Marimalade-08/21/2016
The shadows of the late afternoon sun stretched over the peaceful city of Dovania, not quite dusk, but late enough that the heat of the afternoon had since cooled to a lovely warmth. A light breeze carried away the remaining edge, leaving the streets to be flled with those that wished to enjoy the remaining hours of the day. Cafes lining the edge of a large plaza left tables out in front, filled with those basking in the sun and enjoying the company of others as they sipped idly on colorful drinks and ate sugar-filled confectionaries.
In the middle of the plaza sat a large circular fountain: simple in design, but elegant in it's material, bested only by the castle's own pillars of marble. On it's edge, a taller woman of dark skin sat, resting her feet in the cool water, clad in leather and pelts, testingly plucking the strings on the instrument in her arms and whispering soft words in tune with the notes she played, pausing at times to adjust the notes of her still-incomplete song.
Greatly overpowering the presence of the woman was an elderly man of the cloth, holding the attention of a crowd around one side of the fountain that grew and dwindled as people went about their business. He spoke loudly of his flavour of god, as many travelling clergy do, in his case, it being Mouna. He spoke of her blessings, of bathing children and granting them safety from illness and blessings of strength as they grew.
"Praise be to Mouna!" he cheered out, "For without her blessings we would not have this beautiful city so close to the sacred lake! We would not be blessed with prospering crops, healthy animals and verdant forests! Her's is the hand that guides our souls down the ever-flowing river of life!"(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-08/21/2016
As the radiance of the sun had begun it's slow retreat to the lands beyond the horizon, with it came the wonderful and ever-so-refreshing coolness of an idle gust. Quira had thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of the wind blowing against her features, contrary to most would prefer, perhaps she had gotten the quirk from her free-spirited mother or maybe even her father? She had no idea, and could probably care less as she pranced about the streets of Dovania, every step of hers a jovial spring.
The pegasus rider reactively brushed a lock of hair over her shoulder as to not obstruct her vision, she had never been to very many places aside from her home and the musician's college within the same country, so a place like this was a completely new experience for her. The sounds and the sights had simply enchanted the girl and the town's plaza was no different.
Quira's gaze had drifted from the idly drifting clouds above to the plaza that had sat before her, the cafes serving their variations on foreign drinks and delicacies, travellers and natives alike were relaxing, recuperating and sharing tales of their experiences from across the lands.
However, above the idle chit-chat and the zealous speeches of the man the devout elder, the girl could hear something, she wasn't sure as to what it was, but it was familiar enough to entice and pique her curiosity. As she stepped closer and closer to the plaza's fountain, she had heard it again, albeit clearer this time. The pegasus rider stopped as her interest had fully come into view, a woman of dark complexion, carefully plucking their instrument's strings as she was piecing together a song.
Quira was hesitant in her approach, holding her breath as she dropped her typically jovial walking in favor of more quiet and lax footsteps. As soon as she was close enough, the girl sat down on the edge of the fountain, inching ever closer to the string player before pausing the advance in order to stare at the instrument with intent, looking up at the mouth of the player before they had started to mutter lyrics.(edited)
Appa | Very Lewd-08/21/2016
With the setting sun, Alexandra's shift on guard duty also came to an end. In light of her recent assignment to the fugitive Prince's troop, she'd decided to take a different route home each day to get one last look at the city. In case the worst happened, she reasoned.
Today's stroll brought her through the town square, and into the ravings of an apparent fanatic. Not this again... Please, Lady Olphira, I don't want to arrest a believer today...(edited)
Marimalade-08/21/2016
The instrument the woman played was a long, ornate guitaur. It looked old, but well maintained, it's age most definitely not showing in the sound it gave off.
