Closed The Story Tellers Tale

[Shizen Whitevine]

Red watchstone, 21 Standing at a bulletin board looking at a missing persons notice, Shizen places her hand light on one of the pages pinned, the one of her boyfriend. "Why... my father is lost and now fate chooses to steal away him... what a cruel joke... what can i do, i cant chase after him, i cant fight, i...i don't know what to do..." With her head bowed, a tear roles down her face as she gently pulls the missing notice from the board and folds it, placing it in her outer pocket. Stifling a sniff she trudges slowly through the somewhat empty streets wandering. Somenly , she continues trying find her answer, "would it change much if i just walked out and disappeared like them...no, there's still mother... i cant let her lose me..." she sighs as she ponders what to do, unable to find any resolution in her darkened mind. After what feels like a few hours of walking, the sun peaks in the sky, she finds a bench that has not been buried and sits there looking up at the clear sky. She lets out another sigh and her breath forms a pristine white cloud before her face which quickly vaporizes into the cool air. "why must the day be so bright, yet fate chooses for me to be so unhappy..." Unable to consul herself, she stares at the blue sky and tries to loose herself in its expanse.

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[Enoleus Frostfawn]

Summer, 513 AV

Enoleus paced somewhat absently through the streets. He let out a sigh as he used the flat bridge of his palm to shield his eyes from the unusually bright sun overhead, taking a moment to gaze upward at all encompassing azure beyond above him. Hours spent at the tavern, looking for a caravan to join - had left him with nothing but a burning awareness of how broke he was, and how little skills he had to offer to an employer. He grimaced slightly; wondering if his decision to burn his childhood home to the ground had been perhaps a bit haphazard... With a shake of his head and a resolute step forward, he shook the thought from his mind. It was done, and there was nothing left in Avanthal for him except the pleasant brace of winters chill.

He let out a wistful sigh, lowering his head as he roamed absently through the streets, no intent or destination behind his footsteps. He came upon a causeway, and there was a lone girl sitting on a bench, staring somewhat absently into the sky. Until now, Enoleus had not realized how long he had been walking, lost in his reverie, and his feet now pained him with a dull ache. He took a few steps toward the girl, though he swore he had never seen her face before, and inclined his head toward her.

"May I rest a spell here with you, miss?" His voice was distant and faint, and his eyes brimmed with a mellow silver that seemed to dull all colors around him, even the stark blue streaks that rain through his glossy black hair.

[Shizen Whitevine]

Shizen breaks her trance from the sky, startled yet somewhat pleased with her new company to break her from her loneliness."Y-yes, please... you can sit with me." As he sits, she steals a glance at him, a strong looking boy she had never met, well built, and a Vantha. Outside of his healthy and hardy appearance, his face demonstrates something else though, sadness, maybe despair? With growing curiosity, she wonders to herself "Who is he... Is he like me? I can feel it, the sound of his voice and the look in his eyes." Absorbed in her own though, looking down into the snow at her feet ,she realizes the silence lingering in the air. Working up the effort to speak she says softly, " What is your name? Mine is Shizen Whitevine... I don't believe i have seen you before..."

[Enoleus Frostfawn]

Summer, 513 AV

Deftly he took the spot next to her, his eyes staring forward with glossy indifference, his mind clearly several places too many. He blinked a few times, his focus returning to him as he heard her voice break the silence again. He turned his eyes to hers, forcing himself to smile as he spoke. " Enoleus. My names Enoleus. " He paused a moment, his sentence seeming to freeze before abruptly resuming. " ...Enoleus Frostfawn, I mean. " He had to force himself to remember to add that in, as in his heart he no longer really felt any sort of association with his hold - or anything, for that matter, with the possible exception of Sleet.

"So, Miss Shizen," He began, unwilling to let any more silence fill the gap between him and his sitting companion. "What brings you to this lowly bench on this midsummer afternoon?" As he finished the thought, he turned away from her again, chewing on the inside of his lip. He wasn't particularly gifted with oratory, and even less so when it came to the simple act of making small talk with a stranger.

