Hosting the Hostess

[111]

Evangeline leans against the rough sandstone wall, waiting for Aya to leave the office of the private investigator and join her. In truth, she knew little about the Quicksand most famous employee. She was beautiful, yes, but beyond that the woman was an enigma. A giggling, energetic enigma.

 

Who she was hopefully about to have tea with.

[Aya]

Aya slipped out the door, leaving a final cheerful smile, and wave of her hand for Investigator Hara.  She felt the slight bite of chill air upon her exposed skin, but the Ul'dah winter, with the sun still burning bright in the mid-day sky, held little to fear.

 

A brief gust of wind whipped momentarily at her short skirt, and slipped through the loosely tied, open Thanalan-styled blouse, causing the briefest expression of discomfort, before she turned her eyes toward Evangeline with a bright, excited smile.  Knee-high heeled boots climbed down the front steps of the office one-at-a-time until she joined the Elezen upon the stone-paved, sun-drenched boulevard. 

 

 

"Did you have a place in mind?" she asked in a light, playful tone, as if she wouldn't care about the answer, the vowels lilting in her Ishgardian accent.

[111]

Evangeline blinks, "You know, I've never asked, but that's an interesting accent you have."

 

She starts walking at a slow pace, "Strange to here that accent on another so far south. Stranger still from you Aya."

 

"As for the place, I know a little cafe that overlooks the city walls. Hot as Ifrit's fires during the summer, but quite nice at this time of year."

 

They head up a small incline of stairs towards one of Ul'dahs more affluent districts. The rubbish filled streets turning into small winding paths, countless planters and flower boxes adding a splash of green to the dusty red of the sandstone architecture.

[Aya]

A warmed hint of bashfulness appeared on Aya's features at Eva's remarking upon her accent.  Carmined lips pursed slightly, as her eyes demurred.  "Well, I can't really help it!"  A moment seemed to restore her expressiveness as she lifted her eyes again, flashing a bright smile that showed the brilliant white behind her grinning red lips.  "Too busy looking instead of listening?"  She let out an irrepressible giggle, while her fingers reached up to brush long bangs back. 

 

"Oh? Over the wall? Oh...!" she exhales an excited little sigh, "I just love getting to see the view from up there..!"  She glanced upward now, coinciding with the drawing of a breath, almost a gasp.  The towers of Ul'dah always seemed to catch her attention: symbols of hope in better things to come, and bitter-sweet reminders of home.

[111]

Evangeline laughs nervously, "Not saying I wasn't, there is quite a lot of nice things to look at. Though I blame the noise of the Quicksand more."

 

She pauses a moment, looking uncomfortable, "Lady Aya I must ask... Is your mood always so exuberant?"

 

"I feel like I'm missing out on something, I felt similar once, but only the influence of drugs. Forgive me if this is an impertinent question."

[Aya]

Aya reaches down for her small purse, dangling from a shoulder strap.  Her fingers delve in search while she giggles softly with Eva's reply.  Her lively eyes casting just a glance toward the Elezen.

 

For a moment she regards the found object of her search, before twisting open the small cylindrical container.  Using her index finger she gently drew a dab of the waxy-material, spreading it upon her stretched lips while Eva asked about her mood. The forced expression locked away a grin that wished to pull upon her lips, which she followed instead by pursing and then drawing her lips together to ensure the wind-protecting gloss was spread evenly.  A repressed grin seemed to tug at her body language all the while.

 

At last, the exercise complete, she drew her hands back down, tossing her hair with the swiftness of her shift into an amused pose, beaming her broad, cheerful grin Eva's way.

 

"Aaaalways!" she replied boisterously in her light voice, not quite laughing.   Her grin narrowed along with her eyes as she leaned a little closer to the Elezen as if sharing a secret, "Well... maybe not quite always."

 

 

Swiftly she drew her left hand up on a motion as smooth as it was sudden.  Fingertips gently gripped the little cylinder of cosmetic.  "Lip gloss?" she asked without otherwise moving.  "It great for your lips in all this dry wind!"

[111]

"S-sure..." Evangeline takes the strange tube, examining it for a moment. "I've never been one for cosmetics, but I'll give it a try."

 

She is still entirely unsure what to make of this strange woman, and her strange mannerisms. Deciding not to worry overmuch about it, she coats her lips in the glossy moist substance, pressing them together slightly.

 

"Oh, is that Cherry?" She purses her lips a few more times, and then hands the tube back smiling, "My thanks Lady Aya. Apologies if my own question unnerved you. It is just that have have seen precious little in this city to elicit such cheer."

 

Evangeline continues to guide the woman, heading up a small flight of stairs to a rooftop cafe. The wind and son blocked to a certain extent by a barrier of rose covered trellises. "Perhaps some time you can teach me your secret."

[Aya]

Aya accepted the gloss, slipping it back into her purse with a nodding smile.  "Mmhmmm!  I'm not sure why you're looking to the city for your smiles, though!  I mean, sometimes a gorgeous sunset, or the sudden feeling of raindrops on a hot day make me smile, but its so much more about people, and friends, and things to look forward to!"

 

She ascends the steps just behind Evangeline, "I mean, here we are climbing up to a nice place for some tea, a lovely view, and a little unexpected visit with a friend, right?  What's not to smile about!" she emphasizes her last sentence with a cheerful excitement as they reach the landing at the roof.

