Faye
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Aislinn Atwood, 3rd Level Circle of the Land Druid | Merli, 3rd Level Sorcerer
Posts: 68
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Post by Faye on Mar 7, 2019 5:13:48 GMT
Relief was admittedly the first sensation that coursed through Merli as her spell went off, followed by the shock that she actually managed to elicit a noise of any kind. The relief, however, did take a major role in her emotional state at that moment, if she had broken something she'd never be able to live it down. That said, the rush of events that happened next had her heart racing, namely in concern, after all, thieves typically weren't the type to go quietly in any situation.
Skittering out from under her table and into the aisle created by the very same piece of furniture she turned her head back and forth before landing on both Thea and who she assumed was the individual who had attempted to sneak their way out of the room. It was a surreal experience seeing someone who had seemingly come out of nowhere, sure the kobold knew of spells that could accomplish such things but she hadn't had much exposure to that particular brand of magic. Not that it mattered much, particularly at this moment. What mattered now was getting this whole thing to come to an end in a hopefully peaceful way...though how this ended would most certainly be more up to Thea than Merli herself. After all, it was the pale haired woman who had been wronged.
With that thought she moved forward stopping a good five or so feet from the startled looking teen, once again holding her staff firmly to her chest as she looked up to him, and then past towards Thea.
"So, what now?" Merli questioned with a cock of her head and a quizzical look in her eye. While she spoke she kept her gaze focused on Thea, only switching it back to the rather scared looking teen in her grasp after it was asked. Pity started to flow into her, after all, what other reason would someone attempt to steal something other than to keep themselves afloat? In her mind, this poor soul simply had no other choice, no matter how close or far from the truth that belief actually was.
"Mayhaps a good scolding? Though the choice is ultimately yours, it is, after all, your piece of art." Merli stated giving a small affirmative nod of her head. All the while keeping her position on the opposite side of the thief to Thea, almost boxing him in without really realizing it.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 5:43:07 GMT
Thea exhaled in relief, staring at the still-petrified teenage boy. “… Give that to me, please,” she said, quite firmly, extending her hands.
The boy blinked, looked at her, then back behind him at the kobold, then slowly extended his hands towards the genasi.
Thea promptly snatched the cyclone cylinder away from him, quickly and firmly, clutching it tightly against her chest. Actually having the cylinder back was an enormous relief, enough to take all the anxiety and tension out of the situation. Honestly – with the cylinder back – it was a bit funny.
Merli asked what next, suggesting leniency for the thief. Thea couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for him; he did seem like a desperate kid. On the other hand, what desperate kid had access to an invisibility cloak? What desperate kid snuck into the side room of an art exhibit and stole a magical item? Thea couldn’t help a thoroughly bad feeling about the situation.
“Yes - I’m sorry!” The boy glanced back at the kobold, then at Thea, looking suddenly hopeful. “I really am. Nobody told me there would be two spellcasters, I never would have…”
“Told you?” Thea groaned, wishing she had a chair to collapse into or something along those lines. She didn’t put the cylinder down, not trusting the boy as far as it would have been possible to throw him. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“Uh,” The boy froze again. “I mean – nobody – told me – the – you were a mage? Nobody… in the rest of the exhibit told me that.”
Thea raised an eyebrow, slowly. “Who sent you?” She asked. If it was Phi, Thea thought, she was going to throw the kid straight through the window – never mind that she wasn’t nearly strong enough. She’d find a way.
“Nobody sent me!” The boy looked increasingly desperate, although the break in his voice and the high-pitched squeak it became did very little to sell his case.
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Faye
Approved
Aislinn Atwood, 3rd Level Circle of the Land Druid | Merli, 3rd Level Sorcerer
Posts: 68
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Post by Faye on Mar 7, 2019 17:29:34 GMT
Still relieved that the whole situation came to a seemingly peaceful conclusion, though depending on what the boy continued to say Merli wondered if it would stay that way. While he had initially seemed like nothing more than a desperate person looking for a quick way to get some gold his panicked responses were slowly teetering him closer to an edge he wouldn't be able to come back from. While the whole situation truly wasn't any of her business Merli couldn't help but feel involved even if it was in the smallest manner.
