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RESPITE TOWN SQUARE - AFTERNOON
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Narrator: A bit of a crowd has gathered in the town square as the street noises are occasionally interrupted by a cheer and a bit of applause.
Vix notices the crowd as she walks with Nesseth through the town, and lightly begins to pull him toward it by the sleeve. "Ooh, something fun's going on today?"
Nesseth chuckles a bit as he follows along with Vix's urging, having finally gotten some time to start unwinding again after all the stuff that's happened recently. "Of course something fun's going on today, Vix. You helped set this whole festival up!"
Vix pushes her way through the crowd, deftly pulling Nesseth along. "I mean yeah, but there's still lots of surprises!"
Nesseth follows right behind Vix, the lithe feline doing quite an admirable job of pulling him along in her wake as she weaves through the crowd. "So, what's this surprise, then? I can't see from back here just yet."
Narrator: At the focus of the crowd is a handsome golden dogfellow (a woodcarver apprentice, Vix recalls) appearing to officiate a battle of spinning tops in a large wooden bowl. two competitors crouch opposite each other over the bowl, cheering on their fighter with gusto.
Vix 's eyes sparkle as she gets to the front of the crowd, and she immediately starts to track the darting tops. "Ah! How exciting!!"
Nesseth draws up just behind Vix, then carefully nudges into a space next to her once she stops. He tilts his head as he watches the game unfolding in front of him. "Huh... battle tops? Those are a lot of fun!"
Vix joins the crowd's cheer as one of the tops is sent flying out of the arena. One competitor falls to his knees dramatically, then laughs and shakes his opponent's paw.
Nesseth stoops down to catch the defeated top mid-flight as it gets knocked clean out of the arena. He grins and claps along with the cheering, before returning the top to the canine woodcarver.
Narrator: The host accepts the top and reminds the crowd that there's plenty of top sets on sale at the nearby booth, then grins at Nesseth. "Ah, you're one of the rescue team! Want to give it a go with your gal?"
Nesseth blinks at the offer, then laughs and nods as he waves Vix over. "Sure, we'll give it a shot. Come on, Vix, let's try it out and see how we do!"
Vix giggles and comes up alongside Nesseth as the host introduces them to the crowd. "Hehe, good move, Ness~"
Nesseth looks at the arm that caught the top and chuckles quietly. "I'm just glad I've got most of my dexterity back in this arm already. Feels good to be almost back to normal."
Narrator: The host presents the two with several tops. Some have notches carved in the edges, some have additional metal weights, some have flashy decorative paint.
Vix selects a top that's toothed like a gear. "This one's got claws. I like it~"
Nesseth selects one of the tops that seems a bit heftier, but not overly weighed down. It has a couple of notches on either end, but the edges that collide are otherwise smooth. "This one looks like a good contender. I'll use it!"
Narrator: The host quickly demonstrates hot to use the tops, winding the string around the stem and pulling it while holding a special handle. He then has the two take places on opposite sides of the wooden bowl arena.
Vix grins at Nesseth with her top at the ready. "What's the winner get~?"
Nesseth hums thoughtfully, then smiles back as he gets an idea. "Choice of dinner tonight."
Vix giggles and gets ready to pull the string. "You're on~!"
Narrator: The host counts down from three, then drops a hand to signal the start of the match!
Nesseth readies up, and gives the string a good tug, loosing his top into the arena amidst cheers from the crowd. "Let's go, Vix~"
Vix launches her top to meet Nesseth's, pulling the string with a bit of flair and follow-through.
Nesseth's top lands smoothly, the curve of the bowl helping it build up momentum as both tops streak towards the center to land their first strikes. He watches his top intensely as he takes a few seconds the get the launcher sorted, finding himself unable to resist rooting for it along with the crowd's general cheers.
Vix 's sharp eyes follow both tops as she tries to will hers to attack and dodge. Unfortunately it takes a big hit right after the launch and seems to stagger a bit!
