The wind had picked up since earlier, tossing her sable hair in every direction. A ribbon would soon be pulled from her pocket and used to tie her hair into one place. It still pulled in every direction, but now only the few tendrils that escaped got into her jade eyes. The sun beat down on her from above, the heat creating beads of sweat one her forehead. She really should have gone inside. The outdoor allure was too much for her and she had found that her feet were restless when she had woken this morning. She had pulled herself up out of bed, had a hearty breakfast at the tavern, and then made her way out into the square. She had passed shop after shop but found none that drew her inside, even in the heat. The morning had been a bit cooler, but now the sun was at its peak, and so too had the day warmed with its height.

Her usually attire had been shed for more decent clothes, which she had bought once she arrived in Istan. Instead of her knee high skin boots, used for cooler climates, she had found a pair of sandals to wear, and they now traversed the streets of Istan. She had found a flowing white skirt that she bought; it breathed with the wind, and somehow resisted the heat of the desert city. She top was made of equally light material that did much the same. It didn’t flow around her body like the skirt, but fitted her form nicely. It ended just above her naval, but covered her shoulders and her arms, since they were areas prone to burn. The top remained tight until her elbow, where it fanned out and flowed down to the tips of her fingers. She loved the outfit for some reason that even she couldn’t quite identify. The way it fit, and the flowed around her was a feeling that she enjoyed.

Tup, tup, tup. The sound of her sandals were the only sound as she turned down one of the city’s alleyways. It didn’t end up in a dead end but just another small street. She continued following them lost in thought. She loved the desert, the way the sand shifted, the way the sun beat down, the memories. Mostly the memories were what drew her back. She remembered the sand worm, and how Varonen gave her the courage to stand up and do what she needed. A smile graced her face then, and her jade eyes sparkled. So maybe it wasn’t the memories, persay, it was the memory. The memory of him. Of their trip. Her smile broadened.

Tup, tup, tup. Her feet had led her back around to the square, and despite what her feet said, urged, her sat down. She closed her eyes and breathed in the hot air, understanding why most of Istan was emptied of people at this time. When she had started out the city had been crowded, and she was bustled along by bodies, as the day went on the became fewer and fewer until a few stragglers such as herself were left. A man walked by and tipped his head at her, she smiled and waved, settling more comfortably into her seat. She closed her eyes and daydreamed.

Kyrus trod the sandy streets of Istan, he had been here before and the city was familiar to him.He now understood why the residents stayed inside during this time of day, it was because it was extremely hot and the sun burned relentlessly down. As he passed, locals smiled and waved to him, he had found the folk of Istan to be openly friendly and kind towards visitors. Looking forward his sharp elven eyes picked out a woman sitting on a seat with her eyes closed. Could it be? Could be be Shadeen? A smile flittered onto his face as he quietly crept up to her and placed his hands over her eyes in a playful fashion "Guess who?" he whispered softly in her ear with a happy tone in his voice.

Istan City was a new place to Miyako. It was hot, and she wasn't used to it. She was used to it being cold that last couple of days. She liked the temperature change, but at the same time she disliked it. It wasn't that important to her though, so she shrugged it off. Her cloak covered her body, and a strand of her short black hair covered her eyes. She pulled it back behind her ear as she passed store after store, glancing at the signs to see if something interested her. But even if she did find something nice, she would have no money to buy it. Her deep purple eyes scanned through the city, spotting a bench with a women there, and someone that looked familiar that stood beside it.

Looking down at her feet, she knew that she could use a little break from being on her feet. She looked back up at the women and the bench and began to walk over to it. As she got closer, she could finally identify who the man was, it was Kyrus, the tall elvish man she had met not too long ago. She smiled and stopped beside the bench. "Uhmm..." Was all that she could say. "I'm sorry, but I am not intruding with you two, am I? I was wondering if I may join you on this bench, Miss." She said smiling to her, then she glanced at Kyrus, and nodded, as a form of 'Hello.' Then turning her attention back to the lady awaiting an answer.

