[endermage]

Demeter

Dr. Ptolemy Hargrave


Demeter and Ptolemy found themselves wandering into the Holy City with solemn expressions on their faces. They had been on the run for so long. They had gotten separated from all the allies they had made during their journey and had even crossed the World Bridge just to get away from the Tracers. Now they found themselves somewhere new and they were so tired of running. Fortunately, it seemed as if they had put a lot of distance between themselves and the Agents of Prometheus.

Ptolemy opened his wallet and there was an audible cough from the wallet as it showed the lack of money within.
"Demi, it looks like we have to stop here for a while....I seem to have run out of money again." said Ptolemy pushing his glasses up to his face.
"That is fine." said the Incarnation, tossing her beautiful wings a bit, “I’m a bit tired of the road anyhow. Let’s try to find someone who can help us find work of some kind or another."

[46]

[AnimeTheia]

Seishin had been wandering around the city pretty aimlessly, he had recently moved to a new owner and said owner was rather low on cash right now. As a result several on the zoo's pets had been sent out to try to make some money otherwise there would be no food this winter. Some of the other pets had taken to begging or even thievery neither of which were things that Seishin could bring himself to do. To Seishin the answer had seemed obvious, if you want money you work for it, if you want to find work you head to the city, hence how he had wound up here. So far his luck had been pretty slim however.

A short distance behind the Lucain was a young female Cake Kuhna, she seemed to be trying to stay in the shadows and kept running to catch up with Seishin whenever she fell too far behind. She didn't look like she was here to work, most likely she had just decided to tag along.

[endermage]

Demeter did not notice the Lucain approaching, but Ptolemy did. He got a bit defensive, but not obviously so. Sure, there was the tinest chance that the man was a threat but that didn't mean the good Doctor had to panic.
"We should start by seeing if we can find out if there is a medical establishment that I can make myself known." said Ptoelmy, left hand on the Tou-San, right hand on his pack.
"Well, Doctors are always important...we should find work soon. But sooner might be better than later," said Demeter,"I don't think we want to stay here long."

"Demi...are you worried about something..." said Ptolemy softly into her ear.
"No...it's nothing. I promise." said Demeter, "Let's ask these folks where we might find a hospital or something."

Demeter floated away from the Doctor to the Lucain,"Hello there...can you point us in the direction of the nearest medical facility? We are looking for work."

[47]

[AnimeTheia]

Seishin stopped as he spotted the impressive looking pair, behind him the Cake Kuhna made a little yelping noise before running to hide behind his legs.

"Medical Facility?... I'm sorry I don't really know this area very well, but I think we passed an Apothcary or something like that a way back, I could probably lead you to it?" he explained, his voice did not betray it but he was rather surprised to see such a large creature as Demeter whom he had only heard tales of before and never seen first hand. Behind him the little Kuhna was quaking, he turned his head to look down at her as he waited for the others to decide if they wanted him to lead them. "It's okay Keeki, they won't hurt you, I promise" he spoke softly to her.

[endermage]

"Hello little one," Demeter cooed out to the small creature," He is correct, there is no need to be frightened."
Demeter spiraled a bit in the air,"I am Demeter and this is my companion Dr. Ptolemy Hargrave. We are travelers."
Ptolemy would have perfered if she had kept her identities a secret, but Demeter had a difficult, if not impossible, time lying.
"Good day." said Ptolemy, bowing his head with respect. "What brings you to the Holy City?"

[48]

[AnimeTheia]

"Nice to meet you both. I'm Seishin or 'Shin' for short and this is Keeki" Seishin introduced them both, and gestured at the Kuhna who was now peering out from behind his legs with a mixture of fear and awe on her face as she gazed up at Demeter.

"We are looking for some work actually... well I say we.. I mean 'I' am looking for some work. This little one just came along for the journey; she seems to be quite smitten with me since I came to live at her zoo" Seishin explained. Here he turned to give Keeki a reassuring smile and gestured at her to come out and stop hiding, but she was having none of it. Two strangers at once? Nuh-uh! She quickly shook her head before darting back behind Seishin's legs again, however it didn't take long before she was peering around at Demeter once more, her eyes seemed mostly to fix on her large beautiful wings. "What about you two?" he queried turning back to look at them.

[endermage]

"Well..." Demeter began, but Ptolemy cut her off,"We are travelers, I'm a Doctor looking for a new place to set up shop. We are planning to go farther than the Holy City, but we needed to stop in to get supplies."

Demeter glared at Ptolemy. She hated lying, even when it was for their own benefit. She however, put it behind her and started to attempt to make a new friend.

"Would you like to come with us as we look for work? We could work together to try to find some." said Demeter kindly.

[49]

[AnimeTheia]

Seishin found it a bit odd that Dr. Ptolemy interrupted Demeter just as she was about to answer the question, but he put his doubts behind him, they seemed nice enough and he was a trusting soul unless it was proved that he shouldn't be. He glanced quickly at Keeki who had stopped quaking in fear and had even come out a few more inches from behind his legs; all the better to see Demeter.

"That sounds like a good idea to me, we haven't had much luck so far, maybe you two are more lucky" he grinned slightly, then thinking it would be a good idea to get to know their two new companions better he asked "So you're travellers? What's that like?".

