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 Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 8:35 am
[1/10]
Sariza had never been in a tavern before. She’d been around drunkards through her work with the city guard and the troops she trained, but to actually go inside….Honestly, the opportunity just had never presented itself. It was their last night in Matori, the boys were being looked after and instead of keeping to themselves the idea of ‘letting loose’ a little had been brought up. At this point she wasn’t sure if it was her idea, Faisal’s, or one of the staffs, but she was wondering why she’d ever agreed.
It was loud and wreaked of sweat. The tavern itself was on the dock so the open windows carried the salt of the sea inside and the melody of the bard out onto the waves. There weren’t many Obans there; actually, other than the native matorians, there were only a handful of foreigners. Not that it seemed to bother them; coin was coin. “This was a mistake,” Sariza murmured.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 8:36 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"Maybe, maybe not." Stated Faisal with what he hoped was an optimistic expression. There had been so much tension lately with the return to Oba swiftly approaching that the staff had suggested he take the night out with Sariza. While Faisal was not exactly certain how going to a seaside tavern could bring them any sort of release from their burdens the man had finally agreed to check it out. If anything he was almost reminded of his teenage years when he often sneaked into less than story places for nobility, the thrill of the crude establishments always finding some appeal for him and his twin.
"Since we're already here we may as well take a seat, right? Have a few drinks?" Faisal smiled towards Sariza before glancing at a group of sailors lingering behind them. The hybrid gave a nod as if in greeting towards the group and then moved away. Faisal wanted to quickly wrap an arm around Sariza before dragging her into a more private booth where the men couldn't be staring at either of their asses as they stood about.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 8:38 am
[2/10]
“If you say so.” She look at the mix-matched seating with a thinly veiled looked of apprehension. While the place looked clean and well kept she couldn’t say as much for the bodies in the tavern. She’d seen men and women like this countless times before when she drug their bodies into the nearest cell.
Sariza saw the look Faisal tossed to the sailors and the subsequent looks they gave to them.
“My laps big enough for both of ya!” One of the sailors slapped his thighs with a great, booming laugh and flashed a toothy grin their way. Sariza promptly turned away and dipped into the private booth.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 9:38 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"Uh huh." Faisal could only shake his head with amusement before slipping into the booth after Sariza. "We haven't had any drinks yet so it wouldn't be proper to start a barfight now." He mused almost looking disappointed before waving over a server. "A couple of mugs and your best brew. Bread, smoked fish and cheese to go with it, thanks."
At least they could settle in while the Matori went after food and drinks for them. Faisal glanced about again, his gaze finally landing back on Sariza. "It's got a sort of charm...kind of."
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 9:45 am
[3/10]
"The music's good." A young matorian was singing along with some local lyrics, bouncing along to a jaunty little rhythm her cohorts kept up for her. At first Sariza thought it was innocent enough until a lyric about a fisherman's wife caused her skin to heat up. Of course the sailors all loved it and a loud chorus of laughter swamped the tavern.
He was right, though; there was a charm to it. It certainly wasn't some place that Sariza wanted to frequent, but it was nice to see so many souls being themselves. "It reminds me of my unit. Sometimes when they think they aren't being watched they'll act like children again. Hard to believe it's the same men." When their server came back around Sariza attempted to thank them, but the room got too loud once again. So, instead, she just smiled and nodded.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 11:24 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"You would be surprised what the restrictions of rank and duties do to a person." Faisal noted, his gaze gleaming with amusement as he had noticed the flush that the song had created. "Out here everyone has had a hard enough day so it's best to just forget about it all and let loose." The hybrid gave a shrug of his shoulders before giving a slight wave towards the server in thanks for the food. He plated some of the fish and pushed it towards Sariza. "The saltiness usually helps with the ale." He offered loudly to make up for the noise in the tavern. It looked like the singer was starting another jaunty, this one teasing about how to wake up a sleeping sailor early in the morning.
"The quieter the tavern the more worried I am." Teased Faisal as he grabbed his own mug of ale and looked back to Sariza. "I'm guessing you haven't really experienced many, right?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 11:33 am
[4/10]
Sariza had never been much of a drinker before getting involved with Faisal. Her father had always forbade it on the grounds that alcohol impaired ones judgement and the wines of noble parties didn't compare to the harsh, pungent taste of sea faring ale. The moment the drink trickled down her throat Sariza nearly choked and found her eyes scrunching up. "Gods, that's horrid." Dozens of hardened fishermen were knocking back entire tankards at a time and she...well, she needed the fish to take the taste out of her mouth.