As he heard the voice coming form behind him and he removed his hands from Shadeen's eyes before turning to see Miss Miyako standing close by "Miyako your here!" he said and suddenly threw his arms around her "I had hoped that you would come," he smiled at her and squeezed her in a gesture of happy excitement. He looked back to Shadeen whilst still hugging Miyako "This is Miyako Shadeen," he said. Realising he was still hugging Miyako he blushed softly and grinned sheepishly at her and he had the sudden urge to place a kiss on her cheek for some unknown reason. Perhaps it was because she was a very attractive young women and they had quickly become friends. He began to blush softly as he was still hugging her in the open square, he always had been open and friendly than most High Elves. He genlty released his hug and grinned at her "Err.. sorry I just was a little excited to see you," he explained and grinned sheepishly.

For once, Iolanthe wasn’t drunk, and she hated every minute of it. She trudged solemnly along the streets, wondering where her next ship was going to be docked, and when she could get off this god-forsaken chunk of miserable soil. She mumbled something about making cities on the water, and being off land all of the time. Even then, she swayed a bit, longing for her sea legs.

The wind passed along her face as her wild white hair danced along her neck. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to take in the wonderful feeling of the breeze, only wishing that it had a bit of the sea smell to go along with it. She loved the way the sea breeze smelled with salt and fish. Oh how she missed the fish. The way they swam just under the surface so they had little shadows in the water. And they were wicked wonderfully tasting in the evening on the ships. Though, pickled ham did get a little old, despite what the captains said about it “keepin’ fresh.”

As she continued down the city street, she noticed a happy group of individuals reuniting for whatever reason. She merely grimaced, and threw her hands in her pockets. She wanted to be on her ship, so badly, on the ocean, climbing the masts…

"Err.. sorry I just was a little excited to see you,"

She caught a bit of their conversation and Iolanthe raised an eyebrow. She approached the woman, nudged her slightly with a wide grin. “He’s got his eye on your goods, ye know.” Iolanthe bursted into laughter, and plopped herself onto the bench, crossing her legs very promptly. “Evening, mates.” She said, with a charming grin.

Kyrus removed his hands from over Shadeen’s eye revealing a girl standing before her. She watched Kyrus embrace the woman after she had asked to sit next to her. Shadeen shifted over on her seat and smiled broadly at Miayko. “Nice to meet you Miayko, I’m Shadeen or Shade,” She smiled at her and stretched out her legs, wiggling her toes. When she caught another woman coming over to join then she thought that it was becoming quite the crowd.

“He’s got his eye on your goods, ye know.” Shadeen couldn’t help but laugh at the outright comment, and her jade eyes twinkled, as her smile graced her features. Shadeen found herself next to the odd woman, she looked a bit like a pirate. A pirate in the desert, how odd. Although she wasn’t sure she was a pirate, just looked a tad like one.

“Evening. . .mate,” She said a little awkwardly. “I’m Shadeen,” She smiled at the woman, “Glad you’ve decided to join us,” She smiled at the woman and realized she hadn’t asked for her name yet. “Umm, who would you be?”

((OOC: Not so hot of a post, but I decided to join the fray. Iolanthe meet your Mercenary. ;) ))

The air was dry and the day was none other than hot, after all what did one expect in a bloody desert such as this? Heat seemed to resonate up and from the very sands bellow, distorting the vision the further it had went. Perhaps, that was the reason that made so many people hallucinate about Oasis’s, loved ones, and even dead people out here in the desert. Or maybe it was just the simple fact that they were all deprived of water. Whatever it was, it was of no more concern to him. He was here in the city and had been staying here for more than just a few days.

