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RESPITE MARKETPLACE - AFTERNOON
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Robin wanders the crowd, out of curiosity more than any need. He'd brought plenty of his own clothing and daily goods in his own luggage, after all. Still, visiting a fresh new marketplace is a good curiosity, especially one mixing goods from all the closest continents. And the crowd, well, it doesn't compare to how stuffed the markets could get back home, and the chipmunk finds himself fairly deftly navigating in such a way that his flowing rose dress isn't trod upon. He stops to peek over the trinkets on display at the shared market stall, curious, but not touching.
Rhask is running the stall as usual, though this time around, she's helping a customer get fitted for a custom order. She's wrapping up the measurements at the moment and chatting animatedly with the person being fitted, clearly just about to finish the transaction. "Oh, and feel free to stop by any time before then, if you want to see the progress I'm making. I've several orders in the works, but I usually try to give at least some time to each piece every afternoon."
Robin twitches an ear as he picks up on the tail of Rhask's conversation, recognizing a mostly familiar accent. He moves a bit more toward her side of the stall, starting to look over her goods. "Oh, these are all so soft~ They would sell really well back in Vamas."
Rhask bids farewell to the customer once they pay and go about their business for the afternoon, then smiles as she turns to greet Robin. "Ah, hello there! Yes, a lot of these are done in the style of my hometown, up in Northern Vamas!"
Robin nods, looking over the patterns before turning to smile at Rhask herself. "Oh yes, I recognize them very well! I lived in a little town more South-West, but these north sweaters were always fashionable in winter!"
Rhask giggles and nods. "They're meant to be cozy, and do a wonderful job of keeping one nice and warm even in the colder parts of the night." She smiles brightly, "You're from Vamas, too? What brings you all the way down this way, so far from home?"
Robin lets out a dramatic sigh at the question, tilting his hip. "Oh, my goofball boss got herself swept up playing with her fancy boat and stranded herself here. I'm here to rescue her. Slowly. She's got to heal her arm up first." Robin looks a bit closer at Rhask, realizing a few things. "You're reptilian, hmm? I didn't know folks like you would like living where it's winter for almost half of the year."
Rhask nods at the question. "Yup! Vamas Lizard! There aren't a lot of us, since we're reptilian, but we've made do. The cold doesn't bother us too much at all, since we're raised around those conditions." She grins, "I kind of like it, really. It's nice here, but the summers are so hot..."
Robin giggles. "I suppose they would be. I find it's kind of nice, but then I suppose they're in the middle of their 'winter' right now, huh?"
Rhask nods. "Yup, the days are a bit mild, and the nights can be cold, so it's not too different from Vamas."
Robin grins. "Midsummer, maybe." He tracks the intricate designs on Rhask's outfit, humming. "You do beautiful work, really. I don't think me and wool never got along because of my fur, or just because I never had a sweater that fit right."
Rhask giggles as she looks Robin over a bit, noting the rather fancy dress the chipmunk is wearing. "Thank you! I do my best to imitate the designs my parents weave for their shop, but I'm still learning, I think." She hums thoughtfully, "Sweaters do tend to be a little snug normally, but... let's see..." She moves around behind the counter and bends out of sight, save for the tip of her tail.
Robin being nearly shorter than the counter, can only stare curiously at the wiggling tail tip. "Oh? A family business, then? That's wonderful!"
Rhask pops back up into view with a small sweater in hand, which she holds out for Robin to examine. "Something of the sort, yup! I learned it more as a hobby, but there's been a nice bit of demand for these here, too." She tilts her head curiously, "How about this?"
Robin looks the sweater over, humming as he looks over the design. "It looks really cozy. May I?"
Rhask passes Robin the sweater with a smile. "Of course! If you need a little privacy, you're welcome to step behind the counter for a moment."
Robin giggles, nodding as he does so. "Well it would be quite uncouth to be dressing in the middle of the marketplace. Who would do something like that?" He glances toward the way he came in to see if he can be seen, before simply slipping the sweater on over his dress, the fur on his head ruffling a little. He stretches his arms and bends about, testing the fit. "Oh yes, very cozy!"
Rhask chuckles a little awkwardly. "Well... I've had to stop someone from doing so before, so..." She lets out a little sigh as Robin just slips the sweater on over his dress like a sensible person, "I'm glad you like it! I even make versions that are treated to make them waterproof and stretchy, too."
Robin blinks, laughing a bit. "Oh, I didn't mean to insult any of your other clients! But huh, waterproof sweaters? That would be great in snow!" He tries the sweater for bit longer before starting to shuffle it off himself. "But... I think they might still be too warm for me while I'm here."
