Sea breeze (open)

[Ilista]

Timestamp:
Fourth Cycle of Aperitus
Season of Summer Era XIV
Early Brightening

Aimlessly the barefooted woman moved, her body felt so much lighter, almost as if it was moving without her thoughts compared to the water. Even in the borrowed dress weighed down with the sea brine, that left drippings trails of water in her wake, her body walked and moved faster than beneath the waves.

Dark orbs blinked upward, the high orb of the sun, she never saw much but the blinding light, her sight did not go so far, it did go far enough to realize she was being watched. Golden eyes glanced around as those paused to stare at the young Telera. In turn Ilista paused to stare at a few of her onlookers with idle curiosity, so many people,It had been a month yet still people continued to look, pausing, it had to be the dress.

Nimble fingers touched the water soak fabric that clung to her form with nervousness, it was like being tangled in the sea kelp however she was told many on the surface would rather her to be dressed, and with no keeper it was wise for her to do her best to blend in. Touching the wet fabric Ilista scoffed quietly, how anyone who blend in with such cumbersome trappings ever made sense to her, it would be her luck she was wearing the garment wrong. Curious creatures they were not looking…entirely alien to the sea maiden, she still could not phantom the warnings, and cautions for traveling so far, ‘so alone’.

Still she had not seen what there was there to fear unless they ran at her with spears and bows? Where were their teeth? Their stingers? Even as she rationalized, she thought again, perhaps their danger was their deception. They looked odd, but so alike maybe that was the danger they held. So far this was the furthest into the stone city the Telera had ventured yet.

The golden woman with the speckled green complexion smiled at a thought that parted and warmed her face. She sighed, people were still taking glances at her, it was becoming bothersome, so she would let them get an eyeful and be done.

Ilistas’ eyes lighted upon a fountain, a water fountain with a low wall, delighted she sat on the fountains’ edge and slipped her legs into the cool pool, letting her legs float and kick idly. She would let them get an eyeful and do so with relative comfort.

[Straylor Leonard]

It was a near gorgeous day in the Carmelyn. Straylor left Sabre in the stables for the time, allowing him to rest up after their ride through the Hinterlands. It did him good to stretch his legs, too, which were beginning to cramp from all the galloping.

Wearing his usual set of clothes which consisted of some dark colored trousers, a white poet shirt, and matching vest he paraded through the cobblestone in hopes of finding something to do. He did have a generous sum of crowns to spend on this holiday. His sheathed shortswords flapped against his thigh as he walked, his military boots carrying him.

He was nearing the town centre when he heard several women muttering about a scantily clad female prancing in the streets. Several hooting and whistling men confirmed this, and Straylor was off towards the commotion in a hurry. He considered himself a protector of the people, after all ... especially when they were 'scantily clad'...

It was there, by a small fountain, that he suddenly paused to clasp his chest. His heart was beating so quickly that he had to look away for a moment and thank the gods for such a blessing on Telath.

"Erm ... excuse me, miss", Straylor said with a low bow, "but aren't you ... cold?"

[Ilista]

Dark eyes blinked as a reverie was broken, Ilista turned her head at the voice, it was careless of her to allow someone to sneak up upon her while lazily allowing her mind to wander, carelessness did not endear one to life. Was she cold? Her skin was kissed warmly by the heavenly sphere above, bathing her with its warmth and illuminating light, her heart drummed strong and the blood that flowed beneath her skin moved freely with no distraction or discord. She was warm in all but places unseen and no hand or heavenly light could touch.

The man straightened, even with his trappings of fabrics and oddities, the similarities were enough and well to dubbed the one before her as a male creature… a …human. Humans, she remembered them from her lessons. Yes she was certain of it. She was meeting her first human in months!

Her smile flashed for an instant displayed warmth and genuine curiosity and surprisingly a peak of dimple, both expressions were tempered as the Telera studied the stranger before her a moment later, after which her lips parted and speaking softly. "Vedui. I am warm, truly,” The young Telera smiled again lightly.

