A Little Break for a Quartet

Log Info

• Title: A Little Break for a Quartet

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Aryia, Ravenstongue, Seyardu, Telamon

• Place: Fernwood Pub

• Summary: It's absolutely pouring outside. Ravenstongue and Telamon dive into the Fernwood Pub for some shelter, and while there, they happen to meet Aryia, who is taking a break from working on her new boat, and Seyardu, who is taking a break from caring for hatchlings. The quartet of friends talk over drinks for a little while and enjoy each others' company.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A07: Fernwood Pub *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The common room of the Fernwood Pub dominates the inn, spacious and airy because of the high, vaulted ceiling. Ornately carved beams of dark, polished wood form a lattice overhead, supporting the arched roof two storeys above the floor. To the right of the double-door entry is a spiral staircase, winding upwards to a balcony that rings and overlooks the main area. Large windows at this level grant an excellent view of the river to the west and colorful market stalls to the north and east. An air of coziness is salvaged by keeping the pub dimly lit; parchment-shrouded mana lanterns hang at intervals from the base of the balcony, nestled amongst lush, magically propagated ivy and ferns that grow over this false demi-ceiling and the struts that support it.

The bar is sleek and simple, comprised of meticulously polished black lacquer. Tables are set under the darker niches formed by the balcony floor as well as on the balcony itself. A few are deliberately sized to accommodate halflings and gnomes, but the majority are meant for human-sized individuals. A large common table is on the main floor, set before a semi-circular stage situated against the western wall. Beside it, with pipes mounted upon the wall and running up past the balcony and almost to the ceiling, is a refurbished pipe organ made to look like the one lost when the Fernwood was destroyed during the Merkabah Siege.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-    
Aryia                4'8"     110 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her.                
Ravenstongue         5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.
Seyardu              5'6"     150 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint.                   
Telamon              5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The Fernwood Pub, evening.

It's disgusting out in Alexandria today. The mild sun and gentle wind that spring promises--and usually delivers--seems to have vanished with the evening storm that arrived so quickly over the city. This usually results in the pubs being packed, and the Fernwood is no exception.

"Awful, just awful," Cor'lana murmurs as she steps inside the Pub, shivering as she clutches her arms close to her body. Her clothes, which today consist of a black dress shirt with long bell sleeves and a blue skirt that drapes down to her ankles, are somewhat damp from being caught in the sudden rain. "If I ever meet the person responsible for rain, I think I'd like to complain. Loudly."

If it hadn't been for Telamon's habit of carrying his gyroparasol in his haversack, it could've been worse. As is, even he's a little wet. "File your complaint with the temples. Maybe the gods will take note if enough people do so." He uses a cantrip to dry his boots, before taking Cor'lana's hand. "Come on. Let's find a place to sit down."

Thankfully, inside the pub it's warmer, encouraged by the people inside as well as by the magic and artifice found here. Tel escorts his lady love past the common tables proper to one of the booths, guiding her inside the warm, cozy niche before sitting down next to her. "You're not wrong about the weather being disgusting, though. It's not just that it's raining, but it's a cold rain." He makes a face.

Cor'lana makes a face like she's tasted something bitter that she wasn't expecting when Telamon mentions the gods. "Maybe I will, but I have other complaints to file, too," she mutters.

But her face settles back into a more amicable display of relief when they're both seated in the warmth and comfort that only an unoccupied booth at the Fernwood can provide. "And you feel the cold less than I do, so that's a real complaint there," Cor'lana notes. "I'm just glad Grandfather agreed to watch Pothy for us again, although this was definitely not our first idea for a date this evening."

She nuzzles in a little closer to Telamon for warmth. "Could have ended up at worse places, though, like the Ox-Strength Tavern. Haven't been, but everything I've ever heard is that apparently, it's awful."

Telamon looks at Lana a little worriedly at her grumpy tone, but then the server's there and he orders hot mulled cider for both of them. Evidently that's popular today, what with the weather being so foul. "Agreed. I keep trying to think of something nice to do, or get, for Grandfather, but... it's the old joke: what do you get the man who has everything?"

