Author: Ryspar, Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 5:03 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

This girl certainly preferred to resort to magic at every chance, didn't she? Ryspar quirked an eyebrow as she spoke of incinerating her prey. Not quite what he'd meant but effective if you didn't mind charred food. Were there not spells to fire an arrow into a target? Or some less…combustible way to kill prey? He could understand her wanting to keep herself unsullied. That made sense, at least. And if she were to travel with someone else, that person could do the hunting for her. Like him.

Ryspar nodded slightly. He preferred not to pay strangers for his safety. Couldn't always trust them. Well, apparently he was quite far from her mind when it came to traveling. Until he suggested himself. Still, she didn't refuse him. "Well, if you have no objections, I would not mind escorting you when you travel. I know how to hunt and fish and can often read the weather if a storm is coming. I know nothing of the area and just seeing the sights might be enjoyable." And perhaps he could help her, protect her, or even befriend her.

"It is fine. You did not know. I am sorry I am still unable to talk calmly about it." Some people felt he should just move on and somehow magically not grieve over her any longer. Or at least make it seem that he did not have his own baggage from the ordeal. He was confident that she wouldn't be the sort to fault him but it was his nature to apologize first.

Brave? For speaking to her? He didn't quite see it that way but he said nothing. He raised a hand to feel his hair as she asked. It was still damp (and worse, getting slightly sticky and oily) so he nodded. "A bit damp, yes. But don't worry about finding a towel or using a spell. I can wash it easily once I get a room," he assured her. Which reminded him that he did indeed need to find a place to stay for the night. "Besides, if there was such a smell, it might react poorly with the ale causing me to stink instead of smell nice," he said with a soft chuckle.

Author: Claribel Blue, Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 4:56 AM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

"I feel I could throw a fireball at an animal and have it burn pretty nicely, yes–but that would also be cruel and thus only done under dire circumstances, such as me not having any food left in my pack but plenty of game around me," Claribel said with a satisfied nod. "However, with bow and arrow or dagger or what have you? I don't. Keeping my hands unbloodied is my personal preference, else things just get messy."

"Oh, no–I'd hate to have someone pay for me! So many things can go wrong with those types of.. What would you call them.. Mercenaries? Is that the word? I just don't know if I could trust someone with my life just because I gave them a good pocket of silver. Aaand, my friends all left me before! The friends who were able, at least. Like I said, different ideas, different desires. I would bring along my lovely friend from childhood if she weren't too young to be venturing out into the world." She lifted the tip of her quill from the page and looked beneath her hand to examine her writing. Once she was sure it was near perfect and not smudged, she set to continue scribing what was lost.

Once more, she paused in her writing to turn her gaze up to him. "You? Well, I didn't think to ask you! I figured you might not like having to escort a woman around the world just to have her stare at trees and statues in deep appraisal or inspection before simply going right back to safe civilization. If that sounds appealing to you, then I don't have any problem with you coming along! The more the merrier, as they always say." A soft smile lit her expression, a light and carefree thing, but then it fell away into a worried, near-horrified expression with his confession and her next spoken words.

"Murdered? Dear, oh my! That must have been truly devastating; I can't imagine how you must have been feeling then and all this time. I'm sorry for bringing up something so sensitive." The young woman dabbed the tip of her quill off on one of the cloths and set it aside. Once her hands were free, she tucked them in her lap–she just simply could not pick up the quill again in that moment. With his shift in topic, however, she did her best to neutralize her outward worry, yet it still remained in the softest furrow of her brows and the slight downward turn of her lips.

"Am I?" she asked in response to both his comment on her scribing efforts as well as his second comment on her being more than meets the eye. "You don't need to apologize for that! Everyone judges everyone even if they don't mean to; it's only natural! Thank you for first talking to me, by the way; it's a quite brave thing in my eyes, even if it's a very little thing indeed, starting up conversation. Is your hair still wet from the ale? If I can't find a towel anywhere, I might be able to use a little spell to dry you off. Maybe there's a spell to make someone or something smell pretty.." Oooh, that would be awfully nice indeed.

