September 27, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-09/27/2016
Quira remained drifting in her thoughts, as per usual, while she had found herself in the quite shoddy mess hall. As she scanned the inside of the building, those that were around her had been enjoying their time, exchanging jokes, laughs and stories alike. Some of which had piqued the pegasus rider's interest, but when she had attempted to join in on the conversation, she was either denied or ignored as if she were trying to catch the attention of someone else. The girl only gave a sheepish grin as she retreated from each and every exchange of words, finding herself fairly disheartened and at the tail-end of the disordered line.
A small hum could be heard from the rider as she waited, quickly finding herself bored and then becoming lost in her drifting thoughts once again. However, this early-morning daydream had been cut short with the loud creak of the main entrance and the sudden clattering of what she could only assume to be fishing poles. The pegasus rider gave her head a quick shake before turning it around to join the crowd in staring at the man, pursing her lips as he questioned the throng of soldiers.
With the familiar man's shrug, Quira turned her head back towards the front of the line, catching a glimpse of Albion sauntering over to the front of the line not too long afterwards. A quick order and simple question left her mouth as she reached out to place a hand on the soggy man's shoulder.
"Hold on, what do you think you're doing?"(edited)
chuklfug-09/27/2016
Albion's whistling cuts off as a hand grasps him by the shoulder. A little startled, he turns his head to the stranger- a pegasus knight, judging by her attire. With a chuckle, he takes a step back, easing out of the grip- the tone of his response is cheerful and innocent.
"Well, nothing in particular- but I had planned on getting a bite to eat."
He swivels on one foot, stepping behind the knight in line- a few annoyed mumbles sound behind him, but Albion ignores them. He takes the measure of the stranger- tilting his head, Albion's eyes widen. He grins at the knight, speaking with a friendly voice that belies his amusement.
"I remember you! You were the one who, heh... so daringly charged the village gates. That was quite the spectacle!"
He extends a hand in greeting. A couple strands of seaweed stick to his forearm.
"I don't believe I introduced myself before- Albion."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-09/27/2016
"I-" Quira tried to retort for all of the people standing behind the two of them in line before being quickly halted by the man. The girl's stern face sat there, mouth hung open with a finger pointed at Albion while he commended her, going on about how she was 'quite the spectacle.' Upon hearing that, however, a shiver went down her back and the expression on her face softened.
For a moment, the pegasus rider was confused, she should be berating the fellow for not following the unspoken rules of the house, but this case was certainly an exception. Quira's finger slowly retracted into a loose fist before she let out a brief giggle, she couldn't help but thank him for the compliments. The pegasus rider gave a small curtsy before finally accepting the gesture with a smile and a completely different viewpoint on the man.
"Oh, uh-well then! Why thank you, It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Albion."(edited)
chuklfug-09/27/2016
Albion relaxes, as her stern demeanor falls through.
"A pleasure to be sure."
He laughs, shaking the airheaded knight by the hand. As the compliment passes by at face value, Albion ups the ante.
"I suppose you wouldn't recognize me- you were losing a lot of blood, at the time. A feat like that- wounded as you were, flying at that axeman with nerves of steel- I imagine few riders would risk it, and even fewer would live to tell the tale! I must say, it was very heroic."
He folds his arms, tapping his foot- the line slowly advances towards the front.
"I'm curious- where were you trained, miss...?"(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-09/27/2016
"Heroic? Me? Ah-uh, yes! Quite the tale that shall be told of me!"
The oblivious pegasus rider answered, stammering over a couple of her words before exclaiming pompously. The dopey grin on her face certainly complimented the boastful statement as she remembered the glory of emerging victorious from the battle. It had felt too good, knowing that justice had been served and that Prince Phineas's cause was one worth fighting for. Quira's memory-induced high tapered off as the man continued to inquire her, to which she listened intently.
"Oh, me? I was born, raised, and trained in Arcias..." The girl answered, coming to the realization that she hadn't properly exchanged names with the still slightly soggy gentleman. "Oh, my dearest apologies! ...My name is Quira."(edited)
chuklfug-09/27/2016
Albion's smile twists into a giddy smirk as he stifles a laugh.
"Arcias? My, my- you've come all this way to fight for our cause?"
He bows his head, in a gesture to show his appreciation.
"Very noble of you- very bold. Me- well, I'm afraid I've never had the chance to depart from Floribar... not until now."
With a wistful expression, Albion looks off into the distance- his eyes fixate upon a large pot of lamb stew, bubbling upon the stovetop.
