Closed Ripped Seams and Chance Encounters [Inia]

[Silarial]

It took a lot out of Silarial to keep herself from falling down laughing as she watched Inia’s continuous onslaught of comical expressions. Watching her acquaintance made her feel like she was watching a hilarious comedy performance, only better and for no fee at all. She listened in amusement as Inia went on about the ‘inconveniences’ they bring upon themselves and the ‘repayments’ that would ensue. When the girl suddenly stopped talking, Silarial tilted her head a bit to the side, the corner of her lips tugging up with a smirk. She was half expecting Inia to start rambling about another talking point instead when, out of the blue, she paced in front of Silarial, her movements swift and unpredictable. Upon hearing the address, Silarial placed her arms on her hips and pouted playfully. “Hey! Madame yourself.” She grinned as her eyes flushed a pleasant coalescence of green and crimson. Silarial laughed lightheartedly at Inia’s pretend show of veneration. With a flourish of her hand, she gestured at Inia to straighten herself. “I grant you permission to stand straight, oh humble seamstress. Only few are given the honor to stand before my presence. You must be pleased to have such privilege.” In a heartbeat, Silarial broke out into another fit of laughter, clutching her sides with both of her hands. Her face was completely red before she was able to regain her composure. She couldn’t believe she was laughing over such a silly conversation. Oh Morwen, her sides hurt from such torture. She cleared her throat before speaking again. “Sorry for the outburst. I hadn’t laughed like that in a long time. That was so fun.” She tucked stray strands of her black hair behind her ear. “Anyway, where do you want to eat? Do you know of any stalls or cafes with good food nearby? I only personally know of the Luminary Commons and the Red Diamond. Unfortunately, they're both quite a ways away from here.”

[Inia Skyglow]

Having accepted Silarial's offer, Inia expected her new acquaintance to direct herself and Inia to an eatery. When Silarial asked her to select one, Inia's mind stumbled over itself. Her immediate response, in her panic, was to defer selection back to Silarial. She quickly realised the futility of that option, as Silarial didn't know a suitable location any better than Inia. Frowning, she held a finger to Silarial's lips again, scratching her head. “I'll be right back.” She took off without another word. She almost ploughed into an elderly man with a dog, and barely avoided crashing into a girl with a fresh ice sculpture. Pausing to gulp with relief, she quickly resumed running, looking at the stands as she passed them. Reaching the end of the small arrangement of shops, Inia let herself fall backwards into the snow. She lay there a minute or three, making herself breathe deeply. Her eyes, now a green not unlike sea foam, focused hazily on the overcast sky above her. To her surprise, Silarial's face soon filled her field of vision. The girl was looking down at her, stooped slightly. Inia giggled. “Your face looks nice downside up. You're hair's pretty floppy.” Inia pulled herself into a crouch. “Sorry about running off. Well, not really, I'm more sorry it was a waste of time. I don't see any places that serve anything remotely edible between here and where we were. Where was it you suggested? I don't mind a walk. Walking means talking and talking means getting to know you. Getting to know you means making a friend and making a friend is-” Inia stopped, taking a minute to stand to her full height, her face blushing. “Well, I don't spend much time on my own, and if I do it's usually sewing or leatherworking. Or reading a poem. Probably why I don't know anywhere to get a good meal around here.” Inia smiled. “If you have the time for it, I'll go wherever you feel like. If not... Well, why not?” Inia asked, obliviously rude and innocently beaming, her wide eyes sparkling violet.

