Caravanserai [Outdoor Facilities]

[Flower]

Book snorkeling trips, private cruises, kite surfing, and tons more at The Docks.

Bask in the sunlight at Saffron Beach. Let the wind rock you to sleep in one of our shady hammocks or take refuge in a plush lounge chair. Refreshments are only seconds away as our attendants are standing by to assist you. Relaxation is not the only option at Saffron Beach.

There are a bevy of tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts sprinkled around the resort.

.

Game Time: July 1, 2025 to July 11, 2025

Code Select Expand

[float=left][img height=200 padding=10][/img][/float][b]Name:[/b] Your character's name goes here.
[b]Date | Time:[/b] What day and time does your scene take place?
[b]Wearing:[/b] You can either link a picture of what your character is wearing or describe it in words.
[b]Location:[/b] Where is your character located in the hotel?
[b]Tagging:[/b] Who is your character talking to at the moment? Feel free to include if they are mentioning someone. Also mention if your scene is open or closed.[hr]

[RedPhoenix]

Name: Siddhi Sachdev
Date | Time: June 12th | 2 PM
Wearing: Beat up old light brown coveralls, work boots
Location: Wild Conservation Pens
Tagging: Julie, later Pelin will join, otherwise closed!

"You're looking better today." Siddhi said, a smile on her face and in her voice at once. The woman was much more affectionate with animals than people typically. It was not, as she would be quick to point out, because she was cold-hearted or only favored certain species - it was because the animals in her care could make use of her affection. They would take up on it, heal from it, and most importantly they wouldn't misjudge. They would not think because of a smile that she wanted to breed, or make herself stupid with alcohol with them. There was a simple purity to them that she did not find in people. Well, most people.

Her newest assistant, Julie, might be one of the few exceptions. Siddhi had insisted on her hire above the other applicants upon seeing her resume, and, most importantly, hearing her talk about animal care. The woman understood that death was a part of life was not going to fall to pieces the moment she thought a camel might not make it. It was the sort of thing she'd lost more volunteers and new staff to than anything else, to the point that she'd been avoiding any volunteer assignments to her station for nearly a year now. They never helped, they just complained, said inane things about how beautiful nature was when they should have been mucking a stable, and then ran from the supposedly beautiful natural world the first chance they got.

"Did you drink all of it? Good man." She congratulated the addax as she noticed his trough was clean. "That means your stomach is feeling better. You'll pull through." There was just a touch of relief in her voice. Accepting that death was a part of life did not mean welcoming it in. "I hope your like your home." She said. "You'll be with us awhile." she smiled at him, running a hand along his lean flank. The antelope was not one of the species that would attract a crowd, so no agencies would be after her for a home for him. Not pretty enough for all the people who cared so much, she reflected. Another reason she didn't like most people. They'd let an old bull Adax rot, and the old man deserved to live out his days in peace after what he'd been through. She glanced down to the now cleaned and smooth stub where his right foreleg used to be.

"Now just hold still for me. I know you will." Idir didn't complain, he was a good patient. He didn't even flinch or make a noise of protest as the needle slipped into his haunch and she injected the remaining dose of the parasite cleansing medicine. "Good man." Siddhi gave him a pat. Soon the sun would be going down and it would be safe to let him out of his pen for the evening. The harsh sun of Sahara was no place for the convalescing, once he was healthy he could wander the grounds more freely.

She took a moment just to smile at him and take him in. Another happy story. It was why she did this job.

A moment later she had exited his pen and was back in the 'office' as they called it. It didn't really resemble an office, more of a mix between a medical field station, an operating room, and a desert ranger's outpost. Rows of medicines lined one wall, schedules were written all over another, numbers and contacts, a security system that showed every inch of the compound. Siddhi's own room, which was also on these grounds in the other small building present, didn't look all that different.

She gave Julie a nod as she entered, tossing the used syringe in the biohazard container. "Idir is looking healthy." She said with a smile. "I think he'll be with us awhile yet."

She glanced at her assistant, the more they worked together the less Siddhi was the distrustful one and the more she was the overly concerned one. "Did you work through lunch again?" She asked with a slight accusing tone. "I need you alert." She reached into a nearby drawer that served as a small pantry and removed a power bar, tossing it to the woman. She walked to the nearby sink and filled one of the mugs with water and brought it to her as well. "Eat. Drink." She said sternly. "You are no good to me if you pass out in the sun. How much water have you had today?"  For Siddhi, this was positively a gushing display of affection and care, even though it came across like an unsatisfied boss being critical.

[Dominique]

Name:Julie Lancaster
Date | Time: June 12th, 2 PM
Wearing: Khaki pants, big wellies and an old faded top with streaks of dirt all over it
Location:  Wild Conservation Pens
Tagging: Siddhi | Closed


There was never a dull moment in Africa, or so was Julie's experience. Some of the locals had, in the past, tried to convince her of the contrary, insinuating that dullness wasn't necessarily a bad thing and that taking it easy in a country where temperatures rising well into the thirties was more the normal than an exception, well, it really wasn't such a bad thing. Especially for a pale girl from good ol' Scotland, with a stubborn nature and something to prove -if not to her family then definitely to herself- it was impossible to adopt the more laidback culture, and by lunch she was often seen prowling the perimeter looking dirty, sweaty and considerably different from the guests -and staff- of Caravanserai.

Today was definitely no exception, either, and the old Jeep that came driving up to the main building was kicking up clouds and dust before grinding to a rather abrupt halt in one of the barely identifiable parking spots near the front entrance. Out hopped a girl with short, dark brown hair dressed in the pitiful remnants of tan coloured pants, a barely pink top with an illegible line of text across the front and big wellies that seemed to be made for someone with considerably bigger feet than hers. Julie Lancaster just about remembered to kick them off before stepping inside, (although walking into the infirmary on socks was something she didn't expect Siddhi to be altogether approving of, either) although not before patting herself down, creating more small clouds of sand in the process. With a cheeky grin on her face and a left arm from which a small trail of blood had trickled down before, but had now mostly dried, Julie made her way to the washroom, proceeding to scrub her arms, hands and face clean in a futile attempt to make herself a little less, well, grimy.

