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 Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:52 am
"Oh, I wouldn't quite say that, Ro'eh. Some of what Brig sprouts has a kernel of truth in it, but most is just trite dribble." Cole's purring tone didn't travel past her immediate area, though she had no fears of being overheard despite the crowded downstairs of the Game House, and the Daewl's grin was good-natured in response. The quiet Gunn simply glanced up from her mug, gaze silently requesting a topic change from the Olplyn, who promptly, smoothly complied. "But those are Royals for you, mmmn? Now, one wouldn't quite expect it, but Gunnwale here plays a mean game of poker."
Gunn smiled at that, lifting her shoulders slightly in a shrug as she took another swallow of ale. She was clearly preoccupied, one bright fingertip tracing a small circle on the wooden bar. By now, from all her years of relaxing here, there was a smooth groove, worn by her habitual movements.
Ro'eh was definitely interested in the quiet Vhaid who didn't seem quite willing to warm up to him, despite her friendliness and easy smiles. Of course, Colby said that was just her way, and there wasn't much the Daewl could do about that. Yet.
Mele flattened her hands against the front of her newly ironed pants and took one final deep breath before pushing open the door to the Game House. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the slightly dimmed light that contrasted sharply with the final, bright dying rays of the sun outside. The Olplyn looked around for a minute before nodding politely to a few people she really should have gone over to say hello and seen how they were, but her nerves were making things hard to handle as it is.
When she finally spotted Gunn towards the end of the bar she happily hurried over only to let her brief high be crushed when she saw Colby on Gunn's other side with some male she should probably recognize but wasn't sure she did on Colby's other, sitting in the final bar stool. Knowing it was going to be a long night, she decided to start early and nodded a hello to everyone before she ordered the Game House's hardest ale and turned in her seat. She slowly removed her outer jacket and hung it over the back of her chair.
"Gunn, it's nice to have someone to finally bring me into the world of the living after the first half of Market. Cole, why don't you introduce me to your guest. I don't believe we've met?" She nodded, since a hand definately wouldn't reach across the two females between them. One of whom she rather wished would leave her alone so she could get on with her drinks. With Gunn. Like a... thingie. Date. Maybe. Probably not.
All of her attention instantly on the reclusive Olplyn, Gunn took her time looking up from the dent she'd been steadily smoothing into the bar [much to Cole's distasteful resignation], oceanic gaze wandering over Mele before settling on her face, the other jivviness's attention locked onto the Daewl. Colby's brows raised and she opened her mouth to proceed with introductions as Ro'eh's charming grin slid into place. Before a sound could escape her throat, however, she was uncharacteristically cut off by Gunnwale, whose soft, rough voice had a strange underlying tone to it. One Cole hadn't heard in a long time.
"No, you haven't. Mele, that is Ro'eh," Her bright, intense eyes moved to meet the Daewl's strangely golden ones. "This is Mele."
Ro'eh's grin faltered just slightly before his gaze shifted to the younger Olplyn's and he nodded politely. "A pleasure. Colby informs me that you're extremely talented."
"She is."
At Gunnwale's answering comment, Colby smoothly stepped in with her words, looking amused. "Ro'eh's family has a farm quite a ways out, actually, only a mile or so short of the lake." A loose gesture with her hand and she derailed further as Mele's drink was delivered. "Interesting choice, potter." That silky smile. "A relaxing drought, to be sure."
Watching the interaction between Gunn and Ro'eh with a bit of uncertainty, she felt the atmosphere change and thicken and become more than a little stiffling. "Erm, yes. I rather like the brew. Reminds me of the horrid things my brothers used to managed to sneak between the two of them and then get ridiculously hung over the next morning. Cheers, everyone." Trying to lighten the mood a bit, she took more than a polite sip of her drink and after setting it down, managed to lick the moisture off of her upper lip without seeming too sexual. Hopefully.
"I spoke with my mother and she highly approved of your designs. She's apt to take a few liberties, but that's my mother. But, Ro'eh, do you farm the land with your parents, as well?" Keeping her attention glued to the other two parties in their small gathering, she decided to take a chance and brush her fingers against Gunn's elbow, in a way that neither of the other two people would see and shouldn't be too entirely startling.
"Cheers," was happily echoed by Cole and Ro'eh, Gunnwale mutely raising her mug against theirs before swallowing it down. It was near immediately refilled by the usual tender, who tossed her that familiar grin before moving away to serve a pair of Royals. The dark Vhaid was also silent at the touch, though she realized just how tense she'd been by the way she visibly relaxed at the contact. It interested her and she didn't shift away from Mele's fingers, wondering at the Olplyn's game. It would be proven out soon enough, she knew. If anything, Gunn was patient.
