RP:A Night Walk

From HollowWiki

Part of the The Dust Up In Cenril Arc


Summary: Unable to sleep, Meri hits the road for a walk and runs into an unfamiliar face. Of course the most rational thing to do is strike up a conversation with this stranger met out in the middle of nowhere, which is exactly what Meri does, encouraging a relapse in the process.

Under the Canopy

It has been hours since the sun has set, a few more and it would be morning. Any person with any amount of common sense would be fast asleep by now, but sleep was not something that always came easily for Meri. The artist was exhausted yes, but her mind would not stop racing and eventually that restlessness is enough to drive her from her bed in Gualon to take a walk. Blonde hair is tossed up in a lazy bun, pants from yesterday are worn, whatever shirt she can find on the floor, boots are slipped on and tied haphazardly, not with the care she would take were she setting about on a fresh day. Knowing the night causes all sorts of creatures to come alive, her prized scabbard and sword are taken up and strapped appropriately across her back. Her walk takes her out of Gualon, through the swamps before finally cutting through that spider laden path that leads to the forest between Kelay and Enchantment. There she wanders, her mind wandering and her attention not as focused as it should be for a walk in the middle of the night.


Meri wasn't the only one defying common sense by wandering around through the middle of the forest at... what time was it, three maybe four in the morning? In fact, it would seem that somewhere out here in the dense woods a far more foolish being exists as the faint sound of music rings out growing louder and louder if she were to approach. The trees begin to space a bit thinning out to give way to a small opening where a -very- pale human with long black hair falling by his shoulders rests propped up against the base of a tree while staring up at the canopy, blowing idly into a harmonica while his crossed legs are propped up against an absolutely massive dire bear who snoozes away despite the racket. If the blonde haired woman were keen with her eyesight she'd also spot a totally adorable brown and white rat grooming himself (or maybe he's covering his ears?) on the bard's shoulders. The trio seemed unlikely and it'd be hard not to assume this spell of insomnia had led to a hallucination of sorts yet as odd as he seems, Alex was real for certain and carried little care for the dangers of making himself so well known.


Meri has nothing better to do at this early/late hour of, yes, probably about three or four in the morning but investigate the source of this music. This does not mean she is going to go blazing right out into the open without first trying to ascertain if whomever is making said music will prove themselves to be friend or foe. Booted feet carry Meri right up to the edge of where Alex has made camp for the night, though the approach is not entirely silent. She is no ranger and even with the luminous light of the moon, it wasn't enough to light the forest floor through that thick canopy of trees. Meri attempts to be silent but is unable to keep herself from snapping this twig or that under the weight of her steps. Edging closer and closer, Meri is finally able to make out some figures. The man does not strike her as overly odd, maybe in need of a bit of a tan, but his choice of companions is that causes Meri to do some brow raising. It could be that her inability to sleep was finally getting to her. There was only one way to find out, Meri determines in a reckless sort of fashion. The tattoo artist steps out of the thick of trees and into Alex's line of vision. "Strange companions you keep."


Alex is too busy blowing away to catch the sounds of Meri's approach until she makes herself known. Now, in most scenarios, when a stranger comes walking at you from the edge of the woods you startle, jump, scream, etcetera but this peculiar human does no such thing instead allowing his exhausted elbows to unfold dropping his arms and the harmonica into his lap. Bright blue eyes illuminated by a streak of moonlight cascading through the canopy allow his composure to be examined and it's nothing if not relaxed as a toothy grin flashes. "You know, believe it or not, that's -not- the first time I've heard that. In fact, most people are afraid to come up to me for some reason. I think it's the rat, they don't like yellow teeth." He turns to flash his teeth at Rattimus who responds by putting his stupid cute pink hands on Alex's nose while standing on his back legs and licks him rapidly. After this brief display of affection the bard turns back to Meri and slaps the ground beside him. "Well come on then, have a seat. Or you can have a rest on Adagio, he's comfortable. Is that right you oaf?" The bear doesn't budge apart from the rise and fall of his stomach as he continues in his slumber. Uncrossing his feet Alex raises his right heel and drops it into the bear's gut cause him to groan and growl at the human. "I said it's that right!?" Adagio seemingly grumbles before dozing back off. "Ugh, worthless carpet. Don't worry about him. He's harmless, unless he isn't but he's usually fond of pretty forest woman." The bard allows a moment for Meri to make her decision to sit on Adagio, beside him or remain standing before continuing. "So, are you here to rob or murder me or are you like... one of those demon ladies... what do they call'em, er, a succubus? I've always wanted to meet one. You know, not for perverted reasons or anything just to like find out what their parents were like to make them all seedy and stuff."


