Completed A Chance Encounter and Friendly Company (Flash Back)

[Casa]

"You have really good ideas, Do you have a stall? I'd like to see your work." Casa beamed with pride at the compliment, glad to see she had impressed the woman. It made her feel important and smart for a moment, and she had to admit she highly enjoyed being the one in the conversation who knew what they were talking about – for once. Klaro was a wonderful teacher, but he would much rather focus on what she didn't understand then sit around and compliment her on what she had accomplished. Some would have found this daunting and stressful, but since it made Casa feel challenged she didn't mind at all. She also was drawn to the girl’s clear enthusiasm as ideas spun behind her eyes. It felt good to see such passion in a fellow glass blower, someone who could understand her own excitement over her job. In response Casa took a step closer to the table, her own eyes glowing with enthusiasm as she thought of her own projects. “At the moment, no.” Casa told her, unabashed that she was not currently selling her work. It was a decision she had made and she saw no reason to second guess herself now. “I have yet to make anything I felt I could expect coin for.” She told her honestly. “Also, my teacher has encouraged me to keep as focused on practicing my work as possible.” “Selling your wares is a step in your position that you will have to take one day.” Klaro had told her. “But if you start selling now your attention will be torn in two and such stress will no produce good work.” She paused in their talk as the blind man spoke again. Casa was glad to see he hadn’t broken the cat; in the privacy of her thoughts she admitted she was overreacting a bit when she thought he would be so clumsy just because of his lack of sight. She watched as the cat was taken from him and he was given the bow instead. “May I ask you both your names? My name is Vaas a chiet for now, but eventually I hope to become a Avora Falconer someday” It hadn’t even occurred to her that she had not even stopped to ask the two their names. It was not unsurprising, though. After all, the need for their names had yet to come up in their conversation, and Casa was used to forgetting common etiquette in conversation. This new piece of information about Vaas also had Casa raising an eyebrow in intrigued surprise. This man sure set a high bar for himself when it came to success in life. She wondered if he had the skill and determination to succeed. Her eyes fell to the leather on his arm, a place for a bird of prey to rest without hurting his skin. She decide for now she could give him the benefit of doubt. "I'm Aela, and it's nice to meet you Vaas." “My name is Casa.” She told them. “I’m happy to meet you both.” So while she and Aela shared a love of glass, it looked like these two could bond over falconry. Casa really had no strong interest in it. She loved birds – it was hard to live in this city and not love birds – but the thought of flying with the great eagles had always frightened her more than intrigued her and she had never found herself becoming attached to one creature in particular. She wanted to talk about glass more with Aela, wanted to see if she wanted to come and work with her someday. But she decided that it would be rude – too rude even for her – to butt in if their conversation was changing. So she crossed her arms over her chest and waited.

[Vaas]

Vaas smiles and says to Aela as she hands him the glass bow, “Aela, I think the last piece of art was a wolf. Casa are wolfs the animal that make the sound meow?” He holds the glass shaft and he notices the slight curve in the shaft at the end. He smiles as he runs his fingers down the shaft feeling the slight indent of the design in the shaft. She definitely put some work into this bow. He is kind jealous. He can not look at the color in the glass. He smiles still feeling around the bow with his hand to Aela when she introduces herself."I'm Aela, and it's nice to meet you Vaas an aspiring Avora Falconer? That's pretty interesting, so am I."

“My name is Casa.” She told them. “I’m happy to meet you both.”

Also he hears Casa introduce herself and he smiles at nod towards the sound of her voice. Vaas finishing looking at the bow. He holds it careful out in front of him with both hands and says with enthusiasm , “Honestly I think Wind Dancer will be the death of me that is part of the reason. I came to the market today. This is the day, Graven catches his fresh mice. Prince Wind Dancer will have nothing but the best, and he gets bitey on fresh mice day. Honestly, I been able to get him to stand at attention and I taught him eat on command; however, I honestly think its the other way around. He wakes me up at the most godless part of the morning, and makes me feed him, or my gauntlet suffers. If you want Aela, we can train our birds together. I need to teach him how to hunt certain creatures like a rabbits and squirrels. Maybe you might have some ideas because I don't even know what a rabbit looks like.”

