RP:Meeting Skylei
Gualon City Plaza
Skylei is having one of those days where everything that’s been piling up for months on ends completely comes crashing down on you. Those days suck. So naturally, having spent a good hour lurking around the perimeter of Gualon, just in case she caught sight of an albino lycan, she’d chosen to continue heading south and actually enter the city. And why not; the drink is cheap, the company is tolerable and it’s far enough away from anyone that might recognise her that Skylei doesn’t feel worried about the way she’s looks. That’s fortunate because she’s quite a state. She’s one of those people that cannot travel through the swamp without coating half of their inner calves with mud, kicked up from equally mud-clad boots, but that’s nothing compared to the state of her face. Such a pale-skinned creature, the evidence of having spent the last hour in constant tears is glaringly obvious. Her eyes are bloodshot and puffy, her face; ugly red and covered in tear tracks with a particularly blotchy nose from having been rubbed one too many times. At least she isn’t actively crying now but she wears the expression that screams that more misery is always on the table.
Meri has situated herself right beneath the base of the bronze tree, several artistic supplies spread out in a half-circle in front of her. It includes various colors of paint, thin paint brushes, a tray for any paint currently being used, and several pieces of paper. What the woman’s current project is? Hard to say from a distance. She seems quite focused on whatever she is doing, not so intent on her work that she misses Skylei’s approached. Usually stranger that venture their way into Gualon are met with a cheerful smile and that almost happens...almost. A smile starts to curve at Meri’s red lips until she notices how puffy and red Skylei’s face is. This emotional stuff? It was never Meri’s strong point but she makes an effort to reach out to the woman she vaguely recognizes...from that night Tyler ruined her sketchbook. “Hey,” Meri says hesitantly, “Is everything alright....?” A question that could gain mixed results, given that Meri and Skylei didn’t know each other well at all....but which was the lesser of two evils? To ask or to ignore. Meri didn’t know.
Skylei doesn’t respond for a few seconds until she lifts her eyes to meet Meri’s, “Oh… me?” Skylei looks around and sees no one. “Oh yeah, I just have… allergies. To swamp pollens! Smells awful out there, thank goodness the city smells better, hey?” She forces herself to smile brightly though that smile certainly doesn’t reach her eyes. Burying her hands in her pockets she pulls out a handkerchief and blows her nose as though to emphasise that her lie was truth before smiling awkwardly. “But, ‘y’know… thanks?” What now? Skylei bites the inside of her lower lip as she goes to move past Meri, but she only takes one step before turning back, retracing those steps and engaging the woman with a question of her own “I’m sorry, maybe it’s just your face, but you seem familiar. I mean, have I met you before?” This is strange for Skylei. She’s a scholar by trade and is blessed with a near photographic memory, and that includes faces of the people she meets. Meri is familiar, but there’s a blur of memory haze that hangs over that night. Nothing quite fits together and everything remains strangely distorted. That’ll happen when your psycho of a fiancé decides to mess with your mind.
Meri nodded briefly to Skylei. Though Meri thought that Skylei was perhaps not truthful, her eyes were too red and too puffy for it to just be allergies, Meri was not about to call her bluff. If the tattoo artist were in Skylei’s shoes currently, being questioned by a near stranger, she would probably lie as well. No offense was taken. An easy-going grin curves at those red lips, shifting the topic on to other things and elaborating on why Skylei might find her face familiar. “We met once, briefly. Out in Kelay. It was kind of an awkward meeting, truth be told, and I don’t think we even had the chance to exchange names. But Tyler ruined my sketchbook, if you recall, and tried to pay me the cost of replacement....” Something that upset Skylei, as it was their last few coin, but that is not something Meri cares to remind the woman of. “And then he was inquiring about a tattoo.”
As Meri recounts the tale of how they met Skylei desperately tries to connect the incidents together. There is an undeniable familiarity to the tale she tells, but Skylei can’t place herself in it and nor does she actively remember it happening. It’s not surprising, but it does leave her in an awkward conundrum: does she explain exactly why she doesn’t remember that night? No, that’s no information to be shared with a basic stranger. So, Skylei lies again, allowing a smile to grow across her features as she nods as though her memory has successfully been jogged, “Of course, how could I forget? I guess I was just so busy and stressed around then that it must have got pushed to the back of my mind. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. And I’m still terribly sorry about that sketchbook.” She does her best not to linger on the detail of the story. Tyler, and all thoughts of that man, is barred from entering her mind. She’s come to Gualon to forget all about him; sods law that the first person she runs into is connected to her via him. Instead, she fights the urge to slander or cry and holds out her hand as she has learnt is the acceptable human custom for a first meeting, “Shall we try again? I’m Skylei Lucindio, I guess it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance again.”
