PM to join Memory Tricks (Shiress)

[Ana Sol Starris]

Rearing Stallion Summer 16th, 513AV It was strange, entering a tavern for a bite to eat compared to the lack of food for sale in Nyka, not to mention the rations and the general trouble that came with the monks dispensing the food to the populace. Syliras was a nice change of pace in those regards, Ana could never understand why Nyka didn't sell food, it had to be consumed before rotting anywho, and to her it seemed impossible to give out allotted rations to the entire populace in time. Including the foreign visitors in the Hostel, who got the mediocre portions that were already wasting away. How many days had she decided not to eat, because the food itself looked as if it would poison her the moment it touched her lips? Hopefully she wouldn't return there. Habit set in again, one from a time back in Sunberth to find a corner closest to the exit, not for any other particular reason than to just quell her fears. If perhaps she would need to make a quick escape from the establishment in case things became rough, or too troublesome. Not like she expected any such thing from Syliras. From her brief stay in the fortress city, she saw little crime. I wonder if there are other thieves, or maybe less is better, not as much suspicion to be placed on me.. Though I'd hate to see what the authorities do with them.. Ana tightened the scarf around her neck nervously at the thought of another punishment, and one similar like Nyka's where a brand was placed on your skin. Of course, they might not have a tolerance for thieves, and kill them on sight, the thought of that as well sent a shiver down her spine despite the warmth of the room. It was just more incentive to not get caught in the first place, again. Inside the tavern she had crept in, so she was unsure if any of the bar maids had noticed, she would wait and see. Until of course her stomach decided to become impatient and prodded her to wave one of them down. It shouldn't have been hard considering the unnatural purple jacket and the bright red scarf around her neck contrasted drastically to the dull greys, tans, and blacks that made up the populaces clothes. They were definitely not like the colorful Nykans. Ana's eyes came to rest on a rather attractive brown haired woman serving others, it wouldn't have done the thief any good to just waltz into the tavern and then not observe its occupants from a distance as she waited for someone to come to her. Unsure of what the customs were in this place..

[Shiress]

If Shiress closed her eyes and walked across the tavern floor she'd make it to every table and step around the chairs encircling it, all without cracking an eyelid. Bell after bell, day after day, she repeated the same routine, even served the same customers, for the most part. She enjoyed her job and the ones she worked along side and even the customers that frequented The Rearing Stallion could bring a glow about the barmaids face.

This day, as all others, had been predictable. Breakfast and lunch had come and gone, leaving the bells between supper a bit slow. A few lingering patrons nursed half emptied mugs over their stale lunch plate, despite Shiress' best effort to clear the table.

Shiress placed a second round on a table and turned just as a young woman took her seat at a table near the door. A deliberate choice, obviously, as there were many a empty table further in the bar, but the barmaid paid no mind to her choice. With an acknowledged nod of her head, she placed the tray on the bar top in passing and stepped lightly across the wooden floor, her waist length hair flowing out gently behind her.

"Hello" Called Shiress as she approached the blonde. "What can I..." The barmaids usual worded approach trailed off with a closer look at the woman's face. There was a vague familiarity in the blonde's amber colored eyes that upturned to meet her. Realizing the moment threatened to turn awkward, Shiress smiled, placing stray strands of hair behind her ear and cleared her throat to begin again. "My name is Shiress and what can I get for ya?"

[Ana Sol Starris]

