[Sunberth] A Good Meal is Better Shared (Ana Sol Starris)

[Andalusia]

Sunberth - Castle Commons
9th of Spring, 512 AV

She couldn't even hear herself think, as the crowd of bustling people swarmed the numerous stalls in the Castle Commons. The mixture of sweat, spices, fishes, meats, baked goods, wood, and metal hovered and loomed the many customers that shouted over each other to obtain decent deals with the red-faced, exasperated vendors. Andalusia was never a fan of the musty and humid atmosphere, but once she's had her hands on the goods she'd come for, nothing else could cause her to frown. She eyed the iron pot that she'd just bought from one of the stalls near the entrance, strapped to the side of her shoulder, hoping to cook something nice using it. Three clay mugs and a jug of a same material had been tucked inside her backpack as well, ready to be used for tea and water whenever needed.

She moved quickly, her hands gripped tightly upon the assassin's dagger holstered around her left thigh. Her cape concealed all of her belongings, giving her a bit of comfort, knowing that any thief would have to move the large, weighted cloth before effectively pilfering anything. The slight jingle of her woven coin purse brought a smile to her face as well - she had profited quite a lot from that boar she had hunted down not long before. She was dying to have her hands on some freshly baked bread, and once the sweet smelling aroma tickled her nostrils, her face came alive with excitement. There, in a stall that looked warmer and livelier than the rest, stood mounds of warm, golden pastries. There were cakes topped with sugar and syrups, rolls of bread adorned with thick white icing, and of course, the usual oval-shaped loaves of bread. She locked upon the latter, licking her lips in anticipation as she closed into the stand. An old woman stood in front of her, her simple cloth apron stained with coal, and portions of it were slightly burnt as well. "Bread, m'dear?" she said in a gentle, yet affirmative voice. She tucked loose tendrils of gray hair behind her ears, hands eagerly lifting the baked goods. Andalusia nodded eagerly, bringing out her rucksack and a handful of coins. "One, or two?" the old woman winked, her crows feet a permanent part of her facial expressions, as she was always smiling. "O-One," the raven-haired girl replied softly, handing over the rucksack. The old woman placed the warm loaf inside, and returned it to the girl as she dropped two silver Mizas on her rough hands.

It wasn't long before she had her rucksack filled with cloves of garlic and a little mound of tea leaves. She quickened her pace as she left a stall selling sweet things, having just bought a pint of honey for her bread. "This should be enough," she thought to herself, but a new addition to the meat shop caught her eye: they had chicken. Confusion and guilt overwhelmed her as she weighed her options and the pros and cons - would she regret it? A whole chicken didn't cost much, and it was a day of celebration. She had quite a string of good days, and she was in the mood to spend on a delicious feast for lunch. Throwing away all her doubts, she marched over to the stall and bought a whole bird, already stripped of its feathers, its head cut clean off. "Butter and garlic," she mumbled, after thanking the rough, tired-looking man behind the meat stall. She made her way to purchase some butter and garlic, passing by screaming men and women, arguing about prices and the quality of the products. If you knew the good ones, you'll get the good ones. Most people, however, were too impatient to search and scan, preferring to rush to the nearest stands to buy the things they need. Andalusia bought a few cloves of garlic from a pair of young sisters, tending to their parent's stall while they were out refreshing their stock of goods. The vendor selling butter had a dark, angry expression on his face, but she managed to look past that in order to purchase some. Nothing was going to stop her from treating herself to a nice meal.

She strapped her rucksack underneath her backpack, finding joy in the heaviness rather than annoyance. All she had to do now was get to her horse outside, and she'd be all set to go home. She thought of Dante, who stood guard at their camp. and was filled with excitement - he was surely going to love the chicken. She maneuvered her way through the crowd and towards the exit with a determined smile across her face, planning how she was going to prepare the day's meal.

RECEIPTMONEY: 17 GM

Rucksack - 1 GM
Honey - 1 SM
Iron Pot - 5 SM
Butter - 1 SM
Bread - 2 CM
Clay Jug - 3 CM
3 Clay Mugs - 6 CM
Chicken - 5 CM
Tea Leaves - 2 CM
Garlic - 4 CM
_________________
MONEY LEFT: 15 GM, 3 SM, 78 CM

[Ana Sol Starris]

