RP:I Dare You

Summary: A very nosey Meri learns that Demeter is actually an avian, her wings are hidden. Demeter also joins the Adventurer's Guild and treats Meri to a surprise dinner.

Strange Shipwreck

Meri really should not be wandering around this part of Cenril, especially not at this hour. Given how close this location is to the infection point for that plague that is troubling the City? This area should be avoided. So Meri is just about begging for trouble with this slightly reckless behavior. So far there is no trouble in sight, the area is oddly quiet save for the sound of waves breaking on the shore and against the wrecked ship. Unlike when she is up in Frostmaw, she is not bundled up in a heavy fur cloak. Tonight she sports a light jacket, black cotton pants, and her favorite pair of combat style boots. All of them are black, it was a good color in Meri’s opinion. She’s also got a bottle in hand. Whiskey. Of course. The blonde gives pause in her walk, stopping some distance outside of the shipwreck so that she can observe the fog that was starting to roll in. A bit eerie.

Demeter had come to the area, learning of the inhabitants. Staying clear of the death that echoed in waves louder than the ocean herself, death was thick in the air. Mother’s weeping for their family, children begging for coin to help pay for passage across the seas to get away. Demeter, slipped some coins that she could, doing her best to keep from being touched. Spotting a ship wreck in the distance she took off there, hoping for a break from those that undoubtedly too weak to keep the zombies away from their loved ones. With fast pace, she reached the shipwreck. Placing a hand upon her before putting her cigarette out. As before she had worn a wolf fur line cloak, instead, today she wore a lion fur cloak. The head attached still, to be used as a hood. Match boots upon her feet, no heel keeping her the natural six foot height. Blinking back her anger of the beggars, how did they get into such a predicament? The gods surely abandoned their people here too, such thought cause her to spit. Pushing back the hood, looking about with her grey eyes, seeing if any where nearby. Hoping none of the diseased followed.

Meri’s blue eyes would shift to Demeter when the tall woman joins her on the shoreline a few paces in front of the beached wreck. A grin twitches at the corners of her red lips. Meri may not have had too many interactions with Demeter, but the tattooed blonde was finding that they were all welcome and enjoyed. Meri would take a moment to survey the woman’s attire, noting the differences in the cloak and commenting, “You kept the head attached, eh? That’s pretty fierce. It’d be even more fierce if you killed the lion yourself though.” None of the diseased seem to follow Demeter during her approach, but they were still present off in the distance...and Meri was staring off in their direction. “”The city is really fallin’ apart these days. Seems we’re just faced with nothing but problems and there is not much in the way of solutions happening either…People around these parts have been sick for….three months now? I’ve heard nothing.” The blonde brings her bottle of whiskey to her lips and tips it back before offering it over to Demeter. She knew the other woman was a fan. If Demter took the bottle and freed up her hands, the blonde would for a change dig for her own rolled cigarettes. This time they are kept in the back pocket of her pants in a tarnished tin. “But enough of that gloomy talk. How are you doing tonight?”

Demeter looking to where the voice came from, knowing the sweet voice from anywhere. “Maybe I did and skinned it myself?” She asked tilting her head to the side, pulling a braid out the way to show a claw mark left behind from taking the lion down. Giving Meri a wink, “I haven’t seen sickness like this before, bodies burning on the edges of town. Children begging for coin to pay for passage across the sea, one said it is because they have sinned, and allow sin in the tavern. Gods are punishing them, gods do like there little games if this is true.” Demeter accepts the bottle, taking a drink before passing it back. “I am well, been in Frostmaw. Decided to travel out further than I have before, seems every city here has it’s own version of darkness. You?”

