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RESPITE MARKETPLACE - AFTERNOON
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Piper leaves a small shop, squinting against the sun as she straightens up from the doorway. She sighs quietly to herself, glancing up at the sign hanging just above head height to her right, muttering to herself. "Only twice? Too soon, then." She grunts, leaving the spiced meat shop behind and heading into the marketplace proper. Lacking any proper leads for now, Piper's taken to visiting anyplace she spots in her exploring that James might have visited from what she knows he liked. She comes up even with Jennica and Emmeline's stall, glancing around for any other relatively exotic butchers and similar outlandish tastes.
Rhask is currently knitting a custom order from a canine couple that had passed through the marketplace earlier in the day. Now that the raids have stopped, caravans have been able to make it through easily, if cautiously, and the subsequent rise in spirits have made people a bit more relaxed with buying again. She hums a little song to herself as she knits, the beat keeping time to the clicking of her knitting needles.
Piper catches the humming and ticking of needles as she shuffles a bit to the side, letting herself be less of an obstruction to the shopping crowd. Turning automatically to the relatively familiar sound, she steps closer to the stall to find the sound, ducking a bit to avoid the awning. "Hello..." She blinks at the trinkets that seem to be the main focus of product.
Rhask smiles as she looks up, only to blink in surprise as she sees a giant of a crocodile looking down at her. The shock of seeing someone so large makes her pause her knitting for the moment, just so she doesn't accidentally jab herself. "Oh! Uh, hello there! Can I help you?"
Piper is not unfamiliar with the reaction, grinning a bit. "Sorry, not really. Maybe. The sound is... Familiar. Nice." She ducks all the way into the stall's front area, squatting a bit and doing her best to only occupy half the realestate. "Professional?"
Rhask tilts her head curiously. "The... sound? You mean my humming or..." She glances down at her knitting needles, "Oh! You mean my knitting? N-no, I'm not really a professional, well... not a proper professional, anyway. I don't have a degree or anything like that, at least, but I've been knitting and tailoring since I was a little lizard."
Piper smiles, nodding. "Some don't need teaching. Time and focus. She tilts her head a bit, getting a look at Rhask's own outfit. "That looks warm. I like the shape and colors. What's the style?"
Rhask sits up a bit straighter and smiles rather proudly as Piper look at her clothes. "It's warm and cozy, yup! It's all in the style of my hometown, from northern Vamas!" She looks out at the sun beating down on the marketplace for a moment, then back up at Piper, "And it does a pretty good job of keeping the sun from getting to me, too."
Piper nods again, letting her tail rest on the ground behind her as a stiff support. "Vamas ay? Rarely visited, a bit cold for me. Keeping the sun off? I suppose cold is more for you..." She chuckles her three notes.
Rhask nods. "It is, kind of. The warmth here in Respite is nice, but I've lived up in Vamas since I was born. I like it when the days are cooler, but I was worried I'd have to make completely new clothing for myself if it got too hot, here."
Piper hums to herself, tilting her head a bit. "Heard it does get much warmer, ay. Desert, after all. But good thing you and I are cold blooded, ay? Shade, cold water, you'll be fine." She smiles, "From Orela, myself. Used to humid heat, basking in the sun."
Rhask giggles and smiles as she starts to knit again, albeit slowly so she can focus on Piper. "I think I like the dry heat here, because northern Vamas is similar, just... you know, cold. Too cold for it to get all sticky and humid, anyway." She hums thoughtfully, "Though... basking in the sun sounds nice... Maybe one day."
Piper chuckles, eyes drawn to the motion of the needles as she goes. It's a bit soothing to her, taking her mind off the stress of her investigation for a bit. "It's nice. Dry doesn't agree with these scales." She pats her arm, pushing her sleeve up. It tightens around her forearm, but hadn't seemed so loose before she moved it. Much of her plain-at-a-glance blouse is the same, remaining short of wrinkles across her torso and shoulders as she moves.
