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 Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 6:31 pm
If there was one thing that Aleksi always enjoyed doing it was watching a performance. The young mage had settled down in one of the many benches outlining the outdoor theater in the nearby park, the huge stone columns taken care of despite the years that had smoothed down the previously rough stone. On stage a few performers practiced their lines before retiring for the rest of the afternoon. It had been a good preview, a promotion for the actual show to be performed within the next few days and Aleksi could imagine that his father would have applauded the actors. The set still had a few things to finish, the panels needing their final coating of paint and the pulleys needing their true attachments for any transitions but overall it wasn’t too shabby. Aleksi mostly enjoyed it for the actual view of the area around them. They were along the back edge of a huge park, the flowers and bushes in full bloom around them offering the area vibrant colors and sweet fragrances for the season. At night the lampposts would be lit offering flickering lights for the evening performances when the park was still and reserved for the play. Now that the actors were packing up the hybrid found himself stretching out on a bench, his arms crossed beneath his head as he laid there on the cool stone and studied the sky. He could afford a few hours to laze about in between studying and coming home to help take care of his mother. His father had basically shoved him out of the house so that Aleksi could go and check on the performance, one of his father’s most recent plays come to life, and basically to give the young mage a chance to breathe some fresh air. The last few weeks had been rougher with Aleksi trying to learn more about controlling his wild magic while balancing chores to help out his family.
“See you, Aleksi!” Called out one of the actors while another chimed in. “Don’t miss the performance this time!” Aleksi moved just enough so that he could wave a hand before allowing it to fall back across his chest. It was just some playful teasing and he didn’t mind it. After all he had been notorious for getting in trouble and always arriving late to the scene, if he actually made it to the performance, while the rest of the crew watched his father constantly chastise him for it after the performances concluded when he was a younger teen. Mostly he figured they were just trying to suck up to his father by playing nice since he had connections with the director who paid them but who knew? A small chuckle escaped his lips as he allowed his eyes to drift closed for a few moments. If his father wanted him to relax so much then so he would.
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:06 pm
It was a bit of a culture shock for Shierra. For a girl who tended to stick around the small towns of home, Belrea was a whole different world. There were similarities of course, and some of the technology had trickled over to home to make it a little familiar, but she'd had only a little interaction with the melding worlds. She had come over to visit her sister and have the chance to see something new for a change, and change she had gotten!
The hybrid was wandering the Belrean streets, looking for something to treat her sister to. Kyril was housing her during this visit while working still, so Shierra was eager to repay her in whatever ways she could. When talk of a performance being set up to show in a few days came up, she figured it was as good a place as any to start. Maybe dinner and a show?
Her lips pursed with interest when the production-in-progress came into view. Something was certainly happening here.. but not right now. A few people were leaving, and one man was stretched out napping. She didn't pay much mind to the one on the bench and waved her hand to those heading off instead. "Excuse me! Are you with this show? Do they sell tickets ahead of time or is it only the day of?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:07 am
A rather robust lightning man with a crooked nose turned around at the sound of someone calling out. His companion, another one of the actors, turned as well before letting out a small chuckle towards the foreigner. "Oh my, Jelic." She nudged the man before gesturing towards the stage. "Do you think we still have tickets?" It was almost teasing the way that she spoke towards her companion before turning to study the foreigner once more. Her lips pursed thoughtfully as if pondering how to respond before the man spoke up. "Perhaps if we weren't a well known production maybe. If anything you'd have to try and be lucky to see if there's some cancellations once the show begins or if someone has spare tickets to sell." The man gave a shrug before turning as if to leave. "Best of luck though!"
"Or you could try me." Chimed out a voice from the benches as Aleksi finally rolled over on his side and opened his eyes to see whoever it was that was talking. So much for a nap. He mused before waving along the two actors who chuckled at the young mage's antics before actually leaving. He still wasn't getting up from the bench and was rather just propping his head up with an elbow as he stretched out there and studied the foreigner. Another Matori? How small was their world getting that he'd run into another girl like this? Either way he just found himself studying her with a mischievous grin.
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Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2021 11:28 am
Shierra's expression went from politely curious to annoyed in an instant. "Do you think you could just answer the question?" she huffed back to the woman. At least the man wasn't being too sassy about it. She wasn't about to count on luck, and raised her hand in a dismissive wave. "Maybe next time then." It wasn't like she had to see the show. She didn't even know what it was about! ..Still, now that she knew it was sold out already, it was going to taunt her the rest of the day.
The new voice made her look over, eyes narrowing slightly. The guy lazing about on the bench? "If by 'try' you mean you're offering tickets you've already bought for a much higher price than they sold for, I won't be having it."
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:25 pm
Oooh that's a lot of spunk. Aleksi grinned as he studied the girl, his fingers reaching up to tap against his chin almost thoughtfully. "I wasn't planning on selling you the tickets per say." He admitted with a raised brow. Did she really think of him as some sort of scalper? The very thought amused him and was a great relief from all of those who usually sucked up to him so that they could get closer to his father. A foreigner in a strange land that didn't know who he was and couldn't judge him accordingly. And better yet someone who didn't know his family so he could get away with a lot more without worry!