“Thank you.” She was quiet for a moment, she was usually so nervous when she past the guards in the rock towers to study them and the only human she had met before was the young girl with whom she had traded her necklace of shells for the dress with. She studied this one before her and what was probably an impolite passing of time, on many standards she was well and minded her manners, she didn’t touch his face or ears or wonder what became of his gills or see how on earth the man would swim. She did not touch the garments the male had upon his self, she just, looked.

“Will you sit with me stranger? I am called, Ilista, and you, are very curious.”

[Straylor Leonard]

Straylor's grin widened at the female's reply. She was talking to him. This is good. Add a little wine and some smooth words and the deal was set; give or take. He merely nodded as she went on, examining him perhaps? It took a moment for her features to register to him. She was soo unlike the commander he met in Natura, though he was definately a sea elf. And this fine female was too.

With another bow, he introduced himself.

"I am called Straylor", he said with his smile intact, "but you may call me Felix, Ilista. And yes, I am quite curious ... though my sense of duty surpasses any curiosity." He then waved dismissingly to the crowd that was still stealing peeks at the newcomer. "You have an audience, though I doubt you wish it hmm?"

She didn't know it, but Straylor was well on his way to actually touching her. Her garments were so ... tight ... on her olive skin. He paused a moment before realizing at he was staring. Turning to his right, he gestured randomly at a building in hopes of throwing her attention.

" ... that's, umm the local tavern ..."

Thankfully, it was actually the Pavillion Inn.

[Ilista]

“Your sense of duty? What duty do you have to me? They all look but no one has the courage, even those too far to see, but I can hear them, from the steps they take to the whispers they say.” Ilista touched the edge of her ear in reference as her fee played idly in the cool fresh waters of the fountain.

Moments passed and nothing happened as she has inspected the male upon his arrival it seemed he wished to follow in suit. At nothing the Telera chuckled coyly, at the mischievous thoughts before her face sobered and the woman regarded her companion. Almost with a start he spoke again and softly her smile returned again like an echo as Ilistas’ gaze followed the direction the male, Felix, pointed to, sadly whatever it was the man was pointing to was on the border of her sight a blurred large building.

A tavern?

Another question nagged at the lone woman m ind aside the curiosity of a taverns’ purpose, “ What does your sense of duty say about me? Strong words for passing strangers, Felix.”

[Straylor Leonard]

"I am ... a military man", Straylor repeated with a grin, "surely, it's my duty to prevent these strangers from harassing someone like yourself, miss." He didn't miss a beat but merely chuckled at the end. It was humorous how quickly he found the tavern; luck, or fate, perhaps, was leading the way.

"Please, allow me to purchase you something to eat and drink?" He smiled brightly at that, then offered his hand so that the Telera may have something to hold onto should she exit the fountain.

[Ilista]

"Military?" The word was clipped and the woman smiled lightly, "My mothers are in the military, had hopes I would follow in suit." Her words trailed off as she stood in the fountain water.

Beneath the cool liquid she wiggled her toes before stepping out of the fountain on th the stone street. "And the only men to talk of duty in peaceful times, tend to be more concerned of more primitive duties they wish to attend."

The woman winked before taking a few dancing steps away. "Will this meal be followed with the display of your weapon? I am sure I recall a bit proper form, but I could always use a tutor for a, refresher." The Telera may had been in a distracted daze before, but even she could not be herself. She teased, the innuendos fell to her ear so she laughed and smiled even as her chest began to ache a little more once again.

[Straylor Leonard]

"Mothers in the military", Straylor repeated with a smile, "interesting. I'm sure you have it in your blood then, hmm?" He chuckled lightly as the Telera stepped out of the pool. She was amazingly lithe, unlike any human or Light elf for that matter. He found himself staring again, until Stray managed to pry his eyes off her body and turn towards the ... tavern once more.

"Yes, this meal is merely an introduction to my weapon", he grinned before laughing heartily. "Shall we?"

