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In Vesper Bay
Anstarra slid off the rental bird, giving it a little pat before looking around. Casually, she then straightened her clothes - form-fitting shirt, pants slung low on her hips- enjoying the (sometimes less-than covert) glances directed her way... Before fixing her attention on the pub. A fight was well and good, but she was still a little wound up... and with the aether from that corrupted crystal’s bare caress settling into her, melting away the dye and setting a fiery tinge to her hair and fur (but doing no further harm for once, thank Azeyma), she felt well-inclined to enjoy herself.
Funny, the things one gets into. After all the recent madness, the comparative simplicity of doing battle against a corrupt fire elemental in a nightmarish pit of ash that had once been a town in the Shroud… well, it had been almost soothing.
She really needed therapy. Thankfully, it was in sight, the sounds of raucous joviality and clinking mugs of ale already singing their siren's song.
Off to the side stood a man, a hyur that did not stand out well from the crowd... though not for lack of trying, with his bright pink shirt, and the easily-overheard words he exchanged with the lalafell beside him. "...From -any- standpoint, no matter how you look at it, it makes no sense for there to be no fountain." The lalafell replied: "'S’posed to be a statue, not a damned fountain." "Yes but the width of the platform to the base of the statue is too wide, and serves no purpose. You've an ocean right there..." They continued bickering, an amicable debate slowly growing more heated. The taller man shook his head after a moment before glancing over his shoulder. He winced at the sight of a nearby Brass Blade, but then whistled sharply when he laid eyes upon the fire-haired miqo'te. "Hey, miss."
Anstarra's lips had quirked as she overheard the discussion taking place, turning and briefly glancing up at the statue. The question of a fountain wasn't one she'd thought to address in the past, and wasn't particularly inclined to pursue today. She was already halfway turned back toward the bar, but hesitated as she heard the call. "Mmm?" A look over the shoulder, and sly smile. "Can I help you?" Many a fine night began in such manner, after all.
The male motioned her over. Even in the full light of the sun the man's face was spattered in shade, the raised scar tissue of skin and the fine indentations of forming wrinkles providing such. An interesting face to look upon. "Just to break the tie here before this rat bastard thinks he knows better than me, only because he's Ul'dahn, eh? What do you think, a fountain would make the statue look better, right?" The lalafell beside him scowled sharply. "If it would look -better- with a fountain, there would already -be- a fountain," he seethed.
Amused despite herself, Anstarra turned and made her way over. She didn’t spare a little sway of her hips, though whether this would turn out to be of interest or simply practiced mien remained to be seen. Her eyes flicked over the hyur male's scars, tail giving a little swish as she came up and made a show of regarding the statue, while her mind weighed a choice. Air-headed, or clever? He looked experienced without being too lecherous. She smiled thoughtfully, and a bit playfully.
"Hmm.. but would a fountain not defeat the aesthetic balance of shore versus sea? Here stands Vesper Bay, and by extension, Ul'dah.. a glittering diamond, hard, and hot, smoldering under Azeyma's caress..."
The man stroked his stubbled chin. A 5 o'clock shadow that good doesn't happen by accident. Though his age seems to be creeping up on him, and despite the gratuitous scarring, he might have been quite handsome once. "Mmm, but fountains are expensive by nature, and symbolize great wealth. That's clearly what he's going for here, so why not go all the way?" The miqo’te nodded.
"Fair point... but as I heard you saying before, we're right by the sea~" She grinned at him. "Now if we're looking for senseless ostentation, how about a fountain of flames? One of Ul'dah's symbols.. haha, flames and gemstones both, glittering and fiery. Symbolic indeed! Anyone could steal the gems, were they to risk the flame..." Her own emerald eyes glittered as she brushed aside a lock of her hair. "If that isn't a fitting metaphor, I don't know what is... not to mention expensive as all hells~"
The hyur considered. "Not even sure how they would manage that, quite frankly." The lalfell cut in, clearly extenuated. "See? Anyone with two eyes born to their face knows no fountain is necessary! Hmph! What a crock of shite, telling -me-, a man what's studied architecture for 30 long cycles, that a fountain looks better! If I had my way the whole lot of...." The lalafell makes his exit, ranting the whole way, before his voice finally drop from the distance. The scarred midlander shrugged. "Well... I still think a fountain would look better. Everything looks so dry, even with the ocean in view. But I'm no man of architecture."
