Private Tales Whispers in Silk and Satin

[Svenia Albrecht]

Excitement bubbled beneath the surface as she approached the wing of the college where Aiko resided. Svenia wasn't entirely sure she was able to hide it very well - not that she needed to, anyway. The opportunity to spend time away from other classmates and - more importantly - one with which she had struck up a friendship nearly on the first day was something to be excited about.

Especially since they would spend that time out in the city itself rather than within the subdued corridors of the College.

Her staff clicked out the cadence as she swished along the corridor, coming to her friends' door. She didn't have her shawl with her this time, leaving her face bare to the world without the concealing and comforting shadows it provided her. The accentuating color wasn't necessary, anyway; she wore her hair tied at the nape of her neck with a red ribbon and a cream bodice with crimson skirts. She was especially fond of this dress; the needlework was exceptional, scrolling round her neck and sleeves in silver.

It made her feel pretty despite the scars.

She paused outside the door before rapping on it briskly, keenly aware of the anxiety underlying the excitement. This was the first time she had been out into Elbion since class had begun properly, and the first time she had spent that wasn't geared toward study with her friend. It was silly to be nervous, as though her fellow Allirian would judge her about anything.

"It's Svenia, Aiko," she said and then waited for the elf to come to the door.

 

[Aiko]

The door was opened by a young blonde girl. Her hair was in a simple unkempt top knot, while she was dressed in a blue crop top and tight high waisted shorts and sandals. The girl recoiled a little bit at Svenia’s appearance, as if startled.

“You must be here for Aiko.” The girl said, beginning to understand. “Svenia right? I’m Lissa. Come on in.” She kept the door open ns walked into the room about three paces and stopped.

“Aiko’s a bit weird about shoes . . .” Lissa said aloud, looking over at a neatly arranged space that appeared to separate inside shoes from outside shoes. Lissa then looked at Svenia’s staff. “But I don’t think she’d-“

“I’ll be right there!” Aiko’s voice rang through the dorm room. If Svenia were to look around the room she’d see an eclectic arrangement of decorations. On one side she would see a colorful painting of Alliria and the Akivan sea, while the other held a stuffed animal nearly five feet tall. Here there would be a small tree meticulously cared for, while over there a punching bag held from the ceiling and was obviously well used.

True to her word Aiko appeared from behind a door not much later. A careful eye would note small bits of telekinetic magic tying her belt into a bow behind the waist of her kimono. Aiko came to the front entrance and immediately noticed the lack of hood or shawl on her companion.

“Svenia, I love seeing your hair.” She said, giving the girl a smile but not trying to over do it. Aiko saw this as a big step, but didn’t want the girl to feel self-conscious about her decision. She turned to her roommate.

“Thank you for getting the door Alyssa.” Aiko said, then turned back to Svenia. “Shall we be off then?”

 

[Svenia Albrecht]

She cringed a little at the girl's - Lissa's - reaction upon opening the door. For a moment she reconsidered leaving the shawl back in her room and almost turned to retrieve it. She'd already gone this far, though. Anyway, walking back would just make her that much more tired later.

There was a little reluctance to enter their dorm. From the door, it looked like a window into another world. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped inside.

Her eyes roved over the space, noting each detail Some of the things made sense to her mind. She lingered on the stuffed animal a moment, inwardly surprised. The whole space was different from her own; Svenia's roommate was messy by comparison. Her spaces were spartan.

She smiled shyly, turning her head slightly so that the ruined part of her face wasn't quite so prominent. "Thank you," she said. "It was nice to do something with it for a change." Normally loose, brushing it out and pulling it back into a long tail as it was had felt better, somehow. "That.. kimono?... looks cute on you," she added dutifully, returning a compliment with the same. She longed to be able to wear something like that, but it was too revealing.

She did not look at Alyssa as she nodded in assent. "Yes, please. I...don't want to be out like this when it gets busier on campus, later." The halls were quiet now. It was the weekend, however, and that would not last.

 

[Aiko]

Aiko smiled at the girls compliment, then nodded. Mentally she was kicking herself for not being ready sooner but they would make do. She grabbed a small bag, coordinated with the same floral pattern as her kimono and checked it briefly to make sure she had what she needed.

“Let us be off then.” Aiko said.

“You two have fun.” Lissa said to the pair, in a friendly but non-committal fashion and turned to go back to the dorm room. Aiko gave her a all bow, then began to leave the room, closing the door behind them.

“I am sorry. Lissa is not bad, but wears her heart on her sleeve.” Aiko said. “I hope she didn’t say anything untoward.” Aiko said as the pair made their way to the college gate. She did not completely understand the system for being able to leave the college, but it was a scarce enough thing to be treasured. She did believe there was a carriage stationed at the gate that took students to the merchant district, which should cover their needs.

“How is your roommate?” Aiko asked. While Lissa was not what Aiko would have asked for in a roommate, she could have easily been paired with far worse.