"What I wouldn't give, to see wild pegasi soar through the skies- to rest my head, upon rolling plains of green..."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-09/27/2016
"Ah, you also hail from the land of Prince Phineas... I see... Well, I'm sorry to hear of what happened to your people, it must be horrible knowing that your country is under the iron fist of another."
Quira nodded, taking on a more solemn tone with pursed lips as she continued to stare at the shaman. She raised her eyebrows, smiling as Albion added another compliment or two. The man's longing for her homeland instilled a sense of homesickness in the girl, but she decided to shake it off, the battle was not over and she would be there to see the end of it.
"Mhmm, yes, Arcias truly is a beautiful land. However, I don't believe I shall return until I help see that this conflict is ended and justice has been properly served to those Ethysians who believe in squashing your homeland under their boots."(edited)
chuklfug-09/27/2016
Albion abruptly raises an eyebrow, with a confused expression- which quickly snaps into one more pensive and serious.
"Hm? Oh! Yes... it's terrible to think of what has become of my homeland."
The mood was becoming rather grave- Albion lifts his head and smiles, to break the tension.
"But there's no cause to languish in fear. I'm certain that when the young prince prevails-"
Albion pauses to greet the cook, as he finally reaches the front of the line. The chef eyes the trail of puddles behind him- and then the rather damp shaman, with a suspicious glare. Reluctantly, the chef spoons out a bowl of stew for Albion, who retrieves it and turns to Quira with a grin.
"-justice will be delivered. Care to sit?"(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-09/27/2016
"Absolutely."
Quira grinned, stepping forward to meet the cook with a smile and a simple request for food. Like the man that had gone before her, she grasped the bowl of lamb-flavored stew and was quick to follow. Not taking very long to catch up, the rider came to the realization that she may have come off as inappropriate.
"I uh, apologize if I offended you."
chuklfug-09/27/2016
Albion makes his way over to a nearby table, leaving enough space for the knight to follow behind. He sets the bowl down, immediately and enthusiatically digging into his meal.
Delicious.
He tilts his head upon hearing Quira's question, responding with his mouth full.
"Whuh would ah be offene-" Albion swallows. "Offended?"(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-09/27/2016
"Some people don't seem to take very kindly to my... er, descriptions sometimes. However, it certainly eases me knowing that you are not one of those people."
Quira answered, taking a spoonful of the stew, being careful to give it a brief puff of air before bringing it into her mouth. It could use something... but aside from that, it's a meal fit for a hero! She thought, a satisfied smile on her face as she pulled away the cleaned utensil.(edited)
chuklfug-09/27/2016
After a moment, Albion smiles, and nods quickly in understanding.
"'Squashed under its boot', is that it? No, you're absolutely right- the Ethyisans show no mercy."
He swallows his food- leaning in close, he whispers to Quira in a quiet and blunt tone that sounds of gossip.
"I mean, some people here are so eager to return to their homes, but... let's be honest, ashes and rubble. It's all we're going to find when we arrive. Truth of it is... Floribar is dead."
Albion leans away- without a moment's pause, he slurps another spoonful of stew, unfazed.(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-09/27/2016
Quira sat there with an intrigued look before Albion had leaned in close and painted a more vivid picture for her using his words. The rider once again, simply sat there albeit this time with more pale features. The food that had sat in her mouth suddenly went from savory to sour before she had slowly gulped it down, the chunks of lamb feeling more like jagged rocks caught in her throat. She slowly brought her spoon down and back into the stew as if to get another helping, but halted and kept herself in silence.
Gods... That's the truth of the situation? I don't know what to say...
The amethyst colored eyes of the pegasus rider darted about, desperately searching for an answer amongst the crowd and of the shaman that was eating casually after making such a statement. She looked bewildered, her vision finally settling on the man with concern crossing her face.
chuklfug-09/27/2016
Albion lifts his mug to his lips, ready to take a sip of water. A few moments pass by, no words spoken.
Eventually, Albion notices Quira's silence- turning his head to face her, she meets his gaze with lost eyes. The stare felt like an accusation- what was she so upset about? It wasn't even her home. It was scarcely even his- not even since before Castle Albane fell. Albion scratches the back of his neck, unsure how to proceed- perhaps he had gone too far.
"...You said it first, did you not? Come now. There are better things to do than grieve."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-09/27/2016
"I, was simply taken aback is all..."