Author: Ryspar, Posted: Thu Mar 9, 2017 8:51 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

Ryspar was rather surprised to see Claribel suddenly begin to re-write the damaged pages of the book.  Impressed by it as well.  She was a very interesting person.  She seemed naive and innocent but she was more resourceful than she seemed and was better at not letting the small things get to her.  She was just a happier person than Ryspar.  He envied her.  He also liked her, though he had virtually no hope. He was certain that someone like him would never appeal to her. 

"And hunting?  Do you know how to hunt? It often feeds me when nothing else is available," he suggested softly, partly not wanting to interrupt her writing.  He couldn't stop himself from watching, rather mesmerized by it. Ryspar's heart sank as she motioned to literally everyone in the tavern except him.  He wasn't even an option? "I see," he replied. "When others have different goals, it must be difficult to travel together. I suppose you could hire someone. There are always guides who make their living in such a way. Or perhaps a friend." Why couldn't it be him? He knew it to be unwise but he had to ask.  If there was some problem about him that she found impossible, he needed to address it if he had any hope of marrying anyone in the future. "And what about me? I have no plans and no traveling goals. Would you be unwilling to have me along to help you travel further?" He took in a breath, steeling himself for whatever she might say.  

Unfortunately, the next topic was worse. Even though he had brought it up, it was clearly a mistake as she asked if he hadn't already married. He hung his head, closed his eyes, and tried not to remember the way his wife's corpse had looked when he found her.  He took several deep breaths, steadying himself. She didn't know, of course.  She hadn't meant any harm by asking.  But surely if he said he was looking, that meant he hadn't anyone in his life.  "I was married.  Once.  My wife was murdered. It's been many years since then. I miss her, of course, but I know I must move on. She loved me as I her and she would want my happiness." He glanced back at Claribel, then to her book. "You are quite good at that," he murmured,  referring to her rewriting the contents of the book. "It seems you are far more than initially meets the eye.  I apologize for judging you before talking to you. You are truly impressive and I am glad we were able to have this conversation." 

Author: Claribel Blue, Posted: Mon Mar 6, 2017 4:31 AM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

Claribel pulled back and shifted her gaze back down towards her book. She set her cup of tea upon the counter–a little ways from her book, just in case, mind you–and lifted the now-damp cloths from them. Just a little water damage (or ale damage, in this case), but all would be well with just a little more ink to cover up what was lost! She pulled an inkwell and quill from the backpack leaning against her stool, uncapping the ink and dipping the tip of the quill within it. With a nod to show she was still listening, she began to very carefully write back over the stained page from both memory and what was still there. It was almost like connect-the-dots.

Her writing slowed a little bit when it came to be her turn to answer, else she might've ended up writing out exactly what she was saying, rather than a simple agility spell. "I do know how to gather and cook, yes, yes I do. It's simply that sometimes you come to places where there is no food to gather, and thus no food to cook if you've run out of food to cook before. So, that leaves one little choice but to turn back to civilization to restock and come back, only to run out and have to go back and do it all over again! Perhaps I should be saving my provisions for those fruitless places and gather when I'm in the areas where food isn't scarce…" Claribel made a little mental note to do just that; hopefully her stores wouldn't spoil by the time she reached the halfway point to her destination, wherever that would be. Like the Duchy of Egjora! That was a ship's ride away, though; no gathering out there, she reckoned. Unless she got a fishing pole. Oooh, fishing…

Right! Talking, talking. "A traveling partner would be quite nice, indeed! Though, they usually have very different ideas than I do, or they just get caught up in other things to the point where I have to leave, bid them goodbye. Very sad thing, really. Sometimes. Well, most of the times, in my case. Besides, I'd rather not bother anyone with my silly little adventures! I'm sure these people've much more important things to do," she said with a light wave of her hand towards the rest of the tavern. Ahh yes, drunken men stumbling this way and that, women beating them at card games and other fun bets, a few people passed out under the tables. Rowdy people with drinking and gambling on the mind; yes, surely they had more important things to do. "I'm too small of a girl for them to worry about, surely!"

She considered asking him about the woman he was referring to, seeing as how he sounded (and looked, when she glanced his way just briefly) more sad at the further mention, but she thought against it for his sake. At the mention of family, she once more looked up from her re-scribing work and looked over to him fully with a cock of her head to one side. "A family! Well, I think that's just a marvelous dream for near any person! There are many people out there who carry the same sentiment, though it seems you feel especially strongly about it; it's rather admirable, really! Have you not already found a nice girl to settle down with, Ryspar? I don't imagine it would be very hard at all for you to draw a woman in. Look at those eyes! They hold so much emotion, compared to the eyes of most men in this very room. They make you look handsome, indeed they do."