Anstarra watched the diminutive architectural savant make his way off, bemused. Before looking back to the hyur, flashing her teeth in a smile. "You could have fooled me. But if you're looking to wet your lips, I might have some ideas..." Her tail flicked, and then she gestured. "The bar right there, namely~" To her light surprise, the man rubbed the back of his neck in apparent consideration.
"I'm afraid I'm not the best company for drinking - can't stomach it like I used to in my youth. All the same, I'd be glad to accompany you. Been some time since I've been in Vesper." The woman chuckled softly, tail giving a slightly different kind of flick, this time concluding with a little curl.
"Recently landed? I'm sure there's a story there... and I don't really need to drink, to hear it." A tilt of her head and a smile. "If you're just looking for company, I can linger a little..." She gestures at the external stairs leading up to a nearby rooftop, a public, yet mostly-secluded lookout point. "Shall we get out of the dust, then?"
Her new companion gave her a polite nod. "After you, miss."
She led the way, hips and tail doing that thing they do, maybe a little more than necessary (though who decides what really IS necessary, anyroad? Popular opinion, mostly...). She smiled back at him as they arrived at the relative privacy of the rooftop. A light breeze came in off the bay, which was somewhat less foul than it could have been on this day. The flame-haired female regarded her companion, smiling once more. "Not one to come to Vesper Bay often... what brings you here today? Mister...?"
He stroked his stubble again. It seemed to be a habit. It wasn't an irritating affectation, at least to her, because his face was interesting to look at. With how flawless her skin was, you might guess she was fascinated by scars. A moment to look out over the settlement, glancing at the sky from time to time. "Alec," he said at length, turning back to the woman with an affable expression. "Alec Cromwell. And I inspect ships. Mostly trade ships... real boring work, and my age has made it harder than it used to be, so I come out only when asked for specifically. I've been told I'm faster at it than most, and so I cost less." He smiled at that, the crows’ feet on the corner of his eyes making a larger impression. "I didn't catch your name though, miss."
Anstarra's eyes were still on that stubble."You make it sound so enchanting~" she teased, tail dancing in amusement. "You can call me Star. My full name's a mouthful." She stuck her tongue out a little.
The male went still, his hand dropping to his side. The barest of hints. He looked straight at Anstarra, his face sobering, though his mouth still held a small smile.
"Yes, I'd have to agree with you there."
She frowned slightly, a very brief motion, as a chill stole over her. One of her ears cocked a little, just so, and though she retained her affable, playful demeanor, it had grown... strained. Her tail had gone nearly still.
"Have... we met?"
The man calling himself Alec dropped his voice lower than it was before. What once was clear and genial, now became breathy and foreboding, as if his words wash close over gravel as they leave his mouth. "Only just now. I admit, you put some of my best through the wringer. You look quite different now than you did before. But even one such as yourself should know that an attempt so banal will only go so far."
An’s ears folded down and she took a half step back. Her gaze flicked around, as might someone suspecting they're being surrounded. That she perceived no one right then could simply mean that her assailants would be good... Calculations ran behind her eyes, tension subtly hardening muscles under otherwise soft skin. "It's worked so far," she murmured. "You invite me.. to correct the exception. Who -are- you?"