The answer came from a blinking Quira, still reeling a tad before idly staring down at her not-so-appetizing breakfast. The girl rolled her shoulders, forcing herself to bring another spoonful to her mouth, after a chew or two she gulped down what she could. Those words were haunting, and yet he had spoke them so bluntly, it still perplexed her.
"...Yes, I do suppose you're right. Better to make history rather than to live it, as they say..." The pegasus rider added, her voice tapering off despondently.
chuklfug-09/27/2016
Albion grins and nods at the affirmative reply, brushing Quira's despondence aside.
"Exactly! You want to be remembered as a hero, don't you? But you can't accomplish that without help- someone in the world needs to be suffering too, after all. Think of it as an opportunity- this is your chance to make your legend!"
He turns to Quira in his seat- lifting up his mug off of the table, he cheerfully holds it up to her for a toast.
"To your success!"(edited)
September 29, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-09/29/2016
"Why, yes, I would like to be remembered as a hero!" Why does he have to word it like that?
Quira forced a smile onto her face, lifting up a mug full of cider as to play along with the man's gesture. While the man's words were more than a tad morbid, they had an undeniable truth to them and that fact had perplexed her. She crossed her legs on top of her chair before sticking her chin up in a feigned sense of pride.
chuklfug-09/29/2016
"Cheers!"
The glasses clink together. Tilting his head back, Albion pours the contents of the mug down his throat- met by an unusual flavor, he sets it upon the table with a light thud. He peers in to the cup... not water at all, but cider! And filled to the brim, no less.
"My... cider, at dawn? And here I thought we had a long day ahead of us."
Albion glances around the room. The tempo of the morning meal had only become more boisterous and upbeat- occasional shouts and jeers cut through the commotion of the bustling crowd. A few fools in particular dance upon a distant table, as onlookers watch.
"Perhaps I should abstain..."(edited)
September 30, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-09/30/2016
The bottom of the drink stuck up halfway into the air as Quira took a sip, testing the waters so to speak. The foreign, yet delightful taste of cider tickled her tongue as it came from the mug, the girl raised her eyebrows before raising the bottom of the mug even higher and emptying the rest of it's contents down her throat. When she had finished her drink, the sound of the stein making a slight clink against the table alongside the relieved sigh of Quira.
"Hmm? What was that?" The pegasus rider asked, tilting her head off to the side as she regarded Albion.
chuklfug-09/30/2016
Albion stares mouth agape as Quira chugs the entire mug- turning to his own, he gingerly takes another small sip.
"Never mind that. ...I suppose it's merely a single cup."
The cider had a remarkably refreshing taste. Reluctant to be shown up by this naive upstart, Albion is spurred on to take another sip.
"I can't say I've had much opportunity to drink, before... "
It was true- the venerable Count Albane had held many parties, but while he had seen his fair share of houseguests partake, the old man had always kept him busy with one errand or another. The aftermath of a few rounds of wine certainly mitigated the appeal. Albion sets down the cider, his hand still holding onto the edge of the mug- the glass is not quite half empty.
"Are you quite certain this is alright?"(edited)
October 2, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-10/02/2016
"Well, I don't know what this cider stuff is..."
Quira drifted off, her eyes peering into the mug itself as she slowly rotated it around with her wrist. A small bit of liquid swirled around at the bottom, the girl's attention drawn by it before she looked back up at the shaman with a smile, unmindful of the drink's effects.
"...But it tastes great, I don't see why it wouldn't be alright."
chuklfug-10/02/2016
Albion chuckles hollowly. Come now- who had never heard of cider?
"Hah... aha! Quite the comedian, aren't you? And I suppose I'm the joke."
Curses- she was drinking him under the table! Throwing his head back, Albion takes a large gulp- and then a few more. Dropping the nearly empty mug down upon the table, Albion lets a deep breath out- lifting his arm, he wipes a few suds off of his lips.
"Bartender! Another round!"(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-10/02/2016
A comedian, now am I? Hmm, that's not particularly what I had in mind, but I'll go with it... So long as he becomes one of the people that are fond of me...
A stupendous grin erupted on Quira's face as Albion downed the entirety of his cider, her eyes widening and her mouth taking on an 'O' shape in surprise as the man boldly ordered another round of the wonderful drink for the two of them.
"...Oh my, how fearless of you, Sir Albion~"
chuklfug-10/02/2016
A server arrives at the table with a friendly smile, filling the two mugs back up to the brim.
"Obliged." Albion lifts the full mug up to his lips, taking a sip off the top. Letting his stomach settle, Albion pans his head around the bustling room.