[111]

"I... see." She nods, "I suppose that is one way to look at it."

 

Evangeline speaks to the staff, and they're soon placed onto a small outdoor table, nearby charcoal braziers warding off the chill of the crisp air. She places in an order for a pot of floral tea, then leans back.

 

"I look at it another way. Though we cannot see them, we both know what lies under the shadow of those walls." She nods at the massive red stone embankments ringing the city. "And we both knows what lies in the glitter of those towers." She jerks her head towards the glittering domes of Ul'dahs rich and royal, emerging from lesser buildings like giant mushrooms.

 

"While I do not deny there is pleasure and joy to be found, I find misfortune in greater amounts."

 

She blushes, "Ah, rude of me to bring politics into this. Forgive me Lady Aya."

[Aya]

Aya takes a seat at the table, setting her purse down on the ground, and folding her legs together, with the shortness of her skirt.

 

She listens with a pleasant smile, elbows resting on armrests, and hands folded in her lap, offering little nods as she listens.

 

"We see what we choose to see." she says with a soft confidence that quietly cuts through her previous cheerful tone.  "You're right, I guess.  But there's also celebration, love of life, energy too.  So much to look forward to, to enjoy, and smile about."

 

She offers a little shrug, hands shifting a little in her lap, "I mean you'll find all of those things everywhere you go.  Sometimes worse, sometimes better.  May as well enjoy!"

[111]

Evangeline opens her mouth as if to argue, then closes it with a wry smile. "You're not wrong, of course."

 

"Though I do not plan to give up my goals either."

 

The tea arrives, Evangeline continues to speak while pouring it. "I am surprised though, to find someone in Ul'dah with such an attitude. It is a city for the restless and the ambitious, may I ask how you ended up here?"

 

"I would think La Noscea, or the Shroud, to be more akin to your personality."

[Aya]

Aya watches as Eva looks prepared to argue, mouth opened and features momentarily taught, only to balk.  Eva's wry smile met Aya's amused grin, her eyes opened wider and infused with light-hearted energy.

 

"So you're saying you know where I should live based on how much I smile?" she asked with that self-same smile bearing a look of mischievous curiosity. 

 

She followed almost immediately with another question, rolling whimsically in her lilting tone, "What made you come to Ul'dah then? Looking for other people to be gloomy with?" she leans a little closer, the mischievousness no less evident.

[111]

Evangeline's smile grows, "Not where you should live, just where you might."

 

"As for myself, once I left Ishgard I briefly visited all three of the southern cities. Ul'dah was actually last on my list for a possible refuge."

 

"Gridania however was too dark, earthy..." She shudders, "All those enveloping trees were too much after living in the heights of Coerthas. In addition, while the people of Gridania are slaves, a revolution against the Elementals would be a bit much, even for one such as me."

 

There is a glint of humor in her eyes as she speaks.

 

"Limsa was my second choice, an autocracy led by a supreme dictator. However unlike Ul'dah, there is no great inequality or happiness, as long as they can ravage the seas, and feed upon the bounty of others." She shudders again, "Also all that water underfoot. I prefer to live on solid ground."

 

"Finally Ul'dah. Deserts of sand instead of snow, but other than that it feels quite homey. Also there is plenty of opportunity for me to do my work." She murmurs under her breath, "Also they gave me the best price for the family heirlooms I swiped when I left."

 

"What of you then Lady Aya? None of the other city states ever have drawn you away from the jewel of the desert?"

[Aya]

Aya cants her head slightly as she listens. The slight pursing of lips, and the shift of blonde eyebrows gives hint to the flicker of silent thoughts behind the intent curiosity on her bright blue eyes.

 

"So you like.. looked at the world, put everyone in neat and tidy boxes, and then went to the box you thought would want your help?" She blinked slowly as if dumbfounded by her own question

[111]

Evangeline nods, "Exactly."

 

The tea arrives and she begins filling the bright and floral pattered cups.

 

"Can't just go around overthrowing entrenched systems of power willy nilly, need a plan first."

 

"For example, a novice adventurer wouldn't take a leve to go slay morbol in the deep shroud. First they'd chase the marmots out of some farmer's carrot patch."

 

"This is sort of like that." She slides a cup over to Aya, "Need to get some revolutionary experience under my belt."

[Aya]

As she listened to Natalie's answer, Aya's eyes slowly opened wider and wider.  Blue irises surrounded by seas of white revealed, little by little, her look of Uniquely Blonde Bewilderment™.  A silent, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa" seemed to hang upon slightly parted lips, still glistening with pink gloss. 

 

The arrival of the tea proved sudden relief. The slight clatter of cups and saucers, and the fragrant scent of brewed herbs snapped her from the spell.  Suddenly she gave an easy little nod, accompanied by a pleasant little smile, "Oh, that is interesting~".  She answered, holding the final syllable for a moment as she let her voice trail off.

 

She lifted the cup, inhaling deep to enjoy the fragrance, letting just a small sip touch her lips.  "Oh.." she sounded happily, letting her cup back down.  "I think its interesting how you chose where to live.  I don't think I've ever really had that pleasure--I've just always followed where life and work lead me, you know?"  She added a few spoonfuls of honey to her tea cup, stirring.  "Really the only choice I think I  ever made about that was to leave home... and when I did, I never really even thought about ending up in Ul'dah.  It seemed so, so far away."