Midday Siesta

Log Info

• Title: Midday Siesta
• Emitter: Verna
• Characters: Verna, Aryia
• Place: Temple District
• Time: February 9th, 2022
• Summary: Aryia is taking a nap on a bench at the Temple District, Verna running into her. Blearily awakening, Aryia answers some questions about her girlfriend, Violet, and Aryia does her best to deflect while giving some hints of information as well as some insights about the supposed nightmares people have been having. They move about future abodes being constructed, Verna sharing some exciting news to her friend before they delve further into construction specifics if there need be any criticism.

The sky is clear and the sun bright. Of course, without a blanket of clouds the prior night to hold in warmth, it is also quite cold. This does not appear to unduly impair Verna as she enters the district from the descending (and thankfully not overly iced) road down the mountain. Layers of robes, cloak, and likely magic make the current environs bearable.

The sky is clear.

The sun is bright.

And Aryia is sleeping on a bench toni- err, day. It's day. Nap time. The sun's brilliance is muted from the shades pressed against her scarred visage, and an arm dangles off the side of the bench. Along with a line of drool.

Given that there are at least a few passersby and benchwarmers, several strides pass before Verna notes the familiar (and now conspicuous) fullblood resting upon a bench. She approaches, though does not immediately greet nor announce her presence. Aryia might be sleeping, so such would be rude. Alternatively, she may simple be weary, or the soporific nature of the sun's rays may be to blame. Verna has observed the effect before, upon felines and other small domesticated mammals.

Approaching the full blooded shadow elf yields that she is indeed, asleep. Snoring lightly, even. A silver clad ear twitches, Aryia murmuring something unintelligble as she turns in her makeshift sleeping arrangement. A hand motions sloppily, and groggily. "I. Here. First. Fuck off." <Handspeech>

Verna takes a moment to parse the less-than-articulated note. "I have no intention of claiming the bench for myself," she explains. "I only sought to determine your condition. Shall I confirm it as 'tired and cantankerous?'

The hand drops halfway, but stops. Then rubs the drool off her face as Aryia blearily awakens fully. "V-rn-..?" she mumbles before blinking behind her glasses.

She sits up with a light groan. "Sorry. Hey. Yes, I sort of overdid some training, so I'm taking a break. Rather, I got halfway home then decided a nap on the bench would be better."

She scooches over to make space on the sitting arrangements.<Handspeech>

Verna nods, taking the shift as an invitation. After settling, and now expecting that Aryia's eyes are open behind her solar defense shields, she gestures, "There is no need for apologies. It is good that you are resting when necessary. Many currently have difficulties doing so. Is all well?"

Aryia raises a brow, her pushing her half crooked shades further up her nose to reseat them. "People are having trouble sleeping?" she echoes. "I haven't had an issue. Uh, I guess everything is okay. Aside from, well, current situations we're involved in." <Handspech>

"Nightmares," Verna expounds. "Initially, I presumed the ill dreams were my own, due to recent events. It seems that others of the Society are also affected. It has been an annoyance, at worst, so far, but a concern."

That explained, she now shifts back to her prior inquiry. "Is all well with Violet?" Here she uses the gesture for the flora, rather than fingerspell. She expects the meaning readily inferred. "You were uncomfortable or agitated when you spoke of her to Auranar."

Aryia tilts her head to the side. "Nightmares...?"

She listens more, then purses her lips. "... Seyardu and Mikilos said something about a vision and nightmares. Something about Eluna and Magirum I think. I don't know, might have to talk to them about that."

The question makes her pause. "Everyhing is well with her," she answers honestly. "I... was? Oh. That-" the mute rubs her neck, looking aside. "Just mixed up people, that's all." <Handspeech>

"I will make note to speak with them, in that case," Verna files away the information of others. Her gaze does not leave Aryia as she nods and it remains.. firmly pointed. "That is what you stated before. Unconvincingly."

There is a pause as her expression softens. "I do not intent to pry into your personal matters... but if there are some concerns, I would be remiss to not offer aid."

Aryia blinks, her face paling ever so slightly as she looks off down a random road. "I can't tell you," she admits, sighing and rubbing her hands. "I made a promise that I can't tell anyone, and I will abide by that. But I trust you. So...."

She rubs her hands. "... Violet is very talented. And that's all I'm going to say." <Handspeech>

Verna regards her a moment longer before nodding once. She lowers her hands to respond vocally. "Thank you. I only inquired out of concern and will not inquire further."

Aryia sighs a bit in relief as the topic is abated. The mute was a terrible liar, and lying to keep a secret safe was at the absolute bottom of her capabilities. "Thank you. It's just... there's a bit more between her and I that I can't talk about. And as much as I would like to talk about it to help her some, it would only exacerbate things. So my compromise is... well. Not saying anything."

