Solo You May Look, But Never Touch!

[Uopa]

The First Day of the Spring Season, Five Hundred and Thirteen Years After the Valterrian

[Uopa]

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Uopa barked as she tossed the remaining length of her scarf over her shoulder and then reached for her cloth satchel. "I will return home early enough to help prepare the festival meal," she continued to shout as she swiftly made her way toward the heavy wooden door of the apartment, which she couldn't wait to get on the other side of, knowing it would drown out the annoying voice of her Drykas lover, Kanto. "Be sure to feed Javrid something before this evening's meal, otherwise he'll be one cranky little beast of a boy," she was quick to add before yanking the door shut behind her. Freedom, she now thought, as she took a moment to lean against the frame of the outer doorway, before heading down the stairs that would take her even further away from the responsibilities contained within her home...er, their home. Peace, she inwardly rejoiced, knowing all too well that it would be fleeting; evaporating the moment she took several more steps out into the more-than-likely bustling city beyond. Taking a deep breath, Uopa mentally prepared herself for the walk to her studio. It was a festival day, which meant the streets would be filled with those who would want to get an early start on celebrating. Now, it wasn't that the Inarta disliked festivals, not at all. It was the sentimental, sappy way everyone behaved because of them that put her in a foul mood. "Okay. Here goes." Dashing down the steps, she literally propelled herself off the last one, causing her sandaled feet to skid a little upon the semi-slick stone path before her. Regaining her footing, she pushed on. She didn't have too far to go, but there was certainly just enough time to have a social run-in or two. Speaking of which, here came the first one... "Guesty!" she heard a familiar voice call out, just as she came around the corner of Vin's Smokehouse. "How's my favorite little glassworker doing on this fine festival day?" the owner inquired from the top of a ladder that he was using to hang a banner above the shop's door. "I'm great, Kashi," she replied, using a nickname she crafted up a few seasons back, as she continued to dash by the cocky Benshira. "You're up early," she added as she began to walk slightly backwards, not wanting to be completely rude, but not wanting to stop either. "Yeah, well, you know me," he smirked, "when opportunity comes knocking, as it usually does on a day such as this, I wanna be the first one to usher it in." "Got it," she simply replied, not wanting to prolong the conversation. "By the way, your banner is as crooked as you are. Have a prosperous festival day, my friend!" she called back with a wave of her hand and smirk of her own as she briskly made her way toward the inclined path that would take her to Artfire Glassworks. Seriously? Did I just call him my friend? By the gods above, I really do hate festival days!

[Uopa]

After several more run-ins with a variety of celebratory citizens, including a very drunk Akalak that thought the night before was the start of the festival, Uopa managed to make it to her studio without taking too many gods names in vain. "Thank the maker," she let slip as she turned the key in the lock, pulled open the door, and threw down her pack on the first available flat surface. She stood in the cool, soothing darkness for several moments, wondering if she should just light a lantern or throw open the shutters. The light of day was preferred when working with such fragile materials as glass, but the lantern would afford her a bit more privacy. Granted, her quiet time would end as soon as her aunt opened the adjoining shop, which would be earlier than usual because of the holiday, but she could still enjoy the little time she had. Couldn't she? How has this become my life? she wondered as she not only kept the shutters closed, but the lantern unlit. Where did I go wrong? she continued to ponder as she took three steps forward, deeper into the darkness, and then reached out, finding the high back of her favorite chair, right where she had left it the day before. Taking a seat, she continued to let her mind race. I'm becoming more and more like my mother with each passing day. I can feel the cracks starting to form. I'm restless...and moody...and... "Trapped?" she wondered aloud, thinking that if she spoke the word it would ring true, but it didn't. Not at all. No. That's not it. I'm just... "Bored!" she suddenly exclaimed as she leapt from her seat, nearly overturning it in the process, as she dashed toward the other end of the studio and threw open the shutters. I'm bored and tired of the same old routine. It's time to shake things up! With her studio now bathed in morning light, Uopa hustled around the small space and gathered up several of the pieces she had been working on the day before. One by one, she snatched them up, allowing them to clink and clatter against one another, not caring in the least if they ended up getting chipped or cracked. Their fates were already sealed. Dashing out the door she entered through, the Inarta circled around the building until she was off the beaten path. There was no need to make a mess where someone could potentially get hurt. Once in the clear, without hesitation - knowing that if she did pause for even a heartbeat, she would stop herself - she proceeded to fling the fragile pieces against the outer wall of her studio. "Yes!" she cried out as each piece exploded against the stone structure. "It's a new season, a new year, and it's time to start over!" she rejoiced, laughing now as she flung the final piece. "Feels good, doesn't it?" an unfamiliar voice questioned, causing Uopa to whirl around to face the individual who had snuck up on her. "Is there anything left to purchase...," the stranger continued to question as he took a cautious step closer, "...or should I come back later?"