Meri again finds herself dipping her head in a nod, an indication that she was listening to Skylei’s explanation. Talk of her ruined sketchbook is waved off dismissively. It was so long ago and Meri was on to a new book, quickly filling it with new pieces of art. It didn’t replace any of her old work, nothing could, but the woman had no hard feelings over it. Besides, Skylei was not the guilty part. “Don’t even worry about it. That was so long ago. No apologies needed.” Skylei’s approach as Meri standing to her feet, wiping off any paint that might linger on her fingers onto her pants. Meri steps out of that small half-circle of supplies for this proper introduction, reaching out to take Skylei’s hand within hers for this more formal introduction. “Meri. Quite pleased to meet you, Skylei. Do you mind being called Sky at all? Or do you prefer Skylei?” A brow is lofted curiously. “What brings you all the way out to Gualon? Business? Pleasure? Just the sort to wander about?” Boy, Meri sure could ask a lot of questions.
Skylei would take Meri’s hand, offer a shake for the designated acceptable time, “A pleasure, I’m sure,” before dropping her own hand back to her side and allowing it to slide into the pockets of the oversized coat she wears. She would sigh, but smile as Meri questioned which one of the names was best to used; such a common question “It’s a terrible name isn’t it? My mother chose it, hoping that it would sound elven, but put me in an enclave and they all laugh at the bastardised common that it comes from. I suppose it was close enough for her though.” Skylei shrugs, “I guess that’s the longwinded way of saying either. Skylei is what I use for work and Sky for pleasure. And, as this is a pleasure trip, I suppose you should call me Sky. Though I find Gualon a good setting for business too” All of Meri’s questions wrapped up in one neat little bundle. She would attempt to offer her own questions in return, though Mari’s easy manner isn’t exactly matched by the scholar, “So… from all of this, and the sketchbook palaver, I would be correct in assuming that you’re in the art trade of some kind.” Sky pauses for a second, “Oh but you mentioned tattoos? Is that what you do?” Skylei has answered her own question, but seems keen to ascertain a response.
Blue eyes turn away from Skylei’s form and back to numerous supplies that litter the ground just behind Meri. “That is one of my many professions, yes.” Her gaze travels back to Skylei’s face, studying the half-elf before her thoughtfully. It seemed like the woman needed a good distraction from her ‘allergies’, so the artist goes out on a limb, offering more information up than she would any other stranger. “But the pay is not always great. I mean, I set the prices but even with that it truly depends on what the client wants. There is only so much that I can charge for a small piece, you know? And it is inconsistent. Some days I have so much work that my hand starts to cramp up from overuse...then bam, I can go weeks without work. So when I don’t have jobs lined up at SoulsKin, I am working for board out in Gualon....doing whatever. My current project is designing flyers for the taverns, advertising for the spring concert that I am planning on holding in about two weeks.” Cue a wide smile. “And what of yourself, Sky?” Should Skylei devote any attention to of the parchments the woman has laid out, she’ll notice the borders of said pieces of paper are filled with musical notes and colorful flowers, plenty of room left in the center for information about said concert.
It seems that Meri has found a kindred spirit in Skylei, at least in the way that the pair’s employment works, “Oh gods, I cannot even tell you how familiar that story is. I mean, primarily I’m engaged in resrach, I’ve been connected to the university in Chartsend for a few years now. I have a couple of key areas of research; human, elven and dwarven history, the mechanics of pyromancy and dwarven runes are the main ones.” Or at least, the ones that Skylei feels it’s socially acceptable to mention in public. It doesn’t give off the best impression to confess you’re unhealthily interested in lycanthropy or necromancy, after all. “I don’t get to do that much; I mean, it certainly doesn’t pay well, unless someone wants some information, which they rarely do. I spent more of my time translating documents between tongues, or cartography or, honestly, anything that pays.” Skylei lowers her voice and mutters conspiratorially, “Honestly, I have months where I worry I won’t make my rent.” In actuality, Skylei has had three of those months in a row. And not making rent had not simply been a concern, it simply hadn’t happened. For this reason, Sky is now staying at Raphaline’s home until she makes enough money to get back on her own two feet; but she’s not going to admit that – that’s just humiliating. “It was much easier when I had a roommate, but she’s all loved up now, so I’m having to hack it on my own, y’know?” Skylei doesn’t share this kind of information with strangers on a regular basis and she’s almost surprised at herself. To avoid talking anymore about herself she turns attention back to Meri’s profession, turning her eyes to aforementioned flyers, “They’re lovely. I hope they’re paying you well, or they’re robbing you blind.”
Meri occasionally frequents Raphaline’s as well, though for not issues of rent. The bard and the artist were just close friends. Close enough that Meri’s little fox, Gage, occasionally makes his way up to Raphaline’s to visit Ava. This travel is almost made on his own. The adorable and intelligent little fox is a free spirit. “I mean, I have no complaints. I’ve got a nice room in the castle, I get fed, and my horse is tended to. It seems like a fair trade to me as horses are quite expensive. So I am happy to do what I can around the city of Gualon as much as I can.” Skylei is given a once over, studying gear, looking for weaponry. The why of this once over is about to be explained. “You know, this concert I am trying to organize is a paying gig in a lot of respects....I don’t know what your skill set is fully but....Performers of any variety are being welcomed. Even if they are just small acts between musical sets? I’m also looking for vendors....If you’ve a knack for creating things...Even a security detail.” Meri knew well what it was like to have to stress about making rent and other financial matters. Thus the offer is extended to Skylei with only the best of intentions.
