Fishing in the Rain

The beach is understandably quiet, with the clouds ruining any chance of soaking up some sunshine, and the raining making comfortable picnics impossible. A few wander the beach though, with the odd dog or two tearing up the place at high speed.

Standing in the water, a few feet from shore, is a Goblin in sea-green robes. She is watching the ships moving back and forth. Some of the sailors seem to recognize her, and for those ships heading to sea, she calls out blessings of Rada. For those heading for the harbour, she welcomes them home.

She pauses in her blessings, letting out a gasp and submerging herself in the water. When she pops up again, completely soaked, she clutches a squirming fish to her chest. Aboard the ships, sailors cheer. Irshya offers a wave before wading ashore, looking extremely pleased with herself.

In spite of rain or sun, merchants gotta trade. And so it is that-- wait, cheering? Asphodel, Llyranesi of almost unlimited space in her heart for anything of interest, follows the cheer and adds to her own. "Fish! Fish! Belongs onna dish, dish!" She calls out, raising her hand in the air to punch home the chant. In one hand, a giant shuttle still filled with a yarn-wound pirn for weaving. "... onna wish, wish!" She finishes, happy that whoever it is in the water caught dinner.

The Goblin blinks at the Llyranesi woman, and then giggles at her impromptu rhyme. Clutching the fish to her side with one hand, she offers Asphodel a quick bow. "Thank you very much!" She maneuvers the fish to her front, lifting it up to show Asphodel the tuna. "This one is to be dinner tonight. Erm. Though I will just be eating it, not cooking it." The Gobbo bends at the hips again, "My name is Irshya, nice to meet you."

Asphodel stands at the ready with a burlap bag for the Goblin. She waves even as the other woman approaches, and then steps back into a curtsey. "Hey no problem!" She says, offering the bag to Irshya. "I'm Asphodel, Irshya, and it's lovely to meet you too." And she seems to mean it, an extrovert on the prowl. "Would this be easier for you if you had, I dunno, like... a bag on a raft nearby? That way you could store your stuff," She finishes.

The GOblin peers at the bag for a moment, leaning in to sniff at it curiously for a few moments, before she takes it and proceeds to stuff the fish into it. "Oh, thank you! I was going to just eat him now, but I suppose I can wait til later. It would be rude of me, I suppose, to eat in front of you."

Irshya glances around and then to the Elf. "Are you enjoying the walk in the rain? I love the feel of it on my face, very refreshing. It starts to get warmer as Summoner comes, so it's less refreshing. But right now, perfect!"

Laughing out loud, Asphodel shakes her head, coupled with a shrug. "Don't put off lunch, breakfast, dinner..." She gestures to the sky, only for water to roll down her face. "Whatever time it is," she finishes with a broad smile. "Please. You certainly needn't stop for me. Was just delivering good down here. And yeah, actually. I love the rain. The sound of it, the feel of it-- it makes the city clean. And it means I can take twice as long running whatever errands happen my way. "I'm more of a forest person myself. I'm a lousy hunter there, too. But if I could swim like you, I would probably have robbed every incoming vessel clean."

Irshya snorts and laughs. "It really is a pain climbing up onto those ships. The last time I did so, someone split me open from shoulder to hip. It was a bad day. The other sailors hung the man. Thought I was a demon, and I only wanted to offer blessings of Rada. So... be careful if you want to climb aboard. At least from the water."

She grins toothily, "But I am a good swimmer. Not as good with these robes and armor on, but pretty decent without it."

Asphodel shivers. "Oh, no, I do -not- like boats," she stresses, glancing over her shoulder. "Hey, wanna come shop with me? Just stuff I have to pick up. It's not even my money to spend," She says, illuminating what makes this such a chore. "It rains very often where I am from, but mist is the most common of elements. I think you would love it," Asphodel begins, a smile like a pitch about to happen hinted at in her expression. "Very different from water, but endless mist and fog, pouring down mountains through emerald forests. It makes catching bigger game easier... And also getting gored by a boar, which is how my second uncle died."

She makes a squeaking sound which sounds happy enough, "Sure! One moment." The Goblin runs back to the water, and releases the fish, waving as it swims away. "I can eat later." Running back to Asphodel's side, she grins. "So, are you buying for someone else, or have they lent you money to buy things for yourself?"

Irshya yawns then, at length, stretching and grunting at the pops her back makes.

"Her face takes on a look of fascination. "Hmm, it does sound like a wonderful place to visit. Is it far from here?"

