Just Around the Riverbend [FINISHED]

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

What a wondrous sight it was to the Tora-Jin. All Rajah could do was gape at a discovery that he hoped was true since he first left India. With Felicia on his shoulder and Rowan close by, Rajah stood in awe as he walked into the city of Jin Rowan told him of not just twenty minutes ago.

"This has to be..." Rajah began as emotions overwhelmed him along with a heartwarming smile, "...the best gift you had ever given me."

He looked at Rowan with sincere eyes and a tender smile. "Thank you, my friend," he said to the armored Shishi-Jin. "What do we do first?"

[Felicia Lisger]

Felicia let out a long purr, her body revebrating against Rajah's neck as he spoke. There were so many animal-people walking about, taking care of business just like regular folk. The hustle and bustle of the town was livening, and she felt that there were probably a million things to do in the town, even for a lowly kitten like herself. Even Sunset left her constant swirl around her to loom closer to the town and the creatures walking through. There was even the occassional Human about, though they were quiet amongst the towering giants that called the town home.

She knew that they were going to have an excellent time, and Felicia, as part of her home-grown nature, hoped that she would pick up some information as well while she was here.

[Jin NPC]

Rowan took in all of the sights and sounds as he and his companions entered the Jin town. It was busy, with Jin and even a few people moving about, and it warmed Rowan's heart to see that some Humans and Jin were working together. He didn't know the history of this town, but he knew that if he made it back home, he would telling his people about the camaraderie here. It made him smile.

"It's just as much of a gift to me as it is to you," he said. He has stopped by this down before, but it always made him feel like a cub whenever he stepped into it. It was all so wondrous and bright, and not yet tainted by disagreements or strife. It was a town that was building in strength now that there were Humans accepting it.

Looking at Rajah, he said, "Shall we explore it?" Knowing that he was already familiar with the city wasn't going to slow the Tora-jin down, he knew. He had to allow Rajah to enjoy it in his own right.

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

There was no other way to describe his anxiousness; Rajah was excited. He was just as giddy and gleeful as he was when he saw Rowan again. He couldn't wait to enter the city and see what was in store. He looked at Rowan as he asked if they should explore the city and only smiled happily.

"Why yes, Rowan," he said as he stood upright, playing with Felicia's tail. "I believe we shall."

[Jin NPC]

"Good," Rowan said, a jesting smile spread across his lips. "I know just the place that we should visit first. I think you would like it, Rajah. You get to meet new people, and they're very friendly..." his voice trailed off, and he took a second to stroke the fur on his chin.

He began to lead them into the city, not once looking back. Being as large as he was, and in his own distinctive armor, he didn't think that he had to worry about anyone losing him from their sights.

He walked in front of stores and aisles of buildings; tented structures and through crowds of people. There were vendors stationed everywhere; offering stays in buildings that served as hotels, offering food, weapons, armor. There were so many services being offered. There was nothing that couldn't be found in the city. And yet, everything was so...not permanent. The vendors turned into small quarters each night, their items stored in most of the space that they owned; although there were inns and other dwellings in which to stay, none of them were furbished like a permanent home. Everything was packaged, in case there was a need to move. Rowan knew from experience that many other merchants traveled to the city in the winter, offering pelts for coats, and various other winter accessories, having spent the summer preparing and finding their goods. It was truly a trader's town, and that was part of what made everything so exciting.

Brushing past a Tora-jin that was even larger than himself, Rowan glanced back at Rajah for just a second, his eyebrows furrowing...he could only imagine what Rajah would be like if he had grown to be that tall...

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah followed his friend down the streets of the town, still stroking Felicia's tail. Rajah looked at the other -Jin in amazement; the fact that they were seemingly living in peace with humans made Rajah start to feel all the more comfortable about his decision to intermingle with them.

A tall Tora-jin passed the two of them. Rajah gave a friendly smile toward him, only to receive a nod in reply. He glanced back over at Rowan, only to see him staring back near him with a sudden frown on his face. This got Rajah concerned. He approached Rowan and placed his arm around his shoulders at an attempt to try and comfort him. He brought his face close to his, avoiding the spikes on his armor, showing a concerned look.

"Hey," he said in a concerned whisper. He then smiled warmly. "Everything okay?"

[Jin NPC]

"I'm fine," Rowan said, his frown quickly turning into s smile. "I was just thinking about how dangerous you would be if you were that size. I wouldn't be able to survive one of your pounces."

Walking just a bit farther, they reached one of the tallest buildings in the makeshift city, an old, stern looking woman standing outside of the doors. She simply glanced at all of the beings passing by and said nothing.

The biggest smile spread across Rajah's face. It was time for a little practical joke for the cheery lad.

