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Post by Vi'ira on Oct 22, 2022 11:26:52 GMT -5
Vi'ira found herself getting lost in the views around her, often starring at one section of the party for much too long just to pull out her journal and sketch the things around her. People watching was a deeply ingrained habit within her, almost as if she was watching stories form right before her eyes. She watched how the woman in deep purples and blacks declined to dance with a man dressed as a crow, perhaps from a previous negative experience, or his lack of charm. As her eyes drifted across the room she was drawn into the music, swaying to the violin's melodies and harp's harmonies. She noted how the music made her feel. This was quite an experience, and she wanted it all to be remembered.
"Maybe I've 'ad a bit more to drink than I had hoped" she thought to herself, swishing her cocktail in her hand. Well, it wasn't so much a cocktail as it was drinks offered from the all-to-fancy bar that she had mixed with whatever was left in her flask. She kicked herself for not remembering to refill it on the ship before arriving here, but this is no time to dwell. Now, is the time to bask in the sights and mingle among the townsfolk (as best as she could with the effects of the alcohol slowly creeping in).
She wasn't new to Sol City in any sense, for she has been travelling here since she was young, accompanying her father on trades by her mother's permission. But not once had she thought to truly find roots here, or explore among the noble social circles, for that is where she had much to learn. It wasn't as though she was impolite, but it would be a lie to state that she was well-versed in the aristocracy of Charon.
She left her eyes drift once more, before landing on a tiefling dressed in stark blacks and glittering golds. Being from all over the world, she has conversed with many different kinds of people before, never letting exteriors cloud her judgement as her interest in any kind of tales they had to tell triumphed. However, she became puzzled as she noticed the guaze wrapped around their abdomen. A mummy? An undead noble? Costumes are mandatory, so this must be something she's read about before, and she began to drive herself crazy at the thought. Not being able to figure something out frustrated her beyond no measure.
It could've been the spirits that gave her the sudden courage to approach the tiefling, or her hard-driven curiousity, but nevertheless, she had arrived directly next to them before she could think, let alone stop herself.
"Yer costume puzzles me. I can't quite put my finger on who, or what, ye've come dressed as. The grandeur of it is intriguing." She attempted a bright smile to ease any tension that her question may cause, but it came out a bit more crooked than she had hoped. Damn her tolerance.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 22, 2022 15:24:18 GMT -5
Zarius was standing off to the side of the festivities just observing for a moment. He smiled at the antics some of the other guests were partaking in. He spots the pale faced man he had arrived at the event with standing across the way at a snack table. The changeling seemed to not be enjoying the drink offerings as much as others, but that was more than Zarius could say himself.
He had yet to touch any of the food or drinks at the party. Though it was pretty clear that no foul play was at hand, he still had reservations about trusting anything he did not know the origins of. Just because no one appeared poisoned, charmed, or intoxicated as of yet, does not mean they wouldn't in a few hours. He probably would never be free of that deep rooted paranoia about being poisoned festering in the back of his mind like an old wound that never truly healed.
Regardless, he was enjoying the party. He had a few dances already and met some old and new faces. Speaking of new, he spots someone he does not recognize approaching him from the side. He turns his face to her and puts on a friendly smile, curious as to what this newcomer could want with him.
He briefly eyes her up and down as she speaks. Her accent was appropriate for the costume she chose, to the point which he wondered if it really was a costume at all and not just her normal choice of dress. She reminded him of the smugglers he has had a few contracts with. Perhaps she was one of them? It seemed strange that they would get invited to this event. However, there were others who were also present for unknown reasons.
"Ah, I suppose it is a bit confusing. I am supposed to be dressed in a way that is reminiscent of Zeinavian burial traditions. Though I will admit I put my own personal touches for...modesty sake." He flashes her a toothy grin.
It was the best explanation of his choices he could give without going into details on the actual history behind the costume. That night was hard enough to believe actually happened and he was there experiencing it first hand.
"My mother is Zeinavian, she helped add some authenticity to the outfit." He explains, gesturing to the pieces of gold jewelry around his neck and horns which accent the gold details of the black satin coat.
"I must say, your outfit is very convincing."
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Post by Vi'ira on Oct 22, 2022 16:06:40 GMT -5
Vi'ira relaxed at the return of a smile from the tiefling, feeling her shoulders loosen up and her stance become less straight. She wasn't sure what made her so nervous about interacting with people at this party. Typically, social gatherings were where she could be found, but it was something about the esteem of this event that kept her on her toes. Since when was she ever the one to impress nobility?