Rhask hums and nods as she gets a good look at Piper's muscular arm, and noting the fabric of her blouse at the same moment. "At least there are a bunch of places nearby to soak in, right? The heat dries everything out, so I can see why you'd like something more humid." She tilts her head, "But... doesn't the water cause problems with your clothing? A lot of materials I know about don't play too well with extended soaking."
Piper shrugs, sliding the sleeve back into it's proper place. "Father soaked it in an oil. Boiled out of tortoise shells. Sheds water. Usually undress for long swims, though. Also makes it a bit stretchy."
Rhask nods in agreement. "I can see that from how form-fitting your top is. The material doesn't really seem to mind how you move, either, so there has to be some stretchiness to it." She pauses for a moment, giving Piper a curious look, "Your father's a tailor?"
Piper smiles proudly, nodding. "Yes. Very good, and busy. A bit clever, I think. Might be biased. Cloth isn't stretchy enough. Tore a lot of shirts." She turns, lifting her arm to show the side seams, making a V down the shirt. As she moves, they spread and shift, revealing cleverly shaped and hidden panels of cloth that seem to act like drawstrings, shifting tension as needed with her movements.
Rhask leans in a bit to get a better look at the fabric and clever sewing. "Huh... I never thought to do something like that before. I guess it's easier with thinner fabrics, though..." She hums thoughtfully as she sits back again, "Hm... I bet I could learn a lot just from looking at the clothes your father makes."
Piper chuckles her three notes, the pride clear in her smile as she relaxes again. "Could lend you something to study. Have spares. A ah... Ruined one, you could keep, even."
Rhask smiles. "If it's not just tatters, I could still learn some things from studying the ruined one! That way, you can get rid of it, and not have to give up a good shirt for a little while." She glances at her own creations for a moment, "I'm not sure how well I could make it all work with the materials I use, but it'd still be something worth learning!"
Piper also looks to the other clothes, nodding. "Never know ahead. Could just be inspiration. How long have you been in Respite?"
Rhask spends a few seconds thinking before she answers. "About six months, I think? Might be a bit longer, but I arrived a bit before all these attacks started happening."
Piper nods, looking back up from the stall's contents to Rhask. "Poor impression. Been told it's usually peaceful." So Rhask arrived after James was killed. An unconnected thread, of sorts. "They're who ruined my shirt. Ah... It may have blood. Considering that."
Rhask shrugs a bit, not seeming all that thrown off by the mention of blood. "Well... you're still standing here, unless you're a spirit of some sort, so the blood won't bother me. I'm glad you came out of it okay, though... I heard the attacks were pretty awful."
Piper hums, her smile slipping. "They were. We had fighters. More than just guards. Still barely scraped by." She sighs. "Caravans have been coming. Hopefully it's over soon."
Rhask nods and offers a smile of her own. "Yeah, I've been seeing merchants coming and going as of late, and news has been that the roads seem safe again, especially with Dorri helping up in her observatory. With a lot of the guards out to the west, hopefully things go back to normal soon enough."
Piper looks to Rhask, reassured by that lizard's confidence. "You're right. Was supposed to be a short trip. Ah well, no purpose dwelling." She straightens up, careful to not bump the awning as she stands. "Will bring the clothes later. Let you get back to knitting. Thank you for talking."
Rhask smiles warmly as she resumes knitting again with slow, practiced movements as she continues to watch Piper. "I'll be here for the rest of the afternoon, miss! Thank you for stopping by! There's not much going on at the moment, so feel free to spend some time whenever you want to chat."
Piper blinks as she pauses, blushing slightly under her scales. "Ah. Piper. Piper Hatnay. Sorry. The needles were so familiar..."
Rhask grins happily and dips into a short bow. "Rhask Akasha! I knit all the time, here in the marketplace, whenever there aren't any customers to help. Glad to meet you, miss Piper!"
