RP:In Memory Of

Part of the The Day I Tried To Live Arc

Summary: Meri encounters Pilar in Chartsend and inquiries about a tattoo in memory of Khitti. Meri refuses this work, knowing full well that Khitti is alive, and uses guilt to her advantage to avoid further questioning on the matter.

Coastal Square, Chartsend

It was a pleasant evening; unseasonably warm, with a gentle breeze coming off the sea. At the plaza near the beach, a local band was playing a free show (though of course tips were encouraged). The all-feline, all-female ensemble was known as Panthera and comprised of a drummer, a guitarist, bassist and a singer. Each one resembled a different big cat; a lion, a tiger, a jaguar, and a leopard. At the moment, they were playing their newest song, an ethereal tune called Magical Shadow. “You can't catch a magical shadow, deep into the city's core I go...” Pilar and Yozenra were among the small crowd that had gathered to listen.

Meri was known to travel about the lands but it was not every day that her travels ended up taking her to Chartsend. Today it was business that was bringing her out this way, Callum always helped to make sure that Meri had a sufficient supply of paints. He could easily grow the plants needed to make various pigments, but other artistic supplies? They would of course have to be purchased at wholesale from a variety of craftsman throughout the lands. Meri in particular was having issues with one merchant who supplies a couple styles of paint brushes. That is neither here nor there though, how would Pilar know these details? What she would know is that Meri is wandering through the area, with purpose and destination in mind at first, but her attention is pulled from her goal but the band playing in the square. From a distance it was hard to make out what they were playing so she takes a quick detour and begins to approach. Who might be amongst this crowd is not the first thing Meri observes, her eyes and ears were claimed by Panthera but it was not clear if Meri liked or disliked what she was hearing.

Pilar liked the music well enough. Not exactly dancing music, but she found it pleasant enough. Yozenra, with human legs rather than a naga tail, stood by her side stoically, seeming indifferent to the band. Still, when they finished the song and the crowd clapped politely, she did step forward to toss a couple gold coins in the guitar case. "Thank ya kindly, ma'am," the drummer, the lioness, said. Out of the four felines, her coat was the only one that was a solid color. As such, her arms had had intricate patterns painted onto them, which had dyed the fur. Closest thing she could get to rocking tats, unless she wanted to shave. Yozenra dipped her head and returned to Pilar's side. "Okay, this next one is our cover of a classic drinking song from Frostmaw, called North Mead," the singer said. The bassist did something unexpected; she pulled a bow from her case and began playing her bass like a cello. The guitarist and drummer joined in, and eventually, the singer did, too. "We're merry men of Frostmaw, so sturdy and so stout! When the day is done, when it's time for fun, we'll drink and sing and shout!" Pilar had heard this song before, when she lived in Frostmaw, and it made her a little nostalgic. She turned to say something to Yozenra when she spotted Meri. "Oh!" She pointed the artist out to Yozenra. "That's my friend," she said, quietly so as not to disturb the concert. She approached Meri, Yozenra following behind. "Meri, hello," Pilar said.

Nostalgia is not a feeling that Meri feels when she hears this song of Frostmaw. Frostmaw was third on the list of Meri's least like regions, with Trist'oth claiming the number one slot and Vailkrin following hot on Trist'oth's heels. As a woman that has lived most of her life in beachy regions, it was just too damn cold for Meri's tastes. The song has caused Meri to lose interest and the blonde artist turns to leave the area and resume her business but that is right when Pilar approaches her. Unfortunately Pilar's attempts to speak in a low voice so that she does not disturb the music makes it slightly hard for Meri to hear. She lifts a hand and touches her ear to indicate to Pilar that she could not quite hear her that well. However she can presume what was said easily enough in this particular instance. More elaborate questions may prove to be a problem. "Hello to the both of you." Meri says in response, not really caring to lower her own voice. The sounds of the instruments easily were louder than Meri when she speaks at normal volume. A few steps are taken away from the band and the crowd so that she can better hear the two of them for any small talk they might engage in. She signals that Pilar and Yozenra should do the same, beckoning for them to follow her lead.

