-Mid Afternoon-
The meeting with the Hyur had gone longer than Melodia had been prepared for and now she cursed herself for letting her urges get the better of her. She was practically running down the streets of Ul'dah, pushing past the crowds gathered at the marketplace as she needed to get to the Gate of Thal before it was too late. She was dressed in a fine felt bliaud top and her spring skirt, already dressed for her date with Alara later in the evening.
This however, would not do. Would not do at all if she was late and missed her appointment.
And she nearly did.
The lalafell was turning to leave out of the gate as she pushed past the last of the crowd and despite her heavy breathing called out, "Wait! I'm here!" The lalafell, an older woman named Mumupe, turned and a soft pained smile crossed her lips as she returned back to Melodia. She sighed as the Miqo'te panted before her.
"You shouldn't be runnin' in that dress, dear." She scolded. Melodia nodded and blushed. "I'm sorry...I know better. I just didn't want to miss you." Mumupe shook her head and with her index finger, beckoned Melodia to crouch, which she did, eyes down as she was embarrassed by her near tardiness. Mumupe slapped her across the cheek, not a hard slap, but one of warning. "You were cavortin'. I can smell it on you, despite whatever efforts you've done to clean up." Melodia hung her head and nodded. With a loud sigh Mumupe shook her head, disappointed, but a soft loving smile crossed her lips and she patted Melodia's shoulders. "You're lucky you're one of my better customers. Chin up, dear."
Melodia lifted her head and nodded, still maintaining eye level with the woman. Mumupe unslung the bag on her back and opened it. "Now...you wanted the darker reds. I did the best I could, but I'm sure this will work with what you need." Mumupe then pulled out a bundle of fabric, silk by the look of it, a deep red in color. Melodia's eyes went wide and she smiled happily. "Aye...tha's...tha's beautiful, Mumu..." She'd slipped and let her accent roll off the tongue but she didn't care. She saw potential with the fabric before her. A dress, or perhaps another skirt. A top would be lovely. She gently took the offered cloth and nodded.
"It's perfect." She pulled out a small bag of coin and offered it to Mumupe, who took it with a nod of understanding. She slung the bag onto her back and grinned. "Promise me, dear, you'll show me whatever y' decide to make?" Melodia grinned as she put the cloth into her own bag. "Aye Mumu....don't I always?" Mumupe nodded and then shook her head. "If y' spent more time making these beautiful outfits instead o' beddin' everyone that crossed your path...well...who knows?" She bowed and bid her farewell as she turned to head out of the gate.
Melodia let her smile slowly fall and she gave a slight frown, a touch of sadness crept across her without her even realizing it.
"Aye...who knows..?" She felt tears sting the corners of her eyes as she turned back to the crowd of market goers, knowing she'd be swallowed along with her sudden self-awareness.
The meeting with the Hyur had gone longer than Melodia had been prepared for and now she cursed herself for letting her urges get the better of her. She was practically running down the streets of Ul'dah, pushing past the crowds gathered at the marketplace as she needed to get to the Gate of Thal before it was too late. She was dressed in a fine felt bliaud top and her spring skirt, already dressed for her date with Alara later in the evening.
This however, would not do. Would not do at all if she was late and missed her appointment.
And she nearly did.
The lalafell was turning to leave out of the gate as she pushed past the last of the crowd and despite her heavy breathing called out, "Wait! I'm here!" The lalafell, an older woman named Mumupe, turned and a soft pained smile crossed her lips as she returned back to Melodia. She sighed as the Miqo'te panted before her.
"You shouldn't be runnin' in that dress, dear." She scolded. Melodia nodded and blushed. "I'm sorry...I know better. I just didn't want to miss you." Mumupe shook her head and with her index finger, beckoned Melodia to crouch, which she did, eyes down as she was embarrassed by her near tardiness. Mumupe slapped her across the cheek, not a hard slap, but one of warning. "You were cavortin'. I can smell it on you, despite whatever efforts you've done to clean up." Melodia hung her head and nodded. With a loud sigh Mumupe shook her head, disappointed, but a soft loving smile crossed her lips and she patted Melodia's shoulders. "You're lucky you're one of my better customers. Chin up, dear."
Melodia lifted her head and nodded, still maintaining eye level with the woman. Mumupe unslung the bag on her back and opened it. "Now...you wanted the darker reds. I did the best I could, but I'm sure this will work with what you need." Mumupe then pulled out a bundle of fabric, silk by the look of it, a deep red in color. Melodia's eyes went wide and she smiled happily. "Aye...tha's...tha's beautiful, Mumu..." She'd slipped and let her accent roll off the tongue but she didn't care. She saw potential with the fabric before her. A dress, or perhaps another skirt. A top would be lovely. She gently took the offered cloth and nodded.
"It's perfect." She pulled out a small bag of coin and offered it to Mumupe, who took it with a nod of understanding. She slung the bag onto her back and grinned. "Promise me, dear, you'll show me whatever y' decide to make?" Melodia grinned as she put the cloth into her own bag. "Aye Mumu....don't I always?" Mumupe nodded and then shook her head. "If y' spent more time making these beautiful outfits instead o' beddin' everyone that crossed your path...well...who knows?" She bowed and bid her farewell as she turned to head out of the gate.
Melodia let her smile slowly fall and she gave a slight frown, a touch of sadness crept across her without her even realizing it.
"Aye...who knows..?" She felt tears sting the corners of her eyes as she turned back to the crowd of market goers, knowing she'd be swallowed along with her sudden self-awareness.