"Say...Rajah..." he said slowly, eyeing the woman standing at the door. "How would you like the opportunity to make some very lonely people happy?"

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah stood in confusion at Rowan's question after he followed his friend further into the city. It was more the randomness of the question's timing rather than the question itself, since the Tora-jin always liked making others happy. But he let the random timing of the question roll off his shoulders, and smiled at the thought of brightening up someone's day.

"Of course I would, Rowan!" he said happily to his friend, his eyes widening at the thought of helping someone. "Do you know someone here in need?"

[Jin NPC]

"Yes," Rowan said in his deep voice, gesturing towards the building. "They're in there. They live all alone, and many people pay to visit them for companionship and such reassurance. But I ask, Rajah: who is going to cheer them up?"

Heading closer to the building, and leading Rajah with him, he looked down at the woman at the front, seeming to guard the entrance. "My friend would like to spend a little time with your workers," he said, hoping that the old woman wouldn't blow the cover of his prank. Looking at the wall behind her, there was a list of prices per hour. "Just fifteen minutes would suffice. I'll pay for the hour, however," he added, at the look that crossed the woman's face. Reaching for a pouch hanging from his belt, he removed the appropriate coinage. The old woman smiled, and had this not been a peaceful town, Rowan would have killed her right there for her entire business. However, the dealings in this town were not his right to judge.

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah looked confused. Why would you need to pay to make someone happy? Rajah had to admit; there were some things in this world that would probably never make sense to him. But if Rowan insisted this was going to help, then who was he to counter the trade?

But it was the trade that made him start to wonder. Not because Rowan was paying, but because he only had fifteen minutes to make someone's day. And that alone shocked the Tora-jin.

"Only fifteen minutes?" Rajah whined. He folded his arms and pouted, looking at Rowan with innocent eyes. "That's not a lot of time, Rowan. That's not a lot of time at all..."

[Jin NPC]

Rowan rolled his eyes. Only Rajah would want to stay...in a place like that for more than fifteen minutes.

"That's not a lot of time, but we do not have much time to spare. Had we been here on leisurely duties, I would have allowed you to stay as long as you like," Rowan was grinning, but he'd be damned before he told the boy why. "In any case, I will wait for you for that amount of time, if you would like to go and see them. If not, we can be on our way..."

At this point, Rowan considered the fee--though it was rather expensive--wasted coinage anyway. It was only a joke....

The old woman in front of the door said shortly, "you going in or not?" in a gruff, almost ailing voice.

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah listened to his friends' logic behind why he was limited to only fifteen minutes, finding it reasonable. But when Rowan hinted that they were not in the city for leisurely duties, it made Rajah think about what Rowan's other intentions were for being in this city.

"You going in or not?" the woman said to the Tora-jin.

Rajah immediately reacted to the silver-haired human, her patience for some reason not necessarily resembling someone who takes joy in helping others. But, he brushed it off and smiled as he pet Felicia, still resting on his shoulders. He nodded in response to her question, then looked at Rowan again.

"Can Felicia come too?"

[Jin NPC]

Rowan quickly took the little kitten off of his shoulders, smiling and nuzzling her with his nose in a gentle, loving way. She was very cute, as much as he wanted to keep that opinion to himself. He gave Rajah a pseudo-grave look before replying, "So that I can just stay out here all by my lonesome? I don't think so. I would like the time to get to know our sister, if you don't mind. She is from the same family as us." he smiled, and let his feelings for the kitten shine through.

"You run along, and I'll tell you about everything that we discussed on when you come back."

[Nagoyaka Rajah]

Rajah smiled at the sight of seeing Rowan so affectionate. It was rare to see him outwardly show his feelings toward anything; especially in public. In public, Rajah always saw Rowan as a hard-edged -jin that always solved his problems with a fight. Rajah knew that whenever he was only around someone he deeply cared about, he was just as loving and affectionate as he was. But even though he knew this about Rowan, he was somewhat surprised to see this situation involving Rowan in public.

Had he changed for the better?

Regardless, Rajah still smiled at the sight before heading to the door.

"Okay," he said as he entered the building. "You two have fun!"

[Jin NPC]

[godmodding my own charrie here]

Rowan smiled at the small kitten on his hand again, and wondered if she had any idea what was going on. She snuggled herself against his large, furred fingers and Rowan found himself making baby faces at her. She was indeed very adorable. Hearing Rajah's farewell, Rowan nodded. "See you in a little while," trying to conceal the smirk that threatened to take over his face. Runa helped a little, but nothing could stem what his reaction would be when Rajah was finished and came out of that brothel. Nothing could prepare him for that. Rowan could only wonder what affect the young tiger may have on the girl in the building. Would he eventually get kicked out by the authorities in the household? He would have to wait.