Meri is not disturbed. Or upset. No. The expression that Meri wears on her face when Demeter admits to skinning the lion herself is a pleasantly surprised one. She would be a horrible Ranger, Adventurer, and Rogue if the thought disturbed her. The blonde leans in toward Demeter to get a better look at the scar. “Yeah. That’s about how it works. Even then they seem really picturesque? It’s better to assume that there is something dark beneath the surface. It’ll keep you alive.” Meri shifts the subject away from the city, toward other topics that are on her mind. First and foremost was that incident up in Frostmaw? Where something brushed against her that should not have? Of course Meri has to figure this out in the most obnoxious way possible..so the blonde just up and invades Demeter’s personal space after tucking a cigarette behind her ear. She’ll get to that in a minute. What exactly does Meri do? Well it’s pretty tame. See. Meri stands about five-foot-nine, which means that she has height enough to be able to sling an arm about Demeter’s shoulders in a friendly gestures, walking them a bit closer to the shipwreck...if she is not decked for her antics. “I live here. I work here. Just out for a bit of fresh air. Maybe a spot of trouble. One never knows. How’s your quest to join various guilds going?”

Demeter listens, she enjoyed any time she got with Meri. The leaning in to look at the mark the lion left, almost made her want to bite at her just to mess with her. Leaving the topic of the chaos each city had of it’s own behind, Meri moved closer and went to drape an arm around Demeter’s shoulder. Except she would feel a bump or two as the top part of her wings tried to drop down in time. “It is going, I have joined the mage and warrior guild. Been training with a fellow guild mate, trying to get the flame under control before I lose absolute control.” Demeter’s body stiffened, wondering if she had noticed the bumps when her arm crossed. ‘Do not harm her, do not punch her. Relax.’ She repeated in her head over and over.

Meri nods in a distracted sort of fashion because...she definitely noticed those bumps. It’s not that she was not interested to press on with the whole guild subject. Just. Priorities. Meri needed to be nosey right about now. If Demeter wanted to punch her before? Meri was going to amplify that feeling tenfold with this next round of bullhonkey. Meri removes her arm from about Demter’s shoulders and even steps away! But let’s not get too excited, because the blonde circles behind the avian and begins to poke at her wing area. “Are you hiiiiiiding something, Demeter? Because I swear I felt something up in Frostmaw too.” Demeter was a tough chick, Meri could sense that much about her, so the lycan is on the balls of her feet just in case she needed to dodge or duck. Honestly Meri couldn’t blame her for the reaction. The lycan was very much being a hypocrite in this moment: it is okay for Meri to invade the personal space of others but it may not be wise to do the same thing to her. She’s got to really like you.

Demeter almost got to relax when Meri removed her arm, very short lived when she began poking at her back where her wings were. A loud growl came from her from one of the pokes had plucked a feather to fall out of the cloak to the ground, turning around quickly as she stared upon Meri. “Yes, everyone has their own secrets, I am full of them.” Nostrils flared, the feeling was as if someone grabbed a lock of hair and pulled it out. “Are you not?” Hands that were at her side had balled up into fist, tightening till knuckles began popping. Instead hitting Meri, she turned to hit the ship behind her. Turning back around, flames dancing about behind her pupils. The bracelet Karasu gave her glowing as it was doing it’s job to help hold the magic at bay, closing her eyes briefly. The flame subsided, fist released to cross her arms. Stretching her wings outwards, slowly, revealing the charcoal feathers. Wings so long they were bigger then she was tall. Reaching up, she unclip the cloak allowing it to fall to the ground. “Demeter, the Lamashtian.”

Meri took Demeter’s reaction in stride. There was a lot being revealed to Meri in this moment, sometimes there was a point to how obnoxious blonde could be. She already knew that the woman had an affinity for pyromancy, so seeing her eyes alight with fire was not surprising. It was familiar, in a way. Meri flashes the woman a knowing smile when the other woman reveals her secret. “See...I thought your tattoos struck me as familiar. Brennia and Thamalys both have something similar, but in respect to their own...houses? Lines?” Meri could not remember the proper terminology. “We do all have our secrets though.” Meri too. She was chalk full of them, but also very good at keeping them, “And I promise that I won’t go revealing yours to anyone.” A brow is lifted slightly, “Though I do find myself wondering why it is that you keep it a secret…” And Meri also finds herself craving that cigarette she pulled out before she started harassing poor Demeter. The blonde seems to have decided to behave herself better, though, and Demeter is finally afforded her personal space again after Meri’s beyond nosey investigation.

