Open (Open) Employee of the night

[Miria]

Winter 29, year 512 It looked to be a mild winter night at the log cabin. Or was it a cottage? Either it looked to be another quiet night at Snow-Stained bows and Miria wouldn't have it any other way. The area around the store looked to be devoid of any life spare the slow breeze. Not that she was keeping close watch. Her face was buried in a book instead of guarding the store. It didn't matter too much, it would be rare for anyone to try and break into the store. Rather, now that she thought about it, it used to be a rare occurrence. Nowadays stores were prime targets for the recent crime wave that overtook the city. Friends and neighbors look at each other with suspicion as they hide behind their doors. There has even been reports of mages conspiring together, never good to hear. Though it was not all bad. On the bright side the Coolwater was able to make a few more Mizas for the season by minding the store at night. A risky proposition but Miria needed the money. The first few nights proved to be the worst. Every sound, every shadow seemed to put the Vantha on edge. Every happening invoking fear. Thankfully guard duty was uneventful Miria soon realized and as the days waned on so did her fear of what bump in the night. Eventually leading to her habit of reading while on the job. “The Arsenal Mage. Knowing me knowing you. Part II” Miria recited softly shutting the book close. Shaking her head,' Miria rubbed her hands together as she tried to see the appeal of it all. “A fool's trade. Even if you knew that I knew that wouldn't change the outcome,” she declared sourly. oocI'm inside the store with a small fire going at the fireplace.

[Jesslyn Skyglow]

Jesslyn was lost. Hopelessly lost. She had been walking with a friend when they said they had to go. And now she was paying for it. "You have got to be kidding me. It's the middle of winter and I'm lost. Of course I'd get lost." she muttered. Pulling her silk cloak tighter of her head she planted her quarterstaff onto the ground to try and see. But there was too much snow around in order for her to see. Hearing someone talking from inside a building, as it was muffled, she sighed in relief. Maybe they could help her. Moving closer to the building it at appeared to come from she called, "Hello? Excuse me? Is there anyone there?" Jesslyn was very much aware of the rumors going around that had caused up stirs. But she was blind and had to put her faith in people to help guide her. Sylvia had refused to tell her much on the tells that were going around and the rascal had also talked to most of the Skyglows that Jesslyn knew. Telling them not to tell Jesslyn anything. And it really riled Jesslyn up. She was an adult who could take information and decide whether or not she wanted to act on it or not. Muttering low things bout her bestfriend before rapping her staff on the door, "Come now! It's cold out here, I'm lost, and can't see a icing thing!"

[Miria]

Miria tried to recall what the whole point of that chapter was. “I think it was called auristics. The art of being able to see my true intent.” Miria pursing her lips at the thought. Endangering one's sanity to know little tidbits of a person's life did not seem too appealing to her. It would be best to talk to someone who can do auristics but for now it is just plain silly, the archer thought as she set the book aside. Maybe I should make a round across the area. Miria perked up slightly as thought she heard something from outside. "Or not" That couldn't be right. Nobody who knew better ventured outside Avanthal this late. Right? Looking to through a window Miria froze seeing the outline of another just outside. The ice was too glazed over to get a good look at the person though the sight already had it's effect. Already a small vestige of fear started to form inside her as slight goosebumps erupted through her body. “We are closed. Go back to your hold.” Miria replied back as she rested her hand on the door handle. Thoughts of someone trying to force their way in ran through her mind, standing defensively near the door. What the stranger said next confused her. Lost in Avanthal? That was highly unlikely. What was wrong with this woman? Opening the door slightly Miria hesitated for a few seconds before finally taking a hard look at Jesslyn. In this light Jesslyn was far scarier then Miria made her out to be. She gasped slightly at the sight of the lifeless orbs the woman had, taking a moment to recover before continuing. The sight only made her even more skeptical before slowly opening the dorr up a crack. Miria understood that the other person was blind and the thought of leaving this person to fend for herself once again played on her morales. Finally Miria relented letting the door creak fully open. “Hands where I can see them.” she stammered trying to contain the situation. Stepping aside she waited for Jesslyn to make her way in. “Tsk. Come inside.” Miria grudgingly replied. Miria did not turn her back to the woman as she made her way back to her seat. It was silly but from experience the archer knew that not everyone was as they seemed. “Follow my voice. There is a small fire here if you are cold.” Miria huffed slightly as she looked back at a half finished bow on the table. Given this turn of events it would seem unlikely that she can still work on her little project. Turning her eyes back to the taller Vantha Miria found herself glaring slightly as she asked “What are you even doing here anyways?"