Baby blues eyes find focus on the bear for the duration of time that Alex is talking. "Surprised he doesn't flip around and turn that foot of yours int a snack for nudging him like that," Meri teases. It would seem that she is going to opt to keep her distance for now. Alex could be trying to lure her in closer and then BAM, maybe it is he and his best friend that will be the ones robbing her. Maybe that is why he made the suggestion, guilty conscious. Or maybe Meri's tired mind is starting to run toward paranoid. "He's cute but I will pass on the snuggle session with the bear." The woman falls into a crouch so that she is more at everyone else's height, it can sometimes be awkward when that one person chooses to stand while other remain seated. Here come a few more teasing words from Meri, "Well the verdict is still out on if I am going to rob you or not. I have not made up my mind. But at the very least I do not think that I will kill you. However, I am surprised you have not drawn less than friendly attention to yourself with the ruckus you are making out here." A beat. "And no, I am not a succubus. So it does not matter if your intentions are pervy or not because it is just a non-issue."


Alex is genuine with his smile and laugh at Meri's response, lifting the harmonica back up he twirls it around in his hands to let the moonlight bounce off of it's shiny finish. "Well, I'm afraid if you're hoping for a get rich quick run you're out of luck. All I've got it a harmonica and I think I may have packed a flute too. So unless you're -really- into blowing instruments all day, you've picked a crummy target." In her kneeled stance it would be easy to see that Alex is unarmed unless his small satchel had a pocket knife hidden away but the long end of the flute protruding from the top seems to indicate he really isn't the type to run around at the ready for violence, then again maybe the bear is his weapon. "Well, damn. I guess I'm out of luck then." A shuffle can be heard just before Meri and if she were to look down she'd spot Rattimus on his back legs reaching out to her for attention and to be picked up, it seems the rodent has taken a fancy to the woman and opted to abandon his companion while he was distracted. "And that ruckus, as you call it, is beautiful music. I mean like, I'm actually super duper famous around here and have lines of people waiting to hear me play that sweet tune so consider yourself lucky I don't rob you for my usual fee." His joking, it's clear from the posh voice he's chosen to use before letting his head fall back against the tree to stare at the moon. "So if you aren't here to kill me and only -maybe- rob me, what are you doing out so late then? I see you're armed but certainly you know that's hardly enough for the dragons, goblins, trolls, bandits and kinky gnomes sprinting around here."


The admission that she may have a soft spot for the music-making sort will not come freely, but Alex may be able to determine that by the soft smile displayed on lips that were normally painted red. No time for make up during night time walks. The little rodent is scoped up delicately, given a little scratch behind the ear, and then placed onto her shoulder. "Ah, well, if you are so talented then I highly encourage you to meet my friend Raphaline. Muse as I like to call her. Perhaps you two can make sweet music together." Finally coming to the conclusion that Alex is probably an alright guy, Meri falls out of her crouch and into a seated position, legs assuming a cross-cross position. "The mind was restless and sleep was not coming easily to me. I have spent most of the night tossing and turning, so I decided to burn off some energy." By the fact she is armed she knows well about the dangers of the lands in the night time hours. "Now my turn, if you are so famed and famous with people lining up to hear you play, then how come you are crashed out here in the forest rather than in some cozy bed?" A pause. "The name is Meri by the way."


