Private Tales The Stars, the Stars, the Stars

[Faye Valimir]

He lifted one hand to his neck. Talorgan ran a finger under his collar, trying to loosen it just a little without making it untidy.

He took the offered mask. Tal held it delicately as he turned it around slowly. The light, soft as it was, showed the purity of the glass. He wondered how exciting it might be to strike out on your own and try to start a business. It seemed slightly intimidating now he thought about it.

"If you're here to make connections, I'll try to release you back into the wild before long," he said. Talorgan looked over her slender shoulder towards the party through the doors. She seemed slightly taller than he remembered.

"Different material to make glass? I'm not sure what I'd look for. Metals to colour it?"

"Oh, gods no." Faye laughed, giving him an incredulous look. "No, you are far better company than those types."

A hard worker. Someone unafraid of getting dirty and doing the long yards. That dedication made her like him in the first place. Resonate with him.

"I am not asking you to find materials to make glass." She was outright laughing at him now, but her face showed it was all in jest. "Materials I can incorporate into my designs. Nice rocks and certain flora that does not burn would suffice. Rare, although... crystals and gemstones are easy enough to work with. I also do not expect you to go out of your way... it was more an offer and excuse to get out of the city instead of attending these stifling events."

It was a kind gesture. An offering hand. She knew Talorgan wasn't one to accept it so easily, and before he could deny anything, she pressed on.

"Or," she emphasised, keeping her grey eyes on him as her lips curled into a sly smile, "you can visit me in the workshop. I can show you how I work with glass and the dragon scales."

Not many had that privilege of getting such a tour of her space. It usually was just herself and her dragon at work, but Faye knew Talorgan had something about him that would appreciate the craft.

 

[Talorgan]

"I am not asking you to find materials to make glass." She was outright laughing at him now, but her face showed it was all in jest.

"Oh," went Tal. He smiled, even as he looked slightly sheepish.

It was more of a friendly business arrangement, he realised as she explained more. He would have a financial reason to be exploring the wilds. He could document his findings along the way and try to publish his book.

Clearly the study of jarlax wasn't going to be copied. The other houses - which was most of the people who could read - might enjoy something less controversial about crystals and gems and flora.

"Or," she emphasised, keeping her grey eyes on him as her lips curled into a sly smile, "you can visit me in the workshop. I can show you how I work with glass and the dragon scales."

Talorgan canted his head to one side.

"I've never seen glass being worked," he said quickly.

"Does it have to be or?" he asked. "I think we could come to an arrangement about materials but I'd would love to see the workshop!"

 

[Faye Valimir]

She gave him a wry smile before reaching for where she put down her glass. Bringing the rim to her lips, she took a slow sip of it's contents as she contemplated.

"Alright. That seems a fair trade. You are not afraid of things getting hot? I do work with dragon fire and would hope you are not afraid of it." She placed her glass down again on the paved ground, her movements slow and purposeful. "You can stand at a comfortable distance if you prefer."

Always giving him a way out.

Faye had an underlying feeling to always give that chance. How many times had she felt as if she could not leave a situation?

 

[Talorgan]

"Melting glass with dragon fire..." he said under his breath.

Talorgan scratched at his neck again. He had been forced to clean shave his neckline. Putting a tight collar around that felt warm and uncomfortable.

Giving up, he set down his drink and started to unknot his tie.

" Just tell me what a safe distance is," he said. "I'm sure I can deal with things getting a bit hot and uncomfortable. But I'd rather keep my beard."

 

[Faye Valimir]

Faye grinned at her friend.

"Oh, you will know." She teased lightly. "Perhaps one day I can teach you a trick or two and see how well you take to the art. I should look for an apprentice, as I was my father's from a young age until I became confident enough to work with dragon fire." The grin fell to a smile, and it always suited her. Her eyes crinkled slightly, softening her entire facial features. This was the expressions she had hid for so long in the past year, that her life had become so lonely and...

She stood up, careful not to knock her glass. Her mask disappeared into a pocket she had stitched into her skirts. "I cannot tell you how much that idea makes me afraid. I... never truly entertained the idea of teaching someone the trade, or even telling secrets to the Valimir works over generations..." She sighed, smile falling into a thin line. The woman flicked her gaze to Talorgan. "I have cousins, but none of them have the patience to learn the art."

Goodness. Perhaps she needed yet another drink. Her eyes fell to her glass on the cobbled stone waiting for her to pick it back up.

 

[Talorgan]

"I'll know will I? If knowing means I am consumed by dragon fire..."

The gruff explorer of the wilds watched her expression closely as she spoke of her trade. Many third sons found a trade for themselves, but it always seemed like something to consume time.

Faye was thoroughly consumed by her work and proud of it. It was a passion of the arts, not a distraction. He was slightly jealous.

"My father keeps some charities. I don't think he's ever really taken an interest as long as he can tell people about them. I could try and find an apprentice for you."

"But I would... I'd be more than honoured to see how you work. Everything in confidence, of course."

 

[Faye Valimir]

"Are you... interested?"