He gives Casa a silly grin and asks, “When can I touch your art, Casa. I overheard your a glassblower too? I would say look at, but well these annoying eyes are being stubborn today.”

[Alori Sai]

Aela smirked as she looked to Casa, feeling a bit jovial as her interest in the conversation grew. It was obvious that the woman was a talented glassblower and understood the time and dedication it took to product fine works of art. Her teacher had done well with her training, and the more Aela thought about it, he reminded her a lot of her own teacher. Perith had also told her that she needed to focus more on her work, but Aela didn't see it that way. Over the years she had taken quite well to glassblowing and had gotten further ahead than many others in her age group. This new development had made her a bit arrogant and she even accused Perith of holding her back when he knew that she was ready to move on to something more complicated. That and other conversations led to Perith allowing her to use his booth for the day. Aela was in a position to learn a valuable lesson, Perith thought. If she wouldn't listen to him then perhaps she would listen to the people of WindReach. The idea was to allow her to experience the hardship and the competitiveness of the market place first hand. He had hoped that she would gain some humility from the experience. However, Aela also realized this, and she knew that if she couldn't sell any items that would prove Perith's point and that is why she couldn't fail. As the conversations continued she learned the name of the young woman and knew that it was a name she wouldn't soon forget. She wouldn't forget either of their names and wondered if their meeting was just a chance encounter or the start of something more. Vaas seemed a tad odd to her, even for a blind man. When he mentioned his thoughts on the previous glass kitten as possibly being a wolf, Aela found herself a bit tickled if not put off. She turned around giving Casa a questionable look as he asked her a rather odd question. To have lived to his age and for one who aspired to be a Falconer, she found it unlikely that no one had explained the difference between animals to him and she started to wonder if he was toying with them. Aela took the bow from him and placed it back on the table again as she listened to Vaas speak about his bird Wind Dancer. It was interesting to hear and made her wonder of what the relationship might be when she finally bonds with an eagle. At his next question she paused and looked to Casa unsure of how to answer him. "Well...I don't have an eagle yet, but I will." She said with more assurance, her words trailing off as she continued. "Maybe then...we could?" She watched him curiously, he was an enigma to say the least and Aela was starting to feel stumped. Did he really think that he could become an Avora Falconer? Was that really possible? She had heard how the blind used their other senses to tell them what their eyes can't, but she didn't see how that would work if he were flying. "Well...they're kind of small and ..fluffy. Casa could you?" She laughed and decided not to say more. She could imagine that she looked rather silly standing there trying to explain in words what a rabbit looked it. As Vaas turned to Casa and asked about her work, Aela was also brought back into the subject. She enjoyed the fact that she had someone to talk to about her craft. She could never talk with Perith about such things, and any time she would try, he would always take the same fatherly stance on the subject. Instead of talking about it honestly he tried to instill some form of elderly knowledge into every syllable of every word that he spoke and that bugged Aela to no end. In truth, with the early disappearance of her parents and spending years under Perith, she did see him as a father figure but he was still such a bore. "So Casa, are you specializing in glass beads also? Did you make the one in your hair, I like it." Aela decided to speak up, knowing that glassblowers didn't take their work with them unless they were heading to a stall to set up shop. As she spoke, she heard more chatter and faux laughter behind her and looked over her shoulder to see more people coming in the direction of her booth. With quick thinking she turned back to Casa, a smirk spread across her face as she crossed her arms at her chest. "Casa, Vaas, I think it's time we shook the market up, we've got glass to sell."

