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 Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 7:58 am
The play was happening soon, so soon in fact that Aseara had to run around trying to make sure everyone was ready and they weren`t running out of things. This was one of those occasions, she`s already sent out all of her helpers back to the Red Amaryllis with packages picked up from various merchants, but now her hands were full and she still had a lot more packages to get back. Aseara decided to keep going anyways, they`d find her and help her at some point. That was until she ran right into someone, the packages flying and all of them landing on the ground.
“I’m so sorry,” she said quickly before getting down to start picking up the packages.
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 12:30 pm
It was starting to feel like they'd never make it out of Oba. Maybe because he couldn't personally be bothered to be in a rush. Maybe because when they did find themselves off the road and in a city it hardly seemed worth it to leave again, not when food and water needed to be regulated so carefully and breaks needed to be so frequently during the day and night. Traveling the sands was not easy, and it wasn't particularly fun for anyone involved.
And if Dravi was in a constant state of dreary before, it was nothing like now. It lent itself to paying less attention to his surroundings and then being a bit slow on the uptake when his surroundings bumped into him.
If he'd been a small man, he might have found himself on the ground. Alas, instead, Dravi found himself blinking at a pretty pale-skinned blond woman as she scrambled around at his feet to reclaim her toppled items. "Ah, that's..." It shouldn't have been so difficult to resist the impulse to touch some stranger's glistening golden hair. But it was.
He shook it off, and instead dipped to help her pick up her parcels. "That's fine, huh?" He said by way of an apology for himself. "No one's hurt, and I'm sure your stuff is fine too." She sure was carrying a lot all on her lonesome. "You want some help?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 1:38 pm
Aseara tried tucking parcels whenever she could, grabbing multiple bags in both hands and then still struggling with those looked at the floor and everything she’d yet to pack on. How had she managed to actually carry everything to begin with? Had she gained items? Perhaps he’d dropped something and she’d picked it by mistake, she glanced at some of her things, mentally recounting just to make sure she wasn’t about to go off with something off his. No, she was fine. Everything on the floor also looked like something she’d bought, the thought was depressing.
“Oh, well I mean if you can spare the time it would be highly appreciated.” She’d bumped into the man after all, she wasn’t about to ask him for help. “I had a few people helping me before but they haven’t returned. If it’s not an inconvenience for you to help me…” She wouldn’t refuse it he was going to offer it. “I’m heading to the Red Amaryllis, do you know it?” Aseara always felt a little apprehensive when she mentioned the RA. She was going to change that, after this dance the place would be hers and she would change that reputation.
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 2:53 pm
Could he spare the time, though? Skadravi glanced toward the sky, clucking his tongue and mulling the thought with all the relative velocity of an aged tortoise. Maybe not, but he'd already offered and there was no going back on that now. Besides, since Khalel wasn't at his side right now, it did lend itself to not rushing anywhere. The hybrid boy dipped to collect a few of the more troublesome flying packages from her arms. "It's no trouble, I guess. Anywhere I'm going'll still be there tomorrow." And probably the next day, too.
"You can always count on a good friend to ditch you as soon as your purchases get too heavy, am I right?" He asked with a grin, giving a mildly humored half-snort-chuckle at his own commentary. "Anyway, naw, I never heard of a 'Red Amaryllis.'" He'd never heard of anything 'amaryllis.' It sounded like something he'd remember, if he had. Probably. Hopefully it wasn't a long ways away, besides.
After collecting her things from the ground and taking a few parcels from her arms, he beckoned for her to take the lead. "The name's Dravi by the way. How 'bout you, Beautiful?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:02 pm
“I think they’re just a little tired of running errands,” Aseara said giving him an apologetic smile. He certainly had a carefree way of seeing things; she’d never heard anyone say anything like he had. Most people around here didn’t want to be bothered, especially not about helping anyone else with their things. At least he’d never heard of the dance hall, so that was a bonus. Though she couldn’t just drag him through the front door, they were going to have to go through the back alleyways. Maybe she could offer him a quick drink or something for helping her.
Maybe he’d want a dance.