[Uopa]

"Oh, my...uh, no...I mean, yes. Wait. Let me start again. Yes, there's plenty to purchase, so, no, you do not need to come back later," the rarely embarrassed Inarta explained as she brushed her hair away from her blush-tinged face and tucked as much of it as she could either behind her ears or over her shoulder. Had I really just gotten that wild? she wondered as she continued to fuss with her hair. "The, uh, shop isn't open just yet," she informed the man as she passed by him on the way back to her studio, taking note of his flawless, tan skin, neatly trimmed beard, vibrant, turquoise eyes, and stunning, wavy, caramel-colored hair, which framed his chiseled face perfectly and spilled down to brush against his broad shoulders. "So if you don't mind waiting just a little, my aunt should be here within the bell." "Not at all," he replied as he followed her along the path. "It is a holiday, after all, so I'm just thankful you're going to be open." "Yes, well, we actually do some pretty good business on days such as this. It would be silly not to be," she stated rather bluntly as she stepped inside her studio and swiftly closed the lower half of the door, essentially shutting him out from following her any further. "I see," he replied as he folded his massive arms over his ample chest and leaned on the shelf-like ledge the lower door created once closed. His shoulders nearly hit the outside frame as he settled in to watch her work. "You're new to Riverfall. Are you not?" she questioned as she fussed with...with...what was she doing? Her hands were brushing the table before her, but they weren't actually doing anything. She was basically waving at the empty space. "Yes. You could say that. Although, I lived here as a child," he warmly noted as a gentle breeze not only tousled his hair a bit, but it brought his masculine scent into the room. It was a mix of horse and leather, which reminded her of her Drykas lover at home. "So what brings you back after all these years?" "You." "Excuse me?" she nearly shouted as her eyes locked with his. "I came back to see you," he boldly confirmed without batting a lash. "But...that's impossible. We've never met," she insisted now as her heart began to race and her mind began to whirl. "We haven't?" "No. We have not," she continued to insist. "You're right. We haven't. I'm just playing with you. Sorry," he confessed with a sheepish grin and a shrug of his shoulders. "But you have to admit, for the briefest of moments, I had you going there. Didn't I?" "Sure. Yeah. What a silly girl I must be," she fumed a little as her previously fidgety hands managed to find one of her hefty blowpipes. "You certainly pulled one over on me," she muttered as she gripped the implement, wondering if he would find an accidental blow to his pretty white teeth as amusing as his little joke. In the moment, it sounded like a roaring good time to the Inarta.

[Uopa]

"Now don't get all bent out of shape," the stranger insisted as he continued to lean in and watch the Inarta with his annoyingly pretty eyes. "Can't a guy have a little fun with a beautiful girl?" Feeling her cheeks flush for a second time within a matter of chimes, Uopa's comfort level was beginning to slip into the red zone. She didn't like feeling this awkward in her personal studio space. This guy needed to move along and he needed to do it now. "First of all, I'm not getting bent out of shape. This would be me getting bent," she informed him as she took the end of her blowpipe and rammed it into her scrap bin, twisting it around so that it snapped, crackled, and popped the pieces of glass found within. "And, second, I'm not a girl, I'm a woman. So afford me the respect I deserve...or move along." "Alright. You're right. I was out of place and I was wrong. I'm sorry." Still fuming, Uopa remained silent. She wasn't going to let him off that easy. He could stand there all day, for all she cared, and wait for her to accept his apology. It wasn't coming anytime soon. "Listen. I'm going to go sit over there...," he nodded his head now away from the doorway, "and wait for the shop to open. Clearly I've offended you and that was really the last thing I wanted to do." Without another word spoken, he was gone. Good. Go. Go sit and wait. I don't need you watching me...with your pretty eyes...and stupid, perfect smile...and lovely, golden locks. I have work to do! Uopa inwardly shouted as she moved toward her kiln. She needed to get it going so that she could blow a few pieces sometime today. She felt bells behind at this point and it was his fault. Men. Can't live with them, can't live without them, and can't kill them without shedding more than a few drops of blood. Well, that is, as far as I know. Granted, poison usually works wonders with little to no mess. Right?