The Darkest Sleepover

[Vanitypirate]

The room still smelled like fresh-cut lumber when Tilly walked into the hearth, and the autumn-cooled cobblestones were a touch rough on her bare feet-- not without reason, of course, given the still in-progress construction of the currently humble house.
The furniture was simple, ashen-hued, but set neatly aside one another in the hearth with the chairs hugged the sides of the central table tightly, a few paces or so away from a long but narrow cushioned couch in a wine-red color, matching the curtains and drapes on Lekalis's insistence, naturally. One could rather clearly tell which decisions were made by the ex-lord; while he preferred to keep a home with elegant and fanciful woodworks and carvings, Tilly preferred to cut corners when she could.

She passed a mirror in the hall and frowned back at her reflection, pausing a moment before making to button up her coat over her abdomen and towards her collar in some effort to smooth and slim her silhouette.
It worked, somewhat, which was really all she could hope for; now all she had to manage was the foot stuck in her lungs from below.

Tilly managed this by grumbling quietly complainingly about it to herself, what with her usual listening ear, her better half, absent for some brotherly outing with an old friend.

But that was quite alright; Tilly had invited some other friendly faces over to pass the time and enjoy a warm hearth.

Bending some, and admittedly reluctantly, she prodded at the glowing hearthfire with a firepoker that was hitherto leaning against the wall, and wished silently that she remembered who she'd even invited in the first place...

[azmoham]

Lavinia glared at the tumble-down buildings which crowded over the muddy streets of the town.
"Still a fucking shitshow."
She muttered, squinting at the unfamiliar silhouettes, trying to navigate the deceptively confusing streets of the town.
"How the hell does a town this small have so many damn roads?"
It was like the whole village was fucking with her, trying to make her snap again. Well, she was better than that. Almost vindictively, she reached into an interior pocket of the long coat she wore and retrieved a flask, from which she took a long drought, till the liquor burned at her throat.
"Ahhh, fuckin hell."
She cursed, sighing as she turned in a circle while trying to recall the directions the letter had relayed. It was too cold and too dark a night for such things, and she was wishing more than a little that she'd opted to stay at the miserable little tavern and get drunk on her own, what the hell did she need a party for? She'd been getting happily knackered quite routinely since leaving the town and she'd never needed some damn party, but the thought of seeing even a few familiar faces had proved a tempting enough offer that she couldn't help but agree, besides it got Jacques off her back. He'd been whining near constantly for her to do something other than drink and sulk, and she supposed that this counted. Ironic then, that all she was doing now as drinking and sulking in the wretched streets of the Hamlet rather than her own comfortable home a hundred miles from the squalid little burg.

[relentless]

Quiet was the night again, thankfully anyway...

Blossoms of black occured in the deepest of alleyways, though the faint, peaceful hue of nights blessing surrounded the land. The cobblestones ran dry, not a speckle of rain to touch them, although the row of houses seemed like they needed a little wash.

Posed against a torchpost, leaning against it casually with her foot pressed into the back, a young woman with jet black hair draping down to her neck, finely combed and a single delicate braid on one end. Her attire seemed rather fitting for a ball, a dark black silk shirt acting as her shirt, however the arms were more promient in appearance, being adorned in the same puffy material, similar to that of what Landsknecht used to wear though it was much less apparent, more down to earth it seemed. With the silk it was a mixture of black and white, along with the padded, luxurous corset being made out of a fine brown leather.

Dufay was her name. A scandalous, flirty rogue, buying her way through to the finish line with lead and silver tongued charisma. Her resting face seemed to be a constant broken smile, hinting constantly at mischevious activity. Though, she didn't seem onimous in the slightest, in fact she seemed rather upbeat and happy today.

Resting against the post, she would take a long drag out of her roll up of tobacco, before blowing it upward to the sky. She watched the smoke float, and eventually dissipate into nothing. A calming resolution, no doubt.

And to her own eyes, there seemed to be an even calmer thing to observe.

