Phantasia (Updated May 19 2017)

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[...[Alice]...]

At first, her eyes went wide at the observation, and then softened as the girl backpedals. When she was done, Alice giggles, covering her lips with the tips of her fingers. After a moment, she smiles, shaking her head.

"Don't feel too bad. I wouldn't tell him either way. And Adonai...he is usually in a much better mood. He is actually quite sweet, most of the time. He can charm anyone when he puts his mind to it. He is perhaps the best barkeep I have ever seen."

Just not when Alice was around. Somehow, they rubbed each other the wrong way without even trying.Tucking a bit of hair behind her ear, she lets loose a breath, taking her seat on the other side of the bar from the girl, relaxing as she leans forward. It was a good night for company, after all.

"And it is a pleasure to meet you, Ashelia."

She speaks lightly, then smiles, taking a sip of her cider. The two of them puzzled her. All in all, she couldn't really place them. Which wasn't too bad. She didn't really know much about this world yet.

[Emilie Jane]

At the sound of Alice’s giggle, Ashelia seemed to relax just a little, allowing herself a breath that she hadn’t realized she was holding in. She imagined the amused smile that curved her lips mirrored one that Alice was wearing as she spoke of Adonai and his usually charming personality, not quite ready to believe the girl and yet seeing no reason that she would lie either. Ashelia assumed his charming wiles had something to do with his looks, and alas, nuances such as these did nothing for the blind girl. The thought of appearance made Ashelia suddenly conscious of her own, wondering if she was underdressed for an establishment such as Phantasia, her simple garments the only ones she owned but all that she felt comfortable in. In a sudden moment of confidence, Ashelia leaned across the counter and brought a hand up slowly towards Alices visage, pausing at the girls cheek as she asked softly;

“May I look at you, Alice?”

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[...[Alice]...]

Her emerald gaze stayed on the girl as she seemed to think. Taking a sip of her cider, she folds one leg over the other, leaning forward. Her moment was interrupted, however, when the girl made her move forward.

She paused a moment, her eyes flickering to the hand that had been coming toward her. Making her heart slow down a little, she frowns, then swallows. Then, after a moment, she nods, dropping her hands around the mug she had made for herself. Realizing then, that the girl couldn't see her nod, she blushes, then speaks softly.

"Y-Yes. You may."

Her eyes soften, and she relaxes, forcing herself to stop worrying about what was going to happen. Tucking a bit of hair behind her ear, she just watches, concerned for what the girl would 'see.' Alice had always been quite a bit self conscious about herself. Since the accident, anyway.

[Emilie Jane]

Sensing the hesitancy in the girls tone, Ashelia was especially careful as she moved her hand forward to close the gap between them, finger tips tracing the others hairline, catching silken strands and smoothing over the cool metal of her ear piercings before edging down along her jaw. In her minds eyes, Ashelia began to form an image of the girl, her smooth skin and high cheekbones, wide eyes and lashes long and full. It wasn’t until the young girl felt the smooth skin ripple into a puckered scar that traced from her forehead to her cheek on the right, and her ear to cheek on the left. Biting back the gasp and the questions that rose in her throat, Ashelia at last withdrew her hand with a simple nod of thanks, and offered;

“You’re quite beautiful, Alice.”

It may not have held much meaning coming from the blind girl, but it was her honest truth and she wanted the girl to know. Relaxing back upon the bar stool, Ashelia began to trace the grain of the bar top with the condensation from Alice’s drink as she wondered aloud.

“Phantasia is new, almost untouched. You cannot have been open for more than a few days, or a week at most. It raises the question of whence you came..."

It wasn’t a direct question, per say, more of a curiosity that Ashelia felt to voice. She would not push the other to divulge information she wasn’t comfortable with, answers that she supposed had something to do with her scars.

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[...[Alice]...]

At the girl's comment about her looks, tears came to Alice's eyes. The scars made her feel as if she wasn't anymore. They were her punishment, in a way. Blinking the moisture away quickly, she rubs one hand against her cheek, leaning back in her seat.

"I used to be."

Then, with a clearing of her throat, she thinks about the room around her. True, it was still new. Sometimes, she forgot how new it actually was. Especially when she looked at the outside, and how old it was. A small smile crosses her face, the last of her weird emotions disappearing.

"Yes. Phantasia is new, in a way. The exterior has been here for a hundred years, but the inside...well...when we first came here, it was disgusting. Miss Rain put forward the initiative, and we remodeled the entire building. We turned it from a thieves hideout, into a respectable place."

Waving one hand, she smiles, then takes a sip of her cider. Then, with a shrug, she swallows and speaks again. The excitement could be heard in her voice, and she spoke easily, feeling a bit better now.