By the time Siddhi entered the office, Julie was present there as well, and she was searching some of the lower cabinets with an increasingly unimpressed look in her eyes. She absorbed the good news the veterinarian -and her mentor and superior- and offered an absent nod in response. "That old grump will be kicking young gazelles off his lawn for a while yet, eh," she commented, briefly disappearing inside one of the cabinets, at least with the upper half of her body. A muffled 'aha!' sound emanated from within, and triumphantly Julie emerged once more, slamming down the first aidkit she had found. "Thousands of dollars worth of animal medicine, but need one human bandaid and I almost had to march all the way back to the hotel."  She pulled herself up into a standing position and opened the case, grabbing some antiseptic and bright blue coloured bandaid that Julie proceeded to apply to the small gash on her upper arm.

"The fence was all scratched up again," she said in defense to the accusation of having skipped lunch. It was true, and Julie couldn't really remember the last time she hadn't foregone lunch in favour of the myriad chores that needed to be done in and around the centre. Besides, Siddhi was hardly one to talk.

"All right, all right," she conceded in her typical Northern drawl. Julie tossed away the trash and carefully placed the kit back where it belonged before grabbing the protein bar, taking a generous bite. She turned around, letting her back rest against the counter, her elbows leaning on the surface. "I brought a two litre bottle of water," she obediently informed her superior. "Drank it all while I was out. Haven't needed a wee since, I think I needed it." She flashed Siddhi a toothy, deceptively innocent smile at that, then brought the mug to her lips and downed it all in one less-than-graceful go. She'd had plenty of time to get used to Siddhi's less than conventional approach where humans were concerned, and even come to appreciate it. Her direct ways of communicating, with no fluff, no false courtesies and nothing but the truth were refreshing, and Julie (though she would never say this out loud) loved her for it.

And also liked to poke fun at it a little at times.

"So do I get to feed the Fennec pups today?" she airily inquired, making her way over to the sink for a refill. "I've been chased about the enclosure by gemsbucks all morning. Surely I deserve a reward for that, aye?"

[RedPhoenix]

Name: Siddhi Sachdev
Date | Time: June 12th | 2 PM
Wearing: Beat up old light brown coveralls, work boots
Location: Wild Conservation Pens
Tagging: Julie, later Pelin will join, otherwise closed!

"Again?" Siddhi sighed. Someone was using it as a scratching post she was pretty sure, but it was a bit of a mystery as to who. None of the small group of gemsboks, who had free range of the larger enclosure that went a good distance into the desert, should have had the need for it, Idir hadn't been out without supervision since he'd arrived. Did they have an uninvited guest? Or was it just wind damage that took a peculiar form? Ah, the unexpected problems of a refuge. "I'll spend a night out there." She announced, sometimes there was no substitution for just going out and watching until it happened again.

"Camel saddles fit a first aid kit." She said simply. The ongoing disagreement between the two of whether it was preferable to take a jeep or a camel out when venturing deep into the enclosure had started nearly from day one. Siddhi made no secret of the fact that she hated the jeep. The thing was loud, smelly, and made her stand out like a sore thumb. It was heavy enough to crush a scorpion or cave in a tunnel and it always felt like it was about to break down on her. Didn't have those problems with a camel. But Siddhi wasn't about to say more than once sentence on the topic. The way she saw it Julie would come around eventually.

"Yeah alright." She relented after thinking a moment. "Just watch out for O'Conner, he hasn't backed off protecting Magpie yet." O'Conner, the male fennec adult was much more protective and fierce of his mate than most of his kind, snapping at ankles and hands and anything that came near his mate not only while she was pregnant and nursing but until the pups had left. They'd gone through this before a few years ago and one of Siddhi's volunteers had nearly lost a finger, distracted by how 'cute' the things were. She knew Julie wasn't anything like that woman, but there was no reason not to remind her. Sure, they could have taken the pups away to hand raise, but that would have made them a bit too attractive to would be pet owners who would likely not care for them properly. It was better to leave them as wild animals, as far as Siddhi was concerned.

The pair of mated fennecs had been in the enclosure since nearly after Siddhi had started working for Caranvserai. They had the option of going back into the desert if they wished, but when released always just returned. They liked it here, and they were good for publicity shots and getting donations. Well, at least when O'Conner wasn't trying to snap up anything that came near his woman.

Siddhi was about to say something else but was distracted by a ringing from the case inside the folds of her coveralls. She pulled the cell phone from the case inside the harness and answered quickly. Emergency life-flight number.

"Sachdev." She said quickly, stepping outside for better reception, beckoning Julie to follow her. Siddhi was all business when this number called. It meant an animal was being flown to her and she'd have to act quickly.

"Oh no." She said a few times as she heard the information, concern obvious on her face. "Yes, we'll be ready."

She turned to Julie quickly. "Go to the hotel, I need a large blanket, any dark solid color will do, an umbrella, as much sunscreen as you can find, and a couple rubber bouncy balls if they have them. Move quickly, but don't rush." She paused, then shook her head and came out and said it. "If you can find anyone who can volunteer to help us for the next few days." She shrugged, as if to say she wasn't going to keep her fingers crossed on that one. Without saying any more she jogged over to a shed where feeding supplies were stored and began putting stuff together. "I'll handle the rest while you're gone. Go."

Siddhi was all business and she wasn't going to have any further conversation, that much was clear. Julie would have to wait to find out anything more until she got back!

