[center][h3]The Curious Argonian Mage[/h3][/center]

[i]
A collaboration with[@Hank]
Morning, 17th of Sun’s Dawn, 4E213
Aboard the Kismet, Daggerfall port, High Rock[/i]
[hr]
 
A pair of glowing, yellow eyes moved along the ship, having stopped with the facade of happiness that she had put on whenever dealing with someone. Drujha would be on the lookout for a Nord, as she moved below the main deck, through the passengers quarters, keeping a firm hand on her satchel. Eventually, she would find her way to those Private Quarters that she so desperately wanted, the privacy offered by them would be put to better use under her watch rather than some Nord. At least, she hoped that the door she chose would be that of the Nord and not one of the slavers that she would avoid for as long as she could. 

[i]Two Dunmer and a Nord.[/i]

It was a one in three chance that Drujha pick a door that the Nord used, and a two in three chance of meeting one of those slavers that would likely remark that she was but mere help. Drujha let out a sigh before she stepped to one of the doors, raising her knuckles to knock on it, then hesitating for a moment. She had to reassure herself of the chance before she plastured the large smile on her face again, mentally preparing herself to talk with someone from the proud north, leaving race aside for just a moment. Her knuckles went against the wooden door, a hand inside of her cloak as she kept it close to the axe she carried on her side. 

[i]Knock. Knock. Knock.[/i]

After a few seconds the door opened and Aurora appeared in the opening to greet her visitor, strange as it was, for she hadn’t expected any. She looked down to find an Argonian woman with a toothy grin -- or was it a smile? -- looking up at her. Aurora had taken her coat and boots off after settling into the room and was now left bare-foot and dressed only in her white tunic and cream-colored pants. “Hail, Argonian,” she said and scratched her head, surprised. “How… how can I help you?”

Drujha mentally thanked the Hist for letting the room be that of the Nord, a calm flowing through the tension that the odds of meeting a slaver caused her. The argonian’s own darker apparel contrasted that of the Nord’s brighter, the Black Marsh meeting the frozen lands of the north, Drujha could not help but make such a mental observation. Then, one of her bandaged hands went forward as she spoke with that naively, innocent tone, “I extend the claw of greeting, friend! I wanted to speak on the matter of rooms!”  

“Claw of greeting, eh? I like that,” Aurora said with a smile and shook the offered hand. “My name is Aurora. What about the rooms?”
“Drujha,” she started before hiding her hands in her cloak, before going into her explanation, “I wanted to see if, perhaps, you would allow me to use your room. You see, I am a researcher and I do not wish to allow… prying eyes to view it before it is ready.” Drujha paused for a moment as she cocked her head to the side, still smiling as if she were not coming across as a beggar wanting whatever someone allowed.. 

“I would have asked one of the Dunmer, but… I am sure you can imagine how that would go,” the argonian continued with a light laugh.
Taken aback but also amused by the Argonian’s audacity, Aurora was unable to repress a laugh. “Before [i]it[/i] is ready?” she asked, deciding that her curiosity was more pressing than expressing her unwillingness to vacate her room. “What might [i]it[/i] be?”

“Things,” Drujha said, obviously not wanting to divulge the information just because someone asked, “While I would be more than happy to share my findings, there is no finding a Clear Stream from it. Nobody understands the scrawlings of an argonian these days, xhu?” She pushed her cloak aside to show the satchel, carrying the many notebooks about her presumed research. 

Aurora frowned, though she was secretly relieved that Drujha had given her an obvious and convenient reason not to acquiesce to the request. “Well, Drujha, I’m sorry, but I’m not in the habit of letting strangers perform research in my chambers, especially if they won’t tell me what it is.” The Nord crossed her arms resolutely and straightened up, making the most of the height advantage she had. “I’m not a scholar, really, so your research doesn’t interest me anyway. Unless it concerns ancient artifacts…” she said, trailing off, before noticing herself slipping. “Err -- either way, my answer is no. I paid for this room, fair and square.” 

“Ancient artifacts,” Drujha echoed, her own curiosity rising at the mention, unlike the nord, however, her mind wandered upon it as she gave an interested look over Aurora. “What kind of artifacts?” the argonian took a step forward, “Ancient Nord? Dwemer?” Drujha then got uncomfortably close as she said the last, “Daedric?” Her smile morphed into one that was consumed by obsession and lust, “Do you have any with you?”

Aurora had to resist the urge to take a step back to maintain her personal space, but she didn’t want to give Drujha the idea that the Argonian was welcome to enter her room. “I believe that is none of your business,” Aurora retorted, her tone now decidedly icy, and she narrowed her eyes at Drujha. “And I’d be much obliged if you maintained a [i]respectful[/i] distance.”

Drujha’s eyes widened at the realization of stepping into another’s personal boundaries, immediately stepping back as her smile disappeared into a slightly hurt expression. “I am most sorry! Murky waters have clouded my mind,” the argonian said as she entered into an apologetic bow to attempt to make amends for her rudeness.  “It was never my intention to be rude, it is just that certain artifacts could do wonders into advancing my studies,” she explained as her shoulders drooped. Her eyes avoided meeting the gaze of Aurora.

“I-” she began trying to find some words, “I just have a very deep interest in certain things in this world, sometimes I let my desires come before my manners.”

That softened Aurora’s disposition somewhat. In a way, Drujha reminded her of herself when she was younger, and the way she had practically assailed Azar with an endless array of questions. She rubbed her chin and relaxed into the doorpost, waving the other hand in a reassuring manner. “It’s quite alright, Drujha, you are forgiven. Curiosity isn’t a bad thing,” the older Nord said. “To answer your question: no, I don’t have any artifacts with me, just some paintings by the hand of a rising Breton star. Nothing, I wager, that interests you,” she added with a knowing smile. 

“Tell you what,” Aurora said and peered her head out of her room and into the hallway. “I haven’t heard any movement coming from the cabin next to mine. Maybe the person that rented it isn’t using it very much.” She glanced back down at Drujha. “Maybe you’ll have more luck with them! Whoever they might be… I haven’t seen anyone enter or leave, either.”

“Dunmer,” Drujha said disappointedly, looking at the door for a moment before looking back at Aurora with a small, yet forced smile. “Thank you, Aurora. Hopefully, whatever Dunmer owns that room does not act like what I have heard,” the argonian sighed before going to look through her satchel. She brought out a book and offered it to the Nordic woman, more as a sign of goodwill than genuinely wanting to give away anything, “Here, you may have no interest in anything a scholar writes, but maybe this will satisfy your earlier curiosity.”
When Aurora took the book, Drujha was already skipping away. The book had a title on the front.

[i]”The Lusty Argonian Maid Vol. I”[/i]

"What in Oblivion…" Aurora muttered, staring at the glossy embossed title in disbelief. It was such an absurd gift that she began to laugh and eventually found herself doubled over and gasping for breath. She had no idea whether this was Drujha's idea of a joke or if she handed her the wrong book by accident. Either way, it was fantastically funny and her opinion of the Argonian shot up a few notches. "Thanks for the laugh!" Aurora yelled after her but it had been minutes and she didn't expect Drujha to hear her. Still sniggering, Aurora closed the door and tossed the book into her open trunk.