Alex doesn't say anything when Meri picks Rattimus up but his eyes absolutely follow the rodent until he's perched atop her shoulder. Congratulations Meri, you've earned yourself the respect of a bard in the middle of the woods, such an esteemed feat. should include a badge of some sort but I'm afraid it doesn't. Confirmed in his prior beliefs of Meri not truly aiming to off him, Alex jerks forward to attempt to startle her as soon as she's crossed legged but after a quick laugh he's at ease once more. "Raphaline... I know that name. I think I met her at that ball... but, man that's been ages ago. Two years maybe? Red headed woman right?" He's hesitant in his thoughts but eventually finds himself smirking at her follow-up, "Well... I mean, I -was- quite well know around here but most of my fans now are Ogres... Y'know, Gamorg's a pretty good crowd. They're always blown out of their minds so they don't care how well you perform." He laughs again before leaning up and extending a hand to Meri, dirt beneath his finger nails and up his arm hinting that it'd been a few days since he'd had a bath or a proper bed. "Alex."


Meri does not startle quite as Alex had hoped she might, but as he laughs at his own antics Meri herself rolls her eyes in good tempered amusement. That hand is accepted, trying to look past the obvious grim on the appendage. It'd be a lie to say that Meri wasn't just a touch put off by it but on the flipside of the coin? She did just basically barge into Alex's little camp and started in with the whole questions/commentary routine. Gamorg. I can't say I have ever been up to Gamorg." Or perhaps Meri was drawing a blank on the location, that happened sometimes as well. The lands could easily become a bit of a blur when one wanders with no particular destination in mind. "But yes, you are thinking of the right woman. Red head. Charming as hell." Meri fidgets about on the earth she is seated on, moving so that she can reach into her satchel to pull out a few items: a pouch, maybe a pack of cigarettes, and a flask. She is mindful of Rattimus' position on her shoulder during all of this movement, trying to not disturb him too much. "Say Alex, you drink or smoke?" Depending on the man's response, Meri might just be in a sharing mood.


Alex widens his eyes when she says she isn't familiar with Gamorg, "Ogres. Giant brutes. None too attractive but they love music, they tend to just slam into one another during my performances. Quite a nice place if you can look past the houses made of dung and all the other offensive odors that plague the place. Hell, they even have this absolutely massive grave thing filled with bones. They took me there and told me about their god and how they appease him, her or it by tossing in tributes. I was certain I was their next offering but instead they just wanted me to sing for him. Good times!" His gaze lowers to her satchel and to her question he smiles while politely shaking his head in decline. "Never cared to smoke and I try to stay away from the drink, It has this crazy side effect on me where I wake up with a list of embarrassments, but by all means feel free." Visibly cringing as he seems to recall a particular incident or two, he soon straightens up and places the back of his head on the bark once more while smiling to Meri. "So what do you do, Miss Meri?"


Alas, Meri was not going to give up that easily. Her flask gains her attention first and after a long and hearty nip, it is sealed back up and tossed toward the homeless bard. "Ah, who is really out here to embarrass yourself in front of? And are you really going to let me potentially act a fool alone? C'mon. Cut loose. Live a little. What's the worst that could happen, hm? Just a little booze, right?" With Alex left to either maintain his resolve or give in to a little bit of peer pressure, Meri sets her sights upon the cigarettes. One is freed the tarnished cigarette case and a match is struck up, flame brought to the end of the tobacco-stick until the tip glows red. Said flame is then waved out and the remains of the match discarded within her cigarette case. This just leaves what is inside of the leather pouch, still a mystery but given the nature of things that Meri has brought out..."I hang around Gualon a lot. I can get past offensive odors. I do not think that I can look past the houses of dung though. That is perhaps too much. Anyway, I dabble in a bit of things. Work out of Gualon in exchange for a room down there, work out of Rynvale by appointment doing tattoos in exchange for gold. Y'know, whatever I got to do. Now drink up."