[Dominique]

Name:Julie Lancaster
Date | Time: June 12th, 2 PM
Wearing: Khaki pants, big wellies and an old faded top with streaks of dirt all over it
Location:  Wild Conservation Pens / Caravanserai Staff Entrance
Tagging: Siddhi, Pelin | Closed


Julie was pleased with the answer. "O'Conner's a little pushover," she grinned. "With a name like that he's practically Scottish anyhoo. We get each other."  They both knew she would treat the animals with the caution that was required no matter how nonchalant Julie talked about it; when it came to treating the local wildlife she was about as dedicated as they came, and perhaps only exceeded by Siddhi herself. Which was why, the moment the phone began to ring, her smile immediately withered and she stood anxiously studying the veterinarian's expression as she held a less than revealing conversation.

Chewing on the nail of her thumb, Julie raised her eyebrows the moment Siddhi ended the call. But instead of an explanation, she was given curt instructions that would make no sense to any outsider and only a little bit of sense to Julie herself. A slightly incredulous look littered her features as she glanced down at herself; she really wasn't looking very representable at the moment. Julie knew better than to protest though, just like she knew there was no use in inquiring any further, even if Siddhi could have easily told her just what was going on. Something about following orders or not being so bloody curious, Jullie supposed, and with only the smallest roll of the eyes she swivelled around on her heels.

"I'm taking the Jeep though!" she announced in a puppy act of defiance, then hurriedly grabbed a pair of sneakers to replace the rainboots she had left at the entrance. In her old and worn looking Allstars she got back into the vehicle, and with a speed and just a hint of recklessness that the top ladies at Caravanserai were sure to frown upon, she drove to the main resort. Julie at least thought to park the 4x4 at the Staff entrance and not in front of the glorious looking main lobby; she was out of the vehicle in a second, inside the back of the hotel not a few moments later.

Julie barged through the hallways, searching left and right for the items Siddhi had listed. She left a trail of sand behind her on the pristine looking floor, and while her hands were clean, the same could not be said of her attire. It didn't matter; Julie had heard the urgency in Siddhi's voice, and when an animal life was at stake, she would stop at nothing to make sure the creature got all the help it needed. Still, she wasn't having much luck finding any of the required items; Julie had spent so very little time at Caravanserai that she had no idea where to find anything. Or anyone for that matter; the place looked positively deserted, at least this side of the resort. No doubt there was plenty of sunscreen around though, maybe she could check the Spa, or the lost and found; Julie bet people left their sunscreen bottles behind all the time around here. Where the hell was she going to find a dozen bouncy balls though?  She needed to-- ah, blankets!

With an obliviousness  that might just have been a lack of caring, Julie made an abrupt turn at one of the housemaid storage rooms. A few pristine looking blankets sat neatly folded on one of the shelves, and Julie contently lumbered into the small space to relieve the hotel of two of them.

[Honeycrisp]

Name: Pelin Arwan
Date | Time: June 12th, 2PM
Wearing: Black housekeeping dress, white scarf
Location: Corridors, Housekeeping Closet
Tagging: Julie Lancaster

The locks on the doors to housekeeping weren't there to protect the contents.  If you could afford to come to Caravanserai or be judged worthy of coming then what were a few missing towels or bars of soap?  While Pelin and the other maids were encouraged to minimize shrinkage they were also coached not to offend guests by being stingy with small comforts like an extra blanket or a pillow.  No, the locks on the doors were mainly to keep the guests safe when they might wander behind the scenes by accident.  When the alcohol flowed and people were as drunk on the sun as on liquor it would be easy to stumble into a housekeeping area, or janitorial closet, by mistake and someone could get hurt.  Any member of staff could open them with their keycards so Pelin was surprised but not alarmed when she went into to refresh her cart and found Julie inside.

There was just enough room inside for Pelin to have stepped in and almost run into Julie's body.  All around them were shelves stocked with linens and other things, such as the blankets Julie was liberating.  Pelin didn't know the dusty, work dirty looking young woman but she saw the bottom edge of a badge and she'd managed to get into the closet so she must work - and belong - here.  "Do you need help?" she asked politely.  "If a guest needs some linens or their room refreshed you can just tell me and I can do it," she said and reached out her arms as if offering to relieve Julie of the blankets. 

"Where do you work?" she asked curiously.  "I'm Pelin.  I work in housekeeping," as if the dress and her presence in the closet wasn't statement enough.

[Dominique]

Name:Julie Lancaster
Date | Time: June 12th, 2 PM
Wearing: Khaki pants, big wellies and an old faded top with streaks of dirt all over it
Location:  Wild Conservation Pens / Caravanserai Staff Entrance
Tagging: Pelin | Closed


A small shriek escaped Julie as the ominous words "Do you need help?" came from directly behind her. She spun around, looking, for all intents and purposes, like someone who had just been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Clenching the pristine looking blankets to her breast, she was surely making them all sorts of smudgy, but Julie's focus was on the woman in front of her. She noticed the maid's uniform and the scarf she was wearing, and breathed a little more easy that it wasn't one of the owners standing behind her, or some sour looking manager ready to kick her right back out.

"Hi!" she breathlessly said, well, almost shouted at her. Julie spent a lot of time among animals, not so much in the presence of many humans and it was kind of showing. "I uh, no, it's not for a guest. Or rather, it's for a very special guest... back at the wildlife centre."  She looked a little demurely up at the housekeeper, then realised she was being rude. "Oh, I'm Julie," she quickly returned the introduction. "Julie Lancaster. I work with Siddhi at the conservation. Have you ever been? What am I saying, I need to be gathering supplies?"  Julie cast her gaze skyward. "I need sunscreen, an umbrella and a  bunch of bouncy balls. I already have the blankets," she added triumphantly. "Do you think you can help me out, Pelin?"

