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Post by moralhazard on Mar 22, 2019 18:10:03 GMT
“Welcome back, Thea!” Josire beamed at Thea from behind the counter of Thond’s Glass and Glazing.
“Hi Josire,” Thea grinned back, closing the door to the shop behind her. It was a beautiful spring day; it looked like it was going to be a gorgeous week, after the rain the week before. It looked like it was going to be a quiet week too, for once, for which Thea was a bit grateful. The week before had had – challenging days.
The halfling apprentice hopped off the stool, scurrying around the counter. “You had a message,” Josire grinned, his voice slightly sing-song. He was one of the older apprentices, although not particularly senior; he had started his apprenticeship a little later than most, but Thea thought him particularly promising, and she thought Jhalassan did too.
“Oh?” Thea wrinkled her nose. “Not Lady Peamont again?” She giggled. “Her commission is cooling now – she’s sent runners so many times making sure it will be ready for her fireblossom viewing party tomorrow!”
“No, not Lady Peamont,” Josire was still grinning. “Guess again.”
Thea giggled. “Josire, I can’t guess. Um… just tell me.”
“It was a gladiator!” Josire said, enthusiastically. “That one Pip talks about all the time. Arioch. He was wearing half-plate armor too, just – around, and he had this huge sword. He really looked like his posters!”
“And what do you know about gladiators and their posters?” Thea giggled. “Anyway, what did he say?”
“Pip said he’s your friend,” Josire looked up at Thea. “Is he really?”
“Pip shouldn’t gossip so much,” Thea said, ruefully. “But yes, he is.”
“Well, that’s good, because he came by to invite you to the fireblossom festival tomorrow.” Josire wiggled his eyebrows.
Thea smiled. “Well, thank you for passing that on. Did he say anything else?”
“Yes,” Josire paused. “He’s pretty famous, you know. Did you know?”
Thea smiled. “I did. I do.”
“Okay,” Josire looked sideways at Thea, somewhat suspiciously. “Well, anyway, he said to meet him at the fireblossom festival at the Heroes’ Garden an hour before sunset tomorrow. Are you going to go?”
Thea giggled. “Bye Josire. Have a good shift,” she walked past him, pushing through the door at the back of the shop to enter the workshop behind.
“Theaaaaaaaa!” Josire called. “Are you going to go?”
The fireblossom festival was an annual Waterdeep festival. Years earlier – centuries – it had been the barleyblossom festival, named for the rare barleybossom trees that ringed the Tower of Yintros, then a famous wizarding school. The barleybossom trees, famously, bloomed once a year for about a week, the trees sprouting gorgeous pale yellow blossoms for just that brief period. At some point, rumored to be a student prank, the trees had been enchanted so that, on the last day of blooming, each blossom would simultaneously burst into flame, covering the tree in tiny little fires that didn’t damage the bark or wood in the slightest.
The trees had survived the closing of the wizardry school, and the conversation of the area into the Heroes’ Garden. The trees were reportedly almost impossible to replant, although evidently Lady Peamont had found a way. That meant that almost anyone who wanted to see them had to do so in the gardens, and at some point it had become known as a local festival.
It was a perfect day for blossoming too, Thea thought. Allegedly it was always sunny on blossoming day, but no one knew if that was just good timing or also caused by wizards. Either way, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, with a light spring breeze blowing in off the ocean, just enough to give the air a faint, pleasant tang of salt, and break up the heavier smells of the city.
Thea, feeling a little daring, wore a clinging ankle-length skirt, slit up the side nearly up to the knee, leaving visible a bit of one slim calf when she walked. She wore one of her usual loose white blouses on top, tucked in at the waist with a broad dark blue belt, and two blue glass earrings, little twists that danced when the breeze came alive in her hair.
Thea reached the gates right on time; she had meant to come a little early, but getting the piece installed at Lady Peamont’s had taken longer than expected, and she’d only barely had time to go home and change. She couldn’t – or at least hadn’t – put into words why she’d bothered to change; it wasn’t like Arioch would mind if she came in the tunic and hose she’d worn to Lady Peamont’s. But – somehow it had seemed the only sensible thing to do.
Thea took a deep breath. She hadn’t seen Arioch since – the circus, when he’d looked and smelled like someone had dumped a bucket of blood on his armor. She had thought perhaps… it had been a lot, all things considered, especially with Citrine and Orin, and… with everything. Thea still had a faint bruise on her arm, nearly healed, but an odd, unpleasant green color; she’d tried to cover it with a blue beaded bracelet, self-conscious. She glanced around, scanning the steadily growing crowds for Arioch. Surely he wouldn’t be hard to spot?
