[Illuminating Libations] Walk On Through (Open)

[Haeli]

Timestamp: 85th of Summer, 511 AV
Purpose: Social & Making Contacts
Status: Open

A short distance from the Cosmos Center, on one of the more prevalent streets of Lhavit lies an simple yet elegant two story building that glimmers with a golden shine in the sunlight; the skyglass found throughout the city prevalent here. Tall, wide glass windows comprise the majority of the first floor while the second is topped with a glass dome. The glass of the building is set in light-colored wood and gold painted metal. A pair of lanterns hangs above the glass door; lanterns that are lit day and night, never allowed to go out. A small, carved wood sign hangs below the lanterns displaying the name of the establishment, "Illuminating Libations".

As one steps through the glass door, two steps lead down to the freshly polished wooden floor. A few yards from the door stands a polished wood bar with several stools in front of it; behind it, a small kitchen. Between the door and the bar there is a cushioned bench against each wall and a couple of small tables; all offering seating for up to 20 individuals. In the center of the room, a small stone fireplace; chimney extending up to through the second floor and past the roof, offers warmth during the cool mountain nights. A small wood sign near the fireplace says, "Bards Welcomed". To the left of the bar is a small alcove with a door on one side and a set of stairs leading up on the left. The alcove is blocked by black leather strap signifying it being off limits to customers.

She'd started going to Illuminating Libations to hear the bards. It was a small place, more casual than most with a feeling that one of the nice waitresses had explained to her was 'artsy'. They never gave her a problem for taking a small corner table to listen to the music so long as she ordered food slowly throughout the evening and kept the drinks coming - juice of course - to wet her thirst. She often brought a book and a pot of ink and a quill to work on something or another for either her own shop or for her own notes. Lately she'd been gathering local flowers and cataloging them for a project that was for her own use. In new places, witches had to find out all the medicinal properties of the native plants and how they could further the witches interests in order for her to further the plants own.

Tonight was no different. The waitress had offered her a taste of a new house wine and she'd tried it, but in the end she'd ordered fresh juice called lemonade and a basket of mushrooms that had been dipped in hot oil after being battered and fried. She hoped the owner, a local Eth man she'd met at her own shop, would drop by, and perhaps some of the locals she'd slowly started to get to know.

The music was good too. A man was playing an instrument called an Od. She only knew its name because he'd introduced it as a Benshira instrument from a far off desert. The idea of it all fascinated her even if the stringed and strummed instrument was slightly mournful.

And so she sat, wrote, and munched the fried mushrooms listening and people watching as discretely as she could.


.

[Emeric]

Lhavit never ceased to offer up some semblance of normality amidst all that was alien and queer about the city. Emeric found himself once again out all day, leaving through the main gate and descending to the Amaranthine River where he'd sat in the sunlight and let the river cool his feet. The lyre he often carried was once again strapped across his back, after playing with it idly by the riverbank. He had left his sword in his room at All Thing's Wild, the peculiar shop he now called his home, bestowed upon him kindly by the equally peculiar young woman who owned it. Indeed, he had even left behind the gloves which covered his hands for so long - now more sure that there were very few people in the city who knew the black brand of the half sun. His shirt sleeves were pulled high up his arms, to collect the warmth of the sunlight which doused the city. Though there was an edge to the breeze which reminded all around that summer was waning. He often found himself with his eyes up, peering into the daily lives of the Lhavitians who passed him and as it was he caught the flash of streaked blonde hair. A sight which had become predominantly familiar to him in the previous weeks. She slipped through the open door of a building and Emeric followed slowly after, reading the sign before he entered. Illuminating Libations, it read. What in the hell's that meant to mean, Emeric thought, wondering what kind of establishment this was. His fears were immediately assuaged on entrance though, as it was quickly clear that it was a tavern of some sort. Though entirely cleaner and more friendly than many he'd frequented, including that which he had stayed in on first entrance to the city. The waitress dropped a basket of food at the table where he spotted Haeli, and she had a glass of clear liquid - though Emeric instinctively knew it wasn't alcohol. Emerging from the mountain breeze told Emeric just how chilled he'd become, his fingers tingling at the sudden change in temperature. He took a seat at the table, opposite Haeli and flashed her a small smile. "Mind some company?" He asked, raising his arm to flag over the waitress. He very rarely drank, but felt like something which would warm him up from the inside out. "Mug of ale, please." He said, and the waitress wheeled around on her heel to fetch it. EditEdit: about the drink, I didn't read the goods list for the tavern so I changed it.

