Open Nightlife

[Crystiin Aithne]

Fall 1st, 513 A.V. The metal latch made a little chink when Crystiin popped it open. From within the cage, the large bird shook himself and peered out with eyes of blazing sunshine yellow. The dim light reflected in his face disk and illuminated his sharp golden beak, which he clapped happily as he danced from one foot to the other. "Hey Little Brother," Crys crooned, tightening her thick leather hawking glove onto her right hand. It was a bit big, but had been softened from its original stiffness by its repeated use. There was a small hole growing where the thumb of the glove met the palm as the stitching was coming apart, but it was still in good shape. She was having to work without jesses, having previously been unable to afford them, but she trusted Flannigan enough that she didn't worry about them anymore. Reaching her hand cautiously into the mews, Crys tapped her hand against the owl's talons where they gripped his wooden perch. The raptor reflexively stepped up and onto her hand, putting his right foot on the knuckle of her index finger and his left foot on her wrist, just past her thumb. Flannigan took a moment to fluff his feathers up and get comfortable before giving a couple low hoots. Using the knuckles of her other hand, Crystiin stroked the owl's soft belly feathers. "Ready to go outside boy?" When she nodded her head, Flannigan bobbed his in mirror, making Crys giggle. "Attaboy. Lets go." Crystiin shook her mane of hair out of the way and stepped into her shoes before heading out the door of her little apartment. Met by the smothering scent of unwashed bodies and smoke, she made her way down a corridor. One stone corridor led to another, a left here and here, a right here and another left. She passed folk she knew, to whom she dipped her head in greeting. Most of the time, people were a little distracted from her hellos by the two foot tall bird perched eloquently upon her hand. Crys didn't mind of course, Flannigan was a magnificent bird. With stripes of ash gray and stone grey and white and night black all over his body, his presence demanded attention in a way akin to a soldier or a lord. His yellow eyes scanned his surroundings with a look of disdain mixed with hunger. Left, right, right, straight... Sometimes Crystiin wondered herself how she could know her way around such a labyrinthine city. Soon enough though she found herself in one of the main roads of her city. Far above her, she could make out the dusky night sky and a couple of stars. Flannigan hooted eagerly and Crys stepped out into the road.

[Bolivar]

Traveler's row had it's fair share of traffic that morning. One of the very first days of Fall and Bolivar already had plans this evening. Nice calm meditation and a nice, heart brew to celebrate. Already having mug in hand Bolivar maneuvered the crowded streets of Syliras with no small effort on the squire's part. Threatening to spill his drink at the slightest provocation Bolivar did a slight balancing act keeping the brew high and the pace from the horse slow. Reaching his first checkpoint Bolivar tried to make use of his patron's prior teachings that he impressed on the squire.

“Make a friend with someone new.”

Apparently the squire came off as intimidating for whatever reason. It was just the same armor the rest of the knights wore only in a smaller size. So why would they feel so threatened? No matter Bolivar was to charm himself up a companion at his patron's request and that was what he was going to do. So far, every time the squire went on one of these stints due to Ser Theron it was suppose to help him understand the knight's virtues somehow.

How was he to proceed with this? The wheels turning in the squire's head Bolivar schemed and plotted coming to a conclusion. Tactics dictated that he chose his battles and that was what he was going to do. Not the regular citizen or random sod. Not at all. Bolivar had to find someone he could immediately impress. Something different he can use. Different was good. it meant he could possibly use it to his advantage. But what?

First do away with the drink.

Sipping down the rest of his liquid courage Bolivar watched attentively as the stream of Sylirans started to pour through. Meticulously, carefully Bolivar watched each and every possible candidate like a eagle as the saying goes. Speaking of birds the woman with the owl seemed to stand out with her companion. Now to come up with a witty line that will cause her to instantly fall for him.

"I am going friend the petch out of you."

Did I say that out loud?

Peering down the squire looked silently at the pair wondering all the while what to do. Would it be better to press his advantage, if there even was one? Would playing the role of a vanguard be better suited for this confrontation?