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 22, 2019 19:47:19 GMT
"What do you think?" Asked Viermyra, turning to the side to question Arioch.
By that point Arioch had been glaring at the side of the courtyard, daydreaming as he idly inspected the statue by the fountain. Lorogak Stonesmasher, one of the greatest champions of the arena and also one that had been under the "employ" of the man above his current sponsor, one of the noble families. However his mind was nowhere near the subject of the arena, instead he was thinking about the fireblossom festival and his invitation, about the amount of people that would be there.
"You weren't listening were you" She added then, and Arioch only noticed due to the change in tone and intonation, usually a cue that the subject had changed and he ought to pay attention.
"Oh yes, sure, it's good. I like it." He was quick to reply turning back to look at the drow to his side.
She however, was not amused.
"Really, an axe?" She said
"Sure, vhy not" he retorted
"Because I was talking about a shortsword" She closed her trap on him, frowning, before changing her expression into one of mild curiosity.
"What's on your mind? You've been pretty absent lately" Viermyra asked.
He thought about it for a second.
"The fireblossom festival" He said.
"Really? I didn't think you were much into those kind of things" Viermyra said, a bit surprised.
"Vell, vhy not? It's a flover on fire, that's pretty crazy. I vant to see it."
Viermyra, acknowledged it with a small change her posture, and laid her back against the back of the bench again.
"Well those kind of events are usually more interesting when you go with someone, I can go with-"
"I'm actually going vith someone already"
The drow stopped on her tracks and looked at him. Frowned, accusatory. And the gesture turned into a smile of mischief slowly.
"You dog."
"Vhat? No"
"You sly dog."
"Vhat? No it's not..." He shook his head ever so slowly until he stopped and instead he stared at her "Vell yes" He confessed, straight out into her, a "so what" kind of method to shut her up, what was she going to do about that.
"So what's he like?" She asked
"He? Vhat? No, it's a girl"
"Really? Always thought you liked men, with all those muscles and the brooding, hur hur..." A comical expression on her face as she flexed her not so thick arms, with still clearly defined muscles on them. "You always took sooo long in the quarters I was sure you were... You know..." as she approached him barely inches away from him in a mocking fashion
"Fuck you Myra" He said offended though he was smiling a bit, as he pushed her away in a way that was meant to be playful but was still rough as it usually was with him "She's a woman and she is alright" Arioch declared. "She makes glass things and she has a shop" Said, althought that was not strictly true, for she was just staying there.
"Ohh la, la. And it's a high class lady with her own shop too, you're full of surprises... I thought you were into rough things... You're in for a disappointment then. I tell you, trust me. I know women."
Viermyra began to make herself comfortable against the bench again.
"It's going to be a varm day in the hells before I start taking your advice on the subject Myra, last time I saw you vith one you plunged a dagger into it's neck."
"Why? Is it making you jealous?" She asked with a big grin. Arioch made a gesture of disgust and then chuckled.
"I still know more than you, what are you even going to wear?" Veirmyra continued.
"Vear? Vell my armor of course." Said Arioch, like it was a non-issue.
Viermyra stared at him blankly, and then began to laugh.
"Vhat?" Arioch asked, a bit distraught, not understanding "Vhat is so funny?"
"You're going to go with an armor, just like that? See what I mean?"
"Vhy not? It's strong, it looks really good and it's pretty protective"
"Sure, it's going to protect you... From her hugs, really dangerous stuff I tell you"
"Vhat the hell are you talking about?"
"You can't just go there dressing like you're going to battle because you're not, go to a tailor and get some proper clothes done you animal"
"And look like a clown?"
"You'd be looking good. Men look really good in tailor-made clothes, better than in armor even."
"Vhy vould ve? It makes no sense, the vay some people dress here look so bad. And vhere would I leave my armor then?"
"Look around, everyone does it... Well, some better than others, but you can afford it. Leave it in your house what kind of a question is that"
Arioch paused for a bit thinking on how to board the subject that he didn't really had a house because he lived like an outlaw outside of the city, hiding his stuff around.
"I can't do that" He said then, not precisely a lie
"Why not?" She asked
"It's complicated" He retorted
Viermyra looked at him more than just a little bit confused. Opened her mouth as if to kept asking "why", but then instead closed it, and let with something else.
