Peace Be With You

[Lady]

Lorelei (she never considered herself 'of the Lane' even though she rarely left it) was settled on a worn blanket spread on the ground, out of the way of most foot traffic and the streets, tucked just around the corner of a small alley. She did not have a beggar's bowl out or anything to collect money with, although there was a rather large glass jar filled with donations to the side; a recent drop off by one of the churches who thought to give her some of their donations for her to distribute. She still found it odd, but she liked having the cash on hand for those who needed it.

Sitting cross legged and combing her hair with her fingers to pass the time, she kept her eyes out for someone who looked like they could use help and whistled softly to herself.

[North Light36]

Acqua and Vortai wander hand in hand down Piety Land, with Vortai's Harp Bow tucked under his arm in it's harp form. ~I hope this works, Vortai,~ Acqua murmurs, using the telepathic abilities of her ring. ~I'm hungry.~

~I know it will, sis,~ Vortai replies in the same way. ~A lot of religions like music. We just have to find a priest or someone who'll let us play for them in return for some food and maybe even a bed for the night.~

Acqua nods. ~I hope so... Maybe we can offer to clean floors or something as well? I don't want us to start imposing on people's charity, but we really, really need to find something better then the Pits. Sooner or later we're going to get in trouble or attract the wrong attention. Assuming we don't starve first.~

The whistling from a side alley caught both twins attention and they paused to glance in. "Oh!" said Acqua aloud in surprise. She frowned in slight puzzlement. This out of the way little side ally seemed like an odd place to collect donations and the woman on the worn blanket didn't look like a beggar trying to find an out of the way place to rest. In fact the woman's white robes were so spotless that she was suddenly very aware that she and her twin were rather grubby. Fidgeting awkwardly, she asked, "Um... Excuse me? Do you know anywhere we might be able to play for people? And maybe somewhere we can clean up a bit?" ~We can't possibly try finding any sort of work like this, Vortai. I'm pretty sure we smell like the Pits these days.~

~Good thinking,~ Vortai replied silently, giving Lorelei a sweet smile and a polite bow. "We're sorry if we're a bother..."

[Lady]

"No bother at all," Lorelei replied with a soft smile. "To answer your question, Artist's Lament is traditionally where musicians try to bus for tips or attract the eyes of a Blue District patron." She got up, stretching. "As to your second question, I'll have to ask one of my own first." She looked them over, head tilting just slightly. "When was the last time you had a hearty, hot meal? And do you have any clean clothes?"

[North Light36]

"A hot meal?" Acqua echoed. "Um... A bit over week or so ago?" She glanced at her twin for confirmation. It had been awhile, but the days were starting to blur a little. They hadn't starved, thanks to their father's training to always carry some ration bars with them, but it wasn't a hot or hearty meal by any stretch of the imagination. They'd had a bit of copper in their pockets, which had quickly vanished on the occasional hot meal.

"About that," Vortai agreed. "As for clean clothes..." He shook his head, looking uncomfortable. "We kinda stumbled into Rune by accident with just what we left home with."

[Lady]

"Well, that won't do," Lorelei remarked, picking up her jar and carrying it in her arms. "Come with me then. Would one of you be so kind as to carry my blanket? We're not going too far, just over to the Market District."

[North Light36]

Acqua quickly and neatly folded the blanket before picking it up to carry. The twins exchanged a look as they spoke telepathically to each other.

~Do you think she plans to buy us a snack?~ Vortai asked his sister. ~Should we refuse? We were only looking for somewhere to earn a little money?~

~If it's not too expensive, I think it'd be rude to refuse her generosity,~ Acqua replied as her stomach growled at the thought of food. ~And we haven't eaten today. We'll just repay her when we've earnt some money ourselves.~

Vortai nodded in agreement as the twins followed Lorelei.

[Lady]

After the walk down Piety Lane, they emptied out into the Market District (as many roads do.) It was busy, as always, but like a true native, Lorelei navigated the flows of traffic with ease and was soon standing outside a building cramped in next to its neighbors. The sign showed two sinuous dragons entwined with one another, forming a knot (although someone had stuck some googly eyes on them.) The top half of the sign read 'Dragon' as did the lower half. The Dragon and Dragon.

"This way," Lorelei announced, stepping inside. The interior had a faint woodsmoke smell and the decor was decidedly oriental in style. The receptionist smiled from behind a desk at Lorelei, recognizing her.

"Are you two okay sharing a room?" Lorelei asked the twins.

[North Light36]

The twins exchanged visibly puzzled looks at the question, even as they took in their surroundings. "Yes," Acqua answered slowly. "We've shared a room for most of our lives at home. But..." She bit her lip nervously. "We can't afford to stay anywhere..."

Vortai nodded in uncomfortable agreement with his sister.

[Lady]

"Oh, I know," Lorelei replied, opening up the jar and drawing out a few bills, setting them on the counter. "There you go. And what's your favorite food? Both of you."

[North Light36]

The twins exchanged startled and somewhat overwhelmed looks at Lorelei's completely unexpected generosity. Neither of the siblings seemed quiet certain what to make of it or how to respond, other then to answer her questions. How in the world had asking a couple of questions led to all this? It seemed too good to be true.

"Um..." Vortai managed. "We both like any sort of seafood, but we're not fussy."

"We're happy to eat anything," Acqua added. "Muma made sure we learnt not to be picky eaters when we were little."

[Lady]

"Would you be willing to make sure these two are comfortable?" Lorelai asked the attendant. When the woman nodded, she turned to the twins with a smile. "I'll be right back with dinner!" Before either could protest, she was out the door.

The attendant smiled at the pair. "Would you like me to escort you to your room?"

[North Light36]

The twins smiled back shyly at the attendant. "That would be very kind of you," Acqua murmured.

"Thank you," Vortai added. ~Almost feels like the first time we went to Joseph's house, doesn't it sis?~

~In a way,~ Acqua agreed. ~The cold, dirty and hungry parts are the same anyway.~

"Does the lady often help people like this?" Vortai added curiously. "You seem to know her?"

[Lady]

The attendant headed towards a pair of stairs heading upwards and along a slender corridor that took them past a quiet, indoor, mini-waterfall. "Lorelei?" she said. "Oh yes. You must be new to Rune if you haven't heard of her before. She's renowned as one of the most charitable people in the city. They call her "Lorelei of the Lane" because she's always looking for people on Piety Lane to help.You must have been in the right place at the right time. She likes to bring people to this particular hotel because it's comfortable, pretty, but not prohibitively expensive."

[North Light36]

"Yes, we're new," Vortai admitted. "So she's Lorelei of the Lane? We'd heard of her, but not what she looked like." He shook his head. "Well, what a bit of luck for us. She's very generous, to help people like she does."

Acqua nodded in agreement with her brother. "We'll have to find a way to thank her," she added softly.

[Lady]

"Mm if rumor holds true, you'll probably just be asked to pay it forward," the attendant remarked as she stopped in front of the door and swiped the keycard before opening it up for them and standing to the side, holding the card out idly to the twins. "Let me know if it's to your liking."

The room was small but comfortably furnished; a king size bed, a window with a view of the market district; climate control (of course); a TV, desk, and small table. The bathroom was nothing to write home about but it was clean and they could take a shower or bath as they wished.

All in all, standard.