Piper bows slightly in return, quietly chuckling. "And you. Back later, take care." She bows her head slightly again, though perhaps half out of respect and half to avoid the awning frame as she turns with a wave, heading back into the marketplace to continue her day.
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ELIZABETH'S 'MANOR' - NOONISH
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Elizabeth is sitting in her "grand study" (a chair and a table in her spare room), reading a book on arcane summons while idly petting the puppy on her lap. The small dog has gotten slightly more shape, resembling a long-haired chihuahua or similar small poofball. The skunk is still not certain on how "real" this dog is, and some part of her both hopes and fears it might vanish if she gets too attached.
Teis: Teis has had a few days to mull over her last encounter with Elizabeth, thinking about her stance on the matter. She's come to a conclusion, one that she feels is necessary to share with Elizabeth as soon as she works up the courage to do so, rather than waiting for their next lesson which may or may not happen all things given how Teis reacted to the information. The cat has dressed up as she normally would for Elizabeth. While advertising her wealth to the people of Respite is something that she'd like to avoid, staying on Elizabeth's good side is worth any sacrifice, for the pursuit of knowledge and furthering her skills tops all. With a deep breath, she knocks on Elizabeth's door.
Elizabeth perks up from the study-induced stupor, blinking: "M-mhm? Who might that be?" She gets up, the puppy jumping off of her and to the floor, staying near the hems of her dress as she walks. She opens the door and can't hide her surprise: "Teis?"
Teis: "Hi, um. Lady Catherine." Teis greets Elizabeth sheepishly. "I've, um. I wanted to. Ah. . ." She pauses, glancing away briefly, muttering something to herself. She looks back to Elizabeth, "Look, I'm sorry about how I took you opening up to me. I don't care who you used to be. You've been nice to me, and you're a nice person now? Yeah. . ." Teis pauses, "And I shouldn't be. . .Ah, punishing? Your honesty. I'm sorry."
Elizabeth takes this all in, nodding as Teis speaks. "Well... I thought you deserved to know, regardless. It is up to you what you do with that knowledge." She pauses, taking a breath: "...and I was not honestly that surprised." She looks at her meager 'manor' behind her: "...I've had a lot of time to think, here in Respite. Come on in." She steps out of the way and into what passes for a living room, a couch that's not entirely eaten through by bugs. Funny how one gets used to a lot less amenities when options are limited.
Teis: Teis nods back at Elizabeth humbly, entering the Skunk's abode. She follows, then takes a seat on Elizabeth's couch. "I just. I've known bad people. Just. . .Not seen them change? But I guess I'm young, and not known those people for long. I. . .I don't know, I guess. I don't know what I'm talking about." Teis repeats. "But, again. You've been nice to me? Is it. . .Morally wrong to keep talking to you despite knowing?"
Elizabeth sits down next to Teis and gives the cat a look: "That is up to you to decide. I will continue teaching you if you wish me to, but I can not change who I was or who I am."
Teis: Teis nods. "Well. . .I still want you to keep teaching me. And I still want to keep talking to you. Don't care what anyone else says, I guess."
Elizabeth blinks in slight surprise, but then chuckles: "You sound like I once did. Learn what I want to, and damn what anyone thinks of it." She hums: "Got me into a lot of trouble, but also into a fair amount of knowledge I otherwise would not have gotten."
Teis: Teis nods. "I've always. . .Wanted to pursue knowledge above all else. I don't know, it's what keeps me going I suppose. I mean, I like to keep busy and working, but. . .Learning in and of itself is my passion. Like, what am I going to do with a spell that turns water green? Don't know, but I like that I know it. You know?"
Elizabeth nods, humming: "I have always pursued personal gain, but... I can not deny that just knowing more about the arcane did not also drive me." She gives a low laugh, getting a wistful look for a moment: "Beneath notice yet above reproach, that's what I was. Scrawny little skunk kid, but of a wealthy enough family that not many dared pursue consequences for me snooping in their private libraries..."