"Marvelous, darling, I'm sure she'll send me compliments herself. I can't wait to see what she does with the concept." Cole's stormy eyes shifted from the younger Olplyn to the Daewl at her side. "From time to time, isn't that right, Ro'eh?"
The handsome prophet shrugged wide-shoulders, his smile disarming. "Rarely, but yes, if they need my help with a harvest. I almost completely live in the heart of the village now, though. It's a recent change, hence our never meeting before, Mele."
TBC
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:03 pm
"Of course, it's understandable. So, explain to me what exactly you do, then. I'm most intrigued." Nodding as if she were following every word, and not simply the gist of the conversation at hand, the brunette slid her middle finger around the lip of her mug. She shifted on her chair and accidentally bumped her knee into Gunn's and immediately flushed after the contact that nicely coincided with her previous, glancing brush but was, in all contexts, really only accidental. Mele ran a few nervous fingers through her hair and straightened her blue, off the shoulder shirt that nicely mimiced the designs that she had given her mother earlier this morning.
"I never quite understood the concept of moving away from my work, something I started to learn when I was still quite young. I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Unless, of course, you were never very partial to farming as a long term trade."
It was Gunn who spoke first, her tone somewhat preoccupied. She was on topic, however her eyes followed Mele's movements, following her hands to her shirts, then her bare shoulders. "It would be hard if you spent many years at the task. I could never leave the water, myself. However, Ro'eh stopped before his twentieth year, did you not?" She was well aware of Mele's timid flirtations, though until the girl became more forward, Gunn was content to wait and watch things play out. Of course, when she was ready to go to bed, that would be that, but until then, this was just fine. After all, she rather liked company in the bedroom when she was in the main village, and she rather liked Mele's company period, so hopefully, the two would translate well together.
If Ro'eh was uncomfortable with someone knowing a bit of his history, it only showed from the brief, wary look he sent Gunn's way [though that could also be due to her strange, inoffensive lack of friendliness], before raising his golden gaze back to Mele's. "Yes. I'm not afraid of hard work, however, my Daewl talents do not lie in that particular field, so I've come to where they'll do me most good." A smile, as that was pretty customary among the Daewls. They went their own way. "My family is primarily Sargtlins." They had almost zero magic, the least of all the ranks.
Colby took the opportunity to speak up, her stormy eyes on Gunn, rather than the younger Olplyn. "He's quite an asset to the Game House clientele, actually. Mele, that shirt is gorgeous."
"I'm sure. I hope you find everything in the Village easily, but with Colby here as a guide, I'm sure you'll be fine. In fact, Market closes tomorrow, so if you need any ceramics or glass products, be sure to stop by and see me, or place a commission. It is a bit of a walk out to my shop otherwise, but some people prefer the atmosphere and the quiet better to the hustle and bustle of the Market. Either way, I'm sure I'll see you around in the next few weeks or so. And, erm, thank you. I think my mother made it, but it may have been an aunt."
Glancing down towards her drink and the mug that was nearly empty next to it, she shifted on her stool again and clinked her glass against Gunn's. "Did you want to discuss the book you've kindly allowed me to borrow, or are you comfortable, for the moment?"
Before Gunn could decide if they were leaving or staying, Colby gracefully slid from her seat, one gloved hand smoothing down her dress as Ro'eh got to his feet in reaction. "It's about time we headed upstairs. Entertaining to do, connections to make." She flashed Mele a smile. "Have a good night, ladies."
Ro'eh inclined his dark, curly head respectfully to Gunnwale before also smiling at the ceramicist. "Thank you for your well wishes, I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other. Perhaps at Colby's dinner party, if not sooner." With that, the two social climbing jivvins headed for the staircase that would take them to the more exclusive half of the Gamehouse.
As if that made her decision for her, Gunn raised a finger, signalling the tender who poured her another mugful, the lovely Olplyn raising her brows at Mele inquisitively to find out if the ceramicist wanted a refill as well. "Both," was the nautical Vhaid's more relaxed response. The atmosphere in the tavern was signifcantly lighter as the people around them became jovially intoxicated.
Muttering under her breath about no-good meddlers, the female thanked the bartender with a smile and leaned back for the first time all evening. "Always a surprise with her, Ms. Colby." Sipping her drink that was slowly starting to make things a little bit slower and a little bit louder, the volume of her voice dropped to just over a whisper, and she returned her attention back to the reason she had come along at all.