Again, her eyes fell to her book to make sure she hadn't written anything she didn't mean to or dragged her quill right across the paper. Aaaand.. Nope! All safe! She kept on inking the page back to full health if and when he replied to her, though she kept almost all her attentions upon him.

Author: Ryspar, Posted: Fri Mar 3, 2017 5:17 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

Ryspar had to disagree about riddles having answers. It seemed the whole point of most riddles were to trick or confuse people. They were trick questions and it made sense to him to have some without any answers. But she seemed convinced otherwise so he wasn't going to argue with her.

He listened as she spoke (quite a bit) about Adeluna, taking sips of his water. She mentioned the places he did not know again but this time, they sounded much more dangerous. To encounter trolls and not make a fuss about it… She was a very interesting girl. Still quite cute, Ryspar had to admit. He almost wanted to offer to travel with her but he was certain that was a bad idea. He wasn't quite sure why it was bad but it was.

"Do you not know how to gather, hunt and cook on the road, then?" he asked as she spoke about running out of food. "I could perhaps teach you, if you do not know. Or find a book that can teach you what you need to know." He took another sip of his water. "Or perhaps a guide would be better for you. A seasoned traveler to assist you so you can go where you wish without worrying as much about supplies or…trolls." He didn't mean himself. Mostly. But he would be able to find a decent guide for her if needed. Of course, if she wanted him to go along with her, well, he wouldn't refuse.

Ryspar didn't quite know why he was telling her as much as he was. Maybe the loneliness was getting to him and he just wanted someone to know. As Claribel suggested that she'd met his mother, his expression turned far more sad and he looked away. "No. You have not. And I am very glad you have not met her," he replied. He spoke the truth. If she had met his mother, chances were she'd be dead or disfigured.

He was shocked that she asked about his second goal and as he looked back at her, he noticed how close she had leaned. Should he tell her? It might be a mistake but it also might help him to share part of himself. "I'm afraid my goal is not as exciting as you make it out to be. It is purely selfish. I wish for a family. A wife and someday children. It is a small dream but it is all I've ever wanted." Again, his eyes carried that loneliness, the heaviness he felt without anyone by his side.

Author: Claribel Blue, Posted: Thu Mar 2, 2017 7:29 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

"Every riddle always has an answer–sometimes even two! If a riddle does not have an answer, then it is not a riddle at all, rather a trick, or perhaps simply a question posed to get one thinking! Riddles make you think too, but questions like those don't have answers, but they certainly have a lot of theories." She pressed the edge of the tea back to her lips and tilted it back for another small sip. When the cup was drawn down again, she released a satisfied sigh and spread her fingers a little further across the surface of the nice warm tea-cup. Her lifted foot had shifted back down to one of the stool rungs and tucked itself behind the ankle of her other leg. "Unsolvable riddles simply do not exist!"

"Adeluna as my home? Oh, goodness, no! Adeluna is far from my home–well, not too far; my actual home is somewhere a little away from here, a very small and unnoticeable place that seems to act more as an adventurer's rest-stop than it does an actual village. The City of Adeluna simply seems like a safe place to me! I came here originally for the books in all their libraries, but then I got curious and left to go see Virens Forest. After an incident in Virens Forest with a bunch of trolls, I returned here to rest up and restock in hopes that I could reach the Plains of Bohar and poke around a little bit–well, didn't work out too well after I kept running out of rations before I reached my destination. I do know a spell for the creation of a small meal, but.. Well, I like to save my strength for if and whenever I get accosted by some ghastly beasties. A full belly is nice and all, but it's definitely not going to help me against some giant.. dirt-worm or something! Who knows what's out there these days."