[Honeycrisp]

Name: Pelin Arwan
Date | Time: June 12th, 2PM
Wearing: Black housekeeping dress, white scarf
Location: Corridors, Housekeeping Closet
Tagging: Julie Lancaster

Like many of the Western women here, Julie showed a confidence in her body and dress that Pelin sometimes envied and was sometimes still scandalized by.  The bare, sun kissed shoulders reminded her of an aide worker in a camp in Syria, one who had often run afoul of the religious authorities and the secular ones a well.  She'd absolutely hated being covered up, claimed it was hot and stifling and patriarchal - whatever that word meant.  Pelin's English was practical, not academic, and just as she struggled with that word so too she struggled to keep up with Julie's quick, sometimes disjointed sentences.  It was very frustrating because Pelin knew the girl was excited and that if only Pelin understood her better she'd see Julie in a different light.  Right now though she felt the same inferiority she always felt around native English speakers.  That they couldn't speak a lick of her native tongues didn't even occur to Pelin to be proud of.

She got the gist of it.  This girl, Julie, was needing things for a guest.  A very special guest and both of those demanded Pelin's full cooperation.  "I can help," she told Julie but paced her words to be slow and calm, hoping the mood would rub off even the tiniest bit on Julie.  "You can put the blankets in here," she picked up a clean white cotton laundry bag and held its wide mouth with the drawstrings open.  "We can put the sunscreen and balls on top and carry an umbrella.  That way nothing is lost," she said very pragmatically.  Losing something on a trek between camps when you didn't have anything to lose could literally cost you your life Pelin had learned.  "How many sunscreens?  We have the little bottles here," she held one up.  A tiny thing, lightly perfumed and with a high SPF intended for the female guests to use on their faces before going out.  "But down by the pool storage rooms they have the bigger bottles.  And the big," she made a pumping up and down motion, "things to refill them.  Like...like the ketchups?  In the canteen?"

"There are balls there too, for the water sports."

[RedPhoenix]

Name: Siddhi Sachdev
Date | Time: June 12th | 2 PM
Wearing: Beat up old light brown coveralls, work boots
Location: Wild Conservation Pens
Tagging: Julie, Pelin, Closed

As the ladies worked in the hotel, Siddhi was moving quickly through the compound.

She had cleared out a small enclosure a covered stable with a gated yard within the smaller enclosure near the vet's station. She had lashed a rope across the ceiling, so that it hung just below it. She had looped a few speakers around it, and set up a dangling mp3 player. It was set on a soft, relaxing, classic music rotation. Her movements, however, were anything but relaxed. She moved quickly and precisely cleaning out the area and spreading down soft materials.

The small gated area outside she made sure had a trough full of water, a post with bells on strings attached, considerable shade, and a heavy lock on the gate. Most of the parts they used were modular, so it was easy to set up something like this - just normally they had a lot more time. She was sweating hard in the Sahara sun as she got it all ready to go. She checked her watch, they only had about fifteen minutes left before the helicopter was supposed to arrive. A life-flight from a station in the desert rather far to the south. She looked that direction and shielded her eyes, not pulling down her goggles as the wind was mild. No sign of the bird yet.

A few minutes were spent mixing together formulas and medicines and putting them in rather large baby bottles, she set them up in a row on the floor of the little stable, each with a different colored to represent new formulas.

She glanced around the little area. It was as setup as she could make it.

"Come on Julie, hurry." She said, looking at her watch again. Ten minutes. She'd need to be at the helipad soon.

[Dominique]

Name:Julie Lancaster
Date | Time: June 12th, 2 PM
Wearing: Khaki pants, big wellies and an old faded top with streaks of dirt all over it
Location:  Wild Conservation Pens / Caravanserai Staff Entrance
Tagging: Pelin | Closed


Julie was happy to find someone so cooperative so quickly, and she had no trouble showing it. "Wait, you do have bouncy balls here?" she asked incredulously. "And I thought Siddhi was just pulling my leg.  I guess we best head down to the pool then!" She unceremoniously dropped the blankets into the bag Pelin held open for her, then cast a doubtful look at the small lotion bottles.

"Well..." she mused, "Siddhi said 'Bring all the sunscreen you can find', so..."  She scooped up two handfuls of bottles and let those fall on top of the blankets. In a no-nonsense sort of charming fashion she took the bag off Pelin and swung it over her shoulder, giving her little opportunity to protest - if she'd even wanted to. "Show me where the pool is, Pelin!"  she said merrily, even though there was a hint of urgency to her words. Siddhi wouldn't have rushed Julie if something pressing wasn't about to happen, and Julie wasn't going to disappoint her superior, especially not with the life of a helpless animal at stake. And so she upped her pace, occasionally glancing over at Pelin to see if she was keeping up.

"We might have to bring all the big bottles too," she told her as they rushed down the corridors towards the pool. It wasn't long before Julie stepped back, realising that she had no idea where they needed to go. Pelin seemed more than capable of guiding her to the pool storage room though. "Maybe even the dispenser! Say, you wouldn't  mind helping me bring this back to the reserve, would you? We might need a pair of extra hands there."

[Elizabeth Ecsed]

Name: Elizabeth
Date | Time: 17th, 8 am
Wearing: pink button up long sleeve she bought at Bits and Bobs (yes, she bought even more buttonups), camera bag modified to carry a sketch pad, jeans, Australian slouch hat. 100 SPF sunscreen.

Five foot five tall walking staff tightly wrapped in criss-crossing thin yellow ribbons, creating diamond patterns showing the silvery wood

Location: gardens
Tagging: open.

The night at Hypnotic hadn't been a disaster... Certainly not, she only cried a little and didn't require medical attention... But she had clearly had the worst time of anyone in the club.

Why did I even think that going to a nightclub was ever a good idea? I can fail to meet people just as badly out here, in the peace and quiet, where I don't have to worry about being trampled. Or have drunks asking me about my limp or trying to touch or steal my staff. Or spilling booze on me or trying to get me wasted.

Or being exposed to a bunch of rich and pretty people without a care in the world. Who are all wrapped up in having a bunch of casual sex with other rich, pretty people on piles of money.

She took a deep breath, pulling in the various scents of flowers and desert morning air. The remains of the cool night air lingered, battling the distinct smell of the sunlight starting to bake the desert.