Skylei considers her own last few living situations; Josleen’s couch, a little flat in Cenril that had been the scene of a murder a few months before Sky had rented it and still had bloodstains in the carpet (and, Skylei was convinced, a poltergeist in the attic) and now Raphaline’s house. Perpetually circling the drain of homelessness is practically Skylei’s main profession and favourite hobby. Her gear suggests little about what she does; leathers, top to bottom, traditional gear of an elven ranger and an ordinary unimpressive bow. There’s little more hidden below the surface, save for the ability for the half-elf to produce a small amount of fire. She is loath to confess this, but does so anyway, “My talents, sadly, exist only in the dullest of areas. If nothing else, I will hope to attend the concert. I’m sure it’s going to be wonderful.” She pauses and thinks for a few seconds, “Though,” Skylei smiles, “my trade does mean that I have contacts all over the land, I’ll be sure to mention it to people. My old roommate, she’s a bard by trade and not a bad one either. The more people who know about it, the more successful it’ll be, right?”
Meri’s features brighten considerably at the mention of another bard, eagerly dipping her head as if to encourage Skylei mentioning this to said bard...and anyone else that Skylei could think of. “I would greatly appreciate that.” Cue another smile, though it does not linger for long. Though, Skylei was a still a stranger to Meri, it would seem the artist as already taken a liking to the half-elf. Another offer is made. “How about this then, if none of those jobs seems to suit your skill set...Any time you find that you are in a pinch...” This offer is made without any knowledge of Skylei being able to stay with Raphaline. “You can claim a room in the castle temporarily. Just find me and chat me up, if you ever need it, yeah?” Did Meri have the authority within the city to make such an offer? Hard to say. She must, if it was made. “Also, there is a spa not too far south of here....I think you should pay it a visit. Don’t worry about paying for this visit.” This visit. A one time offer. “Just drop my name and they’ll treat you. You seem so...stressed...I think it would do you some good to relax a bit. Consider it a thank you for being willing to spread the word about the concert. I could use all the help that I can get.”
Skylei seems to trade more in friendships, acquaintances and favours more than she does with money these days. This strange, not-quite-deal that the two have brokered seems to her a fair trade, and little more effort than she would have to put in normally, but allows her to do a favour for someone who had forgiven a mistake that Skylei was at least partially associated with. Lucindios are like Lannisters; they always pay their debts. “I appreciate that. I find myself more and more in this city, so I may well take you up on the offer.” This is just about the first normal and functional conversation that Skylei has had in months that hasn’t ended in screaming, crying or murder. Small blessings, but Meri gets a giant tick in Skylei’s book, “If you ever find yourself In need of information or translation or… well, just about any odd job you can think of, you know my name. I’m easily found and I’m always happy to help, y’know?”
Meri was quite pleased to here that Skylei was finding herself about the city of Gualon more and more. The more people that were around here, the more people Meri had to socialize with. The artist has grown quite fond of the city and loved to see it thrive. Curiosity takes over once again at Skylei’s offer. Since the half-elf seemed more than content to linger about and converse, another question is posed to the woman. “I will most certainly keep that in mind. I don’t know how much need I have for translations....” Then again, Meri was doing a lot these days that she never imagined that she would be doing. You never know. “But information....well, knowledge is power, isn’t it? What sort of information would you say you specialize in?”
Skylei offers a wry grin, “Knowledge is power but knowledge can also…” Skylei pauses, shrugs and rubs her fingers together in the universal symbol for money. Good hustle. Hell, Skylei had already admitted that she did almost anything to make money; this is simply another facet of the Skylei Lucindio enterprise. “When it comes to information, I trade in what’s valuable at the time and valuable to the people who want it. But, like I said, the kind of occupation I’m in affords me a great deal of connections. I’d be happy to say that I could get most kinds of information and if I can’t… well, I probably know someone who can. It’s all legal, of course…” That’s questionable enough but Skylei doesn’t want to disclose much more. Like she said previously, she’s a scholar by trade and that affords her a certain kind of knowledge, but there’s another kind of knowledge that comes by association and Sky has enough of that to go round too, “Like I said, you think of anything you need, I’m well enough known. Right now I’m staying up not far from Xalious with a friend of mine; though she’s likely a friend of everybody’s. A bard, goes by Raphaline. I can’t see my situation changing in the near future.”
Meri finds her gaze wandering skyward, a shocked expression soon crossing her features as she realizes how late the hour is. This expression is replaced by a smile toward Skylei, the artist moving to gather up all of those supplies she has laid out in front of her. “I know Raphaline quite well, so I am sure that we will run into each other quite often if you are staying at her place.” More apologetically, “I hate to cut this conversation short, I didn’t realize how late it was and I have some place that I need to be. It was a pleasure chatting with you, Sky. I hope you enjoy your time down here in Gualon.” By the time Meri has finished saying all of that, the artist has gathered her belongings and scampers northward, waving goodbye to Skylei as she meanders off.