[Shizen Whitevine]

Staring down at the ground again Shizen contemplates explaining what had happened, but decides at least for now to make small chat. Looking over at him, and doing the best she can to keep a clear face she replies, "I just though i could use some fresh air, life has been weighing down on me heavily recently..." Despite just exchanging a few words, she cant help but feel a little less lonely with his company. She pauses and considers what to say next and decides to see what may be on her acquaintances mind. Without trying to sound intrusive, she smiles softly trying to hide the darkness lingering in her mind and asks," Is there something on your mind?"

[Enoleus Frostfawn]

Summer, 513 AV

Enoleus clasped his fingers together, bracing his chin on his hands as he considered her question. In reality, his vocabulary was insufficient to really convey the thoughts he harbored as of late, and even still he had very little inclination to try. Yet, she had asked, and rather than seem rude, he would give her some form of an answer.

"Just... Contemplating my place in the world, Miss." He lifted his head a bit, staring up into the sky as he continued. "I somehow feel like I am both trapped in Avanthal, yet also like I'm drifting further away every day." He brought his gaze down from the sky, and would bring his eyes to hers. He had said more than he was comfortable with, and was eager to change the topic of conversation.

"How about you, Miss? I don't mean to pry, but most problems are more effectively treated in the depths of a tankard of ale, in my experience, than sitting by your lonesome on a bench."

[Shizen Whitevine]

With his invitation, an edge of the depression lifts from her conscience. "You aren't being nosy at all, and my story is like yours, one of solemn tragedy, and of which hasnt yet ended..." pausing she continues, " and i would enjoy talking with you over a drink... it would be nice to have someone to talk with." Knowing he shares the same grim thoughts, she considers telling him more about her own issues, but decides it would be best to chat over a drink, knowing the stories could take time to tell while giving them their justice. She rises from the bench and offers her hand in courtesy to her new acquaintance. She adds "I don't go out drinking often, so i cant say i am very familiar with the inns or pubs around Avanthal, is there one you would you like to go?"

[Enoleus Frostfawn]

Summer, 513 AV

Enoleus glanced upward at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. Naturally he found himself somewhat distrustful of her, and placed his hand in hers with deep trepidation. It wasn't anything personal towards her, he just didn't trust easily of strangers, particularly when they seemed a bit too eager to dole out kindness or to find common ground. Enoleus long ago had convinced himself that he was vastly different than his kinsmen, and any commonality between himself and another Vantha immediately roused his suspicion.

Almost immediately, his expression softened. He braced himself on her open hand and stood upright, flashing her a bright grin. "Well, I spend most of my free time when I'm not scrounging out a meager living at the Red Diamond. You can find a lot of folks there swapping stories, and those are always a good away to escape your problems. " He released her hand and began to walk in that direction, turning to face her again as he gave her a wink and added with touch of sardonic pain in his voice, "Though not nearly as good as drowning them in ale. Come on, I'll show you the way. "

[Shizen Whitevine]

As Enoleus takes her hand, shizen notices the flash in his expression, but for the best of the two, doesn't ask. Mizahar is a forbidding land, and friendliness is often seen with distrust. She remembers to herself not to forget that again, especially with someone she knows little of. As he lets go of her hand, she puts them in her jacket pockets, both to stay warm, and out of natural habit. She looks down into the snow as walks and after a moment replies, "despair isnt all that uncommon huh... i never wondered until now if that was a reason pubs are so popular and diverse..." As we walk, the quiet again fills the air, only accented by the monotonous sound of snow crunching underneath their steps. The sun in the sky begins waning and a cool breeze brushes through the street.

[Enoleus Frostfawn]

Summer, 513 AV

Enoleus walked in silence just a few steps ahead of his new found companion, his hands threading at the hem of his shirt as they trudged their way through the snow. The path was familiar to him, and he didn't need to use his conscious mind to guide his legs toward their destination. There was an easy comfort to the walk, a center in the chill the Avanthal air brought to his lungs, and even in absolute silence, there was something reassuring about the presence of another person, matching his steps.

They arrived at the front door of the Red Diamond Tavern, and Enoleus took a step to the side, opening the door to allow Shizen in. As the door opened, the hot air from the fireplace inside carried with it the olfactory symphony of spices and warm bread, and the murmuring and laughter of Vantha. After Shizen had stepped in, Enoleus stepped in right behind her, carefully shutting the door as he inclined his head toward whomever was tending the bar this evening, and would beckon toward the nearest empty table, turning his gaze to Shizen. " Please, Miss, after you. "