| Logs |
2003 December 11
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
December 11
(Next session, midweek)
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The group of four travellers, now temporarily short one redheaded bard, stands a trifle uncertainly in a strange city as what looks distinctly like a trio of husky local police begins to make its way towards the party across the well-dressed cobblestone plaza.
Steven murmurs quickly, "Sol, Seodil, either of you ever been here before? Know where we can casually walk off somewhere and loose all this notice?" in his experience, being a strange, new person in town is a bad thing when the cops are around, doesn't matter if you come in by bus or magic portal.
Passersby give the group a wide berth. It could be the fact that the party just arrived out of a glowing portal in the middle of the street; or, then again, judging by the delicate lace handkerchiefs a few of them are holding to their noses, it could be something else.
Aiden glances over at the guards, then at Steven. "I don't think we're going anywhere until we talk to them. Any opinions on what we say?"
Sol shakes her head a bit dazedly, looking around. Seodil murmurs back to Steven, "I am afraid not. I was very young when I lived in Summer, and I did not come to the city often... this is nearly a day's ride from Court itself."
Aiden nods at Seodil. "Alright. Make it up as we go, or tell them that we've been invited?"
Steven considers for a moment, noticing the handkerchiefs and taking a cautious sniff. "Uhm... 'hello' is a good start, when there's nothign else. it's not like we've done anything. I hope."
The guards are moving cautiously, hands on weapons, and the plaza is wide; they will take a few minutes to arrive.
Aiden keeps his hands away from his weapons. "I'd rather not get off on the wrong foot here.."
Soleil says nervously, "What if they don't believe that, Steven? We could hide in one of those shops... look, the Velvet Pink over there looks friendly. The doorman is smiling at us. Oh! He beckoned..."
Aiden glances off in the direction that Soleil indicated.
Steven wonders what 'Velvet Pink' is. "Well. We can do that, I think. If the guards want to talk with us, that's fine. I guess if we just.. you know, act casual....
Seodil shrugs faintly at Aiden, "Invited, I think. The Court rules here... although the Princess may not rule the Court, if you get my meaning..." He frowns at Sol and eyes the shop thoughtfully.
Aiden says, "Well. How about this. We walk for the shop, if they follow us inside, they can talk to us there, if not, we're okay, I guess?"
Steven says, "Sounds like a good idea."
The silver elf nods, "If they want us, they will follow. It is not a bad thought-- we have done nothing wrong. We have no reason to wait as if we expect to be punished..." Under his breath, barely audible, he adds "I had almost forgotten what that feels like."
Soleil grabs Aiden's hand and starts walking toward the friendly doorman, clearly willing to drag Aiden along.
Aiden nods and heads towards the shop that Soleil indicated. He does take a the time while he's walking there to look around at the city they've arrived. It's been a long time since they've seen a city.
Steven glances at Seodil, and starts to wonder if they''re out of the frying pan into the fire, or the other way around. Or if it really matters. He ontinues trying to discretely sniff himself. Must be noble sensibilities being offended, or something. Maybe. Then again it's been a few days since we had baths...
The city of Sindinbrigh' has much in common with parts of London or Cambridge; cobblestones underfoot make for a different sort of footing than the Grey World's cities usually boast, but the shops themselves are a marvel of exquisite architecture, wood and stone and gold gleaming off metal. They tend not to have windows on the lower stories, but every shop has two to three levels and the higher ones often have balconies with ivy and flowers. The doors are mostly open-- or were until the proprietors start closing them before the group passes. Through the small windows and closing doorways, rich fabrics and the glitter of gems and metals flash. Someone is cooking something delicious nearby; at least one door hides a restaurant.
Aiden frowns internally. "We're barely even here and the scorn has already begun. This is going to be hell."
Steven thinks it's got to be partailly the way they dress. That's always how it's been for him in the towns that weren't as picky about the color of your skin.
Of course, Steven could also be entirely wrong, too.
As the group strolls closer, the doorman at the Velvet Pink turns out to be not a man at all, though her slim figure, style of dress and waxed moustache make it difficult to be absolutely certain. Her voice is distinctly female, however, when she says in a cheerful alto "Right this way, lovelies, if you care to enjoy the comforts of home far from it. Best pastry in the city and I don't care what the snobs at the Piquancy say. Incidentally, you are the most interesting lot to walk by me this shift. Did you kill those yourselves?" She nods toward the furs that every single one of the four is wearing across their backs.
Steven blinks, and looks at the... bronze-hued catlike skin that's draped over his shoulder. Oh... that explains it. Good heavens, I've worn it so long I didn't even notice....