Alex listens with the smile dropping from his features as Meri goes on pressuring him to take part in the spirits, the expression of his face stoic but the glimmer in his eyes hinting at a mental playback of what was likely ill times. He turns the flask over in his hands examining it in great detail, the feel, the sound, the way the moonlight bounces off of the shimmering surface. When he comes to he notes Meri is preoccupied with igniting her cigarette and takes advantage of the moment by popping the top from the flask, leaning back against the tree and tilting his head to the side a bit. As he lifts the carrier to his lips and his adam's apple begins bobbing up and down it would be hard to deny his consumption of the liquor but in truth the sauce falls down his lips, cheek and onto the bark of the tree which is far too dark to notice in the moonlight. Wiping his mouth he corrects his posture and smiles to Meri while fastening the cap and then handing the flask back to her, "Tattoos, eh? Well that would explain the work the colors covering your arms. I figured you just hadn't found a piece of parchment in time." He jokes with a soft smile "Sorry if I offend with my odor, the bear doesn't seem to mind and the days tend to jump by at the moment."


Meri might have noticed that Alex's posture was just a touch off while he was drinking, but thanks to Alex's timing most of Meri's attention is in fact on lighting her cigarette -- a task she completes right as Alex hands the flask back to her. Commentary about scent and hygiene is met with a bit of a shrug, as Meri was not entirely sure what to say on that front. Yes, Alex did not smell the most pleasant. It did not inspire Meri to want to try and cuddle up with him and the bear, that was for certain. Yet time spent at sea made Meri tolerant of scent to an extent, didn't mean she wanted to get up close and personal though. "Eh, your business really. I'm not judging." What she would have judged in a very not kindly light as Alex wasting her alcohol and dumping it to the earth. Why would you do this Alex? Do you not know what the words 'alcohol abuse' mean? This is a prime example. But since Meri is oblivious, she presses on with the peer pressure. She was clearly desperate for someone to indulge with in the middle of the night, as if drinking, smoking and drugs would help with restless mind (it might). She didn't even really care to delve into the world of her art, which was usually a subject that she loved to rattle on about. The final leather pouch she has is lifted as in indicator of what she was talking about, making an offer that she may not have made if she was aware that Alex was just going to put her goods to waste, "Say, I picked some dust up out of Cenril. You familiar with the stuff? I suppose you're going to give me some lame-o excuse about how you don't even want to touch the stuff? Makes you act a fool. Blah blah blah." A brow is lifted as she tries to cut this argument off, "What is with the guys around this place these days? You are all just so dang boring."


Alex looks at the pouch and his expression matches the assumptions Meri already has. The way his lip curls just at the edge and how his throat freezes in place as if it's about to project a nice, hot load of vomit all over the woman and her precious dust is a clear indication that the bard has absolutely no want to share in her unmoral deeds! But then those blue eyes of his trail over to the woman's face just as she calls all men boring to which that curled lips releases into a full fledged smile and laugh. "Trust me lady, I'm not a man. More of a boy really, just one with great looks and fragrance!" he teases before nodding in acceptance to her offer, "Yes, I'm quite familiar. Orc Power is basically the same compound and I've just managed to kick it a year or two ago. But what better time to relapse than with a strange woman in the woods who's likely to axe murder me at the peak?" Rattimus is given a look of encouragement as he continues to scramble around on Meri's shoulder, licking at her skin where he can. Adagio on the other hand has already fell off the face of the earth once more snoozing away. A final hesitant moment is given before Alex looks to Meri, "Ladies first."