The question posed was careful. Her expression was left unguarded, soft and hesitant before him. Their friendship was new, and already she was peering from behind her defenses. "If you are, I would love to show you how it all works... but if you are not, that is also understandable."

Faye fidgeted with her glass mask. Her fingers fretted with the silk ribbons used to secure it around her head, a shade that blended with her dark hair. It was clear there was a moment of excitement to share what she knew, that the idea of Talorgan learning appealed to her only because she knew him enough to trust him since their first initial meeting.

 

[Talorgan]

"Yes, of course," he said firmly. "I'm always impressed by anyone who can put their time into perfecting an art. This one also has that little bit of secrecy."

She seemed to genuinely care about this. That confused him for a moment. Then he thought of all the patrons out there. They sponsored artists only as a conversation starter. They never really appreciated the art itself.

"I really am," he said earnestly.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, he continued: "And then I can sell your secrets and retire in luxury instead of camping in the wilds."

 

[Faye Valimir]

Faye scoffed, staring at Talorgan as if he had such cheek to say that. She lifted a finger and wagged it slowly with chastisement. "Oh, we shall see if you can indeed make Valimir worthy pieces, my friend."

She could hear the music swelling from the ballroom they had vacated. Her eyes lifted, watching the lights spilling from large windows that belonged to the room everyone was milling about. "I no longer enjoy dancing. Well... with strangers and acquaintances. Too close for comfort." Faye frowned.

The conversations always followed a few pathways. Her glasswork, whether she would look to marry — and often followed up with suggestions of someone's son — or simply conversation would not include her altogether and her dance partner would blather on about themselves.

"Well... what about a visit now?"

 

[Talorgan]

Talorgan followed her gaze back towards the dance floor. He felt exhausted just to think about going back in there. By now the social dynamics would have started to show.

Power came from the size of your dragon and the strength of your family name. Those that had neither were instead shrewd about their maneuvering and that included climbing the social ladder at such events.

He didn't have the stomach for it and remained blissfully unaware that he was privileged to be able to step away from it all.

"A visit now sounds great," Talorgan said. "Let's just avoid my father seeing us in the way out."

"And don't worry, I'm a very slow learner!"

 

[Faye Valimir]

With ease, she looped her arm through his and led him back indoors. With expert manoeuvring, she worked them through the crowds without being seen. Faye did not speak until they were out the front of the entryway.

"Do not speak to anyone that lingers on the outskirts of a party, and you will move faster through a crowd." She finally piped up. Releasing his arm, she gestured for him to follow her out the estate gates.

From there, it was near twenty minutes walk to her own home. Her affluent aunt secured a property for her since her father's home ended up razed. Placing Faye in the Palace District was strategic. It was security. It was to ensure her business would always thrive amongst the wealthy.

"Have you ever attended an art festival, Talorgan?"

What better way to pass the time than to ask questions?

 

[Talorgan]

She was clearly adept in maneuvering though high society. That included making contacts to sell her glassware, but also it seemed getting them physically through the organised chaos of a gala.

Whilst he enjoyed being a rebellious outsider for the sake of it, Tal genuinely preferred to be away from crowds.

"Oh of course," Tal replied.

"Is there a better way for a rebellious child of a house to behave than attending artfestivals?"

 

[Faye Valimir]

"You would have seen my father selling his works if you were in attendance two years ago. It was his last... before sickness got him and he passed that winter." Despite the time that had passed, and she felt a peace in his absence, Faye still held grief in her words. It was there in the furrowing of her brows, the sharp and shallow intake of breath. "I have never gone alone to sell my wares. My father had that patience for people... I merely put on a front to deal with those that I can."

In fact, every person Faye Valimir befriended, it was those that preferred the quiet and small groups, the kind of person that likes solitude and understanding of others... that was the type of person Faye had stronger friendships with.

"That is what I am working on currently in the workshop. Perhaps you can offer me some opinion? After all, you would be fresh eyes." She smiled.

 

[Talorgan]

"I will admit that they were mostly an excuse to get drunk and to be rebellious by socialising with arty types. Which does make my memories a little hazy. The last few years I've been far more focussed on exploring the wilds beyond the wall."

His father was certain that this was a phase too. Talorgan felt a genuine affinity for the quiet and untamed lands. He had mostly stepped away from society as much as possible - even the less formal underside.

"Maybe the art didn't hold my attention as well. I was young. Maybe the parties not as libertine as I had imagined," he chuckled.

"But yes, I would love to cast an untrained eye over something new!"

 

[Faye Valimir]

Faye had to chuckle, throwing him a look that looked as if she were halfway wishing to strangle him or to perpetually shake her head at him. Nonetheless, he elicited a smile from her. Hard not to, not when the idea of him getting drunk with artists was a form of rebellion to his family.

She did not want to say it, but that was only typical of someone in a noble upbringing.

Talorgan would surely detest that.

The thought made her smile wider.

"Goodness me, I expect you to take this education I am going to give you seriously." It was a light tease, but if he indeed listened to her explanations, that would surely win him more points being her friend.