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Post by EtherealNoire on Oct 9, 2017 12:39:23 GMT -8
There it was, even without scanning for the address Talea knew they had at last reached their destination simply from the ungodly amount of women flooding towards or lingering around the homestead. Again her muscles strained against each nervous steps. Had she not had Winifred with her, Talea might have scurried back into the shadows without another thought. It hurt. Just considering the disdain and disparaging glowers and words she undoubtedly would endure. Fear laced up her body, seeping its venomous caress deep into her bones. She shivered, suddenly deathly cold as her resolve melted.
All at once the world seemed to shift. She couldn't feel the ground, a guttural roar tore at her ears, pounding like the sadistic drums of ritual sacrifices. What had she been thinking? She couldn't do this! She had to flee!
To Winifred, the only difference in Talea's composure would be a sudden stop, her body unnaturally rigid. She did not speak a word, rather her lips pressed in a thin violet line as she studied the house before her. But even with her eyes still concealed beneath the shadows of her bangs, an undoubtable aura of fear and confliction emitted from her. She would need some persuading at best if she were to ever move forward towards the party.
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Post by hopper on Oct 12, 2017 16:38:46 GMT -8
Winifred paused, quirking an eyebrow as she cocked her head to stare at her newfound friend.
"Is, uh, something wrong? Eat something that didn't sit well?"
She suggested just a tad hopefully, it'd be a shame for her latest companion to have to leave so soon after them meeting. Teetering back and forth on the balls of her feet, the jester waited for some response from her rather chilly acquaintance and cast sidelong glances at the half-finished building. She could already see more people approaching, all of them unfamiliar silhouettes, and she couldn't help but feel that familiar giddiness welling in her belly, there was nothing quite like meeting a whole room full of new people or a new place full of shiny little goodies that could perhaps slip into sleeves and pockets and not be too dearly missed.
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Post by 🐴Can🗡️ on Oct 14, 2017 23:24:04 GMT -8
"Hmm... A party? No, I'm not..." Ariel stuttered with how bad his mental state at the moment was. "I... I don't know if I should." He replied to Aria's offer, but seeing her ethereal-like skin Ariel wondered if she was some sort of supernatural entity, even if just for a few seconds. And this made him reluctantly take the offered arm for Aria to lead him wherever she wanted to. After all, who knew if his time had come and he was just wandering in limbo between life and death; and that this was going to be his guide to get him out of this state?
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Post by The Carrying Blade on Oct 15, 2017 6:56:46 GMT -8
Aria inwardly let out a sigh of relief, honestly being a bit apprehensive arriving to the party alone despite the massive amount of people at the door already.
"Wonderful, glad you decided to come with me. My name is Aria, what's yours?" She asked, having started to walk onward towards Tilly's house as her hand clasped around Ariel's. She almost shivered at how cold his hand was, and wondered how cold everything really was when she had her heavy layered garbs on, just another thought she would ponder.
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Post by EtherealNoire on Oct 15, 2017 16:45:46 GMT -8
Talea gritted her teeth, jarring some sense back into her mind. The numbing fog swirling in her thoughts seemed to abate momentarily from the pain and she bite her lip, filed canines sinking deep in her rage.
What did she have to be afraid of, she chided as a trickle of blood oozed from the corner of her lips? A sea of troubles may lay before her, but the rocks were far below. She could easily survive this with her clever raft of wits and schemes.
"For a moment," She answered, casting a mocking sneer over her shoulder, "The light held ominous intentions. However, an invitation must not be forgone."
Talea inwardly scoffed at her own behavior. The shadows haunted those of the day as well as those of the night. She would not be trifled with.
Keeping her stride lithe and discreet, she prowled the last traces of darkness, a moment of visible regret passing in her eyes before she slipped out into the open, ascending the stairs in one graceful bound.