"... which... I'm doing terrible about." She rubs her face with a soft groan. <Handspeech>

Verna lifts up a hand in halt. "I expect that she is extraordniary, as I doubt that you would be so found of her if she were otherwise. As well, you are more equipped than any to not speak what should not be told." Reassurance or jest?

"That said, secrets rarely remain so forever, and may only become more troublesome with time. If she trusts you with the knowledge, she should trust you to act in her best interests, and vice-versa."

Aryia blinks, then softly sighs in a chuckle, shaking her head. "I know it'll be a problem later. As it has now. Just... she has some anxieties about some things. I just want her to be comfortable enough to be herself."

Triple layer meaning notwithstanding.

"I know. I... appreciate you looking out for me. It means a lot," she smiles. "Is everything well with you? I didn't get to ask." <Handspeech>

Verna nods once, then again at the inquiry. Her flat expression then cannot help but brighten, her lips curl upwards. If only briefly. "All goes well. I received permission from the city, concerning construction. I have not yet told Aura."

Aryia blinks, then grins. Her lips move to 'oooooh' but, as expected, there's not sound to back it up. "Most excellent. Do you need someone to clear out rocks? I know a person who's good at pulverizing them," she quips. "Auranar will be delighted to hear the news." <Handpseech>

Verna's expression flickers at the offer. "I am aware. I must decline, however, with no offense intended. My thoughts are, that if we are to make a home together; that Auranar and I could, indeed, craft our home. Together. In that manner, all should suit our shared needs and preferences."

Aryia waves it off, dismissing whatever offense could be perceived. "That's pretty fucking cute and wholesome," she teases. "I'm curious what will be bigger: the kitchen or the library? I look forward to whatever it is you both come up with" <Handspeech>

Verna never expected the terms 'cute,' 'wholesome,' and 'fucking' to be relevant in a single sentence. As well, she had not foreseen that the first two could be applied to her relationship. Not that she had ever much expected a relationship in the first place. Her cheeks color briefly and she clears her throat before responding.

"My thanks. I expect that both shall be sizable, though perhaps the library shall be the most grand. Only one of us is an expert chef, whilst both of us enjoy reading, afterall. You shall need not wait long; you are to be our first houseguest, afterall, as I recollect."

A flicker of a smirk plays Aryia's lips at the reaction, getting what she was going for. "I wouldn't expect anything less. Have to have a place to shove all those big books you carry around."

She grins. "I look forward to it! Not sure what I'll bring for you two, but I'll figure it out! Anything you might foresee you two lacking around this future space?" <Handspeech>

Verna considers that inquiry. It is rather practical, though thoughts upon an answer are not immediately forthcoming. Her lips purse. "That remains to be determined. We shall inform you once all is built?"

Aryia flashes an acknowledging thumbs up. "Sounds good to me."

She cranes her neck towards the mountains, squinting at them behind the shades. "So where is it up there?" she gestures. "Like, closer to your temple? Or towards the noble's district. Or... far away..?" <Handspeech>

Verna now turns, herself, to look up to the mountain and the lower plateau. "While I did not specify the precise spot, it shall be along the elevation of the road past the temple, between the noble district and the air station. The latter two are further elevated for practical or vanity purposes, and not open to new addition for the same reasons."

A hand lifts, a finger aimed at a point slightly north of the temple. "Perhaps there. Roughly centered above the temple and magic districts, with, I beieve, a clear view of both the sea and the forests and spire to the north."

Aryia adopts a thinking pose as Verna explains, hand on her chin as she tries to visualize the space and place. She ponders it, then snorts. "And you worried she wouldn't like the view."

A sigh leaves her. "That's a good spot. Out of the way of things to have some peace and quiet, but close enough to the things you use as to where its not a hinderance." <Handspeech>

Verna's expression flickers warm once more at the validation. "That was my intent, yet such does not always match the end result. Your opinion is welcomed. I shall not seek Auranar's until I reveal all."

Aryia grins. "Well, it sounds like you already have figured out how to do all this. Why don't you run it all by me just to make sure? I can give you more of my opinion, which, I'm sure, will be various degrees of 'oh that's a good idea'," she requests, rubbing the last of the sleep out of her eyes as she leans in. <Handspeech>

Verna turns from the mountain to Aryia. "While complete confirmation would be delightful, I welcome moreso constructive disapproval should a concept be ... less than ideal. Your wisdom has always proven true, Aryia, and I am grateful for that." A pause an inhale, and then, "That said, my intentions are as follows..."

-End Scene-