Rattimus' licking proves to be too much for the blonde. One hand is lifted to her shoulders so that she can scoop the creature up and place him down to the earth safely so that the critter can return to its rightful owner. This frees up both Mer's hands and eliminates any concerns about accidentally drugging the right in the process of things. "Man. Boy. Male. Thing of opposite gender of me. Whatever." Back to the self-destructive behavior that Meri is more than a little intent on. A brow is lifted a the mention of her being an axe murderer as fingers work to untie the pouch, a bit of the dust put into the palm of her hand. "I have no axe to be an axe murderer, at least get my weapon right." But in truth Meri, despite this unhealthy path that Meri was walking, the woman was not inclined to pick up her weapon and use it against another in these circumstances. Laws were meant to be broken and Meri has never been a saint, yet she is not nearly so wicked either. Fine line she walks. A bit of a hand motion to activate the dust which Alex might note is purple - not the usual blue powder that you hear of coming out of Cenril, and then it is applied to the scalp as customarily done. The effects are not instant but they are definitely fast acting, so Meri is feeling nothing when she tosses the bag over to Alex. He would have a harder time trying to trick her as he did with the alcohol, perhaps, and yet at the same time it could be so much easier. It wouldn't be long before those euphoric effects start kicking in. All Alex would have to do is prattle on for a minute or so. Which Meri gives him an easy window to do, "You should meet with Brennia. Check out the bard's college. Start playing some other gigs outside of poopsville." Gamorg.


Alex, for better or worse, finds himself in the presence of a beautiful woman lost in the middle of the woods with only a bear and rodent between them and as she offers him a healthy dose of magic dust to feel fantastic on he manages to feel at ease. As she comments her lovely remarks about his chosen venue he can't help but crack a smile as he moves the magic dust into a quick workup in his own hands. No, Alex wasn't going to waste this glowing dust the way he did her booze but that's because Alex doesn't ever find himself leaving regret behind with -this- substance. He follows her lead while Rattimus scurries up his pants leg and it doesn't take long for Alex to be right on her heels with the effects of the drug. "Maybe, but then how would I ever get you out there to 'experience' the odor in person my dear Meri? Certainly you've never been more alive than when you hear my beautiful voice vibrating through the bone pit while your other senses are assaulted by the most offensive smells, touches and tastes you've ever had."


The red dirt coming out of Frostmaw was rumored to be more of a stimulant whereas the blue dust coming out of Cenril was supposed to mellow a person out more, making them feel more relaxed and social. This was neither and where Meri got it from? She was not saying, but ideally this purple dust will be more like the blue dust. Meri was already having trouble sleeping tonight and a stimulant would not help that. The manufacturer of this product would skilled enough that he was not likely to be far off his mark in his expectations of this dust. As the effects of the drug kick in, Meri feels inclined to sprawl out on the forest floor, moving from a seated position to laying flat upon her back with knees bent. A hand reaches up toward the sky, who knows entirely what palm toward the canopy of trees, as if she was trying to reach out and touch the stars. Then again, maybe her hand was just particularly fascinating at that moment. Hard to say. Her appendage falls back to her side as a sidelong glance is sent toward Alex along with a wistful smile. "You won't." What an entirely honest thing to say and it continues as Meri goes on to point out, "Who is to say you will even see me again after tonight?" The smile remained despite Meri's honesty as the woman was feeling more than a little content right now.


Alex is watching Meri reach to the heavens when he begins to feel that soothing buzz beneath his skin, the tingles running down the back of his neck into his spine and then splitting off to consume his arms and legs. She turns to state the slim possibility of the two strangers ever running into one another again and Alex twists his expression into an understanding agreement with a slight nod, "Fair point. The chances of us coming across one another, or well, you coming across me tonight were already extremely low and considering it seems like neither of us have too much in common this far excluding a taste for narcotic sunshine, I wouldn't be too surprised if we've forgotten each others names in a week." His stare has fallen to her lips as he gazes upon her relaxed smile, the cogs of his mind turning in tune with a melody only he could hear before continuing down her body until he's examining her arm again. "Though even without a name to match, the work on your skin will be hard to forget. I imagine it'll be fresh in memory for some months or years." Letting his eye lids droop a bit the bard takes a heavy inhale before pushing his lips out to release a low whistle that stirs some of the leaves on the ground into a small two foot swirling tornado. The cyclone moves across the forest floor before it reaches Meri's relaxed arm, the leaves dispersing from their order to cover the skin. "I can see why you keep them uncovered. Without the art, you just don't appear quite as interesting." He teases while pulling his legs off of Adagio and up to his chest to wrap his arms around them.