"If anything I have extra tickets that I was planning on giving to a friend who can't make the event." Aleksi finally explained with a tilt of his head, a small lie but nothing harmful, "Maybe if I had a fun way to pass the afternoon I could be encouraged to gift them to a lovely foreigner instead of letting them go to waste?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:31 pm
Arms crossing, Shierra remained a fair distance away while scrutinizing the relaxed young man. He seemed to be part Matori like she was, with green gems like the gaien- no- like the lightning folk in the area. It made her wonder how hybrids here were accepted, but that would be for another time. Her brow was cocked sharply, making it clear that she would have no funny business going on here. Still... dang it, she really was curious about the play now. "And what, pray tell, do you do for fun around here?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 6:02 pm
"Hmm, good question." Aleksi grinned towards the hybrid as he pondered her question. "There's a variety of things to do within the city for fun. You can take a trip around the park, go boating, explore some of the hidden shops and things in the city, go to a café or in my case find a rather cute girl to flirt with." He winked playfully towards the hybrid before finally twisting so that he could get back on his feet. Alek stretched his arms above his head, the movement cracking his back after laying for so long on the stone bench. "Any of that sound appealing to you?" He asked finally as he kept an eye on the stranger, curious about what she would do next. Others perhaps would have already revealed who they were or done something other than risking the ire of another, but Alek was having fun with it. What harm was there in just teasing some stranger? She was really cute and he did find himself interested in her story, especially since she was part Matori, but the young mage much preferred to test her patience first. Or maybe she would be open to some fun in the city? Though she did seem rather closed off from his perspective. If anything that would just mean that it would be more fun to help her loosen up, right? Aleksi could only hope! Else this would prove to be a dull day after all.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2021 11:11 am
The wink earned a hefty eye roll in return, but the other suggestions earned the crack of a smile. "As fun as it is to flirt with cute girls, I have to admit to being curious about what makes a shop 'hidden' here." She relaxed her posture just enough to show her interest in exploring, but maintained most of the 'no-crap-from-you' aura. "So what do I call you? I doubt you want to walk around being called That Guy The Was Napping On The Bench all day." She paused for half a second to consider, and gave a small nod to herself. "I'm Shierra."
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2021 5:00 pm
Ah hah! Aleksi's own smile grew as he noticed that faint smile creeping across the girl's lips. So it was possible to work miracles after all. He teased quietly before letting out a chuckle at her response. "Dang. I was really hoping for the first option to be a winner." Alek twisted his wrist, motioning as if he were handing things over to the foreigner, "However, I can still work with the hidden shop aspect. Despite my appearances I've lived in this city my entire life so I'm fairly good about navigating local places. There had always been visitors from all across Belrea and even more so now that they had foreigners arriving in the airships all the time to browse their cities. Obviously Aleksi didn't mind since such traveling allowed his own existence and gave him interesting company like the girl before him.
"Aww, but that's my favorite name." He replied with an almost innocent gaze towards her, shock written on his features before it slipped away again with another of his trademark grins. "I suppose I can settle for Aleksi, Alek for short in return for Shierra even though I could have come up with something. Maybe gem? You do have eyes that shine like rubies." He studied her a moment longer, his own gaze gleaming with complete honesty as he shared his interest before moving along again. Even if he was a hopeless flirt sometimes the young mage was at least honest...well mostly. Did it count if he sometimes left out the truth instead of being straight forward?
"So hidden shops, hmm? Anything in particular that you're interested in? Trinkets? Food? Weaponry?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:29 pm
"Your favorite, huh? Maybe I'll just shorten it to Bench Napping Guy." Ah, but an actual name was given. Aleksi? Surprisingly pleasant... "Bench Napping Alek it is then," she teased, reaching down to adjust the pack around her hips. Her brow cocked at the shameless flirt, and she couldn't help batting her eyes playfully. "You sure know how to make a girl feel warm and gooey inside," she purred with a smirk. It certainly wasn't the first time she had heard such a compliment, but it didn't hurt anything to hear it again either. Especially when the guy giving the compliment was easy on the eyes, too.
With the attention going back to the shops, she raised a hand to tap her fingers on her chin in contemplation. "A little bit of everything, I suppose," she replied, looking to Alek encouragingly. "Any kind of 'hidden' shop should be interesting enough."
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2021 4:20 pm
"Pfft." Aleksi let out a chuckle before giving Shierra a thumbs up, "Just call me BNA then." His expression brightened even more at the playful return and the young mage wiggled his eyebrows, a hint of flames flickering along his fingers almost like a trick of the eyes. "Well I am an expert with warming things up." He teased lightly even though there was a lot more truth to those words considering his many accidents with fires growing up. But what could one do when they had an affinity that sometimes got a bit too out of control whenever they were feeling emotional? Either way Aleksi shoved those worries aside as he focused on his pretty new company.