[Dor]

Music had an unholy draw for the falcon. Truth told, anything that was liked, that was a lure like a dancing candle flame for a short lived moth, was considered dangerous at best. Yet the essence of bewitchment had her roosting time to time in the eaves of Illuminating Libations when a bard was in residence. Music was orderly, unlike her, and occasionally lovely. It made her think of the animator's figurines in Kalinor, how they chirped and danced, galloped and fenced with toothpick swords that nonetheless looked a lot like life made small. Tonight the wind from off the mist wrapped peaks had ruffled her feathers, carrying with it the distant promise of autumn's aching blue skies and spicy cider she had drank but once in a place that was not here. It had sent her spiraling down through the glow of Lhavit, restless though the sky was shreds beneath the sprawl of her wings, cagey though there was nothing but the mountains surrounding, spiking into the Up. It had been a difficult and withering day, her continued failures in communication causing an argument with sharp eyed strangers. The encounter had scraped deeper than the skin, touching on the more jagged edges of her soul as rough as the hands of man on the face of time. The result was a particular foul mood that refused to shake free. Concentration shot, her attempt at hunting up dinner had failed and so she was forced to seek food in a more civilized fashion. That called for clothing as the ridiculously fragile sensibilities of the Lhavitans were unable to withstand public nudity, she thought grumpily. The boots were only partially buttoned up, leaving them sagging in soft folds of worn leather. A pair of trousers made bark colored buckskin hung from the curve of her hips and she had bundled a faded rain colored canvas jacket over a white linen shirt. It was entirely mismatched and worn and the jacket completely too large for her and in desperate need of, well, more attention than patches were likely to provide. Top that off with a tangle of murder colored hair spilling out of her collar, into her eyes and tangling down her back she looked in need of preening. Woe to the first person to make the mistake of calling her adorable. Though she looked it while trudging her way into the Illuminating Libations, the scrunching of a tiny nose and the frown suggested she probably did not want to hear it. Arms braided loosely beneath her breasts as she wound her way through the other patrons. Haeli had been spotted by predator's eyes within moments, company one of those candle flame lures. Without so much as a hullo, Dor plunked down on the cushioned seat next to Haeli and drew up her knees. Her arms snaked about them, broken boot heels hooking on the lip of her seat whereupon she proceeded to give Emeric peeking, curious eyes in between stealing sidelong looks at Haeli's yummy smelling food.

[Dhatzu]

