[PRP- West] Do you know Yujin? (Hsiu Mei, Hongtang)

[Annchen]

Hsiu Mei was pleased to be out of her own house for a little while. The other messengers were acting strange lately, and it was nice to have a task to attend to elsewhere. She had reached West House territory, and now she just needed to find Yujin the hunter and deliver the message. Perhaps stay for a message back if he felt up for it.

Should be easy, right?

The best way was probably to talk to someone and get directions. She knew sort of how he looked like, but that description came from a lioness in love so... She wasn't sure how much help it would be.  

[Talencia]

Hongtang was filthy. His white coat was smudged, smeared, and coated with many varied colors. He did not sigh, though it looked like he could easily have let loose a very dramatic and very heavy sigh. He didn't really enjoy dealing with the left over dyes, paints, and inks that the artists used in their daily work. It was messy, and it covered his coat with the most ridiculous kinds of colors. He'd even managed to get a smear of mud-green paint across his muzzle. Blah, that taste was likely to stay in his mouth for the next week!

Still, he deserved it. Or rather, he deserved to endure it. Right or wrong, he'd broken the rules, struck a youth, and must be punished. Life was hardly ever fair, after all, even in such a place as Tianxia. The pride's strict laws and upright morals were why he'd joined, the very things he loved best about the pride. He was in no position to protest or rebel against those same laws when they were levied against himself. No, he'd chosen to keep his head down, serve his time, and stay true to the pride he loved.

Unfortunately for now, that meant... cleaning these horrible colors out of pots, off of palettes, and onto the many raggedy cloths that surrounded him. Hearing someone approach, he looked up to see a striking lioness pace towards him. "Hello miss," he greeted her, voice very deep for a creature of his size. He didn't try to assert himself at all, but kept his eyes low in respect. There was little doubt that she was no criminal such as he, and his earring would clearly show that he was. Besides, he was the sort to mind his manners anyway.  

[Annchen]

Hsiu Mei felt the leopards scent before she saw him. At first she thought she'd happened upon one of those artisty-types, what with the strong scent of paints, but then she saw the leopard and noticed his ring. Ah... One of those. But he was polite at least.

"Hello," she said, silently wondering what he'd done. It couldn't be anything really bad, right? If he was a murderer or something really awful the rumor would surely have traveled to her house too. Rumors traveled quickly among messengers.

"Err..." she said, when she realized she had stared at him for a while, "You wouldn't be able to point me to Yujin the hunter, would you?"

She wasn't sure how many people a criminal would know, but he must have had some kind of life before that too. With a bit of luck her search would be over soon.

Talencia

 

[Talencia]

He endured the examination wordlessly, head still bent respectfully. He was used to being ogled. He also figured he knew the sorts of thoughts that swirled while others stared. What had he done? Who had he killed? Was he evil incarnate? Of course this last one was ridiculous. Had he truly been evil, he would not have been permitted to remain in the pride, or perhaps even permitted to live! But he bore such silent speculations stoically, waiting for whomever to either say something of their thoughts or move on.

This time however, he was being asked a question. He glanced up at her curiously, as few bothered to talk to a criminal, particularly one with a task. He let himself have a quick look at her before lowering his lids so that it was her paws he kept his gaze on. She was a very striking lioness, to be sure. He briefly wondered if she was one of those who felt the non-lions were beneath them, but quickly dismissed this idea. She would not be asking him this if she felt so.

"My apologies miss," he rumbled softly but clearly, "but I know not the doings of the hunters." Very true. He sometimes was called to help them, but usually only once they returned with their kills. For all Longtang knew, Yujin might be out hunting, lounging in his den, or socializing in another part of the pride. "I fear I am not told of the doings of my betters." He very carefully kept any hint of bitterness from his tone. Truthfully he occasionally found himself sour towards those who held themselves over him, but overall the West House was very kind to him, and in the presence of this lioness, he has no such stirrings of resentment. "Perhaps if you ask up closer to the dens?" He turned his head to indicate the direction. "I'm certain someone there would have some idea of his location for you." He ended this with a deep, subservient bow, staying prostrate this time in expectation of either her leaving or asking him something else. After all, he was servant to all.  