[Silarial]

“Inia, wait! You don’t need to… run off like that.” Silarial’s words trailed off as she watched Inia disappear into the distance. The girl she was talking to was long gone by the time she finished speaking. She scratched her head and sighed. If only she paid better attention to the other cafes around the city, Inia wouldn’t have felt compelled to go look for one. Throwing a frustrated look at the heavens, she heaved another sigh. She better go after Inia now if she wanted to still catch up to her. Silarial started off with small, brisk steps before finally proceeding into a full sprint. Her eyes darted around for signs of her newfound companion, holding her skirt up to prevent if from restricting her legs' movements. Soon, a couple of stalls were in sight. Maybe Inia stopped by this place to look for eateries. Asking around wouldn’t hurt. Slowing down to a stop, she asked a bored-looking merchant if he saw someone dashing past his store a chime or so ago. He grunted and gestured towards the general direction she was previously following. Silarial nodded and dashed once again, now following the stalls lined up beside the path and hoping Inia didn’t wander too far. Soon enough, a girl who looked a lot like Inia came into view. She was laying on the ground in plain sight. Silarial slackened her pace as she both tried to catch her breath and get a better view at the lying figure. A few yards from the girl and Silarial confirmed it was indeed Inia. What in Morwen’s name is she doing, stretched out like that on the ground? She stopped a feet from Inia’s head and looked down at her face with a smile. “Found you.” When the girl complimented her, Silarial found herself coloring a bit. Inia stood up and explained her lack of knowledge regarding good cafes. Silarial was quite surprised that the seamstress reads poems in her free time. Well, maybe everyone reads one nowadays, including Inia. Her face slightly fell, however, when her acquaintance finished her sentence. Would Inia readily leave her if she told her so? Silarial wondered if she was that uninteresting to her, but seeing her smile so broadly made her feel conflicted. Could Inia be any stranger than Silarial first thought? Maybe it was just misunderstanding in her part but in any case, she shook her head firmly and spoke resolutely. “Don’t think that! I offered to treat you so of course I’ll make time for you Inia. And besides…” She took Inia’s hands, holding it reassuringly as a sweet smile spread across her face. “I want to get to know you more and be your friend. I hope you feel the same for me, too.” Silarial withdrew her hands and gestured towards the way they came from and exclaimed in a chirpy voice. “Since we don’t know where to eat, let’s head to the Red Diamond instead! That’s where I work anyway. Going there will be like killing two birds with one stone.” That would mean she won’t be able to go home and change into her dancing clothes anymore. That’s quite alright though. She shouldn’t rely so much on pretty clothes to give out a wonderful performance!

[Inia Skyglow]

Inia couldn't keep her expression from brightening, her ecstatic smile and brilliant purple eyes focused on Silarial. “Friends?” Inia jumped twice in succession. She hugged her new friend, picking the girl up and spinning her around. Setting Silarial down, Inia kept moving, shifting her weight and holding her arms out to her sides, as if balancing. “Really? Friends?!” When the girl nodded, Inia hugged her again, refraining from lifting her. “That makes me really happy. I mean, happier than you'd think, 'cause I imagine most people are happy when they make a friend, but I'm extremely happy. Excruciatingly happy, you might say. Indeed, I've not been this happy in years. I don't make friends. I mean, I thought I had a friend once, but he thought I was weird. I've had suitors, you know. Guys that fancied me and whatnot, especially lately, but they weren't friends, not like you. Not the kind of friends that I could talk to no matter what. 'Course, you're not a friend like that yet, as I've just met you, but you are a friend nonetheless and so you could be a friend like that someday and that makes me very, very, very happy.” Inia took a very deep breath, smiling. Her words had flown from her mouth without pause, more a movement of sounds than phrases of meaning. “Sorry...” She said, softly, staring at Silarial's expression. “That was probably scary. I guess you get why I don't have too many friends now. I mean, I'm awkward like this around most people, and when they seem to like me I start rambling, and then they end up not liking me because I ramble-” She shook her head quickly, growling at herself. “Like I am now. Bad Inia!” She struck the back of her head, grinning. “Now, what were you saying? Right, food. The Red Diamond. I've been there twice, I think. Maybe more, twice that I can remember. I'd love to go there, if it isn't out of your way. You said it wasn't, though, because you work there. So let's go!” Inia's smile was infectious, and she turned to walk away. Realising she didn't know where she was going, she turned back to Silarial. “Sorry, I don't know the way. You can lead, since you work there.” Inia gasped, as if remembering something important. “You work there! OOOOHH what do you do? Do you cook?! No, you're a Snowsong, you're probably not inclined towards creations of the delicious nature. MUSIC! You perform music? Are you a singer? Do you sing there? Or dance? Do you dance, Silarial?” She balanced on the balls of her feet, her eyes locked on Silarial's own as she smiled, desperate for an answer.