As Ryspar's voice fell in a hush, Claribel leaned closer to him to better hear what he had to say; her bright eyes were wide and attentive as she gazed up at him, her tea-cup still gripped gingerly within both her hands. Whether she had a sense of personal bubbles or not was unclear. "Looking for someone? Looking for who? Maybe I've seen her! I like to think I've seen plenty of people with all the time I spent in this town–even if most of that time was spent in the libraries rather than here or on the streets. Anyways! Who is she? Or, well, was she, in the case that she might actually be gone from this world. Oh, another goal! Ryspar, what might this second goal of yours be? Hearing about goals and dreams is always so exciting. What do other people yearn for? What do they strive for? Such fascinating questions to ask oneself."

Author: Ryspar, Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 5:26 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

At least Claribel didn't seem disappointed that he couldn't solve her riddle for her. Riddles could be frustrating when close to an answer but not quite there. He didn't want to ruin her optimism but riddles could most certainly stay riddles. "Perhaps you will. But not all riddles can be solved. I believe that is the purpose to some riddles, that there is no solution. The solution is none at all. But then, are those unsolvable riddles still unsolvable when the solution is that there is none. Goodness. Now I'm stumped," he said with a soft laugh. It was hardly more than an exhalation of air but it took a lot to get a response from Ryspar.

Apparently this girl had been on her share of adventures, from the sound of things. She always returned to Adeluna, though. Was this place perhaps her home? She must have been a talented mage (yes, mage, as she mentioned spells so surely she was adept in the magical arts) to have survived so easily.

Ryspar was rather horrified to see her shoes and to learn she'd been traveling in them. Surely one of the first things to purchase when traveling was proper footwear. A tent, blankets, and boots, yes? "Please do buy yourself proper boots before traveling again. Trust me, they make the journey much more enjoyable. They're very handy against most of the more mundane threats, like thorns, bugs, and snakes."

"As of now, I have traveled here from my home. I crossed the sea to dock in this city, but I have not seen a map for any length of time so I regrettably do not know of the places you mentioned. I came from the west to cross the water, and from far north beyond there. Is this your home? You return to Adeluna frequently. Perhaps this is where you live." He hoped he wasn't being too nosy for her. He was curious if she would share her reasons for traveling as she just seemed to take small trips back and forth. "I was…originally looking for someone," he admitted, his voice dropping to be certain no one would overhear. "But I do not believe she can be found any longer. Perhaps she died. But I decided to come to a completely unknown place and maybe find a different reason to travel or to…fulfill another goal in my life that I can pursue when not looking for her."

Author: Claribel Blue, Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 4:54 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

When he too admitted that he did not know the answer to such a riddle, Claribel nodded and let her gaze drop back to her book. She gently lifted the linen cloths to see if the ale had been soaked up yet, then flipped them to a drier side and set them back atop the still-damp pages. A small, soft smile passed her by again, and she said, "No matter; I'm sure I'll figure it out one day! Riddles can't stay riddles forever. But! Perhaps you're onto something with how the answer might be weather-related. Hmm.." She tapped a finger upon her chin in thought, trying again to figure out the answer to a riddle that she'd been stuck with for years and years now; darn that Matthew, always confusing her and making her feel dumb!

Ever as clueless as she was, she did not catch the fleeting look of what might have been pain or discomfort within his eyes at her mention of women. Well, wasn't that what guys were usually interested in? Father always told her that younger men were after one thing and one thing only–and that was to get into a lady's bloomers. He warned her every time a new adventurer came around the village, some fresh new face that reeked of masculinity. Thankfully, she hadn't had any odd run-ins with those sort; they were usually in and out before she could get out more than a 'hello!'.

"Oh, me? Am I traveling alone? For now, yes! I've met a couple people along the way, but we always get split up somehow. They want to stay some place and take a break, I want to keep adventuring.. I'll likely seem them again, though! I've traveled from my home to Adeluna, from Adeluna to some forests, forests to Adeluna, Adeluna to the Plains of Bohar… Mostly back and forth, never further than the plains–at least not yet! I've been waiting to learn some more spells before I go any further, or else I surely might get my face eaten off by a gigantic monkey or what have you. I haven't had very many difficulties, actually; I've encountered a few trolls, but I didn't get hurt!"