"That's quite the unique costume. I admire ye for tying back such a thing to yer roots," she chimed, eyeing the whole get-up once more. Her head already began to race with facts of ancient burial traditions, dating back centuries from all the scrolls and texts she had read. She was almost drooling at the thought of the intricacies used in burial, and the delicacy of the entire process.
"Yer mother's got great taste. And in such fine jewelry, as well." She couldn't help but let her eye wander to the tiefling's ornately decorated horns, almost wishing she could retrieve her journal to jot down a sketch or two. She knew, however, that those who did not know her would be startled by such an act.
She looked down at her costume following their comment towards it, and chuckled to herself. She raised her arm and tipped the large brimmed hat, smiling as she flicked it to sit upright. "It's not too far off from my everyday attire, I'll be honest with ye, but a majority of this is my father's. The accent and the tools, however, are authentically mine. Been sailing my whole life alongside 'im. Haven't a clue how I managed to get an invitation to such a ball, though."
Vi'ira had always thought to herself that others might view her accent and demeanor as a facade, as if she wasn't always dressed up similarly to this even past the harvest months. Tonight was the night where it all seemed to fit her just a bit more, and with that she took another drink from her glass.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 22, 2022 20:06:35 GMT -5
His head tilts to the side a bit in curiosity. She seemed to be very interested in his attire based on how she was eyeing him. But it was not with the same intent that someone like Kamille eyes him. There is some sort of analysis taking place in this moon elf's mind.
"Thank you, she will be pleased to hear of such a compliment." He says with a smile.
He looks about the gathered crowd and watches them dance and sway across the ballroom. It was like watching the ocean in a way, surging and ebbing in time with the music. He mused at the imagery as he listens to Vi'ira's explanation of her garb. His ears perk up as she mentions being uncertain as to why she would be invited to such and event. Seems that no one really understands the host's intentions.
"You are not alone in that regard. Seems there are many here wondering the same thing."
Even he was suspicious of why he was invited. His family was no ally of the nobility in Sol City. Sure, they had some connections and under the table dealings with some of the less honorable members of Capitol Landing's populace, but the Ashen Fathers were generally regarded poorly by the nobility of this island nation. Nothing more than the world's scum masquerading as nobility and hiding away in the inhospitable landscape of the Ash Lands. They were criminals of all colors and there was no shame amongst them. After all, they only existed because there was a demand for their kind of work, and that demand came from those loaded with coin and hands they wished to keep clean for appearances sake.
A thought crosses his mind and he looks at the elf again. "As you said, you are a sailor. More specifically what kind of work do you and your crew do? Are you in the shipping business or exploration?" He was prying to see if she was a smuggler or pirate, but he didn't want to outright ask that. He knew a few of that specific profession who lacked any kind of subtlety.
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Post by Vi'ira on Oct 23, 2022 0:07:09 GMT -5
It was a relieving thought to hear that many others were just as lost upon receiving such an invitation. She was not alone in her confusion, which was comforting in a way, but caused other paranoid thoughts to run throughout her brain. Was there something underway here? Perhaps a ploy to get the notable names in Sol City all in one place for a celebration or for an attack of sorts? She shook her head, following the tiefling's eyes as they focused on those fluttering across the ballroom floor. These people were all much more graceful than her, a twinge of jealousy nipping at the back of her mind. While not knowing something caused immense frustration, not being able to do something was even worse.
"I'm not sure if that is a relief to hear or not," she chuckled, raising her glass to her lips, "The lack of connection between those invited has left me puzzled." She had started to gather just based on physical observation that this gathering was not like any noble parties she had heard of, seeing as she had never actually attended one of such high regard before and had only read about such grand rallies. This one had a jovial air about it, and hopefully that would not be interrupted.
She turned her attention back to them at the mention of the inner-workings of what it was that she did. She hesitated a bit, unsure herself of how to answer the question. Her father wasn't entirely a textbook version of a pirate, but money talks. If he was paid fairly enough, he would dabble in smuggling for secretive criminals or crooked aristocrats wanting to keep a low profile. Torkum's reputation, and the reputation of the Night Galley itself, was not a negative one, which allowed him to get away with much more than the average sailor. Vi'ira had always tried to remind her father that luck eventually runs out, but he has a way with his words that always reassure her in his ways. After all, she couldn't even deny how exhilarating it was to break the law from time to time, especially alongside her father and his crew.