[Casa]

Casa was not sure what she made of this Vaas. On the one hand he seemed like a pleasant enough guy; she felt such a goodhearted, cheerful smile was hard to fake. However, his peculiar actions left her puzzled. Was he really this clueless, or was he just making these jokes at his own expense? She did wish, though, that she had something to show him. She liked his curiosity. And while she did have a few pieces, most of them had been ‘studying’ with Klaro, and so she did not choose to wear them, let alone carry them around. The only thing she did have of hers was the red bead she wore in her hair. The first one she had ever made. And while she was extremely proud of it – no matter how clear it was that a beginner had crafted it – she didn’t want to take such a tiny object out of her hair and have it get dropped and lost. So instead she told Vaas. “I don’t have any of my work with me today. However I would be happy to let you – ah – touch some of my work later on.” The falcon conversation did not go on as long as she thought it would, which was probably for the best. Casa wasn’t good at just standing around idly, and the temptation to just walk away would have become too tempting if the talk had grown heated and lengthy. However, it did appear she may need to leave. There were other coming toward the table, and Aela looked upon them as a clear opportunity for her. "Casa, Vaas, I think it's time we shook the market up, we've got glass to sell." Casa couldn’t stop one eyebrow rising in disbelief. What was all this ‘we’ business that had suddenly popped out of the ground without notice? She had just only met the woman after all - she saw no reason to stick around and help the girl make money. At first she felt like saying just that. But then she realized that these words came from nothing but annoyance; no need to make flames from cinders. So instead she took a step away from the table. “I will leave you to sell your wares.” Casa told Aela. “Though if you see me working at the ovens later, don’t hesitate to stop by.” She turned to Vaas. “It was nice to meet you as well.” After a second hesitation she put a hand on his shoulder. With that – and not being a one to pause idly when she had decided she was leaving – she turned and headed back into the market.

[Vaas]

“I will leave you to sell your wares.” Casa told Aela. “Though if you see me working at the ovens later, don’t hesitate to stop by.” She turned to Vaas. “It was nice to meet you as well.” After a second hesitation she put a hand on his shoulder.

Feeling Casa hand on his shoulder, Vaas smiles and says to her, “It was nice to meet you Casa if you see me around don't hesitate to say hi.” He enjoyed Casa's company even though he didn't get the chance to talk her much. Maybe next time, he thinks to himself. He turns to Aela and smiles, “I am not sure what I can do help sell your wares, but maybe.. if you don't mind since I am a musician. I can play a few mellow songs on my flute to relax your customers.” He picks up his backpack and walks behind the booth, so he is out of the way of the customers. He opens his backpack and fishes out his wooden case holding his simple metal flute. He takes it out of the case, wipes the inside with his rag, brings it too his lips, and closes his eyes. He didn't have closes his eyes, but it relaxes him while he plays. He does a few random practice notes to warm up him and his instrument.

He takes a deep breath and starts a simple Inarta lullaby. He learned in the nursery. The song is a gentle flowing melody about a gentle stream carrying a baby in a basket to the bay. Once the baby gets to bay, she turns into a wind eagle and joins her brothers and sisters on the volcano. A simple song with no name, but it seems to be taught to most children during their time in the nursery. The lyrics are also simple. Most children made up their own lyrics to amuse their friends, but Vaas preferred the original. He decided not to sing it because he didn't want to draw attention away from Aela booth. He plays a few more songs for a half an hour. All very simple nursery songs, he didn't want to screw up either in front of her costumers and drive them away.

After a hour he decides to stand up and joins Aela at her booth. Taking his normal place by the side of her booth, and he waits till she is done with a customer. He turns to the sound of Aela voice and says with a smile, “Maybe I should pay for these glass beads that I have been wearing for the past hour and a half.” He feels around for his backpack and pulls out some money, he asks without looking up, “How much do I owe you, Aela?”