The Castle Commons, what a busy place in Sunberth, possibly the safest considering the gaurds around. A beating here, a fight there, but nothing too drastic as death but maybe a little bloodshed if someone lost the better part of their patience, or a poorly unrestrained gaurd taking out some poor soul. Whatever the case, this didn't stop Ana from slinking about, or rather walking about casually. Looking about goods here, some there, eyeing peoples pockets and purses, idiots that just dangled their wealth in front of lucrative fingers and observant eyes. There was one such person who had caught Anas eye, following them around, they appeared to be nothing special... But looks were decieving, the small thief shimmied herself near the woman and along other people to get a closer look and took note of the cloak.. A tell tale bulge of a filling backpack. Tiredly smiling, Anas eyes burned and stung from the effort of staying open, but her mind buzzed alive though her somber expression seemed to say otherwise. Watching as the woman seemed to happily walk away, Ana, for a moment contemplated following her. For curiousitys sake she would, but it was people who shooed her away from themselves and their stands that got the small thief moving to follow the woman. Taking the stealth aproach and keeping her distance, she watched transactions take place... But for a moment, her gaze wandered on a fellow who seemed to be carrying alot of coin. He walked right past her, it was habit to follow after such ripe prey- why would she pass the chance up now? Ana followed after him without a second thought, if she was to follow the woman once more, she'd have to back track and hope she got lucky.. Her bag was certainly an oddity.. It seemed she was getting ready to cook something, from the looks of the purchases. Taking her chances, Ana went and untied a purse of coin from the mans belt, walking as she did so, shadowing his movements from behind, watching out for his hands. Holding her breath, she prepared for the familliar fumble her fingers did when doing this sort of theft, she was ready, and it went off without a hitch. Feeling the adrenaline pump through her veins, she veered away from the man to stand in a crowd gathering around a stand. Heart pounding against her chest, pride, what a joyous moment she had just performed. Pocketing the purse, she was extremely happy, a smile flitted itself on her face before diminishing as she realized the woman she had been formerly following had now dissapeared from her shifty, scanning glances. Where did she go.. Ana wondered to herself, stumped, but to out right begin looking through the people would make her suspicious. So she walked around a bit, keeping her glances calm and casual, there was no reason to bug the small woman; none at all. Unless someone recognized her from failed thieving attempts beforehand. It took a bit, and definently alot of luck but Ana finally saw the familliar cloak and the bobbing head, picking it out from the crowds around themselves, the bag was even larger under the cloak now it seemed, wondering what this one oddity was planning to do. Following after the retreating figure, Ana hastily kept to the shadows of people and walls while trying to appear normal, casual around those she was shadowing, and unseen by the woman she was following after.

[Andalusia]

"Hello, Howlite!" Andalusia quipped cheerfully at the sight of her Leopardbred, who tickled at her ears as she closed in on him and hugged his neck. She's had a run of good luck, as her horse had yet to be stolen from her constantly tying him up near settlements. Perhaps it was the guards nearby, or perhaps it was the fact that a loyal horse would thrash and disagree with any thief that would attempt to take it. Her shoulders began to ache from the weight of the goods behind her back, but she persisted; it was best to place her bags on Howlite after she'd left Sunberth, otherwise she'd be left vulnerable whilst doing it, and anyone may simply snatch it out of her hands and make a run for it. Patting the horse's cheek as she began to lead him through the thinning crowd of people that filled Sunberth's rough, cobblestone roads, who were all entering the Castle Commons, as well as the other buildings that surrounded it.

She stood out in the busy streets, among the people who were mostly clad in either extremely worn clothing, or ridiculously fashioned armor, who all smelled of either smoke, alcohol, or filth. Her clothes were a little brighter, a little foreign, and smelled of the forest and the sea of grass. But what made her quite the sore thumb was her Leopardbred, a striking white horse riddled with deep black spots. She stared straight at the exit she frequented, refusing to even glance upon the many eyes that breezed past her. Some where shifted towards the side as they spoke to their companions, while others wandered aimlessly towards the sky, the ground, or their destination. The occasional glare would reach Andalusia's face, and although her cheeks would burn, her gaze remaned fixed upon the greenery that wasn't too far off. "We'll be home soon," she whispered, smiling as Howlite's ears twitched in response. The overpowering noise that permeated all over Sunberth had reduced into a faint, muted, and distant cry once she had her boots planted upon the grass, Howlite's hooves happily treading upon the soft earth with relief. Quickly, she tucked her rucksack into one of the saddlebags and hoisted herself up onto the saddle, grateful for the cool relief that she felt around her shoulders. "Let's go home," she grinned as she spoke, grabbing at the reigns and tapping Howlite's neck. The horse began to trot up the rolling hills slowly, as she and her master viewed the Northern Wilds with much happiness and excitement.