"Well... Leave it with me then, I'll take care of it until you're done"
Arioch frowned
"Viermyra..."
"What...?" She gave one small, but ever growing smile "I'll give you my word, I'll take good care of it, just for one afternoon alright? Nothing serious, drop by my place and get it afterwards."
Arioch took a deep breath and sighed deeply, considering
"I'm just going to go vith the armor, it really does look better."
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Arioch walked among the people feeling quite not like himself, and a bit like a clown. The black set with fine exquisite design in lines of golden fitting his body perfectly, the quality leather boots, shiny and ready barely making any noise as he walked. His black hair was combed back and neatly arranged. A silver pin of silver with the symbol of a noble house was on his chest, and an exquisit belt was decorated with a silver buckle depicting the side of a gryphon. The long sleeve shirt had been rolled up his elbows, just by how much heat he felt it was building up due to the circumstances.
Everyone was staring at him and he felt dumb, dumb for having trusting Viermyra over his own judgement. He started to walk faster without noticing it, as if by reflex he thought that way he could speed up the process by which people looked at him so more often now. It wasn't the looks, it was the way they kept their eyes on him for just a few moments longer that they usually did; and then looked back thinking they were being subtle, but they weren't.
He felt like shaking one up and asking them what were they looking at at times, but that would make things even worse.
Arioch only brough one weapon with him; an odd fusion between a shortsword and a dagger that ran the lenght of his thigh. Just in case anything happened, he didn't want to be without a sword, Waterdeep might masquerade as a so called "civilized" place, but it couldn't hide the underlying nature of things well enough for him. His only other weapon was perfume, he disagreed with the choice on principle but the elf woman that advised on the matter seemed to be rather sure of what she was doing. By then however the usual smell of the Waterdeepian streets had made him forget about that.
To make things worse he couldn't find Thea anywhere. He started to go around to see if he could find her... Then came back. Then stood idly, moving from one place to another, and then simply waited alone on his own. Eventually someone approached, a woman belonging to a bigger group of people that had been staring at him for a while.
"Hey, how are you? You were looking a bit lost and-"
She was saying politely with kindness in her eyes. And then he saw Thea; dressed so differently than the previous times they had met that it was... pleasantly surprising was a way to put it.
"Can't right now"
He said, short of literally shoving his hand into her face and started to walk towards Thea, not much subtelty in the way he made a beeline for her, his gaze devouring her attire from heels to eyes. She was looking rather fine, or maybe it was just not having seen her in a week? It was certainly quite a difference from the robe or the clothes he had seen her wear inside of the workshop. While they had it's charm right now she had... a different kind of energy he didn't dislike.
"Thea"
Arioch said, smiling on impulse and forgetting about everything else for a second. He stopped quite close to her, still radiant.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 22, 2019 20:04:14 GMT
Thea turned at the sound of her name, a soft, full smile spreading over her face just at the recognition of Arioch’s voice; she couldn’t help it, and she wasn’t sure she would have even if it had been a choice. Her eyes met his and held, searching for – something. Thea wasn’t sure what, exactly, but she felt something warm blossom in her chest.
“Arioch,” Thea smiled. Then her eyes widened, and she stepped back, actually taking in more than the smile on his face and the warmth in his eyes. “Oh, you’re – ” She giggled. She had been expecting Arioch in armor, and instead she’d gotten Arioch in clothes that looked very much as if they’d been tailored for him. And smelling like – perfume? The smell tickled Thea’s nose a little – she’d always been sensitive to any scents – and it was all she could do not to sneeze. The smell was an improvement over decaying fish or fresh blood, at least.
“You look – “ Thea bit her lip, suddenly self-conscious, aware of a faint heat in her cheeks. She really, really wished that – for once – she could control her blushes around Arioch. Something about him seemed to push straight past her usual self-control. He was just so different from everyone else and, Thea thought, mostly in a good way. It was funny seeing him like this, as if he was trying to blend in. He didn’t quite succeed, Thea thought, and she was grateful for it. Was this just a new style for him? No, Josire had told her that Arioch had been wearing armor when he came by. Was this… for her?
“You look very nice,” Thea recovered, finally. She looked down at his clothing again, then back to his face, smile softening once more. There were more descriptive words she could have used – more descriptive words that some part of her very much wanted to use – but she couldn’t quite bring herself to them. But it wasn’t fair; he’d gone to some effort, and Thea felt she couldn’t – she couldn’t not – she couldn't do it. Her cheeks darkened again, faintly.
