Closed [Azure Market] The Ins and Outs [Arden]

[Arysana]

"That, milady," Arden began, and Sana very well knew that she wasn't going to get the answer she'd hoped for. "Is a secret that I do not give away lightly. I made that mistake once. Never again." She frowned at him as he looked about the place, conflicted as to whether she should remain suspicious, or pity him. His words seemed to hint at something far beyond what was actually said, though there was always that nagging in her mind that warned her against trusting too easily. But then again, had she not befriended others in moments?

"What is your work? I can see the weariness in your eyes. To many oaths to too many people, perhaps?" She eyed him for a moment, mouth slightly ajar. "I'm a personal assistant within the-" There was the slightest of pauses, still not too willing on giving out personal information, but thinking different as she reminded herself how vast her tower was, "Dawn Tower, but I do a lot of odd jobs for Tower's Respite in an effort to earn my keep," She paused, taking a deep breath as she keenly surveyed him, but quickly working looser as she spoke.

"I also do some work as a tutor, of sorts, as well as getting tutored myself." She gave a heavy sigh and a weary smile, throwing her own little glances about the place and she moved to a more comfortable position. "Such is the life of a student whose interest lies in one too many fields."

oocIs this font ok? Or is there another you'd prefer?

[Ardan]

"Interesting," he replied. "I once tutored a young noble boy on the art of combat. Little bastard got overconfident and, through that, got himself killed. I had to leave the city." He refastened his Miza pouch, one of his daggers just barely coming into view.

"So, you work at the Tower? I've heard of it, but I don't really care for 'important' buildings. They're just... things. Don't really see the point of attaching importance to a building. Buildings can be destroyed.

"I'm more of a 'work wherever' kind of guy. I don't really care much for being tied down to one place. What about you? Do you like being kept in one place by your work?"

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[Arysana]

Arysana raised her eyebrow at his words. "It seems that we have quite the number of tale up our sleeves, don't we?" She took a quick look at the weapons he had on hand, reminding herself of her own reimancy, and even though she could not use it legally in the way that she'd need to for 'defense', it still sated her feeling of helplessness some.

"And do I mind being anchored down? I suppose I don't mind it too much, although my personal problems come in where exactly we are," She gave a small laugh. "Although heights are something that I very well do not mind, my journey here in the first place wasn't much of a walk in the park - my family is here now, and lest I wish to risk never seeing them again, I'll be trapped here until I can find the skill or talent enough that I can guarantee my safe return, and find work as I travel. Have you never found a place that you wanted to stay at?"

She'd lost her uneasiness and nerves, then. She was comfortable with her ability to hold her own, and being naturally trusting in the first place, was now far more happy in Arden's company.

[Ardan]

"Have you never found a place that you wanted to stay at?"

"Oh, constantly," responded Ardan. "I always have the urge to stay in one spot. To get a home, make some friends, perhaps even bond and settle down. Somehow, fate always finds a way to smoke me out."

It was true. The longest amount if time he had ever spent in one place was around three years, in Sylrias. After that, his life just seemed to fall apart. He had almost forgotten the feeling of having a home.

"You seem to be relaxing," observed Ardan. "Dangerous, considering that you don't know what I intend to do with the knife that you noticed."

Before she could respond, he raised his hands slightly. "Do not worry, I am only joking. In truth, I haven't sharpened my blade in quite some time."

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[Arysana]

She was more than sympathetic when Arden spoke of settling down and finding a home, eye brow furrowing at the peculiarity in the way he spoke. 'Bond? A kelvic, then? That would explain the striking eyes and fluid movement.' He then on and made a shallow threat, targeting it at her comfort levels.

"Oh? She said, half laughing. "And I suppose you don't care to think of what strands of magic I have delved into? It's a pity you don't seem to care for the Towers or what they stand for, knowing such is a grand way of assuming what types of magic that opponents are learned in - even more so since students often pick the tower most renowned in their chosen fields. Like myself, the Dawn Tower, and reimancy, for example."

Granted, she leaned towards air reimancy, something not quite dangerous lest she choose to try and smother the man - a feat she was not even closely learned enough to pull off - but she felt she made her point quite clear. If he was going to joke of harming her, she would gladly push back. "I'm only kidding, of course." She grinned, "My strand of reimancy isn't all that deadly."

[Ardan]

A magician? Interesting; he hadn't quite thought of that. Of course, it is hard to spot a magic user unless you know what to look for. They weren't always the large, bearded men with pointy hats from the children's tales.

"Reimancy, eh? I've heard the word, but I'm not quite sure what it is. Is it the magic that sets fires and starts typhoons, or the stuff that turns wood to gold or allows one visions of the future?"