The trickle of water and slight breeze soothed her soul even more, and the distant mountains reminded herself of the endless desire to see what was over the horizon.

This was something she could do, walk these paths and trails over and over. She was learning how to move in the desert, so she could see over the next hill, or around that little turn.

Yeah, she was lonely, but that was the story of her life. But she could always go for another walk.

[Gannameade]

Name: Apollo King Date | Time | June 17th, 2020 | 9am Wearing:  Shown Location:  Gardens Tagging: Elizabeth, Open Apollo knew his interaction with Phoebe was far from over but they were to meet for lunch and dinner. It made him smirk as neither mentioned dessert and he was considering that. But nonetheless, he didn’t want to take all of her time in paradise. Ok so maybe he did, but he also knew if it was anything beside…amazing sex they needed to find out if they could be with each other outside of the bedroom. He wasn’t sure she would be able to handle who he was or believe he was just interested in her when he was but what did he know he was pretty clueless it seems without his wing…woman. He wondered what she had gotten up too or who maybe? She was far more charming than she gave herself credit for and easily very desirable so he didn’t even think of seeing her much less bumping into her. He looked at his best friend and she didn’t….no she didn’t look too happy about where she was currently. Which really through him, but he was in the gardens to get something nice for Phobe. “Sup gorgeous. What are you doing out here?” He pondered where they both were right now and scratched his head briefly. “You ok?” He had to ask, she was his bestie after all!

[Elizabeth Ecsed]

Name: Elizabeth
Date | Time: 17th, 9:02am
Wearing: pink button up long sleeve she bought at Bits and Bobs (yes, she bought even more buttonups), camera bag modified to carry a sketch pad, jeans, Australian slouch hat. 100 SPF sunscreen.

Five foot five tall walking staff tightly wrapped in criss-crossing thin yellow ribbons, creating diamond patterns showing the silvery wood

Location: gardens
Tagging: Apollo, open.

Elizabeth looked up from where she was moodily poking a rock with her staff, pondering her existence and future. She smiled happily, even more glad to see her friend than usual. She hobbled several quick steps closer, asking for a hug in her own quiet way.

"Apollo, what's wrong with me? Why can't I make friends?"

[Gannameade]

 

Name: Apollo King Date | Time | June 17th, 2020 | 9am Wearing:  Shown Location:  Gardens Tagging: Elizabeth, Open   This was…nothing that he expected. Elizabeth had always been his rock! For her to be like this meant something else was going on. He had no idea what it was though, she had always been there for him, he didn’t think she would expect any less so when she approached him he scooped her up into his arms and hugged her deeply. He felt suddenly rather bad for not being there for her after his grand night. He kissed the top of her head and let her feel his warmth and love for her. “What the hell is wrong with you? I mean…what makes you think anything is wrong with you? You are lovely, damned beautiful, you have a wonderful spirit. Hell if you were straight I would be with you. Why do you even believe that something is wrong with you? Mean don’t focus on last night.” He moved to sit with her and hugged her to him. “Do you think last night defines you or your time spent here? Elizabeth it was one night? Ain’t that the same thing you tell me? What makes you think it doesn’t apply to you? And if you say redheaded magic I will so turn you over my knee!” He frowns caressing his friend’s cheek as he wrapped his arm around her. “You can’t do this to yourself…it isn’t real nor fair. You give me advice I can give you some, don’t give up and don’t rush. You are a very personable person, Girl…if you can make a friend out of me…you are a true miracle worker!” Apollo said kissing her head once more. “So what are your plans for the day…and don’t say mulling around the gardens either?” He asked.

[Elizabeth Ecsed]

=10]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/a8/Redheads-brian-dowling-17-696x1024.jpg[/img][/float]Name: Elizabeth
Date | Time: 17th, 9:02am
Wearing: pink button up long sleeve she bought at Bits and Bobs (yes, she bought even more buttonups), camera bag modified to carry a sketch pad, jeans, Australian slouch hat. 100 SPF sunscreen.

Five foot five tall walking staff tightly wrapped in criss-crossing thin yellow ribbons, creating diamond patterns showing the silvery wood

Location: gardens
Tagging: Apollo, open.


Elizabeth sighed, not complaining about the hug.... That she asked for. Two miracles! She must be really having a rough day.

But of course she had to laugh at his opening line. "Oh Apollo, you smooth talker, you. You'd be with anyone straight who would take you." She teased, actually liking him quite a lot, as always.

"And... It's hard, sometimes. If you get shot down or don't get any nibbles on your cheesy lines, you just flirt with the second most beautiful woman in the place. And it doesn't apply to me because I said so and I'm a woman and that means I'm always right."

She sighed, running her artist's hands through her hair, resisting the urge to hide behind it.

"I just..  I don't fit in here. I'm not rich, I'm only adequately attractive, I'm not physically perfect, I don't do the casual sleeping around that everyone does...

And I didn't make friends with you, you made friends with me.. you didn't go away, despite the dozens of times I told you to do exactly that. And name three other people I'm friends with that aren't children I teach art to.

It's... Just so damn hard. All those couples and people hooking up, looking so happy... What was my longest relationship? Four months? I.. I don't..."

Smirking, she promptly replied with the obvious "mulling around the gardens, of course."