As she alighted, she stalked to the doorway with the undeniable speed and determination of a predatory. Even her dark gaze, occasionally illuminated by pricks of light, was feral and unwelcoming, a perfect accompaniment to her grim smile. She questioned the motives behind her invitation. Just who was this Tilly woman, who did not fear welcoming a creature of darkness into her home? If this was a snare in which to bind her, Talea would not be defeated. She was prepared to fight at the first sign of deceit, and fight without mercy.
Whatever Tilly's motivations may be, she would soon learn not to toy with demons. For her sake, Talea prayed she held good intentions.
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Post by Vanitypirate on Oct 17, 2017 15:53:17 GMT -8
"Hmm... well, s'hard to say. We had to scramble to get it at least as livable as we could. Awful pricey, but cheaper than you might think..."
Tilly waggled a hand at the walls as she spoke, as if to encompass the admittedly tiring process of construction. She hummed thoughtfully, next; she had found it rather near polished as it was, once she and Lekalis had finished furnishing the smaller rooms, outfit it with bath-things and the like.
Naturally, Lekalis was more inclined to constantly improve in that regard.
"The walls and things were the easier part: the structure. All it took was to hire some folks to help us get it up and built-- and labor's right cheap around here. Not a whole lot of building and the like going on, so laborers'd work for near shillings." She continued, at an easy ramble, approaching the heated teapot with some minor amount of apprehension.
Lekalis would usually prepare the tea; he rightly enjoyed it, too.
"We spent the rest of the time getting the furniture together. We'd gotten to buy some chairs and things off of Hook for cheap, and we'd had to find a carpenter and shell out the gold for that, too..." She hummed along, near thinking out-loud as the tea rolled out of the teapot and steamed into one of the iron pits.
Tilly gave a shrug, directing the tea to another cup, one she'd presumed to deliver to Taas.
"So we've finished the house part of this. Lekalis has been trying to turn this into a bed-and-bath; sorta like his bathhouse in the abbey. 'Cept a bit more... hospitable than it was, and a whole lot quieter than in the tavern, too. That way we wouldn't have to throw ourselves into the Pit to get our daily bread. That's what we've got left, officially-- the furniture and supplies of the business-y part. But I know he's going to want to decorate and pretty up this bitty place while he's at it, too; you know how he is."
Her words flowed easily. It would have been embarrassing if she hadn't shamelessly delighted in the simple conversation.
"So," She abandoned the teapot by the hearth for the two cups, instead, as she turned back to them with a cheeksome grin. "I'd give it a good decade or so before it's really all that finished."
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Post by azmoham on Oct 17, 2017 16:05:22 GMT -8
The tall woman snorted, shaking her head with a thin smile.
"Assuming you stay here that long."
The place, even now, was remarkably homey despite its unfortunate location. Lavinia chalked it up more towards Tilly being a good friend and fair hostess, rather than any outstanding qualities in the house. Truly, she still considered fairly unwise to try and raise a family here of all places, teeming with rapists and killers and monsters as it was. Though, Tilly and Blood did have more than their fair shit of grit, they had to in order to make it this long, so if anyone could possibly have a happy home here in the hamlet, it would be them. The idea had needles still, there seemed something almost cosmically unfair about anyone somehow finding joy and prosperity in the worst town in the world, meanwhile a mere carriage ride away in a perfectly normal town she was found frustrated and more often than not, bored. How did that work? She shied away from the idea, turning towards the hearth and and taking a few lazy strides towards it, sword swinging at her hip.
"If I was you, I'd invest on a good lock for the door, and bars on the windows. I'm sure Blood could drape some velvet or ribbons off them and make it perfectly lovely."
She scoffed.
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Post by hopper on Oct 17, 2017 16:27:08 GMT -8
"Pshshsh, what's so bad with the light? You can see in it! And you can make shadow puppets with it, oooh, and fire! Fire makes light and fire is excellent!"
She smiled keenly, gesturing towards the streetlights and torches which cast baleful shadows across the murky streets of the hamlet, which Winifred seemingly ignored in favor of celebrating their smoky radiance.