“Aseara,” she gave him the smile she gave clients. She was used to be called beautiful, but only Nuri really meant it. “It’s this way.” Aseara made her way out of the busy market into the quieter streets of the more elite few and their businesses. “We’re you born in Sulburi?” She wanted to make small talk, walking in silence was always a little weird. As they spoke however, she spotted the growing view of the three story Red Amaryllis and kept an eye out for the alleyway that led to the back alleyways used by the servants.
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 10:48 am
"Ah, so you've been at it for a while then, mm?" Skadravi questioned, in regards to the Wind woman's friends abandoning her to endure these struggles alone. Judging from how much she was carrying, he couldn't say he was surprised. A lot of these wrappings didn't look like they all came from the same places, either. Vaguely he wondered what was so important that needed to be bought in bulk, and he found himself casually snooping through the things he carried.
This looked like silk. He pawed a little deeper, plucking at the garment with the tips of his fingers and finding that there really wasn't much of it to paw at, at all. He couldn't imagine any girl wanting him looking at their undergarments, whether they were wearing them, or not. So he inconspicuously refolded the wrappings and edged along after Aseara as she walked to- wherever she was going. The Red Amaryllis.
"I lived here when I was younger" he admitted with a soft hum. Unfortunately, Sulburi was a rather large city (certainly the biggest he'd ever been to), and he wasn't the best with directions. "It all kinda looks the same to me, though," Dravi chuckled. "And I'm afraid I don't know my way around real well."
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:01 am
“Today yes, we’ve got to be ready. There isn’t much time left before the dance.” And other things, but she wasn’t going to reveal those to a complete stranger. She’d told those who needed to know by their importance and even then she was pretty sure some of them weren’t to be trusted with the information to begin with. So far there had been no issue, she didn’t think Afsana was on to them but things could unravel quickly. “It’s going to be a really big thing, so trying not to run out of items. Of course, I also need to let merchants stock up.”
“You have?” She was a little surprised and glanced at him. “It certainly not the easiest to navigate,” she chuckled. “I had no choice to learn, don’t want to get lost in my new home.” And she had gotten lost a few times, Nuri had helped her with directions and she was much better at it now. She’d also taught the others on how to get around, most hadn’t wanted to go out before but she’d helped them out. No one could possibly stay sane by staying inside the house all the time, you had to get out and breathe and enjoy the city too.
Aseara turned into the alley when they made it. It was empty right now, but around dinner time it would be bustling again. They passed a few other large homes before finally making it to the entrance of the Red Amaryllis, Aseara went in and then into the kitchen. She dropped a package there before moving on, a cook thanked in her passing. “Welcome to the Red Amaryllis.” She said, turning back to glance and Dravi and gave him a smile. They’re were going to make their way into the lower levels where they stored things and such.
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Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 5:26 pm
They had to get ready. Skadravi tipped his head. For a dance. All these packages and items were for some coordinated show, and the thought was somehow, strangely, almost disappointing. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised. The woman's dress and lightfootedness and mannerisms did tend itself toward an occupation that required more grace. He might have originally assumed something a little more untoward and still wasn't fully convinced that there couldn't be some of that involved in addition to the 'dancing.' It was not his place to say as much, and if Aseara wanted him to believe gossamer undergarments were for dancing, then they were for dancing.
He was more than pleased to let the topic shift and gave a few rhythmic bobs of his head to serve as affirmation. "Yyyyep, I did. I was a wee thing, though, and, as you can imagine, considerin' the times, I wasn't allowed out a whole lot to begin with. So that didn't rightly help my directional abilities." He liked to imagine there was a little less immediate hostility toward his particular brand of not-uncommon hybrid than there had been when he was small. Certainly, he hadn't exactly been wanted when he was born, but by now, the proximity of the Fire and Water people combined with a shift in class segregation meant that he was at least less of an acrid stain on the populace.
That was good enough for him.