Rather than reacting to the threat, the man took a half step forward even as Anstarra moved back. Bringing his hands in front of him, one hand loosely gripping the opposite wrist. "I’m just a man doing my job." He does not look to the sides as Anstarra does so, keeping his gaze trained on her. "You created quite a stir back home. Among many others. In my opinion, yours was the most egregious. That an officer with your history had such a propensity for stupidity was beyond belief. It was as if you had snapped, like a wild dog."
The miqo’te gritted her teeth, her cheeks flushing a little. It was hard to refute the statement - impossible, even - so she didn't bother. "It was a stupid moment. There's no going back." Her eyes narrowed a little in sudden suspicion. "Are you.. with the Sisters? You don't strike me as a.. red, kind of man." He smiled lightly at the question, or statement, or both.
"No, but I'll take that as a compliment." The smile is gone as soon as it appears. "And you are right. There is no going back. Certainly not to the Maelstrom, and even Vylbrand proper would pose a risk. Do you miss it already?"
Anstarra’s tail lashed as his question struck home, her flush deepening. She hissed. "So what if I do? I'm not going to go.. skulking around there, sneaking this way and that.†Never mind that she’d just done that, the day prior to witness the trial. He couldn’t know that. Could he? All at once it seemed horribly likely. She bared her teeth.
“And to hells with the Maelstrom."
The words came out with more vitriol than she expected, enough to give her pause, and make her take a few breaths. At least her survival instinct was apparently inciting her to keep her voice low, even in her agitation. "What. Is this. About."
The man’s intent expression did not change. "It's about you, and what you intend to do now. As the situation back home settles, there's no telling what will happen to you. The Sisters might come. The Maelstrom could lobby the other states for you capture and arrest. Skulking and sneaking about may become your way of life, regardless of your intentions. And so I have a propsal." He paused, studying her closely. Slowly raising one eyebrow. "Would you like to hear it?"
Anstarra ears folded back at his words.
And then her eyes slowly widened.
((With all thanks to Edda!))
![[Image: e897aadb177f2febef1e3527f5c77975.jpg]](https://i.gyazo.com/e897aadb177f2febef1e3527f5c77975.jpg)
Anstarra slid off the rental bird, giving it a little pat before looking around. Casually, she then straightened her clothes - form-fitting shirt, pants slung low on her hips- enjoying the (sometimes less-than covert) glances directed her way... Before fixing her attention on the pub. A fight was well and good, but she was still a little wound up... and with the aether from that corrupted crystal’s bare caress settling into her, melting away the dye and setting a fiery tinge to her hair and fur (but doing no further harm for once, thank Azeyma), she felt well-inclined to enjoy herself.
Funny, the things one gets into. After all the recent madness, the comparative simplicity of doing battle against a corrupt fire elemental in a nightmarish pit of ash that had once been a town in the Shroud… well, it had been almost soothing.
She really needed therapy. Thankfully, it was in sight, the sounds of raucous joviality and clinking mugs of ale already singing their siren's song.
Off to the side stood a man, a hyur that did not stand out well from the crowd... though not for lack of trying, with his bright pink shirt, and the easily-overheard words he exchanged with the lalafell beside him. "...From -any- standpoint, no matter how you look at it, it makes no sense for there to be no fountain." The lalafell replied: "'S’posed to be a statue, not a damned fountain." "Yes but the width of the platform to the base of the statue is too wide, and serves no purpose. You've an ocean right there..." They continued bickering, an amicable debate slowly growing more heated. The taller man shook his head after a moment before glancing over his shoulder. He winced at the sight of a nearby Brass Blade, but then whistled sharply when he laid eyes upon the fire-haired miqo'te. "Hey, miss."
Anstarra's lips had quirked as she overheard the discussion taking place, turning and briefly glancing up at the statue. The question of a fountain wasn't one she'd thought to address in the past, and wasn't particularly inclined to pursue today. She was already halfway turned back toward the bar, but hesitated as she heard the call. "Mmm?" A look over the shoulder, and sly smile. "Can I help you?" Many a fine night began in such manner, after all.