"The worst, though, is when I tear the soles of my shoes from walking so much," she laughed quietly. She bent one of her legs at the knee to bring one foot a few inches higher, that she could point to her weathered flats, torn and stitched together then torn and stitched together again. "I really ought to buy myself a pair of boots before I run out of thread for any other patch-repairs. How dreadful is it when you're walking through the woods, just minding your own business, and suddenly your clothes are caught on what feels like every single low branch in the entire forest? It is horrible, let me tell you! Oh, if I hadn't had my thread with me all the times it happened, I reckon I would be sitting here in the raggediest of rags."

"Anyways! You're traveling too, you said, right? Where have you gone?"

Author: Ryspar, Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 10:07 AM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

She didn't seem to react much when he called her adventurous. Was it perhaps a bad thing in her mind? Or did it simply not matter to her? It obviously wasn't important except that he had expected more of a response than the simple shrug of her shoulders. Perhaps she had her own secrets to hide. No, not perhaps. She surely did. Everyone did.

Ah, Claribel. He had her name now. She seemed to have more politeness than one would expect of a tavern patron. She obviously carried herself differently than the others there that night. She struck Ryspar as a bit odd but perhaps that piqued his interest more. As he expected, she began to tell him all about the book, and quite animatedly at that. He couldn't help but smile the smallest bit. He had no idea what she was talking about in terms of the mystery of "the living and the lying". Perhaps his confusion showed as she soon intoned the riddle she had been speaking of.

Ryspar had never been one to study riddles nor did he know many. And her riddle stumped him easily. "Regretfully, I know little of riddles. Only that many riddle answers are ideas and intangible rather than true objects. Time is often the solution but it makes no sense with that riddle. The first that came to my mind is some form of weather. Wind or rain but neither can 'die' nor can they be alive and certainly cannot be born."

Her next series of questions caught him by surprise, and brought a twinge of pain when she mentioned ladies in that context. No, ladies didn't seem to love him. At times, they pitied him. His sad eyes tore at their hearts and they set themselves out to "heal" him. They quickly learned, however, that he did not want that sort of nurturing that came from pity. He took longer to get to know and was not the sort to simply open up to anyone who spoke to him.

Ryspar gently averted his eyes to his own glass of water. "I am traveling, though I have no destination in mind. I stopped here in hopes of a good meal and a proper bed. I might stay for a time as I admittedly need a vacation from my traveling." He purposely didn't comment about any ladies. He wouldn't talk about that subject if he could avoid it. "Forgive me for prying, Miss Claribel, but are you traveling alone? I do not wish to be rude but… I am a touch concerned. Have you traveled far on your own? Encountered no difficulties?" He didn't want to say it but she seemed…well…weak. Still ditzy and it was hard to imagine her traveling by herself and surviving for long. She had mentioned spells in the book so perhaps she was a mage of some sort but even so. If she'd been oblivious to the noise and her surroundings in the tavern, how could she survive on the road unless she traveled with others?

Author: Claribel Blue, Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 7:34 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

Claribel was entirely oblivious to the half-stranger's inner turmoil–if it could be called that. Thinking people were cute was hardly a turmoil! His second comment brought her to give a small shrug; perhaps she was a little adventurous…oh, what was she saying? Of course she was adventurous! She had traveled all the way from Adeluna to Virens Forest back to Adeluna, had she not? Perhaps not as adventurous as some would have in mind when they were confronted with such a word as well, but it beat 'adventuring' across the house in search of a mug for your milk.

If there was one thing he might have been right about, it would have been the strangeness of her seeming self-narration. Occasionally, her features would shift or twitch just slightly in the smallest of expressions as if one were actually holding a conversation or telling a story.

She pressed the rim of her cup to her lips and tilted it to take a small sip as he asked his many (read: two) questions. "My name is Claribel! It's so wonderful to meet you, Ryspar," she said, the smile returning to her pale face in a more happy manner rather than the sheepish it had been before. Her gaze fell to the book when it was mentioned, still open and still drying. "Oh! Well, this book isn't that important–it mostly contains the little things, like basic spells and herbal remedies! Sometimes you even get treated with a little short-story and journal entry based on one of the tips they give you. The message in the front of the book says they're true collections of the creators' works, but the people in the book shop said that it was all phooey and just made up. Well, I just don't know if I believe either side! That makes it mysterious, and a little mystery is always great fun; iiiif it's the right sort of mystery. There are some mysteries out there that are just plain infuriating, yes? Like the one about the living and the lying and the–oh, I don't know!"

