Private Tales First Steps into a larger World

[Ispir Sione]

Spoiler: Ispir

From among the many rivers that branched off the flows of the Asherah Ocean there were some put to use by the city of Gild for logistical transportation, trade and even enough to bring in travelers from far-off lands. Such was the case this day as Ispir Sione made his way by the docks to see the crews in action! This was no random outing either for the shanties and songs of sailing crews were known throughout nearly every culture on Arethil as being very catchy, if inexpertly sung, and so Ispir walked along with his cloak and cap stowed away to keep his temperature down. A quill and parchment in hand as he spoke to a few dockworkers and sailors on shore leave for some of their favorite songs.

It was during this very astute and ENTIRELY professional bardic inquiry that Ispir would note a ship of foreigners disembark into the Gilded docks. An oddity, to be sure, as even the bard's brief exposure to the culture of Gild left him with the distinct impress of them being a wary and suspicious lot. Indeed one of the foreign folk from the boat was pulled aside and restrained under suspicion of being a mage and Ispir would wince as a guard began to question one of the women disembarking rather... forcefully.

But as the guard gave Anesidora a hard time Ispir would quickly interject himself on behalf of the tall lady! Clearing his throat loudly and rushing over he would sigh in feigned relief.

"There you are my friend! Such a relief to see you in one piece. I've brought all of our instruments and.... ah!"

Pretending to just notice the guard Ispir would bow to him as the guard squinted distrustfully.

"Salt and Silver ser! Thank you so much for seeing to my backup musician's safety."

Peaking up at the stranger Ispir would flex his brow through his bangs at her in a fashion that all but screamed 'play along!'.​

 

[Anesidora]

The day was long and the sun was hot, burning as it made its lazy decent towards the mountains the dotted the horizon. The journey had been a long one and terribly boring, punctuated only by the occasional interesting animal sighting or drunken sailors grandiose tales. Now, Isadora was eager to disembark her wooden island for sturdier ground. She dawned her finer clothes, not the simple cotton gowns, tunics and pants she'd taken to for the journey. A sturdy but finer colbalt dress of chambray, and a muslin overthrow died indigo to protect from the sun but still provude airflow. Perhaps foolishly, she dipped with gold and grass accessories from her neck down even her legs cuffs and dangling chains, the rattle of metal against metal. Isadora stepped out into the sun, raising her hand to block its blinding rays.

It might have been her apperance, her clothes or her jewlary that provoked the guard to handle her so. She found her self suddenly, and roughly pulled to the side as he spat his questions in her face. The woman glared, brow furrowed and brown eyes flaring with indignation or rage or maybe both.

"Is this any way to treat a visitor of your fine city, I am here for work- little more!" She spoke with a thick accent, something unheard and sharp yet with a pleasant lilting. The guard had seized her by the arm, and instinctively she had grasped his hand with her free one, pulling at his thumb. Quite frankly, she was prepared to break the damn thing, grabbing her like that had startled her so. It was then that the stranger inserted himself into the situation, sparing the guard a broken thumb and her a trip to the stockade.

Isadora turned her sharp gaze on this stranger, a smaller lad with a pleasant smile and ostentatious clothes. But who was she to judge, given what she was wearing. Her pointed expression melted, along with her grip on the guard. Was this stranger...helping her? She blinked a few times before quickly gathering herself.

"There you are! You must forgive my tardiness. I was waylayed and missed my first ship, and to think this brute would seek to delay my travels further." She wretched her arm free, giving the guard a firey look. Isadora briefly hoped the guards here were as patient as the ones back home, or she might very well find herself in a cell before long.

At his introduction, Isa turned and gave a brief bow. Just barely on the cusp of formal and one that could very well be described as curt.

"Yes. Thank you for your..services. I will see myself off this boat now. As I had said to you, I have work to do. With my friend here, yes?" She was talking to the stranger now, her hand placed gently on his shoulder and a warm smile put on for show. She took no time in moving herself and him away, leaning in closer as they got out of ear shot.

"You have my thanks, stranger. I do not know what possessed that man to act in such ways." She rubbed at her arm subconsciously.

 

[Ispir Sione]

Ispir let out a silent, and thankful, breathe as the stranger played along with his deception very well. The guard, shaking his hand and glaring at the discomfort in his thumb, would such in a breathe through clenched teeth and turn to Ispir accusatorily.

"You know this woman, bard-man?"

Ispir would bolt up and nod, beaming a charming smile at the guard and lying fairly convincingly.

"I do! Terribly sorry about your thumb but I assure you she is likely just cranky from the boat ride here."

The guard would sniff, look left and right, before crossing his arms and the lower hand would open up before motioning to Ispir as he spoke casually.

"I see. Maybe you are repaying me for the injury, hmm? Gold can mend wounds as well as medicine."

Ispir would nod and slap a few gold coins into his palm to which the guard would smile, nod, and stow the coins away subtly before spitting on the ground at Anesidora 's feet.

"Very well, off with you!"

Waving Isidora away Ispir would sigh in relief as he began to walk away with the stranger and rubbed at his face in exasperation. With his twintails bobbing up and down he would look up at the taller woman and smile softly at her thanks.