"I sail alongside my father on 'is ship, The Night Galley. We cart weapons across the sea for any who may be in the market for 'em, whether that be military regimes, city guards, armories in need of new stock, the likes of it. However, I've always been more interested in the exploration aspect of it all. There's nothing like it, as the solace found on the Luna Sea is unrivaled." She was quite satisfied with the answer she had given, hoping to get a feel for the tiefling's reaction before entirely telling the truth.
"What is it ye do? Do ye work centrally here in Sol City, or are ye a traveling man yerself?"
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 23, 2022 0:45:42 GMT -5
He glances at Vi'ira out of the corner of his eye while she watches the dancers and speaks of her father's work. She hadn't let anything particularly incriminating slip, but 'any who may be in the market' was promising. If all it took was coin, perhaps they could come to some sort of arrangement. Lunala knows the other smugglers he was working with were starting to test his patience with how unreliable they were. It wouldn't hurt to have a back up arranged in case their usefulness ran its course.
"Sounds like quite the exciting and lucrative business." He comments.
The tiefling chuckles a bit at her question. "I only come to Sol City when it is necessary, otherwise I tend to roam about. I am an information broker of sorts."
That was the simplest way to put it. There were people present that knew who he was and the business his family partook in. But the answer is not a lie. He does deal in acquiring and selling information, it's just the means of gaining information to sell is much more involved than simply waiting for someone to show up with a rumor or piece of paper. He likes being hands on with his work so that he knows exactly who else might know something. It was challenging for him to trust others with such responsibilities, though he did wish to expand his work which would require more eyes and hears than he had to spare.
There of course was running around doing errands for his family's work and also the various tasks he had taken on in order to gain allies of all descriptions. It was exhausting, if he was being honest. With time though, he hoped to see the fruits of his labor. Rising to the top of the hierarchy of the Ash Lands would not be easy though, and there were many obstacles that needed to be removed first.
Smiling, he turns to Vi'ira. "Are you interested in a dance, per chance?"
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Post by Vi'ira on Oct 23, 2022 1:29:33 GMT -5
"Ah, that it is," she chimed, "No day is the same."
The thought of entirely growing up on land bored Vi'ira, as she couldn't imagine missing out on a whole other world right at her fingertips. Exploration is the key to knowledge, to learning, to her happiness. It was a life she chased after, even to this day she had not grown sick of the crashing waves or the ways the salt water knotted her much-too-long hair. Vi'ira gazed back as the tiefling as elaborated on what it was that he did for work. She noticed many similarities between the two of them, noting the shared sense of cautious wonder he had about him.
“Quite a fancy title for such a surreptitious-sounding business. I do hope you enjoy it.” She nodded as she spoke, eyeing the tiefling with a glint of excitement flashing in her eyes. She finished off her cocktail and placed it on the closest surface she could find. While it would be best to return the glass to the bar, she felt as if that could be done at another time, if not by her, by another working the event.
At the invite to dance, she smiled, almost chuckling to herself. "I must say I have the grace of a stiff dwarf, but if ye're up for a challenge." She reached her hand out with her palm facing up, inviting Zarius to join hands.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 23, 2022 10:50:51 GMT -5
"You meet a lot of interesting people. So, yes, I would say I enjoy it."
He turns to her and gives a bow before taking her hand and leading her out onto the dancefloor. "Do not worry, you can set the pace."
Once they find an open space amongst the twirling skirts and tapping shoes, the tiefling puts one hand on her waist and guides her with his other hand. "It is quite simple once you get the hang of it. All you need to do is follow my lead.”
After a little bit of instruction and practice they find a rhythm and the tiefling deftly waltzes Vi’ira through the crowd of dancers. The music flits through the air and the lights are dazzling as they spin and sway across the reflective dance floor. The tiefling keeps a keen eye on their surroundings to avoid bumping into any wilder dancers or individuals who have had a little too much drink for their own good.
As the music slows to something a little less energetic, he looks at the moon elf with a smile. “So, being a sailor and all, what is the most interesting thing you have seen at sea?”
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Post by Vi'ira on Oct 23, 2022 14:03:57 GMT -5
Vi'ira returned the bow as the tiefling grabbed her hand and she let him guide her onto the dance floor. They stood in an emptier part of the floor and Vi'ira was thankful, terrified that she was bound to topple over all those around her. However, under the tiefling's lead, she felt more relaxed. She found herself often casting a quick glance down at his feet to ensure that she was stepping with the correct foot in the right direction. She tried to imagine the steps as if they were on a piece of parchment listed out in her mind, as it helped her best remember things.