The male motioned her over. Even in the full light of the sun the man's face was spattered in shade, the raised scar tissue of skin and the fine indentations of forming wrinkles providing such. An interesting face to look upon. "Just to break the tie here before this rat bastard thinks he knows better than me, only because he's Ul'dahn, eh? What do you think, a fountain would make the statue look better, right?" The lalafell beside him scowled sharply. "If it would look -better- with a fountain, there would already -be- a fountain," he seethed.
Amused despite herself, Anstarra turned and made her way over. She didn’t spare a little sway of her hips, though whether this would turn out to be of interest or simply practiced mien remained to be seen. Her eyes flicked over the hyur male's scars, tail giving a little swish as she came up and made a show of regarding the statue, while her mind weighed a choice. Air-headed, or clever? He looked experienced without being too lecherous. She smiled thoughtfully, and a bit playfully.
"Hmm.. but would a fountain not defeat the aesthetic balance of shore versus sea? Here stands Vesper Bay, and by extension, Ul'dah.. a glittering diamond, hard, and hot, smoldering under Azeyma's caress..."
The man stroked his stubbled chin. A 5 o'clock shadow that good doesn't happen by accident. Though his age seems to be creeping up on him, and despite the gratuitous scarring, he might have been quite handsome once. "Mmm, but fountains are expensive by nature, and symbolize great wealth. That's clearly what he's going for here, so why not go all the way?" The miqo’te nodded.
"Fair point... but as I heard you saying before, we're right by the sea~" She grinned at him. "Now if we're looking for senseless ostentation, how about a fountain of flames? One of Ul'dah's symbols.. haha, flames and gemstones both, glittering and fiery. Symbolic indeed! Anyone could steal the gems, were they to risk the flame..." Her own emerald eyes glittered as she brushed aside a lock of her hair. "If that isn't a fitting metaphor, I don't know what is... not to mention expensive as all hells~"
The hyur considered. "Not even sure how they would manage that, quite frankly." The lalfell cut in, clearly extenuated. "See? Anyone with two eyes born to their face knows no fountain is necessary! Hmph! What a crock of shite, telling -me-, a man what's studied architecture for 30 long cycles, that a fountain looks better! If I had my way the whole lot of...." The lalafell makes his exit, ranting the whole way, before his voice finally drop from the distance. The scarred midlander shrugged. "Well... I still think a fountain would look better. Everything looks so dry, even with the ocean in view. But I'm no man of architecture."
Anstarra watched the diminutive architectural savant make his way off, bemused. Before looking back to the hyur, flashing her teeth in a smile. "You could have fooled me. But if you're looking to wet your lips, I might have some ideas..." Her tail flicked, and then she gestured. "The bar right there, namely~" To her light surprise, the man rubbed the back of his neck in apparent consideration.
"I'm afraid I'm not the best company for drinking - can't stomach it like I used to in my youth. All the same, I'd be glad to accompany you. Been some time since I've been in Vesper." The woman chuckled softly, tail giving a slightly different kind of flick, this time concluding with a little curl.
"Recently landed? I'm sure there's a story there... and I don't really need to drink, to hear it." A tilt of her head and a smile. "If you're just looking for company, I can linger a little..." She gestures at the external stairs leading up to a nearby rooftop, a public, yet mostly-secluded lookout point. "Shall we get out of the dust, then?"
Her new companion gave her a polite nod. "After you, miss."
She led the way, hips and tail doing that thing they do, maybe a little more than necessary (though who decides what really IS necessary, anyroad? Popular opinion, mostly...). She smiled back at him as they arrived at the relative privacy of the rooftop. A light breeze came in off the bay, which was somewhat less foul than it could have been on this day. The flame-haired female regarded her companion, smiling once more. "Not one to come to Vesper Bay often... what brings you here today? Mister...?"