Nesseth can't help but grin and pump a fist as his top hits Vix's one rather solidly, but as his top comes back down from the slope of the bowl, one of the teeth on Vix's top catches his and sends it wobbling off to the side with a solid clacking sound, drawing a cringe from him and a couple of groans from the crowd.
Vix urges her top to press the advantage, and it seemingly does so, moving in for another attack!
Nesseth meets Vix's top back in the middle, but neither can seem to gain ground during the next exchange as they bump against each other and start to circle around without really landing a solid hit either way, at least for the moment.
Vix chuckles, encouraging her combatant to keep her opponent guessing~
Nesseth's top gets knocked a little ways up the bowl from a seemingly solid hit by Vix's top, but once it reaches the apex of its ascent, the extra weight plays to its advantage, and it starts to come back down a bit faster than expected. He keeps his gaze focused on the top with a smile, trying to will it to collide solidly with Vix's.
Vix flinches as her top takes another solid hit and wobbles dangerous. "Ah! This is my last chance!" She watches as it spins back towards Nesseth's top for one last clash.
Nesseth's top spins resolutely in the middle of the bowl, having lost its momentum from the last attack and seeming almost daring Vix's top to try and take it out. His eyes track towards Vix's top as it starts to come down the slope again, wondering what might be about to happen when they collide.
Vix 's top bumps weakly against Nesseth's and wobbles to a stop, completely out of power. "Aw, so close..."
Narrator: The crowd cheers as the host declares Nesseth the winner!"
Nesseth's top gets bumped away just a bit by the hit, and then spins to a stop against Vix's as it likewise loses the last of its momentum a few seconds later. He grins across the arena at Vix. "Well, that was a fun match, though, dear~"
Vix chuckles and gives Nesseth a hug. "Guess I owe you dinner. We should buy a couple tops, too!"
Nesseth hums warmly as he hugs Vix back. "I'll help you make it, if you like. Promise I'll keep it not too labor-intensive." He smiles and sneaks a soft kiss as he steps aside so a couple more folks can take their places at the arena, "And yeah, let's get a set, so we can play some games here and there."
Vix makes her way to the sales booth with Nesseth, where the apprentice host's woodcarving master helps them pick out their favorite battle top set.
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GOLD CLIFF CANTEEN - EARLY EVENING
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Narrator: The Gold Cliff Canteen is one of the nicer restaurants in Respite, not exactly the highest bar at times, but it does its best to maintain a somewhat classy atmosphere, including a couple private rooms requiring a reservation. One of these is what Calgwen has booked for tonight's date with Rondelethia. A well-lit room with some Orelan themeing. The menus are single page, and no prices listed of course.
Calgwen pulls out the chair for Rondelethia. He is, rather unfortunately, dressed in one of the same suits he wore not too long ago, his full wardrobe still not yet arrived yet. "Ah, after you, darling."
Rondelethia had done her research, and arrived exactly five minutes early, waiting outside the Canteen. Five minutes was, of course, the appropriate time to come before, as it allowed the courting couple to exchange pleasantries, before stepping into the place they were going exactly on time. A noble is never late, as this would show disrespect to the workers that had taken time out of their lives to serve this evening. She was dressed modestly, in a soft green dress, down to her ankles, respectful evening ware gloves, and a feathered scarf, coloured to match Calgwen's own colouration (That one had been tricky to obtain, in the end she had to ask one of the seemstress's to make it special). After presumably, the mild pleasentries outside, she steps in, and takes the seat that was offered "Why thank you" She gives him a formal smile. Certainly, she was going to stay official until it came time to eat. That was when you decided if you wanted to 'unwind'. She may like the dragon, but this would be done -properly-
Calgwen dips his head, and once making sure Rondelethia is comfortable, takes his own seat, letting his feathery wings fold in behind the seat back. He awkwardly adjusts the cuffs on his suit, and gives his companion a pleasant smile. "You are looking quite lovely. I find myself feeling rather underdressed in comparison." He's certainly not, his bespoke suit is immaculate, a very dark forest green suit, with a similar gold embroidery that he seems to favor on many of his suits. He chuckles, "The scarf... admittedly an adorable touch."