[Alori Sai]

Aela stood in front of the booth and looked toward the people coming towards them. She wanted to be sure that she caught their eye. Her booth wasn't as close as she would have liked to the main market and she wanted to make sure that they knew of her presents. She turned around when Casa spoke up and after speaking to Vaas, dismissed herself. At first she wondered if she had offended the strange woman in some way, but then she realized that it was nothing more than the act of a rival. Casa didn't have a booth yet, but one day she would. When that time came she and Aela would, in a sense, fight for the same customers. She smirked and moved her fingers through her hair. If there was one thing she loved to do, it was to prove that she was the best, and competition was a good way of doing so. I'll see you around Casa.... She turned back to Vaas again, now that it was just the two of them. She smiled as he did to her and was glad that he decided to stay. "Okay, I'd love to hear you play." She watched curiously as he stepped behind the booth and stayed there. She was surprised when he began to play from his hidden spot and wondered if he was embarrassed to play in front of others. As he started to play she smiled, first thinking that he was talented and second she actually knew the song. It was a lullaby that she had heard many times growing up, and one that most people born in Wind Reach also knew. A lullaby wouldn't have been her choice of music but it was kind of him to play for her. She turned back toward the market, her lips parted as a soft, almost a whisper came out. She hummed softly, her voice matching the melody and then she began to sing. Her voice wasn't strong or loud, so she kept her words soft and only those already close to her booth could hear her. Aela swayed her hips slowly and moved her arms out in front of her as she put on a small performance to gather more people. It seemed to be a good idea, and one that worked as more people began to come around. With a smile she stepped back and directed their attention to the items on the table. Glancing into the booth, she smiled toward Vaas as he continued to play, then turned back to continue the song. She would stop singing and address the customers if they had questions, then start again to bring in more people. After an hour of hard work, she found herself tired and disappointed. While she was able to bring in more people, most would just browse her wares and her for that matter, but not purchase anything. In the end, she only sold three glass=beaded necklaces and a toy cat. She sighed and pushed her back against the wall of the booth and leaned her head back. This has not been my day.....Maybe Perith was right, maybe I'm not ready. Aela was angry with herself and felt humiliated in a small way. She knew that she had failed and that Perith had a stern lecture waiting for her. She sighed again, closing her eyes and didn't even noticed that Vaas had come out to join her. I guess it could have gone worse.. She opened her eyes when he spoke, pulling her from her thoughts. Turning to him she smiled, having forgotten that he was wearing her glass beads with all of the commotion around them. She smiled more, if only to hide her true anger at the way her day had gone. "You can keep them Vaas, you earned them."

[Sphinx]

Thread Award! Character Name: Aela Calder Skills: Organization +1 ; Shopkeeping +2 ; Rhetoric +1 Lore: Reluctance to Wake ; Unpleasant Customers ; Meeting Another Glassblower Student Notes: Organization for adjusting the presentation of your wares ; shopkeeping for doing your best to sell said wares ; rhetoric for your talk with Casa Character Name: Casa Skills: Observation +1 ; Rhetoric +1 Lore: Glassworking: Sketching Helps Make Pretty Beads ; Admiring Another's Work ; Meeting Another Glassblower Student ; Describing a Rabbit Notes: Observation for all the examination of Aela's wares ; rhetoric for talking to Aela about glasswork Character Name: Vaas Skills: Playing Musical Instrument: Flute +2 ; Falconry +1 ; Composing Music: Flute +2 ; Identification +2 Lore: Wind Dancer is an Early Riser ; Music Composition: Wind Dancer's Feeding Song ; Musical Composition: Wind Dancer's Attention Song ; The Difference Between Cats and Dogs ; What Rabbits Look Like Notes: Flute for playing the instrument ; composition for the songs made for Wind Dancer ; Identification for trying so hard to identify Aela's creations Additional Comments: Awesome work, guys! If you have questions, concerns, or comments about what I've given you, please don't be afraid to PM me. Vaas, just a reminder, pinions don't have smaller breakdowns like Mizas.