He stroked his stubble again. It seemed to be a habit. It wasn't an irritating affectation, at least to her, because his face was interesting to look at. With how flawless her skin was, you might guess she was fascinated by scars. A moment to look out over the settlement, glancing at the sky from time to time. "Alec," he said at length, turning back to the woman with an affable expression. "Alec Cromwell. And I inspect ships. Mostly trade ships... real boring work, and my age has made it harder than it used to be, so I come out only when asked for specifically. I've been told I'm faster at it than most, and so I cost less." He smiled at that, the crows’ feet on the corner of his eyes making a larger impression. "I didn't catch your name though, miss."
Anstarra's eyes were still on that stubble."You make it sound so enchanting~" she teased, tail dancing in amusement. "You can call me Star. My full name's a mouthful." She stuck her tongue out a little.
The male went still, his hand dropping to his side. The barest of hints. He looked straight at Anstarra, his face sobering, though his mouth still held a small smile.
"Yes, I'd have to agree with you there."
She frowned slightly, a very brief motion, as a chill stole over her. One of her ears cocked a little, just so, and though she retained her affable, playful demeanor, it had grown... strained. Her tail had gone nearly still.
"Have... we met?"
The man calling himself Alec dropped his voice lower than it was before. What once was clear and genial, now became breathy and foreboding, as if his words wash close over gravel as they leave his mouth. "Only just now. I admit, you put some of my best through the wringer. You look quite different now than you did before. But even one such as yourself should know that an attempt so banal will only go so far."
An’s ears folded down and she took a half step back. Her gaze flicked around, as might someone suspecting they're being surrounded. That she perceived no one right then could simply mean that her assailants would be good... Calculations ran behind her eyes, tension subtly hardening muscles under otherwise soft skin. "It's worked so far," she murmured. "You invite me.. to correct the exception. Who -are- you?"
Rather than reacting to the threat, the man took a half step forward even as Anstarra moved back. Bringing his hands in front of him, one hand loosely gripping the opposite wrist. "I’m just a man doing my job." He does not look to the sides as Anstarra does so, keeping his gaze trained on her. "You created quite a stir back home. Among many others. In my opinion, yours was the most egregious. That an officer with your history had such a propensity for stupidity was beyond belief. It was as if you had snapped, like a wild dog."
The miqo’te gritted her teeth, her cheeks flushing a little. It was hard to refute the statement - impossible, even - so she didn't bother. "It was a stupid moment. There's no going back." Her eyes narrowed a little in sudden suspicion. "Are you.. with the Sisters? You don't strike me as a.. red, kind of man." He smiled lightly at the question, or statement, or both.
"No, but I'll take that as a compliment." The smile is gone as soon as it appears. "And you are right. There is no going back. Certainly not to the Maelstrom, and even Vylbrand proper would pose a risk. Do you miss it already?"
Anstarra’s tail lashed as his question struck home, her flush deepening. She hissed. "So what if I do? I'm not going to go.. skulking around there, sneaking this way and that.†Never mind that she’d just done that, the day prior to witness the trial. He couldn’t know that. Could he? All at once it seemed horribly likely. She bared her teeth.
“And to hells with the Maelstrom."
The words came out with more vitriol than she expected, enough to give her pause, and make her take a few breaths. At least her survival instinct was apparently inciting her to keep her voice low, even in her agitation. "What. Is this. About."
The man’s intent expression did not change. "It's about you, and what you intend to do now. As the situation back home settles, there's no telling what will happen to you. The Sisters might come. The Maelstrom could lobby the other states for you capture and arrest. Skulking and sneaking about may become your way of life, regardless of your intentions. And so I have a propsal." He paused, studying her closely. Slowly raising one eyebrow. "Would you like to hear it?"
Anstarra ears folded back at his words.
And then her eyes slowly widened.
((With all thanks to Edda!))
![[Image: MBLxxyE.gif]](http://i.imgur.com/MBLxxyE.gif)