"And it's also hard to play when you can't the streets, or juggle, or dance, you just end up bumping into people and then they get mad."
She added with almost comical seriousness, her spritely features briefly contorting to convey the utmost importance of her comment. But just as abruptly she resumed her normal high-spirited grinning, bounding a few feet ahead of Talea and spinning on a heel to watch with a certain impatience as she caught up.
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Post by black379 on Oct 17, 2017 21:46:38 GMT -8
"I'm looking after someone. That's all. But count me out of your party."
Courcy replied coldly, taking no notice of Dufay's ogling. In truth a drink, friendly company, and a fun evening all sounded like exactly what she needed. But she didn't seem to want any recuperation or camaraderie, preferring to indulge in her temper. She felt she played the part of Blood and Tilly's stray pet more than their friend.
"Don't try and get cozy with me either. I'll put you in place."
She wasn't keen on Dufay's comfortability - laughing and smiling and trotting along next to her, all the while slyly admiring her hair and eyes. It took hardly any effort to guess at some ulterior motive. Courcy didn't seem too bothered however, and continued on the path to Tilly's home.
Arriving in front of the house, she sighed as she spotted a few unfamiliar faces gathered near, and on their way. If Courcy could have afforded such a home, she certainly wouldn't squander any time or fortune so extravagantly as to invite complete strangers for a party. Ignoring Dufay and the others for a moment, she peeked through a window and knocked on it with the end of her halberd, enough to alert whoever was immediately inside, but not enough to crack the window of course.
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Post by 🐴Can🗡️ on Oct 18, 2017 1:41:08 GMT -8
"...My name is Ariel. Pleased to meet you." Ariel nods at Aria, surprised by the similarity between their names. And the fact that he could so easily hold someone's hand without worrying about its cleanness despite the glove he was wearing on the holding hand. It was too late now, and so he decided not to worry about it. He simply started walking.
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Post by relentless on Oct 18, 2017 3:21:30 GMT -8
"I'm looking after someone. That's all. But count me out of your party." Courcy replied coldly, taking no notice of Dufay's ogling. In truth a drink, friendly company, and a fun evening all sounded like exactly what she needed. But she didn't seem to want any recuperation or camaraderie, preferring to indulge in her temper. She felt she played the part of Blood and Tilly's stray pet more than their friend. "Don't try and get cozy with me either. I'll put you in place." She wasn't keen on Dufay's comfortability - laughing and smiling and trotting along next to her, all the while slyly admiring her hair and eyes. It took hardly any effort to guess at some ulterior motive. Courcy didn't seem too bothered however, and continued on the path to Tilly's home. Arriving in front of the house, she sighed as she spotted a few unfamiliar faces gathered near, and on their way. If Courcy could have afforded such a home, she certainly wouldn't squander any time or fortune so extravagantly as to invite complete strangers for a party. Ignoring Dufay and the others for a moment, she peeked through a window and knocked on it with the end of her halberd, enough to alert whoever was immediately inside, but not enough to crack the window of course. Dufay scoffed in a mocking manner, a twitch of irritation passing across her brow. Not much, but it occured. The woman seemed very... uptight, perhaps on edge? She didn't know, though in a way she felt sorry for the fox before her who burdened such glumness. Tapping her heels against the stones, and now, the steps of the porch. Her motions were graceful as she moved to the door, relaxed and proper, though it was no where near a noble posture. Leaning against the doorpost of none-decorated wooden grain, she clicked her left leg over the other as she leaned against it, flicking her head toward Courcy after she was done trying to appear domiant. "Mmmm, relax darling, I'm only being nice! Afterall, it is a joyous night is it not? So come, no need to be so awfully... gloomy!" Dufay pipped up happily, maintaining her happy tone, despite the other woman being the polar opposite. She eyed her with amusement as she tapped the window, chortling away quietly in her throat as she watched her way of announcing their presence. "Nice door you knocked on there" Dufay noted with the utmost glee, grinning with a twinkle on her row of teeth, before letting the grin falter as she glanced toward the actual door, raising her left hand lazily and balling up her fist halfway. She gave the door a light knock with a weak flex of her wrist, her middle section of her fingers colliding against the grain of the door thrice. Though it wouldn't of been as intrusive as Courcys knocking, it still emitted an iconic sound of a door truly being knocked on. |
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Post by Vanitypirate on Oct 19, 2017 16:16:39 GMT -8
"Ah, yes. I'll just plop the whole thing on my back and be on my merry way. S'no problem." Tilly agreed, jestingly, handing off, as she spoke, one of the iron pits with its trail of steam to the snow-haired Taas, if only so she could resume waving it about to and fro while she talked.