Her head bobbed down, her black bangs dancing around as she lowered her head to the sound of footsteps tapping against grey cobblestone marred with the dark. Her smirk remained, though she did look her up and down as she passed by, apparently appearing quite tense.

"Enjoying the sights?"
Dufay called out to her, dropping her roll up and scrunching it beneath her heel with the burning resiude being reduced to squashed ash. She continued to rest against the post, not moving an inch.
"Or are you a lost lamb? Heh.."
Dufay jested, snorting a little with a visble jolt, before she sighed happily through her nose, finally cocking her head at Lavinia.

"You're here for the party, aren't you dove?"
Dufay poked the question at her harmlessly, though her eyes aimed to maim with curious glances following close behind.
"Well! Good thing I'm also on the list!"

[azmoham]

Lavinia whipped around, hand already wrapped around the hilt of her blade and the weapon half-drawn before she'd even seen whoever had spoken to her. She truly wasn't much for the rogue type anymore, not that she was ever very keen on them to begin with, but now she was especially cautious around those who seemed to slink in the shadows more readily than walk in the light. Squinting at the woman, the ex-warrior shrugged, large shoulders rolling beneath the fabric of her gambeson.
"What party may that be? I don't recall being invited to any costume balls lately."
She snorted, like Tilly would ever invite some random vagrant to her home, she had more class than that even if she did rob graves for a living. The tall woman shifted from foot to foot, trying to keep the cold from numbing her toes as her breath puffed in hazy clouds out in-front of her face. It'd be truly cold soon, and she didn't savour the thought of aimlessly wandering the streets; but she no more anticipated walking anywhere with some blackjack of a thug with such uniquely dreadful fashion sense. The buildings seemed to loom in around them and she could feel their heft pressing at her back with every moment, as if some unseen foe slipped up behind her with a dagger ready to be pressed to her neck, and no matter how many times she checked over her shoulder and found nothing she couldn't dispel the feelings; once more she was given to wonder if perhaps she'd slipped and forgotten to take her tincture and so had gone temporarily mad when agreeing to come here again over such a triviality. 

[relentless]

Dufay didn't flinch when she unsheathed the sword, gleaming steel making her squint a bit as it reflected into her eyes, since she had grown used to paranoid folk around here, she was used to weapons being drawn on her. Of course, she steeled herself mentally, but only a tad.

"Oh really? Well I don't suppose you're on Tillys list. Y'see..."
Dufay hummed as she pressed off the post, standing cocked to the left, as she stared at Lavinia with half lid eyes, sizing her up carefully before opening her mouth to speak.
"I know friends of friends, and now I'm here to pay dear old Tilly a nice warm visit."
Dufay snorted, turning away from her now as she waved her off as if she were a fly.
"Careful now! I've heard there's a killer about. Big teeth, sharp claws.. toodles!"
Dufay mocked her with a quiet giggle, intent on causing paranoia to run wild through this tense woman. Though... it was a good night, to meet new people, make new friends, perhaps something after as well. But that was a mild thought. So, she turned on her heel, facing her again, and sighed heavily.

"Bah, where're me manners?!"
Dufay asked rhetorically as she thumped herself on the head with comical intent, before giggling again in a more joyous manner.
"I'm sorry for putting a fright on you love. Are you on the list?"
Dufay asked again, for the sake of actually trying to uncover the truth by double checking.

[The Carrying Blade]

Aria looked about herself, having spent the last 3 hours getting ready for the party she had been wonderfully lucky to be invited to. The loss of her arm in the ruins was a tragedy, she had to spend so much more time getting her normal heavy coverings on herself but thanks to the time of Tilly's party, it was dark enough to where she wouldn't burn. And so, she had decided to dress a little fancy.

Aria had on a bit puffy light red dress that went wonderfully with her pink eyes and ginger hair. It had gold wrappings crisscrossing her body down to the bottom of the dress which barely touched the ground as she walked. Her arms were bare, which showed off her white skin and even though she was a little ashamed of it, her amputated arm which ended off in a nub where the elbow was supposed to be. Thankfully it wasn't really grotesque if no more than an oddity to add to her. She had no make up to speak off so her face remained the same and after fruitless attempts of brushing her hair, she let it naturally rest barely to her shoulders. Tickling them every so often which couldn't stem the tide of joyful smiling at the thought of going to a little party even if it wasn't as fancy as one would expect.