[Gannameade]

 

Name: Apollo King Date | Time | June 17th, 2020 | 9am Wearing:  Shown Location:  Gardens Tagging: Elizabeth, Open   Apollo continued to hold her, she was his family how could he NOT be there for her. Yeah, he still had his sister but had Elizabeth not been…Elizabeth, he would have wooed her a long time ago. She was beautiful, had a great personality and was less likely to put up with his billionaire bull. So him being committed to her was pretty easy. He was feeling bad that she had been having a rough day. He laughed as he kissed her forehead. “I have you fooled is all I am pretty picky.” He smirked he knew she knew better after his last break up and that woman truly was a gold digger that he was so whipped to see it, but no one liked her after awhile…when his little sister wanted to put her on a ‘slap a ho’ it brought him back to his senses. And between her and Elizabeth’s intervention, he was going to end up here. “Well, they are good lines. I am used to getting shot down, it is hard for gorgeous women like you to deal with rejection I know, but it happens to the best of us. You want to believe you are always right…but not this time dearest!” “You are rich maybe not in money, you are damn gorgeous, perfect is relative all of your parts work. So don’t…wait for Ms. Right…I am not going to tell you not too or to sleep around. You want to find a mate/lover, not just that side piece. So don’t be like me.” “Yeah, you weren’t serious when you told me to go away, with that pretty smile and those cute dimples. I must have done something to make you keep me.” He smirked. “I don’t know your other friends.” He spoke with a raised eyebrow. “You can’t have it both ways, either you are going to find the one or you are going to be with someone until they become your one!” He frowned. “And that break up was your fault why?!? You did nothing wrong…and if I find that witch I am going to have her executed!” He looked at her as if his gaze alone would kill the woman that hurt his friend. “You can’t help being a PITA, can you?!? I can let you meet my squeeze and I for dinner?” He said realizing he and Phoebe were still together but hadn’t defined anything. Who knew maybe she just wanted him for the night and he was reading more into this than normal.

[Elizabeth Ecsed]

Name: Elizabeth
Date | Time: 17th, 9:02am
Wearing: pink button up long sleeve she bought at Bits and Bobs (yes, she bought even more buttonups), camera bag modified to carry a sketch pad, jeans, Australian slouch hat. 100 SPF sunscreen.

Five foot five tall walking staff tightly wrapped in criss-crossing thin yellow ribbons, creating diamond patterns showing the silvery wood

Location: gardens
Tagging: Apollo, open.

She had to laugh back. Apollo really did have a way with making people feel better. "Yes of course you're picky. I said so. You pick the most attractive woman and flirt with her, then you pick the second most... And so on. Extremely picky.

I don't... I don't even get to the point where it's rejection, really... I just awkwardly flounder around in the conversation until she goes and hooks up with someone else.

I'm not the least bit gorgeous... My face is weirdly shaped and prone to resting bitch face and I'm scrawny and I don't smile enough and... Really?"

She leaned on her staff so she could raise both middle fingers at her friend. "All my parts work? Did you forget where my left leg has more scars than Frankenstein's monster? Ass. I think you meant my vagina works."
She had to laugh again, shaking her head. She knew Apollo was being kind in his way, and she really did appreciate it.

"And I was perfectly serious when I told you to go away. You just didn't listen. I wanted to sit there and draw in peace and you kept rambling on about cartoons. And just for the record, there is no reality where Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends is better than The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy."

Yes, she was continuing a 20 year old argument. Of course she was.

"And you don't know any of my other friends cuz I don't have any!"

She siged, patting his arm. "A witch? Burn her! Thanks. That's not mandatory. But I appreciate it, even if she doesn't truly deserve that.

Of course I can't help being a pain in your ass. You volunteer for it every time."

She smiled a little, shaking her head. "No, you know the rules. I hate being a third wheel, and you can't introduce them to me until you've gone in at least four dates where you do stuff other than just bang. It got too complicated for me to keep track of them all otherwise.

You... Really are a good friend Apollo, thank you."

[Gannameade]

 

Name: Apollo King Date | Time | June 17th, 2020 | 9am Wearing:  Shown Location:  Gardens Tagging: Elizabeth, Open   "That doesn’t mean that I am picky it means I like beautiful women!  I am bound to find one, I am shallow ok.” Apollo frowned. “Really…Why…why can’t I believe that? I mean damn Elizabeth look at you, what is not to like? But you are gorgeous, the resting face can be cured if you smile. I always told you, you have a beautiful smile. And that hasn’t changed, you use it more and you will have what you want.” He couldn’t help but smirk grab her hands and kiss them middle fingers and all. “I will have to take your word on your vagina since you never let me find out for myself.” He stuck his tongue. “Don’t think of them as scars then, you are you, who you find here will accept you for you! Friend or more! I can’t make you see the wonderous woman you are. You are going to believe me one day, one day does NOT define your existence.” He caressed her cheek. “Ok, I am going to need you to put that crack pipe down! Cause you smokin’ some bad stuff now!” He looked at her. “Well find some and introduce me to them. I like hot friends.” He winked. “Funny…I haven’t seen any ugly witches lately so burning them is last on my list.” He smirked. “I thought that was your job…you took it willingly and quickly I might add! I am the brotha you know you wanted!” He patted her leg. “Them?!? You act like I have a lot of ‘Them’. This is the first woman I have been with in…Months. Between you, ReRe and Mom…she didn’t have a chance…Golddigger or not!” “Thank me for what?!? I haven’t gotten you a date yet. And quit acting like you are dying I was the one going through withdrawals.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “You are a great Lil’ sister. Be nice…I like this one!” He sighed. “Four dates…got it. You sure you gonna be alright?!?”

[Elizabeth Ecsed]

Name: Elizabeth
Date | Time: 17th, 9:02am
Wearing: pink button up long sleeve she bought at Bits and Bobs (yes, she bought even more buttonups), camera bag modified to carry a sketch pad, jeans, Australian slouch hat. 100 SPF sunscreen.

Five foot five tall walking staff tightly wrapped in criss-crossing thin yellow ribbons, creating diamond patterns showing the silvery wood

Location: gardens
Tagging: Apollo, open.

Elizabeth patted his shoulder. "Not shallow, you just have an eye for quality. Sometimes you get distracted by the shiny stuff though.

Cuz you have an idealized version of me in your head where I'm all witty and not just sarcastic and I'm graceful and elegant or something.

So you think just smiling at pretty ladies is the key?" She knew she was being grumpy.  On some level of her personality, she regretted it... But sometimes Apollo's relentless optimism got under her skin. On the other hand, he truly was a good person and friend.