He smiles a little at the mention of worse places. "When I first came here... literally, walking over the bridge... I encountered Aryia. And she was very pointed in her instruction about 'don't go wandering around the Warehouse district or the docks, especially if I'm well dressed'." He looks wry. "Gods, that seems like an eternity ago... so much has happened."

Cor'lana snickers. "It feels like forever ago, doesn't it?" she asks. Her mood is quickly improving with sentimental reminiscence. "This is even where you took me on that dinner date that I totally didn't realize was a date. Stupid, stupid girl that I was--you came here dressed so nicely and I showed up in the same clothes I wore the day we met. Not that I really had a lot of diversity in my wardrobe then..."

The two half-elves receive their ciders and Cor'lana takes a sip. "Of course, Aryia also sorted my wardrobe for me, and I admit I've spent more money than I ever thought I would on clothes, but you have to look the part--and you are always dressed so nicely, so I have to match your efforts," she says with a grin.

"But you know what? It was worth it." Telamon sips his cider as well. "Aryia's a lady of many talents. We're blessed to know her and be her friends." He chuckles softly and lays his hand on Lana's.

"You know, I never even noticed you being dressed the same. I only had eyes for you, even then. I guess... even before Grandfather nudged us, I was enchanted." His eyes twinkle merrily, as the warmth of the pub washes away the last of the damp chill from outside. "And if you need more money for clothes, by all means let me help. After all, we're in this together, and I'm just as guilty of clothes-horsing if not more so."

Speak of the mute, and she shall appear.

The familiar grey, scarred mul'neissa woman shoulders her way into the pub in a tank-top and a messy ponytail. She's covered in sawdust, some eggshell colored paint in spots, and has a loop of rope wrapped around from shoulder to waist. She orders a drink from the bar, her slamming half of it down as she makes her way across the room.

Which, her course diverts as she spies a familiar duo. "What the hell are you two doing down here?" she asks lightheartedly with a flick of her hand, upper lip wet with foam from the brew. <Handspeech>

Cor'lana's eyes are sparkling from Telamon's sweet words, of course, and then in comes Aryia! Albeit in a way that the half-elf has never seen her before. She can't help but snicker as she waves a hello to the boulder-crusher. "Hi! We were just talking about you!" she says. "Tel was reflecting on when he first came to Alexandria, and I was talking about our first date here and how I wore the same clothes as when we first met--which was maybe a day or two before? I don't even know if I washed them or anything, because I didn't realize it was a date--anyway, the point being, I didn't have much to choose from until I ordered stuff from you, Aryia."

She gestures to the table. "We're here on a date--albeit not our first plan," she explains. "We were going to have a nice evening picnic again, but then it started raining awfully hard out there, so we ducked in here." That explains the lack of Pothy, especially since he'd normally be gorging himself on the plethora of snacks that the Fernwood has to offer.

Telamon always loves to see that look on Lana's face, the way her eyes light up. But then a familiar form comes striding through, and Tel blinks. "How... nevermind. Anyways, yes, we were discussing you." He beckons to the mul'niessa, gesturing her over. "Although no, we weren't saying bad things. A little reminiscing -- me leading Raspberry across the bridge into Alexandria, and Lana here talking about her discovery of how much fun clothes can be."

He takes a pull off his cider, and smiles. "The skies really kind of opened up. The gnome or gobber who discovers a way to predict the weather -- even if it's just a day or two in advance -- will never hurt for silver in his pocket." He shrugs lightly. "Never happen, though."

Aryia tilts her head to the side, a hand on her hip as she drinks more while the duo explain why they were speaking of the boulder smasher. "And I am sure I glad I could help change your wardrobe up," she comments, drawing closer to the table as she stands nearby. The mute bobs her head, recalling the day. "Clothes are fun. Let me know if you need some clothes made Telamon. I can do men's clothes too."

"Weather has been odd, but I can still do work on my boat."

"... oh, yeah, I bought a boat." <Handspeech>

Cor'lana looks at Telamon and grins a little wider. "You'd look amazing in anything she makes for you. Maybe we could replicate that outfit you wore in our last dream walk? If anyone could make it, it'd be Aryia," she says.

Then she looks back at Aryia. "I remember! You were talking about getting one. You finally got it? What sort of work have you been doing on it?"

How in Althea's holy light had Seyardu managed to get down to the colosseum district?