Pilaar and Yozenra followed Meri away from the crowd. The music was still plenty audible, but now they at least could talk without bothering anyone. "It's nice to see you," Pilar said. Yozenra, stoic but not unkind, offered a hand to shake. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure. Yozenra Amaten. Your name is Meri, yes? You were the one who did Pilar's tattoos? She spoke quite highly of you. They are great pieces."

Now that they had some distance between themselves and the music and it was easier for Meri to hear, introductions seemed more fitting. That offered hand is taken and given a firm shake before it is released. "Yes, I have done two tattoos for Pilar. I am glad to know that she still appreciates the tattoos to speak highly of my work." Red lips form up into a smile that remains for only a few seconds. "How are the both of you doing today? Probably not too badly I speculate if the both of you are out and about enjoying music."

"We're fine, thank you," Pilar said. "I, um... Speaking of tattoos... Since you're here, actually, I um... I was thinking of getting another. You, um, probably know by now, but... Khitti passed away. I, um, wanted a new tattoo to memorialize her." Yozenra's stoic facade cracked, and a look of distaste crossed her features, but she remained silent.

Meri more than knew, was was one of a handful of people who had been there with Khitti at her end and had witnessed this encounter firsthand. There were not many people that Meri actually considered to be her friend. Meri was friendly with a lot of people, sure. But in terms of people that Meri would actually sit with and have in depth conversations with where she actually shares information about herself, discussing things like their love lives or their dreams of business prospects, Khitti was one of the few. A heavy frown weighs at Meri's lips and there is a long moment of silence before Meri speaks her answer, "I am not in the habit of refusing to do tattoos, but I am not sure if you were aware....but I actually watched Khitti die. I watched her fall from the bridge and burn to her death as she was falling." More gruesome details could be provided, but Meri quite frankly does not want to go into them. "So while I am not in the habit of refusing work, I am too close to the subject and it would pain me to do this tattoo. I think you should seek out Lita for this piece."

Pilar gasped. "Oh gods, I'm so sorry! I didn't know--I never would have asked if... I'm so sorry." She tried not to think of the disturbing new details she'd just learned of Khitti's demise. Burning to death... How horrible. Tears pricked at her eyesa nd she hastily wiped them away. "Are... are you doing okay, Meri?"

All Meri could do to answer this question was shrug, she is not the sort of woman who was good at expressing herself emotionally in that respect. Getting her to talk about anything related to her feelings could be like pulling teeth sometimes, her heart is not worn on her sleeve opnely like her tattoos are. "Yeah. Anyway. Enough of that. Lita is still based out of Rynvale. She is willing to travel for work. You'll just have to send word and see when she will be free...but like I said, enough of that. I have heard things about Chartsend. You had some troubles with some illnesses out here? It seems things are faring far better in this particular region, or are you guys still having troubles?"

Pilar nodded. "Of course." The mention of the illness caused Yozenra to wrap an arm around Pilar's shoulders. Pilar lifted her hand to hold Yozenra's. "We lost a few people to what turned out to be a curse... But a group of clerics were able to banish it from Chartsend." "Pilar and the other healers did a good job keeping it at bay. If not for them, it probably would have killed more people, including me," Yozenra said.

As glad as Meri was to hear that they had managed to banish the illness that had been running rampant from Chartsend, she does not smile. For while lives were saved and that was joyous, lives were also lost. The two women seem to be bringing up grim subjects left and right for this encounter. "I hope Chartsend will not have to deal with any additional problems any time soon." A beat so that Meri can look over her shoulder toward some of the buildings that help make up Chartsend. Her gaze comes to rest upon the two women by the time she starts speaking again. "And I am glad that the two of you still have each other and your health. I am actually hear to check on one of my suppliers, so I should probably get to it before I miss him entirely." Unless Pilar or Yozenra had anything to say that may delay Meri's departure, she'd give the both of them a little wiggle of her fingers and then be on her way.