Rondelethia rubs the fabric of it "Yes. Elise did a great job, and on short notice too. I'm glad you like it" She settles in, and looks through the menu "Oh, I know a lot of this is about judging each other, and trying to read one another, but..ah, I want to make it clear that I really don't mind what you eat. I know we've very different diets, and I'm not squimish about it. Teis is my sister after all" She smiles, and nods "So, don't hold back on my account" She rather enjoyed the social toing and froing, but wanted to take that off the table, as ruining a meal just wouldn't be right. "I'll be taking the salad though. Dreadfully predictable, I know, but I've heard that it's excellent" She's never actually been. She could afford it, certainly, but just never had a cause to 'get fancy'
Calgwen chuckles, bowing his head at her consideration, "Ah, I appreciate that. To be honest, I might have suspected such a request when I sought a restaurant, I made sure to find someplace that catered to most people. My own diet is what someone might call 'adventurous'. I enjoy trying new places, new things. I'm still not familiar enough with the town to know what the best and worst places are, but in time I shall likely try them all. At least once, anyways. Sometimes the best food comes from the most unexpected venues."
Rondelethia: "Ah. I've never really done anything too dramatic. Mostly just what's served to me. I've been working a bit too hard over the last year" She chuckles "But, I think I've got things in order now, for the most part after the recent chaos" She considers "I think that the staff will appreciate someone that wants to experiment though" She considers her position "So, I think this is the bit where I ask about you. How did you end up coming out here?"
Calgwen traces his finger across the menu, picking out something rather unusual. "Duck egg drop soup...? Fascinating." He sets the menu down and thinks, "What brought me here? Well, the allure of a new continent was rather enticing. The opportunities, the people, everything is so exhilirating! This kind of town brings back a lot of old memories."
Rondelethia hmms "Come now. That's what you've been telling everyone. Surely there's something a bit deeper than that. There's an entire world out there after all. Much bigger places than a small town on the frontier like Respite" She studies Calgwen "That's what I'm most curious about. You're an adventurous soul. Why do you want settle down?"
Calgwen taps a claw upon the table with a short laugh, "Am I that obvious? I don't like to think I'm hiding anything. It... is a little deeper perhaps." He grows quiet a moment, his face displaying a fairly honest vulnerability. "I like... I like to have company. Friends. Family. They're not so easy to find, sometimes. And they're never easy to lose." He forces out a proper chuckle.
Rondelethia nods, appreciating the honesty "I, well, I know how hard it can be, when there's so much to be gained by other people, if they can be friends" She pauses, and clenches her paws "Before we go on. You're an honorable person, and I fear that you would not be comfortable with doing what's needed, but.." She looks at him "You have to promise me that no matter what, we will go through with the marriage, no matter how little either of us might want to go through with it" She feels she needs this, so that they can friends on a personal level, without there being any 'stakes' "Lots of noble families have marriages of function, that will be what it is, if needed"
Calgwen hums quietly, looking back up from the table towards Rondelethia. His voice is a little sad that this is a necessity, but it is one of his own design, so it's hard to complain, "I might not be comfortable with every expected arrangement, this is true. But I do know how these marriages of function are supposed to work." He hesistates a moment more, "I shall do what is needed, I promise you Rondelethia. I shall see this through, and our marriage will be what is required of us both."
Rondelethia lets out a little sigh of relief "I've always been focused on duty. Mother and Father was born very poor, and Teis..well, she was the same. I want to make sure that she's always comfortable, and able to do what she wants. She's..not one that takes responsibility well" Not judgemental, but..just an observation "So, I need to make sure that the business stays healthy, which..is a lot of work" She gives him a tired smile "So, sorry about the last bit, and..for this. I want to try and make this genuine" Her words are pretty clumsy. She's doing her best to speak from the heart, but..it's not exactly something she's used to doing.