"The caverns beneath actually lead to an ancient city that we are excavating. It's been buried for thousands of years. Miss Rain decided to keep our home close to it, since it is where we work the most. She's been working on those caverns for the past six years."

Then, with a soft blush, she thought of herself, and how she had gotten here. All the things that had led to that moment.

"I...however...have only been here about two months."

[Emilie Jane]

Ashelia nodded along as Alice spoke, her brow creasing as she learned that the inn had used to be a thieves hideout, before visibly perking when it was divulged that beneath them were caverns leading to an ancient city. Ashelia wondered if the other could hear her heart beat in excitement at the idea of adventure and discovery, pressing the girl to reveal more about the caverns below them.

“Six years?” Ashelia breathed, her voice light with astonishment, “And have you made any discoveries?”

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[...[Alice]...]

Hearing the excitement, Alice leans forward, happy to find someone else other than Rain who was so fascinated with the idea of what could lay below them. Running one hand through her hair to keep it away from her eyes, she speaks softly, but quickly.

"Yes. Last week, we found the libraries. Some of the books are too far gone to read, but many of them are in tact. Miss Rain brought in a specialist to work with them, to translate them. And we found so many murals, and old buildings. She seems to be looking for something very specific, but we've only ventured about one one-hundredth into the city. According to her, it's huge. The largest city of the Ismertan Empire."

And it was where she had found the tome that she couldn't part with. She was sure that Rain was still upset about it, but she could no more leave the tome behind than a part of her own body. Her eyes soften, and she touches the bag with her leg, letting the warmth spread through her. The calm that came with the book was incredible.

"The treasury was one of the first things we found, but it had been cleaned out ages ago by looters. It pinpoints the very center of the city."

Her fingers clasp around her mug, and she smiles, practically glowing with the ideas.

[Emilie Jane]

Ashelia hung on every word that Alice spoke as though each was another life-giving breath to resolve her convictions. If Phantastia before was a way to escape her mothers hold, now it was a life stream, something she could hold onto and something she could become part of. If, and only if, they would allow it. Choosing not to broach the subject now, Ashelia instead cast a glance towards the sitting room where Esmerelda slumbered and dropped her voice a notch lower as an absolute precaution.

“Alice, I’ve never heard of the Ismertan Empire, but you must understand, I have a lead a very sheltered life. Mother and I well, we are hermits, she is a Hedge Witch and I am her apprentice. Before today the only interaction I’ve had with strangers is on very limited visits, and only then did they speak to Mama. I don't have long left, and this world, your world, it’s new and foreign and..” Ashelia swallowed hard before continuing, “..and even frightening, but it’s incredible.”

Allowing a moment to catch her breath, Ashelia inched her hands forward until they enveloped Alice’s, clasped around the cool mug that simmered with sweetness. Although she could not tell in which direction the girl was looking, Ashelia willed her to meet her gaze as she implored;

“I would do anything to stay with you. To help you make your discoveries. I…..”

Ashelia trailed off, knowing almost immediately that she had crossed a line. What right did she have to demand they take her under wing? And what help could she really give after all.

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[...[Alice]...]

Alice listened to her in awe. Seems that this was another who lived a life as she. But in the world, instead of in a different world. Her mind stumbled over the possibilities, and she thinks about it, then clutches the girl's hand when she trailed off, trying to keep her with her.

"Ashelia...I cannot promise anything, but I do know that Miss Rain helps those who need it. And if you tell her as you have told me...I can tell you for certain that she will allow you to stay. I will even talk to her on your behalf."

At that, she blushes, then shakes her head.

"To have another as excited as Miss Rain and I would be incredible. Especially one who can learn along with me. For...I know nothing about it other than what I have been taught the past month. I just recently came to this world. My home...has no magic."

Pausing there, she then smiles again, squeezing the girl's hand gently, her excitement still evident. She spoke quietly, however, reading from the situation that the girl didn't want her mother to hear.

"I will see what I can do to assure that you may stay."

[Emilie Jane]

Ashelia knew that it was not a solid yes, but in the space of a few short hours, her life as she knew it seemed to be beginning to turn in her favour. Unable to keep the smile from her lips, Ashelia ducked her head for a moment as Alice’s words washed over her, ashamed to let the other see the tears of sheer gratitude that glistened in her milky orbs. The home Alice had spoken of, and the world she had come from seemed at least a small parallel to the her own world and for that reason alone Ashelia felt the shyest tendrils of connection forming between them, strengthened by their words and their convictions.

Parting her lips to give thanks, Ashelia’s acknowledgments were interrupted by the croak of her own name being called from the sitting room, her posturing stiffening immediately and her hands unclasping from Alices as though they were burnt. In a whip of platinum tresses, Ashelia turned towards the fireplace and called in a voice very different from the one she had spoken with moments before, the trace of hope and strength in her tones all but completely faded.