[Jesslyn Skyglow]

Jesslyn growled, "If I could see I would! Why do you think I'm standing out here in this whether? For your entertainment!" Jesslyn was slightly annoyed with the woman. Who was she to judge Jesslyn when Jesslyn had simply called for help. Even with all the suspicion it annoyed her that people were quick to judge. "I have a walking stick. So I can see." Her eyebrow twitched, "And don't tsk at me! Emotional I tell you!" Jesslyn tapped the staff onto the hard ground and was able to get shape of the things around her. "Ahh, a shop. Do you own it?" Jesslyn was slightly taken back at the woman's tone as she asked what Jesslyn was doing here, "I was with a friend of mine. She had asked me to come over for the possibility of buying one of my pieces. They had to go after buying it and I had started my way home. But I think I made a wrong turn...." she bit quickly. Jesslyn did not like this woman. Jesslyn narrowed her own eye's at the woman. She sometimes wished she could made emotions appear in her eyes but facial expression and words were all she had. Her eye's twitched as a they hazed slightly to purple-red. Whether it was from the fire or her eyes them selves she would never know. She didn't even knew that they could change.

[Miria]

It was a curious thought, a bit mean but interesting nonetheless. Miria's face did not soften while she waited for Jesslyn to get her bearings. It was surprising that the visitor understood where she was, rather it might have been any other day. "Yes a shop. That's why I said that we are not open. No I do not own it. I'm merely here to keep watch until morning" Miria replied curtly. She found herself still watching Jesslyn with a deadpan stare. It was frustrating talking to someone who did not notice your body language. Purging her frustration in a huff she massaged her temple with her free hand trying to figure out what to do. "Oh yes of course." Miria snickered at the idea. This best friend of hers did not seem to think things through regarding on how to handle her friend. "I suppose you expect me to just believe all that and walk you home too right?" Miria could not help, rather she would not help. She had enough run ins with crazed Vanthas and Kelvic alike to be wary of such a suspicious scenario. This stranger was asking for too much she thought, shaking her head in disapproval. "Oh my. Oh my. What am I ever going to do with you?" Miria sighed dejectedly. "It is not like I can ask you to leave can I? You put me in an uncomfortable situation stranger." A chill went through her body before her eyes looked back at the door. Briskly getting up she took a few steps until she looked back at Jesslyn. A guard had to wary no matter who it is she reminded herself as she shut the door close. Taking another moment to lock the doors she tried to think of how that might be what this blind woman wanted. "You can stay here if you must. Rather, you have to stay here for your own good" Miria announced as she walked around the area. Checking the windows and blinds, not including Jesslyn. Satisfied that everything is in order Miria sat in silence with Jesslyn opposite of her. "What's your game?" She said low, almost to herself. "What can I call you stranger? You may call me Miria. If you must."

[Jesslyn Skyglow]

Jesslyn's brow twitched in annoyance. But she kept her mouth closed. This woman was testing her patience and it was already running thin. Jesslyn narrowed her eyes and carefully planted the quarterstaff in between her legs with both hands on the top. A loud pang echoing in the small shop. "I don't believe I want you to know where my home is. I'd rather not have negativity in it." Jesslyn kept her voice blank but there was a hint of annoyance in it. Jesslyn had been tapping her foot in-order to keep stock on where the woman was and watched as the woman walked out of her view site. She heard the door close and lock. "Planning on keeping me anyway?" she bit, raising a brow. "And I believe I have more chance with the cold. My 'good' though, might be better in the cold than with your bark." Jesslyn could see the woman walk in and our of her vision and could hear moving the blinds and walking around the store. 'Probably checking over things....too cautious for this night.' Jesslyn couldn't really roll her eyes so she rolled her head in the same manner. Then closed them drawing in all the warmth she could. When she opened her eyes again the woman was sitting in front of her. She listened to the woman as she mumbled something to herself but Jesslyn caught the ending. We waited for the girl to actually talk. 'Miria...interesting.' "I don't have a game. Nor am I playing one. It's night-time and the ground is too soft to see. If I wanted to play a game I would do it in an area and time I would be able to make a get away. And I'm Jesslyn." Jesslyn's eyes faded to a dull grey silver and stayed. The cells couldn't support to change again after changing a couple times in the day.