Rhask nods, not seeming put out at all as she waits for Robin to remove the sweater. "On top of fur, they can get rather warm, especially if you're trying to layer them like we would in Vamas." She giggles, "Still, I'm glad you like the designs so much."
Robin grins after freeing himself from the warm garment. He deftly straightens it out, folds it, and hands it back to Rhask. "You work with other, perhaps lighter fabrics, maybe?"
Rhask accepts the sweater and sets it on an empty spot on the counter for the moment, then nods at the question. "I'm still relatively new to lighter materials, but I've been trying to dabble in them a bit as of late." She shakes her head, "But... aside from some smaller garments, I've not yet come up with anything I've felt was worth putting on the counter."
Robin nods, straightening his dress where the sweater and his undressing had ruffled it. "Understandable, though I always found people judge their own work a lot harsher than most others will judge it."
Rhask giggles a bit. "I guess that could be true, yeah. I mean... I do have a few examples, but, er... well..." She bends over again out of sight for a moment, then pulls up a bra, like the one she'd sold to Strix not too long ago, "Here. What do you think?"
Robin peeks curiously around Rhask, blushing a bit when she pulls out the bra. "Ah! Oh. I didn't guess you made undergarments. I ah..." He pats his chest, showing he's completely flat. "I don't have much use for braziers... Though as an aside, i didn't know reptilian ladies needed them either."
Rhask laughs a little as she stows the bra away again. "I've only just started to learn how to make them myself, but yes... Custom fits, but... yeah, I'm pretty sure you don't have any issues with that unlike..." She takes a moment to poke at her own chest, "Well, as far as I know, most lizards don't have any need for these, but... well, apparently my kind don't lay eggs, so..."
Robin hums, shrugging. "I mean, I wont pretend to know everything about your folks. Besides, eggs would be very hard to incubate in a colder climate..."
Rhask nods. "It might be, but I'm sure we would have figured something out, like dens or something under the ground, or else huts with constant heating or similar."
Robin chuckles, making his way back around to the customer side of the stall. "Perhaps! I should keep looking around, but we'll chat again soon~!"
Rhask waves with a cheerful smile as Robin moves back out to the marketplace proper. "I'm here most days, so feel free to stop by if you want to have a talk! My name is Rhask, so if I'm not here, one of the others I work with could probably point you in the right direction."
Robin waves back, giving a polite curtsey toward Rhask. "My name is Robin, it was a pleasure to meet you! Take care, miss Rhask." He turns, slipping into the crowd again and vanishing within a few moments to continue his exploration.
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RESPITE PARK - AFTERNOON
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Aelia walks through the humble park, dressed in a slightly more conservative dress with a small scarf around her neck, the deer isn't all that cold in Respite, but is still trying to keep the chill away in the 'cold' season. She finds a bench along the main trail through the park and takes a seat, waiting for Ninell to arrive, as they'd discussed.
Ninell arrives shortly thereafter, dressed in one of his more (conventionally) presentable outfits more fitting for less humid regions than his homeland. He rather quickly spots Aelia sitting on a nearby bench and makes his way over to her, smiling as he approaches. "Ah, there you are, Aelia. I hope I did not keep you waiting for too long?"
Aelia shakes her head, "Oh, not long at all, Ninell. It's a nice little park. Kind of reminds me of the ones in the upper town in Glaushire. A little reminder of home..." Her smile fades a bit, but she bows her head quickly. "But yes, glad you came."
Ninell hums as he goes to take a seat on the bench, courteously choosing a spot that's a respectful distance away from Aelia. "Certainly. So... what might be on your mind, Aelia?"
Aelia takes a deep breath, clearly a little uncertain still, but she nods to Ninell. "Well, you want to help me, and Phoebe, of course... I figured we need a starting point. So... I should tell you about me, and how all this started, or at least as much as I know about it."
Ninell nods. "It would be as good a stepping stone as any, yes. Phoebe has at least told me it started in Sarn, of course, along with some details about her journey here, including leaving messages and the like for you when you two switch."
Aelia smiles. "I don't really know here side of things. She'd never written much more than dates and lists of names. Who to trust, and how far. She... she didn't trust many people. In any case, I am... or I was, anyways, a dancer. Professionally trained. I starred in a few shows in Glaushire."
Ninell tilts his head with an air of interest. "Dancing, hm, and as a full profession? Interesting." He looks at Aelia's arms and legs a bit, noting that she's quite toned, then nods, "Mmh, I can see it in your physique. You have the body of someone with a very active profession, such as that."