"I mean... that's a nice bird you have there. I, myself, have a pretty big bird back home to show."

His bird back home was a rooster of sorts. Though the stranger didn't know that. For all she knew he was talking about one of the Inartan birds.

"A very big rooster. Not one of those flaccid raptors around here If you know what I mean."

His expression remained deadpan as he nodded in self pride. Cluckles was indeed a majestic creature for all to see. Perhaps this bird enthusiast would make an easy companion just thinking about it.

[Crystiin Aithne]

When the squire called down to her, Crystiin's immediate reaction was to avoid confrontation. But... "I am going to friend the petch out of you." How the hell was she supposed to respond to that?! Peering up at the man, she took his appearance in. He was short. Short and... hostile? She wasn't sure, but there was something about him that she just couldn't put her finger on. Something interesting, something mysterious. She moved up closer to the squire's horse so that she didn't get run over by the passerby. What was it with these men and women, thinking that they could get away with life by being bold and such? When he started talking about birds, Flannigan eyed the horse and gave a hoot. Crys wasn't sure what it meant, but she knew it wasn't a happy one. Then something made her stop. "Wait wait, what? Did you just compare my owl to a rooster? Please! How dare you..." Comparing Flannigan to a common farm bird, who the hell did he think he was? Flannigan was sensing Crys's disgust, and he ruffled himself again. Taking a deep breath, Crystiin ran her fingers down his belly feathers again. "I'm sorry sir. Its just.... Owls are so much, how do I put it, better than common fowl. I'm not sure how to respond to that..." She felt anger, but she didn't dare blow up at a squire. Even a short one.

[Bolivar]

Did that do it?

Reading the woman's reaction the results of his assault left Bolivar wanting. He would have to rethink his battle plan it would seem. A direct attack left her quarry dazed and confused. An attempted retaliation but it seemed easy enough to work through.

“I was actually just talking about my coc-alright go ahead.”

Watching the small interactions between pet and master Bolivar nodded hearing what came next.

“My bird Cluckles is no common rooster. I assure you if you see it you'll find no better in Syliras.”

Bolivar would have to stop short. If he wanted any hope of playing nice with his quarry he would have to work a different angle.

“But I suppose I should not try to impress you with such talk. You are the one with the lovely owl.”

Flattery would be a safe route yes? Commenting the craftsmanship of an Isur's steel was the usual target for Bolivar's flattery. How would praising a bird go? His sights trained at the nocturnal hunter Bolivar squared off with the beast for the moment.

Perhaps something like this?

“Wow. Very feathered. Such talons. Much hoot. Big span. So owle.”

Once again nodding in self pride Bolivar perhaps might have out done himself again. To take the conversation to her new friend and make her deal with it. It suited the squire really. Make them a friend through possible force of will, a full on assault with words and have them settle into the pace. Something to that effect.

“Would you mind if I accompanied you madam? I'd be nice to be friends with an owl enthusist.”

[Crystiin Aithne]

Crystiin was pretty sure that her jaw dropped at the way the squire was talking. What the petch was he saying?! It was like his speech was incoherent. She guessed he was trying to flatter her by complementing Flannigan, but she wasn't sure. Shaking her head, she almost felt a sneer rise on her lips. "I don't understand, what are you trying to pull?" "Would you mind if I accompanied you madam? It'd be nice to be friends with an owl enthusiast." The laugh that came from Crys was harsh enough that it surprised even her. "You've got to be kidding me. I don't know who you are, or what you are trying to do, but you've succeeded in disrupting my routine. Please pardon me." She attempted to step around the squire's horse, pulling Flannigan out of the way.

[Bolivar]

That was the finishing blow!

She would have no choice but be so confused or charmed that she wouldn't have any other choice to have the squire along. That was how willful people made friends... Right? The laugh that came soon after was met with a devastated look on Bolivar's part.

That did not work? Was she made out of ice?

"I was not joking!"