"Ah. Well umm... the people of Gild are not very fond of magic."

Looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping he would then add.

"As in.... it's illegal."

Clearing his throat he would shake his head.

"But no need to thank me. I know when someone looks like they're lost, believe me I've been there!"

He giggled softly and adjusted his hair softly before sighing.

"So! My name is Ispir, Ispir Sione, traveling Minstrel, Bard aaaaand today your temporary hero!"

Aquamarine eyes the color of clear, deep ocean water would turn up to look Isidora, brimming with amusement, as he met her eyes with his own and asked.

"And yourself?"​

 

[Anesidora]

Isadora's restraint that day should have earned her commendation. For she did not break a man's nose. Instead, she ignored the skittles that had landed all too close to her foot and stepped away. She continued to play along, sticking close to the stranger and her hero-apparent as they walked away. She listened as he spoke, her features contortijg in clear frustration.

"Illegal? Fool hearty, foolish and and fearful!" More curses were said that were beyond variations of 'fool', but all in her own language which was spoken fast and sharply. Luckily, Isadora at least had the sense to keep her curses under her breath. She ran her long fingers through her hair, which was cut short in a bob, and sighed heavily.

"I have you to thank for my not being in trouble. My apologies that my ignorance has cost you some gold ah-"

She rummaged through her pack for a moment, pulling something small and shiny from a smaller velvet bag. A bracelet. One of brass but beautiful none the less, thin with artful carvings along the band. She placed it in his hand as she shook it, the strangers name now learned.

"Ispir" the name rolled clumsily off her tounge, but mostly correct. "My name is Aneisadora, but you may call me Isa if that is what you prefer. You have, again, my deepest thanks. I am...well knew to these parts and still learning much. You say you are a bard? Some one who makes music?"

 

[Ispir Sione]

Ispir would snort softly and giggle as his new friend let out quite the string of, what he assumed, were insults. Thankfully they were in a different language so he just assumed no one would know what she was talking about exactly. At her continued thanks he would start to shake his head before blinking as she offered him a bracelet. He took it, albeit a bit sheepishly, since he hadn't done what he did for any sort of reward.

"O-Oh ummmm...."

He stammered a bit before she got his name mostly correct, mentioned her own name, and admitted to being new to the area. Now, hero or not, he was just a little mischievous at the best of times. With a pretty developed sense of humor. Devising a very silly scheme in the moment he would nod at Isidora's question before putting his acting skills to the test!

His cheeks burning a soft pink he would look back down at the bracelet and clear his throat, sheepishly looking down as he paused in his walk.

"Ah, Isa? I know you are new to these lands b-but...."

He looked up at her, bat his eyelashes sweetly, as those big, aquamarine eyes went to the size of dinner plates before he looked off to the side and fidgeted with the bracelet.

"B-But where I am from s-such a thing is how a proposal is made......"

He murmured, gesturing with the bracelet, timidly scuffing his shoe into the ground and lacing his arms behind his back before gently twirling one of his twin tails behind an ear.

Anesidora​

 

[Anesidora]

The woman stopped dead in her tracks, her expression passive as her gaze slowly moved to look Ispir in the face. She blinked a few times, perhaps trying to decide if she had misunderstood something along the way.

Proposal? No she hadn't proposed anything. Brown eyes drifted to the bracelet in his hand, and she could feel the rush if heat to her face. Isa opened and closed her mouth a few times. Finally, words were permitted to come out.

"Proposal! As in? No, I- Ispir I am sure you are very lovely. I would not be surprised if you were already given to another. And...well I am sure you can understand. We hardly know each other. So, no no I was not proposing. It is little more than a thank you, the bracelet. If it makes you uncomfortable, or is only for the betrothed, I can take it back."

It was impressive that Isa maintained a steady tone, though her words did stumble on occasion tripped by the accent and unfamiliarty with the situation. She hurried brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Desperate for something to do with her hands.

She had only been in this new land a few minuets and she had managed not so incorrectly be accused kf being a mage thus upsetting a guard and nearly being arrested. And now, accidentally proposed to some one.

Great work.

 

[Ispir Sione]

Isa had not even gotten to the end of her stumbling, hurried explanation before Ispir began to giggle and gave the game away. His face flushing as he covered his mouth and his eyes danced good-naturedly with glee. Sparkling like pale blue stars in the distant night sky and he would shake his head enough that his twin tail whipped about his neck.

"Hehehe n-no no Isa it's okay! I was just teasing! It's a lovely gift."

Stifling off a few stray giggles he would tuck his hair back as well and beam cheekily up at her.

"I just thought that since you've had a rough time landing here you might need a joke or two to show you that not knowing everything is okay!"

He would walk by her and grin like the cheeky scamp he was in the moment.

"But thank ya for calling me lovely! You seem like a very sweet person too. But how about we get something eat, hmm?"

In a way that both contrasted with, and supported, his antics earlier Ispir truly didn't seem to take the idea of romance all that seriously it seems and he would just as quickly divert his attention to motioning at a restaurant nearby.

Anesidora​