Another woman might have perceived Alex's final sentence as a backhanded compliment and might have taken offense. Meri does not. In fact her reaction to anything Alex has to say is entirely halted at the sight of a small dust devil forming in an unlikely area. In the middle of the forest? Surrounded by trees that act as breaker against the wind? Usually these things were spotted in the open desert where dust storms were common. Yet there one was, formed between herself and Alex, sweeping leaves off the forest floor and disappearing before it fully reaches Meri. It was enough to force Meri to sit up out of her relaxed position so that she can hawk. A few leaves wisp harmlessly on top of Meri's person, one managing to stick itself into her blonde hair. Her gaze settles on Alex, presuming him to be the only culprit about who would be capable of such things. Hudson had not mentioned hallucinations as a by product of these drugs, so she is quick to dismiss the possibility that she was just seeing things. Meri wasn't going to argue against Alex by listing the things she already knows them to have in common. Her rebuttal to that was a short, "You don't know me well enough to know what we do or do not have in common. And I don't keep my tattoos uncovered so that others find me more interesting to look at. I could care less. They are not there for your entertainment. They are there for mine." A beat. "How did you do that thing with the leaves and the wind?"


Alex smirks at Meri's defense of her tattoos, the idea of getting under her skin, even if it's just a bit, bringing him some mild entertainment that is allowed a brief moment of enjoyment before his head tilts at her question. "What? You think giant bears hang out with scrawny humans for the hell of it?" he jokes with a glance to Adagio. "Odd as it may sound, I can do some unique little tricks with my voice. Calm wild beasts, move the wind, blow giant crab people into puddles on the ground..." he shutters a bit at the thought of the last one, that creep still haunted his dreams. "I'm still learning most of it but I'm able to keep myself from blowing the windows out of taverns on accident now. I can show you a trick or two if you'd like?" As for him not knowing her well enough, he didn't find the point arguable, she was right and judging by her earlier comment it was unlikely the two would get to know each other well enough to find out.


Meri regards Alex skeptically at the offer to show her a trick or two. The tattooed woman looked torn because a trick could be amusing, entertaining, and it could give her a better idea of just what Alex is capable of. Yet the drugs were amplifying a mind that already leaned toward paranoid and so it does cross Meri's thoughts that a trick could be just that -- a cruel joke played upon her by Alex. "Naaaaaw," Meri says with a lazy draw. "The sun is going to be up soon. My feet need to hit the road again." She would be lucky if she would find sleep any time during the day, but maybe she would have that crash she is craving. To her feet Meri goes, collecting her belongings -- all of them, from sword, to drink, to drugs. Here is really the only testament that Meri might not entirely mean what she says about their paths never crossing again. "Gamorg is on the backside of Rynvale, isn't it?" Meri just never wasted her time going. "So if you ever decide you want more...I shouldn't be too hard to find." And that was as close to a goodbye that Alex would get from Meri, booted feet are already leading her off to another location. Sven only knows where.


Alex doesn't even have a chance to reply before Meri is taking off the way she came and he's left with an off putting feeling despite the drug amplifying the tingles across his body. A smirk is given as she goes and once she's out of sight he looks to Adagio who has a single eye peeled open, "Just like the rest, eh boy?" Spinning on his heel the bard twirls in a circle and plops his entire body on top of the bear who groans in aggravation, the bard mindful of Rattimus who is still clinging to his pocket. Lacing his fingers together and putting his hands behind his head he sighs and stares up at the stares, lips slightly apart as he feels the urge to speak before realizing no one is there to listen, not really. So instead he sighs and offers a light chuckle. Then, he begins to sing a simple song about the stars in the most beautiful voice. What a night. What an odd, unforeseen, obscure and long, long night.