Things that might be (Nikaia)

[Mirage]

36th of Frost, 120 AS

It was a rather normal day. Cold yes, a bit overcast, but the fire was warm and the people as pleasant as could be expected. The day was quickly ending now as a sudden brittle wind shook the sign over the shop doorway, bending some of the few flowers that still stubbornly refused to sleep this season. A man approached through the light downfall of snow that was beginning to blanket the city in white. He paused at the entrance of the little shop, eyeing the sign curiously for a moment before giving a brisk knock.

"Excuse me." came a deep voice as the man opened the door, poking his head in and looking around the small space. Seeing no one he looked back over his shoulder once before continuing fully inside.

The man was tall, nearly 7 feet so the top of his head came close to touching the ceiling. Once fully inside he would close the door, stomping his feet on the mat provided before removing his black hat to reveal the face of an orkhan with dark, almost ebony skin and thin, curved tusks. After dusting the snow from the hat he would hang it, as well as his long dark coat on the coat rack, looking around the shop curiously as he waited to be greeted.

[Nikaia]

A pot whistled, hanging over the fireplace. Nikaia had already prepared the tea leaves in the teapot, and she was dusting her bookshelves, sweeping the floor, and generally cleaning up for the end of the day. The half-Orkhan often took an early bedtime, especially in winter, when it became dark much more quickly. She poured the hot water into the teapot to let it steep, and set out two cups. She wasn't expecting anyone, but you could never know when someone would stop in. The fortune teller liked to be prepared - and it tended to impress clients when she was ready for them already.

As if on cue, the bells on the door shook and tinkled, and she could hear movement outside the curtain. Nikaia wasn't short by any means, but one would be hard pressed to believe that if she was seen near Avialae or even other Orkhan sometimes. Setting the cup on the opposite side of the table from her own, Nikaia poured tea into both and then moved to open the curtain.

"I have tea ready for you. Come warm yourself by the fire." She replied to the man, waiting until he was inside the main room to exchange pleasantries. "I am Nikaia. What fortune do you seek?" She asked, pulling out a chair for him by the table and sitting in her own. Nikaia's chairs were large and comfortable, accounting for the many Avialae that made Kalzasi their home and even Nikaia's own height. In this case, they were perfectly suited to the tall Orkhan man.

Both young and plainly dressed, Nikaia was not usually what was pictured when fortune tellers were brought up. The half-Siltori did realize that she may have had more success if she played up the stereotypes, but she reveled in tossing up expectations. She was nowhere near the fortune teller her mother or grandmother were, but those unfamiliar to the practice were easily impressed. Nikaia sipped at her tea.

[Mirage]

The Ork looked up as the curtain was pulled back, and looked at the cup in surprise.

"I guess I should have expected that." he said with a grunt. With heavy footsteps he crossed the distance and sat, picking up the cup and sniffing the contents. Taking a sip the man grunted again, "It's good."

For a moment he just sipped the tea, looking Nikaia over with a curious expression. After a time he set the cup down and folded his hands in his lap.

"I am not sure if you can help me or not if I am honest. Your shop was recommended to me by an acquaintance, who seemed to think you could at least point me in the right direction." As he spoke he reached into a pocket on the inside of his coat, pulling up a think roll of paper that looked similar to a cigar. He hesitated and put the smoke away, "Pardon me, I sometimes forget where I am. To answer your question, I am looking for someone. Do you have a method of divining that would help me?"