Ana's eyes flicked from the waitress to the other patrons, from where Ana was, she could see that there wasn't really a vareity of food being served. That was fine with her. Tipping her head in the nearest patron's direction, she let her eyes return to the brunette "whatever they're having, and a drink." Hopefully nothing strong, she didn't want to end up being escorted by a man with her senses dulled, but nor did she want to eat food without something to wash it down. Taverns weren't big on serving water, from what she understood in her time back at Sunberth, and Nyka, petching place would let you starve and die from dehydration before they rationed resources out to you. One thing she wouldn't understand was the need to share names, even though the name 'Shiress' itself held a delightfully familliar ring to it, Ana could not place the face. Fingers rapped to attention on the wooden table in a small rhythem, a thought had crossed her mind, if she were going to be stealing from a place that didn't know her.. Using her regular name was not a good thing. It would plague her later, if she were to ever return for awhile. "Starris" Ana let a smile ebb its way onto her face, for lack of time to come up with anything else, and the doubt in sharing her full psuedo name, she gave her fake surname. She generally only ever gave out 'Ana' lately, never the full name, so maybe it proove to be no harm in divulging the last bit. Though... Ana instantly regretted in doing so, it was far too close to the other girls name and that unnerved her, so as if to quickly correct herself she added in "Sol Starris, it is nice to meet you Shiress." Petch, it still sounded bad to her, but no matter, she would have to roll with what she gave and hope retribution was not around the corner. Gods, she was thankful Ximal was not there with her, the oaf didn't have enough tact around her. Ana was so glad he had left the day before today.

[Shiress]

The barmaids eyes lingered on the blonde a tick before casting a quick glance back over her shoulder to see what the woman referenced as her order. It wasn't odd for a stranger visiting the tavern to order in such a way. "Ale and stew, then?" She said, bringing her eyes back to the table, cracking a playful grin. "Seems safe enough."

As the woman's gaze upturned again, Shiress canted her head curiously, giving her brow a slight jerk. The woman's eyes, as uniquely colored as they were, did in fact look very familiar to the barmaid. Her name however, did give the girl a slight doubt that she knew the stranger as she had never heard such a name before or doesn't remember hearing it.

"It's nice to meet you as well Ms. Starris." She said with a nod of her head. "I'll be right back." Shiress smiled and stepped away shaking her head. The barmaid wondered how many more familiar faces the Summer heat would bring into the tavern. Seems all travelers, out for a Summertime journey, meandered past the city gates and quickly found their way into the tavern.

The barmaid disappeared into the kitchen for a chime then reappeared with a bowl, smoke curling in quick wisps above its rim. Beside the hot stew, she placed a warm slice of buttered bread on the tray before setting it on the bar top to fill a mug with amber colored ale. Oddly, the ale was colored the same as the eyes of the one it was for. Green eyes glanced up, giving the blonde another once over before placing the mug on the tray and lifting it from the bar to make her way back to the familiar face.

Stepping up beside her, Shiress placed the woman's meal and drink on the table in front of her and smiled. "Here ya go. Hope this suits you." She said, shifting her weight to one leg and placing the tray under her arm. "I haven't seen you around before, I don't think. Just passing through?" She let her emerald eyes dance around the woman's features as she waited her response.

[Ana Sol Starris]

Ana smiled weakly back to Shiress, nodding once just before the woman dissapeared, she didn't really care what she ate as long as it wasn't foul or rotton and stew sounded pretty nice. It had been a long while since she ate a proper meal. Nor did the dish sound as if it would make her regret the choice later, the only minor problem she had with was the ale. Drinking was not her strong suit, she saw how it made people, and how it had affected her life indirectly because of an irresponsible father; Ana had to believe that she was not her father, and even if she did fall down that path of abusive behavior, at least she wouldn't allow herself to start a family. She was better than him, and his ways, smarter too and she would not be the one bested by the old man. Ana could only muse how frail he might have gotten, or how much he may have not changed, she didn't even know how old he was. Best I find Oreia here as well, and see if I can... Talk to her as well... Hopefully it won't come to violence, I only want to kill him. There was time to think before Shiress would get back with her food, and in that time Ana fumbled about with her clothes and dropped her purse into her jacket pocket for easier access later when paying for the meal. I'll need a story, on what.. I don't know.. Sigh, lets see.. Leaning back in her chair, she let her eyes lazily roam, and with them her thoughts. She wasn't much for telling stories, but she could come up with one if she tried hard enough. Right now was probably the best time, come up with an alias early on before any real conversations began; I could be a simple adventurer.. Or a merc, thats not too far from the truth.. Anything besides giving away I'm a thief. Could say I'm visiting family.. Thats not far from the truth either, but then.. Ah great, shes back. The thief's musings were cut off abrubtly when she saw Shiress approach with a tray of food, and drink; I suppose I don't have to worry too much right now.. Offering another smile that was politely inclined towards the woman, Ana pulled the hot bowl closer and grabbed the spoon, just noticing the piece of bread on the plate the bowl was on. Her eyes lingered on it for a moment before looking back up "smells good, are ya' the cook?" The statement was obviously meant to be joking, but it might not have sounded that way. "No.. I'm not from here, staying a bit, and then leaving.." She twirled the spoon a bit in a half circle as she spoke, keeping eye contact, mind racing for what to say next "I'm just here visiting family, is all, say, would you happen to know where I could find art supplies?" She plunged the spoon into the bowl and picked the piece of bread up, nibbling on it. "Sisters a painter, figured I'd get her a... Uhm.. Well, a present you see. I haven't seen her in a very long time." Where there were art supplies, there was surely going to be an Oreia swooning over paints and brushes, it was one fond memory Ana held of the girl. If only it could have stayed that way, the memory itself was spoiled sour with a grudge involving their mother's death.