There seemed to be nothing special about it, other than the sandstone buildings, the nicely tanned women, and even the occasional offer of gold here and there for a few deeds to be done. The people seemed reserved and often conservative, but that’s the way he liked it. He hated pushy people or even those who would talk non-stop. The day seemed quite peaceful with the number of souls traveling the streets dwindling with the passing of the day.

It was always a nice thing to get some peace and quiet every now and then. But what added to his experience was that the heat really didn’t seem to play a factor in the roost that he had selected to spend the day. Shadows seemed to grope across his relaxed form as he idly rested, eyes staring up into the sky at the various white fluffy clouds that sluffed about. Oh how he envied them and their carefree nature, not a worry in the world, no concerns of death or never having enough…

His attention would tear itself from the blue sky above and off to the side as he saw a few flittering people make their way towards his building. Having rested just on the ledge of the nearly flat rooftop, he simply slung his legs up and over to the other side so he was now only sitting on it. With his legs dangling off the side of the building, his eyes peered upon the woman, Shadeen as she took a seat on the bench just bellow him. But his eyes would soon again break to the following forms of Kyrus, Miyako, and lastly Iolanthe. They all seemed quite odd and out of place in this desert, which made him wonder as to what their purpose here had been. Deciding to find out, he would push off from the ledge he was sitting on with both his hands and feet just enough so he would drop perfectly in front of the bench the two women were sitting on. Landing upon the hardened sand of the streets with a soft patter, he would rock backwards and flop bum first upon the bench between the two women. Slinging both of his arms up and around their backs, he would look between the two with a wry grin, “I have to admit, it’s not often I find two…No, three beautiful women out here in a place as dry as this.” His eyes then broke from between the two of them and up to Miyako and Kyrus, only to soon find them focused squarely upon Kyrus, “Don’t tell me…You’re all with him? That would be rather disappointing…Although, I doubt you ALL could be, right ladies?” Again the grin placed itself to his lips, as he looked between Shadeen and Iolanthe once more, "Sooo, how about some names? I know you're Shadeen, but who could you be?" Turning his attention upon Iolanthe, a curious brow would lift itself as he awaited her response.

((It’s a pleasure.))

“Evening. . .mate”

Iolanthe slapped her knee, and giggled. “That’s the spirit lass! I be Iolanthe, pleased to be meetin’ ya.” She jerked her hand out for a greeting, and figured she should pull a few manners out so she didn’t look like a complete buffoon. Though, sometimes you had to look like a buffoon to get a bit o’ ale. People felt sorry for your unfortunate sober self. At least, that’s the way Iolanthe viewed it. Iolanthe was entertained by Shadeen’s attempt to adopt her way of speech. It was just grand! She thought maybe they’d have a bit of coin and share a drink with her if she was nice enough.

As Iolanthe was about to rustle up some gushy small talk, influencing her new audience with her great sense of humor to buy her a drink… A man popped out of nowhere, sitting in between her, and Shadeen. Raising an eyebrow, Iolanthe slumped on the bench slightly. Now she was going to have to court this guy too… Though, as she thought about it, it might be easier to court a man for a drink than a woman. Iolanthe mentally shrugged. As long as she ended up with her booze, she didn’t care. Though she couldn’t help but roll her eyes when the man laid on some thick buttering up. You’d think they were slices of toast.

“Don’t tell me…You’re all with him? That would be rather disappointing…Although, I doubt you ALL could be, right ladies?”

Iolanthe shook her head. “No, no, I can’t speak for these ‘ol lassies, but I’m on me own. Just ‘appen to run into ‘em.” He asked her name, and a little grin spread across Iolanthe’s face. “I’ll give ye my name for a drink. ‘ow bout that?”

Sure, it was a little sleazy, but why not take advantage of such a simple situation? Not only would he have her name, but also she would be loosened by alcohol, and be a more friendlier person. Besides, sharing drinks always leads to interesting conversation. Only small talk results in the desert because of the damn heat. In Io’s eyes, it was a win-win situation. Especially for her.