[endermage]

"It is difficult," said Demeter solemnly,"We have a hard time keeping the friends we make. However, it does teach us that good people are rare but present themselves often." She smiled when she said this, thinking of all the different friends she had made over the course of the jouney.
"It truly is difficult." said Ptolemy,"But in the long run I think it will prove to be worth it." Ptolemy began to walk down the street, then beckoned to the others,"Come along now... I think I see something up the street here. It could be a help wanted sign of some kind."

[50]

[AnimeTheia]

Seishin began to follow Ptolemy down the street, looking over his shoulder briefly to check that Keeki was following (which of course she was, hot on his heels where she could stay as hidden and close by as possible). He nodded along as the other two explained the difficulties of a travelling life as well as some of the high lights "Personally I don't think i'd enjoy a travelling life, it is nice to know that you always have a home to return to. Do you have anywhere that you would call home?".

Keeki was becoming bolder and bolder by the minute, she was feeling pretty relaxed around Demeter, but she found Dr. Ptolemy rather scary and tried to make sure that he couldn't see her.

[endermage]

" I used to have a practice back in Nabias but I gave it up. I got dragged on a little adventure." Ptolemy looked at Demeter with kind eyes," And I wouldn't have it  any other way."
Demeter smiled,"My home has yet to be decided. I think that's what we are traveling, to try to find a real home, with people who care about us."

She spiraled in the air towards Keeki.  She breathed on the ground around Keeki. There was a slight green mist that glittered and sparkled as she blew a puff of air. Where the glitter fell on the ground beautiful flowers erupted from the ground. "You're a very shy one little Keeki. But I want you to know, I know how you feel."

They walked towards one of the stores and saw a sign that read "HELP WANTED". "I'm gonna check in here real fast, see what they are looking for." said Ptolemy.

"Okay...I'll wait out here..." said Demeter

[51]

[AnimeTheia]

Keeki looked around in wonder at the glittering green mist, and pure joy shone in her eyes as the flowers sprang up around her. As soon as Dr. Ptolemy was out of sight enquiring about work, she bounced out from behind Seishin's legs and began leaping around with joy and dancing playfully among the flowers. She was moving ever nearer to Demeter, seemingly completely fearless of her now (although still in awe of her), stopping by Demeter Keeki spoke to her in a very quite and soft voice "Your wings look very soft, can I touch them?" she asked, blushing slightly.

Seishin watched all this with a very amused smile of his face, he knew it wouldn't last long, as soon as Dr. Ptolemy reappeared she would be back behind his legs in a flash. Keeki usually warmed to females quickest, in fact it was very odd that she had taken to Seishin so well.

[endermage]

"Of course dear," said Demeter kindly,"And if you want later, you can jump on for a ride. I just want to be your friend." Her eyes seemed kind, but seemed sad as well. Demeter's beauty was shrouded in the most painfully woven sorrow. She lowered herself to float about a inch around the ground. She peered into the store, waiting for Ptolemy. "Why are you so scared of Ptolemy, Keeki?" she asked, nonchalantly.

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Inside, Ptolemy was receiving a job. "Here's what I need." said the shopkeeper,"I need a team of four people to carry these four parcels to my shop on the other side of town. They need to be carried  separately because they are all very fragile. It's some of my more delicate glass work. You'll be paid as soon as you arrive at the other store. My wife shall meet you out front. If the glass is broken you won't get paid. Be careful."
Ptolemy nodded and then preceded to take the boxes one at a time out to the front.
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"Hey everyone..." Ptolemy said as he placed the first box out front,"I got us a job. We've got to deliver this glass work to the store on the other side of town without breaking them. It should pay us quite well." He then walked back inside to get the rest of the boxes.
[52]

[AnimeTheia]

Keeki reached a tentative paw up to Demeter's wing, a little gasp of delight escaped her, she turned and smiled at Seishin "They're so soft!" she told him. She didn't seem to want to answer Demeter's question, giving a little shake of her head instead and as the man in question left the shop with the first box Keeki fled behind Demeter, peering carefully out at him.

"That's excellent!" Seishin commented to Dr. Ptolemy during the brief time before he returned to the shop to collect the next box, he then quickly transformed into his human form (to enable him to carry his box more safely) before explaining to Demeter "Keeki isn't fond of Doctors, just the title of 'doctor' scares her, even if they are a doctor of science or anything that doesn't involve medicine".

[endermage]

"Well I can understand that," said Demeter kindly, "But Dr. Hargrave is very kind. He somtimes can be very strict but it is because he is looking to protect me."

"Enough of that," said Ptolemy, interrupting the conversation further before  the poor young folks were pulled into the conflict. "Here, there is one package for each of us, and I made a little harness for the little one and Demeter so they can carry theirs without worry." He smiled, he knew if they started walking they would be a bit more focused on the task at hand rather than his and Demeter's origin.  

He indicated the path they were to take, it was the longest path, but the one with the fewest inclines.

"Come one everyone, this will be fun! Let's perk up!" said Demeter, her long ears fluttering around her face.

[53]