Demeter nods, “Depends on our own houses, and titles within them. Bloodlines have different designs, a way of marking if royal or lower class. If a Tzur or not. I am from Eldur, I am the only of my kingdom and bloodline here. I will always be the only one from my bloodline as they are wilted and aged to death as a human.” Demeter reaches out, slipping her fingers gently around her wrist if allowed. The other hand lifting to move a lock of Meri’s hair behind an ear. “You got to invade my personal space, now it is my turn to invade yours." Demeter, truly smiled playful at that has she plots her next move. Only if Meri allowed it, Demeter would wrap around Meri waist to hold her against the hard form of muscles. Mischievous showing in her eyes, giving a few slow motions of her wings before one hard one was given to lift them up into the air. Not high, just a few feet off the ground. Dropping back down, releasing her grip.

Meri :: When Demeter reaches out to adjust Meri’s hair, the blonde responds in much the same way that avian did. She stiffens. When Demeter puts an arm around her waist, the lycan is definitely contemplating pulling/pushing away. Yet before she has the chance they air a few feet off the ground. The blonde drops her cigarette into the wet sand and almost enters full panic mode. She’s got a bit of a thing with heights. A few feet off the ground would not cause her to have a total meltdown, but Meri’s not entirely too sure which direction they will be going for a moment. So the blonde is quick to try and free herself from Demeter’s hold. She would much rather fall back down to the ground than risk going higher. It didn’t matter either way, the results of Meri’s efforts, for in the end the woman was placed back onto the earth. Meri promptly drops down into a cross-legged position, as if grounding herself and trying to weigh herself to the beach. “I like the sea better than I like the air.” The blonde wrinkles her nose up. “Let’s make a deal. No more touchie.” Meri deserved this moment very much though. And she lost her cigarette in the process! Her eyes scan the beach for the fallen object, but by the time she finds it…? It’s beyond saving. “So I was thinking. How do you feel about adding the Adventurer’s Guild to your list of guilds?”

Demeter could not help herself, feeling Meri start wiggling caused her to burst out in laughter. Looking down upon her as she sits cross legged. Kneeling, replacing the cigarette Meri had lost with one of her own. Laughter still going, a sure sign she has not laughed in a very long time. Wiping a tear from her eyes, “Deal, no more touchie unless it is arm around the shoulder because we need it.” Hearing of adventure guild, her brows lift, interest peaked. “Adventure guild, what the guild does is in its name. I travel enough to do adventures. I supposed that it is a yes. Yes Meri, I shall join. What role do you need of I?”

Meri meets Demeter’s laughter with an easy going grin, a grin that widens considerably when she is given a new cigarette. The blonde retrieves the means to light it, though she knows perfectly well that Demeter could have done so for her. This time Meri does not ask, she’s a big girl. “Deal.” Meri declares once she has lit her cigarette. Finally. “I suppose, given what I am seeing, I would probably give you something like the title of aerial tactician. But then again? If I did? I might be revealing your secret?” The blonde shrugs. “Either way though...Everyone who enters the guild has to pass a little test. We just need to make sure that you’ve got enough spine to hang with us.” Meri was already sure that she knew the answer to this, which is why Demeter’s test is more for their humor than anything grandiose. The blonde points to the shipwreck that they are both very near. “I hear the ship is haunted.” Meri didn’t really know. “And I also hear that the skeleton of the Captain is still inside of it. So. I. Dare. You. To go inside and see if you find any ghosts? And see if the Captain is really in there. And if you caaaan! Bring me back a souvenir.” Though many people who live in and travel through Cenril have probably also done this dare themselves, there might not be anything let of note for Demeter to retrieve.