She left the Tavern and heading onward to Tillies new house, a box in hand and invitation letter packed nicely under a gold wrapping.

[azmoham]

"Killer about? Trust me in this town there's more than just one."
She snarked, returning the sword to its sheath with a huff. Sighing, she crossed her arms and took a few steps after the woman, intent on getting some information out of the woman so that at least this minor conversation wouldn't prove a total waste of time.
"I'm and old friend, I was at the wedding. Not too surprised I didn't see you there."
She grumbled the last part under her breath, lowering her head just a little as she spoke and running her fingers through her own dark hair, still short from the last time she'd shorn it nearly clean off.
"Now as much as I'm just loving this conversation, I got a place to be and I'd really appreciated some directions, so how about instead of wasting time, we get there, eh?"
She forced a smile, more of a smirk and strode just a little closer to the woman.

[Bloodtrailkiller]

/Taas/

She wasn't sure if she'd come across the letter by intent, or if it was some Gunsche agent making to get her ever closer to such a pivotal part of Lekalis' life. 
Or, if it was all just nerves that she stared at the admittedly accomplished household of Blood. What a life he'd lived... She was happy for him now, to have a home at last. One that didn't need castle walls to keep the world at bay, no guards to keep spies and agents of evil from interfering with his Life.

But she felt the need to be here... Maybe some deep instinct, like a guard dog finally finding its master once again, and maybe she resented that thought. Maybe.

Taas didn't know how long she'd stared at the windows, counted and gauged how large and dangerous a man would have to be to sneak into them. Eyed the doorways, and their locks, to gauge how safe and secure they were. How sturdy the structure was, where the wood was...
He was a man of style, and a touch of practicality; the stoney base of the first floor and mortar and plaster of the second was poor design, safety wise but... It was satisfying.
A trend he no doubt thought was revolutionary in the Isles, how little he knew now that he'd found himself stuck in the Hamlet.

How lucky, though, that he found someone he finally could settle with. How lucky so few knew of her inner ticks and workings and secrets. What a name, too... 'Tilly'. A nickname for sure, yet no one could trace her down. No one that wanted to kill her, at least. Not t'ill now.

Taas chewed on her lip. Threatening to break its thin flesh, she didn't bring any weapons, she'd tried to dress as unthreateningly as possible. Even rebound the bandage about her scar with fresh and white ones. Left all her battle gear and harness at home, 'sides her lovely pauldron that she was never without.

Taking a deep, long breath, she stroked its thickly woven greenery, and sighed. Family; she was dealing with family, she had to act like it. She decided long before setting eyes on Blood in the Hamlet that she'd measure him, judge him, and decide if he truly was the evil he had seemed to be that fateful night... And he wasn't.
No evil would bring such happiness and joy... Life, even, to the Hamlet. Albeit, perhaps the Darkest Estate's own vile nature managed to curb what Blood Lord was left in him.

So, she smoothed the buttoned up two columns of buttons on her leather overcoat, fur peaking out from its edges, not out of fashion but rather, poor sewing. Her gloves still on, and knitted blue plaid trousers hung warmly about her waist. She didn't part with her thick fur boots, still remembering the countless rabbits she'd hunted to make them; out of necessity to survive, than anything. 
Though, she did part with all the rest, sides a loose white blouse to keep her decency... Only just realizing she was about to walk into Tilly's home, who'd married the previous owner of said blouse. She hoped no scandalous ideas would come of it, though she flushed a touch red in the cheeks all the same.