And so she did, waggling it in a short, sweeping motion, as if the entire house could be uprooted with such a small motion.
Though, truthfully, she wasn't sure if her back would tolerate so much as another featherweight.
"We've got the best lock money can buy on it right now." She flashed a smile and extended the other iron cup of tea to Lavinia, presuming that she'd take it. "And we've started on the bars, too, now that you mention it; mostly on the sides, towards the alleys. Nobody with at least half a brain breaks into a home from the front door-- so I hope, until we can outfit the front windows with some good irons." She jerked a thumb towards the frontmost windows in question, though she stopped in her tracks when she spied a familiar face, one she hadn't very much expected to manifest here at this party, tapping at the window.
"Heavens above, it's Courcy!" She crowed, eyes widening with surprise and delight as she clasped her palms together. Her grin only widened at the wishful thinking evoked by further knocks on the door-- had Courcy brought a party of her own with her?
Tilly hustled to the door, planting a palm square on the small of her back if only to keep herself from nigh bending in half, before eagerly pulling the door open.
---
The door and the stonework on the outside of the house were awfully extravagant in comparison to the rest of the admittedly plain house, and it was clear that there was some painstaking work done especially on the most apparent parts of the exterior. The carvings on the doorway, though drawn with a knowing, artistic hand, would appear amateur to a more experienced carver. The carver, here, was better skilled in more planar arts.
A warm, flickering glow from the hearth spilled out onto the street and the people huddled on the porch as the door was opened, and it between its frame stood a woman, barefoot, with long, sandy hair pulled down her shoulders and over a patchwork coat buttoned up to her collar, and rolled up at the sleeves. Her tall hat was pushed so far away from her face, flushed, that it seemed to only remain atop her golden head through sheer force of will, and her nose was so gratuitously long and prominant that it was almost comical.
Towards her middle, there was an unmistakable roundness of a woman awfully with child.
The woman stood there for but a second or two to admire her new guests, and when she beamed her white smile one could clearly see the chip in her left canine from some malign encounter. It shied and faltered a touch, with some tentativeness, as her murkish-green eyes passed over the rather odd crowd.
"Grand! Absolutely grand!" Tilly's voice bubbled out, jubilantly, as she rubbed her slender hands together as if to eek out some measure of heat against the cold that crept in. She stepped aside, propping the door open with her foot to grant her guests passage.
"Glad you all could make it! Come on in, then; you can let your boots off by the door, and there's a coat-rack in the corner, there, for your jackets and hats and things."
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Post by relentless on Oct 19, 2017 16:51:52 GMT -8
Dufay widened her eyes and straightened her posture alongside the other ladies as she heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door, who seemed to have forgotten their presence probably due to the fiery red head baiting her breath metaphorically, passing a glance to both of them as she scooted alongside them so they were at either side of her.
"Apologies ladies, didn't see you there."
Dufay quickly said , Dusting down to her pants before she flicked speckles of dust off her matte black and pearl white landsknecht sleeves. It was a quick flurry of movement, as if she had sorted herself out a dozen times before. Finally, her hands moved around her shoulders to flourish her hair about so it wasn't too down to earth. For a brief moment, she looked the two girls beside her up and down, prolonging on Winny more with her predatory eyes before moving onto Talea, then flicking her gaze up toward the door. The curl of a somewhat fiendish smile began to curl on either corner of her lips.