Entering the Trade Pavillion Inn, Straylor found a single waitress and asked for a table. The woman regarded the sea elf with a hint of jealousy before escorting the pair to a couple's lounge. From there, she handed them a piece of parchment that contained the menu. It read:

Foodstuff
Fruits
... Apples, per lb - 1 Crown
... Cherries, per oz - 5 Crowns
... Peaches, per lb - 40 Crowns
... Pears, per lb - 9 Crowns
... Pinapple, dried - 60 Crowns
... Strawberries, per oz - 5 Crowns
Soups
... Noodle - 10 Crowns
... Noodle, beef - 12 Crowns
... Noodle, beef, carrot - 15 Crowns
... Carrot - 5 Crowns
... Tomato - 8 Crowns
... Vegetable - 10 Crowns
... Herb - 10 Crowns
... Otter Special - 30 Crowns
Meats
... Snake, fried - 20 Crowns
... Rabbit, fried - 10 Crowns
... Beef - 15 Crowns
... Eel - 20 Crowns
... Lizard - 35 Crowns
... Shark - 50 Crowns
... Whale, per 10 lb - 100 Crowns
... Fish (guest's choice) - 10 Crowns
... Ham - 20 Crowns
... Turkey - 25 Crowns
... Pheasant - 40 Crowns
Cakes and Candies
... Rice Cake, per dozen - 20 Crowns
... Rice Candies, per 100 peices - 100 Crowns
... Fruit Cake, whole - 50 Crowns
... Fruit Cake, slice - 10 Crowns
... Fruit Candy, per 100 peices - 100 Crowns
... Sweet Cake, special, whole - 75 Crowns
... Sweet Cake, special, slice - 20 Crowns
... Sweet Candy, per 100 peices - 100 Crowns
Specials
... Honeyed Eel, with rye bread - 50 Crowns
... Honeyed Eel, with wheat bread - 50 Crowns
... Honeyed Shark, with rye bread - 80 Crowns
... Honeyed Shark, with wheat bread - 80 Crowns
... Herb Beef Stew - 25 Crowns
... Fruit Salad - 20 Crowns
... Vegetable Salad - 15 Crowns
Spices
... Ginger, 1 root - 6 Crowns
... Cinnamon, per stick - 5 Crowns
... Garlic, 1 bud - 1 Crown
... Herbs, per lbs - 5 Crowns
... Pepper, 1 oz - 8 Crowns
... Salt, per lbs - 4 Crowns

Note: For other foodstuff, please ask server or hostess.

Refreshments
Wines
... Red, pint - 8 Crowns
... Red, bottle - 20 Crowns
... White, pint - 8 Crowns
... White, bottle - 20 Crowns
Rum
... Light, per pint - 2 Crowns
... Dark, per pint - 6 Crowns
Ale
... Pint - 1 Crown
Milk
... Pint - 1 Crown
Water
... Pint - Free

Note: First refills are on the house.

[Ilista]

Ilistas’ eyes took in everything of the structure as they walked, despite the more closed in and used space, the Telera decidedly like the tavern a bit better than out side, it was darker a tad easier to see within. Her eyes danced from the woman that led them in the wooden structure to her companion that suggested that they be led to it.

As they were seated and parchment given to each the Teleras’ eyes roved the page her eyes fell on the familiar words of fish and shark and even whale, but those were things she had known all her life, however curious she was to learn how Kre’ahqueh prepared their meals. Since it seemed they did not hunt them before entering the tavern, but had a wide variety of choices.

It all sounded so interesting, the Telera was familiar with fruit though it had been some time since she had shared one, she wanted to know what a soup was and what it had to do with making otters special, see how the eel was prepared, were they picky about what seaweed they wrapped it in?

Putting the parchment down she slide it across the table with one table looking to Felix before smiling again, “You decide the meal, it all seems so tasty I want to try them all and cannot pick a single one. And a pint of water, please…” She laughed lightly with an exaggerated flutter of lashes as her hand withdrew from the menu and cradled her chin in the curve of her palm letting her elbows rest along the table

“I must say you at least have a delightful custom of greeting travelers here, or is a purely, you, custom, Felix?”

[Straylor Leonard]

Straylor simply smiled when the Telera ordered a pint of water. He nodded at the waitress and indicated that he wished to have water as well. Now looking through the familiar menu, he glanced past the seafood and straight to some mainlander cuisines.

"We will have some herb beef stew", he told the waitress, "and some fruit and vegetable salad to match."

