strangetrip | It's Pronounced "Tiefling"

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It's Pronounced "Tiefling" - OTA

Zahra needed to get a lay of the land now that she had arrived and things seemed to have calmed down a little. She was sure leaving the room would worry Kash, but she had only ventured out a few times briefly and now it felt right. She had filled him in on everything that she knew happened back home, spent many days enjoying the marvel of hot baths on demand, and discovered what a 'TV' was and tried to get some idea of what this plane was like. Now it was time to experience it for herself.

Zahra did not hide what she was. The red-skinned Tiefling wore a grey dress with a hole cut and sewn to allow her tail freedom of movement behind her. She decided to leave her staff behind, but she had done so after a lot of thought. The humans here didn't need to see her walking around with a weapon, but she felt naked and vulnerable. Kash said they were safe and so she would lean on those words as she navigated the inn weaponless.

She found the pool, crouching down by the water and feeling the cool water against her fingers. She could smell something from the water that told her the water wasn't entirely pure. It took her some time to figure out it was a place to bathe or swim, like a lake in the middle of the forest. She did take note of the heated part of the pool.

Her next step was through the lobby to the bar. Taverns looked similar no matter what plane of existence you were on, it seemed. She felt her stomach growl and after a moment found her way to the restaurant. She ordered the chicken because it reminded her of Scanlan.

After her meal she found her way to the library. There were not as many books as there was in Whitestone or even the Slayer's Take, but there were many. She started to peruse.

Her last stop was to Vex's room. She knocked and waited patiently.

(ooc: Find her anywhere. She has white eyes with no pupil or iris and horns on her head.)

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"More was than am." Maleficent had only returned to her life a short time before she arrived in Gotham. The version she'd met there had been different from Mal, as different as Elphaba was from Zelena. "But she had horns not unlike yours. It reminded me of friends long lost."

Zahra took a moment to decide how to take that, then offered a hint of a smile. "I am sorry your friend is not here." A reminder probably was not pleasant if they were close.

Regina took a moment to reflect on that and the offered a controlled, delicate shrug. "Thank you, but I'm not. A dragon is a bad fit for a small, confined space on a good day. But when confronted with a sorceress she's been in a feud with for a quarter of a century, it is not a good day. Especially not for the bystanders."

She smiled, curve of her mouth at once wry and deeply self-knowing. "I wanted to offer you help finding a space for yourself if you were. It would've made all the difference to Mal."

At least it seemed that Regina knew what a dragon could really be like at their core. Zahra nodded. "The offer is appreciated. But, to be honest, as long as I can move freely and see the night sky, this place won't feel too confining - at least for a while." She followed that up with a smirk.

That was an unexpected sentiment, especially for a woman connected to Vax. "Vax certainly has found it confining. I don't know Kashaw well, but he's very close with my daughter. It's been my impression that he's very unhappy here."

Zahra's expression sobered a little and she nodded. "Yes.... This is something I wish to help him through." Though then the thought occurred to her. "Who is your daughter?"

A woman who looked after her man, instead of expecting him to rescue her. Although she had no particular attachment to Kashaw, she liked this about the woman. "Snow. I believe you met her the night you arrived."

"I did." It hadn't gone very well, at least that was how Zahra felt. "I know it was difficult for her to meet me." "

Regina nodded. It fit with what she'd seen of her daughter the past few days. "I'm surprised she went at all. She's cripplingly shy and prone to feeling she doesn't belong." Her girl must care more for Kashaw than she'd even imagined.

Zahra gave a slight nod. "If there's a way I may be able to help, I'd be happy to do whatever it is." She had a sneaking suspicion it would just be avoidance and time. Someone like that would have to choose to come to her rather than the other way around, no doubt.

"Give her time," Regina suggested and tried not to sound overprotective about it. Snow could take care of herself.

On the other hand, Kashaw was important to her daughter and helping Zahra would make it easier on Snow. So she said,"Don't take the horses out for a ride alone unless you know what you're doing. And if you don't, ask for help. Don't corner her or try to get her to talk about herself."

This, she understood, and other than the horse - which she was very aware of how to ride one - she had already planned. It seemed as if Snow worked or was near the stables a lot. Zahra decided she would avoid the place for a while and then, perhaps, use horses as a bridge the gap. She would think about it more. She knew befriending Snow was important to Kash.

"Thank you. I'll keep all that in mind."

Regina smiled again, this time a little friendly mischief in her eyes. "I'm sure you'll be fine. You managed to tame the cleric. Next to him, my daughter shouldn't be too tough."

Her lips pressed into a slight wry smile. "I should probably let him keep his mystique about him by not revealing if it was hard or not to do that." Zahra hadn't found it particularly hard, but then when she had met him, things clicked with Kash they hadn't with any other.

Regina recognized both the wryness in the smile and the hint of something smug. It wasn't unlike what she felt about Dyson. "His mystique evaporated when you fell through the ceiling, dear. I've seen dead men rise from True Love's kiss, but that's the first time I've seen it happen from True Love's crash."

She laughed softly. "Well, a girl's got to make an entrance." Really, though, if she ever got the chance she would ask the fates why they would make her make such a scene on arrival. She already looked rather different. Were they worried she wouldn't be noticed?

"Yes, she most certainly does." Although Zahra would make an entrance walking into a room with a sack on her head.

"May I ask what it is that you do here? Kash has explained to me that most find something to do in the Inn as a job." What she would do, she was not quite sure yet.

"Emergency preparedness and general organization," Regina replied with neither false modesty nor particular arrogance. "Anything that targeted the Inn's supply chain could exterminate us in a matter of weeks, so I do some careful stockpiling, agricultural production, and inventory management." Her lips curved in a wry little smile. "Paper-pushing and gardening. Not glamorous for a sorceress, but worth doing."

"I imagine, in this place, finding a niche can be quite important." Zahra had been thinking about how she might be able to start a forge. She hadn't quite brought it up to Kash yet as she wondered what his reaction would be since she was with child. There was also the question of resources and ability to complete such a project.

"Keeping busy is important. Even if it's preparing for things that might never happen," Regina agreed, and then because she knew if it were her, she'd appreciate knowing other people recognized her partner's value: "Kash has been really helpful, planning for sieges and attacks."

She nodded. "He might be a cleric, but he has a good eye for that kind of thing." She was always impressed with the way he thought about that stuff. "If something does threaten the Inn, I will also offer my services to you."

"You're a friend of Vax's." A little, very fond smile touched her lips at the thought of Vax. He'd become very dear to her. "I would expect no less."

[ooc: fade?]

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It's Pronounced "Tiefling" - OTA

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