It was likely a combination of exhaustion and being politely but firmly shoved out the doors of any work in Mictlan, and subsequently politely yet firmly shoved out the always open doors of the Althean temple.

Thankfully being a makari hid the worst of the exhaustion, but the silver makari who entered, not having bothered to switch out of the blue robes they put on earlier was certainly moving a bit slower. At least for a split second, until she saw several familiar faces, which made them perk up and wave energetically back to all of them.

Telamon taps his fingertip at his chin thoughtfully. "Worth some thought. Dreams are nice and all, but I've never worn formal robes before. I usually shoot for more practical attire." He shrugs. "Seen a few wizards trip over their own robes. But still, something for formal occasions might be a good idea."

He looks at Aryia, fascinated evidently by the concept of the two-fisted elf owning a boat. "So do you... no, wait, you can't roll your 'arrrrr's' like pirates do. Hm. Do you have an eyepatch? Or a parrot?" He grins at Aryia. "But in all seriousness, what did you name it?"

Aryia grins a bit. "Yeah. Bought it finally. Called 'The Balance'. Small little sloop. No I don't have any of that."

She catches Seyardu coming in, and she gives a big wave, along with a look of concern.

The mute makes a 'rrrrr' sound with her tongue just to be cheeky.

"Pothy could make a good pirate's familiar," Cor'lana says with a snicker. "But you'd probably return him to me within an hour or just punt him like you've threatened to do. Maybe he'd finally learn to appreciate what he has a little more!"

She spots Seyardu and waves to the Althean sith-makar, too. "Hey Seyardu!" she calls out. "Peace on your nest! I didn't realize everyone would be ducking in from the rain, too."

Telamon steeples his fingers, evidently letting his thoughts roll a bit. Then he grins. "I guess it makes sense." When Lana and Aryia wave to Seyardu, he glances up, and beckons to the weary makari. "Seyardu, is that you? Please, come, sit down. Take a load off. Your tail is dragging."

As the server approaches, he smiles. "Appetizer platter, please, and whatever our friend here," he gestures to Seyardu, "would like to drink."

"Peace on your nest Aryia, Telamon, Ravenstongue." The silver sith-makar greets, joining the others in the pub proper. "Rain? No, I don't care in the slightest about the rain. I simply do not have it in me to go and cook anything today, So I decided to purchase a meal here instead."

"I will get myself some juice or something else to drink. Tails tend to do that though, you know. Keeping a tail raised off the ground at all times is a waste of energy unless you are something like a cat or dog."

Aryia snickers. "Yeah, he'll get chucked for sure."

She watches Seyardu for a moment, squinting. "... Seyardu... have you been overdoing it again?" <Handspeech>

"Well, there's no shame in coming here for a good meal, that's for certain," Cor'lana says rather cheerily. "And Pothy manages to keep his tail off the ground most of the time if he's on the ground, I think, so birds manage just fine, too."

She looks at Telamon and says, "How long do you think Pothy would last as a pirate familiar? Although honestly, that makes me wonder... Maybe he has been before? My mother's ancestors seem to be a colorful bunch."

Telamon hmms. "Probably depends on how ruthless the inheritor was. Nobody's going to mess with the familiar of someone who can turn you inside out without breaking a sweat." He grins at Lana. "But maybe you should ask him. Might explain his filthy mouth."

His eyes slide back to Aryia and Seyardu, and one eyebrow rises at Aryia's gestures. He doesn't chime in, though, instead shrugging at Seyardu. "Figure of speech. When my uncle remarked on someone being tired, he'd say they were 'dragging'. Seemed apt." He chuckles. "But if you're looking for a meal, a drink, and someone to talk to, you could do a lot worse than here."

"Pothy would get chucked overboard the moment they realized the bird is a bottomless stomach, which, at the same time, does not actually need to eat. Supplies on a ship aren't exactly plentiful and free to use, after all." Seyardu chuckles quietly. "I am not overdoing things. I am doing things as expected and perhaps putting more effort in as I can, and I am still exhausted. I do not know how all those mothers manage it."

The silver makari finds a seat, spins it around, and half collapses into it. "But maybe you're right, captain's and the like have the final say in a lot of things, maybe he'd be fine. I definitely thought that having a meal here was a good idea, and more people to talk to is always pleasant."