The woman sitting at the edge of the fountain scoffed, pausing her music to raise a foot and splash through the water. The volume of her playing increased just enough to be noticable, as if in defiance of the words of the preaching man. Her hazel eyes caught the priest's for a moment, who grumbled slightly before turning back to his crowd. She held a smile for a short moment, licking at her lips before focusing back on her songcraft. A stone axe rested next to her, untouched as she failed to notice the one that layed their eyes on her, rather than the preacher.
"Who's that man there? He looks dressed for sleep."
"Oh, surely by now, he's made his own goddess weep."
"He's forgotten those at the table, he's emptied out the chairs."
"But he'll surely think he's been blessed by the lone diner's tears."
"Ooooh, a waterfall down the stairs . . ."
Her voice came out loud enough for those around the fountain to hear, the taunting lyrics obviously aimed at the priest. It was a simple melody, but she none the less made it ring out beautifully. The strums of her guitaur, along with her expression, faded after her few lines, going back to their original quiet strums as she questioned how to take the next verse.
Her lyrics seemed to resonate with a few of those in the crowd, as some of them walked off to do their own business soon after. The priest's face reddened a bit in frustration, his voice spiraling in suit.
"The younger generations do not realize the importance of Mouna's presence!" The man spouted out, defending himself from the minstrel before going back to his talk of blessings and grace. His voice had quieted, though, as the crowd thinned.
Appa | Very Lewd-08/21/2016
Alexandra approached the priest, hand on her blades hilt as she patted her thigh to be sure the manacles were indeed there. Confident, she addressed the man plainly. "Sir. I unfortunately must ask that you move this congregation to your chapel."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-08/21/2016
Quira jumped back a tad, obviously startled by the player's outburst, clearly aimed at the man of cloth. Surprise had crossed her face as she watched the display of clear and sour insult between the two, the smug grin of the woman had inspired a childish giggle from the girl not much later, watching the face of the devout follower of Mouna take on a deeper and deeper hue of scarlet anger.(edited)
Marimalade-08/21/2016
The priest's face burst in to a furious red, his exhasperated expression looking between Alexandra's face and sword hilt. He sputtered something that almost sounded like words, but not quite, seemingly deciding in the moment if his 'faith' was worth the night in a cell. In the end, he thumped off, rambling as he was forced to leave the area.
"Your fountains will dry! Your rivers will cease! Where will you water your feet without her, hm . . ?!"
Appa | Very Lewd-08/21/2016
Alexandra sighs in exasperation.(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-08/21/2016
"Hmph, good riddance..." Quira remarked, watching the man of faith storm off in frustration with a smug grin of her own.
"Well spoken, I must say." She commended the woman, rapping her fingers against each other before steepling them on top of her unusually idle lap.(edited)
Marimalade-08/21/2016
The giggling next to her cought the woman's attention, her head turning to stare at the girl with furrowed brows. She blinked once, then raised a brow, staring back to the knight, and then to the priest slowly disappearing in to the distance. A small smile came back with the girl's words, her strumming again increasing in volume.
"Oooh, but we'll fill those seats with their rightful guests."
"Wipe her tears that drip down her chest."
"Give thanks to the meal, the smell of the food."
"Thank all the others, the fourteen chairs, all filled."
Her hand rested on the strings, stopping the idle sounds that came after her last strum as she got a better look at the two that had seemed to share her disliking for the priest.
"We all have those we are drawn to, but we cannot forget to give words of thanks to each in their role."
August 22, 2016
Appa | Very Lewd-08/22/2016
"I said what was needed of me. I took no pride in it Ma'am." Alexandra shook her head, addressing the Pegasus Rider.(edited)
Marimalade-08/22/2016
===Pausing until CTS is heard from===
ColdToiletSeat-08/22/2016
"Well, you had driven him and his incessant preachings away," Quira responded, returning the troubadour's gaze with a smile stretching across her guise, "And because of that, I'm able to properly hear the tales and songs our wonderfully-sounding bard here has to recite. I'd say it's a public service on your part, a job well done I might add."(edited)
Marimalade-08/22/2016
"Bard? Well, I guess so, hm."