"The only time I've ever been in a tavern was to drag someone out." She pinched off a piece of bread, layered it with fish and cheese and took a bite. "Father said they were a waste of resources so I've never been." Honestly, pairing the ale with food helped, but the aftertaste was still worse than she cared for.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 1:52 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Faisal chuckled at the reaction. "It grows on some people though I much prefer wine." Not too much usually but a nice glass or two always helped in the evenings when he was studying documents and struggling to sleep. The hybrid took another swig of his drink and placed the mug back on the table with a thud. It always helped to drink quickly so that the taste didn't have too much of a chance to linger in your mouth. The important part was the warmth that spread through his stomach as the ale went down. Sariza's reaction to the drink, well reaction to any drinking really, was the reason Faisal had made certain to keep pitchers of water with sliced fruits throughout the rooms at home.
"That sounds about right." Admitted Faisal with a sigh. "You missed out. Some days there were quite a few entertaining scenes in Sulburi taverns. We may have gotten a bit too carried away in Jatine once or twice as well." Faisal shook his head. "Not that I was horrid, mind you. I just enjoyed participating whenever things got heated and parties started fighting." It wouldn't be a true experience without a bar fight as tempting as that was.
"This place seems a bit more tame despite the music and the jokes. " Faisal noted as he reached across to copy how Sariza was eating their simple fare. "I guess this is letting loose for some people. A few rounds of ale and some songs." Maybe they could get away with a trip down the cove too, but Faisal wanted to wait a little bit longer. The night was still young and they were for the most part kicked out of the manor by his staff until night.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2022 3:47 pm
[5/10]
Since she wasn't about to waste it, Sariza took smaller drinks of her ale and forced it down through sheer will. The more she drank of it the easier it got to swallow, but she also supposed that must have been the cheese's influence. It was saltier than anything she'd had in Oba, but paired with the sweet bread it worked out very nicely.
"Why am I not surprised? You were skulking around alleyways when we first met." Sariza was surprised to see that the server had returned and was already in the process of walking away, having left two full steins, before she could even stop them. The music was kicking up a bit and several drunk patrons were sloppily making their way to the floor - pulling their friends with them - and bumping hips as they 'danced'. It was nowhere near as wild as some of the street festivals she'd seen, but they were lively in their own way.
"I can't say I don't see the appeal. Coming here after a long day must be nice." She'd just reached for a piece of bread when a younger matori made his way to their table. The man was neither a teenager nor was he quite as old as the pair of them, but he was traditionally handsome. Fins a little too big for his head, maybe, but even that had it's charms. "Would you want to dance with me?"
At first she thought he'd been talking to her, but the matorian's eyes were solely on Faisal.
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Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2022 8:28 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"Pfft. Last time I checked you were the one lurking about and I approached because I mistook you for a thief." Replied Faisal with a teasing grin. That had been a fun encounter and even better when they met the next time for an arranged marriage! His gaze gleamed with amusement even when he noticed the music coming to life and the tavern filling up with dancing bodies in the open floor. Even if it was a bit sloppy the patrons looked like they were having fun and Faisal had to wonder what it must be like. Everything he had done in the past several years since slipping into his role as heir had limited him from doing such reckless things. Noble parties had to have arranged meetings, dances filled up on cards with precise movements to match the much less rowdy music played at the events. It was far more stifling and not as refreshing as this seaside tavern with its brawnier patrons and lively music.
Faisal found himself blinking in surprise when he realized the Matori was focused on him. "I'm flattered, but..." He winked towards Sariza. "I think I've already got a dance partner." The hybrid took a final drink of his mug before standing and holding out a hand towards his wife. "Maybe next dance though." He promised the Matori before wiggling his fingers to gesture Sariza forward. "When in Matori do as the Matori do?" Why not? When else would they get to just do these silly things without anyone around to judge them?
