A lunchtime date (EA closed Qasims home)

[Raya]

Raya wobbled, not having heard the returning Qasim in her counting.

"Ah! Oh sidi Qasim. Of course" she hopped down carefully this time, reaching to take the bowls and cups off the man.

"You did not need to do so much sidi."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

Qasim smiled, it held a tinge of embarrassment "Ah it didnt look like so much when I first started to grab it and once I realized it was too late but we made it and that is what matters!" He said a little triumphantly

He took the cups back and went to the table setting them down "water or wine Raya?"

[Raya]

"Water please, it is too early for wine I think" Raya chuckled, placing the bowls down on the table.

"So sidi made a homemade meal just for me? I am touched, you did not need to go through this for me! I am no chef either, I have never needed to make anything myself, the cavaran all group together and we have some wonderful chefs in the caravans."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

Qasim made a motion with his hand "Ah it was no trouble Raya, it is a simple meal most was ready before you arrived only needed to cook the chicken. Took maybe 20, 30 minutes all together." He said smiling as he poured her cup full of water and did the same for himself sitting on a cushion at the table

"It is always interesting to hear how you all live. How the caravans all band together and split responsibilities. How people just do what needs doing for the good of the group not exchanging money or selling things to each other. It's fascinating."

[Raya]

"It is still personal effort put in, and that means much to me" Raya said with a warm smile "sidi could have just asked a cook to make all, but the personal touch is best yes? It is the same in all art."

There was a chuckle.

"Ra'Shari ways sound weird yes? When you are out in the desert, nothing to see as far as you can see, you only have each other. Being selfish means you starve, or your people starve. Money means nothing either, you can sit on your horde of coins in the desert but it does not give you shelter from sandstorms, or food for your belly. To me how big cities are is confusing, everyone seems to only care for selfs then are surprised when people do not aid them in bad times."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

Qasim nodded "Well yes it is strange to me a bit I suppose but it works well for your people. Such a system would be excellent were it not for human greed. Too many people are only motivated by having more than others. More money, more power it is all too much sometimes."

"Do the Ra'Shari never deal with such people? Or people that do not contribute and only take?" He asked curiously taking a bite of chicken scooping some of the vegetable salad up with it.

[Raya]

"Within the Ra'Shari? There are always some that do not work together, but those are often educated by the elders in why it is important to work together. Every caravan is different though. What works for Memory may not work for Mysticism, or for Entertainment or Commerce. Those who do not work together though often find that they are left out fending alone. It is sad to see, but when you have limited resource and are months from the next civilization you cannot have one person risk the whole caravan yes?"

Raya looked down at the food, a small sigh escaping.

"I only remember it happening once in my time, we had someone travel with us who refused to help. He was caught stealing from our food supplies and thrown out of the Caravan, I do not know what happened to him."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

He chewed pensive for a moment before nodding "Yes I suppose it makes some sense. Unfortunate certainly but as you said one cannot endanger the group for the sake of one who will not fit." There was some more nodding while another bite was taken.

"So I spent much of our time here talking about myself, my family, my home. Tell me some more about you Raya, I would very much like to know more about you."

[Raya]

"You are expecting great stories of Raya? How she faces off against mighty dragons, tours great caves and finds vast treasures?"

Raya grinned.

"You would be disappointed to hear then that Raya is just Raya. No real family, parents died long ago. I have an older brother but he is busy man in the Caravan of Commerce, I have not seen him for many years. I am just a Ra'Shari, I dance. I sing, I tell stories and I spread joy."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

He grinned back "O was not expecting such tales of adventure but had you told then I might even have believed you." A slightly chuckle

"I am sorry to hear about your parents, it is sad to lose those close to us." He said a little more soberly

But he let the cloud pass quickly "so you have not so much of a story so far. Do you ever hope for more than singing and dancing for entertainment? Do not get me wrong your voice is enchanting and your dancing is mesmerizing. I was drawn to you quickly. But do you ever wish to do more with your life? Or are you content with your simple life?" It was asked with genuine curiosity, no judgment or derision just a curiosity to see life through another's eyes.