The woman closed her eyes, letting out a smug laugh as her fingers ran down the strings of her guitar. "I was not aware that preaching one's beliefs was against your laws." She stated, tilting her head to aim her voice more towards Alexandra. "But the quiet is.. appreciated."
August 23, 2016
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"It is not. The gathering that comes with the preaching is the problem. It was obstructing foot traffic through the square." Alexandra explains. "Davona has many places of worship for each god, if you care to look hard enough. This square is not one of them."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-08/23/2016
"Well, you'd be right!" Quira grinned excitedly, clasping her hands together a couple inches away from her head. "It is indeed a town square, not a place to seek the blessings of the divine!"
"'Tis a place for serenity, and enjoying oneself whilst accompanied by the sounds of music!~" She added, separating her hands in order to motion towards Foal, all the while maintaining eye-contact with Alexandra.
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"So long as it does not obstruct the comings and goings of others." Alexandra nodded.(edited)
Marimalade-08/23/2016
Foal smiled at Quira, staring down at her instrument and bringing her hands back in a position to play. The first few chords were cut short, though, the woman's face taking on a slight frown at the guard's warning.
"Music holds no such obstruction." Foal said flatly, her fingers carrying themselves towards the chords once more.
((https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUeMqxDLsQ4 is the general tune of the music))
ColdToiletSeat-08/23/2016
"Absolutely." The girl nodded, starting to involuntarily stand herself up in order to sway with the music.
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"The music itself, no. But the crowd it may attract however..." Alexandra explains.(edited)
Marimalade-08/23/2016
"A crowd with good taste." Foal responded, "I will not hinder your people's lives. There is plenty of space for everyone, whether they wish to go about their business, listen . ." She looked over to Quira, nodding her head. ". . Or dance."(edited)
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"If you say so. I won't deny your music is pleasant." Alexandra nodded.(edited)
Marimalade-08/23/2016
Another smug smile slowly crept across her lips, the stums of her guitar soon accompanied by taps against it's wood between notes, adding a hint of percussion to the mix.
"Might I have the names of my crowd, and the savior of my stage?"
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"Savoir? I wouldn't go that far." Alexandra smirks. "My name is Alexandra De'Trivel, joint captain of the Royal Guard."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-08/23/2016
"Quira Halvinnia, it's both a pleasure and an honor~" She smiled, her stare bouncing between the two of them.
Marimalade-08/23/2016
"You saved me from wasting any more lyrics on the man. Savior is an apt term." She nodded, humming a bit to her tune as she thought about the names. "Quira . . . A strong name, with many possibilities. And Alexandra," Foal's brows furrowed, "such a length is uncommon in my home. Is that regular here?"
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"People in Dovania have names of varying lengths. Though the longer names lend themselves more to those of nobility, such as myself." Alexandra explain, still deadpan.(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-08/23/2016
"I don't believe my name to hold any specific meaning to it, a name is nothing more than a name to me." Quira chimed in, continuing to enjoy the music as evidently shown by her moving self. "May I have the honor of knowing our wonderful musician's name?"
Marimalade-08/23/2016
The musician's brows furrowed, taking in the word of both women, as if she were judging their responses.
"Just a name? You choose something to call yourself for the rest of your life without meaning?" She seemed legitimately confused. "Foal, Peow. It seems I will never understand the culture of other countries . . ." She let out a sigh, but her fingers continued their ministrations all the while, holding the tune mostly true, with slight mess-ups at obvious turns of emotion.
ColdToiletSeat-08/23/2016
"Well, you have a point." Quira responded, halting her pseudo-dancing momentarily as her eyes widened in the realization of the musician's words. "...It's the name that people will know me by should Prince Phineas's campaign go in his favor! No, when the campaign goes in his favor! How could I be so callous?!"
