RP:Request for a Handy Man
Synopsis: A casual and innocently, fliratious encounter between Penelope and Athyaron. Penelope is preparing for the Mage's Guild Ball, but is lacking energy. She offers a simple request of having the wolf build a sign and shelving for her for her vendor's booth.
RP
Penelope is clicking along from the east of Kelay on a cream-colored horse. Delilah. The healer’s hair is unkempt, like always, frizzy and loose. “Slow down, girl,” the herbalist coos with a squeeze of her legs and a pull on the reigns. The creature comes to a halt. “Now, you just stay put, now. I need to stop for a small break,” the petite woman breathes out as if she is winded. After all, the woman was still in recovery from her past illness. The plague had almost killed her, and she was still gaining back her strength. Delilah neighs and snorts. Nearby is a rocky ledge where the girl sits. The woman wears a flowy, thick grey sweater with an orange shirt underneath to bring out thick layers. She seems casual in her black skinny, ripped pants and brown boots. On her back rests a pack, and she pulls the bag off to the side and unties the pack to pull out what appears to be an apple. She offers it to the horse that is standing nearby her. The girl then pulls out a sandwich wrapped in paper. The girl idly chomps away staring at the patrons passing.
Athyaron had been out in the forest, ensuring that it was properly guarded. The death of his brother at the hands of Tiphareth was not something the ranger had forgotten. While he had just returned, the ranger had made a point to see if the forests were still safe for his kind or not, unknowing if they were still Drow controlled or if they'd been driven back. It wasn't a question he himself was ready for. Still, one needed supplies on the hunt. Arrows didn't just make themselves and a stall here usually had what he needed. Clad in all black robes and a hooded cloak similar to what he wore yesterday, the ranger stopped as he recognized a familiar face. "Ah..good evening Ms. Halifax. I wanted to thank you for the enjoyable evening the other day."
Penelope is in mid-big-bite. The sandwich chunk is wadded up in her freckled cheek. “Oh,” she says with a full mouth as she recognizes the cloak the lycan wore. A hand extends up to her mouth out of mannerism. She chews and then swallows before smiling all the same. “Ah, Mr. Kianil, yes,” she nods along. “Always a pleasure to meet new people. I knew I would see you around again,” she says in her soft tone. “Where are you off to? To open another tab for tipsy women?” The woman teases. Athyaron chuckles at her comment about his...habit. "Had hoped to see you around again myself." he says in return. Reaching up to adjust the quiver worn on his shoulder, the ranger would shake his head. "Was just roaming the forest. Was my home before the Drow came up from underground some time ago. Tiphareth killed my brother Lirithen when they did. I thought to see if it was safe to return. However..." he says as he motions to his empty quiver. "I find myself lacking a few materials for my bows upkeep and arrow making."
Penelope looks around the scenery as he speaks. “Yes, these forests have taken quite the toll over the past years. I remember when I was younger about the drow. I lived in the silent part of the forest at the time. Not long ago, these forests also suffered a lot of madness—specifically the trees.” Pause. “They are finally growing back…” The woman trails off. As he speaks of his brother, her chest tightens and she shifts around. “My condolences. Y’know my brother was killed in these forests as well—different reasons, really,” her mind trails back to the metal-armed elf—Linken. “Either way, materials? What do you need?” She takes another bite of the sandwich in her hands.
Athyaron listens as she speaks of her brother. "You have mine as well. Lirithen had possession of an artifact of my people...the blood-moon blade. I intend to have it returned once I'm reacquainted with everything again." In truth, Liana had wanted him to take up his brothers place after he fell, though he'd refused. What had been the point back then? They were outnumbered. Snapping back as she asked what he required, he'd finally answer. "Just some stone for the arrowheads, maybe some good steel if I can find it. Haven't got the coin to replace my old bow..it was elemental enchanted. Soon though."
Penelope nods, but she does not understand what a “blood-moon blade” is. “Acquainted with the land?” She then moves forward with the conversation. “Steel… steel. You may be able to find some from a blacksmith,” she shrugs. Weapons? Not her thing. “How much we talking for this nature-sounding bow? You could do a little work for me for some coin,” she grins playfully. “The ladies love a handsome face when they come in,” she laughs at her own antics.’