Already she was making movements to maneuver around and Bolivar responded in kind. Swiftly dismounting Bolivar spread out his arms in front of the woman. Looking to wrap himself around her Bolivar closed his hands in front of him before giving his usual earnest effort.

"You are not pardoned. That was merely the beginning."

That might have been misinterpreted.

It didn't matter. That was simply how he talked. Perhaps if he laid it all out in the open? Still true to his show all and know all manner.

"I just wanted to talk is all. You've such an interesting pet I was wondering if you'll humor me. Just like to get to know you is all. The bird rather... you were already a given though you knew that right?"

[Crystiin Aithne]

The short squire coming down from his steed startled both the owl and his girl. Crys took a step back. Flannigan rose and spread his enormous wings (almost imitating the squire who had spread his arms to prevent Crystiin from leaving), flapping furiously a couple of times before settling back down. His stern yellow gaze would not leave the man before them. Crys gave a short huff. "Please sir, I don't understand. I feel insulted and I don't know what you want." "I just wanted to talk is all. You've such an interesting pet I was wondering if you'll humor me. Just like to get to know you is all. The bird rather... you were already a given though you knew that right?" Trying to swallow the sense of uncomfortableness, Crys shifted her weight from foot to foot. Overhead, the stars were glowing bright and she could tell that Flannigan was beginning to get impatient. "Alright sir, as you wish. But please, let us walk? You see, every evening I release my owl so that he may fly and feed. Twas for that purpose that I am out at this time. So, I'll allow you to accompany me if you don't mind that we go about this chore too." She slipped her free hand behind her back and crossed her fingers, hoping to the gods that this went well and that this squire didn't turn out to be some sort of mad man...

[Bolivar]

Slightly entertained by the mimicking motions of the owl Bolivar raised a mischievous eye at Crystiin and Flannigan. Crystiin knew what Bolivar wanted... he inadvertently told her earlier. Though this was getting tedious really. Leading her outside to let Flannigan fly? He could do that.

"Alright sounds like a plan my friend. A flight for Flannigan. We can talk in the meantime?"

A bit disheartened at how things were going Bolivar found his way back unto the horse's saddle before turning the beast back toward's the woman and owl's direction. Let them do as they wish and interject himself into the scene somehow.

Shaking his head in frustration his mind went to his patron. No doubt laughing at the squire's expense. This request was turning out much more difficult then first thought.

[Crystiin Aithne]

Crys walked on, half hoping that the strange squire would not follow. The sound of his horse's hooves striking against the Syliran cobblestones told her different, but she made sure not to express her disgust. What did he want?! He was such a... a jerk. Being a jerk to folks was not at all how one gained friends. Friends? Really? Didn't he have other squires, the high-and-mighty of her city, to pull pranks with and buddy around? Why would he need to go out and look for friends? So many questions... But wait. Why should she care? Flannigan hooted and Crystiin stepped aside to allow an elderly man pushing a vegetable cart past, coming in from the fields for the night. She nodded a greeting and the man thanked her before giving the squire behind her a wave. She swallowed in hesitancy before calling out "What do they call you, squire?" If he was going to follow her through the city, she might make a little effort to be courteous. Flannigan was getting fidgety, knowing that his nightly freedom was close at hand.

[Bolivar]

A light whinny came from Bolivar's horse which Flannigan responded in kind. Watching the two beasts settle to each other's company Bolivar leaned forward lazily smiling all the while. Trying to place his most amicable foot forward Bolivar thought long and hard for a moment. He understood what the question entailed but that wouldn't really get him anywhere right? Those popular folks always somehow made an impression by doing something quirky. Perhaps now was a good time for something like that? How hard could it be?

"Erm. Short? Short! They call me short."

Feeling a layer of dignity go with the wisecrack, Bolivar gave his best impression of a smile trying to go along with the notion.

This is much harder then it looks.

"In your language I am called Bolivar. What do they call you and your owl?"

oocI guess I'll leave all the action to you seeing you started the thread.