Admittedly, he was a bit leery about being led down an alley by a woman that was even less of an Oban than he was himself. It wasn't that he didn't fully trust her, it was just- Well, no, that was it, actually. Something about pretty, fair-skinned, graceful women struck him as not-wholly-trustworthy. And maybe it was the immediate sense of abashment at the thought that kept him moving after her. Her Red Amaryllis surely had an entryway that wasn't through the back alleys. he cocked his head at her. "I don't embarrass you already, do I?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 9:00 am
“What?” Aseara turned to give him a horrified look. “No, of course not, but the front entrance is for customers only.” That was one thing she really wanted to change when she took power. The front door was meant to be used as a front door, she hated that everyone had t sulk around in the alleyways when coming and going from the Red Amaryllis. The only people who would be staying to the alleyways would be the merchants and only because it was much easier for them to unload their items from the back of the building than the front.
“If it was up to me, we’d all be going through the front,” but it wasn’t up to her, not yet anyways. “Sorry.” She gave him an apologetic smile before motioning for him to follow her. “I don’t want to hold you up.” Turning she left the kitchen to turn in to one of the many service halls, it wasn’t as polished as the halls the nobles saw, this one being used constantly with little to no up keep. At the end of the hall was the stairway and Aseara took it to go down a level into the large storing area of the Red.
One of the girls who was putting away items came up to Aseara, “I didn’t think you’d make it back!” She grabbed a few of the parcels.
“Well I had help,” Aseara hand gestured towards Dravi. “This is Dravi, he helped me with a few things.”
“Ah! Hi!” The girl give him a sly smile.
“He’s not a client Lari” Aseara sighed and rolled her eyes. “Ignore her; she likes to prey on everyone who steps foot in the Red. You can put your things down right there.” Aseara pointed to a table.
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:25 pm
Skadravi's eyes narrowed, his bottom lip jutting out in feigned disappointment. How was anyone to know if he was a customer or not? He wasn't, of course, and likely wouldn't be whether he was in a relationship or not. The whole operation here seemed shady at best, and downright seedy at worst. But no one could prove any such thing. Perhaps Aseara, being a good employee, had found him on the street and convinced him to make use of... Well, whatever service was offered here, anyway.
He glanced to her parcels in his arms. Maybe he'd seem more like a 'customer' if he wasn't laden down with all her purchases. Though it still seemed far and beyond anyone to assume that he wasn't here to be danced on- At? Danced at?
Regardless, it wasn't a big enough deal to throw a fuss, and Dravi shrugged his shoulders carelessly as an acceptance of her apologies. "Believe me, I'm not important enough or doing anything worth rushing over." Unless being in a strange, uncomfortable place with even stranger, untrustworthy company merited rushing.
But nah, probably not.
If he was skeptical of the Red Amaryllis and its employees before, Dravi became more so when a second too-pretty girl appeared on the scene. Too pretty, too peppy, to smiley. He grinned back at her because that, at least, wouldn't do any harm. "Nice to meet ya," he greeted as he moved to deposit his armload on the table Aseara specified. Skadravi really hadn't meant to bring anything untoward up, but somehow girls and smiles and talks of 'clients' (there was only one type of 'dance' that Dravi could think of any single person paying actual coin for) drew his previous question immediately to mind once more. "Are ya'll hookers?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 6:54 pm
Both the girls looked to him when he spoke up about the ladies of the night, then turned to each other and began laughing loudly. They probably gave that kind of impression didn’t they? And Aseara knew some girls did like to dabble in such services, but most didn’t or Afsana would certainly have their heads on a silver platter and their hides out the door faster than one could say Oba. Aseara stopped chuckling first but Lari simply slapped her knee and then walked away with a parcel, she was in charge of the storage area and needed to get back to work.
“No we are not,” Aseara smiled. “This is a dance hall and while I’m sure some girls do go the extra mile for their customers it’s strictly forbidden by the owner.” Alas, Aseara found that even though the rules were in place many still thought the whole building was where many of the ladies of the night, or hookers as Dravi had put it, resided. She couldn’t really blame them; some of the wives weren’t fond of their husbands drinking habits either and liked to throw their anger out to anyone who was close by.