Athyaron nods. "I've been....away...travelling." he said carefully. He didn't want to reveal too much, let alone a woman he'd just met after all. Not that it had stopped him before in the past, but he was just being careful. "I've only recently just returned and I fear I've got to reacquaint myself with where things are and how to get there." he says with a chuckle. "I'd be glad to help if you needed it Ms. Halifax, no coin needed. I know a little about healing magic." Her other comment earned her a slightly flirtatious grin. "Well...I'm sure the men enjoy a beautiful face such as yours when they come in as well.."
Penelope takes a bite of her sandwich to finish it off. No one knew about closed pasts than she did. She always kept that barrier there. “That’s understandable. Soon enough it will be muscle memory again before you know it,” she says optimistically. “You know about healing magic? Ah, well, surprisingly that is not my area of expertise. I tried long ago, and… it did not work out to my advantage,” she recalls the war with bloodshed. So many people were dying in front of her, and she could barely move. Never again. The girl then waves her hand at his returning comment and she flings her hand. “Pish posh!” She exclaims. “Besides, I was just going to have you build me something. I need a sign. Wooden. Big and tall. I also need shelving built for me. For the ball, and I need some errands done too. I want tassels and gold paint and wine-colored string to make my table pretty. Y’know, to awe the people who walk by my table!” The woman is enthusiastic. “I’ve been trying to run around,” she gestures to her horse Delilah, “but unfortunately, I’m still trying to get back on my feet, as of late.” The woman was in recovery from the plague, of course. Any strenuous activity exhausted her.
Athyaron felt slightly embarrassed as most who required his help usually wanted something healed. That or....an arrow through them if the coin was right. Her reaction to his returning comment caused a slightly amused smile to form in the corner of his lips. "I see. Well you're in luck. I enjoy working with my hands. Shelving I can do, as can your sign be done. You needn't offer any coin."
Penelope’s pale, plump lips form into a smile. “Thank you so much. This truly means a lot. I would have Ruari do it, but he is helping me get ingredients together and paint and make the merchandise look good,” she smirks. “You can stop by whenever you’d like to build. We have wood just laying around outside of the hut. I just need you to move heavy objects for me,” she smirks. “You might just get something anyway for your service.” The girl then brushes her hands together. The woman with the freckle dusted cheeks remains smiling in her crooked, cool manner. “Are you going to the ball, Mr. Kianil? There is going to be –great- food and free drinks. Vendors of the sort. Plus, you might run into someone you find familiar again.”
Athyaron takes a seat on the ground, not exactly caring if a spot was available or not. The ranger was able to make himself comfortable more or less anywhere. "Will need to know where to go Ms. Halifax.." he says with a small smile. The mention of the ball though caused his head to tilt slightly in curiousity, a strand of silver hair poking out from his hood with the motion. "I hadn't decided. I only heard about it last night from you and your friends."
Penelope watches him plop down in front of her. Moss doe-eyes look down on him. “Xalious. West from here,” she points down the road. The woman then places her hands on the rocky ledge she sits on. She almost laughs. “My friends? Why, I only met them last night,” she smirks. “I don’t have a lot of friends.” The girl shrugs and brushes her comment off nonchalantly. “You should attend. It’s really a week-long event. Not a week-long ball. The ball is only one night, but the rest of the week there will be a fair! It’s really for the Mages Guild, but everyone is invited to watch the ceremony. Besides, if no one shows that you don’t know, I’ll at least be there, so you won’t be entirely awkwardly alone in a pitiful way,” she tries to hold back her laughter by biting the inside of her cheek and crinkling her nose.
Athyaron would raise a brow as she mentions she had only met the other two last night. "Interesting. The way you seemed to be around each other suggested a bond that's been there a year or two at least." As she mentioned the ball again the ranger would only smile slightly. "Most of mine are gone or I lost contact a long time ago. One is still around I believe in the land, though hard to find." Listening, her last words would earn her a look of feigned shock. "Are you suggesting that I would be awkward and alone? Nonsense. You wound me."