She drew in a deep breath and recited quickly, her head bobbing slightly with each word spoken, "What flies when it's born, lies when it's alive, and runs when it's dead?" The woman let out a huff of a pouty sort and took another sip of her tea. "I've just never been able to figure that one out. Immediately flying upon birth? Running even in death? Lying? Agh!"

Claribel shook her head from side to side and asked, "So, what brings you here? Are you traveling just like me? Just looking for a drink and a meal? Oh, I bet the ladies would love a guy like you!"

Author: Ryspar, Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 6:25 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

In hindsight, it might have been a better decision to keep one of the cloths for himself to dry his hair. But the girl accepted all of them. It seemed the damage might have been done and that the cloths wouldn't help but he hoped to help since he partly blamed himself for getting her book wet. Of course it hadn't been his fault but maybe if he'd been quicker or something, her book could have been spared. He saw the page when she moved her arm and as expected, it had smudged.

Ryspar felt badly for her as she continued trying to dry her book. Her rather foolish sniff of her sleeve caught him by surprise and he nearly laughed at her reaction. "Ale is not the best-smelling drink, is it?" he asked rather dryly. He could definitely agree a bath of some kind would be very welcome. He didn't fancy his hair smelling like ale all night. Besides, it was starting to get sticky.

But then the woman seemed back in her own world. She was nodding and seemed to be narrating things in her mind. Ryspar couldn't help but watch, slightly amused. She was a little strange, wasn't she?

The hand she reached toward him caught him by surprise but he didn't refuse. He couldn't imagine she wanted her fingers to smell more of ale but he could see she meant no harm. It embarrassed him a bit, to have a woman reach out to touch his hair. Maybe she thought little of it but it seemed to be a rather intimate gesture to him. It made him remember his wife, of the small ways she'd touch him that spoke volumes of how she felt. Those were the things Ryspar often missed the most. But this girl did look young. Maybe she simply didn't know better. He wondered, not for the first time, if she was a bit naive and unaccustomed to places like the tavern.

At least she didn't seem to take his scolding badly. He hardly wanted her to think he was angry at her. She had only been trying to read. "Maybe a touch daft. But maybe also…adventurous. There's not many who would risk opening a book in a tavern. You took that risk." He shrugged his shoulders slightly.

He watched her lift the tea, realizing that she was rather cute. He didn't necessarily want to find her cute (she did seem foolish and maybe even ditzy) but it seemed it was too late. He slowly blinked, steeling himself. Cute didn't have to mean anything, of course. Besides, there was little chance he'd ever see her after that night.

"Ryspar. A traveling fighter. May I ask your name as well? And maybe what is in that book that is so fascinating to you?" He'd never found that one true literary love that could teleport him to different worlds (as he heard books could do) but he didn't hate reading. He just hadn't read very much yet so he was inexperienced when it came to books.

Author: Claribel Blue, Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 5:14 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

Claribel blinked in some surprise as she found a small stack of linen cloths presented to her–by the soaking man right next to her, of all people! Well, not that she thought it rude (she found it very kind, actually), but one look at the man and all his apparent rage would have been enough to send anyone running for the hills and sea vessels. Even his voice was quite frightening, yet she still settled back down within her seat and accepted the linens with a small nod and a soft smile. She took her arm from the book and looked over the pages with a soft sigh, seeing some of the inked words running into each other just slightly. Oh, if there was a cleaning spell, then she would dearly pray for a mess-reversing spell or some sort of ink-alteration spell–whatever would get this poor book back to normal.

The cloths were placed where her arm had been as she brought her sleeve up to her nose to give it a tentative sniff. With a tiny, quiet gag and a funny face, she let her arm drop back down, that her hand might rest in her lap. "I need a wash," she murmured. Despite such unfortunate circumstances, however, she brightened right back up!

Thankfully, it took quite a bit to ruin the mage's night, and a few wet pages and a rubbed shoulder sure weren't going to get her riled up just yet–especially if they were accidents! Yes, the woman nodded to herself; they must have just been accidents or something of the sort. Perhaps someone had simply slipped with their ale in hand–perhaps that drunken man simply needed someone to steady him since he was so drunken and therefore wobbly and about to pass out!