[Silarial]

Silarial grinned childishly upon seeing Inia’s overjoyed expression. She was very thrilled that the girl was this delighted to be her friend, and was indeed especially surprised when the girl was able to lift her off the ground and spin her around that she involuntarily let out a tiny squeal. It seems Inia was actually stronger than she looked, for Silarial was at least four inches taller than the girl and probably heavier too. Or it could just be the adrenaline rushing. Upon being set back down, Silarial nodded her head vigorously and Inia hugged her once again. Silarial was much flattered that she made Inia really, really happy. Thinking about her being the very close friend Inia described made her blush, and she had to bite her lips to refrain from giggling self-consciously. For her, it was fascinating to watch Inia ramble about different topics and do the myriad of funny expressions that only she could. So it saddened the young dancer very much when she realized that her friend had a hard time finding friends who would understand her for who she was. Silarial knitted her brows as she remembered the hard times she had finding friends when she was younger so in a way, she could relate to this girl standing in front of her. She wondered why such a vivacious girl as her didn’t make more friends. Yes she’s weird, but it’s a good kind of weird. She can be somewhat confusing sometimes but she definitely doesn’t mean anything bad with her actions. That Silarial can be sure of. Every one needed people like her to keep their lives fun and interesting! Her lips turned up into a silly smile, her eyes melting into a brilliant green, when Inia walked the opposite direction towards the Red Diamond. Could it be Inia wasn’t that good with directions too? Maybe. But she did say that she’d only been there twice or so. Okay, maybe not then. Silarial laughed, cheeks turning pink once more when Inia asked about her profession. “I’m a bit ashamed to admit it but I’ll confess I never was able to make one decent food in my entire life. Instead, I enjoy performing in front of many people, and I loved to dance so much ever since I was young. So I decided to become a dancer. Now, I perform every night after sunset at the Red Diamond.” Silarial looked at the setting sun absentmindedly, watching it hide behind the massive ice walls enclosing the city. “Anyway! Let’s get going before it gets dark. And Inia, it’s actually this way.” Silarial smirked playfully as she motioned a hand opposite the direction Inia was heading.

[Inia Skyglow]

Inia followed Silarial, unable to hold any expression save an extremely attentive smile. Inia simply watched her new friend, observing her mannerisms and attempting to divine how exactly the girl's brain worked, how she acted and why she did so. Or, so Inia believed. Rather, her “complex analysis” was a mental excuse for observational admiration. Thus Inia kept smiling as she walked alongside Silarial, breaking the silence only when an idea occurred to her. “So, if you dance at the Red Diamond, can I watch? I mean, of course I can watch, but would you be comfortable with me watching? Is that a thing a new friend's supposed to do, or would it be a violation of some unwritten social rule I'm as of yet unaware of? And if it makes you feel awkward, I can just leave. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. So if it does, I'm happy to depart after the fair Madame Silarial treats me to a meal in her most delightful company.” Inia gasped, nearly tripping. Righting herself, she continued, fidgeting absently as she walked on beside her friend.

[Silarial]

Silarial felt slightly self-conscious being under her friend’s attentive watch. She could almost practically hear the wheels turning inside Inia’s head based on the expression on the girl’s face. Inia’s probably thinking things about her right now and this made Silarial worry to a degree. She chewed on her lower lip anxiously as they walked in relative silence. Nevertheless, she didn’t want Inia to feel that conversation was unwelcome to her so every once in a while, Silarial would return the girl’s intent look, almost turning their exchange into a staring contest. However, Silarial would occasionally -- and reluctantly, for in some way she doesn’t like losing -- look in front of her to make sure she’s not going to collide into a person or into a stray sculpture. While they were going around a corner, Inia asked permission to watch her dance. She was asking for permission! Silarial looked at her friend unbelievably before bursting into laughter. “Of course it’s okay for you to watch! Wonderful, even! My friends don’t usually visit me during work hours, and sometimes it gets tedious dancing for a drunken crowd all night. That’s why it would be great for you to visit me whenever you have free time in your hands.” She let her hands swing freely at her side like she always did when she’s loosening up to someone she liked. “How about you? What do you do as a leatherworker? I mean, I know you work with leathers but I really don’t know the particulars after all.”