Though historically a patron of Lhavit's tea houses, Dhatzu found those gathering spots too distracting at times, the cacophony of conversations too jumbled to discern. He had motives for gathering in such social venues, and they have not always been to enjoy a beverage, but to hear what is going on, to catch a hint at Lhavit's pulse. That is why the Illuminating Libations appealed to the young man. He had overheard two other acolytes discussing the venue, a rather intimate location with a more sedate atmosphere. And music. It sounded like a fine refuge for the man who found the strict life on Shinyama Peak stifling at times. The blue-clad acolyte had taken a stool near the end of the bar, in a more accommodating hint of shadow near a wall. He had never hoped to be the kind to sit on a barstool, but, being alone, he felt rather exposed on one of the couches or tables strewn about the floor. There was a disappointment that the menu did not include tea, Dhatzu instead made a rather daring purchase of a glass of wine. The man had never tasted alcohol, strongly counseled against strong drink by his sponsor. But Aleto was not here to put his thumb on his student. The lhavitian was cautious in his consumption, sipping at the dark stringent liquid, feeling the burn in his throat and the heat of it settling in his belly. A hunk of cheese helped to sooth the acidic burn. Having obtained something to occupy his body, Dhatzu then turned his gaze to the patrons within the room. Among the rather subdued denizens scattered around the place Dhatzu did recognize one. He had never met her, though he had seen her on several occasions outside the place called All Things Wild. the man had never patronized the shop, though he found the young woman who tended the place worth more than a quick glance. The bright, almost yellow eyes and streaked hair were unmistakable. Now, with more time to observe the curious girl, Dhatzu kept a surreptitious eye on her as he carefully nursed his wine. She was writing, but that was not all. The young woman gave those around her furtive glances, her head inclining ever so slightly now and then, surely to better hear words spoken between others. Her demeanor changed when a tall man with a stringed instrument strapped to his back joined the girl. Maybe he was one of the musicians. Dhatzu hoped to hear what the thing sounded like. The new arrival did not appear lhavitian, if one could gauge a person by their garments. The acolyte's eyes focused on tearing a piece of cheese from the yellow hunk, Dhatzu straining to gather the nature of the pair's conversation. That is when movement at the entrance caught his eye, and a spark of surprise flashed within him. It was Dor. A smirk crossed his face as he watched the girl cross the room, her disheveled clothing now recognized as her standard state of dress. Contrary to most humans, Dor was infinitely more comfortable without the hassle of garments, as he had had the distinct pleasure of witnessing on several occasions. A greeting was frozen on his tongue as he realized she was heading to a specific destination. Something coaxed the man to turn his head away, as if to avoid being seen, though he never lost the woman from the corner of his eye. There was no denying Dhatzu's fascination with the falcon girl, though he hoped the kelvic herself did not realize it. It would imbalance things. Peering around the wine glass tilted to his mouth, Dhatzu watched with intensified interest as he saw Dor sit with the Wild Thing's girl and the tall musician. Now, this was intriguing indeed. It seems he was not the only human acquaintance Dor had made, thought it was ridiculous to think in the length of a season she would not make other friends. "Lookey night stalker....its the bird girl." a voice, unheard by the humans around, whispered near Dhatzu. A shadow lurking beneath his stool taunted him. "Quiet you." The acolyte hissed back in Makath. His admonishment was not for fear of the shadow being heard, but that its teasing would interrupt his ability to overhear the conversation at the nearby couch.

[Aestineos]

The sun had set on Lhavit. Upon dipping past the mountains, Syna's light disappeared as Leth took his place in the night sky. As the light slowly faded, Aestineos was sitting on a small pad completely surrounded by windows. Lost in meditation, he was in communion with his mother, Syna. Enacting the gift of Inavalti through is meditation, Aestineos gazed down upon the city of Lhavit from a bird's-eye view. He watched the people going about their daily routines. He saw the comings and goings and even viewed, at a distance, more private moments taking place under glass windows that still offered freedom to the light of the sun. The light was growing dim and as it did, it brought Aestineos from his meditation. His viewing of the city was cut off yet that was the least of it. When the light ducked past the mountains and no longer touched his flesh, Aestineos underwent an extreme transformation. His long, golden horns began to retract; their brilliance vanishing almost instantly. The glow of his flesh faded and dulled while the sheen of his eyes; while still bright, also dimmed. What was once glorious, brilliant and divine was now mortal. Though considered rather attractive by human standards, Aestineos was now not even a sliver of his former divine heritage; he was just a man.

Taking a deep, mournful breath, Aestineos resigned himself to his current state just like he had every nightfall since his descent from the realms of the gods. The curse of the Ethaefal was as great as the blessings they also held. Aestineos rose from meditation and made his way to the chamber door. Owner and proprietor of Illuminating Libations, it was time for him to get to work. He made his way through the door and down the stairs. It was early though business was picking up. Throwing on the best smile possible, Aestineos ducked under the black leather strap barring entrance and made his way to the bar. There he took over for his one barmaid and began serving drinks. He saw a few new faces along with some more familiar ones.

One of the bards who often played at the tavern was present and the pleasant sound of music filled the air. Between serving customers, Aestineos took many a moment to partake in a few sips of his own establishments beverages. Though in full mortal form, his smile, forced or not, was still noticeable to all who sent their eyes his way. It was strangely welcoming, almost hypnotically so.