Admittedly Merli was far from the best at reading people, but the panic on this thief's face was rather evident, and the voice break certainly wasn't doing him any favors. The antics he displayed actually made Merli frown and shake her head, no matter how hard she tried she simply couldn't wrap her head around lying. In her experience, which was all secondhand it always came back to bite you at the worst possible time. With this, she spoke.
"You know," The kobold started addressing the young man directly, or as directly as she could. "If you simply tell the truth this could come to an end much quicker. Not to mention much easier, so, just tell Miss Thea who sent you and this little mess can be sorted out." As she finished her words Merli gave a small nod of her head before throwing in an encouraging smile, though as most of her smiles it may not have come off quite so friendly.
"Besides, you seem nice," As most people did the still relatively young kobold. "And I'd hate for this to be the way you kick off your working years, I'm sure you could find something better than being a no good individual's lackey." While Merli spoke she continued to look towards the young man she was addressing. While she did want Thea to get her answers, after all the woman certainly deserved them, Merli also wanted to make sure the kid knew it was better to drop this idea of being a thief sooner rather than later.
With that Merli fell silent once again, having said her piece and hopefully helping to knock some sense into the thief. But that's all it was now, just some hope.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 17:51:46 GMT
“I – “ The young man was trembling again. “There’s not – ” Merli kept going, implacable and kind, and he deflated, slowly, shoulders slumping.
“An initiation?” Thea asked. She shivered a little, wishing she could cross her arms over her chest.
The teenager stared at her, wide-eyed. “You – you know about stuff like that?”
Thea could feel a headache throbbing steadily between her eyes, a little stronger as the situation got worse and worse. “That gangs of thieves make a newcomer steal something to join? Yes,” she stared, blankly, at the kid. “Yes, I know about that.” Thea, in fact, knew a little more about that than she might have wished; the crowd she had run with Urmlaspyr hadn’t always been quite, well… on the level. She had never participated in it herself, not even obliquely, but she couldn’t say the same for – certain people.
“Oh,” The kid’s shoulders slumped. “Look, I am sorry! They give you a challenge, to steal something, and I – I had the cloak, I borrowed it from – uh – well anyway I thought it would be easy! Just slip into the guildhall, grab the thing and slip out. And it sounded cool, a cyclone in a glass, and I… I’m sorry! I didn’t think anyone would shoot ice or lightning at me.”
Thea sighed. “Even if you’d taken it, the guildhall is spelled. You’d have gotten caught at the door anyway,” she wrinkled her nose. Part of her wanted to report him to the guards for attempted theft – to teach him a lesson that would stick longer than the shock of being caught. His clothing was clearly expensive, the shirt soft and well-woven, and the pants too. She guessed his family had money, guessed that this was a lark, guessed that he wouldn't be long in jail. But... it seemed a harsh punishment for being an idiot.
“I’ll keep the cloak,” Thea said, finally. “Merli, would you…?” The cloak was on the ground next to the kobold; visible as a sort of distortion against the floor, it was a slippery fabric, light enough that the kobold would be able to grab it. “If you want it back? You can explain to whoever you borrowed from how I ended up with it.” She raised an eyebrow. “Understood?”
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Faye
Approved
Aislinn Atwood, 3rd Level Circle of the Land Druid | Merli, 3rd Level Sorcerer
Posts: 68
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Post by Faye on Mar 9, 2019 18:08:03 GMT
Initiation? Gang of thieves? This was all new information to Merli, who until now had thought they were nothing more than a myth people told their children to get them to behave. Apparently, that wasn't the case, but she supposed even if they had been a myth those stories would have had to come from somewhere. To be quite honest she simply couldn't wrap her head around why anyone would want to dedicate their life to causing other people pain, it was just, so, unbelievable in her eyes.