With the combination of alcohol in her system and the swift movements, it felt as though she was on a ship, swaying in and out with the waves. She wanted, at times, to close her eyes and let the music take her, but she knew this would potentially result in her messing up a step, and she certainly didn't want that.
The music came to a slower pace as the music decrescendo to signal a break from the lively dancing, and instead a slow waltz. Vi'ara looked up at the tiefling as he began to speak with a smile.
"Ah," she breathed with a grin, feeling herself become immersed the memory. She was quite illustrative with her stories, and loved to share them. "That's surely a tough one....There was a time when we were far, far from sight of land, completely surrounded by sea. A tumultuous journey, it was, for the days before were filled with raging storms, and we 'ad even lost a couple members of the crew. We were all beaten down, tired of continuing. However, on this night, the sky was clear and the stars were bright. Vivid colors of the aurora borealis began to dance across the sky, and slowly the colors began to form the shapes of what I could only describe as celestial dragons. Some looked much more like mammals, while others like sea creatures. They swam together harmoniously, and I might say it was one of the best sights I have ever 'ad the honor of witnessing. Reminded us of the beauty of the open sea at a time of grief. I myself felt it was a message from the ones we had lost, telling us that they were safe in the hands of the stars." Her eyes glistened as she told the story. She could see herself standing at the front of the ship and pictured that night as if it were right in front of her.
"And ye? What of yer travels has stuck with ye?"
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 23, 2022 22:38:06 GMT -5
Zarius listens to the sailor's tale of the brilliant light show she and her crew experienced while far off at sea. He smiles at the detailed and somewhat poetic description she provided.
"That certainly sounds like a magnificent sight. I cannot say I have ever seen such a thing myself."
He had seen much, but most were not things he would be willing to share with a stranger and especially not amongst this crowd.
When she asks of his own experiences, he takes a moment to think. There were many stories he could share, however there was one he thought she would appreciate as someone of the seafaring persuasion.
"I have limited experience with ships, admittedly. However, I was once aboard a small vessel with..." he glances about the dance floor and picks out a human man dressed as a harlequin. "Ah, that gentleman there and a lizardfolk who does not appear to have joined us this evening. We found ourselves in a precarious situation, tossed about in an angry storm that had swallowed some fishermen. The storm was as if the very waters and sky were angry and wished to send all who traversed through it to a watery grave. We somehow survived being tossed about by a cyclone and struck by a rain of lightning before reaching the eye of the storm. Our vessel was in poor condition, but we did find the missing fishermen still alive. Some sharks were looking to make them a snack and my companions drove them off before a dragon turtle arrived out of the storm. It was a frightening beast, a least a hundred feet in length and with a terrible temper. We barely escaped the creature and the storm with our lives. Obviously we did survive otherwise you would not be dancing with me right now."
He recounts the events in the most succinct manner. The finer details of the story didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Someone with her background in sailing the wide ocean deep could likely fill in the blanks appropriately.
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Post by Vi'ira on Oct 24, 2022 1:01:12 GMT -5
Vi'ira was enjoying herself far more than she had imagined she would, especially amidst everyone dancing swiftly across the floor. She had originally thought she would stick to the walls of the ballroom and mingled with whoever drew close, but getting out of her comfort zone suited her just fine. Adding a drink into the mix would certainly elevate the evening a bit more, as well.
As the tiefling began to dive into a story of his own, she followed where his eyes lead to a man dressed in a jester-esque outfit, before returning her gaze back to the tiefling. She listened intently, reacting to bits of the story with expressive facial movements. It was quite the tale, and she was not at all expecting the escalation from the sharks to a dragon turtle being added into the mix. She couldn't help but let out a quiet gasp at the mention of them, "Ye don't say...". She had only heard stories of such a creature from her father when he had a run in with one at a young age or from sea bestiaries. The story was concise and entertaining to follow, and she craved for more, but didn't want to overwhelm the stranger with her boisterous curiosity.
"Well, it's a good thing that dragon turtle was no match for ye, for then who would be gracious enough to teach a pirate to dance?" She winked as she let out a slight chuckle.
"Ye haven't mentioned yer name have ye? My mind certainly is not the sharpest it could be, but I can't imagine I lost the thought that quickly."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 24, 2022 21:53:49 GMT -5
"Oh, I am certain you would have been able to find any number of dance partners. Many of those present here tonight are far from shy." He chuckles and guides her into a twirl before pulling her back into step with him.