With the waitress gone, Straylor resumed his attention to Ilista who seemed curious about his 'custom' as she referred to it. Grinning now, Stray merely shook his head in response. "It's something my family did back home in Medonia", he said, "at times, we'd have precenda with random travelers since my father did business there. It was a good way to know people." He smiled a little brighter, "in my case, I wanted to get to know you."

[Ilista]

Ilista watched as Felix gave the order to the waiting woman and handed to her the sheets of parchment that had been their menus'. As the woman left his attention shifted back in a way that semed vaguely familiar. He smiled and her own followed like an echo as she listened to the rise and fall of the words that the man spoke.

"A service man from a trader father. That could be used to explain your, amiciable, nature I suppose." Her voice was teasing playfully with her words as her body shifted, eing still so long with no minute movements left the woman almost antsy, having spent her time visiting the surface obversing, her body shifted and her legs crossed as she changed hands that cupped her chin and let her hair fall along her side.

"And you wanted 'to get to know me?', I'm as average as a yellow tuna. Tell me the people you have met, the lands you you have seen."

[Straylor Leonard]

Straylor's smile brightened at the mention of being 'as average as a yellow tuna'. In truth, he didn't know that tunas came in the color yellow. He hated the color, yes, but it would've been interesting to actually meet a sea creature that was cursed to be forever yellow. "The people that I have met?", he repeated in amusement, "I think that would take far too long", he continued, "and he lands I have seen? Well, those too would make quite the list."

"But", he added, "I think that it's fair to at least try and tell you." He chuckled. "You are my guest of honor after all." With a quick pause, Straylor allowed himself to collect his thoughts before continuing. "Well, I was born in Medonia. It's east of here. As a lad, I went with my father to various cities during his business trips. We went to Nexus Prime, Aelyria Prime, Paxia ... to name a few. After a while, cities start to look alike." He shrugged, "the people, too I guess. On a friendly note, however, " Straylor grinned, "the food never gets old! That's what I love about traveling. All the different types of cuisine..." He trailed off before catching the Telera's golden eyes.

And with a sweeping gesture of his hands he asked, "how about yourself? I'm sure that the world beneath the waves is much more dazzling than we who are land locked."

[Ilista]

"Oh no not in the least. I have not seen the capital since I was a infant and so I cannot recall to compare our city to here. But under the sea there are not homes stones upon stones, we may sleep in or live in small stone domes, to prevent being carried off by the currents, we live in kelp and seaweed forest or along the reefs, and the merfolk live in homes made of coral.

With my people since men are rare it is common for a Teleris to have three wives, and a dozen children. It is his responsibility to protect wife and children and provide for them all, or they leave. And Wife cares for all, and children look after younger children, this is why they are called keepers.

I am looked at to be tall with my women, but up here I am small, and there, there are smaller, and while we are fast, we are weaker, while our men are stronger so they protect if fights become too great. Otherwise they teach the children, and the women make up the army.


Merfolk, haggle." Ilista smiled abruptly as she paused and seemed o settle herself before she began again at a more calm pace similar to how she had originally started out.

"Below the sea we trade with the merpeople and the lutrans, it is a nice warm place, food swims right by you and all you need to do is catch it. No stones get in your way or block your sight. No light to blind you, and all the water you need." With that the young woman paused smiling shyly as she glanced for the waitress' return and her remarked upon water.

"Not that different, is it, down there from up here? Not minding the no water part."

[Straylor Leonard]

Straylor listened intently as the golden-eyed Telera spoke. She talked about the undersea world so casually, like bards did when recalling their travels in song. He couldn't imagine swimming with merfolk, sea elves, and lutrans. The very thought of it intrigued him ... like a dream that felt so close yet so far at the same time. He wasn't aware that mermaids constructed homes out of coral ... or that male sea elves were rare. He's actually met one, a commander in the Naturan Paladins. He smiled at the thought, of Venn, and how the two of them sparred in the Temple Grounds so long ago...

"I guess food does occasionally wander by me ...", Straylor mused aloud just as the waitress returned to served them the food. He grinned, finding the situation a little more amusing than previously. He reordered the various utensils placed on