While her own mind wandered down this path she found herself dragged back to reality by Thea's voice, which Merli suddenly concluded she like the sound of, it was soothing to her for some reason. Perhaps it had to do with the simple fact she managed to keep her cool even when she was undoubtedly frustrated by the current situation. There wasn't much time to dwell on this, however, as Merli gave an affirmative nod of her head. "Right,"
While she spoke Merli began to gather up the supposed invisibility causing cloak in her arms. at first, it proved to be a tad difficult as the fabric was slippier than she had been expecting. But within seconds she managed to bundle the large, comparatively speaking, the piece of fabric into her arms before shuffling her way over to Thea. Coming to a stop as she reached the craftswoman's side and then proceeding to turn to look up at the teen, hoping he'd be smart enough to take Thea's offer but considering one of his life choices had been to try and be a thief she wondered if he was actually capable of something like a smart decision.
"Before you leave, some advice. Think before you do, what you think might only do something to you could do something to more than just you. Like strangers, or maybe family, and most of it not good. Just because it seems smart does not mean it is, like putting extra fire salt in the potion pot thinking it'd make it more effective, instead it just goes 'boom'" The last word was said with an uplift of her hands, which perhaps would have been more informative if her hands weren't full of a cloak. "Just, try and think first." Merli finished with a small nod of her reptile-like head. Certainly, she knew advice wasn't her strong point, but she'd heard something similar said to her enough that she assumed it had to be at least decent and she really hoped she wouldn't see this kid stealing again. When he did leave Merli turned her head to Thea.
"So," She started not quite sure what could be said. "Does that happen often?"
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 10, 2019 1:01:44 GMT
“No – no you can’t – ” The kid groaned, glancing back at Merli as she started to gather up the close. He looked back at Thea, eyes lingering on the cyclone cylinder in Thea’s hands for one last, long moment… before he visibly gave up, shoulders slumping. “Okay,” he mumbled.
He listened to Merli’s advice. There was no visible sign of acceptance on his face, but he managed something that looked more or less like a nod.
“Try and think first,” Thea echoed, looking at the kid.
The kid mumbled something that sounded vaguely like assent and shuffled out of the room, slowly, looking utterly dejected.
Thea set the cyclone glass on the table and, with no chair or stool in sight, plopped down on the floor with a groan, rubbing her face with her hands and pinching the bridge of her nose. Merli asked if this happened often, and Thea couldn’t help it – she started to giggle.
“Thankfully not,” Thea grinned at Merli. “This was actually the second attempted theft I’ve had here in Waterdeep, but – no successful ones yet!” She giggled again, stretching her legs out on the floor and resting her weight back on her hands. “I’d be happiest if it happened never again. Thanks for your help - I'm not sure I'd have realized he was still in the room."
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Faye
Approved
Aislinn Atwood, 3rd Level Circle of the Land Druid | Merli, 3rd Level Sorcerer
Posts: 68
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Post by Faye on Mar 11, 2019 2:30:16 GMT
Relief was certainly the winner in the emotion department as Merli watched the thief walk through the entrance and leave the display area one person short. With a relieved sigh the white scaled kobold let her head drop forward, though it quickly turned to look towards Thea as she heard the woman laugh, taking note she had decided the ground was suitable seating. She cocked her head to the side in question for a moment, simply due to the laugh, though her bewilderment was quickly cleared up as Thea started to speak. Getting a small nod from Merli who was overwhelmingly glad to hear this wasn't a common occurrence, honestly, she doubted there was anything she could have done if it was but that didn't mean she wouldn't have tried to help.
Hearing thanks being sent her way the kobold gave a swift shake of her head, subconsciously clutching the cloak in her arms closer to her chest.
"No need for that, in fact, I didn't do much. You bumped into him with that windy thingamajig, which caused the noise and then I just did what I could," Admittedly Merli was happy her plan had worked in the first place, she was very much still getting used to this whole magic business...even if she'd been studying it for the better part of her life. "And besides I could have messed up your entire display, I am sorry about that by the way I swear I typically don't go around slinging ice everywhere," This all came out rather quickly and in a rush only to be followed by even more.
