Private Tales Meeting among Merchants

[Lilette Blackbriar]

Spoiler: Music

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Lilette shuffled through the market crowd with a pensive frown. Her wimple would shift against her pointed ears as they twitched every now and then the deeper she got into that busy marketplace. It wasn't so busy this time of evening when the shadows grew long and the first merchants to close had only just begun to pack, but perhaps the big city would always overwhelm the woodland elf.

Still, the sight of her favorite herbalist brought a faint smile to her pale lips.

"Sister Lilette?" croaked the old halfling woman, "why, I've not seen your face in, oh, two years now?"

"Ah, 'tis a pleasure to see thee once more, Miss Hawthorne. Mayest we discuss over tea perhaps?"

The nun offered a warm smile whilst Miss Hawthorne guided her to a stack of handbaskets. Hawthorne's stall immersed them both in the scent of dried herbs and fresh tea, a momentary reprieve from the chaotic smells of the big city.

The two women spoke for a moment, of her travels to Elbion, of Hawthorne's granddaughter who'd grown so much since last they saw the nun. All the while Lilette perused bottles and sacks of various herbs, seeming to compare the price tags to a noticeably small coinpurse.

She held one bottle up, and only then did her silver eyes go wide at the sight of a peculiar figure.

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Arielle Seweis​

 

[Arielle Seweis]

Arielle's gaze flickered amongst the market, as she fluttered from stall to stall. She was slowly seeing the appeal of cities like Alliria. They seemed far more efficient to get ingredients, far better than collecting them by hand. Though it seemed also perfect as a breeding ground for disease. Large groups mingling together. She had already had treated a handful of people since she arrived in the City.

It was one of those patients that was the reason Arielle found herself in the market now. Mentioning that there was a herbalist that she'd be able to top up her supplies with. Unfortunately for her however, she hadn't been told which stall it was. With the mixture of all the city smells overwhelming her nose, it was a struggle for her to focus in on the smell of fresh herbs.

It took a few attempts of perusing before the current stall's owner seemed willing to help point Arielle in the right direction, as their eyes dipped to look at the various dried plants placed amongst Arielle's outfit

"Looking for some plants and herbs? Hawthorne's down there."

With that, the man pointed off in the opposite direction. Arielle responded wordlessly, giving a short nod of her head alongside a thin-lipped smile of thanks, as she made her way off, keeping her head down low.

So she found herself at the herbalist's stalls, her gaze flickering over the various herbs on display whilst the halfling woman seemed to be busy with a customer. A nun. For a moment, a small grimace came across Arielle's visage at that. Faith and Arielle did not go hand in hand together. She always did her best to stay far away from it.

It was only at that thought that she saw the Nun raise a bottle up in her direction, and Arielle blinked to herself as she took in the Nun. They didn't seem like...most people she came across. With that being said, Arielle turned her head behind herself for a moment to see if there was someone behind her...only to confirm it seemed as if the wide eyes seem to be for her. Oh.

"...I apologise if I'm bothering. I can come back later?"

Her ruby gaze flickered back over towards the Nun, where she gave a hesitant smile. An ever so tiny fang gently poking out at it.

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Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

"Nn-nay, not at all." stammered the nun immediately.

She returned the bottle and glanced from side to side before approaching. The girl was given a polite bow of her head, a single lock of ashen hair slipping out of her wimple.

"Forgiveth me mine mannerless stare, 'tis been o'er long since I beheld one of such pallor to match mine own."

"Ah, I doth suppose introductions art in order?" she said nervously.

Her basket was set aside to perform a well practiced curtsy.

"I am called Lilette, sister and doctor of the Celestialist temple."

When she rose, those silver eyes gave Arielle brief appraisal in search of something unknowable. But finding something, or indeed nothing at all, her brows knit curiously and at last she rose to her full, modest height.

They seemed shine even brighter beneath her hood.

"And, well, what shalt I call thee...?"

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Arielle Seweis​

 

[Arielle Seweis]

"Pallor?..."

Arielle blinked to herself for a moment, her brow furrowing for a moment. Unfortunately for her, she was never the brightest apple of the bunch. It was only as her eyes flicked down to compare her own skin to that of Lilette that it seemed to click.

Well. This was certainly peculiar. If Arielle's assumptions were correct...One of her own being amongst the Faithful? Of course, that was going off her assumption. If it was not for the overwhelming assault on her senses, of the herbs against her nose and the sounds of fellows moving through the market, she might have been able to further prove her assumptions. Either way, it was rude to keep someone waiting after a question.

"Arielle. That is the name I use. If one wanted to use a title...I suppose medicine woman is most apt for myself."

Whilst she may have considered herself a healer, perhaps call herself a doctor amongst those less educated, Arielle did not believe that it would stand up amongst a more...educated crowd as she had found herself around now.

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Lilette Blackbriar​

 

[Lilette Blackbriar]

"A medicine woman?" said Lilette.

Her pale lips slightly curled.

"Oh, yes! I should'st have figured, what with the herbs and all."

"Well met, Miss Arielle. 'tis not oft I meetest mine fellow healing women away from home."

Lilette's shoulders loosened, even if her ears continued to twitch and strain for sounds. Amidst the bustling market she found it difficult to tell one noise for the other, or lack thereof. No, if she were to determine this girl's nature, it would have to be some place quiet.

"Ah," she pressed her thumb to her lip, "mayest we swap stories after shopping?"

"I am most eager to hear more from a woman o' the trade."

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Arielle Seweis​