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"I can't believe it. A city this large and I come across one of the Prince's sellswords?" Alexandra chuckled. "I'll also be joining the prince."(edited)
Marimalade-08/23/2016
Foal's playing stopped, the air taking on a moment of silence before she let out a laugh. "Precisely! A name should carry how you want to be remembered, how you want people to feel about you when you're introduced." She nodded to herself, pausing and furrowing her brows at Alexandra's words. "Well, I think this is a bit more than coincidence, then? Or is the city just this small?"
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"It's the largest in the kingdom." Alexandra noted. "Though, the square is frequented by many. So if it were to happen, this would be the places."(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-08/23/2016
"I believe this to be more than just a coincidence, it must be the invisible ties we must share through fate!" Quira exclaimed, getting within a meter of Alexandra, staring into her eyes with a grinning face. "Yes it must be true, 'tis fate that has drawn us together, and mayhaps our minstrel is also one of Lord Phineas's comrades?"
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"If she is, I regret not stopping by a gambling house this afternoon."
Marimalade-08/23/2016
"That was what I had implied, yes." Foal smirked slightly. "Resident of Gallibion and representative of the Amiduu people, sent to Floribar to aid in the defense against Ethysia." She nodded, giving a more detailed introduction with a hint of pride in her voice.(edited)
Appa | Very Lewd-08/23/2016
"Your implication escaped me. I'm a bit tired after my day." Alexandra apologized.(edited)
August 25, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-08/25/2016
"Well, there we have it! Destiny truly is pulling at the strings behind all of our roads travelled." Quira claimed, striking a stoic pose, clenching a fist a couple inches away from her face that was staring off into the blue nothingness above.(edited)
August 28, 2016
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Sunday at 9:34 PM
"Astounding. I really should have then." Alexandra chuckled.(edited)
Marimalade-Last Sunday at 10:26 PM
Foal's expression hardened slightly, brows furrowing in thought as she stared up at Alexandra. Her nails slid slowly along the strings of her instrument, tongue clicking as her eyes glanced down to the ground a moment.
"Ah, what is.. a gambling house?"
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Sunday at 10:39 PM
"A place where fools play card games for a chance to take each other's gold." Alexandra explained, nodding slightly to Foal.(edited)
August 29, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-Last Monday at 1:20 AM
"Ah yes, gambling, 'tis a test of luck rather than of fate..." Quira commented, placing two hands against her hips with a pout on her face.
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Monday at 1:33 AM
"Whatever it may be, it is a fool's errand." Alexandra nodded.(edited)
Marimalade-Last Monday at 3:33 AM
"Of luck?"
One brow on Foal's face raised, before she shook her head in dismissal. "I will stay away, then. Luck is a foolish thing. Even moreso than fate." She said, her fingers rapping on the wood of her guitar. Her head raised up enough for eyes to glance between the other two women, resting moreso on Quira than Alexandra. Her thumb strummed the strings once, letting the sound slowly fade out on it's own as her voice once raised again in a questioning tone.
"So then, what is the reason for both of your involvement with this prince?"
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Monday at 3:37 AM
"My queen commanded it. Why, I'll never understand. My place is here, guarding her majesty and the castle."
Marimalade-Last Monday at 4:00 AM
"Learning outside one's position can be essential. And doing good in one area means high expectations in another?" She hummed, nodding to herself. "But I can undetstand being loyal to one's home. It is difficult to motivate yourself for something when you have no reason to do it."
Her hands once again went to the chords, going back to playing the soft background tune of their meeting. Foal's voice was a heavy contrast, though, despite her speech holding the same tempo as her music; like it was more habit than anything else.
"But think of it this way . . . Every Ethysian group slain protects all the countries for another day."(edited)
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Monday at 4:04 AM
"Perhaps thinking of it in that way will dull my disdain for the whole situation. Regardless, I remain in the dark on why I must go, and not someone of a less critical position."
Marimalade-Last Monday at 4:12 AM
"Again, being in that position just means you're all the more suited for this one."