One last, decisive breath, each one letting her anxiety steam into the air; and she stomped forward with a bit more aggression (born more from fretting than anything) than she intended, and rapped upon the door with some force.
She realized it, after  the third knock and pause, and tried again, lighter.
" 'E-ello!? Iiiit's Me! Taas? I... Got an invitation--" She pulled it out from an inner pocket to the coat, waving it at the door.
"-- I'm uh... Lekalis'... Family..? Sorta... Not really anymore since he was... Well, anyways. Family. Invitation: I brought music--" She tapped the long necked oud slung about her chest, then the small barrel of wine and smoked fish.
"And wine. And smoked fish." She declared, quirking her mouth to one side, as she eyed one of the dead eyes of the fish.

"What're you looking at..." She grumbled angrily at her own indignity.

//

[Vanitypirate]

And there it was, like much-welcomed thunder in a storm.

It was still as startling as thunder, all the same, even if she was anticipating it. She flinched a little at the sudden and harsh noise at the door and gave it a quick glance as the noise and knocking persisted. She drew a smile, instead, at the brusque voice behind her front door.
That would be the very first visitor, then; conveniently, it was also someone Tilly was rather hoping to talk to privately.

"Taas!" Came her delighted call from the interior of the house.

Tilly straightened up, much to the disagreement of her lower back-- although it seemed to disagree with just about everything she'd tried to do as of late. She set her palms to the back of her hips and squared her shoulders as much as she could, poising herself, and walked consciously to the door.

"Capital!"

She smiled widely as she opened her door open to the cold.

Tilly sported her trademark hat, as always, though it was tilted back from her face so that the brim more pointed upwards, to the ceiling, than at an angle that would obscure her face. She wore no gloves-- in truth, her fingers had swelled to a degree that made them unweildly, and gloves were an uncomfortable fit. Instead, her sleeves, what normally would have been tucked safely beneath the tougher leather of her gloves, were rolled up neatly to her mid-forearm. This was for both practical reasons, and so that her sleeves didn't look too bizarre; they were in pristine condition in comparison to the patchwork and weathered state of the rest of the coat. The coat, itself, was buttoned up to her collar and hung down past her hips, towards her thighs. Despite her best intentions, it didn't quite slim her figure as much as she'd hoped; she was still rather unmistakably round towards the middle.

But she still made a valiant effort in crossing an arm and standing up straight all the same.

"You're here first, 'nyways. So go on and make yourself at home, now." She stepped aside to grant Taas passage, pressing her back against the door to hold it sufficiently back, casually, while maintaining proper use of her hands for her wide gestures.
She made a wide gesture to the table,

"You can just go stick it on there; I've gotten some plates and the like set up..." She explained, though trailed off as she squinted at the white-haired and battered woman before her.
She tapped her chin,

"Haven't we met before?"

[Bloodtrailkiller]

/Taas/

She wanted to sport a fierce, confident grin to stand boldly and fiercely and all manner of glorious adjectives, infront of Tilly. Like a hound for the show, instead, she was more the bashful pup; she chuckled and brought her hand back to awkwardly rub at the back of her neck.
Tilly probably knew her... Maybe. It was hard to miss and forget a face like Taas' own, she knew... Maybe it was an intentional insult--
That thought brought a level of ferocity up, but matched with Tilly's unabashed smile... She couldn't help but chuckle a little more and nod.

With a dreading breath, she exhaled heavily from her nose, her eye closing as she brought her hands up in an easy shrug, cocking her head to the side and scoffing.
"Eh, maybe..." She declared, with the intent to end it there as she strode casually past with a burst of bravado and haphazardness.

She immediately warmed to the scent of freshly cut lumber; she knew the weight of a lumberjack's ax, and it brought back happier memories. When her kin accepted her, when everyone did... When she had some quiet and peace, making small things; ornately carved cups and plates and forks and spoons, her Pale Uncle teaching her with a small smile that she always outshone.
Another, more content, settling sigh came about her as she meandered over to the table.