He added some frivolous hand-gestures for emphasis, and found that they had gradually made their way to a wall. He leaned against the structure, happy to take some weight off of his feet.

It had been a while since he just talked to someone, and found it quite relaxing. No one ever seemed to really care for the thief, and he had always acted aloof about it. However, in truth, he really just wanted someone to trust. Perhaps this could be that person?

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[Arysana]

She wasn't quite sure what to make of his response at first, but gladly broke and gave a giggle as his words about what reimancy could be turned from right, to wrong, to ridiculous. She always loved it when people spoke with their hands. Nari was a musical language with stunning sounds and syllables, there was nothing more needed to keep your words interesting and engaging. The common tongue, on the other hand, flourished far better with the use of gestures to help convey its message.

"There's a magic that can turn wood into gold?" she shrilled, smile bright and cheeky, with her hands placed firmly upon her hips. "What in Gods' names have I been doing with my life?" She decided that she might as well keep the act going a little more, noting the relaxed stance that Arden had taken, and continued on. "Wasting it, obviously," she scoffed, before putting a hand against the wall, as though some great pain had over taken her. She rested her forhead on the wall, making a great show of her words, speaking them softly for added affect "I could have servants waiting on my every word right now."

She sighed, and pretended to count her blessings, standing up straight; her expression reading 'what can you do, you know?' "But I guess whole commuting djed and res into tangible power is kind of cool too." She giggled again. Maybe it was about time she took leave from work and study? She left like her brain was being worn back to early childhood.

"Have you never dabbled with the mystical arts? Found no interest in res and djed, how the power is transmuted and transformed?" she asked, tone, expression, and suddenly of the outburst quite obviously expressing her genuine curiosity. There was a moment when she forgot that he was new to the city, and that other places were not as generally accepting. Thus far, everyone of significance she'd met was either a wizard, aspiring to be such, or had some kind of magic they dearly wished they could take up. Arden, on the other hand, didn't seem to care.

But then again, he knew enough of reimancy, projection, and alchemy to turn up a joke. At least, she very well hoped it was a joke.

[Ardan]

"Magic is unstable and dangerous. Often, more so to the user than the opponent. I prefer something I can control."

He removed his knife, displaying it. "Hard as steel, but lighter than air. Given to me by my grandfather, and to him by his father. I can throw it, stab with it, cut with it. Whatever I do, the blade is always under my control. No spirit, or god, or magical power can restrict my ability with it. If I am skilled, this weapon can be a danger to only my enemy. Magic users have no such assurance."

The dagger was the only possession he constantly held. It was a reminder of what he had lost, and a sign that he could make it through whatever was to come. It was dumb, and overly sentimental, but he could not make it without the weapon. It had served hmm better than any man, woman, or god.

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[Arysana]

She frowned, brow furrowed far deeper than it been since someone mistook her staffing at the Dawn Tower; they had handed her a pile of documents and barked commands at her, then blamed her for not speaking up sooner after finally finding space to interrupt the words thrown at her.

"So you don't like magic because its unpredictable?" She questioned, trying to sort and find out where the man stood. Was he the way he was by teachings from those that came before him, as suggested by the heritage of the blade, or was it more personal experience? Either way, she could hardly fault him. He was quite right in every term of the word. At least, those with as little skill as Sana herself could scarcely claim to even have a strong understanding in regards to the control of magic.

But surely the art of the blade had its own dangers. Nothing, from what she knew, was completely safe. Even a simple stroll could end in a blood shed of some kind, and cooking was something she knew from experience to be a rather dreadful thing, especially in the ways of cuts and burns. "Stability and control increase with use and meditation," She trailed, not too sure where she wished to take her words.

Rima had no interest in magic, either, but she still respected it and held it in high regard. "Although I agree with you for the lesser part, I personally find that the risks are worth it. What excitement comes from learning how to swing a blade?" Her tone was mild, curious but confused. She wasn't sure how to place Arden, and hoped she had not to come off as too accusing for such a delicate matter.

[Ardan]

Ardan let out a long sigh, regret and pain obvious in his eyes. He did not take offense to her blatant insult to his practice. After all, he had just done the same.

He sheathed his dagger, and looked into Sana's eyes. She did not understand his distaste for magic, which made sense. One could not simply spot trauma, unless they knew what to look for.

"The truth is... much more than that. It is not something I would tell a stranger. It is a wound that has not, and will likely never, fully heal. Have you ever lost someone and, in turn, almost lost the will to live?"

Gods, no. Are we really asking that?

For once, I agree with Lucius. Isn't that a bit sensitive a subject to ask a stranger?

Shut up, the both of you. You are complaining about something that is the reason for your very existence.

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