[Remy]

“I'm surprised that New Alexandrians do that...come here so often. But there are some in Espur who have their own private shrines for Xanth, so I guess that's the same.” Remy murmured and wondered how the goddess felt with millions of voices talking to her each day. She glanced toward Kazuma, wondering what he thought about the goddess. He'd turned his gaze toward the statue, but Remy couldn't tell if he was respecting the goddess or the sculptor's work. She would have more of a clue if she knew what he was before he Turned, but Turning was a touchy subject for many vampires. Now was not the time, anyway.

“It's relieving, however, that in spite of everything that's happened to you, you remain close to your faith.”

Hearing that, Remy quirked the corner of her lips. It wasn't a true smile, but one made out of uncertainty. “Yeah, I believe in her. I was raised that way, and old habits stay for a long time.” Not knowing what else to say, Remy glanced back toward Xanth. The goddess had a young face with soft features, but it held the regal air of somebody who has seen many years. She was timeless, and she was a stranger to Remy. “Mother used to say that if I prayed to Xanth with all my heart, I would get what I desired. That didn't work out, of course, but there must have been a reason for it, right? I just don't know it.”

She knew the custom of making offerings, so Remy opened her messenger bag and started rummaging through one of the pockets. Surely there would be something that she could give away.

((Sorry this took so long! >___<))

[Kazuma]

“That is what everyone says,” Kazuma said in agreement. “Make an ample offering to your deity and the deity will see to it that your wishes are granted if you prove yourself a good heart. What they neglected to tell us, though, is that we mortals do not walk among our gods and goddesses.” Whether or not anyone noted his usage of the word "mortal", he couldn't easily say it. “And neither should they care to walk among us.” The smile he flashed to Remy was one colored slightly by bitterness and if she could guess his belief of his words, she would find that he believed in no one. If you'd been through a god or goddess who delights upon the sacrifice of yourself and your countrymen, after all, then there was no reason to keep on believing in this being. This is what Kazuma knew.

As Remy sought for her present, Kazuma looked back to Xanth's image. “You're a strong spirit, Ms. Remy. Whatever it is, that has pushed you along this far, in such a tender age, it has done well to preserve you.” He looked back down to her and smiled more naturally this time. “I admire you, Ms. Remy.”

[Remy]

Truly, Kazuma's words confused her, and his bitter smile confused her further. Did he think that Xanth didn't care? The goddess created Elysia to separate everybody from the humans, and she kept it going each day. That was why Xanth's a stranger, and also why people had to be good, in order to be heard out of the millions and millions of prayers. Remy wanted to believe this.

Hearing Kazuma's praise toward her, Remy smiled sheepishly before looking at her bag again. Oh Xanth, she could feel her face turning pink from the compliment. “I was lucky with the people who I've met. They helped me through so much...but thank you, Mr. Kazuma,” she said as she thought of the people who had brought her this far. She'd been a wreck after turning, and she often thought that if it weren't for Landon Tryst, she'd still be a wreck. She owed the Ruby Claw for their help, which was why she would never leave Espur if she didn't have to.

Remy could no longer remember what part of her had been 'preserved', but that led her to wonder...what had Kazuma lost? But again, not a proper subject matter. Biting the inside of her lip, Remy's fingers wrapped around a trinket in the corner of one of her pockets, and she pulled it out. “This'll do, I think.” It was a bracelet with round, transparent pink and yellow beads. An acquaintance had given it to her for her birthday and she'd worn it once or twice. She supposed it would be enough. Tossing it into the deep offering bowl, she clasped her hands and bowed for a quick prayer of health and good fortune for herself and her friends. Once that was done, she glanced up and smiled at Kazuma. “Did you want to say anything to Xanth?”

((As always, feel free to fast forward if you'd like. ))

[Kazuma]

“Only that I wish she'd continue to watch over you the way she has all this years,” said Kazuma with a smile as he laid a hand on Remy's head, patting it lightly.

For his part, though, he slipped out a fancy pouch and tugged the lips apart so that he could collect a few coins and tossed it into the bowl that was before him. May it help some homeless child be fed.

When they were finished with Xanth and a couple had arrived with a basketful of fine cloth, Kazuma led his friend back to the coach where their purchases waited and the driver pulled himself off of the wall, slipping into his seat and taking the reins to begin the travel.

Inside the coach, Kazuma was arranging a couple of bags and boxes in their places and by the time the vehicle had budged and the horses' hooves sounded in the background, the ironically younger vampire handed a pretty white box, bowed by a pink lace, to Remy. “A present,” he said to her as he withdrew hos hands and watched her. “Since you wouldn't let me pay for your purchases. Consider it a souvenir from this day, this trip.”

