|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 13:43:11 GMT -5
I was still feeling guilty for Riva's getting ill, as well as my having to leave once she had gone to sleep, so I wandered the clothier's district. Usually things that she would like just seemed to jump out at me, so I let myself wander around freely. Red caught my eye, but there was something in particular I wanted, something that she didn't already have. Focused on my goal I didn't really notice anything going on around me as I walked amidst the stalls, my eyes moving quickly over the surroundings.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 13:51:00 GMT -5
Oh no, oh no, oh no…was all I could think as I saw the inevitable collision I was about to be involved in. Apparently I have decided to write my name in the history of the City of Elua as the guy who literally crashes into people.
Ah well, what are you gonna do?
I managed to only collide into him with only half my body, while grabbing the edge of a stall with the other, keeping us both from making contact with the ground.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry," I told him, pulling myself off him and stepping back. "A thousand sorry and then some more. I seem to have lost all theory of personal space. On the run from one person I slam into another. Any permanent damage?"
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 13:59:15 GMT -5
Biting my tongue to keep from cursing- after all, it wasn't polite, and irritating people never seemed to understand why you were annoyed- I brushed off and took at step back at the same time, looking over this running man. So familiar..
After a moment of examination, I narrowed my eyes and gave a wry grin. "It's alright, accidents happen, though less so if you aren't running wildly through the streets. Keegan, right? From Orchis?"
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 14:02:26 GMT -5
"But when you are caught flirting with a girl by her rather large and irate father, running is always the best option," I said, grinning.
I looked at him closer as it occurred to me that he knew who I was.
"Yes, Keegan, and yes Orchis… do I know you?" I asked him.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 14:09:18 GMT -5
"If you want to flirt with girls who have large and irate father, subtlety may be a skill for you to look into," I said dryly. "Otherwise you may find that one of those fathers is faster than you are."
I noticed him trying to place me, so I fixed my face into that plastered-on smile my parents had made me wear while I'd been in Orchis. "You did once- I'm Aleron." I let my face fall back into something more comfortable and fitting.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 14:12:49 GMT -5
"Aleron! Well whatta you know," I said, grinning and extending my hand to shake his. "How are you? I heard you ended up at Bryony, right? What are you doing out and about today?"
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 14:21:33 GMT -5
Taking his hand, I shook it firmly. "Not in Bryony anymore- I've moved on. As for what I've been doing- not running away after getting into trouble. Actually," I said, a little hesitantly, "I'm looking for a gift for a friend. What about you? What will you do now that you don't have the girl to flirt with or the father to chase you?"
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 14:27:38 GMT -5
Moved on? I thought, my curiosity peaked.
"Hmm, perhaps I shall try and make amends for my oh so callous bashing into you in the middle of the street by helping you find the gift you are looking for," I said, smiling. "Unless you would prefer not to be seen in my oafish company?"
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 14:34:27 GMT -5
"I was Bryony- I never get in the way of people paying off their debts," I said with a sardonic grin. "Besides, clumsiness is incidental- I think I remember that you always were so."
Turning slightly, I began to walk down another row, my pace slow so I didn't just leave him behind. "What have you been up to?" I asked.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 14:40:43 GMT -5
Ah yes, that edgy wit that had meant Aleron would never be at home in Orchis, good to know he hadn't lost it.
"Up to? Me?" I said, matching his pace. "The usual adepty stuff, patrons, assignations, fetes, made my marque last year. Just before my mother passed on, so at least she got to see me finish it. What about you?"
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 14:46:52 GMT -5
"Same, only less with the 'adepty stuff'- got bought out of Bryony and branching out a little, but at least I still get to make and keep my own money. Plus, I got my marque finished, and at the end of winter I'm free. All in all, I made a very good deal."
Sighing, I turned and said, "I'm sorry about your mother- I would say it must be hard, but I've been dead to my parents since I said I wanted out of Orchis, so I don't really understand. How are my mother and father- still putting on their grins and trotting themselves out of their rooms to show off their giddiness?"
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 15:07:16 GMT -5
I stopped and looked at him, my gaze narrowing. I knew there was no love lost between them, it happens, but he was being cruel in a way that included the House and therefore me.
"Your parents are well as can be expected, the winter cold is hitting them hard. They have both taken to looking after the younger children," I told him. "And I would take it as a kindness if you would not clothe your distaste for them in an outfit that colored all of Orchis as court jesters."
I looked around at the stalls we were near.
"What sort of gift are you looking for?"
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 15:16:04 GMT -5
Biting my tongue- after all, who was I to say that, if he'd wanted respect, he should have gone to Eglantine?- I looked around coolly, my posture never betraying the bristling nature of my thoughts. How would he know the hypocrisy my parents represented- happiness forced, patrons betrayed? It was none of his business.
"I'm glad to hear they're doing well," I said calmly. "I actually don't know what I'm looking for; I suppose it will just jump out at me. It will be red though."
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 15:22:19 GMT -5
"Red, hmmm…" I said, my normal happiness resurfacing. "Is this for a male or female? That tends to help narrow the search."
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 15:35:35 GMT -5
"Female," I said nonchalantly, knowing that acting suspicious would only make him ask more questions. He would anyway, but maybe I could put it off for a few minutes. "What about you? Any shopping you need to do?"