Teis: "I used to break into places to learn, when I was very young. . .But that was back when I didn't have a choice. It was either break the law, or. . .Well, starve to death. Both physically and mentally speaking." Teis replies. "Still, I find it. . .Both morally and ethically wrong to withhold knowledge from anyone, really. It's why I have so much respect for the Loremaster. Dunno if I'd want to be one, but maybe?"
Elizabeth shrugs: "It's a possibility. Not my pursuit of choice, certainly, but you might be different in that regard." She finds the small puppy in her lap again, blinking at it once but mentally shrugging trying to explain it as she starts petting it: "I'm not that... altruistic, I think."
Teis: "Yeah, maybe. Though I do like also doing magic, so. Teacher, maybe? I don't know. Kinda just do what Della tells me to do at the moment." Teis hums. She looks down at the puppy, smiling at it. She tentatively reaches a hand out close to it, though doesn't touch.
Narrator: The puppy sniffs curiously at Teis, gives her hand a lick, then returns to pretend-sleeping in Elizabeth's lap.
Elizabeth smiles at the exchange, then leans back: "I can not really tell you what to do, not when all I have done are wrong choices really. Just do what I did not, maybe?" She chuckles, shaking her head.
Teis: Teis carefully scratches at the Puppy's head, her claws fantastic for scritches! "I'll do my best, Lady Catherine." Teis glances away briefly, thinking. After a moments pause, she turns back, "Many people try to tell me what to do and how to live, Lady Catherine. But. . .You are one of the few I respect enough to actually listen to. Not even Pa has that respect from me."
Elizabeth nods slowly: "Whenever I got told what I should be doing, I basically just did the opposite." She accents her voice slightly, towards more posh: "'Don't you dare go see that lascivious fashion show, young lady!' Well yeah, I sort of did. Ended up marrying the guy putting it together, too."
Teis: Elizabeth's parody makes Teis giggle openly. "Right? Ugh. That is exactly Pa. And Sis sometimes too." Teis replies. "Pa's not gonna approve of Enver. . ." Teis sighs.
Elizabeth tilts her head slightly, humming: "That might be a hurdle. My parents, uh... mostly approved of Harold, although they wished he'd spend less time with the underwear models... even after I became one." She pauses: "...long story."
Teis: "Hurdle for him, maybe." Teis attempts to project feeling fine about it, though it's clear that she isn't. "You were a model?"
Elizabeth nods: "I had the body shape for it - even if Harold was biased beyond belief - and the requisite 'look at me and dream, boy' attitude." She blinks, something occurring to her as she looks down at her definitely-less-wrinkly body: "Well... still sort of do, I guess. Again."
Teis: "And you still managed to learn so much. . .Hm." Teis considers this. "Was. . .Harold aware? About your um. Nevermind. That's personal, and doesn't matter."
Elizabeth considers Teis: "It is personal, and..." Her expression darkens for a second: "...yes, let us go with the 'nevermind' for now."
Teis: Teis nods, ears cupping back and expression saddening. "Sorry." Teis apologizes quietly.
Elizabeth sighs, looking down at the puppy: "Don't worry about it. Ancient history, for some. Not a good conversation topic, regardless."
Teis: Teis focuses her gaze on the puppy as well, falling silent awkwardly.
Elizabeth is silent for a bit, before looking back up on Teis: "So..." She fails to continue though, nothing suitable coming to her mind.
Teis: "So!" Teis almost immediately mirrors Elizabeth from her nervousness. "I uh. We're good, right? I should go." She pre-emptively begins to stand.
Elizabeth smiles, relaxing: "Or you can show me if you have learned anything since last time. Or what you wish to learn next."
Teis: "Oh, uh. Yeah, sure!" Teis perks up, sitting back down on the couch. She begins to talk to Elizabeth and show off more of her magic. . .