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 23, 2019 13:19:21 GMT
For that moment he forgot about the rest of the people around them and the fact that they were in a festival, and about the people staring and the rest of the things. Perhaps it wasn't that he had forgotten but he went back to not caring, certainly it didn't look like Thea seemed to mind much about his change of attire, which was the thing he had concerned himself with. She was smiling, that was a good sign, wasn't it? There didn't seem to be any trace of sarcasm in her voice, she did! And she was blushing too that was both good and...
Seeing her like that reminded him of a question he was going to ask. One among several, he realised, but he was enjoying the moment.
"You too"
He said with that smile burning radiantly on his face, widening at the sight of her cheeks, and then reached over to her, leaning his body slightly forward as if to whisper a secret in her ear, for her only but not for any other possible bystander or pedestrian walking nearby, barely brushing his warm lips against her ear briefly.
"I like the blue specially. Maybe it's the magic of the dress."
He whispered leisurely, as if to not give away her secret, and straigthened himself out again still holding her gaze with his before looking at his side with interest after a few seconds more; beyond the other spectators and some of the vendors that were out to make a little money by selling some trinkets and food for those interested. He didn't feel particularly hungry at the moment but shiny things had a certain quality to them that always called for his attention, even if it was seldom worth the effort it took to get closer and inspect them.
Internally he was glad she hadn't laughed at him, but still not completely sure he should have trusted Viermyra on the clothes, it was something really new for him and he didn't feel quite like himself.
"It's the first time I see something like this... Vill the trees really burst into flames?"
He asked turning to her with interest
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 23, 2019 13:39:52 GMT
Arioch’s lips just – just barely – brushed her ear, his breath almost tickling her. Thea shivered, just once, involuntarily, and couldn’t help meeting his gaze a few moments more when he pulled back. She felt both relieved and disappointed when he turned to look around, but relief won out; Thea took the time to straight her shirt a little and take what she hoped was a quiet deep breath.
Thea wasn’t an idiot, and she was rather perceptive; a blind person would be able to see the heat in Arioch’s gaze. What she didn’t know was what she wanted. There were parts of it that were obvious – the heat in her cheeks and the way her entire body had just tingled were, well, evidence enough – but… it was complicated, wasn’t it? Didn’t it have to be?
By the time Arioch turned back Thea felt like herself again. She smiled at him, quite cheerfully, color back to normal. “I haven’t seen fireblossoms before either,” she giggled. “I think they’re a Waterdeep specialty but… I’ve heard the flowers really will burst into flame! Not the whole tree – apparently it doesn’t harm the trees at all, it’s been going on for over a century and most of the trees have been here throughout.”
“Shall we go in?” Thea asked, turning to look at the busy crowd milling around the park. It was crowded already, with an hour or so left before the blossoming, and the air was full of noise and laughter, children chasing one another through busy crowds, deft pickpockets sneaking past people clustered around minstrels and bards, stands with food that ranged from simple cheap fare to elven delicacies. It was, Thea felt, very much Waterdeep in a nutshell: busy, chaotic, brimming with life, and utterly unique.
The garden was above the size of a square city block, with a small pond on the south end, and a larger one close to where it backed up against the wall of the city. The rest of the space was a mix of small squares – many with statutes celebrating famous heroes of Waterdeep – and paths, many with little benches. Fireblossom trees lined almost every path, although they weren’t the only foliage; there were flowers and bushes as well, along with other types of trees scattered throughout. The fireblossom trees were already pricked out with pale yellow blossoms; even just the non-magical flowering was lovely. The ground under the trees seemed littered with petals.
Thea kept close to Arioch as they made their way slowly into the crowd, her arm just barely brushing his. It had been hard enough to find him outside of the park; she thought it would be very easy to utterly lose track of him in the crush. It was only now that Thea became aware of just how much attention they were getting; she was used to a few stares, although it wasn’t that common here in Waterdeep, where there were quite a few genasi. No – she thought their stares were for Arioch.
“I guess you’ve become popular,” Thea suggested, smiling up at him. “The apprentice you left your message with was very impressed that I knew a famous gladiator.” She giggled.
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 23, 2019 14:09:11 GMT
"Can trees really live that long?" He asked, then stopped to consider for a moment "I guess I never stopped to think about it"
But it was true most times, he never really saw a tree die, and there were trees probably as old as he was, or older even. Why would it be so out of place for a tree to live for a century? Specially considering there was magic involved. He nodded at the proposal of going in; he disliked the amount of people that were crowding together. It was mostly about freedom of movement that which bothered him, like he didn't have enough space to move about even though he did. A feeling similar to a rat in a cage.