[Haeli]

Haeli glanced up when Emeric materialized by her side and took a seat at the table. The witch was growing used to his presence in her life, as odd as that presence was. He didn't make messes, didn't interrupt, didn't take any of her time and certainly didn't bother her in the least. They had forged a friendship of sorts, one born of respect and curiosity. In fact, she could even say she slightly disturbed when he wasn't around. She looked for him in the evenings, often making sure she had tasks that kept her close to the loft where she spent so many of her free moments crafting things for the shop or filling orders for people who had special needs. Haeli would wait until they were both settled, and often uninvited tell him something of the Gyvaka Swamp - mostly childhood stories - in hopes that he'd tell her something of his childhood in return. At first she'd been curious and wanting to ask him what it had been like having a family, parents, even what his childhood had been like where he'd grown to a man. But she'd held back and he'd never volunteered anything from his youth, only stories of his travels and times as a caravan guard. She knew he'd been on the run then, but not from what or why. Haeli never asked. She was afraid too. Emeric's friendship was precious to her and she didn't want to upset him with questions that made him uncomfortable.

It made her a little sad and a little worried for him. But she accepted his silence and respected his wishes knowing he'd talk about things if and when he was ready. And for her part, at first she'd tried to be human for him, doing what she thought humans did for one another - making food, awkward small talk, even attempting to watch the women of Lhavit for clues on how to treat men. But as more time passed and the days moved on, Haeli worried less and less about what Emeric thought and just slowly reverted back into her old ways. She'd prowled her home, unconcerned about conventional things like appropriate attire, and was quick to share a discovery or ask questions on safe things she knew the man would talk about. Haeli realized she came across as young and naive to Emeric, but more and more she didn't care. Namely that was because the more she discovered about society and the way people were the less she respected those ways and the more she fell back to the comfort of her own ideals.

Ozantha had been right on so many accounts.

So when Emeric sat down, Haeli pushed her fried mushrooms over towards him and nodded to the pile. "Mushrooms dipped in batter made from ale and then cooked in animal fat. They are very good." Likewise too was Dor offered food when she unceremoniously dropped by. It was such a strange feeling for Haeli, having people that KNEW her stop by her table and join her in listening to the music. She'd been alone so long, both in the swamp and in the city that the sensation was strange. She stared at both of them so long, so curiously, that they might have thought her odd for not saying much of anything at first. Finally, when she did speak, she just shook her head. "No one's ever sat with me here. I like coming here to write and listen to the music..." She said, closing her journal and capping the ink after wiping the quill carefully on her black sleeve. "It seems so strange, in a good way, to have company." She added. Haeli didn't introduce Emeric and Dor because both were staying with her and should have ran across each other long before now. Sure, Dor mostly wore the form of the falcon that she was, but in Haeli's mind that still meant Emeric knew her and it never occurred to her that he wouldn't know Dor was the bird that often roosted in All Things Wild at night.

"You aren't wearing feathers today, Dor. How come? It's nice to see you as human though. Easier to talk to you." Haeli commented softly, wary of Dor in ways that she wouldn't explain, not since she'd touched her with Nura. Dor sometimes represented a problem to Haeli and had explained Brig's disappearance neatly whether she understood it or not. Kelvics were unnatural things, created not by the Gods, but by something else, for the sole purpose of searching and serving. The fact disturbed Haeli on so many levels because of who and what she was to Caiyha.

Haeli's eyes scanned the room then, nervous, and met Dhatzu's across the room. She didn't know his name, of course, nor who he was. But he watched her table with an intensity that bothered Haeli until she realized he was watching Dor. His face had an odd expression on it, and had Haeli been wearing Fang's form she would have growled. Low and almost at a whisper, without looking at the stranger lost in shadows, Haeli spoke. "Dor, there is a man I've never seen before over in the corner deep in the shadows. He's staring at you. It's making me very uncomfortable. Do you know who he is?" She asked softly, picking up another mushroom and nibbling on it. Her eyes met Emerics and then glanced back at door to see if she'd spotted the odd man yet.