"But I don't want to sound ungrateful so thank you although I still think you did most of the work and were certainly more than capable of taking care of the whole situation yourself you did after all make what he was after in the first place so why couldn't you take care of it a-" With that Merli finally stopped to take a deep breath, coming to the realization she hadn't paused once during that whole ordeal. Which made her feel rather sheepish, thankfully for her blushing really wasn't a problem that came with scales. Instead, her gaze shifted towards the floor before she spoke again, this time in a much less rapid and winding way.
"In other words thank you, glad to be of service." Finishing with her second bow of the day she straightened before holding her arms out with the cloak in hand. "Uhm, what should we do with this? I feel sort of bad keeping it but, we didn't figure out who to return it to and that kid might forget to tell them where it is." Merli stated admittedly worried it wouldn't get back to its owner, after all, something like this probably wasn't an easy thing to get your hands on, let alone an inexpensive investment.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 11, 2019 20:28:48 GMT
Thea just smiled as Merli babbled through a graceless but enthusiastic acceptance of her thanks, punctuated with assurances that Thea surely wouldn’t have needed it and capped with an increasingly worried look. She liked the little kobold; she struck Thea as reassuringly straightforward and direct, and earnestly good-hearted. It was hard to judge someone on such short notice, but... Thea had a good feeling about her. She also wasn’t like any kobold Thea had ever heard of or imagined, but then, this was Waterdeep. If such a kobold would exist anywhere, it would be here.
“I’ll leave it here at the guild,” Thea reached it to take the cloak from Merli. “It has better protections than my place or my workshop, so our little friend, hopefully, won’t bother trying to steal it back.” And, Thea hoped, in a sudden burst of practicality, having it at the guild would help forestall any accusations that she had stolen it herself or was doing anything illegal with it. She thought it could potentially be quite bad if Merli was caught with it.
“Are you sure you don’t want some jewelry?” Thea asked, reaching over for the basket of bracelets and necklaces with her free hand and pulling it back between them. “You can consider it a thank you present, if you’d like.” Thea flashed a grin. “I made them, so don’t try to tell me I can’t do what I want with them.”
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Faye
Approved
Aislinn Atwood, 3rd Level Circle of the Land Druid | Merli, 3rd Level Sorcerer
Posts: 68
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Post by Faye on Mar 12, 2019 3:37:26 GMT
"That is a good plan," Merli stated with an enthusiastic nod of her head, quite readily holding the cloak out to Thea as she reached for it. To be quite honest it was a relief to have it taken off of her hands, after all, she wasn't used to holding onto anything magical. Well, that wasn't entirely true, more accurately she didn't feel comfortable holding onto anything that cost more than five gold pieces. As she had a tendency to trip over her own feet when she was younger and cost an individual who shall not be named more than that in loses because of it.
"I-I really shouldn't," Merli said glancing towards the basket full of eye-catching jewelry. It wasn't that she didn't want to take a piece but she didn't feel that she deserved it, not to mention it seemed like too big of a reward for something so small. Then again, they were really, really pretty and then she could immediately start saving for one of the more pricey pieces. "But," She started giving a tilt of her head as she clicked her teeth together twice as she mulled over her next few words. "I don't want to be rude, so sure. And thank you!"
Once again as Merli spoke she did her best to flash what could pass for a cheerful smile. With that though her eyes once again went to the basket and she found herself scanning each and every bracelet, looking for just the right one. Though with so many choices she wasn't sure where to start, in the end, she decided to pick the first one that 'spoke' to her for lack of a better word. After a few moments of going over the colorful glass pieces, she reached out and grabbed one, pulling it from the basket. The bracelet itself was comprised of a variety of solid colored beads most varying shades of blue, admittedly she'd always been a sucker for blue specifically.
"I think this one, it's really pretty." The kobold said as she held it up for Thea to see, simply to show her which one she picked to allow her to state if she'd rather keep this specific one. Though after that she pulled it close. "Thank you very much Thea, I truly do appreciate this. Uhm, I know it was a thank you but I promise to pay you back nonetheless."