[Miria]

Miria grinned in response to Jesslyn's reply and grimaced again realizing that she could not pick up the change in her mood. “Well your here now and I say we should play a game. If you want to leave the door is where you last... stumbled upon. It shouldn't really matter right? Day or night. Neither should bear importance to you. Your just using the snow as an excuse.” Miria accused in a teasing tone. Paused to hear what Jesslyn had to say she continued. “Believe it or not some of us still have much to do this late at night. I for example am a bower and fletcher by trade and I need to work. How about you? I bet you would make a good fisher.” Miria offered, trying to keep it light. “Right! Well then if you'll excuse me I'll be busy here working by myself. Try not to knock anything over will you?” Miria said making her decision. Sitting near her was a toolkit complete with a bow to work on. Looking closer it looked to be parts of a bow though it looked strained and parted in some areas. After being aggravated by the sudden appearance of a squatter it was good to focus her energies into something productive. Taken in from the cold one would think Jesslyn would be grateful. Rather she proved to be a handful for Miria as she raised her eyebrow questioningly trying to think things through. After a moment she came up with a few solutions. Tossing Jesslyn out of course was the most obvious. However Jesslyn said it herself she would have a hard time finding her way to her hold. Curious how such a simple task could prove impossible given her disability.Next option Miria could help her find her hold, though she they did not know it they shared the same hold for a time. It would be nice of her to help but the store still needed to be attended. Then there was the last option she thought up earlier. “Understand that if this was another time, I might be more willing to have company this late at night. But this is now and I'm afraid I've grown tired of every random occurrence that threatens my melancholy.” Miria stated glumly. Having something to do while passing the time always cheered up Miria and it did not take long for her to cheer up during her routine. Grinning slightly Miria finished laying out the ground work for her attempted restoration. Looking back to see where Jesslyn was Miria sighed realizing that she could not just leave her guest unattended. “You know I think I came up with a game we can both play. You said it might be better outside with the possible mugger then here with me. You might be right after all. Instead of some silly stranger you know exactly who your in danger from.” Chuckling to herself she caught herself before trying to intimidate Jesslyn with a exaggerated facial expression. Rather it she would have to work on her guest's remaining senses of hearing and touch. “Tell me. How often do people take advantage of you?” The archer's hand went to her belt and eventually to her sheath. Loosening her belt a hiss of steel soon followed as Miria pulled out her gladius. “Because your looking like someone who needs to relax and have a good time.” Her scabbard and belt in one hand and her gladius in the other Miria stomped the ground threateningly.

[Jesslyn Skyglow]

Jesslyn full on growled, "You dim wit!" calming herself she continued to talk, "I am able to see in about a 5ft radius though vibrations." she hit her staff on the ground as to prove a point, "If there is loose packed snow on the brick I can't use them." Jesslyn knocked her staff onto the soft part of the cushioned seat, "Vibrations die on soft surfaces." Jesslyn snorted. 'A fisher...that's a new one.' Pausing she tired to gather her thoughts, not giving much care she continued, "I'm a Skyglow. I'm a painter." Jesslyn was ready for any insults or disbelief's that came from Miria. She was used to them by now. Jesslyn sat in silence for a few seconds before she started humming a song she had heard earlier in the day. Only to be interrupted by Miria. Jesslyn stopped and listened to the woman before replying herself, "Every random occurrence? Very little happens now-a-days, it's mostly the talk of new folk children, and the elders. We don't need to start mistrusting our own kind." Jesslyn shook her head. 'People now-days are worse than territorial animals.' Jesslyn cocked her head to the side, 'A game? What age does she think they were? 10?' Jesslyn though idolly to herself but kept silent. That was until the woman started to get personal, " I might be 'blind' but I can still see." Jesslyn tapped her quarter staff a little harder on the ground so the vibrations would travel. Miria was still sitting but now had things in her hands... and by the sounds it was a belt and her sword. Jesslyn snorted by the attempt to threaten her, "Child, I can 'see'. Plus if you would have raised to come near me your voice would have moved. Try to think things through." Jesslyn hadn't stopped tapping her staff but slowed it. So the shape of Miria faded in and out. Jesslyn leaned back in the seat and closed her dull eyes. Her staff idolly tapping as she relaxed in the fire's warmth, "I think you are right though. I do need to relax and have a good time." Jesslyn gave a tired cocky smirk and let her body relax. She still kept tabs on the sounds of Miria and all of her surroundings but gave off the appearance of a dozing woman.

[Miria]