"I hope you don't mind that child's antics tomorrow. In advance, he's an overactive little bugger without endless amounts of energy and an ability to talk your ear off." Smiling a bit at that, she sighed and eyed the dark coloured jivviness. "I like the tattoo, by the way."
"Ach, he'll be fine. Nothing like hard work to cure restless energy." A low chuckle. "We'll be too busy singing for him to talk much, after all, that's what we fisher-ladies do, you know." Sing to the water. It was a good life. As for her appearance. Well, Gunn was rather old, and often forgot her unique, odd looks. "Tattoo." She repeated quietly, allowing herself a short moment to figure out what Mele was talking about. Most Jivvin markings were things they were born with, though they were often referred to as tattoos, yes. Knowing that the Olplyn probably wasn't talking about her strange, pale blue scars, she turned her right hand palm up as she had earlier that day.
The compass. "Ah." A smile. "Well, thank you." A pause and humor ran through her voice. "Though neither of those things has to do with that book you were so interested in not but a moment ago."
"Well. I assumed you didn't have it with you, unless you wanted to describe some of the different animals and creatures within the book. That I wouldn't turn down." Fingers practically itching to begin drawing and sketching the monsters from the deep that she was suddenly so completely interested and absorbed with, she tried to imagine what sorts of things she might not even know existed. Her brown eyes were glittering in excitement, or was that the ale she was ingesting like water?
Gunn was content to let Mele play out her game and simply smiled, taking a slow drink from her mug before replying, bright eyes watchful. "I myself am more interested in the places the books, yes there are several, describe than the animals." The peoples, too, though she need not mention that. Gunnwale was a Vhaid, and her lot was with societies. Observant and having lost all semblance of timidness years ago, she didn't shift her gaze from Mele once as they spoke. "Your interest in the waters seem quite sudden. Is this because of your latest glasswork project?"
"This and that. When you get down to it, I rely quite a bit on water. Water to keep my clay wet, water that needs vessels to be poured into and poured from. Really, water and drink is one of the only reasons a ceramicist is employed. Asides plates and dishes and novelty items and the like. In fact, I made the mugs that Colby uses throughout the Game House. Wooden ones just simply wouldn't do, is what I remember her saying." And with that, she finished her second full mug of ale and attempted to catch the eye of the bartender for another refill. At this rate, maybe she would even manage to get carried home.
Now, that would be a treat. All tucked up in a pair of warm, dark arms holding her and careful not to jostle her too much as they went up the stairs. Better yet, warm lips on hers making sure she was comfortable and hands supporting her back and rump while she clung onto a dark torso with loose arms and tight legs and there she was again. Lost in her own little world.
Pupils dilating from the momentary day dream, she glanced up from the bar to see her mug had been refilled and a gaze watching her.
"Just a new train of thought."
Gunn raised an eyebrow, noting that Mele was well on her way to a good drunk, and nodded a bit. She liked that the Olplyn realized how dependent she was upon the Vhaid's favorite thing. The taller jivviness was in a much better mood than when Mele'd first arrived and it showed by the smile that lingered on her face as she proceeded to outline the first book she'd be lending out to Mele. It was a bit of a big deal, to share her grandfather's possessions. "There are amazing fish, so much more colorful than the ones we have here, and the sizes! So small to so large." A shake of the head and she used a bright fingertip to trace on the bar. "The whales... Amazing. You would love dolphins." A laugh. "Some of them... A jivvin of my height is this small compared to a whale..."
Gunn was a bit excited herself and readily polished off yet another mug as she spoke and traced.
Mele motioned towards the bartender and asked for a pen and any stray blank piece of paper before she lost any of the excitement and wonder that was flooding through her. And another mug of ale for the both of them wouldn't be misplaced. Finally recieving both items that she asked for, the jivviness started drawing and sketching things that she pictured the sea animals to look like, and then showing Gunn and making swift changes to all of her small doodles, with size scales as needed. It didn't help that her vision was starting to tilt a little and her art was never as good as the images inside her head, but she figured that she might be able to make some sense of the pictures in the morning.
Hopefully.
"With eight... tentacles. Like.. arms without bones. How would an octopus move without being eaten!" Deciding that she really needed to excuse herself and find her way to the restroom, she held up a finger and said she would be right back, only swaying a bit and bumping into two chairs on her way there.