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 12, 2019 17:58:39 GMT
Thea didn’t interrupt Merli’s thinking, just keeping the bowl extended with a smile on her face. She’d seen the kobold’s appreciation of the bracelets earlier, and she was hoping that, given a little time, Merli would manage to talk herself into accepting the offer. Whether it was deserved or not was really beside the point. Thea did her glassblowing because she loved it; she made art because it was important to her. Also, it was a job; she needed to earn a living, and she needed to accept money for the work she did both because she deserved it, and because if she didn’t, she’d never be able to make anything else. Materials and workspace didn’t come cheap. All that meant that Merli’s help in repelling the would-be thief – for Thea’s most expensive (hopefully) project – gave Thea an excellent excuse to do something she normally couldn’t, and gift the kobold a small piece.
Sure enough, left to her own devices for a moment, Merli agreed. Thea watched, happily, as the kobold sorted through the basket, basking in the unspoken appreciation for her work.
“It’s a nice color for you,” Thea smiled. Blue was her favorite color, and there were no shortage of blue beads – but this bracelet, Thea felt, was particularly nice. “It’s my pleasure, truly, but – if you insist.” Thea wouldn’t bend too far over backwards to force the bracelet on Merli. She hoped the kobold wouldn’t feel obligated if repaying was too difficult.
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Faye
Approved
Aislinn Atwood, 3rd Level Circle of the Land Druid | Merli, 3rd Level Sorcerer
Posts: 68
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Post by Faye on Mar 13, 2019 18:27:41 GMT
All things considered, Merli was quite happy with how the day had turned out, though not having been witness to an attempted theft would have made the day all that much better. That said she was happy it had worked out or seemed to have worked out and had been able to get a bracelet certainly didn't hurt. Though as she'd already stated Merli would do everything she could to pay Thea back for her kindness, which may have been seen as rude by some but to it was just how Merli was brought up, she wasn't used to getting things for seemingly nothing. In the end, Meri gave a small happy nod at Thea's words.
"Thanks again. You seem very talented so I'm really happy to have some of your work, so, thanks." At that, she let out a small airy laugh as she pulled the bracelet closer to herself. "Apparently all I can say is thanks these days, but I do mean it. Although, considering I didn't necessarily come to this exhibition to look at everything I probably shouldn't keep you much longer. I'd hate to keep you from being able to assist actual customers or individuals like that." This was said with a nod of her head as her true reasons for being here in the first place once again reared its head. That reason was simple, work. So far, no luck which wasn't an unexpected outcome.
Even with that result in her efforts, Merli was happy about today, while she hadn't been it Waterdeep all that long this single day was already shaping up to be her best since she arrived in the city. A large part of that was Thea, she was nice it, quite honestly, surprised Merli in the best way possible. It also didn't hurt she got to help her with a problem, even if it could have been handled just a tad more gracefully on Merli's end. All of that said Merli was currently quite happy.
"But if you ever need help I'll be more then willing to assist in any way I can, oh, and if you need to find me I tend to spend most nights at the," Merli paused for a second as she tilted her head in thought. Again, Merli hadn't been in town for long and she was still attempting to remember which streets were which, which wards were where, and just get used to such a big place. Though after a few seconds she continued. "The Splintered Stair, that was it. It's over in the dock ward. So, yes, if you ever find yourself looking for me there is where you're likely to find me."
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 13, 2019 18:39:57 GMT
“It’s really no problem,” Somewhat reluctantly, Thea did stand, bundling the invisibility robe under her arm and taking the basket of beaded jewelry with her, setting it back down on the table. She moved the cyclone cylinder back to its place of honor as well, studying it intently for a moment.
“The Splintered Stair,” Thea repeated back, smiling at Merli. “Got it. If you need me – for anything – you can leave a message here at the guild, or come find me. I’m usually either at Thond Glass and Glazing in the Trade Ward or Greenglade Tower in the North Ward.” The new room was still an exciting thing for Thea; before this, she had been staying with Jhalassan Thond, and, while comfortable, it didn’t really feel like… hers. Her room on the top floor of Greenglade Tower did.
“It was very nice to meet you, Merli,” Thea smiled.
Just as Merli had predicted, the gap in customers didn’t last much longer. Within moments, someone new was walking in the door, looking wide-eyed at Thea’s spread, the practical, magical and whimsical all together in one small exhibit.
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