Sighing, Elizabeth shook her head. "Why couldn't you have been born a woman? I could just marry you then and you'd subsidize my art and I wouldn't have to worry about anything. Such a romantic, huh?

I reserve the right to not believe in anything. Especially about my dating options. Especially especially here. I still don't think I really fit in here... I'm poor and demisexual and all... Distant and artsy and moody. I'm just not a shiny bird of paradise like everyone else I met...

Goddess, me as a crackhead would be terrifying.

No. If I find friends, I want to keep them. Not have you take all their time and energy.

Poor ugly witches, Apollo's ok with burning them." She joked, tired of being so moody. Her venting was done for the day, and she had some exploring to do.

"I'm always nice. I save the meanest jokes for people who won't get them. And you know they do have sex addiction support groups...

Yeah. I'm alright. Thank you for listening and being my cheerleader. You're a good friend and you deserve the best."

[Gannameade]

 

Name: Apollo King Date | Time | June 17th, 2020 | 9am Wearing:  Shown Location:  Gardens Tagging: Elizabeth, Open Elizabeth patted his shoulder. "Not shallow, you just have an eye for quality. Sometimes you get distracted by the shiny stuff though. “I am hurt that you think I am simply distracted by a big butt and a smile.” He teased. He frowned as he looked at her. “I don’t have an idealized version of you. I have a real version of you, you just don’t realize how awesome you are. You need to accept my version…because it is true. You are those things! All of them are you.” His gaze matched her eyes. “Sometimes…they will see you. You are so much more amazing than you give yourself credit for.” He said as he looked into her eyes. “Cause I would make a really ugly woman and no one would believe a woman was that much of a ho!” He moved to kiss her forehead. “Yeah, we would be quite the pair.” He smirked as he gazed upon her. “Don’t give up you fit here. People are people everywhere, not the same just different.” He smirked. “You haven’t met everyone and you are a lovely bird. Paradise is a fallacy you are just as lovely as anyone. I assure you.” He smirked. “I would still be here for you even as a crackhead.” He chuckled. “Yeah what is the problem with getting rid of the ugly witches?” He winked. “You! Need a sex addiction support group and yet you won’t sleep with me? I am so hurt.” He winked he wasn’t an addict! He didn’t sleep with everyone, flirt maybe but he was selective, more than most people thought of him. He wasn’t as charming as most people made him out to be or as paramour as his namesake. He really did want a Ms. Right. “So you are saving your best and meanest stuff for me then?” He wiggled his eyebrows. “You do know there is no expiration date for BFFs right?” He kissed her cheek. “You are the best friend a guy could ask for.”

[Elizabeth Ecsed]

Name: Elizabeth
Date | Time: 17th, 9:02am
Wearing: pink button up long sleeve she bought at Bits and Bobs (yes, she bought even more buttonups), camera bag modified to carry a sketch pad, jeans, Australian slouch hat. 100 SPF sunscreen.

Five foot five tall walking staff tightly wrapped in criss-crossing thin yellow ribbons, creating diamond patterns showing the silvery wood

Location: gardens
Tagging: Apollo, open.

"Big butt, big smile, and big hair, yep. Big flirts too.  All of the above, preferably.

And I acknowledge that you think I'm something I'm not, but the one thing I am is more stubborn than you." She stuck her tongue out at her friend.

She winced. "Powerful ugly woman indeed. Worse than Malcolm Reynolds in his pretty floral bonnet." She sighed again, mood flickering back to melancholy, triggered by his words that she had been trying to ignore. "I... Thanks. It's hard when I feel like... I'm not playing the same game as everyone else, and their game seems... Shallow but important to them. I don't know. 

And no, I'm like the last person who needs a sex addiction group.. I was saying that you.. never mind."

She laughed, nodding. "Always. It's too easy sometimes, but... Still."

She hesitated, looking away into the distance. This was a hard conversation for her. "If... If you want to still sponsor an art show for me.... I... Was thinking about calling it How I See the World... A section of my landscape photos, then a section where I match a face photo with a drawing I did of the person..."

Her hands shifted on her staff, not looking up at her friend. "Sound ok?"

[Gannameade]

 

Name: Apollo King Date | Time | June 17th, 2020 | 9am Wearing:  Shown Location:  Gardens Tagging: Elizabeth, Open “Ok, I will keep my eye out for you and she doesn’t have to have big hair, I have seen a lot of hot short-haired women and bald ones too. Most of the cast of Black Panther to be exact!!” He winked. “You are hardly more stubborn than me and I am not going to let you convince me otherwise. Yes, you are a lot of things. A wonderful person is at the top of the list!!!” He bopped her nose. “Probably! Some guys should NOT do drag!!” He said “You aren’t playing the same game. You are you and you are better at that than anyone. You are the best and I am not going to let you not get back on the damn horse!” He stated as he looked at her, she had the uncanny knack to be able to find another hole to drop into after he pulled her out. He thought he had a depressive streak sometimes but he was small potatoes compared to her! “So you are saying I need a sex addicts group?!? Hunny you have to HAVE a lot of sex or partners to be an addict! I haven’t had…one or any for the last 18 months so I am hardly an addict. When I start paying for sex…regularly then I will have reached addict status and that is when I can’t find anyone…which I haven’t so…that blows your addiction theory.” He stuck his tongue out now. “I will work on making it harder for you then.” He arched an eyebrow. He turned to her and cupped her face gently, he would be with her now if she weren’t gay. “Elizabeth…you are my friend and I love you as if you were my own. But if you question whether I am going to help my best friend again. So help me I will turn you over my damned need and I will not promise you will like it.” He was quite adamant he wasn’t going to allow her to question his friendship or his trust in her success. She was good and of that, he knew they could make money together, he had no doubt!