He was mindful of her feet, ensuring they did not trip one another up as they danced around the floor. The music began to pick back up as they weaved through the swirling sea of skirts and shimmering chandelier light. The party sure was decked out to be an extravagant event. It still was very odd though to see the richly decorated interior of the manner contrasted by a towering pumpkin, a walking bedsheet, and all other manner of costumed folk.
It had been nice to catch up with familiar faces though, and of course meet some new ones as well. He had come with Caedes originally but it has been some time since they reconvened to cross reference any information they managed to glean about the purpose of this event. Surely one would not go to all this expense just for merriment. Nobles rarely did things out of the goodness of their heart.
His attention is brought back from the conspiratorial spiral by Vi'ira's question. He smiles at her.
"Ah, where are my manners? My name is Zarius. It is a pleasure. And what may I call you?"
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Post by Vi'ira on Oct 25, 2022 1:38:47 GMT -5
As the music picked up once more, Vi'ira grew increasingly nervous. The tiefling's feet began to move much quicker, but when she focused enough, their steps remained in sync. There was once or twice where she would hiccup, but her dance partner's reflexes were swift, and instantly the timing was corrected. The people passed in her vision as flying colors, with oranges blurring into purples and greens into whites. She quite enjoyed the feeling of floating when you got spinning quickly enough. Ballroom dancing certainly had its perks, especially if she focused on everything but the aching that grew in her heels. She was more used to folk-style dances, and rough round-housing between the crew as flutes and horns played in the background, but this was still something. She wasn't sure if she was fond to the idea of having to have so much coordination to perform this dance, and thought to herself about how she preferred a wilder sense of dance. A form of dance where the spirits and the music itself chose what your next move with be, one where you completely let go.
She bowed her head at Zarius' introduction, smirking as she did, "Pleasure's all mine, Zarius. The name's Vi'ira." The two continued to glide across the floor as they spoke. "This surely can't be yer first ball, yer much too good on yer feet. Do ye often attend parties such as this?"
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 28, 2022 10:52:44 GMT -5
Zarius nods in acknowledgement of her name. Elves always had such interesting names, often with deeper meaning and symbolism behind them. He wasn't well versed enough in the elven language or culture to discern anything of note from her name, but it suited her nevertheless.
The tiefling gently guides her between and around other pairs of dancers, mindful of their feet and elbows. He finds a place amongst the swaying crowd to slow their tempo a bit and fall into slower movements.
"I have been to a few, though I do not always get the chance to take to the floor." He admits. "My mother insists all her children know their way around a ball room. It brings her joy so I am more than happy to humor her."
His mother had been from what serves as the noble class in Zeinav City. Political conflicts and disagreements with her family had driven her northward into the Ash Lands where she had met his father during his early years and rise to the status of an Ashen Father. They were a perfect match, accepting one another's quirks and flaws while working together to better one another and reach their dreams. It would be the perfect love story. If you ignored his mother's interest in the occult and his father's extensive criminal history and body count.
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Post by Vi'ira on Oct 29, 2022 2:45:29 GMT -5
As the two of them glided across the marble floors, Vi'ira made a silent movement resembling a symbol for spin. Zarius picked up on her signing immediately, spinning her out in a circle. Her pelvic-length hair twirled as she did, perhaps hitting a few of the dancers around her, but to be fair, she didn't care all that much. They would forget about it in the next coming moments and she would still be dancing. She found herself enjoying this more sophisticated way of dancing much more than she anticipated, but the growing feet pains she did not.
Zarius goes on to speak of his times in other ballrooms, mentioning his mother once more. She found it quite comforting that he was, from what it sounded like, very close with his mother. The two of them shared more similarities that Vi'ira had originally thought. They shared a strong sense of adornment towards family, as well as working jobs that find them, and lead them into the many different countries of Charon.
"Ye and yer mother sound quite close by the way ye talk about 'er. A bond like that is something truly irreplaceable, and it's soothing to 'er ye speak of 'er so kindly. Many cannot say the same." The last part was certainly true. She had interacted with an abundance of people throughout her life, and a majority of them could not say such kind things when speaking on behalf of their family. Parenting was rough, and more often than not, they took the stricter approach. You had to be stern with your child in order for them to make it in a world as dangerous as Charon could be, she had only wished they had gone about it in different ways. For a moment, her heart ached.
"Do ye 'ave other's in yer family that ye are close to?"
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