 

[Svenia Albrecht]

She didn't know what Lissa was about to say and never would. Which was, based on current experience, probably for the best.

"She didn't," Svenia assured her in her lilting tone, even if the initial reaction still stung. She was more than happy to leave the presence of the other girl, though. "Some might say I wear my heart on a sleeve, though, I will refrain from judging." Out loud, anyway.

She moved along with that odd gait of hers, left leg stiff and barely flexing. Still, she put on a good enough turn of speed to not slow Aiko down overmuch. "Marissa?" She slowed her steps a moment, thinking how best to speak of her dorm mate. She wanted to be charitable, but it was hard. "She keeps to herself. I just wish she'd keep her things to herself." She laughed, but it was a very... very dry laugh. "You'd think she was a boy, the way she leaves her books and her clothes lying..."

Svenia snapped her teeth shut, face flushed a bit. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so judgmental. It's just that I prefer things neat." Truth to tell, if she'd been in her own rooms Aiko might not have said neat. A more proper description would be austere. The only personal items not related to the business of studying were a singular silk rose sealed in glass and whatever book she happened to be reading at the time.

"I have already hired a carriage. Forgive me if I don't feel like 'walking' all the way into the markets," she puffed after a moment. It was bad enough that she was slow, and worse that it was so exhausting to go any decent distance.

 

[Aiko]

---

Aiko fought a giggle at Svenia's description of her roommate. Well, not the description itself, but her concern at letting it be known.

"I understand." Aiko said. "It is okay I think. There are things that Lissa does that frustrate me, and I know likewise there are things I do that frustrate her, but we both try to be mindful. Peace is an ambitious goal, but perhaps we may both find harmony." Aiko continued, following the girl's stride. It was a more relaxed pace, but the morning was early enough that they did not deal with the normal volume of cutting stares. At times she wondered which of the two had the rougher social standing, the cripple or the elf, but she always decided it didn't matter.

"That was kind of you." Aiko said of the carriage. As they made their way to the gates Aiko could spot one ahead, two chestnut-haired horses at the ready.

"Do you know where you would like to visit first?" Aiko could think of quite a few destinations the pair could visit, but there was only so much time in the day. Still, Aiko could barely contain her excitement. The chance to spend the day as ladies rather than simply students was elating.

 

[Svenia Albrecht]

"I'll find harmony when I don't trip on a pile of stuff," she said of her roommate. Her tone and face were serious, but they cracked in a grin that pulled at her scars and tinted her cheek a rosy shade. "Marissa swears that I am a nun, though. She thinks I need to be more... unrestrained." The last was said with a scoffing tone. Unrestrained? Most of the restraint was to not draw any attention to herself. Aside from being deeply self-conscious of her failings, she also found it was easier and safe to let other people draw trouble to them.

She paused a moment at the carriage, waiting for the driver to help her up. Stairs and steps were a particular challenge, given that her hip had a limited range of motion and her leg did not bend well. "Some tea, perhaps? And then... I've heard there was to be a dance or a party of some kind soon. At the end of summer?"

She turned a little sheepish, suddenly. "I... I wanted to find a dress for that. Everything I have is so... Well, pedestrian." The dress she wore might be considered such, but it was still far and away from what most common folk would consider 'pedestrian'. "I haven't actually been out shopping for clothes myself for a couple of years. Everything I have Mo... Mother picked out for me, or my brother later on." There was an edge of embarrassment about that admission. About both admissions really. There was also the faint shadow of sorrow nestled in those words, too. "I would ask Ma, but.."

But she couldn't. It was an odd feeling, the fluttery uncertainty of trying to find something that might catch someone else's eye while being weighed down with the memory of what was lost.

 

[Aiko]

Aiko let out the small giggle at Svenia’s dispute to harmony, but did not press the subject any further. She made a face of thoughtfulness at the comment of a ‘nun’. Aiko was not very familiar with the term, but had heard it more since joining the college. A human thing perhaps. Aiko kept close by as the stageman helped Svenia up to the carriage interior before joining the carriage herself. She made herself comfortable as Svenia turned to speak and the carriage began to move. She was thankful for the well paved path keeping their journey smooth.

“I find tea a good start to the day, but we could find your Kaliti Crema instead.” Aiko said, recalling their meeting after the first potions class. Or was it Atticus that ordered the Kaliti? She couldn’t quite remember.

“As for the ball.” She said, and allowed herself a coy smile. She looked the girl up and down, taking in Svenia’s dress. It was definite progress, but they both knew she was more utilitarian in dress as a rule.

“We will need to get you a dress, a matching bag, and shoes.” Aiko declared. She didn’t focus on the mention of Svenia’s mother, though she understood the significance of being the first shopping partner in years. The mention was a vulnerability that might have been exposed accidentally. It was a gamble, but she chose to trust that Svenia would bring it up again if she wished to explore the wound.

“We need to make sure that whatever we pick is you.” Aiko put emphasis on the last word. “Do you know how you want to wear your hair?”