"My... look at all these nobles. So pampered, and prissy, and uptight in the light of day- hand them a few drinks, and they make a mess of the place. Stain their pretty little gowns with... ale, and food, and dirt, and grass. Now if it was me, I... um...."
Albion trails off midsentence. He was starting to feel a little... tipsy. Yet- rather fearless, as well- just as Quira had said. He grins.
"...You're not highborn, are you?"(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-10/02/2016
As the server arrived back at the table with their next round of cider, the pegasus rider regarded them with a combination of a nod and a smile. The pegasus rider stared at the sweet drink before her, watching it settle in her stein as the man she was drinking with started to poke fun at the nobility in the room. While there was some truth to most of his points, she had read more than enough stories to know that openly making fun of nobles would land you in some deep trouble. The girl kept her mouth shut, silently agreeing with Albion.
Quira raised her mug once more, taking a sip before being asked if she was of noble birth. To that question, she responded by almost choking on her drink. She placed the stein back on the table, staring at the man with a perplexed gaze.
"I-excuse me?" She questioned, wiping away at some of the cider on her lips. "What makes you think that of me?"
chuklfug-10/02/2016
Tilting his head curiously, Albion sets the mug down upon the table.
"...Well, if you were- it wouldn't do to openly speak ill of you, would it?"
After a pause, he lifts the mug to take another sip.
"I suppose I'm simply curious- but then there's a certain poise that nobles tend to have, and you, well..." Albion allows the sentence to trail off, the meaning implicit. Casually, he takes another sip of the cider.
"It's nothing to be concerned with, really."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-10/02/2016
Quira pushed a disheveled lock of her hair back over her shoulder, gulping down her uncertainty alongside a bit of cider.
"I suppose you are right..." She answered, starting to toy with the end of some of her hair, wrapping it around her finger before starting the process over again, all the while staring at the shaman.
"But, to properly answer your question... No, I am not of noble birth. My father just thought that I should always stand dignified, I never really saw the merit behind it though... That is, until I left my home."
chuklfug-10/02/2016
Albion lifts the bowl of stew to his lips, downing the rest of his meal in a single gulp.
"Oh? And what merit does it have now?"
As he sets down the bowl, he starts to keel over in his seat- catching his balance, he sets his elbow down upon the table. His head rests upon his palm as he turns it towards Quira.
"And mind you- dignified people... tend to stop after one or two drinks."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-10/02/2016
"Well, the merit I can see is that some people think of me as one of higher class..."
Quira answered, blinking a few times as she experienced a bout of light-headedness, her woozy head shifting from side to side as Albion continued.
"I... Oh, I see. Well, the more you know..." She added after the man's remark, taking another great sip from the stein.
chuklfug-10/02/2016
Albion turns his eyes, his head still seated on his palm- the mug still wasn't quite empty. ...He should at least finish this one, right?
"Well... behold. Class." Albion reaches an arm out with a grin, gesturing at the boisterous crowd. "We have... no lands, no armies... a few mercenaries... barely enough coin to supply our troops. But class? Why, we have class in spades."
Jerking his head back, Albion pours the rest of the cider down his throat- he swerves forward in his seat as the mug slams down to the table. Albion rests on the table with folded arms, keeping his torso steady.(edited)
October 3, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-10/03/2016
Quira scoffed at the shaman's joke, closing her eyes and quickly bringing a hand up to cover her mouth before continuing to laugh. This snickering continued for a while after the joke's initial hilarity had died off. The pegasus rider continued to crumple over in her seat, crossing her arms and grabbing her sides before finally resting her slightly drunken giggling chin on the table-top.
"Ahah... eheh... indeed we do have class, don't we?"
chuklfug-10/03/2016
Dizzily, Albion raises an eyebrow. He hadn't been particularly funny... had he? Or was he? Perhaps he should consider a change of profession!
Wait, what?
Rolling his head on his arms, Albion frowns. Amidst his general tipsiness and confusion, he was starting to feel the unusual bout of concern.
"Come now, that's... that's... quite enough. You're going to be sick." Albion reaches over towards Quira's right hand, attempting to grab away the stein of cider- it would be no good for her to pass out, after all. One of the... unrulier patrons would be happy to finish it instead.(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-10/03/2016
The pegasus rider had just been about ready to pass out, the only thing that had prevented her from doing so was Albion's intruding hand. An angered look crossed her visage as she stared at the man trying to separate her from the cider she had quickly become quite fond of.