Aiden watches Steven as he glances at the cloak, then takes a quick glance at his own shoulder. "Ah, right." He looks at the woman curiously, a little apprehensive about walking into this place.
The moustached girl flips her pink velvet knee-coat at them and tilts her pink satin tophat. "Where's my manners? Call me Via. You do talk where you're from, yes?" She gives them a winning smile, pink-cheeked and blond. The dark little moustache looks false, closer up. "I don't bite. Promise. I just keep the door."
She adds with a twinkle, "Biting's not my job."
Aiden shoots a look at Soleil, then back at the woman. "I don't suppose you can give us directions to the Topaz Chair?"
Soleil says very audibly, blinking cheerfully, "Oh, it's a brothel!"
Aiden winces slightly.
Seodil mirrors Aiden's expression. Sol appears not to notice, beaming at Via and adding, "Are you for sale? What's it like?"
Steven blinks. It's quite a.. bright outfit, but he's not going to say that the last time he saw such an outfit was at a carnival. "Erm.. yes, we do, thank you very much for the greeting, we--" He blinks. If it's not her job, whose is it, and why woudl it be a job? Sol's explaination makes him glance at the gold elf. Well, I guess they'd have them just about any--
Steven just blinks at Sol.
Aiden tries very hard to keep his expression blank. He fails completely, ending up somewhere between shocked and amused.
Via answers everyone in order without missing a beat or losing her smile. "I could give you directions to the Topaz Chair, yes. No, I'm not for sale, thanks for asking, but my contract is firm. You're welcome, kittenfur, greeting is my job. Sure you don't want a bite of pastry today, lads and lady? We run a proper House, nobody gets more than a meal here unless they ask for it, but I'm just trying to be helpful here considering that the guard is heading your way and you don't have time to get to the Chair unless you run like mad straight up the street and you could get in here and hide if you hurry." She breathes when she's done, smile pasted on, eyes flicking behind the group.
Aiden flicks his eyes over the group he's with once more, then nods, "Thank you, Ma'am."
"..." Steven smiles and lifts his shoulders. "Sounds good to me. Thank you very much."
Via smiles, "Guard's not allowed in here on duty. Long story but you might want to take advantage. Feel free to tip later if you think I deserve it. Go on in, door's unlocked--" and she pulls it open with a flourish, bowing low and showing very modest cleavage. The inside of the Velvet Pink looks like a very nice restaurant, dark wood and stained glass panels that mostly depict flowers.
Aiden heads into the Velvet Pink, whispering under his breath. "Why do I get the feeling that's about the last good reception we're going to have?"
Seodil answers, darkly amused. "A sudden gift for fortunetelling, perhaps."
Aiden laughs softly. "I was afraid you were going to say that."
Soleil beams, "What a friendly whorehouse!"
Aiden gives Soleil an odd look.
Steven says, "You mean there are unfriendly -- no, forget I asked."
An elegantly tall woman with pale skin, black hair and green eyes blinks down her long, arched nose at Soleil and says, "Thank you. I think. Good afternoon, gentlebeings... will you be wishing rooms, or to dine?" Her milk-pale skin has a scattering of freckles, and she looks remarkably human. Rounded ears show under her neatly swept-back hair.
Seodil says, "Just to dine, please, sister." He smiles at the woman with more friendliness than he usually shows.
Sol tilts her head at the woman, nostrils flaring, and nods to herself.
Steven follows the group in, not too warily so as to be unfriendly, but he is a little nervous. This isn't the sort of establishment he'd ever been in, after all.
Aiden is more than a little baffled by Sol's reaction to the place, but he waits for the woman to lead them in, and then follows her and the others in the group.
The elegant woman laughs rather like a melodious horse, and leads the small group into the establishment past flat glass flowers and greenery in panels. She stops at a sliding door of dark wood and glass water lilies that looks like any other panel until it moves back into the wall, showing the travellers into a room with a low table, cushions and no chairs. Softly glowing bubbles in pink and golden yellow illuminate the room, drifting in a slow pattern near the eight-foot ceiling.
Aiden slips his pack off. "Looks like the kind you see at a Japanese restaurant." He looks at the woman, "Is it customary for guests to remove their shoes before they enter?"
The woman smiles approvingly at Aiden and says less coolly, "It is not required, but it is certainly not discouraged." After adding that a server will be with them shortly, the woman backs out of the room, shutting the sliding glass door to the hallway. Soleil grins happily at Aiden and confides, "I always wanted to visit a brothel but Lua never let me go inside." She looks delighted.
Seodil sighs, with a long-suffering expression.