When the wet stranger began to speak, her blue-ish grey eyes shifted again from the book and up to him and his face, notably plastered with wet hair. She subconsciously reached up to move the hair out of his eyes with half the mind that he must not have been able to see with all of it in the way. Perhaps he should cut it! Oh, right, he was speaking to her, and responding was a thing!

"It wasn't your fault, really! I'm sure it was just an accident. It'll be just fine in a little bit! Thank you for the help, by the way," she said with a soft smile and pulled her hand back to her lap whether she succeeded in clearing his eyes or not. Then, her smile turned a bit sheepish at his comment, though the harshness of his words didn't seem to have been paid any mind in that moment. "Well, I used to be able to read in my village's tavern all the time without being bothered, but I suppose not all drinking establishments are quite the same. This one is much more rowdy–perhaps I am a little daft."

Finally, her nice cup of warm tea had been presented to her! Claribel thanked the bartender and left the necessary amount of gold coins upon their side of the counter. She slid the tea closer to her and picked it up within both hands as she spoke with the stranger. "So! What is your name?"

Author: Ryspar, Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 4:26 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

Ryspar wasn't necessarily watching the young woman next to him. At least he wasn't meaning to. But she seemed blind to the world. It was almost enviable. Ryspar already had a headache from the raucous tavern but she was able to read! Not just read, but seemingly lose herself within the book. But it did leave many openings for her evening to be ruined and while Ryspar wasn't exactly some chivalrous knight, he wasn't just going to watch herself be man-handled. Or woman-handled. Drunk-handled?

But his luck in keeping anyone away was wearing thin. The ale came, soaking his white hair, plastering it over his eyes. Normally he used his hair to obscure his eyes but was still able to see. Not with the ale, though. He was steadying himself and trying to get out of the way of both the girl and the drunken fool who'd spilled the drink when he heard her dismay. He felt badly for her, but again felt his temper flare at the idiot who couldn't balance on his own two feet. Ryspar had a slight problem with temper. He'd been training himself for years to not let it get the best of him but he was tired. Tired, with a headache, and now apparently he'd watched this young girl have her night ruined. He was in a bad mood.

His yellow eyes glared into the human. He was quite a bit smaller in nearly every way but he looked like he meant business. Usually, his eyes were sad, perhaps forlorn. Now, they were just plain mad. "Apologize," he snarled, his lip curled. And then the man bumped again, jostling the poor woman. Without a thought, Ryspar held out an arm to steady the woman if she fell further. If she needed it, of course.

The buffoon said something, though the exact words were lost to Ryspar. "Apologize to her," he repeated, his voice ominous. Apparently that meant for the two men to simply walk off without another word. Ryspar silently raged and was ready to march after them and make them apologize. But he stopped and looked at the girl again. His anger ebbed a bit, feeling badly for her. He reached across the bar to grab some linens. He offered them to her, to dry her book.

"I am sorry your book got wet. I hope it wasn't ruined." He glanced up again and the two men were lost to the crowd. Ryspar sighed. He wasn't as angry now, but he was perturbed for her sake. He also quickly realized he didn't know what to do. Help her clean the book? Introduce himself? "It is very brave to read a book in a tavern as bawdy as this one. I am not sure it was the best idea but an impressive one. More impressive that you could so easily lose yourself in the book to become blind to your surroundings." That sounded unintentionally harsh. It sounded as though he was lecturing or chiding her. He hadn't meant to, obviously. Unfortunately, his face was blank as it typically was and she may have gotten the wrong idea. But now he had no idea what to say to her. It was clearly a mistake to read her book but most anyone would have known that from the start.

Author: Claribel Blue, Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 3:43 PM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

The blonde-haired woman had been so deep in concentration that she had not noticed that anyone was sitting near her at all, nor that anyone had been pushing their way towards her only to be pushed or nudged away. She simply kept on with reading her book, totally engrossed in all the information it had to offer in terms of a couple spells, herbal remedies, even a few journal-style stories. Page after page she flipped, bright blue hues reading over the pages and then going back to the beginning of the chapter or section to do it all over again, and then a third time through before she moved on.

Another page was flipped, and she came upon something that drew a gasp from her. "Ah, a spell on agility!" she whispered excitedly. She wasted no time at all in diving into the reading, hungrily taking in all the information; this would certainly be useful on her travels, she thought to herself. If she ever needed to get somewhere quickly, then she could just use–ale!

