Visiting the Float! [Open RP]

[Aya]

“Your assignment is to keep an eye on Fallgourd Float…” it was not the sort of assignment that Aya was used to.  Really, she had been mostly successful in avoiding difficult or demanding assignments in the past, but with the Hungry Wolf being hired to provide additional security along the Gridania-Coerthas route it looked to be unavoidable this time around.  It seemed that her recent promotion had been something of a trap: Shizu needed someone to take charge of the new operation, and found an easy target in Aya, who was suddenly in charge of a small number of sentries watching the route.  Still, she would primarily be on her own, collecting reports from patrols east and west of the Float, coordinating with the Twin Adder, and keeping an eye on the settlement itself.

 

“It could be worse…” she thought as she settled onto the park bench near the central cross-road.   At least no one would be out to hound her about staying in uniform, and she could take the time to maintain her look instead: she wore a skirt, cute top and fashionable leather boots with heels that would have found her in trouble back at the Wolf Den.  She had heard that the inn was interested in hiring her to perform, and a little extra gil on the side couldn’t hurt: it was just good sense to make the right kind of impression!

 

Crossing her legs, and resting her hands gently in her lap, she felt the warmth of the late morning sun upon her cheeks as she took a look around, watching the locals going about their daily routines, and the numerous people passing by on the busy road…

 

((This is an open RP thread!  Aya Foxheart has been given a new assignment by the Hungry Wolf Free Company, and is stuck watching Fallgourd Float!  She'd love to meet people, and make some friends, so anyone wanting to come by to chat or keep her company is welcome! ))

[C'kayah Polaali]

C'kayah yawned, enjoying the morning sun on his face as he led a lightly laden chocobo down the road toward Fallgourd Float. The trip, in general, had been a success. Brandy was always welcome in Coerthas, while several buyers of more esoteric liquids had paid handsomely for more secretive wares. He'd timed the night's trip nearly perfectly, arriving at the Float not soon after sunrise, in time for a late breakfast and a sleep in the sun, pausing a mile out only to change into something a little less travel stained - a coarsely woven grey silk tunic, laced loosely in front, and tight cream pants tucked into high Miqo'te boots. A silk bandana, bright red, covered his head and kept the clattering of the silver beads in his braids to a minimum. It always paid to appear both prosperous and civilized in the Shroud, especially for a Miqo'te.

 

He smiled pleasantly at the attractive woman who lounged on a bench just inside the gate. Her long blonde locks hid her exotically round Hyur ears and shone fetchingly in the brightness of the morning sun. He brought his chocobo to a stop directly across from her while another porter, just starting out, led his own bird across the first wooden bridge. The overloaded bags on that animal brushed his own as they passed, loosening the strap holding a bag. C'kayah, purring a silky "Good morning" to the woman, did not see. As he led his animal onto the bridge with its shifting surface, the bag slipped and then fell to the ground with a dull thud. The flap opened, and an ornate rectangular wooden box tumbled out, wavering precariously on the edge of the bridge.

[Aya]

The creaking of spoked wheels crossing the wooden bridge was a common sound in the Float.  The bridge's trusses would groan slightly in support of the weight that rolled across them.  Still, it seemed like there was always something to look at on these carts.  Goods from every corner of Eorzea; some had even traveled from as far away as the Empire, some came from even further abroad.  The drivers were always a mixture: some flamboyant or smartly dressed merchants hauling their own merchandise, others grubby and grease-stained porters or muleskinners handling cargo for third parties in the cities. 

 

As the two carts passed before her, Aya could not help but watch the well-to-do Miqo'te in the attention-grabbing red bandana.  His pleasant smile irresistibly pulled a bright smile from her own lips as she raised a hand to offer a wave.  From the corner of her eye she noticed the movement toward the back of his cart.  As C'kayah watched, her eyes grew wide, and her mouth hung open for a moment as she shot quickly to her feet and gestured toward the falling cargo, dangling, precariously on the edge of disaster.

[C'kayah Polaali]

C'kayah paused at the thump, looking back to see the fallen bag. He shook his head and drew up his chocobo, who stopped with a soft "kweh". Stooping, he picked up the box, slipping it back into the saddlebag.

 

"Thanks", he said, flashing a grin. His voice was a gentle baritone, with a hint of a Dha'yuz Miqo'te accent. "I don't think I would have liked to lose this."