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Monday at 4:15 AM
"Aye, I understand. But my post is not one that can very well be abandoned. I command the royal guard as joint captain and lend council directly to her majesty." Alexandra explained. And my lady Olphira forbids my marching to war. "If there were one who could easily fill my boots in my absence, I'd be much less opposed to this venture."(edited)
Marimalade-Last Monday at 10:32 PM
Foal clicked her tongue, looking down to her instrument in a bit of annoyance. Her mouth opened to speak, but she closed it again shortly after, shaking her head and looking to Quira.(edited)
ColdToiletSeat-Last Monday at 10:45 PM
Quira seemed to have blanked out, the last thing she could recall being the sudden verbal jab at fate from the songstress she'd come to admire and it had left her confused. This sudden influx of bewilderment was followed by a shake to her head in order to snap herself back out of her daze.
Did she say something about the Prince? I think she did... Déjà vu, I've just been in this place before... The slightly confused pegasus rider thought, her gaze finally meeting Foal's as it silently urged for her to answer.
"Ah, the reasoning behind my involvement with the Prince?" Quira reiterated, hoping to clear any confusion before making her response a bit clearer, clenching a fist in front of her while she spoke. "Ah, yes, I had gotten word of his plight and I could not help but feel the burning passion behind his words, the righteous patriotism he has for his family and his country!"
Quira then dramatically crumpled, bringing both of her hands over her chest before continuing. "Oh, the constant throbbing pain he must feel for every sunset and every dawn he must experience, separated from his people..."
Like that, she then sprang back up into a stoic pose, her stare darting between the two of her conversation partners.
"Prince Phineas's cause is just!" Quira exclaimed, bringing out yet another zealously clenched fist. "I joined him not only for the glory of victory, but to also aid his noble cause!"
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Monday at 10:55 PM
"I'm glad at least one of us shows enthusiasm in this endeavor." Alexandra nods. "It will make the whole ordeal much more bearable, seeing someone with a bounce in their step."(edited)
Marimalade-Last Monday at 11:18 PM
"You.." Foal blinked, her fingers slowing to a halt as she stared at Quira with a look of surprise. Her stare held for a few moments, just long enough for it to be awkward, before she shook her head, her long braid flickin and goung over her guitar, going back to a more serious expression.
"Losing family and home, being forced to war to keep your life as it has been.. It is nothing so glorious. It is necessary to survive."(edited)
August 30, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-Last Tuesday at 9:20 PM
"I see..." Quira pondered, her stance relaxing as she regarded Foal with a more serious expression. "'Tis also why I had joined the Prince's crusade, I had seen he was a man in need of dire assistance, I only wish to oblige his needs to not only survive, but to thrive as well."
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Tuesday at 9:35 PM
Alexandra remains silent, knowing her own reason for joining the prince was much less righteous then theirs.(edited)
Marimalade-Last Tuesday at 11:07 PM
Foal nodded her head, giving Quira a small smile. "Good response."
She pushed herself up, taking a leather string and tying it around the neck of her guitar, slinging it over her shoulder to let it hang at her waist. Her axe was hoisted over her shoulder, while her free arm stretched above her head.
"You two make me much more hopeful for this group than the mouse did. Thank you again for the quiet, I believe it is close to dinner time, though."
Appa | Very Lewd-Last Tuesday at 11:11 PM
"Aye. I best be off, else my bath water shall chill." Mouse...? Alexandra nods. "It was a pleasure to meet the two of you. I look forward to seeing you on the road."(edited)
August 31, 2016
ColdToiletSeat-Yesterday at 6:10 AM
"I do believe I must attend to other matters as well." Quira agreed, nodding her head only to have it become a gracious bow. "I believe my steed requires my proper attention I too am looking forward to watching you both on the fields of battle, best of luck in your endeavors, the both of you."
Quira then stood up with her back straightened and proceeded towards the stables with a newfound pep in her step.(edited)
==End RP==
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