Hot sand between toes, Sun’s rays basking the tanned skin with their presence and a fond smile upon familiar lands. Time itself may move forward but sometimes the image of home would reverse it. Dunes opened up way to a city, once a glorious embodiment of Alabasta’s power and influence, now only a city similar to most he had seen, nothing grandiose about it, the buildings nor people in the town. A shame, but nothing humane was eternal.
Streets roamed in search of a place to stay over, a place that was once his home, a base until he would end up leaving to another destination at later date. Establishment under the name of Rain Dinners and a golden bananawani right in the spot where his temple once was. Amused silence struck, the architecture of the building being nothing but cheap imitation of the ones that made Alabasta so known, yet simple charm in expressing the attitude and values of the owner.
A young face at the reception took his details and offered keys to the room, a shower followed to soothe the skin before being dressed up and walking outside again to explore the resort before finding out what had become of Rainbase, what a silly name to refer to the historic town.
A spa he knew he ought to visit, pools he would indulge in, sports and recreation, all intriguing in their own. Steps lead in order to cross the bridge, until focus was stolen by the creature swimming below. Change of direction, walk on the edge of the river before crouching and extending of hand to see if lions and reptiles could get along. One bananawani approached, contact was made, a genuine smile as result. Steps behind echoed, and Cairo observed the man in coat. Expensive rings, golden earring, golden hook, without the doubt - the owner.
“ You have nice pets, obedient. You trained them yourself? ”