Taas could see why he'd settle for Tilly... But, she was honestly anything but what she expected the raunchy Lekalis to gun for. Even changed; perhaps one with sexier hair, or at least a better nose--
Granted, perhaps she shouldn't be talking about hair, or noses, as she had cast a frighteningly judgemental leer over her shoulder; only for it to widen, a dog realizing the ball wasn't behind their owner, but bouncing on past their head.
Taas' eyes flicked upwards, and a hand came up to push back some stray hairs behind her ear as her lips pursed a touch in concentration before she returned her focus to setting the cask of wine on the table, laying out the fish beside it in a line. Carefully aligning all to look satisfactorily on the table with a bit more grace and primness than her stocky frame begat.

She spoke, easier, without having to look at Tilly as she worked... rather, busied herself mindlessly with setting out the fish perfectly evenly. Almost obsessively.
"... Lekalis invited me to the wedding personally, dunno if he told you... I didn't wanna y'know... Be the odd one in the odd bunch; surprised you don't recognize me!" Taas chortled, looking over her shoulder with the good side of her face with a wide grin,
"What with the hair, the scar, the whole works, y'know?" She paused, looking a bit more sincere with a smaller smile as she half-turned to keep her better half facing Tilly.
She motioned to her belly, her eyes lowering respectively,
"You've gotten ripe... Looks like you're handling it well t'boot." She didn't look to believe her own last words, and it shown in the way her smile flattened a touch and she squinted; leaning her head forward a bit, as she analyzed the sweat on her brow, the small support set on her back with her hand, the door...

//

[🐴Can🗡️]

"Hhhh... It's getting cold." Ariel said to himself quietly as he pulled his embroidered cloak even further around him, covering his whole body except his lower legs and face.

It had been quite a while since he had last gotten his hands on any of the luxuries of the past. He had become poor, while his composure and well-keptness were still standing to some degree; he was stuck here and miserable with no place to call home.

Standing up from the corner of the half-ruined wall he was sitting with his back to, Ariel brushed off the dust and dry pieces of leaves from his long leather boots and faded green linen pants. Looking around pointlessly, he decided to wander around the streets to pass the time. He hadn't really explored these areas before, what with the fear of being attacked and all that, remembering what Andrea had been through in the supposedly safe haven called the Abbey. However he had no such concerns anymore, he was already as good as dead. And so he wandered, pulling at his cloak and rubbing his arms, keeping his head down low but looking around at times; spotting an armed person, as well a nobly dressed one, but not paying them any attention in hopes of slipping by undisturbed.

[Vanitypirate]

Tilly stood aside, smile wavering a touch as the snow-haired woman made a nigh bee-line for the admittedly simple table, and then watched while she busied herself with some thing or another; there truly wasn't much to offer on the surface, after all. The table was of a plain, hurried construction, serving only as a utilitarian place to eat until more extravagant furnishings could be made. And a centerpiece was not even half as useful as another bed or chair could possible have been.
Indeed, the fish was the presently the most amount of color to come to the table.

Her eyes widened when she drew the connection.

The poor woman was likely terribly nervous, Tilly realized-- she certainly was when she'd met with her brother's wife for the first time.
Granted, that wasn't technically her family anymore, but the point still remained. Tilly pressed her heel against the door to chase away the cold that made to trickle in past the doorframe, resolving to become a warmer host to her newer family member-- at least, warmer than she typically tried to be. She rather enjoyed guests, after all.

"That's a pity. It was a lovely ceremony. I'd have liked you to be there." She sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she let her hands fall to her sides. "Everybody's got some sort of scar around these parts. 'Sides, your hair and eye-color's gorgeous, y'know. They're a pretty shade-- unique, too. Never seen anybody with that color before, and there are some weird folks around here."

She turned to Taas, shrugging again, this time showing her palms to the ceiling.

"Yes, but that's quite alright. We can make up for it later, hm?" She flashed a smile, chipped tooth and all.

It flickered and waned a tad, then, as Tilly's eyes followed Taas' downwards. It didn't take any genius deduction skills to know more than what the words plainly meant, in themselves.
Her hands rose up and she wrapped them about her person, folding them out in front of her torso again.

"Aha, I have." She chuckled sheepishly and looked towards the floor, folding the edge of her coat lapel between her fingers. "Can't say I'm really glowing all that much, though."