Calgwen listens to Rondelethia, nodding at the raw honesty she's displaying in turn after his own. "Don't be sorry. This is a business arrangement, after all... Your father arranged it, but I also agreed to it. If we did anything to hurt that as a result, it would defeat the entire purpose of it, and impact both of our interests." He slowly smiles back, "We shall have our public face, as we must, to ensure this marriage appeases everyone it was meant to."
Rondelethia: "Okay, so, with that out of the way" She pauses as the meal arrives, and the servers quickly leave. They are paid to be quick, and deaf to what they totally don't hear. "I've asked a personal question from you, so I think you should get a question in return? Quid Quo Pro after all"
Calgwen nods to the wait staff kindly, raising an eyebrow at Rondelethia and giving a much more genuine laugh at her request. "A personal question, hm? Well, I would not wish to ask anything rude. Come to think of it, you have talked little but business since I have arrived... you truly do take it seriously. I respect that, but what of your own interests? Any hobbies? What do you do for fun?"
Rondelethia is caught off guard a little "I..Well, I play the violin, when I have the time, and I try to read, but.." She sighs, a little uncomfortably "I've never let myself have the time away from work, but.." She looks back to him, trying her best to earnest, it's a struggle, working past that cool exterior "I..I want to try other stuff, really I do, but..I've never seen the need" She takes a bit of food to eat, to buy herself time "Don't feel bad for asking though! I know it's not healthy to be like this..just..I'm not used to thinking about myself"
Calgwen hums, picking up his spoon to stir his soup, "Hm. I suppose it's not too surprising, considering everything you've told me about your family. I am starting to get a handle on your records as well. I do hope my skills will be useful in helping take some burden off your shoulders." He smirks a little mischievously, "You understand as a married couple, it shall be expected of us to spend some time together. Away from the business, yes?"
Rondelethia: "Of course" She blushes at that "Ah, of course, that sort of thing is expected as part of the um..courting. To go somewhere. There are a few quieter seaside towns, down the coast from Bairnell. There's even one place with an old retired seamstress, she used to do work for the top brass in Sarn, but" She rubs her ear awkwardly, "Well, I know she still does odd jobs if the work interests her. I was thinking maybe we could go down there?" There's another pause "And, uh..there might be a " She blushes even more "Um..." She mutters the next bit, under her breath "Specialty carrot farm" She's so embarrassed! She's such a cliche, a rabbit, wanting to go to a carrot farm... "Uh..I mean, it might be ah.uhh...." She struggles to find a business angle to justify it
Calgwen tries a few spoonfuls of his soup, savoring the flavor, but immediately perks up at mention of a seamstress, "Oh? Is that so? I've heard there's a Weaver somewhere in this town as well. And a Carrot farm? Sounds intriguing! We shall have to visit it then, if just to sate our curiosity. We can call it our second date, make a big show of it if need be." He chuckles, "You can even say it was my idea, hmm?"
Rondelethia: "Well, a small show. Try to be subtle" She gives a little smile, but a more genuine one "That way they'll really talk. I..don't mind taking credit. I wouldn't want the town to think you're all in control now would I?" She flicks a little bit of celery into his soup. She was trying to be playful, and well, perhaps not sure how, and was taking to it like a duck to desert sands. "I'm sure the rumour mill is in a frenzy already. You're quite the ah..dashing figure" She coughs "Uh..am..um..ehh" She blushes "And really handsome too, like..uh..I'd always been worried that it would be some old portly dude, and I knew Father said he'd find someone that I could stand being with..but..uh..damn" She was trying to be unfiltered, and perhaps a bit too unfiltered?
Calgwen blinks at the suddenly candid talk, but manages to chuckle, "I try my best to stay fit, of course! I couldn't bear to let myself develop a gut! Gods forbid!" He laughs, scooping the celery out of his soup. "You're quite beautiful yourself, you know? We shall have to see what they say about us hmm? We can certainly take steps to make sure they know you are most certainly in charge."