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 15:42:44 GMT -5
"Not really, but I am not opposed to spending coin on something that catches my eyes… or someone," I said, pausing to admire a very fetching blonde as she walked by.
"Are you looking for something functional or for pleasure's sake only?" I asked, turning my attention back to the task at hand as I looked over some pretty glass perfume bottles.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 15:50:41 GMT -5
"Both, preferably," I said in an offhanded manner as I ran my hand along some soft fabrics and then decided against them. "Jewelry is fine, but nothing purely ornamental. Then again, I have no idea what I'm looking for until I find it- I may break my own rules about what I'll buy."
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 15:53:30 GMT -5
"And people say I'm indecisive," I said, laughing.
I looked over to the other side of the street.
"How about over there? There is a stall that sells some absolutely beautiful scarves over there," I said.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 15:59:02 GMT -5
"If it was for me I could choose in a second," I said in my own defense. "Some people are just hard to shop for."
Looking where he was pointing I shook my head. None of those things called to me, and when it came to Riva it was best to trust one's instincts. "I don't see her as a scarf person, but thank you."
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 16:04:32 GMT -5
"Perhaps if you told me about her I would be able to help more," I said, grinning wryly. Here came the part where he either let me know who this mysterious woman was, or got sulky and I left him to his own devices.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 16:14:03 GMT -5
This was why I didn't talk to people- they on occasion got lucky and manuvered you into a corner. Luckily, I was very good at these games and knew the mistakes most people made, so I could avoid them. Keeping my tone conversational, I said, "She's a Gentian, a little younger than I am, brown hair and eyes. Like most Gentians seem to be, she has to be met in order to be really understood- words aren't very good for explaining some things, especially a Gentian."
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 16:23:14 GMT -5
I made a slight scoffing noise at his well practiced vagueness.
"A Gentian huh?" I said. "Interesting…"
I glanced around, seeing a stall two down with beautiful slippers and boots.
"What about these?" I asked, picking up a pair of low red boots.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 16:30:23 GMT -5
Looking up at what he held up I bit back a helpless grin and a laugh. "New criteria- no shoes or boots," I said apologetically. "She doesn't ever wear them, so they'd be more of a useless ornament than anything else. Also, she wears her clothing loose."
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 16:34:01 GMT -5
I rolled my eyes and set the boots down, nodding to the proprietor.
"No shoes and loose clothes? Are you sure this is an adept and not some waif that just hangs around Gentian?" I asked, laughing.
I stretched up onto my toes and looked around, trying for another stall. This was becoming a quests… and I loved quests.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 16:41:24 GMT -5
"I'm sure," I said matter-of-factly, starting to be infected a little by his enthusiasm, though very much against my will. "She just has her own reasons for doing things."
Looking around, I caught sight of another stall and walked over. Nothing really caught my eye, but double-checking was always a good idea. Sighing, I finally turned my back on the wares and walked over to another spot. This could take all day if I didn't get some sort of hint.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 16:45:56 GMT -5
I wasn't tall enough, even with the stretch, so I jumped up and down a couple times, looking in all directions.
"Ah ha!" I exclaimed, grabbing his hand and pulling him with me as I raced down about a half dozen stalls.
I stopped in front of one displaying long, flowy dresses in every color imaginable. They all ha beautiful designs embroidered about the neck and hems.
"What about these?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 16:56:38 GMT -5
Trying to keep some of my dignity about me I followed him to where he had been so anxious to take me. My expression deadpan, I said, "I'll have to buy something here now, look at all of the energy you expended to bring me." Letting my lips curl into a charming if rueful grin I added graciously, "Thank you, this place looks perfect."
Immediately one dress caught my eye- garnet embroidered with edges of concentric, joined circles in the color of the palest moonbeams. I stroked the fabric, marvelling at the softness of the cotton- loose enough to not make her uncomfortable but soft enough to drape across her curves. "What do you think?" I asked curiously; I wasn't going to let his opinion sway me, but it would be interesting to see what he thought anyway.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 17:01:48 GMT -5
"I think it's beautiful," I said, smiling. I reached out and touched the fabric. "It's just amazing how soft it is. Like silk almost."
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on May 30, 2006 17:12:46 GMT -5
Absently I ran a thumb over the sleeve. Soft as her hair and skin, red as the fire in her blood and the flames she watches- Riva.. Unbidden came the image of her in this gown, and then it pooling over her skin to fall on the floor.
Realizing my attention had been drawn away and my gaze had become abstracted I shook my head slightly. "I think it's lovely as well- thank you for your help," I said with a genuine smile of gratitude. Turning to the stall's keeper I asked for the price and paid for the gown- I was too distracted to even haggle, wondering when I would be able to get this gift to its intended owner. Where Riva was concerned, money didn't matter. The other Bryony would be laughing at me.
|
|
|
Post by Keegan nó Orchis on May 30, 2006 17:23:51 GMT -5
I noticed the distant look that came over Aleron's face as he fingered the dress. Smiling, I turned away so he wouldn't get flustered by me having witnessed that rather candid look.
"My pleasure," I told him.
I turned to the stall next to us, absently looking over the items when something caught my eye. It was a green silk scarf with cereus flowers embroidered along the edges.
I smiled, the image of Nyx coming to mind, and quickly purchased the scarf.
|
|