Show Me Your Moves (EA, Edge of the Maze)

[Ali ibn Farid]

Ali's lips quirked. "This is the only one way to get to where I actually live. Every other entrance is someone else's home, or balcony, or whatever."

His smile grew gentle, his eyes distant. "My father helped me build it. He's a carpenter; has been all his life. It wasn't easy, squeezing a home in-between these others, but, well, he did it. And it's nice..." His lips quirked again. "Sort of. You'll see."

[Soraya al-Menjari]

A deep furrowing of her pretty brow, "Your house is attached to other houses? Does that not mean a lot of noise? And you've no yard garden to plant things in."

[Ali ibn Farid]

Ali chewed on his lip. "Well... yes... it can mean a lot of noise. Part of being a good neighbor is trying to keep from disturbing the fellows who live next to you. Or under you."

He shook his head. "And no yard garden, no. Some people keep a few things on their balcony. I have the roof..." He smirked playfully, holding up one finger. "But that's my big surprise. I don't want to spoil it."

[Soraya al-Menjari]

"Oh."

Well... she had kind of expected this. After all, it wasn't as if she was COMPLETELY ignorant. She knew from stories and just the sheer number of people in the city that not everyone could have their own home with garden and different dedicated rooms and such. But something about having to climb a ladder to a bare little room stacked together with many others somehow felt less... romantic than her imaginings. Imaginings of quaint dwellings inhabited by honest simple folk. The reality, with its bareness yet clutter, and the noises and smells...

"Well, I promise not to make too much noise then. If that will be a problem."

She was still interested in looking further though, as well as her determination to get some self defense training. So maybe she wouldn't be stolen away the next time.

[Ali ibn Farid]

Ali slowly inclined his head. "Well, then. Right this way, princess." A quick flash of a grin, and he climbed up the ladder.

It opened onto a short landing, the same sturdy wood as the ladder. The walls of the neighboring buildings pressed in, crowding... but also providing a shelter of sorts. It was almost like walking into a strange, wooden cave, growing darker and dimmer as one walked forward. As promised, only one door was accessible from this landing, though, a simple opening in the wooden building behind, covered by a colorful bolt of cloth.

After helping her off the ladder, Ali stepped to the opening, holding the cloth out of the way for her. "Home sweet home." He said, smiling with just a touch of wryness. Idly, it occurred to him that if he was a kidnapper, this would be an excellent plan. Well... I'm not...

[Soraya al-Menjari]

Sora followed up the ladder and through the cloth door, looking around as she went inside. Truthfully she did not mind the closeness in and of itself, though the thought that each of those walls contained a separate person or family, with their own struggles and needs and such was a bit... thought provoking, at the least.

[Ali ibn Farid]

Once across the dark threshold, the room opened up to a surprisingly roomy area. Angled as it was between two buildings, Ali’s home had more space than it seemed on the outside. The walls and ceiling were decorated with more bolts of cloth, a bit of a mismatch, but sewn skillfully together, creating an appearance almost like a painting. Translucent curtains were hung here and there, substituting for walls, separating the various areas. The front had a few cushions to sit on, the back had a few closed windows, a small kitchen, and something like a very large caldron. In the opposite corner was what must have been Ali’s bed, wood and cloth, very neatly arranged; it seemed Ali was a fastidious person.

Of special note was the armor stand, against the middle of the wall to the right. The gleaming armor on it was both very well cared for, and doubtless worth more than anything else in the house. A few cabinets were next to it, but the armor stand was certainly the highlight.

Ali stepped past, going to the far wall and opening the windows; they opened at an angle, letting in light, but not letting anyone outside see in. Illuminated by the sun, the room felt even more brightly cheerful. It also lit a stairway in the far back, previously too dark to see clearly.

Ali turned back to Soraya. “Well… this is it.” A bit of embarrassment showed on his features; what would a princess think of a home like this?

[Soraya al-Menjari]

Soraya looked around very curiously, taking light steps around the room to look at things closer. She even lifted a few things to see what might be under them as she looked, unless stopped.

[Ali ibn Farid]

Up close, there were more personal items. A cloak rack, behind the armor stand, with only a single cloak on it; plenty of space for Soraya's garment. The armor had the scent of fresh polish and oil. There were a few books set carefully on the dresser; a mix of what appeared to be history, theology, and the fantastical, stories of wonder from long ago and far away. If opened, the dresser would have more clothing, similar to what Ali wore now, although perhaps a little more faded and worn; it seems he wore his best today.

A few pots and pans, but not many, were in the kitchen; the stove didn't seem capable of doing much more than boiling water, but perhaps that was enough. A sizeable jug of water was in the corner, in fact. The cauldron was big enough for a person, and had fresh linens hanging next to it.

Ali waited patiently, his eyes following Soraya as she moved around the room, seemingly as fascinated by her as she was by the room. His eyebrows went up a little as she touched things, but he offered no objection.

[Soraya al-Menjari]

Soraya indeed took off the heavy brown robe before exploring some more. Underneath were clothes even more scant than her dancing clothes from yesterday; Anything that wasn't ninety percent translucent seemed to be just a white thong and chest coverings. After all, if she was wearing such heavy clothes, what use did she have for heavier clothes underneath? She wore a short ornate dagger at her hip though, unlike yesterday, under the robe.

Seemingly satisfied in poking around, the princess turned to Ali, "It is nice enough, though I was hoping to find a secret compartment or something like that."