 

 

He slung the bag over the back of his chocobo, reaching under to pull the belly strap across and buckle it. "I've been traveling this road for some years", he said. "It's getting busier. I don't recall seeing you here before, though. Just passing through?"

[Aya]

As the Miqo'te briskly hops off his Chocobo and snags the loose bag, Aya stands suddenly straighter and closes her lips.  Her cheeks flush a little as she feels a little embarassed at her over-surprise, but the smile does not take long to return.

 

"I am new here, I suppose!" she says, with a mostly Ishgardian accent, "Not passing through though!  I'm supposed to be spending quite a bit of time here now.  What about you?  Passing through?" she asks, taking a few steps toward and around him, her eyes looking over the Chocobo, glancing between the Miqo'te and his cargo.

[C'kayah Polaali]

C'kayah chuckled, patting the bag. "Arbitrage", he purred, by way of an explanation. "Some things easy to come by in Thanalan sell well in Coerthas, and visa versa."

 

He let his gaze linger over her, taking in her clothes, her manner, the flush of her face.

 

"I'm C'kayah, from Ul'dah, and this is Khej", he continued, stroking the chocobo's flank. "You're Ishgardian from your voice, are you not? Is it business or pleasure that brings you into the Shroud?"

[Aya]

Aya stops moving around, with that smile still playing on her lips as she tilts her head a little.  She folds her arms across her body, as the wind picks up and blows her hair gently, slightly obscuring her face.  "I'm Aya, its a pleasure to meet you C'kayah..." she pauses for a moment, cocking her hips and tilting her shoulders as she moves her head to look the Chocobo in the eye, "and you too Khej!" 

 

Raising her head again she nods to answer his question, "Once upon a time, anyway.  I'm a Gridanian now, or so I like to think!" the playful laugh that accompanies the answer betrays a little of the lingering uncertainty in that statement.  Shifting her body a little more and diverting her eyes for a moment she hints at a lack of confidence as to her purpose. When she lifts her eyes to his again there's a playfulness in her expression,"Believe it or not I'm guarding this town.  At least... I am keeping an eye on it." "Feel any safer now?" she adds with a grin.

[C'kayah Polaali]

C'kayah laughed delightedly. "Much", he said, his teeth flashing whitely in the sun. "I'd have second thoughts about attacking the town after seeing you on guard..."

 

Finishing with the saddlebags, he took the reigns in his hand and grinned rakishly at her. "As a matter of fact", he said, "I'm feeling so safe that I think I'll stay here a day or two. After you're off duty", he continued, shifting on his heel, "I'd like to buy you a drink and hear about the lot of an Ishgardian in Gridania."

[Steel Wolf]

*edited because Stell am dumb*

[Aya]

The young woman repeats several quick nods of her head as the Miqo’te laughs, setting her long bangs into motion.  She’s about to interject that he had best be having those second thoughts, when he quickly followed up with his invitation.  Her smiling lips tightened slightly as she tilted her head again and nodded once more, “That sounds great!  It would be nice to have a little company out here!”

 

"Are you here to deliver those goods?" she asks, releasing her left arm to gesture toward his chocobo, "Or do are you just carrying them through?"

 

(( Hi Steel!  I think you may be confusing Fallgourd Float with Camp Tranquil in the South Shroud – as far as I know there isn’t marsh near the Float, or any Adamantoise. 

If you still want to go with that story I’ll respond to it, I just wanted to double check first ))

[Steel Wolf]

((Awe bloody hell, you're right.  >.<  Redacted, sorry--carry on!))

[C'kayah Polaali]

"I'm on my way back from delivering up north", he said with a grin, patting the mostly-empty bags slung over his chocobo, "but I've a few things bound for Gridania on the way back. There's no profit in empty bags, after all."

 

He glanced at the inn, rising above the trees, and smiled. "Fallgourd has been a favorite way-station of mine for some years", he purred. "I always make a habit of stopping here at least overnight. The food and wine are spectacular for such an isolated settlement. And now", he let his smile widen to show the tips of his stubby fangs, legacy of some Keeper ancestor, "so is the company."

[Aya]

Aya listens intently, the smile of her crimson lips growing intent and playful.  She cocks her hips, resting her hand there as she tilts her head in the opposite direction.  "It is a major crossroad.  Only fair it have company to match the views, hmmm?" she adds in her Ishgardian notes. 

 

"I imagine that you never want empty cargo on the return trip.  Do you bring Ishgardian goods back through Coerthas for Gridanians?" she asked, raising her eyebrows quizzically.