She paused a moment before her eyes snapped back up, as one arm unfolded itself and pointed in the direction of the kitchen.

"Yes, but!" Tilly began again, offering with another flash of teeth, albeit a bit more conscious than the last. "Can I get you anything? Some tea, perhaps? Lekalis gets some of the fancy kinds off the nomad wagon; one of them started with a 'G', I think. I can go put the kettle on, if you'd like."

[relentless]

Oct 3, 2017 16:46:28 GMT -8 azmoham said:

"Killer about? Trust me in this town there's more than just one."
She snarked, returning the sword to its sheath with a huff. Sighing, she crossed her arms and took a few steps after the woman, intent on getting some information out of the woman so that at least this minor conversation wouldn't prove a total waste of time.
"I'm and old friend, I was at the wedding. Not too surprised I didn't see you there."
She grumbled the last part under her breath, lowering her head just a little as she spoke and running her fingers through her own dark hair, still short from the last time she'd shorn it nearly clean off.
"Now as much as I'm just loving this conversation, I got a place to be and I'd really appreciated some directions, so how about instead of wasting time, we get there, eh?"
She forced a smile, more of a smirk and strode just a little closer to the woman.

Dufay pipped up in her step, clapping quick in lady like fashion to portray her agreement with utmost joviality.
"Wonderful! Come on, best get there before my brother finds us... but he'd probably find you first.."
Dufay chortled in her direction, flashing her eyes at her as she pivoted around on her heel, raising her eyebrows quickly toward her.
"If you know what I mean."
The rogue hinted at with warning, before giggling childishly at her as she swept back around with a couple backsteps as she advanced on her, cocking her head in her direction. The puffy sleeves swayed around elegantly, though they were still tight and taught to her arms. She turned around again, and proceeded to walk in the direction where Tillys house supposedly lay, apparently down the end of the street.

"Haven't seen you round' town, trust me, I would've."
She paused as she gave out a passing wink to her with an elegant twirl around, cocking her hip at her before blowing a bit of hair away from her and swishing it around.
"You just come back from a job? Or somethin'?"
Dufay inquired as she waited for her new found companion to hurry along so they could walk together, skipping in a field of flowers and dandies.

Unlikely.

[azmoham]

The tall woman schooled her expression, focusing her eyes on the road instead of her erstwhile companion. Swishing garments and swishing hips were a temptation that she'd resist, this wasn't exactly the time and Dufay was hardly Lavinia's type.
"Yeah, something like that."
She replied vaguely, sauntering past the woman with her left hand resting on the pommel of her bastard sword. Already the night closed in with fretful speed, making the already gloomy streets of the Hamlet nigh impenetrable with duskiness and Lavinia was loath to admit that perhaps she would in fact require some assistance in making it to Tilly's in a reasonable amount of time.
Next time I'm just gonna ask for a map...
She vowed silently, casting a sideways glance at Dufay. She was pretty enough, Lavinia supposed, but there was a strange air about her that put the fighter off or perhaps it was just the town which already had her well on edge.
"So who's this brother of yours, eh? Someone I'd know?"

[relentless]

Dufay passed her a sway of her head in Lavinia's direction, an earnest look about her as she thought of a reply.
"Weellll, let's just say between us that if you haven't smelt his... 'exotic' perfume, you probably don't know him!"
Dufay jested with a slight chuckle, swaying her feet up and down as she walked ahead with arms kept about her as she glanced around and about as she searched for Tillys house.
"He's a wild one, aye, been here longer than I have so his ego seems to have made itself known, at least to the head of the abbey, and warden of course. But eh, it's probably best you steer clear of this one, darling. Just to keep your modesty intact, that's all!"
Dufay said in respectable fashion as she blew sharply through his mouth, before swaying her head back to Lavinia quickly, and passing her a friendly smile.

"I assume no other family members of yours decided to pay a visit to this place then?"
Dufay posed the question somewhat innocent, though the style of her tone was peculiar at a constant rate.