"Quite far, yes," Asphodel says, pulling coins from a purse and settling deals with merchants and traders. Her attention remains on Irshya, as the day to day banality of doing work as an apprentice is often autopilot. "Although these days," She says in a lower voice, meeting Irshya's eyes, "I try to keep even that down. The political situation between Alexandria and the Llyranesi are... poor," She says finally. "But there are rivers and streams everywhere, and giant forests, and sprawling meadows that break like the end of a fairytale through the trees."

"Ah, yes.", Irshya says quietly. "There is a bit of tension, isn't there. Don't worry, I don't bear you any ill will. We cannot do much about how our leaders behave. Honestly, they are much like little children at times." She watches the bargaining and deals with a curiosity and interest.

"It does sound wonderful. My former home is somewhere at the bottom of the ocean, about that way." The Gobbo gestures vaguely south.

"Well..." Asphodel seems at a loss for words. "I was much closer to those leaders than I would care to think. It's all the negative attention, and none of the inheritance," She adds with a sight. "But you /have got to tell me/ about your home! Stars above, what is it like to live on the bottom of the ocean? Do you have giant cities, or lights, or parades?" Every. Single. Detail. lights up Asphodel's dark eyes with a potential to go critical. "It sounds dangerous and gorgeous."

"Well, there are cities down there, but I did not live in one. My mother is uhm a powerful witch, and we'll leave it at that. She had a nice home, but it was humble compared to others. Her power attracted all sorts of underwater royalty. Sea elves, fey and everything in between." Irshya rubs at her cheeks, which have slowly turned a pale lavender in colour. "It is colourful, though. Fish come in all sizes and colours, coral is amazing, and of course, magic adds a certain touch to everything."

"However, my mother is... deeply evil, and I swam away from home as soon as I was able."

As Asphodel listens, she... actually listens. Irshya has her complete attention, and the topic of conversation has enthralled Asphodel so much that she herself as ceased to move so that she might listen more closely.

Other people, being both unaware of this executive decision, in possession of goods that need to be moved from A to B, horses, mules, and just about anything else can wait while the Llyranesi noblewoman listens with rapt attention.

"Sea elves? I hate to ask, and so I won't dwell upon it, but your past sounds absolutely fascinating," Asphodel says, and there is a sort of guileless focus that hones in on the details. "Sea elves and sea fae-- oh I wonder," She begins. "I grew up at Court," She adds, uncertain in her wager that this is interesting enough t warrant a response. "The Llyranesi Court. My parents were not evil. Just, mmm," she considers. "Distracted. The lives they live today are roles they set up years ago, and it's all very complex but also incredibly tedious. The only saving grace is that we look good doing nothing."

"Well, I don't know what they called themselves, but they did live in cities under water. Deep down." The Goblin does well in listening in return, nodding from time to time.

"Well, I had always thought that since Elves generally live a long time... you were just thinking heavily on things, taking your time. With a long lifespan, you need to make decisions that are lasting, right?"

"Usually they're executing steps today that were endlessly revised, over and over again, with each and every change over decades taking its turn in planning out where and how someone will be walking to achieve this or that goal, however many years in the future." Asphodel doesn't seem unhappy, but there is a cant to her head that is more considerate than normal.

"In the end you just end up learning to listen very well. Other people are the only reason to get out of bed in the morning. They keep life colorful."

"That must be ... frustrating, at the very least. It kind of robs you, a little, of flexibility, or being able to decide your own fat. It's nice to know there's a plan but... that seems too in-depth. Too focused. Even down to the minutia."

The Goblin keeps her voice low, but her tone is empathetic. "Will there be a time when you are leading?"

Carefully considering Irshya's words, Asphodel glances at the other woman with a smile. She's not offended, it would seem, and there may be very little she won't discuss. "But with all that time on your hands, the only way to stay sane is to make sure that you know this minute is not the same as the last one. It... blurs together after a century or so," She adds, raising her hands and gesturing as if trying to wash two windows. "I became a sorcerer; that seemed closer to being definitively destined for a fate. As for ruling? I hope never. I left with very little intent to go back. As long as there are dreams, and art, and the occasional wild party?" Asphodel shrugs serenely. "I'll be just fine. It's the other stiffs with their breeches too tight, those are the ones who like power."

Irshya nods, "It seems almost alien to me. I have lived about half my lifespan already. For me, everything is rush rush go go. The thought of it all being planned out for me... well, that's why I left mother and her sycophants."

She smiles then, "Oh, a sorcerer? Very interesting. Do you know what it is in your blood that gives you your power? Is it a dragon? Or perhaps some ancient, long dead Llyranesi? Oooh, maybe you get your blood and looks from an angel?"