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Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2022 8:40 am
"That's a matter of opinion." Because she wasn't the one skulking about; he was. She punctuated her statement by taking a sharp bite of her cheese and watching him. There was a light that came over Faisal here; something she really hadn't been able to see before. He'd loosened up around her, but in a place like this he could really shake off the shackles of his station. For a moment she was seeing what sort of man her husband was really like and she wondered if maybe this wasn't something she should try to do again in the future? The matorian's cheeks flushed a deep indigo before nodding and slipping back to his seat, a group of young patrons clapping him on the back and congratulating him on at least trying. What must that have been like? Going out with friends and casually flirting? Sariza rolled her eyes and took another drink before slipping out of their booth. "I'm just bad enough at dancing that I might blend in."
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:13 am
[Sabra via Discord]
Faisal chuckled at the Matorian and his companions. It was admittedly a bit flattering to have been the group's target and he was slightly tempted to follow up later just to put the whole group through a twist.
But for now his focus was on Sariza. "Perfect." Faisal grinned as he took Sariza's hand. "Isn't that the goal after all? To blend in?" He teased his companion before leading her through the throng of dancing people, some even boldly dancing with half a mug of ale in hand as the music continued on with a cheery beat.
"If you'd like I can misstep a few beats?" He offered before the song transitioned into a local jig, the dancing changing as others started to twist into position ready to bounce between partners. "I believe there's clapping involved with this one." He commented before letting go of Sariza's hand to walk backwards to face his partner from across the open floor.
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:23 am
[7/10]
"What and have two of us flopping around? Don't." She couldn't help the sardonic chortle that slipped out. Even if she were a perfectly poised dancer, court events didn't have the same rules as a tavern jaunt. In all honesty she did blend in better here where the focus was more on the passion of the moment than any sort of technique.
While she wasn't entirely comfortable with the entire situation, there was no hiding the thrill of it. Each of the women on her sides encouraged her to step along with them when the time was right, and demonstrated a few of the steps before things got underway. Of course one of the girls was a little too into it all, much to the amusement of her partner across the way.
"You don't have much of a backside, but y'er front'll do the trick. When you turn, make sure to dip a little; he'll like that," she murmured.
Ah, well, that was...certainly a thought...
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2022 10:12 am
It was admittedly fun to dance along with the tavern jaunt. Faisal knew others may consider it silly but just letting loose like this without any fear of restrictions or keeping up appearances was somehow relaxing. Even though there was so much on his mind lately, the fun of the moment, the laughter and energy in the tavern kept the shadows at bay. A chuckle left his lips as he watched one of the girls getting closer to Sariza who was obviously having a bit of fun with the newcomer. For once he didn’t have to worry that someone was approaching them with a knife in their pocket which was refreshing. Maybe in the future once this was all over they could take a true trip somewhere and enjoy all of the little moments like these and even enjoy some in their own home.
“Best be curfal.” Teased a Matori as she brushed past Faisal with a wink. “She may try to woo ‘er too if ya let ‘er.” The woman twisted around her own partner, her indigo skirts twisting her up legs as she pulled another after her to join in with them to dance.
Still, Faisal found himself pulled away as the partners shifted so that they were facing strangers yet again. This time though the Matori boy from earlier was with him and Faisal made certain to spend a good portion of the song dancing with him to the amusement of his friends who teased him from the sides. But then as the song transitioned into something sweeter and gentler, Faisal said his farewells with a playful wink before moving to steal Sariza from the Matori woman who had been partnered up with her during the last reel. “Something quieter to end the night?” Faisal asked with a warm smile as he held out a hand to his wife once more. “Would it be too cliche to ask for a stroll along the beach once we finish this dance and our drinks?”
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2022 12:13 pm
Any anxiety Sariza had about the dance was swept away as surely as a wave of skirts crested around them. Soon enough she was moving in tune with the music, kicking her legs up like any of the other women, just without the colors of their garb. For a moment she was able to get close enough to Faisal to toss him a smile, but soon enough Sariza was pulled away for new dance partners.
One in particular, it seemed. At first she thought the woman was simply trying to be nice, but after one too many accidental touches Sariza started to catch on. She was being as polite as a bar maid could be, of course, but she also was far from shy. Sariza had never seen that much cleavage from another woman in her life, but she couldn't say it wasn't fun to dance with her. From what she could tell Faisal was giving that boy from earlier his chance so why not have a little fun herself? Besides, in the midst of the flirting Sariza was being taught how to do the dance and having a good time while doing so.
By the time her husband stole her away Sariza was sweaty and warm, but happy. Honestly, she couldn't remember the last time she'd felt like this. "I think we have enough excitement in our marriage that we don't have to worry about cliches."
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