“Coming Mama.”

With an apologetic grimace, Ashelia slid from the barstool and gathered her olive cloak in arm, giving one last tiny smile to the other before she made her way slowly, hesitantly back into the sitting room, arm outstretched until she felt the clawing grasp of Esmerelda wrap around her wrist. Unceremoniously she was wrenched forward until she more or less fell across her mother’s lap, thin lips brushing the curl of her ear as the elder murmured;

“Did I say you may leave my side? You know better than that Ashelia. You know what happens when you disobey me..”

With a sharp tap of her staff, Esmerelda pushed Ashelia from her lap, watching as she blind girl untangled herself from her travelers cloak and found her knees stuck to the floor, unable to move from where she now knelt beside her the maternal Hedge Witch. Ashelia dare not raise her head to check if Alice had seen the incident transpire, hoping against hope that the other would not interfere, if she was to escape her mother’s clutches she would need the element of surprise on her side. Ashelia knelt until her knees ached and her mother’s slumbering snores harmonized with the crackling fire once more, and then with the tiniest of movements did she slip a slice of bread from the platter beside them, nibbling gratefully on the wholesome grains, holding the spark of hope and rebellion tight to her chest.

|| I must be off, but I’ll be back tomorrow. Thank you for the amazing time so far. ^_^ ||

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[[ Of course! It was fun to stretch Alice's legs! ]]

[...[Alice]...]

Watching the two of them, Alice worked her hardest to make sure her narrowing eyes weren't observed. It was none of her business, but she would be glad to help her new friend escape that sort of life. Pushing slowly to her feet, she stretches, feeling that familiar ache in her arm. The energy there needed to be released soon. Sighing softly, she runs one hand through her hair, grabbing her bag.

Wandering to the doorway, she pauses and grabs her jacket, pulling it on. Then, taking her hat and scarf, she dressed in those as well. Taking her bag and fastening it over her chest, she nods, then steps out the front door and into the courtyard.

Her mind was racing as she walked from the courtyard, and into the alleyway. Navigating the streets was now a habit, etched in her memory. No one was there to bother her, everyone hiding from the noises in the street. The monster that no one could identify.

Finally, reaching the edge of the woods, she darts into them, heading towards her safe haven. She had to release the energy somewhere away from people, and tonight, she had cut it a bit too close.

[SerendipitousMelody]

OoC: [is thinking of posting]

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[[ Sorry I took so long. I had to eat. Now I feel fat. >.< Still here? ]]

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[...[Alice]...]

She walked out from her room, feeling a bit better than she had in days. She was wearing her usual red sweater, hanging loosely around her torso, and her black and grey skirt, to her knees. Her brown boots were laced up, and clung to her lower legs, showing wear and scuffs from her travels. Her brown hair was up in a ponytail, the bangs around her face to hide the scar on her cheek, and over her eye. She hated those still.

Wandering to the bar, she sets her tome down on the small shelf beside it, then goes to make herself a cup of cider. It was a cold night, and she could use it after the night before.

[...[Rain]...]

The woman, as if sensing that someone was finally awake, came up the stairs from the caverns. Walking to the bar, she pauses there, looking Alice over.

"You look tired, dear. You need to find a better way to release energy. And sleep more."

She leans forward against the bar, her black boots clinging to her feet, ripped and torn jeans tucked into the tops. Her blue tank top and black vest held to her curves, and she grins, tucking a bit of silver hair behind one ear. Her silver eyes lock on the girl in front of her, and she smiles.

"Adonai said you wanted a favor."

[Serendipity Hitomi]

[...[Alice]...]

She glances to the woman who was in front of the bar, a soft smile drifting across her features. Setting her mug of cider to the side, she takes another mug, filling it with romshen and warming it before setting it before the woman.

"Good evening, Miss Rain. And yes. But...I feel you should meet them first. I don't wish to speak out of turn."

With a soft shrug, she picks up her cider once more, taking a sip. Then, with a thought, she tilts her head to the side, curiosity in her green eyes.

"Did you find what you were looking for yet?"

[...[Rain]...]

She wrinkles her nose as the girl dodges the askance. With a shrug of her shoulders, she takes a sip of the herbal mixture, then sighs, sitting down on one of the bar stools. Her gunbelt slid down her hip on the right side, and she smiles a little, looking happy.

"I found a clue. There's a conference building on the eastern side. If the tunnels beneath are still in one piece, I can travel to the edge of the city in no time. But if there has been a cave-in, we may be s**t out of luck on this one."

Her silver eyes glint in the light, and she looks around, her eyes seeming to adjust slowly.

"So these visitors....good?"

At Alice's helpless shrug, she gives up on the line of questioning, shaking her head and relaxing.