Growing whispers (Xanta'Kun)

[Agaenos Phidion]

OOC: Finally got around to post this. Sorry about the delay.

IC:

Timestamp:
Brightening, Dianara, 42nd of Junctior
Late Autumn, Telath is in the Age of Darkening,
Era I of the Celestine Mandate,
Era III in the Mageocracy of Julos 'The Mad',
Ten Eras Post-Fractum.
Paradigm: Mystique Threatens Rebellious Frigid River.
Location: White Dragon Inn and Tavern, Abestat.

Chilling bites of air plaguing the very air around in him, just as it did almost an Era before. Warmth, the tentative reminder of a season which was so near, not too far behind him ago, had already disappeared; Winter, instead, heralded with haste. He knew the cold would be reluctant to go.

Hands gloved, he opened the door to this familiar tavern. He remembered the time when he was in Archadoon, when the particluar tavern he could find - and that being one of the only taverns in the large span of the city - was filled with burly, unruly sailors. It did nothing but to remind him that the City of the Abe River was a trading port, and there would doubtlessly be many sailors around. Unfortunately, they were not typically associated with polite, well-mannered perception; the opposite was true. He had been here... Perhaps... Once... No, twice - he definitely had set foot within this tavern twice, although the second time was much more memorable. The memory was there, still clinging on with ease upon the broad canvas of his memory - how many people had come at once, arriving to discuss his ideas, he could still remember clearly. He never regretted the time ever since he read that very tome on the early history of the Empire. The identity of Abestat, its glamourous past as the capital of the Luctadomum Empire, never died. Its pride merely smouldered on for now... The blaze can be renewed, roaring more ferociously...

Entering the tavern bounds, he set himself down. He did not order a beverage at this point - he merely settled himself down, falling into a state of tranquility. Not an idea to start experimenting with Arcana in a people-dense locality, of course, although it was interesting to see people through their Arcanic signature of Vis. Thus in Clara he looked at everything, and merely bowing his head, resting, looking slightly contemplative. The slightly melancholic look upon his face... That was not actually intended.

[Xanta'Kun]

OOC: No problem. I'm a bit busy now anyway, so no worries.

IC: Xanta was as usual at the tavern working the bar. The smoke hung heavy in the air with the constant pollution of several pipes, including his own. It was a fairly busy night, being the end of autumn. All the locals were stopping by the Inn more and more frequently, and travellers were taking up board in the sleeping quarters for the winter ahead.

A human male Xanta didn't recognize entered the Inn and sat himself down without ordering a drink. Xanta decided he would wait for the man to come order something to eat or drink, but after several boring minutes and smoke-rings, Xanta extinguished his smoldering pipe and approached the man. The wind outside howled, a forboding sound that even send a shiver through Xanta's bones despite the warmth of the Tavern and the roaring fire in the center of the room. Upon further inspection, Xanta saw the man to appear a bit downtrodden, and he had second thoughts as to whether or not he should serve him alcohol.

"Serale, good sir. How may I serve you this darkening? Perhaps you would like some food to warm your insides, or a drink to wet your throat?" Xanta asked with a smile.

[Agaenos Phidion]

A barely perceivable screen of smoke was all around the tavern - the heavy scent of pipe permeated throughout the tavern. Not too intense, although it still created a slightly unpleasent feeling due to the intense smell. Brews of ale and wine mingled within, creating a somewhat strange smell to this place. Unfortunately, these two varieties of smell were severely distorted by a more unpleasent type - the fouler aroma of sailors' sweat and salt mingling with each other. Not overwhelming, thankfully, although it still presented the Corporal with a rather unpleasent frown as he sat, endeavouring to shrug off the odour. General cacophony surrounded him, including the crude shouts and corase laughter of them. Tall and somewhat strong Agaenos was, sure, although he had the providence to be taught proper mannerism, and that kind of noise was not something he fancied. There were times when he just had to wonder why he returned to the White Dragon... Perhaps, it was just something in here which attracted him, urging him to return... Or it could be in memory of his idea of the Hoplites of Abestat, and the subsequental refinement from the others who now formed the Founders...

The chilling wind continued to howl outside. Winter was beginning to descend.

Everything in his mind, even as he stared upon the floor with his peripheral vision, had the Arcanic signature of Vis, and the ocean of Ara which surrounded everything, multitudinous in colour, from tints to shades; vibrant to somnolent; joyous warmth to chilling coldness. A wide spectrum of colour he saw through his tranquil state of Clara, although he was not entirely aware of the somewhat melancholic expression upon his face as well. Dimly, he noticed one of the signatures heading closer, towards his direction. "Probably just someone who is leaving or meandering through the tavern," he thought silently to himself. That particular notion, however, was soon shattered as he found himself faced with Thëlyri standing in front of him. Opening his eyes, the gloomy feature upon his face vanished altogether, as he looked upon him whilst he made his query. Ah - a drink.