[Annchen]

Hsiu Mei followed his gaze. Mhm... The dens would be a good place to start. She hadn't visited West House in a long time and while she knew that some places and structures should reasonably exist she had no clue where they were. Knowing the way to the dens was actually a big help. She hoped she wouldn't have to ask around too much before finding the hunter. The message she had for him was of a somewhat delicate nature, and she wouldn't want him to have to reveal it to curious pride members because of her.

"Thank you," she said, "That's helpful."

But she didn't leave just yet. She had an errand here, but she might be able to learn more from the submissive leopard. He was marked as a criminal, but he apparently knew his place. And they wouldn't let him walk around freely if he was dangerous, right?

"You wouldn't happen to know where the West messengers usually gather?" she said hopefully. With a bit of luck she could pick up some gossip, and maybe another message for the return trip there.

Talencia

 

[Talencia]

He kept his heart clam as she continued to speak to him. As so many others, she also treated him fairly but without any hint of compassion. It was his place, after all, but it often left him yearning for kind words and friendship. But who would befriend a criminal?! He suppressed a sigh of loneliness and nodded his head, raising his eyes finally to hers. "Yes miss," he replied, "they gather in a shaded glen not far from here, but it is hidden from view from the path." It gave the messengers some privacy to chatter and caper when not actively running.

He himself had zero desire to either gossip or run, so found little in common with them. In fact, he rarely had anything to do with them, besides basic tasks they didn't have time to do for themselves. They tended to do their own work and do it well, and had little use for the likes of him. Even so, he knew exactly where it was they tended to be. "I can show you to the spot, if you would like." He lowered his eyes again, so as not to provoke a rebuke.

Annchen

 

[Annchen]

Hsiu Mei considered the offer for a few heart beats. It would be much quicker to have him show her the place. She wondered what the other messangers would think about her when she showed up with a criminal, but decided it wouldn't matter. Asking for directions was the smart way to carry messages, and it shouldn't matter who showed the way. Hsiu Mei cared about looking good in front of others, but it would look worse if she let her job suffer for sticking her nose in the air and not take help that was offered.

"I'd like that," she said, after her silent deliberation, "Please, show the way."

Talencia

 

[Talencia]

It wasn't hard to imagine what sort of thoughts might be going through her head as she remained silent. Criminals weren't known for being much more than pack animals, really. What use could he be to her, even as a guide? And who would want to be seen with a criminal escorting them? There could be stigmas attached to such a scene. Malicious gossip could start from such things. He had no desire to do any harm to this lofty lioness, but in the end it wasn't his choice at all.

"I live to serve," he said humbly. It was the mantra of his life currently. Would there be a time when it no longer was an enforced way of life? He couldn't say. He wasn't in a frame of mind to dream of such things. Rather than muse on what-ifs, the rose to his paws, keeping his head low as was proper. "It isn't a long walk." He set off down a path, keeping his pace steady, neither rushing nor dragging his paws. He did rather wish he wasn't quite so covered in paint while escorting the messenger, but it wasn't an option to clean himself up first. "Please forgive my appearance. I hope it will not bring you shame," he commented, pacing down the pathway. Another two turns and then through a screen of tall bamboo shoots, and they'd be there.

Annchen

 

[Annchen]

Hsiu Mei actually smiled as the leopard told her it wasn't very far. She took pride in her speed and stamina, and she didn't plan to rest until her message was delivered.

"What's a bit more walking after running here from the South house," she said as she followed along. She noted the turns they made as he was leading her to make sure she'd be able to find her own way next time.

"Don't worry about it," was her only answer as he appologised for looking messy. If anything it might distract from any travel dust she'd picked up on the way. They pushed through the bamboo, Hsiu Mei with a bit more effort than the leopard, and found themselves among the gathered messengers. She spotted some familiar faces, but didn't forget to thank the leopard before going to greet them.

"Thank you," she said, "You have been really helpful."

Talencia