He gazed at the garden with a bit of wonder, it certainly did look beautiful, an odd mixture between architecture and nature the likes of which he hadn't looked at yet. The ponds were a nice detail but the things that called to his attention the most were the statues and how well they were crafted. Lifelike, he could almost imagine them springing back to life. He imagined what must they have been like in life. Were they modeled after the battle in which they perished? There was a bit of longing to his imagination on the subject too. The trees, ironically, were the last thing he paid attention to, though they were beautiful in their own right and would remain perfectly drawn in his memory from that day onwards.
What was it like to live the life of a hero? What made a hero, even, celebrated like that? He began to ponder, as a light brush with Thea's arm brought him back to reality in way that was paradoxically both dizzily fast and relentless yet soft and pleasant at the same time. He blinked once.
"Vhat?"
He repeated then, slowly smiling in disbelief, he found that idea funny
"You didn't tell him about the fish, did you?"
Added then, just a pinch of devil in his smirk, holding back a laugh. While he had noticed some changes in his life such as with certain figures of note, specially on the background of the nobility, and... Other interested parties and supporters, it felt to him that the essential hadn't changed, it was hard for him to put it into words but he was surprised to hear Thea note it as well. Maybe because most other people had began to interact with him after the fact. Sometimes, when he thought back on things and on his own young self panting under the snowfall in the damp darkness of the northern sunset, it felt like it was happening for someone else for just about a slim second.
"It's a silly thing"
He said then out loud
"Of all the things I've done so far, I think that one day is one of the things I remember the most"
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 23, 2019 14:18:03 GMT
Thea giggled. “No, I didn’t,” she paused. “But… no promises about Pip,” she was still smiling up at Arioch. “I think she’s hoping to be the leader of your fan club, and she loves that fish story!”
It was true; Pip had been incredibly impressed with Arioch in the arena (once she’d gotten over some initial nerves), and Thea thought, on the whole, the little half-elf had enjoyed it all much more than she had. The events of the circus had only solidified that into a solid bit of hero worship; Pip had even remarked favorably on the severed heads. That had been – rather an uncomfortable conversation with Pip’s parents and, Thea felt, probably no small part of the reason they had petitioned Thond to let her live at home during her apprenticeship – just for a little while. Pip was already begging to come back, or so she’d reported to Thea.
Thea giggled at Arioch's comment about his fishfight. “What, more than all your matches in the arena?” She teased, not really taking him seriously. He’d swung a fish into a man’s face; yes, it had been a little impressive, but Thea couldn’t imagine it compared to competing in the arena.
In fact, that day had been momentous for Thea as well. Not just her friendship with Arioch – although that was – well – but also the fish sign she’d made from that occasion had, Thea felt, helped launch her into popularity with a crowd other than Jhalassan’s nobles. This morning experience – the last week’s experience – with Lady Peamont had been an excellent example of how difficult it could be to work with Waterdhavian nobles. The signs Thea made for trade shops across the city, on the other hand, were invariably a joy, and she had found a particular pleasure in making something whose beauty also made it eminently useful.
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 23, 2019 14:44:32 GMT
"How is she?"
He asked about Pip, that little elf certainly was a bundle of trouble on her own right, running like that to the circus when she knew there would be trouble. And without a weapon, no less. She could do with a shortsword or a dagger, he thought, but if she could muster the strength to use a light crossbow then at least she could be circumstancially useful in a fight. As it were however she was dead weight and a danger to herself and everyone nearby, not to mention a distraction to worry about. Very irresponsible of her. He should do something about that.
"I'll have to get you back on that"
Arioch said then with a sly smile, though it didn't lack for honesty, it was something he was still considering.
"There's something about moments that make the best memories, that I have to figure it out yet"
He admitted, while the fish was certainly quite something he didn't feel as though it was the main dish in that course. More like someting of a curiosity... But maybe the fish was the story in itself? Or it could be told as two stories separately. To pack more of a punch.
"For first times, at least"
For he sure would never forget either the first time that he had fought in the arena, though it wasn't the first time he had fought. So, he was concluding it was not about the act of doing something the first time that made it memorable, for there could be many first times. After all, the arena, it was just fighting under different circumstances, in a different scenario but fighting. And it had been so, so very different from his first "real" fight...