Aelia blushes slightly, "I try to stay in practice here. I want to join one of the shows they do in the market, but... it's hard to make a commitment when at any time I could..." She looks at her hand, closing the palm and sighs. "If I could do anything here in Respite, it would be to bring those kinds of shows here. As something bigger than street performances. But, ah... well..."
Ninell taps his chin in thought. "Something of a theater hall, you think? It might be worth inquiring about it, at the very least, since there are workers currently in town already building out a new section to the west."
Aelia nods. "Might... maybe. I don't know. It's not the important thing here. I can't tell you why it happened, only when." She rattles off an exact date, "That was when I was supposed to debut as star for a new show. We finished our last rehearsal, and I went backstage. I don't know why, but I stayed back as everyone else went out to dinner. I took a nap." She sighs. "I woke up three weeks later in an empty building in lower Glaushire, with nothing."
Ninell blinks, then leans a bit as he listens to the story. "So... you finished your rehearsal and went backstage, then fell asleep and had your first long memory gap... which is where I am assuming Phoebe first came to be." He thinks for a few moments, then asks, "...Was there anything out of the ordinary during that last rehearsal, then? Unexpected viewers, or... odd behaviors from anyone?"
Aelia sighs, "I mean, there's always a few nobles brought in for rehearsals. Usually ones who helped finance the show. The come in with a few of their friends for clout. Nothing too unusual there? I know when I tried to go back home, I found out the show had been cancelled... their main star had gone missing, and someone had destroyed a lot of props and damaged the set. I... I've assumed that was Phoebe. She never told me. Never mentioned it. Everyone else assumed it was me. A-and that was the end of my career in Glaushire. I was my family's only real ticket to move up in society, and I ruined that. My friends were depending on me for that show... they were furious with me. W-well..." She reaches into a pocket and removes a carefully folded letter. "All save one, it seems? I have no idea how this reached me here, but, she sent an apology."
Ninell hums as he listens. "Would there have been any nobles that might have held a grudge for any reason? Or else..." He hmphs again, lost in thought for a moment before Aelia's letter draws his attention, "...A letter from one of your friends in Sarn? I wonder how they might know where you are... Might I read it, Aelia, if it's not too personal?"
Aelia hands the letter to Ninell. "It was delivered by one of the companions Phoebe picked to travel with. An aquatic creature of some sort that I'd never seen before. Went by Sammi? I... haven't seen her since we got here. Sarn nobles... the big families, they always have grudges against each other. But I was just a dancer, right? I wasn't trying to reach above my station. I just... I wanted perform. I wanted to dance, and for people to see it and enjoy the performance."
Ninell accepts the letter and takes a little while to read it over. "Hmm... this Coryn was one of your good friends, and borrowed a broach from you before you had to leave Sarn? A good friend, indeed." He spends another few seconds reading it over again, then carefully folds it up and passes it back to Aelia, "I am afraid I have not met anyone by the name of Sammi, so I cannot comment on her whereabouts. As for the nobles... if Sarn nobles are as I am thinking... it may be possible that one or more may have had a grudge against your family, if not you specifically."
Aelia takes the letter back carefully and returns it to her pocket. She cringes a bit. "Sarn nobles... I shouldn't speak ill of them. M-many of them are quite considerate, I've found." A lifetime of grooming for courtly events leaves it hard for Aelia to say negative things about them, she's biting her tongue, clearly uncomfortable.
Ninell looks around for a few seconds, noting that no one is within earshot, though the park is occupied with others spending the afternoon there. He looks back at Phoebe and gives her a smile. "Some can be considerate, certainly. But that should not stop you from speaking your mind. It certainly does not stop me."
Aelia clenches her hands tightly. "I... w-well... gosh, I just. Um. I'm much a noble myself, Ninell. I was raised to know all the proper forms and placements. What you should and should not say about folks... especially those who are better than me. It just... wouldn't be right of me!"
Ninell chuckles. "Better than you? Your heart is truer than many nobles I have met, Aelia. Money, business, sure, they may have some things, but they all tend to be material. I am a noble by title, being a Knight of my homeland, but I work for it, just as you do as a dancer."
Aelia chuckles nervously. This is long built-in behavior. "...Y-you're too kind, Sir. Ninell." She shifts a bit in her seat on the bench, thinking. "To... to end the story... I had a stressful couple weeks, trying to repair whatever Phoebe had done. Then she came back. Each time I woke up, I was further and further from home. Phoebe started leaving me notes. At some point, there was a lot of gold... I... I don't know where she got it. And eventually, I woke up on a boat, coming here."