[C'kayah Polaali]

"Mmmmm, yes...", he said with a smile, his voice a pleasant purr. "Ishgardian potions travel well and sell nicely in Gridania. There are Duskwight and Keeper clans in the Shroud, too, that I buy from - their goods always fetch a good price in Ul'dah

 

"But enough about me", he continued. "Have you guarded many places and faced many threats? The Wood Wailers tend to be quite closed about such things, but I've always had a burning curiosity..."

[Aya]

Aya's body and head lift a little as he describes the goods he carries to and fro; she looks back at him, as if very curious about something.  As he turns to ask of her experience, her body relaxes and the confident cocking of her hip vanishes.

 

"I haven't guarded much, no.  I suppose I have faced threats, mostly poaches and bandits in the Shroud.  I'm not a Wood Wailer, though, so I cannot speak for them.  This is my first long term assignment of this sort - I have been part of a few escorts before, though, but that's not quite the same."

 

She looks away again before peering back with a spark of interest in her blue eyes, "Now... about those Ishgardian goods: what of perfume and cosmetics?"

[C'kayah Polaali]

He chuckled, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Ishgardian's aren't exactly on good terms with perfumes", he said, silkily. "Cosmetics, yes. Perfumes, no. But..."

 

He reached into a saddlebag, rummaging around before producing a small package wrapped in soft, thin leather. Unwrapping it, he displayed an ornately carved box of dark wood and silver inlays. He grinned wickedly, sliding open the top to reveal a tiny bottle. An oily amber liquid pooled inside.

 

"Mandissarette", he purred. "I bought it on the way up to Coerthas. The Duskwights who sold it to me claimed that none could resist the woman who wore it. Experience bore out their claims", he continued with a smile, "though the miqo'te nose is famously sensitive."

[Aya]

Aya peered a little closer, blue eyes focused on the indecipherable liquid within the bottle.  "Mandissarette?" she asked in a curious whisper, as if she were in the presence of something perhaps greater than herself.  "A Duskwight fragrance? mmmmmm... sounds intriguing."  tilting her head and glancing back to C'kayah she nods with her smile quickly returning.  "So you do not return empty handed at all - I can't imagine what such a treasure could fetch in Limsa."

[C'kayah Polaali]

"Limsa!", he laughed, sliding the box closed and rewrapping it in its leather covering. "I honestly don't think the Roegadyn would know a seductive scent if it rode up on a horse and clubbed them in the head!

 

"No, my delightful defender, this is bound for Ul'dah", he purred, replacing the box in his saddlebags. Next he drew out a slim book, curious images embossed into the dark red leather of the cover. "'Seventeen Successful Torture Techniques'", he read. "I'd imagine this would sell well in Limsa, though I can only wonder at the dedication in filtering the successful techniques from the unsuccessful ones.

 

"But this", he purred, replacing the book and drawing forth an ornate silver dagger, the sheath encrusted with gems that shone in the sunlight. "This might go to the Duskwights themselves. An Ishgardian dagger, quenched in the blood of no less than three dragons, and inlaid with lapis lazuli and precious gems. The Sylnais clan, for instance, famously overpays for such things."

[Aya]

Aya's cheeks flushed with the embarrassment of one accustomed to finding Limsa's shopping quite extraordinary.  "I suppose..." she she replies with a meek tone that adds emphasis to her strange accent. 

 

As he describes and shows off the dagger, she looks somewhat less impressed.  "If there is one thing the Houses know, it is dragon blood I suppose...," she says wryly.  "That is a lovely piece of craftsmanship, though..." she turns her head around the dagger, examining it from every side.  Her eyes look thoughtful, as she seems to look past the blade.  Cocking her head up toward him, she asks "I don't suppose you ever trade in more practical weapons of Ishgardian make, do you?"

[C'kayah Polaali]

"On occasion", he says with a smile. "Weapons can be bulky, and don't always have the profit margin to make them worthwhile to me. Lance heads and pugilists weapons can be small, but there are few that the Ishgardians sell which aren't also made locally, in as good a quality, in the other places I sell. Is there something particular you're looking for?"

 

He slips the dagger back into the saddlebag, then lifts the flap on another, tugging loose a corner of colorful filmy material. "The biggest problem with goods from Ishgard is how secretive they can be about everything. It was extraordinarily difficult, for instance, to even get them to show me this, an Ishgardian dancer's veil..."