[Shiress]

The barmaid shifted her weight again, leaning a hip against the table with a snorted chuckle. "No, it's edible so I assure you the cook is not the server, Aidan would be the cook." She said tossing a glance toward the kitchen before settling her eyes on the woman as she spoke again, acknowledging the woman's motive for visiting the city with a polite nod of her head.

Shiress could sense that the blonde spoke uneasy about herself, reserved even and despite the barmaid's desire to satisfy a nagging feeling that she knew the woman so she decided that asking anymore questions would not only seem unprofessional, but intrusive and even more so, she figured she was mistaken anyway.

Beads of sweat formed on Shiress' brow and slowly slid down her temple and cheek. She lifted the empty tray and began fanning herself as she thought hard about the woman's question. "Art supplies, huh?" She repeated, canting her head slightly. "I'm sure I don't know, but The Great Bazaar is where I would check first. Just out the door and to the left and follow the masses." Shiress straightened herself with a sigh. "Phew. Another hot day." She pushed loose hair from her face and glanced toward the doorway. " What I wouldn't give for a good ole' bonesnapper." She whispered to herself before placing her hand on the table with a smile. "Well, let me know if you need anything else." She said turning away.

[Ana Sol Starris]

Ana smiled at the brunette, feeling just a tad at ease with being semi-truthful, and hopefully she wouldn't need to stay for very long.. "Thankyou kindly," she responded, and had to silently agree that it was indeed hot but she couldn't take off her scarf or her jacket. "Really?" Ana chimed in amusement "its not all that hot, rather, I'd say its cold here" now that was definitely a lie, but she had to have reasons for her appearence as well. With a nod and wave to the barmaid, Ana would smile weakly once more "no, no, thats fine, no need to worry about me, just let me know what the bill is and I'll be gone from this tavern quicker than you can see." Proceeding from that sentence, Ana began to dig into her bowl of stew, it was an okay stew, bland, but edible as the barmaid had said. Just the way it should be. Hot too, it burned her mouth but she swallowed it down and continued to eat until finally there was nothing but residue for the last of her bread to pick up and eat that too. The ale itself was left rather untouched, with but a few sips taken from it, all in all a good meal well eaten. Of course now the matter of pay.. Ana glanced around the tavern with a full stomach, could she chance herself a daring escape without paying for the meal? That would be great fun... But dangerous, being a thrill seeker was definitely not on her to do list today.. Instead, the barmaid herself had been quite nice, Ana felt a little generous so she left ten silvers on the table, enough for the food, but the rest could go to the maid herself if she were smart enough to realize why ten silvers were there. To the thief, it felt like she was paying the barmaid for her information.. Hopefully it would be good enough. Ana quick skittered to the doorway and exited the tavern with light feet, turning left to the Grand Bazaar in hopes of finding a long lost sister. NoteI couldn't find a reason for Ana to try and socialize further with Shiress.. Sorry.