Demeter shrugs, “How they know I don’t keep a dragon to ride? Eventually my wings won’t be hidden anymore, so it is no problem.” Enough spine, well Demeter had that. She tries not to have emotions, the fire feeds from emotions. Grey eyes turn followed by her head to the ship, a brow lifting. “Dare accepted, Meri.” Offering a smirk, moving her wings enough to send her up into the air. Bending backwards, twisting to turn herself around before moving to land on the deck of the ship. Looking for an access point, with patients running out fast she finally found a spot. Tucking her wings tightly against her before jumping down. Inside sea crabs’ skeeters along the floor, water up to her ankles rushing back and forth. No light to be seen within, as if the ‘ghost’ absorbs the light. Deep inhale, sticking her left hand out summoning a flame to hover above it. Inside the ship, others seemed to have gotten inside to carve initials, statements of love. One part even showed what seemed to once be blood, moving further looking for the caption’s quarters. Opening a door that fell apart once the pressure to pull, a seagull rushed out and throw the hole of the deck she came from. Holding her hand into the room only to be disappointed that it was not the caption’s quarters but his crew’s. Moving in to search around, dragging her feet to find a handle that once belonged to a sword some time ago. Turning around, heading the opposite way. More crabs, even an octopus had slipped under the door she wanted to find. Smirking, having an idea if she could find a helmet or skull to put the creature in and have it slide down the boat to see if it would spoke Meri. For now, she moved to the captain’s quarters. The door gone, just as she figured it would be. Stepping inside, everything had been messed with, anything of value ransacked. Smacking her lips together, “Balls.” Dragging her feet along, only to feel something at her feet. Reaching down to pick it, a hand. Well, this would do for now. Next, she found at least half a helmet. Now to find the octopus, grabbing the creature quickly. Placing him inside the helmet, moving quickly to where she entered. Flying up, keeping low. “Ghost!” She bellows out, sitting the helmet with the octopus inside on the edge of the ship to send it running down the side of the boat.

Meri understood Demeter’s point completely, but she does not press the topic further. Demeter is off! And has flown away, taking Meri up on her dare and entering the shipwreck. Even if the ship was not haunted, it was certainly not lacking in any creepiness factor. Between the darkness, the rot, and the signs of battle. Meri admittedly has already explored the ship, so she had a good understanding of what Demeter was likely to find inside. It wasn’t really the point though. The point was that Demeter had nerve enough to enter and explore the shipwreck. Minutes pass and Meri waits patiently, smoking her cigarette all the while. By the time that Demeter returns, the blonde has puffed the rolled smoke down to the butt. Demeter shouting about a ghost has Meri briefly lifting both brows, if only because Meri is not in the immediate line of fire of the falling octopus. At first, Meri is not entirely sure what has fallen off the ship. Was it really a ghost? Meri was pretty sure it was no ghost but she moves closer to investigate. Once the lycan realizes it is another one of the avian’s little pranks and has herself a pretty solid chuckle. “Awe, did you bring me back dinner?” Meri calls up the voice as she nudges the octopus with the toe of her boot to see if it survived the fall. “Welcome to the guild,” she calls up to the avian. “I hope you enjoy your time with us.”

Demeter chuckles before she jumps off the boat, handing Meri a gift. A skeleton hand, “Yes I did, you like sushi?” She teases, “You’re souvenir as requested. I hope to not let you all down and continue to see you around. I must be off though; it is getting dark and I like to be in the chamber when it does.” Not that she feared the dark, it just seemed that is when the nightmares creep out from under rocks. “See you around.”

Meri did not detain Demeter, she'd instead salute the woman with that skeleton hand that she was just gifted. "I will see you around. Drinks soon. I hope." And with that? Meri would collect her dinner, take the hand, and would actually wander back to her place for the night.