He probably missed wine by now. He had drunk some of the best varient of that kind of liquor... Although it was in one of the most unusual circumstances.

"A glass of red wine, please, if you have them." He stretched a smile, a genuine one at that, and not forced. Remembering that it was a young Human woman who served him last time, he could only wonder where she was this particular brightening... Of course, he had no idea that she had left the inn...

A sudden curiosity sprung up in his mind.

"Say, sir, uh... Have you ever heard about... Uh, the invasion of Abestat? By the Orcs, it was, at last Winter, if I remember correctly."

"Maybe this man had potential..."

[Xanta'Kun]

The man looked up, an apparently genuine smile on his face. Either he was good at controlling his emotions outwardly, or Xanta had misread his face the first time. His dark blue-black lips formed a smile in return, "We certainly do sir, I'll return quickly," and he turned to get the human some red wine, his cloak swooshing behind him.

"Say, sir, uh... Have you ever heard about... Uh, the invasion of Abestat? By the Orcs, it was, at last Winter, if I remember correctly," the mann suddenly said. Xanta paused midway in his turn and looked back at the man.

"Well, yes, I have," he said, then turned the rest of his body to face the man. "I wasn't in the city at the time, however. Why do you ask?" he queried out of curiosity.

[Agaenos Phidion]

He could not really help it; at times, his inner emotion and outward appearence could tell two different stories, and yet, he could be entirely unaware of it until somebody came along, noticed the emotion etched across his features, and made some kind of reaction to it. Concealing or controlling emotion was one thing, at that very moment in time, he never really intended, and as thus, as soon as question was posed by Xanta regarding drinks or food, his face swiftly changed the desscription it bore to what it should be. At least, he saw that Red still seemed to be stocking up his beverages. Drinking wine without meals was a rarity to him, though for this Brightening, he would make it one single exception.

The chilly air outside continued to blow - not into the Tavern, thankfully, otherwise he might have considered using Arcana in an area pretty much abundant with people. Who knew what an Arcane accident would cause? Though, it seemed as if looking at everything through an Arcanic perception, spying upon the Vis and Ara of everything and everyone became his newest hobby - he never really had much of a chance to do such a thing ordinarily.

It was only to be expected - what he had posed was a rather odd question, and Xanta's reaction was not completely unexpected. Returning a smile first, he gave his reply, a somewhat casually-voiced one. "It's just an idea that I had thought about quite a long time ago, that's all." Sitting up, his posture became straighter this time. "Something from, well, last Winter - and it seemed to have caused some commotion here then."

The realisation that he must have held up the waiter struck him by then, and inadvertantly, he could not help but feel slightly apologetic at being so oblivious to the fact that he was tending to the bar, and had a job to do - how could the Corporal not even notice that?

"Oh, sorry - I hope I was not holding you up too much..."

That one sounded slightly lame...

[Xanta'Kun]

The man certainly seemed to be a peculiar one, but Xanta had met many in his time. Perhaps it was just some recent even that had the man preoccupied and his mind was elsewhere. Xanta could relate to that.

The human's dismissal was certainly a weak attempt at it, and the elf figured he probably had something he wished to talk about. He did an about-face and headed toward the bar. They didn't have any red wine open, so Xanta went into the back room and retrieved a bottle off of their wine rack.

It wasn't often that he served wine, most of the Inn's clientele was lower-class and had less refined tastes. But to be honest, he wasn't a big fan of the alcoholic grape juice himself. Xanta grabbed one of the wooden trays from a compartment hidden on the back side of the bar and placed the bottle on top of it. A stem glass was also set next to it in an upside down position. It was the first time Xanta had ever had occasion to use one of the fancy drinking glasses. Before he served the man, he surveyed the rest of the Tavern to make sure no other guests required attention. Of the few that were there, none seemed to be in any immediate need of service.

Once the ensemble was prepared, and Xanta was sure no other guests needed help, he approached the man's table again. He set the wine glass down in front of the man, and the bottle he uncorked. He set the cork down on the table next to the glass for the man to fondle, if he cared, and poured the dark red beverage into the glass. He set the bottle down on the table, and threw his towel over his shoulder.

"So, may I ask who you are? I don't believe I've seen you around before, and I make it a habit to get to know my customers a little." The elf's reasoning sounded about as weak as the man's dismissal earlier, but it was more or less true. Xanta didn't have anything else to do anyway...