"Fair enough then. I'm starved so I suggest we make way to one of the more local cafes hidden downtown, my treat." Aleksi moved towards Shierra and held out an arm. "You know it's common to guide one another through Belrea with linked arms, right? Would be a shame to lose a pretty foreigner because of a crowd." Obviously it wouldn't be that probably to get separated, but Aleksi had no shame when flirting. He was fairly confident in his own appearance and charms so he showed no hesitations. If anything he was already thinking about which way would be best to get to the little café hidden by the canals, the overlook perfect for those who could use a bit of connections to get a good table.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2021 5:04 pm
BNA? Shierra couldn't help an amused snort. Where was this even going anymore? If she had been on the outside looking in, she might have barfed by now from how silly it was getting. Instead... well, there was no sign of barfing. The hint of fire did catch her eyes though, gaze snapping to lock onto those finger tips. "Hmm, I'll take your word for it," she teased, breaking her focus back to normal.
She nodded her head with approval. She hadn't been in Belrea long enough to explore much of the food, so this was certainly already something she had been looking forward to. Even better to have interesting company to eat with. Hopefully, her sister wouldn't mind her skipping a meal together. "Sounds good to me. Though..." she walked by the offered arm with a dismissive smirk, "it's going to take more than a little promise of food to get me stuck to your arm. You just lead the way."
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2021 5:38 pm
"Damn." Aleksi shook his head sadly as Shierra walked past him, but there was a gleam of interest in his gaze at the challenge. He was actually having a bit of fun with this one. A chuckle let Alek's lips before he walked around her and placed his arm on her shoulders to spin her slightly around so that she faced a new direction. Just as quickly he let go again since he respected that she didn't want his arm, but there was a grin on his lips as he started walking in the new direction. "I'll lead the way now that we're facing the correct direction. It's a bit shorter if we cut through the park." He commented before gesturing towards the slight opening between the flowered hedges that decorated the side of the amphitheater. Not that he would admit he only knew such things after hiding there with Eliazer a few times, but at least it was helpful knowledge.
Aleksi didn't even look over his shoulder as he started along, his hands brushing over the hedges to entice the branches to curl back for a few moments as they walked through the overgrown path. Eventually they would emerge at the bottom side of the park and there would be a winding alleyway that twisted through the more local areas of the city, away from the ships and the tourist spots. It was there that one could get the hint of water, the cooler wind coming from the canals that twisted through the lower city and fed into the nearby river. Aleksi slowed down slightly to make certain he hadn't lost his new companion before glancing around. "It's a bit different to see some of these faded walls, right? They're not as worried about being too extravagant down here, but it is homey." Far more real which he enjoyed in comparison to the riches and the overly bright things he was accustomed to with his father's line of work in theater. A few Geians walked past them and Aleksi waved his hand in greeting, one of the elderly couples just smiling with amusement as they noted Aleki's companion.
Some art was even painted onto the old brick walls, twisting vines and other images from artists who had left their marks over the years. Around the corner was a stairway that led upwards until one could see a small café tucked into the corner, a two story building with a balcony that leaned over the canal and offered a view of the rest of the city below them. "Watch your step." Warned Aleksi as he started up the worn down steps, taking care to look back towards Shierra every other step or so to make certain she was keeping up.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:35 pm
Shierra stiffed up when she was guided around, but it was more concern with her location than her company. Back home, both Oba and Matori, she knew the towns practically by heart. She could run just about anywhere and easily find her way back. Here, though... being turned was a reminder than she had no idea where she was going. She needed a lot of focus to be sure she could find her way back in case something happened.
At least she could memorize the sights and enjoy them at the same time. It was quite enchanting to see how the environment changed from bright fanfare to faded coziness. She had to resist gawking.. "It's certainly a transition. I wouldn't have noticed it happening it I hadn't been paying attention." She reached out to brush her fingers over a bit of the graffiti. She slowed down every so often to admire it, but the walk was actually making her hungry. Shierra took the steps even slower, taking in the view with awe. It was difficult to not stop and gawk! Every few steps gave her a better vantage point than the last, and the smells wafting down from above... it was like a story. "Have you been to Matori then?" she asked suddenly. "There's nothing quite to this scale there, and certainly not in Oba."
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:54 pm
"They do try to cover it up." Aleksi admitted with a small grin. "We have to save some secrets for the locals, right?" The hybrid glanced back and watched as Shierra appreciated the area, pride swelling in his chest. It was always nice to be able to share a favorite place with a stranger so that he could watch their reactions. Though perhaps it was his reaction that was entertaining in the moment as Aleksi stumbled a bit before catching himself. "I haven't actually." He admitted with a slight shrug. How did one express his mother's disdain for her home country? Aleksi chewed on the side of his cheek before shaking his head. "Maybe one day though. Even if it's smaller I've heard that both countries still have their share of beautiful sights. Maybe you'll have to show me around one day?"
Aleksi's violet gaze lingered on Shierra for a moment before he gestured forward and held out a hand to help her over the final step. "This is the back entrance so there's a bit less steadiness here." He admitted as he guided them along towards the small café. Already the scent of freshly baked goods and the strong smell of coffee floated towards them. "Ready?" He asked as he glanced back towards Shierra and held open the door.
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