Aryia raises a brow, but ceases her pressing as she drinks deep from her cup. Her free hand speaks for her. "Yeah, it's pretty crazy up there with the mothers. Just make sure you give yourself some time for yourself. Those little rascals even ran me ragged trying to scoop them all up."

She polishes it off, putting the empty cup on the table and resting a hand on her hip. "But yes. Boat, put some training poles on it. Got four hammocks, pretty cramped it she's seaworthy. Can give you guys a round around the port if you guys want some day." <Handspeech>

"Oh, that's right! The hatchlings," Cor'lana says with a smile. "Yes, they were a handful to try and catch. I... fear I really didn't do much except for to recite poetry at them."

She looks at Telamon after a moment and smiles. "You would have liked being there, I think," she says. "It was... really a touching and privileged moment to witness. Pothy was being silly, of course."

She looks thoughtful as Aryia extends the offer. "That'd be lovely, Aryia," she says. "And maybe Tel and I can bring a housewarming gift? ...Boatwarming gift? ...You get the picture."

Telamon nods to Lana. "I remember. You had to duck out of town for that, but I didn't get all the details. I've... never been to a makari hatching, it strikes me as something..." He pauses. "Private? Not something you'd invite anyone but close friends and family for. In any case, though, it doesn't surprise me that Pothy was in his usual form. Any particular highlights?"

He nods in agreement with the idea of a 'boatwarming' gift. Watching Seyardu collapse into a seat, he can't help but grin. "Ah, the perils of managing children. I don't envy you the prospect of trying to herd a horde of little makari, my friend."

"The sleep is so sporadic, but you need to be around to feed and tend to them so much. It is lucky that there is no chest feeding to deal with, at the very least." Seyardu sighs. "Not to mention everything else around it, making sure everything is clean and organized, only for it to turn into a cluttered mess next round of things."

"I wouldn't trade being there for anything, but by the gods is it tiring. It is definitely not something most get to be there for, yes. Not even the male makari much of the time." She continues, sitting up a bit straighter again. "So your boat is ready for sailing? I did not know you ended up buying one Aryia."

Aryia nods slowly. "I'm glad you're liking it. I can't stay there much, it's too much for me."

She grins a bit. "I've been working on getting once for a bit. Just got it recently." <Handspeech>

"Gosh, yeah. That's why Telamon and I are in no hurry to have children of our own," Cor'lana responds with a snicker. "Knowing our luck, we'd probably get to deal with a baby that tries to set things on fire or charm us into holding them."

She looks to Telamon and says, "Well, besides the poetry, Pothy thought for a moment that the hatchlings were trying to imprint onto him as their mother, so he was all emotional about that... And then I reminded him that means he'd have to share snacks with them. He was not interested after that." Cor'lana grins as she recounts the story.

"Usually, 'talent' as I like to call it doesn't manifest that early," Telamon says in a slightly clinical tone, offset by the faint blush on his cheeks. "But agreed. We're holding off on inflicting any child of ours on the surface of Ea. It needs a chance to brace itself first."

His eyes widen at Lana's description of Pothy's behavior, and then he starts snickering. "Oh gods. Yes, I can see that. You'd think Pothy would know better..." He grins at Seyardu. "Hang in there. If you need help, well... Lana was nice enough to assist, so I suppose I'm obligated to pitch in as well..."

"I need to stay around there. After all, I am a cleric, and any potential illnesses need to be addressed as early as possible." The makari replies to Aryia. "There are others there who can help of course, but the more hands, the better."

A drink does arrive where Seyardu is sitting, which is accepted with a nod before she pauses to sip on it thoughtfully.

Aryia looks between the two, her tilting her head to the side. "... I was supposed to be able to do shadow magic from my dad. But it never took hold," she comments on the topic of magic based lineages. "Please don't have kids yet. I'm not ready to deal with that shit again so soon. Give it like, a decade at minimum. Please."

She bobs her head to Seyardu. "Yeah, you of all people need to be there. But like... why not the guys? Why can't the men be in there? Some guys are chomping at the bit to help out but they're all outside." <Handspeech>

Cor'lana can't help but laugh at Aryia's plea. "No, no, trust me, we're definitely waiting a while. I have so much more I want to do--and, honestly, I want to spend much more time with Tel alone as a couple before we start adding complications to our lives."