No, no, she wouldn't use ale–there was ale all over her book! It soaked into the page that held the agility spell upon it, bringing Claribel's expression to drop, crestfallen.

"Oh no, no no no.." She began to look around in a panic for something to dry it off with, noticing (though just barely) the man beside her whose head was soaking with the same foul-smelling drink. In a fit, she dropped her robed sleeve upon the book and attempted to roll it around and soak up the alcohol before it could ruin the tome. "Oh, if only I knew a cleaning spell!"

With her sleeve now pressed to the book, she began to look around her for the source of such ruinous drinks–was it the man next to her? No, surely not; why would he slosh ale over his own head and on her book? He would be an awfully silly man if he did that. To the same person sitting next to her, she said, "Did you get to–Ah!" Claribel let out a cry as a man bumped into her, clearly drunken, with a hand stroking down her shoulder. She had jumped and jolted sideways towards Ryspar, nearly falling off her seat in the process, and stared in frightened confusion up at the shoulder-stroker. He merely gave a hearty guffaw, uttered something that was lost in the roar of the tavern, then grabbed his drink and hobbled off to wherever it was he had come from. Again came Claribel's voice in the form of, "Well, I never!"

Author: Ryspar, Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 11:04 AM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

A rowdy tavern was the last place Ryspar really wanted to venture into. But he was hungry and desperate for something to drink. Even just a clean glass to drink it out of. He was tired, internally and externally. He had a little bit in the way of funds. Just enough to get some warm food that he hadn't hunted and gutted himself.

He elbowed his way to the bar, trying to both stay out of everyone's way but also to make sure no one thought he was an easy target. He could feel his temper beginning to rise and he silently muttered to himself to keep it under control. He finally made it to the bar, quickly sliding into a seat next to a young woman. Maybe even a girl. He never was one that could tell ages accurately. Interestingly enough, she was reading. In a bar. Was that wise? Probably not but maybe a little cute in how naive it was.

Ryspar ordered himself simply water and a bowl of soup. It was easy but it would fill his belly and he'd be happy enough with that. As he waited, the tavern only seemed to get more crowded. It was nearly impossible to hear anyone even if they were right next to you. Several groups kept pushing their way to the bar to get their drinks. Ryspar found himself carefully deflecting a few who nearly stumbled into the girl next to him. She was just reading and seemed to be bothering no one except that she was reading in a tavern.

A loud guffaw sounded next to Ryspar and he watched an inebriated man playfully push his companion, who was also quite drunk. The one pushed began to fall and again, Ryspar tried to catch the man so as not to disturb the girl next to him. Unfortunately, the man had no control of his drink and suddenly Ryspar found himself with nearly the entire contents of the mug of ale on his head. He took deep breaths to keep his anger down and he looked over to the girl, hoping her book hadn't gotten wet in the process.

Author: Claribel Blue, Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 3:24 AM, Post Subject: [O] Books and Spilled Drinks

Claribel nearly jumped out of her skin when two men came barrelling out of the tavern she was approaching, the two wrestling and shouting slurred obscenities as they at least kindly took their fight out to the streets. With a book tucked in her arms, she watched them for a moment or two to see if it was more than a drunken fight, if perhaps there were knives pulled or someone was about to get more than a few bruises and needed help; when she found none of these things, she gently shook her head and turned back to the Winking Mermaid. Just before the door shut, she slipped inside, and the door clicked closed behind her.

The smaller woman looked about the busy interior with those bright blue hues of hers, searching for the bar past all the other tavern-goers. When she finally found a stool to sit upon, she hopped to take the chance; it felt like she had been walking for days on end at this point, and her feet felt just about dead tired. So, she took her seat and set her book upon the counter as quietly as she could despite all the noise around her.

When the bartender approached, Claribel perked up and said, "I'll have a cup of tea, please..!" Unfortunately, her voice was lost in the rowdiness of the tavern in that hour, so she repeated herself a little more loudly and clearly. The bartender nodded and moved off to go prepare her drink and take other orders.

Claribel sat there for a few moments, then nodded to herself. She gently pried open the cover of her book to begin reading as she waited.