[RedPhoenix]

Name: Siddhi Sachdev
Date | Time: When Elizabeth is out Drawing
Wearing: Beat up old light brown coveralls, work boots
Location: Outdoors, inside the outer fences.
Tagging: Elizabeth, Closed

Siddhi walked slowly along the sandy ground, idly trailing the progress of the creature in front of her. It was, to most westerners, an odd looking mix between a goat and a sheep.

The animal stood just under three feet tall at the shoulder, short sandy brown fur over most of its body giving way to a lighter beige along the underbelly, with longer and shaggier hair on the front of its forelegs and throat. Long horns that curved out, then back, then in, graced the Barbary Sheep's skull, horns that would make some think this creature was male. She walked with a limp, her front right leg obviously weaker than the others and she hopped on her other leg to make up for it, moving with an uneven gait.

Aicha was getting stronger, nearly recovered from the injury she'd sustained that had led to her being brought to Caravanersai's advanced veterinary hospital. How she'd gotten her leg so badly mangled Siddhi would never know, although she suspected a razorwire fence that someone should not have been permitted to put up. At least they had taken the poor sheep to their local vet.

Part of the silent veterinarian hoped Aicha would wander a different path than towards the guest who sat outside sketching. Why she did this when there was a very well air conditioned hotel just behind her, Siddhi did not care to guess at. She just hoped that this red-head was not going to complain about her animal, or there would be another awkward conversation with Ms. Alvarez about the right time and place for things. Unfortunately for Siddhi, Aicha was meandering just in that direction and although she was steering clear of the person herself, a good sign Siddhi noted, she was more than close enough that Siddhi couldn't help but approach the other woman close enough that it would be expected that she would say something.

This of course didn't mean Siddhi actually said anything, just that she was, somewhere in her head, aware of the fact that she probably should have. Her eyes remained on her sheep though.

[Elizabeth Ecsed]

Name: Elizabeth
Date | Time: When Elizabeth is out Drawing
Wearing: blue button up long sleeve, camera bag modified to carry a sketch pad, jeans, Australian slouch hat. 100 SPF sunscreen.

Her usual five foot five inch tall walking staff of silvery wood.

Location: inside the outer fences
Tagging: Siddhi, closed

Elizabeth had been idly sketching, and staring moodily off into space. The art wasn't going terribly well, a quarter finished landscape she had gotten irritated with and abandoned, with a bunch of hastily drawn in eyes floating around above the desert. It probably meant something Freudian, but she was mostly keeping her hands busy and trying to do something to not waste the paper. Materials were expensive out here, not... That she was paying her own bills, currently.

Looking up, the redheads face blossomed into an expression of pure, simplistic joy, much like a sheltered child being told that they could play with a beautiful puppy.  The gimpy lady set her pad carefully aside and levered herself up to her feet, leaning on the staff.

Keeping her voice soft, and soothing, trying not to spook the majestic animal with her excitement, Elizabeth nevertheless radiated barely contained happiness and delight.

"Ooohhhh, he's beautiful!! Uhm. What is he, besides gorgeous? If he wants to be pet, can I pet him?" She slowly extended her hand, much like she had been taught to introduce herself to strange dogs. She would never hurt an animal, and was sad that such a wonderful beast had been harmed, but she was somewhat darkly amused by the fact that they both had bad legs.

"Will his leg be ok? What's his name? "

Realizing that she had been a little narrowly focused on the exotic sheep, Elizabeth shyly looked up at the woman. Well, she can for sure bench press me... And maybe Mr Sheep here as well!

Blushing slightly, she waved at the tall woman. The stranger didn't seem like the type to shake hands. "Hi! I'm Elizabeth. Do you work at the animal refuge here? I've always wanted to see it, really badly, but it's not for guests and I couldn't figure out who to ask so I could plead..." She trailed off, aware that she had just bombarded the quiet lady with a dozen questions all at once. Still, the sheep was likely to be the highlight of Elizabeth's day.

Possibly her entire stay, except for the shopping trip with Becky, which had made the not very socially skilled lady feel... Normal and cared for.

[RedPhoenix]

Name: Siddhi Sachdev
Date | Time: When Elizabeth is out Drawing
Wearing: Beat up old light brown coveralls, work boots
Location: Outdoors, inside the outer fences.
Tagging: Elizabeth, Closed

Siddhi's steely blue eyes betrayed nothing as Elizabeth reacted to Aicha. She watched carefully though, pleased to see the woman didn't try to reach out and grab her, although that was possibly just because the woman was lame herself. Instead, Aicha gave a snort in the red-head's direction and after staring at her for a tense moment, turned and walked off, muzzle low to the ground as she sought out vegetation.

"I call her Aicha, but she doesn't know it." Siddhi said, like most sheep Aicha wasn't able to recognize a name after just a few weeks. Siddhi stood there, arms crossed, gaze impassive, although relaxed a bit now that the sheep had treated Elizabeth exactly the way Siddhi was hoping she would. "She doesn't want your pets, and I am glad for it. If she did I could never let her free again."

Was it worth explaining that if a wild animal didn't treat humans as the enemy that wild animal was doomed and then some? Thankfully it wasn't something she had to teach most of the animals here. African creatures, she had noted in her years in various continents, for the most part seemed to have genetic memory that she didn't need to augment with sticks and shouting. Not that she wouldn't have slapped Aicha hard if the sheep had tried to nuzzle Elizabeth. Some lessons are worth teaching twice.

"Her leg is healing well." She said, hopefully changing the topic. "Maybe she goes free next month."

Siddhi's voice had a slight sing-song quality to it, reflecting her sub-continent origins, a bit of a British snip, and quite a large dose of stoic nonchalance. She eyed Elizabeth for a moment as if considering whether to even speak in response to her personal questions.

"Sachdev." She said, giving her last name only as if it was some sort of compromise. "Veterinarian."

She didn't address Elizabeth wanting to see the refuge. She wasn't quite sure yet if this woman was the type who she could let back there. But she didn't want to be completely rude either. Maybe there was a middle ground.

"Did you bring pets?"

Those four words representing the most social Siddhi had been in months.