"I mean those lightning signs... They vere quite something, you know"
A smile began to take shape in Arioch
"I don't think anyone has ever done that"
Admitted, the warmth of the memory washing over that. That had been a thing. So silly. And yet. He glossed over the fact that he couldn't read or write properly, to know that she had done that was enough for him.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 23, 2019 14:53:56 GMT
“Pip is doing well,” Thea said, cheerfully. “She seems good as new – her parents were very upset. They scolded her, fussed over her, stuffed her full of food and put her straight to bed. She looked too dazed to put up a fight,” Thea giggled. “She’s still sleeping at home for the time being, rather than with the other apprentices. I think she misses being full time in the shop, but she’s come in every day for work, and has made up everything she missed the day she spent in the forest. I don’t think they’ll keep her away much longer.”
Thea giggled. “I suppose,” she was quiet. First times – it was true, wasn’t it? There was something about a first experience that was new and lovely, whether it was seeing a new place, finishing a new piece, or casting a new spell. But there was something to be said for familiarity too, Thea felt, for routine; for the ability to know what was coming, to plan and prepare and be ready. Something to be said for comfort, too, for the warm feeling of seeing a friend you knew and trusted, a feeling you could never get at a first meeting.
“Is every fight new, or does it start to feel… familiar?” Thea asked, curiously. Her spells were comfortable and familiar, by now, but no two times she’d used them – really used them – had felt remotely the same. No two times she’d been stabbed had been the same either, and Thea had really been working up a collection of those in Waterdeep, all the way from rapiers to bear traps.
“Oh, it was nothing,” Thea shook her head a little, dismissing it. It had only been an illusion anyway; really, she had just wanted him to know she was rooting for him.
A shrieking, dirty child, face smeared with what looked like chocolate, plunged into the tiniest sliver of space between them. Thea stepped to the side, reflexively, and another half-dozen people promptly forced their way through the new gap, leaving her drifting apart from Arioch.
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 23, 2019 16:16:30 GMT
It was not only her parents that had been upset with her, but he felt no need to remark that further than he had already. He didn't precisely approve of her parents taking her in their house again. It didn't look like they were able to actually educate her properly... Well, at least, on the subjects that mattered to Arioch. They were only delaying the inevitable, why not let her just stay at the workshop and get some valuable experience there? Sheltering wasn't good.
"Vell" Arioch said "I have yet to kill the same person twice. That must be quite the experience."
He joked, but it had an underlying honesty to it. He thought about her question more seriously however.
"One vould think so, maybe. But no. Never two fights are the same, and the circumstances to them are not the same. Am I still fighting? Yes. Is all fighting the same? No. Vhile I must admit there are some aspects of fighting I get more used to, or more confident at, it never stops being... as intense. I suppose if the fights vere easier and I didn't even have to try then I vould get bored. If it vasn't a challenge I'd vonder vhy am I even still doing it, maybe as a way to have fun, but even then it vouldn't be enough. I think there is only so many times you can enjoy the same experience before it turns repetitive, so ve naturally vant to change things up a little bit."
Arioch stopped on his mini rant about the variability of fights and impulses and then asked her.
"Don't you, too? I remember you came to Vaterdeep from some place else, but you still do glassbloving here. The glassbloving is the same, but the circumstances have changed. You have changed too in this time I dare say though I didn't know you back then. That's how ve improve, I think. New things are alvays daring, but so they are revarding too. The only certain thing in this life is death, so by doing nothing it's like ve're dying already, and ve instinctively reject that.. Or maybe I just can't stand it myself."
Thea saying the lightning sign had been nothing didn't diminish the impact that it had on him, it had been something amazing really, spectacular, and also provided him with just the right amount of cheering he needed in such an alien place to not feel absolutely lost in his dismal thoughts of death and cowardice, about rushing forward, to speed things up because he couldn't take the wait and the uncertainty of his own shame.
The flow of people was unexpected, the child was okay at first but then some more people began to appear, and then more and more like a battle formation breaking through enemy lines and suddenly they were appart. At first, he frowned, upset. Then he said.
"Thea!"