"I-nooo, c'moon..." She groaned defiantly, her expression softening into a pout as the shaman easily shifted the stein away from her self.
chuklfug-10/03/2016
He slides the mug over to the nearby patrons- before the drink may be offered, one of them picks it up and begins guzzling in short order. Albion turns back to Quira, slinging the torn jacket over his shoulder.
"Right. You're fi... finished with your food, then?"
He shivers- the water was beginning to evaporate from his clothes, leaving him rather chilly. Pressing dry hands against the table, Albion pushes himself to stand, still swaying unsteadily on his feet. The clamor of the room only becomes louder with every round of drinks- drunken banter between a few of the patrons now seems to have escalated into a violent fistfight. He takes care to speak before the server arrives again.
"Let's be off."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-10/03/2016
Quira looked on with betrayal in her eyes as the shaman slid away her drink. Her stare was filled with unadulterated horror as the boisterous patron downed the drink with ease, slamming it down on the table afterwards with a haunting 'clink.' The pegasus rider turned back to Albion, now nonchalantly tossing his jacket over his shoulder.
He barely gives the girl a moment to respond to his question before pushing himself onto his unsteady feet and making the stern instruction for the good of the both of them. Quira began to pout at Albion once more before becoming more and more aware of the situation the two had found themselves in. She grumbled before following in his footsteps and finding herself next to him.
"Off we go, then."
chuklfug-10/03/2016
Albion cackles as Quira looks at him with wounded eyes, returning an amused- and somewhat dazed- grin in response to her pouting.
"Oh, don't be so glum..." He hiccups. "It's not very... heroic... to pass out in a tavern, now... is it?"
With a stumble in his step, Albion makes way towards the door with Quira in tow. As he approaches the exit, he grabs the fishing poles from the ground, dragging them along the cobblestone behind him with a loud scrape- he hastens his pace as the noise of shouting sounds behind him. A few of the sentinels standing guard outside rush into the room, brushing past Albion brusquely as the two enter the hallway.(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-10/03/2016
"Mfeh, I suppose you're right..."
She answers lazily, desperately trying to keep her eyes open as the two walked, the inclusion of the fishing poles being dragged along the ground certainly helping in this endeavor. Taking note of the shouting from behind them, Quira turns her head around after the guardsmen hurry past the two. A few words manage to escape the pegasus rider's mouth as she stared at the display of cider-induced fighting.
"Heh... Gods above, what a mess..."(edited)
chuklfug-10/03/2016
Albion nods absent-mindedly at Quira's remark. His frame shifts from side to side, as he meanders down the hall- before long, he loses his balance. As he topples over face first, the poles clatter to the ground by the wall.
"Blast!"
Luckily for Albion, he crashes into a bench nearby- after a few moments, he swivels back around to Quira, leaning back against the seat. His head tilts back to the sky- the ceiling lights run streaks through his blurry vision, as the room spins around him. Quira's face appears in a haze.
"Pardon me, but I'm afraid I need to... take a liiitle nap."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-10/03/2016
"Albion! Goodness gracious..."
Quira exclaimed, doing nothing as she watched the man fall and eat some dirt, or bench, rather. She was quite concerned, however she hadn't wished to run the risk of falling over alongside the man. As Albion sat up in his seat, announcing in his drunken stupor that he would be taking a nap, the pegasus rider also felt a sudden urge to sit down and rest her eyes for a bit. Normally Quira would prefer to go back to her own room at the inn, but she felt the need to do something to repay the man for teaching her a thing or two about "heroics." What better way than to sit and guard the man while he slept?
"Oh, you are pardoned, I hope you will allow me to hic stand guard and make sure you stay safe and sound during your slumber..." She answered, finding herself a seat on the same bench as the sleepy shaman before he could possibly decline.
chuklfug-10/03/2016
"Much appreciated..."
Without further ado, Albion's eyes flutter shut- the sound of light snoring signals that he's out cold.
ColdToiletSeat-10/03/2016
An accomplished smile crosses the girl's face as she sat there, listening to the rowdy crowd in the tavern have their "entertainment" get suppressed accompanied by the light sounds of Albion's snores. Slowly but surely, the pegasus rider began to sink in her seat, the bench becoming more and more comfortable as her head dipped and finally she too succumbed to the effects of The Sandman and drifted off into the sweet land of dreams...
...Hopefully somebody wouldn't steal their money.(edited)
chuklfug-10/03/2016
===rp end===