[Aya]

Aya nods understandingly her fingers curling and tapping together as her mind wanders just a bit.  "I suppose you don't have much space for bulkier goods... I was just thinking of my brother.  He's an apprentice with a weaponsmith.  I suppose I was wondering if you may have come across any of his work... but that's just silly, I know."

 

Seeming to recover from a few moments of distraction she subtly wets her lips and regains her posture, smiling softly as C'kayah removes the veil from his saddlebag.  Her eyes brighten at the feature: a mixture of surprise and anticipation.  "It is the worst part of society there..." she says, of the secrecy, glancing at him momentarily before returning her attention to the veil as he unfolds it.

[C'kayah Polaali]

"Mmmmm...", he purrs, "Yes. It's both the worst and the best part of Ishgardian society, I think. The worst because, well, it's difficult to trade with those who won't see you. The best, on the other hand..."

 

He flips the veil open with a flourish, holding it up so that the light shimmers through it's violet fabric and sparkles from silver threads shot through it. He moves to stand close to her, holding the veil up to partially conceal her face, admiring the way it sets off her skin. His lips curl into a flirtatious smile.

 

"On the other hand, there's something to be said for the attractiveness of beauty concealed, don't you think? Of hinting at hidden glories instead of slaying mystery by laying all bare..."

[Aya]

The Hyur girl watches the veil closely: her eyes following it intently as it is carefully unfolded.  The sheer fabric, luminous and smooth, draws her vision along its length, and soon the touch of her finger to the cloth. 

 

It is such a simple article, yet it held within the tantalizing promise of Ishgardian wealth and beauty that tempts and teases well beyond the reach of those at the lower reaches of her society.  Dancing had once given her the means to brush its very edges: beautiful clothing, sparking jewelry, and sweet scents that are both the reward and necessities of the trade.  In this moment, beneath the warming sun of the Twelveswood, that diaphanous strip of cloth seemed to be more than its own inherit beauty and grace; instead a delicate bridge to a world she had left behind.

 

His comments on the art of veiled beauty draw a knowing smile that approaches a smirk upon her lips: the exquisite play at temptation and allure is as much a nature of her art as the exhibition of grace and form.  As he holds the veil toward her, as if trying it on upon her features, her eyes glance upward toward his, displaying a sparkle of delight that is quickly mirrored in her features.  She laughs brightly, causing her to dip her shoulders and head as she poses against the veil.

 

 

 

((Just a reminder to anyone who may be reading this, this is an open RP thread, and while C'kayah and I are having some flirtatious fun, that wasn't really the purpose of the thread so please feel free to interrupt us IC!  ))

[C'kayah Polaali]

He watches her face as she regards the veil, recognizing that in it she sees more than just a simple piece of cloth. There's something of the exile about her, he thinks to himself. She lives outside the guarded city - by choice, perhaps, or not - but in any case, her life is divorced from the life she grew up knowing. He sees that all in the flash of her eyes and in her delighted grin, and just as quickly he arrives at a decision.

 

Grinning and purring happily, he draws the veil across her back from shoulder to shoulder before flipping it off with a flourish and folding it back into a compact square. He presents it to her with a modest bow, then lifts his head to regard her with a mischievous flash of his eyes.

 

"It'd be a pity if my new Ishgardian friend didn't have some small example of what the dancers in her old home are wearing", he says with a smile. "Please", he urges. "Accept this as a gift from me."

[Aya]

Aya’s eyes widen once more in surprise, as her lips open to accept a sudden gasp that expresses audibly the unexpected elation so apparent in her features.

 

“For me?” she asks, in disbelief, her fingers slowly trailing along the edges of the folded square.  “I… I don’t know what to say… I don’t know that I should…” she replied, just above a whisper, her eyes gazing softly at the veil, lips pulling tight for a moment.  Gift giving toward entertainers, and among Ul’dahns in general, is not always an innocent affair.  Her experience could have warned her that such gifts could be as dangerous as they were unexpected: provided in exchange for a presently unstated favor, or expectation of future repayment.

 

Yet, in the exaltation of the moment ebullient and bright-eyed, the former-Ishgardian dancer embraced the folded square of translucent fabric, holding it to her chest as she smiled toward the gift-giver with a warmth beaming and genuine, “I cannot thank you enough!” 

 

For a brief moment she wondered if he could sense what it meant to her--a flicker of recognition in her eyes is followed by a somewhat coy turn of her head, displaying the flush of her cheeks.