Out loud, and then he laughed at the silliness of the situation even though his first reaction felt righteously correct in it's anger, what business did they have interrupting them. He tried to make his way back to her, though he had lost sight of where she was and now was only guided by his memory, trying to calculate where he thought she should be instead.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 23, 2019 16:31:27 GMT
As always, Arioch could go from light chatter to deep, personal thoughts in about half a second. Thea admired the ability to make that switch; she couldn’t do it herself unprompted, although she rather thought she had improved. It was, she thought, that he took her questions seriously; he always took it upon himself to answer them in full, and, as far as Thea could tell, with perfect, absolute truth. It had struck her the first day they had met, walking along the docks after she had coaxed the fishseller into accepting the promise of a sign, and it made no less of an impression on her now.
Thea listened to his answer fairly seriously. He wouldn’t like the arena if it wasn’t a challenge. She shivered a little. A challenge! At the other end of that challenge lay death, and Arioch willfully pit himself against it, regularly, successfully, but no less dangerously.
He turned the question around, and Thea grinned. “Oh, glassblowing is different!” She protested. “It’s – well I suppose it can be repetitive, if you’re stuck making two dozen glasses, but… at the stage when you have to do a lot of that and you have to focus on it, it’s still new enough that, if you really care, it’s challenging. And by now, I don’t need to think very much for those kinds of tasks, I – usually think about other projects while doing then,” Thea grinned. “And every new project is different. I learn something every time. Even the storm orbs – you remember that? I’ve made a dozen of them, but every one is different.” That was mostly due to the storms more than the glass – blowing an orb was exceptionally simple – but the point still stood.
“But you’re right, I suppose,” Thea smiled. “Waterdeep is certainly different from Urmlaspyr, and I – I don’t think I’m the same Thea I was when I arrived. I hope not,” her eyes caught his for a moment, a rare admission about herself on a subject other than glassblowing.
Thea immediately stopped when she was cut off from Arioch; she lost sight of him in the crowd almost immediately. She thought she heard him shout her name, but it was hard to tell over the noise and the bustle. At first she waited, but before long Thea wasn’t sure it was such a good idea; what if he’d thought she moved, or he couldn’t find this exact spot? Thea took a few steps and, then, took a deep breath and summoned winds to lift her just a few feet off the ground, hovering in place and glancing around over the heads of those around her, hoping that the extra height would either help her to spot Arioch or help him to spot her.
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 23, 2019 16:54:01 GMT
Admittedly his only knowledge about glassblowing came from Thea's words which he believed without the shadow of a doubt, but when he had to compared it to something in his mind it was always with a carpenter, as in that she could get stuck making twelve chairs... or a giant horse, because of reasons. Glassblowing for him was then a tool, not unlike fighting, but perhaps could have a broader spectrum of applications? Certainly nicer applications, unless one was particularly fond of battle and saw it as a form of art.
He couldn't find her anywhere, his search was fruitless and quickly he arrived at the same conclusion that she probably had, only that too late for he had already moved from the spot he had been in. It had been a gamble. And now it hadn't paid off... So it fell onto him to find her if she hadn't moved. In spite of the light stress of the situation he was smiling a bit, it was a bit fun, a bit challenging. And just when he was pressing his brain to come up with a better strategy, Thea jumped. No, not jumped he realised. Was she, hovering? She could do that?
"There you are!"
He muttered loudly, though it was certainly fated to be swalloed into the cacophony that was the murmur of the crowd.
Arioch didn't waste any time and began to swim her way. Though swimming as a kind way to put it; at first he tried to dodge people, then he began to get slightly upset at the effort it took for him to both navigate and dodge people at the same time and simply walked towards her. Naturally, those that were in front of him quickly, and instinctively, understood that instead they had to find they way around him; which they did for the most part. He reached out to her and, as if it truly was a literal sea and not just a lot of people together, sought to grab her hand with his; a tight squeeze at first but not too hard.
"Thea!" He said chuckling, and frankly a bit impressed "I didn't know you could fly"
And there was again that look that he was giving her, the same as it had been in the workshop as it was someone else he was looking at; as if he found the fact that she was a sorceress as suprising as it had been the first time, and the time after that. And it was to himself quite amazing. She was flying. Flying. Not even Aislinn could do that, unless she turned into a bird. But she couldn't. Thea? Thea didn't even need to turn herself into a bird she was just hovering there, casually. What the hell. He laughed.
And all those thoughts were partly built upon a simpler foundation; that small static energy that ran through his fingertips, into his hand, made it's way all the way up his arm sinking slowly like a warm liquid into his heart, which then promptly reached out to the rest of his body. He didn't let go of her, naturally.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 23, 2019 17:02:46 GMT
From her vantage point, Thea could see the moment when Arioch spotted her; she nearly lowered back down, but – honestly – it was kind of fun hovering above the crowd, watching everything, her hair waving slightly in the breeze. She wasn’t that high up, just the upper half of her torso above the crowd, but she was used to being short, and there was something pleasant about actually being able to see.
