. They are a bit different from khatta claws and similar..."