She pauses. "Well, as alone as it gets with Pothy around. He likes to complain about that, too."

She looks at Telamon and grins. "Well, it'd probably be a good way for the two of us to get... child-rearing practice, sort of. Granted, our children aren't going to be sith-makar, but I'm sure there are transferable skills."

Telamon nods in agreement with Lana and Aryia. "We're ... well, I'm not going to say we're not ready. We could probably handle it. But... both of us have some things we want to do, before we settle down into blissful domesticity." He pauses, considering. "You know, there's that gent, Robert Ilife. I might ask him for advice on the subject."

The prospect of trying to wrangle baby sith-makar evidently hasn't daunted Tel, because he grins. "How hard could it be? Do they wear nappies? I imagine feeding time involves little critters, possibly live ones so they can gain some hunting skills?"

"Right, you elves live quite a long time. A decade is more than reasonable to stop and think." Seyardu nods. "I didn't realize it would be so much for you to deal with though Aryia. I have met several people who have said how much they enjoy being aunts and uncles."

"That is not my place to say though, I am sorry. But there are reasons for it. As for taking care of them? Imagine having to deal with several dozen little hatchlings all around that sleep half the time and wake up the other half, and need to be tended to and fed most times they're woken up. It is, quite a bit."

Aryia stares at Telamon with her glowing gaze. "The literal second they burst from their eggs they run around almost as fast as I do, and when you pick them up, they bite you with razor sharp teeth," she gestures flatly before showing her arm. Along it over the scars that have set in are rows and rows of faint, healing teeth marks. "'How hard could it be' my elvish ass."

Lowering her arm, she brushes off some saw dust from her pants before resting on her back foot, gaze swinging from the half-elves to the silverscale. "Kids in small doses I can handle. A lot of them? No thanks, too much going on for me. And yeah. It's enough time to mull something over that's serious." She pouts a bit that her question wasn't answered, her just chuffing and rolling her shoulders. <Handspeech>

Cor'lana's been drinking her cider the whole time as the conversation's been going, and she finally reaches the bottom of her glass. She perks up a little as she looks over her shoulder at the window.

"Hey, Tel, looks like the rain's stopped," she says cheerfully. "Maybe we could go for a nice, long evening stroll on our way home? The scenic route." She grins playfully at him.

Telamon looks out one of the windows, and nods. "Definitely cleared off." With the drinks and food gone, he puts down some coins. "Well, ladies... regardless of how hard it is, let me know if you need help. What're friends for, after all?" It's not entirely clear if Tel is aware of just how much a handful a pack of makari hatchlings are, but if someone takes him up on it he'll probably learn very quickly.

Taking Lana's hand to help her out of the booth, he nods politely to Aryia and Seyardu. "Until again, friends," with a smile, before the couple head out of the Fernwood, arm in arm.

The large bowl of stew ordered previously finally arrived, and Seyardu was quick to eating, only stopping as others moved to take their leave. "Good to see you both yes, I hope you will have a pleasant walk home." She offers in parting. "The offer is appreciated, but it is up to the others there as well."

And then she is back to her stew, keeping a hand free to speak with. "Apologies, I know you don't like me hiding things, Aryia. But you need to understand that it is a deeply rooted cultural thing. While some males are quite fine with hatchlings, others can not be. And it is not worth the risk of determining it, as the aggression can come seemingly from nowhere. You have seen how Xochi can be, imagine it directed in the opposite direction." <Handspeech>

Aryia gives a wave to the couple as they go. "See you guys later," she gestures as she leans against the table on her hip, squinting at Telamon as he goes.

She rubs her face. "Alright, yeah, I can see why it's an issue. Sorry, it's still something way different than the way we do things."

Looking at her dirtied self from pain and wood shavings, she raps her knuckles against the table. "Come by the docks sometime to check out the boat. I think you'll like it. 'The Balance', got a white and black sail. Enjoy your rest, okay?"

She steals a quick hug after dusting herself off more. "See you around, Seyardu."

With that, she gives a sloppy salute, and bounds up the steps five at a time. <Handspeech>