Ninell nods slowly as he listens to Aelia's journey to Aephix wrapping up. "A lot of gold, hm? I'll ask her about that when she comes to the fore again... and see what might be going on." He sighs and loosely crosses his arms, "So it all comes back to that one afternoon in Sarn... Do you know who all was observing the rehearsal at the time, or were you more focused on performing?"
Aelia: "Performing... mostly." She thinks a moment longer. "I could name a few of the folks attending, if you think that would help? I can put a list together."
Ninell smiles and nods. "If you could, it might help focus a little, perhaps. Sarn nobility sounds like a diverse lot, so getting a few names could help to focus efforts in figuring out the reasons for this."
Aelia smiles back, closing her eyes, "I just want to be able to live a normal life. I wish the same for Phoebe too, I know none of this is her fault. Thank you for doing this for us."
Ninell chuckles, smiling warmly. "It is how I feel I could make myself useful, after all. I have orders to maintain my position here until I hear word back from my homeland, so any and all issues I get entangled with are mine to untangle. That includes our current situation."
Aelia: "Entangled, hm?" She sits back and hums. "I think... you're a good person, Ninell. Thank you."
Ninell dips his head in acknowledgement. "Were it not for my own actions, I would not have contributed to the stress you and Phoebe are already dealing with. I am happy to do everything I can to help, as I've said."
Aelia shakes her head, "I suppose, but that stress was already there. I don't know if you and Phoebe have any kind of plans together, but don't feel obligated on my account."
Ninell shakes his head in turn. "Obligation is only a small part of why I am helping, Aelia. The primary reason is simply because I wish to help you and Phoebe after hearing of your shared troubles."
Aelia chuckles, politely lifting a hand to cover her mouth. "Then, I'll accept your help in the spirit it's offered. Honestly... I'm just relieved you're not just some creep trying to take advantage of poor Phoebe."
Ninell hums and offers a wry little smile as he remembers a recent "incident" Phoebe was involved in at the Oldhammer Smithy. "If I happened to be a creep, I likely would not be sitting here having such a nice conversation with you. I believe Phoebe is quite capable of handling any people with ill intentions."
Aelia purses her lips and nods. "That's... good to know. I don't actually know much about her. Her letters don't really tell me much, and only this recent one has actually said anything different or new. Maybe you can tell me about her?"
Ninell nods. "Certainly. Where should I start from, though? She is quite the... multifaceted individual."
Aelia laughs politely, "Even just, what she looks like?" She reaches up to point at an eye. "She must not look exactly like me if this is her eye color."
Ninell nods again. "You would be right in guessing that. She is... well, if I did not know you two shared a body, in a way, I would have mistaken you for two separate people entirely." He smiles a bit, deciding to just be honest, since he knows Phoebe is very likely listening, "She is a wolf, slightly taller than you, and, er... fluffy, like I am, though perhaps not quite as severely so..."
Aelia silently mouths 'fluffy' as she digests this, "A... wolf? Huh..."
Ninell hums his affirmation. "Mmh, and a pretty one, too. She is a little rough around the edges when talking with people she does not know, but then... I suppose with what you two have gone through, I imagine it to be something of a trust matter."
Aelia glances away, a little embarrassed. "I'd guessed things weren't so easy for her. I don't think she trusted me, that's for sure."
Ninell shrugs a little. "I would say she had to trust you, since she felt, at least until more recently, I think, that she was an interloper on your life. She spent a lot of time worrying that you would find a way to banish her, or else somehow remove her in a way that would effectively kill her."
Aelia blinks, startled at the thought, "M-me? K-kill? But- but- I wouldn't! I couldn't! I... I mean, sure I tried to find a magic solution to stop whatever this curse is but I... uh... oh..."
Ninell nods gravely. "I know you would not harm a fly, Aelia, but that was what Phoebe was worrying about. She knows she's something of a curse form for you, as far as either of you are aware. Though, I think, and this is simply a guess on my part, that she was hoping to distract you enough that you two could find a fix that did not just eliminate her entirely."
Aelia lowers her head, putting her hands on top of it, "Oh. I didn't mean to think of her like that... I just didn't know what she was..."
Ninell gently pats Aelia on the shoulder. "Phoebe understands, Aelia. That was just how she felt things were until recently. Now that you know she is a person like any of us, I think that will alleviate a lot of her worries."