The Od player took a small break and many folks headed to the bar to refill their drinks or flagged down one of the few waitress' that were working the crowd preforming the same task. The barmaid that was there was gone and now only Aestineos served drinks. She smiled at him when she saw him, hoping he'd have time after the little rush of people to meet Emeric and Dor. If he wandered over, she'd introduce him for certain.

Golden eyes darted back into the shadows trying to see the source of her discomfort again. Yes, still there. No, not clearly visible. Predators sat in the shadows while prey lingered in the light. First rule of the Swamp was never be prey. Haeli shifted on her seat, having trouble holding still, nervous all over again and munched another mushroom.

[Emeric]

The drink was placed in front of Emeric and he took a sip, suppressing a wince at the bitterness and allowing his tastebuds to adjust to the sensation as they always had to. Very rarely he drank alcohol, but some days it just felt right. The day had been relaxing and entirely comfortable and Emeric felt like enjoying himself in good company. He turned around to thank the waitress but instead saw an entirely different figure retreating to the bar. Taller than the Lhavitian standard, though just short of Emeric’s frame - from his dress he assumed the man was owner of the establishment, and Haeli’s smiling greeting toward the man almost confirmed it. Peculiar company, but good nonetheless. Haeli, with whom he stayed with, had been a godsend in the most literal sense of the world. Giving him somewhere to stay in exchange for the simplest price, his words – and even then he felt he wasn’t always entirely keeping up his end of the bargain. The nights they spent more recently, where he spoke like he was living directly in his memories seemed to be a marked improvement and he resolved to continue his more open streak in the public house. It had been many weeks before he’d figured out that there was a Kelvic living with him, and months since that revelation he still hadn’t spoken to her. Both content with living in separate spheres connected only by the home given to them by the wild witch. Very rarely had he seen the falcon, Dor, as Haeli called, in her human form. He plucked one of the mushrooms from the basket, and threw it into his mouth savouring the flavour and heat. He nodded in greeting a Dor as she fell on the seat before him, and then resumed scanning the room – placing people and faces around him on autopilot, securing himself from danger, he shifted more towards where the bard had sat and left his back on the wall by the fireplace. Listening as Haeli spoke, he cast a quick eye and noted the Lhavitian who sat by the bar. The room was awake with activity as people grabbed drinks, and Emeric saw the bard having a jovial chat with another patron as he awaited service from the owner. It seemed busy, and Emeric didn’t wish to interject with Haeli and Dor - seeing as he had zero contact with the Kelvic before today, and had zero knowledge of how to talk to what was essentially an animal in human form. Instead he pulled the lyre from his back and began pulling at the ends of the strings, making sure it was still intone from his ascent back up the mountain and then plucking quietly. A simple tune, as always, and more whimsical than Emeric usually played. He played with only the deftest of touches and little thought, trying to let the music slip underneath the conversations and provide a background for the room - or at least the small group they were with.

[Dor]

“My feathers were itchy,” Dor managed to explain without explaining anything at all or, for that matter, realizing it. The falcon’s voice was soft, huskier than a too lean frame and a porcelain doll’s unexpected face suggested. Molting season had passed, but the season she privately thought of as the Season of Fluff was coming up upon her. There was, in fact, a stray down feather tangled in a heavy coil of her hair. Tricksy fingers plucked at it, working it absently out. “I need to go south, but then I won’t have company either,” she grumbled, but that was unlikely to happen. The wind was taking a turn, tilting toward colder weather; but she had discovered a liking for this celestial city. Besides, there were bad things in the south, and light too that was as blastingly empty as the black of Kalinor’s gorge. “Who? What?” Black eyes lifted with Haeli’s whispered confidence, a scowl catching her face. Haeli should not be made uncomfortable by a man. That was a fact that, if asked after, Dor would not be able to explain. It was like the Up and paper faces. It just was. Virates and Duvalyon Hellebore had taught her the many and myriad definitions of family, of blood. Her regard was abruptly identifiable as that of a predator’s, hands going still in the tangle of feather and hair, knees still drawn up and narrow shoulders creeping higher as she peered past Emeric and into the shadows. Shadows. Duh. “Dhatzu,” she announced and all of the tension toppled out of her. “Haeli, it’s just Dhatzu,” and her tone of voice indicated that this Dhatzu person was both known and dismissed from any notion of real threat. Well, as much as any man was by this fringe-walker. Her mouth twitched toward a smile for him. “What’s that?” She wanted to know of a sudden, head turning and eyes latching onto Emeric as his music filtered through her distraction. Without warning, her hand curled against the edge of the table and she was leaning forward to a closer look at his instrument. Instant fascination.