"My grandfather's theory was that they sucked water in and pushed it out behind them. Muscles, too! Water's not that hard to move in..." Gunn laughed at Mele's amazement and her drawings [they were cute but not very good, Gunn really should've been the one with the pen] and nodded goodnaturedly as the Olplyn excused herself. She quickly found herself entertained by the company of another Vhaid, the two exchanging pleasantries and news for a few minutes before the dark jivviness was left to her own devices once more. Content to listen to the chaos around herself she finished her mug, realizing it was about time to call it a night.
Mele managed to find herself a way out of the bathroom and was immediately bombarded with loud sounds and bright lights enough to make her squint at the frivolities of the Game House. Trying to locate the other woman she was with, she slowly started to weave in and out of the people there, smiling brightly and swinging her hips far too much. In fact, if she were properly sober, she might have noticed the scene she was causing in her wake, waving and greeting people as she went.
Giggling a bit, her good luck finally cut out right before she managed to approach the table and tripped over her own feet, though she would argue there was something on the floor that managed to cause the ensuing events. The brunette caught herself on a chair before it slid a bit and she landed, face down, in Gunn's lap. Quite happy enough to find herself there, she nuzzled her cheek against the space between the crotch of Gunn's pants and her lower stomach, and may have purred. Though she would argue it was simply Gunn's own stomach, making the noise.
Yes, Gunn had been correct in her realization. Shifting at the sudden contact, the Vhaid calmly slid from her seat, hands going down to slide under Mele's arms and help her up as she did so. "No more for you, Miss Mele." Luckily, the tavern was crowded enough, the company distracting enough, that most didn't really focus on the interaction at the bar [although the tender certainly got a kick out of it]. "Let's get you home." Supporting and leading the Olplyn from the Game House, she took a deep breath of the cool night air. Sunny, tomorrow. Now bright eyes turned to the drunk female at her side trying gauge if she could walk all the way home. It would certainly be more dignified for her, although Gunn had no qualms about carrying Mele on her back.
"Shall we walk, then?" An offered arm.
Completely not okay with the loss of contact, the drunken mess of a female decided that was the perfect time to pout and made sure the evidence was very clear on her face. She managed to grab her drawings before Gunn tugged her out of the building and into the street where she easily managed to trip over her feet again. Mele grabbed at Gunn and only just saved herself from a very painful face plant on the street.
Grin wide on her face, she decided to get her all out of the interaction.
"No, you should carry me." Not even attempting to hide her glee, she laughed and waggled her brows in short succession. "C'mon, Gunn. Wanna' go home."
"Alright." Hiding any surprise behind extreme amusement, Gunnwale turned her back to Mele, boosting the shorter jivviness onto her back and holding her securely under her knees. No way was she carrying her another way, not the twenty minute walk to her home. Gunn was quite strong, but she'd had a bit to drink herself, after all. "Wouldn't want you hurting yourself before the second marketday."
The quiet type, Gunn habitually fell into silence as she began walking, Mele was light enough to not be a strain and a warm weight in the slight breeze. Time passed quickly for the intoxicated.
Far too quickly, for Mele's taste. Really, in fact, she was more concerned with the expanse of dark skin, just waiting to be licked and touched and tasted and really, what better way to show her appreciation for the ride back home. Raising her chin from it's resting place on Gunn's shoulder, the jivviness pressed a soft, warm kiss to the nape of her neck, as her hands and fingers started to wander over her shoulders and down her strong biceps. And perhaps that brush of fingers over her left breast was exactly on purpose.
Not exactly waiting for a change of scene, she hardly noticed when they passed her favourite tree that marked the start of the path that diverged towards her house. Gunn managed to get her inside the house before Mele noticed and was reasonably irked. "I just suppose I can't manage to get up those stairs, either."
Gunn's only noticeable reaction to that kiss, hot and wet against her cool skin, was a brief slowing of pace and audible intake of breath. It wasn't really in the Vhaid's nature to turn down her friends and company for a good time, and really, this was no exception. In fact, she'd been waiting for Mele to make her decision awhile now, and well... Gunn really disliked sleeping alone the few nights she actually spent in the village. Eying the stairs, her low, soft voice held a hearty amount of wry amusement before she entered the house.
"No, I don't suppose you can."
----------------------
Awaking at the same time as always, the sky was still dark, Mele still asleep. Quiet, with years of practice, she slid from the bed without disturbing the younger jivviness. Pulling on her clothing and taking one of Mele's sketches from the night before she made her way from the home to begin her days work. One had to wonder if the Olplyn would be up in time to escort her nephew. She probably had quite the hangover...
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:06 pm
[[I'm rusty. Shaddap, Indu.
Sorry for the issues, people. Everything should be edited out now.]]
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