That she remained unperturbed was surprising in a way but somehow it seemed typical in hindsight. Miria shrugged slightly as she tried to figure out what was going through her guest's mind. The persona Jesslyn was giving off did not match the body at all. Disabilities crippled the a person. They did not just get better and do feats like it was not an issue. Blindness Miria felt was one of the most potent forms of debilitation, the world did not spare those afflicted. Miria sighed slightly as she remembered how the Skyglow lived. The former member did not realized she lived such a sheltered life until she was married to another from Coolwater hold. It was a slight shock but it was right of them to slowly break her into the world. The real world mind you. It was not like the stories she heard growing up, hardships weren't so simple that the archer just willed them away. No they required time, they required sweat and most of all they imparted a lesson. Each one quietly reminding her there was still more to come. Miria then realized why this Skyglow was acting up the moment she came in. Jesslyn was still sheltered, still fragile. Her disability kept her shielded away from the harshness Miria herself had faced. Yet now, with everything as Miria knew was going wrong it would not be right to keep Jesslyn like this. A short clattering followed as Miria set her gladius aside. That thing was not a toy to be trifled with, Miria thought as she held it's scabbard up. The archer made a slight 'hmm' at Jesslyn trying to decide on how to deal with her. “I suppose you have not been out much. That's good in its own way. You have been as I recalled saying “relaxing and having a good time” while Avanthal has slowly been crumbling around you. I envy you, there has been so much going on that would make you run back to your arvinta just hearing about it.” Miria's eyes glazed over seeing Jesslyn limp and unassuming. She obviously did not think too highly of the archer to fall for her ruse. It was insulting really. Being still in an archery store with Miria was not where you wanted to agitate her. Her overall demeanor changed when she had a target in her sights but right now Miria knew that it was not the best way to start things off. “Ending with that I think you should go.” Miria's eyes shut closed as she spoke. Gripping her weapon slightly Miria rocked back and forth slightly as if trying to reassure herself that this was the right decision. Opening them again she wore a somber expression fully understanding what she was trying to do. Her initial attempt at garnering a reaction was not effective at all. It might have been a bit silly but Miria hoped she would be able to get her point across but now it seems that this was the easiest way for this Jesslyn to understand what she knew. Miria would not be able to take it. If she were to associate with someone so stubborn and headstrong that would face hardships acting as if everything will turn out fine the archer knew she would regret it. Against the world as is there was little Miria could do but bear it. The possibility of having another rely on her was not okay with her at all, even if they did not realize it. So Miria would end this interaction as quickly as it occurred. Walking over and unlocking the door Miria turned back to her 'guest' smacking the door with her scabbard. “Please see yourself out. Like I said I have work to do. Working on the job while working on another such is how I live.”

[Jesslyn Skyglow]

“I suppose you have not been out much. That's good in its own way. You have been as I recalled saying “relaxing and having a good time” while Avanthal has slowly been crumbling around you. I envy you, there has been so much going on that would make you run back to your arvinta just hearing about it.” Jesslyn kept silent. This woman tried to make Jesslyn seem shielded. Jesslyn wanted to die in laughter. This woman truly thought that the blind woman who walked the nights didn't know that things went 'bump in the night'. But Jesslyn knew the woman had more to say, you simply don't try to get the upper hand without showing it off. Jesslyn simply let out a laugh when Miria tried to get her to leave. Because asking her kindly was going to get Jesslyn back out into the cold. Jesslyn simply snorted and got even more comfy. "I'm not originally a Skyglow. I know what goes on. And while I can't see it... I feel it, smell it, hear it, and taste it. My parents are Whitevines..very successful ones too." Jesslyn snorted, "You think they would let their blind daughter give up being a Whitevine with out at least trying? No." Jesslyn shuddered at the memory's, "Have you ever had to try and learn anatomy blind? You have to stick your hands in and feel everything." Jesslyn sat up, "My parents brought in people who had been mugged and stabbed. I had to sit there and hold their wounds closed as my parents set up everything. There was one man who came in with his guts hanging out because of a bear." Jesslyn thought over the other cases trying to think of the one that upset her most, "I remember my mother bringing in a woman who was pregnant and had been stabbed on her way to the store. I held in my hands the dead baby as fluids of the dying mother and baby ran down my hands. You wouldn't believe the sounds I heard. Have you ever sat in the room of a woman who just lost her baby and has to see it just before she dies herself? I don't think I've ever heard something so sad and painful in my life. And the smell... that room smelled of death. I refused to talk for a good bit of a month because of the things my parents would never get to understand." Jesslyn breathed out her nose, "While I may be blind... I can pick things up better than others can... and my mind won't let them go. Imagine living your whole life with the haunting's of blurry images but knowing exactly what everything else was like. Your mother braid untangled, the woman's blood dripping unto the floor, your father cursing under his breath. All of it." Jesslyn turned her blank eyes to where Miria's voice last was, "This body has and always know more than your eyes and body ever will. If you let appearances simply shape your perspective I hope you die realizing all you ever thought was a lie." Jesslyn new it was all harsh...but it was true. "And this job as you say? Maybe you should actually get on worth doing. Sitting in a shop reading is not exactly worth doing." Jesslyn faced away back to the fire, "I'll leave at first light, when the snow begins to melt and has been trampled down. When the people who understand that a simple task of telling the Hold and street and maybe giving a small amount of help to a familiar place is not hard." Jesslyn was tired of trying to deal with the woman, if she wanted to be as she was... rude and quick to judge. Jesslyn would show her the cold shoulder of a great friend.