[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Bgda8Nd.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/5RY6ghJ.png[/img][hr][hr][b][colour=7ea7d8]Event:[/colour][/b] Stepping through the Portal [b]|[/b] [b][colour=7ea7d8]Location:[/colour][/b] Ersand'Enise [b]|[/b] [b][colour=7ea7d8]Starring:[/colour][/b] Maura [@Ti], Abdel [@YummyYummy][hr][hr][/center]


Life was, overall, good for Abdel. He made new friends, got two jobs he enjoyed and was beginning a third that hit another passion of his, and had a girlfriend. Well, they became a thing around the break of Caldores. Both had gone their separate ways to reunite with families, one at the Refuge along with other Tethered youths with his two big adolescent Skuggvars and infant Wyrm, and one back to Varrahasta. Still, they met up to see their respective homes before eventually tackling the start of the year with optimism. 

The young man, not even fifteen as the school year commenced, had continued tracking low-grade criminals associated with Traveller activity or other illegal works. Inside the cap of one of the marks, after a frisk, he’d find the following the note:

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MOBKH0b.png[/img][/center]

Surprised but aware of what this might be, his first instinct was to approach someone like Yalen or Zarina for better insight, but eventually he opted to find his partner instead, with his intimidating critters in tow. He knocked on her door, unable to hold back his smile.

Maura was preparing to get ready herself. The letter said to be outfitted appropriately, to meet the Zenith?! She was going through her wardrobe to find her best dress, jewellery boxes open and gold cast upon the bed. [i]What is a suitable gift… is this about the trade company?[/i]. There are hundreds of questions going through her mind, no, thousands, the unexpected invitation was overwhelming. In the middle of her preparations, there was a knock at the door as she made haste to throw something on clumsily and did not have enough time to fix her hair. The door opened as she was in a somewhat dishevelled state to be greeted by no other than Abdel. [colour=C0C0C0]“Oh… you cannot be seeing me like this”[/colour], she closed the door as she began to blush red. [i]What if he doesn’t like me any more after seeing me like this? Oh no, we just slammed the door on him![/i]. She creaked open the door. [colour=C0C0C0]“Close your eyes, then you can come in.”[/colour] She peeked through the door to check, then brought him into the room.

What Maura would see by peeking would be Abdel with the most generic of dark tunics, baggy cloth pants and some T	orragonese-style shoes. Typical, yet the fabric appeared of high quality - being friends with Isabella would do that to even the most fashion-challenged people. [color=9e0039]“Uhm, okay.”[/color] he complied, confused as to why girls were so uppity about these things. He stepped in, hand covering his eyes. Once he would have been one to try and sneak a glance, but he had since gained a [i]little bit[/i] of class, [color=9e0039]“You’ll never guess what I found on some guy I caught.”[/color] he seemed excited to share his story, eyes still shut, leading him to pace around in the drawing room like a fool and bumping into some random furniture.

Maura rolled her eyes playfully as she whispered out: [i]boys[/i]. She moved toward her vanity as she gazed within the reflection as she straightened herself out. Her eyes also followed the boy as he appeared completely clueless, unable to help but giggle at him. [color=9e0039]“A note from a special person!”[/color] Abdel boasted, [color=9e0039]“It’s in my back pocket if you can reach it.”[/color] he turned around to what he thought was the opposite of her. He was being honest with not peeking by even shutting off his drawing. After fixing her lip balm, she moved toward Abdel as she moved her arms around him, embracing him at that moment, an excuse for closeness as her hands roamed for his back pocket. [colour=C0C0C0]“You won’t believe it, Ayla and myself received a special note as well, from the Zenith, even. We think she might have heard about how successful our business is doing and this is why we are dressing up.”[/colour]. Her cute face facing up to his face, blushing and smiling fondly toward him as she snagged the note.

Abdel returned the embrace and opened his eyes to see his Maura all eager for some hugging, and looking bright as ever, [color=9e0039]“Look at you, so fancy.”[/color] she chuckled, before posing a kiss on her forehead as she inspected the note. It was the same as her’s, [color=9e0039]“I think …”[/color] he scratched his cheek, [color=9e0039]“It’s because Ayla was part of the last group, and I was involved too.”[/color] he paused for a moment, and then it hit him, [color=9e0039]“And she saw just how essential someone with your smarts would be if we were sent somewhere!”[/color]

Maura raised an eyebrow to him, [colour=C0C0C0]“Who said flattery gets you nowhere. They don’t know what they are talking about.”[/colour] Her gaze connected with his as she leaned up to place a peck upon his lips, her eyes widening as she realized her lip balm was now plastered upon his mouth. [colour=C0C0C0]“Perhaps you should wash your face, we are off to see the Zenith after all.”[/colour] She moved herself toward her seat, the new cushioning being a well deserved treat for herself as she made her way toward the door, waiting for him to catch up.

Abdel blinked post-peck, and his cheeks tightened a bit as he couldn’t withhold his growing grin, [color=9e0039]“You’re right.”[/color] he admitted, taking a couple of minutes in the lavatory to wash his visage before emerging, looking fresh with his hair damp too, [color=9e0039]“Okay, ready?”[/color] as they stepped out, Qadira and Dayanara were waiting for them, and Zorayas was lurking about as she usually did. 

They would eventually reunite with their friends and face Zeno-crafted puzzles to prove their worth. Nothing they couldn’t get through, even if the couple was split.

Once through the other side, they sat down to tea and cakes, listening to the Zenith, and her request for aid. It seemed like their skills were in high demand, Maura, who has learnt Rettanese and Governor of Longwan, and Abdel, bounty hunter and investigator. The task before them was ripe with opportunity, especially as the offer of trade relations were on the table.

[colour=C0C0C0]“This is the big opportunity we have been waiting for, the chance to get a slice of the Rettanese pie.”[/colour] Her eyes sparkle as Ersand’Enise is never ceasing to be the place of dreams and opportunities, of what a stroke of Reshta to have been able to enrol. [color=9e0039]“Mmm, Rettanese pie.”[/color] Abdel oafishly daydreamed, [color=9e0039]“Just be sure your, ahem,”[/color] he made some air quotes with his fingers, [color=9e0039]“Rival -”[/color] he nudged his head toward Ingrid, [color=9e0039]“doesn’t try to swallow it all.”[/color] snickering ensued. Maura raised an eyebrow and smirked,  [colour=C0C0C0]“Rival? Please, we are not even in the same league.”[/colour]. She moved her hand within his, her fingers spreading to encourage his apart as they interlocked, squeezing upon his hand.

The pair walked forward into the portal, stepping through into Wanggang, ReTan.

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