Rondelethia: "Oh, of course, I..uh..try to take care of myself" She's flattered "I..um, well, never thought that I would catch the eye of a dragon, I mean..um..You'll have to tell me which of the stories are true..."
Calgwen laughs, lifting the celery up on his spoon and eating it, "Your father could only show me portraits, but they aren't half as beautiful as you are in person, with a strong will and a wonderful fashion sense to boot. As for Dragons, well, most of the stories are true! But are they true about me? Well, I'll share anything you wish to know, of course."
Rondelethia: "Well, uh..Some things aren't proper questions to ask in public.." She blushes heavily "I..uh..I'm sure I'll find out in time, but..uh.." She thinks "Oh! I know..Um, do dragons really know what's in their hoard at all times, without looking?"
Calgwen tilts his head, coughing politely before Rondelethia changes the subject, "Oh! Well... the whole hoard thing... it's complicated? I don't exactly have a giant pile of gold and gems. My kind we... form attachments to certain things. Putting memories or experiences or thoughts in them. I certainly can't tell you where it all is at all times without looking... but I can tell you exactly what forms my hoard, such as it is... every stitch, thread, and button."
Rondelethia: "Oh..Right" She nods "Um.." She coughs "Then, uh..there other question then, do dragons consider their..uh.." Nice way to put it "Partners? As part of their hoard?"
Calgwen covers his mouth. That question is a little more sensitive and improper, not that he minds. "Ah, well! It all depends on if they wish to be." He laughs, "But I would otherwise say 'no'."
Rondelethia: "Oh..well..." She blushes "I'm not sure, maybe it could be romantic, in a way? To be just..a treasure in someone's eyes..."
Calgwen dips his gaze humbly, "Ah, I see. Well, have no fear. You are already that, Dear. But I think you are also so much more."
Rondelethia nods, before replying quietly "I know, I've been..so much more for all my life, I..kinda want to just being something simple, for a little bit"
Calgwen looks back up at her, and then extends his hand across the table towards hers. "It can certainly be something to keep in mind, then, if you wish."
Rondelethia holds, and gives his hand a squeeze "Of course. We're partners. You're going to be helping with my business, it's..only fair that I help you with yours, right?"
Calgwen: "I rather like the sounds of that. Maybe we can both be in charge, sometimes, when we need to be. And when we don't, the other can be, so that you don't always need to be the one worrying about everything."
Rondelethia: "Right. It's a matter of trust, of course" She wasn't fully ready to trust him with the business
Calgwen nods, giving her hand a squeeze in return. "It is. And we can make that work in time."
Rondelethia smiles softly "And, in the meantime, seaside visits, and silly romantic meetings"
Calgwen grins, picking up his drink glass with his free hand, making a motion as to toast. "Yes. To however many carrot farms as we wish."
Rondelethia blushes "Hey! Carrots are good for you..."
Calgwen grins. "Oh? Then all the more reason to visit and stock up! Perhaps my diet has been lacking in carrots."
Rondelethia glowered cutely at him "Ah yes, the mighty carrot eating dragons of Sarn"
Calgwen lowers his glass and puffs out his chest a bit to pose, "I pride myself on being open to new things. An all-carrot diet might be too much even for me."
Rondelethia pokes a finger towards him with a giggle "You seem to pride yourself on most things. That much about dragons is absolutely true!"
Calgwen laughs, "Are you saying I shouldn't be proud? You yourself said I was 'really handsome'."
Rondelethia: "Well, you are!" She blushes again "And..uh.." She got flustered again. She's terrible at banter.
Calgwen nods, "I am glad you think so. I also take pride in my sense of taste."
Rondelethia sighs "Well, if this is going to keep going, I'm just going to need to brush up on my banter, amn't I?"
Calgwen grins, "It does take some practice, I suppose. Ah, but I worry I am much better at banter than saying anything of substance, sometimes."