Arioch at first seemed to be dodging and weaving through the crowd, and then – there was a moment when he gave up and simply plowed straight through towards her, scattering the people in front of him.
Thea was smiling when Arioch reached her, his hand extending out and up towards her. Thea took it without thinking, holding on lightly as the winds deposited her gently back to the ground, rustling her skirt and blouse and the dust at her feet. Her hair kept waving gently even after she was done, its little breeze stirred up by her trip.
Thea giggled at Arioch. “It’s more like hovering, really,” she said, ruefully.
It felt like the most natural thing in the world to be holding his hand; his grip was firm, of course, strong, and warm, both the heat of his skin and – and something in the way it made her feel. Thea knew she should pull away, but she didn’t, standing there looking at Arioch as the crowd flowed around them. He was looking at her as if – as if she were magic. As if magic was what one was told about in storybooks, as a little girl or boy, the same joyful look he’d had when she summoned her lightning armor for him, as if storybook magic was real and she’d brought it to life. Thea smiled, and didn’t let go.
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 23, 2019 17:41:09 GMT
"You're flying" He said, a soft laugh escaping his lips "Don't lie!" Clearly there was no visible difference between flying and hovering. And that was crazy. Absolutely crazy. How many times had he dreamt about flying in some crazy dream? Not that often for sure, but any of those times felt amazing and quite a unique experience and Thea could do it on a whim. The brief flight of the skirt caught his attention, mostly the legs underneath however; and the fact that her skin seemed to be just as pale and white all over. Though it wasn't a shock to him by then it still was quite a curiosity, it just didn't take the spotlight.
And just after she was done landing back on her feet, Arioch led the way somewhere still holding her hand.
"Let's go"
He said, and began to navigate the crowd without so much as telling here where they were off to. One of the many decorations in the plaza was his objective, and althought it took them some time and navigation to reach the place at the end they were standing in front of it. A particularly high, decorated pillar, one of several that lay around the place each with their own significance he wagered, though not nearly as revered or cared for as the statues. It was just the best vantage point in sight, the best seat in the house that was not really a seat. And then without much ado he let go of her hand to climb it, with surprising ease.
The structure was no more than eighteen feet high, and at least fifteen feet high, wide enough to be able to accomodate at least four people sitting on top of it. Once he reached the next foothold nearly at the top, he leaned back down. One hand firmly grabbing the top and the other hand near Thea's head height in order to help her up, his eyes just as bright and intense, and the smirk as full of enjoyment as before.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 23, 2019 18:02:44 GMT
Thea giggled. “Ari!” The nickname slipped out, unthinkingly – Arioch was a bit long – and she followed after him, grasping his hand, letting him lead the plunge through the crowd.
“Oh!” Thea giggled, watching him climb the pillar. For a moment, she felt a very healthy appreciation for Arioch’s new outfit, and she took this opportunity to – well – indulge, just a little, hoping that he couldn’t see her watching him while climbing, no matter how intently.
Close to the top, Arioch turned and reached a hand down to her, and Thea looked up at him, biting her lip. She could hover up again – but it would mean casting a spell, and Thea didn’t want to risk hurting anyone nearby. She hesitated only a moment, then clasped her hand firmly into Arioch’s, following him up the pillar. She was a much less able climber than he was, but Thea had no fear of heights, and with his hand pulling her up she managed just fine, until she was sitting atop the pillar next to him, still giggling a little.
Carefully, Thea adjusted her skirt, keeping her legs tightly together to avoid flashing anyone down below – thankfully it was sufficiently long – and smiled at Arioch. She was sitting rather close to him – her legs weren’t touching his, but she thought she could almost feel the heat of his skin against hers.
From here they really did have an incredible view of the park, of the little yellow blossoms spreading out before them along the paths; Thea could see both of the lakes, ringed with yet more yellow-blossomed trees. She could only imagine how beautiful it would be when the fire came; there wasn't long to wait now.
“It’s a lovely view from up here,” Thea smiled at Arioch. “Almost as good as flying,” she rested her hands in her lap, a little surprised at how sorry she was not to be holding Arioch’s hand anymore. Self-consciously, she curled her hands together, covering the one that he had held with the other.
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