Penelope shrugs. “I’m just overly friendly, I suppose. I kind of have to be… I am one of the faces of Kelay—running a local branch here, so people tend to know me. I want people to feel at ease when they see me,” the girl plays this off. Penelope was good at acting like people knew her deeply. The girl was touchy with her personal life. “Pity, well, I hope you find the person. Only time will tell. It’s a small world out there,” she nodded before tugging on her sweater idly. The girl then grins at his behavior and bounces back. “Hey, I’m just trying to look out for ya. And let me just say, there are plenty of men who are the mysterious cloaked type. Maybe you should invest in a nice suit and tie,” she winks.
Athyaron understood all too well being the face of something. At one point in time he had been a member of The Fold, a group dedicated to stamping out threats to the land. He had actually partaken in the battle against the dragon Helich. "I understand having to keep a face on for the public. We all do really." Her words about finding his friends touched him slightly. They seemed genuine. "Thank you. Perhaps she is still here. If not well...start a new chapter I suppose." he says, though her next comment earned her a smirk. "M'dear...those that try the cloaked look are just impersonating me since I've pulled it off for so long." he says with a chuckle. "Besides, I've never been one for formal wear. It's stuffy and uncomfortable.."
Penelope now lets her face rest in a soften look. “New chapters are sometimes… for the best. You find new people and crowds. Trust me, nothing ever stays the same,” she lifts her shoulders again. “You might just suffer trying to build something you once had,” her voice is serious for a moment. Something all too familiar. She cannot help but grin shortly after. “Ah, Mr. Kianil, I will say that you pull it off rather well, so I will give you the credit. I guess you can just be you,” she rolls her eyes playfully. “So… where you off to next?”
Athyaron nods in agreement. "When one remains still, all life halts.." he says. "You have to keep on going forward to the next chapter." Her next question earned her a small shrug. "I hadn't thought about what my plans were for the night."
Penelope is silent for a long time as she stares at him with a soothing gaze. Her lips part again and she speaks, “Get drunk, go dancing, get dinner, travel…so much to do, really.” She smiles. “Or sleep, like me.” The woman slides off the ledge. Boots land softly on the ground and she stares down at him. “I best get back to the hut. Yerrel has been letting me sleep there until I find comfort in my cottage again in the silence of the forest. I haven’t been back there in a couple years. I’ve been bouncing around for a while,” she smirks. “Besides, the cottage needs some handy work. Either way, I talk too much and it’s a bunch of jumbo.”
Athyaron picks himself up off the ground. Reaching down to dust himself off, he would offer the woman a smile. "If you ever need company because the silence is too deafening you are more than welcome to seek me out." Whether that was meant as flirting or kindness would be left up to interpretation for now. "Do you need an escort home?"
Penelope blinks. “You can help me dust off the old place one day, maybe,” she is hesitant about saying that. The girl continues on. “I thank you either way,” she gives him a crooked smile. “Y’know that would be the polite thing to do, now, wouldn’t it? Though, I don’t need an escort,” it was too romantic for the fickle girl. “Dee normally gives me a lift and brings me safe and sound,” she motions her head towards the horse who is snarling. “She’s a sweet thing, really.” Beat. The woman takes a long look at him. “I hope you travel safe, Mr. Kianil. My best wishes on your search for past loved ones. Also, my best wishes for getting a feel for the grounds of the land again. Send word with Mesthak to find Yerrel’s hut. It’s a pretty common place people tend to roam.” She then walks over to Delilah and slips a foot in a socket before lifting herself over the horse into the saddle. “Have a good evening, Mr. Kianil. It was—a delight,” her smile softens and her voice turns silken, “really,” she finishes and waits for any sort of comment from him before she squeezes her legs against the belly of the steed. The cream horse begins to trot west down the road, disappearing into the distance.
Athyaron offers her a bow as she gets ready to leave, not offended in the slightest she didn't want him to escort her home. Most around here knew how to handle themselves, refusing escort wasn't exactly an insult. "I thank you for your kind words Ms. Halifax, and I enjoyed your company tonight. Truly." As she left the ranger turned and began to head towards the tavern, seeing if perhaps Mesthak had room for the night.