[Inia Skyglow]

Inia burst out laughing, clutching her sides as she doubled over. “My dear Silarial, you are oblivious to this fact, so I shall enlighten you. In the past sentence or seven, you've given me permission to do two things, both of which are rather unending. My most sincere condolences to you, my friend.” Inia frowned apologetically, though the expression wasn't held long. Forcing a frown was difficult for the girl. “Firstly, if I'm welcome to watch you dance whenever I desire, I'll likely be in there quite often, owing to my lack of other social outlets. Oh, and now that I'm working a regular job, I have the money to spend on food and drink, so I'll likely just add to the drunken crowd rather than provide an alternative.” Inia paused, running her hand through her hair while smirking. “Although, if you think I'm enjoyable to be around normally, you might think I'm really quite hilarious with a bit of drink in me. I'd also be quite loud. Maybe, I'm not sure.” She quickly turned, looking behind them for a moment before suddenly spinning back to face Silarial. “And secondly, you don't want me to talk about leatherworking. I mean, you really don't, because I'll never stop talking,” Inia said, her eyes wide and shining. “I mean, for my job, I mostly make things. Coats and cloaks and sometimes boots and gloves and such. It's not hard, but it can be a bit dull. It's still fun for my hands; they love that sort of work. I guess you sorta saw that earlier, when I was mending your dress. Skirt, it's a skirt. Sorry.” Inia's face flushed again, and she took a few steps in silent embarrassment.

[Silarial]

Silarial looked at Inia when she suddenly fell silent and saw the look of embarrassment on the girl’s face. She prodded her friend with an elbow playfully, grinning like a little girl. “You coming to the Red Diamond will be really wonderful, my friend. You would be a big boost to the tavern’s profits since you would be there to see me so often. And honestly, I think that would be a really interesting sight, you getting drunk and loud, I mean.” She waved and gave a polite smile at a passing fellow Snowsong woman before continuing. “And hey, I think it’s nice that you love talking about leatherworking because that means you truly love the craft. I believe it’s one of your endearing traits. Therefore, you don’t have to be shy in telling me about what you like doing because I really like to listen. You can ask me things too and I’ll try to answer them as fabulously as I could.” Silarial winked at Inia, giggling. “Would you mind if I asked how you realized that leatherworking was what you really wanted to do? I can imagine you already holding a needle and a thread even when you were a lot younger.”

[Inia Skyglow]

Inia's blush faded as Silarial spoke. She unconsciously stepped closer as they walked, her shoulder against Silarial's. She smiled again when Silarial asked about her childhood leatherworking. “Well, yes, that's exactly it. I found fabric, loose fabric, when I was really young. I don't really remember what happened after that, but I remember how much my hands loved it. I tried a few things, mainly sewing, for a while until my hands found leather. There was a time, years ago, when my hands were always holding leather, just fidgeting with it. Still happens a lot now, actually,” she said, drawing a leather scrap out of a pocket. “Stuff like this, usually. I carry it everywhere.” She trailed off, looking up as the sky began to darken. “Do you like stars, Silarial? I love stars. I love just laying around and staring at the stars.” She grabbed her friend's arm with both hands, wrapping one of her arms around Silarial's at the elbow before dragging her away from the path they were following. She pulled the girl a short distance away, walking up a slight incline and stopping suddenly before releasing her. “Like here! This is a good star watching spot, right? Or it would be, if stars were out yet. Not quite startime yet. Sunset, though. I like sunset too.” Inia looked at Silarial awkwardly. “That was weird, huh? Just forget I dragged you through the snow and let's go eat. Urrr... Sorry, Silarial. You can tell me about your childhood, if you like... Sorry!” She swayed, shifting her weight as she apologised.