Aiden grins at Soleil as he's toeing his boots off. He sets his pack down where it won't be in the way and sits down at the table, crossing his legs under it. "Oh. That explains." He laughs softly, shaking his head.
Raised voices come from the entrance hallway... one male, one female. The female sounds like Via-- the male is unfamiliar.
Steven starts to take his shoes off, setting his pack down as well. he glances worriedly at the doorway, frowning. I guess Via's getting harsh words for letting us -- oh! the guards! He attempts to listen, discretely.
Aiden tilts his head slightly so his ear is towards the direction of the conversation.
Seodil looks tense, and laces his boots back up. He rises to open the sliding door a crack, head tilted, then slides it wider and pokes his head cautiously out. He freezes in place. Words drift through to the listeners at the table, indistinctly. Via seems to be arguing that anyone with the guard is not allowed in; the male is insisting that he does not want to be inside, but has a purpose to fulfill, and that he is not of the guard but rather of the Court itself and thus not subject to her stricture.
Steven glances at the otehrs when the Court is mentioned.
Soleil gives Steven a worried look right back. Seodil hasn't moved a hair since he poked his head out to look and froze.
Aiden frowns at the mention of the Court, shooting nervous looks at Soleil and Seodil. He whispers, "Seodil?"
The silver elf startles, and ducks quickly back in, sliding the door shut. He looks unsettled. Without a word, he sits.
Steven looks worriedly at Seodil. He can only imgine that Seodil recognized who was out there.
Sol frowns and says impatiently, "Seodil. Tell us."
Seodil twitches and says hollowly, "It is a Court member, yes. What do you want to do about it?"
Aiden frowns, "No way of telling if it's one of the Princess's, I suppose?"
Seodil makes a face and says reluctantly, "I suspect he is."
Aiden gives Seodil a dry look. "Remind me. Is that good news or bad news?"
Seodil sighs and says, "We will find that out together, I am sure. Go look for yourself and you will know as much as I do, all of you. Stop asking me questions I do not know answers to." He puts his face in his hands, elbows on the table, sounding tired.
Aiden sighs quietly, then looks over at Soleil. "If this one does belong to the Princess, it may be in our best interests to be cooperative. She's already placed us in a position where we have to be to a certain extent."
Sol gives Seodil a slightly amazed glance, nods to Aiden in agreement, an
d gets up to slide the door back enough to poke her head out. She makes a small
startled noise as she collides with the elf trying to walk in, in a swirl of deep burgundy velvet coat and long, cotton-candy-pink hair.
The stranger says "oof!"
The first thought that goes through Steven's mind is, What an incredible color to have for one's hair!
Aiden looks up at the stranger, eyes absolutely drawn to the... pink - yes, pink - hair. His jaw threatens to drop, but he manages to get away with his lips parting just a little in surprise. "His hair. It's. Pink."
When the nearly knee-length pink hair settles and the elf attached to it looks up from straightening his coat and his dignity, bright golden yellow eyes stare out of what is almost exactly Seodil's face-- surrounded by pink hair.
Soleil squeaks.
Seodil doesn't even turn around to look, his back resolutely toward the sliding door.
Steven manages to only between Seodil and this elf only twice before he focusses completely on the pink-haired elf. He restrains his mirth. It's probably a safe bet that this one is as dangerous as Seodil when riled. Behave!
Aiden's mouth promptly shuts, to prevent any startled noises from escaping. "That explains Seodil's reaction.. This must be the brother." He swallows, trying to find his voice and scrape up some semblance of politeness. "Hello.."
In a startlingly deep voice for the hair, the stranger sweeps his hair over one arm and bows neatly to the group, with especial attention and a steadying hand for Soleil who he's just nearly knocked off her feet. "Clairchiare Averet, emissary from the Princess to you. Hello. I do apologize for the abrupt manner of my entrance, good Lady; you were a trifle harder to locate than I was led to expect."
Aiden's eyebrows go up just a little. If the voice wasn't enough to startle, the so-far very friendly manner certainly is.
Steven is immediately wary, though he tries not to show it much. Seodil can be polite as well, without being at all any less dangerous.
Candy-pink brows arching, Clairchiare looks at the group and says in carefully polite tones, "I apologize for my rudeness, but... which of you is the Prince Soleil?" He eyes Aiden hopefully. "I was told that you were lighter blonde."
Steven purses his lips a bit and glances between Aiden and Sol and Seodil, wondering which of them gets to give Clairchiare the news. Or if he shold volunteer it himself,.
Soleil looks torn between distress and laughter, hesitating to speak.