Inside the box was a round-crowned, wide-brimmed white hat with a pink and lilac bow going around it and knotted at a point somewhere in the circumference.

“So,” he said, sounding accomplished, “where to next?”

[Remy]

As Kazuma made his donation to Xanth, Remy smoothed out her hair. Not like it had been messed up, but she just wasn't used to affection from outsiders. She watched as the coins dropped into the bowl, and then followed Kazuma back to the streets. The carriage driver was still waiting for them, but she supposed he had to, considering how Remy had just run out without getting her bags. Oops. After clambering to her seat, Remy peered outside of the small window to watch the shrinking figure of Xanth.

“A present.”

Turning, Remy saw the medium-sized box that was outstretched to her. With a breath of shock, she quickly flapped a hand to reject it. “That's not fair! I said you shouldn't have to...” Children loved gifts, but she wasn't a child! But as much as she hated to admit, she was very happy to be receiving a gift out of the blue. He'd set the box in her arms, and it was difficult to reject the good intentions of a friend, so her grip tightened around the box and she sent him a grateful smile. “Oh. Well, thank you.” As she took off the cover, she let out a delighted giggle and pulled out the hat with both hands. Tilting it over her head, she pulled it down and let the sides flap upwards. “I'd definitely wear this to the coasts. And it matches my dress! Thank you, Mr. Kazuma. I'm not used to receiving gifts, so you've really surprised me.”

Still grinning widely, Remy took off the hat and slid it back into the box. As she fastened the bow, she murmured soberly, “Oh, now I feel horrible. Making you walk me around, buy me presents...” A thought came to her, and looking up with an impish smile, she declared, “I know! I shall send you cupcakes.”

They had told the driver to backtrack for the time being, but Remy knew they should decide on the next location before they went too far. “But, erm...” As silly as it sounded, she wasn't used to being outside of Espur, and she was starting to miss it already. That, and she was tired, and Rose would wonder why Remy had spent so long in New Alexandria. Remy didn't want Rose to wonder. “Can we go to the portal? I am grateful for your invitation to dinner, but I really should get back home.”

[Kazuma]

“Has it really turned so late?” Kazuma thought out loud as he tugged his sleeve back and peered at his wristwatch. The sun was still high and he didn't get much information from the clock face but for a child her age -- physically -- it was possibly late indeed. She shouldn't be out on her own in a foreign land, after all, if what happened earlier was any indication. In Espur, she would be safe and have friends. Kazuma would offer to accompany her at least until she was back to wherever she has to be but alas, there was the case of territories. How sad that even their discriminated kind should discriminate even each other...

“How regretful,” he said with a soft chuckle before he directed his gaze to their driver and announced their next destination. “To the portal plaza, please.”

They crossed the entirety of the statue's face and turned to the West Road which led them straight to the plaza. At the entrance of it, the coach stopped once more, and Kazuma got off with Remy and her bagful of purchases as he swept his eyes around the area with a new dilemma in mind.

“You should call someone to come and fetch you by the portal and help you with these purchases. I don't imagine you lugging all these things around would be a pretty sight to watch.”

[Remy]

“Yes, I cannot believe I spent so much time shopping,” Remy laughed as she checked her own time. Then she glanced toward the shopping bags that she had acquired during the trip. She didn't buy things often, so she wondered what she'd tell Kallie when she walked through the house with all those bags (and box) in tow. “I have definitely enjoyed my time.” Patting the fluffy firefox toy in her shopping bag, Remy leaned toward the coach window and watched as the coach rolled to a stop near the portal plaza. After she collected her bags and gave the driver a few xanthsos, Remy hopped off the coach and surveyed the portal area. The area was beginning to fill with people leaving and entering the city.

Even though Kazuma was carrying some of her bags, Remy already had quite a load of items at hand. “I could carry it back, but the experience would look dreadful, wouldn't it?” She voiced doubtfully. And she could not possibly ask Kazuma to help her, for reasons that seemed silly to her the more she thought about it. But considering the trouble that had occured to the Ruby Claw before, their rules did have some basis. Anyway, she had taken him from Vera for quite long enough. “Don't worry, I will call a coach, and Kallie will help me the rest of the way. She is usually free at this time.”

After making the phone call, Remy accepted her bags from Kazuma and tried her best to balance the items between her arms. She was buried under the bags, but she wouldn't be for long.“Thank you for the tour today,” she said with a bright smile and a bob of her head, “I will see you when I see you!”

As she faded into Espur's territory, Remy saw her friend smile brightly, though it still hid his fangs, and bow...

((Remy has left the thread. ))