"Well! You're both looking lovely regardless."
Dufay commented, before she watched the door crinkle open, and the famed graverobber of the Hamlet display herself in such maternal glory. Her eyes widened and her smile even more so, in a more genuine and delighted sense. It was cute how she seemed to fit the motherly criteria almost perfectly, not only because of her baby bump, but her posture, the way she spoke and what words she used to speak with. Very motherly indeed, reminding Dufay of her own mother, but only slight.
"Oooh my! Aren't you looking gorgeous! Oh sorry..."
Dufay paused as she stepped into the house respectfully, bending down slightly and waggling a finger in front of Tillys baby bump before straightening up.
"Aren't you two looking gorgeous."
Dufay finished off with the smile remaining as wide as ever, before flicking her hair slightly to the right as not to disturb her too much. A humble giggle left her mouth, before she tutted loudly and placed a hand on her chest before waving it down at Tilly as if she were over complimenting Dufays appearance.
"I'm grateful for the invitation love, warms my heart, right and true! Mmmm, just like this house does as well!"
Dufay commented as she took a couple steps backwards to clear the doorway so the others could enter, leaning her shoulder against a wooden beam along with crossing her arms.
"My, I'm afraid to say but you've made me jealous of such an abode!"
Dufay hummed delightfully, lifting her right hand up to hold against her right cheek, holding it there as she obscured her smile only slightly.
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Post by hopper on Oct 19, 2017 17:19:42 GMT -8
Winifred gaped at the new people, fingers itching as she scanned their attire, already anticipating what sorts of things she'd find stashed among their apparel. Outside of an intense wish for some light-hearted burglary, she couldn't help but smile as she spied the folk who approached the house, it seems that indeed this would be a proper party. There were more people in fact than she had been expecting, and they all looked so strange! Why did everyone here always wear such odd clothes? She did have to admit however, that there was something vaguely pleasing in the strange almost vice-like garments a few of them wore, not to mention the huge axe the redheaded woman toted! Bouncing up to said red-head she stuck out a finger and ran it along the edge of the blade, making sounds of appreciation.
"Oooh, that's so sharp! And tall! It looks heavy, how do you swing it? Can it cut people in half? What's your name? I like your hair! That's a neat shirt-thing you're wearing!"
She rattled off her comments with impressive speed, somehow her enunciation barely marred by the rate of speech. Taking a few steps in a circle around the red-headed lady, she seemed to pop up on her other side, no examining her face and arm bands with frenetic intensity.
"These are nice! Where'd you get em?"
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Post by EtherealNoire on Oct 19, 2017 18:00:42 GMT -8
Dufay had hardly crossed the threshold before Talea slipped past her, utilizing the chaos of crowded bodies to conceal her presence, despite the fact that her shadowed garb and subtlety could scarcely attract attention to begin with. Not when she desired solitude. If anyone dared to approach her... She sneered at the thought and retreated into the furthest corner of the room, stalking the procedure with narrowed, leery eyes.
The hearth, despite its rustic charm, did little to melt away the chill creeping into her heart and mind. She could sense the tension, the displeasure, the intrigue devouring every guest as they sauntered in. And the temptation toyed with her. What would happen if she twisted the strings? Perhaps encroach on the devil's favor? Her lips curled into a sinister smile as she weighed her options.
Although joviality set her stomach in knots, it certainly had its advantages. She would allow the party to unfold unhindered and wait for the tension to ripen. Civility seemed stretched amongst the group and animosity would easily fester. Then as the devil danced, she would flee, freed from the chains of sociality.
Her back met the wall as she pressed herself against its comforting solidarity, poised to retreat at the slightest notice. All that was due in time would surely follow.
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