Aiden nods at Clairchiare's introduction, "Hello, Clairchaire." He shakes his head slightly at the next. "I am not the Prince, no." He winces internally, but he's not going to lie to the emissary of the Princess. He glances up at Soliel.
Seodil steadfastly ignores his brother. Completely.
Clairchiare says with a bit of an edge, still smiling politely, "May I have the honor of knowing who I am addressing, then?"
Aiden smiles. "I'm Aiden." "C'mon, Sol. Little help here." "The Prince is standing next to you."
Steven gets the sudden impression that while he might not come off as immediately dangerous as Seodil, Clairchiare might be just as dangerous as his brother in the politics of the court, which is where they're about to find themselves.
With that in mind, he decides it might be best to stand, at least as much to show some respect.
Clairchiare's eyebrows arch higher, a definite echo of Seodil's habits, and he puts a hand half toward the golden hilt of the long rapier hanging at his side before realizing that Soleil is still the only person in the direction Aiden indicated. The pink elf blinks at Sol uncertainly. "My... lord?"
Soleil winces and says, "Well. Not at the moment, but.. yes." She hesitates and says in a rush, "It's a disguise. We have travelled... incognito. Dangerous lands. Ah."
Clairchiare gives Steven a reflexive little courtesy bow as the other man stands, hand holding back his coat near that swordhilt, then slants an unkind gaze at the silent and immobile Seodil's silver back.
Though it doesn't show, Aiden is quite amused by all of this. His expression is pleasant, but not amused. Inside, he's almost laughing. This is probably the last time they'll get one over on the Summer Elves.
The pink-haired Court elf looks at Soleil in a way that strongly suggests he's fighting an urge to reach out and see just how good the disguise is, looking politely confused.
Aiden looks back up at Clairchiare. "Please, excuse us. We've had a long road getting here."
Steven nods politely in turn. He caught the slight movement the ellf made to his rapier, which tells him that they need to be very careful not only with Clairchiare but also with any Summer elf they meet.
Obviously quelling the urge to touch, Clairchiare says in even more polite tones, "Of course. No apologies are necessary; I have interrupted you at a meal. I would allow you to finish it in peace, but my instructions are quite clear. I am not to let you out of my sight until I have shown you to your lodgings at the Topaz Chair, where I will remain with your... Prince's entourage, until we arrive at Court several days hence. I shall remain your liason then, as well."
Aiden groans inwardly. He motions at the table. "In that case, have a seat." "Doubt there's any way we're going to get him off of us, so we might as well get used to it. Sorry, Seodil."
Soleil says, "Well. I'm sure we're all delighted to have you, Clairchiare Averet." She smiles winningly, which obviously disturbs the emissary when he instinctively reacts to it with a courtly bow. Sol grins, "Aiden speaks with my voice in this. Do join us. This is Steven, and this Seodil. Titles later, we really are quite tired, do forgive our lack of ceremony."
Steven inclines his head politely in greeting, glad that Sol said that. There'll be time enough to learn which fork to use in a meal later.
Clairchiare settles neatly to the pillowed floor beside his silent brother, that being the closest free spot. He has no apparent reaction to the name, murmuring polite acceptances to Soleil.
Side by side, the two Averets are even more alike. Color and expression are very nearly the only differences-- Clairchiare's face is less set in gloom and sternness, but if Seodil relaxed his it might approach the light cheer of his brother's.
Aiden gets himself comfortable in his seat, glancing quickly at each of the others at the table, then bends his head and rubs his hands across his face. "This would be so much more amusing if I was on the outside looking in at us. This way, it's just bloody inconvenient."
Clairchiare says pleasantly to Seodil, "Seodil was it? A pleasure." He stops, suddenly, pleasantries halfway out as he looks at Seodil's face for the first time. Seodil gives him a dour smile as Clairchiare's golden eyes widen remarkably, mouth open.
Soleil winces a little.
Clairchiare says, sounding politely lost, "Are we related? You look like my shadow, and yet I am an only child."
Steven swallows. Oh,dear. Well, that bird said somethign about Clairchiare not knowing -- He blinks.
Aiden watches the reaction with both a wince and a slight widening of his eyes. The wince - and an internal flinch to go with it - comes again when Clairchiare asks about relations.
Seodil raises his head a little and looks positively evil without changing his expression. In remarkably pleasant tones, he says "No, actually, you're not." And smiles thinly.
Soleil starts to say something in a small voice, but Seodil's next comment rides right over it. "I am almost completely certain after seeing you that we came out of the same hell-bitch, as a matter of fact. Isn't that nice?"
Steven gives a start, and wonders if that's going to incite some sort of.. incident.
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