[Dhatzu]

oocSorry for the delay...I missed my turn! Movement behind the bar caught the acolyte's attention. The barmaid had been dismissed, a man with a curious mark on his face assuming her post. He moved with easy confidence and comfort, and Dhaztu surmised he was a manager, or owner of the establishment. Turning back to the table of interest, the young man swirled the dark liquid around his half-empty wine glass before taking another sip. The fruity aroma was pleasing, as was the warming feeling he was beginning to notice washing over his body. The blond had noticed him. Dhatzu could see her speaking to Dor with a scowl, her demeanor seeming almost defensive of the falcon girl. The bearded man too glanced his way, but seem unconcerned. There was a moment of distraction as he took his instrument into his hands and began to strum. Dor glanced his way, flashing a slight smile. Dhatzu returned a grin, but the kelvic's attention was soon pulled away by the lyre-player. Not a few of the patrons around them paused to turn as the mellow sounds of the instrument drifted across the room, soon resuming their conversations as Emeric set a pleasant atmosphere. Turning back towards the man behind the bar, Dhatzu motioned him over. He had noticed the familiar glance between the bartender and the girl with Dor. Gesturing towards the trio at the table, he asked, "Who is the girl, the blond over there, and the man playing the lyre?"

[Aestineos]

Engaging in a bit of small talk with those who came to the bar for a drink, Aestineos displayed no small amount of courtesy and gratitude to everyone he tended. Though he never could feel entirely comfortable in the human body that contained the fractured brilliance of his lost divinity, the bar, the drinks and the people dulled the discomfort more than a little. When the patrons were all served and content for the time being, he stepped from behind the bar and made his rounds. He spoke with everyone, offered genuine smiles and pats on the shoulder as he moved about the small number of tables.

When he noticed one of the patrons motion for him, Aestineos approached. Though the tavern itself, primarily around the bar, was lit; almost overly so, with lanterns, luminescent moss and colored decor meant to bring out even more light to bare, there still remained a few shadowy areas for customers who preferred a toned down experience. It was one of these areas that the patron had chosen to sit. The man asked him about the woman across the room and the man with the lyre. Aestineos followed the man's gaze and said, "Her name's Haeli. She runs a local herbalist shop here in town. As for the man with her, I don't yet know his name nor that of the other girl." Aestineos met Haeli's glance with a smile. Although it was obvious to her who he was, Haeli would definitely notice that Aestineos did not look like he did the first time they met or times after. The handsome facade of the Ethaefal was gone and in its place was just a man. His attention still on the man he was speaking with, he offered his hand in greeting and said, "I'm known as Aestineos. Nice to have you hear. You are?" Following introductions, Aestineos offered the man to join him as he eventually made his way over to Haeli's table.

Haeli, the young lady had provided many elements of the decor that helped brighten the establishment. She was sitting with two others that he had yet to meet. Aestineos liked people; he was always watching them from his glass-covered chambers upstairs. The gifts of Syna were such that he could see most of the city from above while "Libations" offered him the chance to meet some of them and get to know a bit about them.

Approaching her table, he greeted those seated there. "Good evening, friends. It's wonderful to have you here." He reached for Haeli's hand and gently kissed it. "Haeli, good to see you again. Please, introduce me to your friends." Aestineos was dressed rather plainly in a white linen shirt and brown pants. His hair was short, dull brown and his eyes green. While handsome, he had an ever present brooding aura to him even as he smiled and spoke. Perhaps his only truly unique aspect was the intricate tattoo that surrounded his left eye.