“Actually, would you like to see exactly what I’m talking about?” Perhaps if he saw the rest of the building he might change his mind as long as Afsana didn’t catch them. “Up to you of course, you’d be able to see what the nobles like to spend their money on and I’ll even throw in an expensive drink on the house for helping me out with the items.” It was no sweat off her back if he said yes or no and would actually kill time. Since he’d helped her back to the Red, she still had some time to spare.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:26 pm
Laughing didn't precisely seem like a bad reaction, all things considered. It was certainly better than rage or offense, so with a hesitant half-smile, Dravi decided to take what he could get. At least the girls were having a good time with it. He reached backward, scratching sheepishly at the thick tangle of his curls. "Wasn't meaning no offense," he added on the off-chance that their raucous, knee-slapping laughter covered up some strand of actual hurt.
Not that it looked like it, and by the time the second girl departed, Skadravi decided he wasn't terribly concerned.
It wasn't his business one way or the other, and he couldn't imagine being around to have too many more experiences with this city's inhabitants. So at Aseara's offer his response came as an immediate, "Might could go for that," accented by a careless shrug of his shoulders. After the words had left his mouth he was reminded that he already didn't especially like this place to begin with, and maybe Khalel wouldn't even want him here. Would she be offended?
If they weren't hookers or deceptive organ harvesters, maybe it was fine. Maybe Khalel wouldn't ever even know. He couldn't imagine a reason why she would. So he gave another shrug, and a more clear, accepting, "Yes, I am a little curious, I guess, and a guided tour might be more helpful than not. Lead the way, then, Lady Aseara."
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 5:41 pm
“Alright then follow me.” Aseara left the room and went back up onto the main floor. It was still fairly empty thankfully which meant Afsana was still tucked away in her office for now. The Wind girl went through the halls until they reached the door that connected to the main entrance of the lobby where customers came in from. She went through first, making sure there actually weren’t any clients around and then ushered Dravi in.
“This is where we receive most of our customers; it’s the main entrance and the one we avoided coming in.” Aseara didn’t liger too long, she let Dravi take in the over the top décor before going down one of the two hallways.
“All these rooms on the side here are private rooms, big enough for up to four people,” turning slightly Aseara pointed to the double doors down the opposite hallway they were headed. “That’s the large dance hall with the large stage and stuff for our bigger plays.”
Once they made it to the end where they stood in front of another set of double door, Aseara opened them and stepped through. “And this is our lounge area.” There was a bar in the middle of the room and that’s where she was headed now.
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 4:49 pm
He would probably just never understand the things nobles spent their coin on. At least, Skadravi assumed it was mostly nobles who made use of this place, considering the lavish decor and apparently high standards that employees couldn't walk through the front door. Not that there seemed to be a whole lot going on. He rubbed the back of his neck, following after Aseara with a very slight, yet completely justifiable wariness.
It still sounded like an incredibly seedy location to him, but then, it probably always would. "Well, I- Just imagine you must enjoy doing... the stuff you do here, at least? So as long as that's the case, don't guess my opinion much matters. Not that my opinion would matter even if you didn't, a'course... Just that you must care somethin' about it for all the effort you're going to to show me it's not so bad."
"But-" he followed Aseara toward the bar, crossing his arms behind his head as he trailed after her. "You can't blame a guy for assuming there's a side-business going on. Maybe not whoring, so how about... assassination or espionage?"
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 10:10 am
“I do,” Aseara said with a smile on her face. “I don’t think everyone enjoys it as much as I do,” Itotia came to mind then, but that was a whole other subject altogether. “I didn’t have much before coming here.” Truthfully she didn’t have much now either… But that was going to change soon, very , very soon. “But I can’t speak for the rest of them; I’m not a musician or a singer so I wouldn’t know how their own things were going.” There would always be someone that was unhappy with their job though, it was not avoidable.
As he spoke, she grabbed two glasses and reached for juice for herself and water for him. It wasn’t alcohol but right now at this time everything was tightly locked up and Aseara didn’t have a key to get in. she pushed the drink towards him and took a few swings of her own glass.
“Oh there is most definitely espionage going on,” Aseara chuckled. “However, secrets are very expensive here. So most who dabble in that kind of stuff usually leave town pretty quick.” They had the money and probably wouldn’t want to stick around to get caught, but you never knew. “As for assassinations, hm.” Aseara tried to recall some weird death. “Not in recent years I don’t think, at least not since I’ve been here. But who knows, maybe people also go missing within these walls.” She shrugged. “I guess there no way of really telling.”
“What about you, what do you do?”
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