The Vagrancies of Vagarans [Eyvind]

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

The Second Cycle of Imperos
in the Season of Autumn

Iseult's moods, as of late, had fluctuated between irritable to depressed, with the occasional swing towards accepting. Happiness was one of those rare, fleeting moments despite the change of atmosphere; Iseult had never been to Alleria Prime before, had never believed she would ever see anything so big as this...but it was overshadowed with a death sentence that hung darkly over her head. Nonetheless, she was determined to get her fill of the place, to explore it from as many angles as possibly prior to her departure. She did not expect to be there long. Elmaryia would eventually drive her crazy. She had other places she wished to visit.

That brightening, Iseult was out in the streets. She had a casual set to her lanky frame--she was more bones than curves--and walked with a comfort to her pace despite the unfamiliar surroundings; mercantile areas were almost the same world over...enough so that she could find herself somewhat relaxed as she meandered along the road, eying shops and stalls with a thoughtful air. She might be considered pretty, though some thought her grotesque, too strange to be lovely, while others thought her exotic. Her hair was long and blonde, bound in a tight braid that swung against the length of her back. From a distance it appeared threaded with darker strands of hair; up close, these strands were blue and green in pallor. Her skin was pale, save for the fainting tinting of blue that darkened around the tips of her fingers and the faint gill marks along the side of her neck. Unsurprisingly, her eyes bothered people more than the rest of her appearance--dark green, they were framed with black, not white.

Iseult absently tugged at the hem of her white shirt. It was an old thing, worn and a little frayed at the sleeve cuffs. The brown trousers and boots she wore were no different, age battered and scuffed with dirt. The young woman paused before a store front window, dark eyes narrowing into a squint; her eyesight had always been poor. The sight within was a bland one. Clothes. Fancy clothes. Not the sort of thing that particularly interested the half-breed.

She sighed and absently rubbed at the back of her neck, glancing around her with a somewhat consternated look upon her face; Iseult's was not a face meant for softness. She had yet to find much to really dazzle her mind in Alleria. Shops, buildings, a temple here and there... She knew nothing about the city and had no guide to help her get through the place. It would figure.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

It was Eyvind's last Brightening in Aelyria Prime, he had rested and visited the Marble Hills Cemetery where his father was buried and where he had met this woman called Elmaryia. Among things only the eye can see he had spoke to her about death and how one has to accept it in order to carry on. With death left behind he now walked the streets of the Capital city looking what each store had to offer before riding south, to Taralon, and to the coming war. But before riding south he wanted to buy something, something new to wear. A fine jacket maybe.

It was when looking into the window of a cloth store, the famous Silk Leaf, from just acroos the street that the red-haired Vagaran's attention was picked by the most unlikely creature: a woman. Usually women were something he only paid attention when he wanted to get laid or when they had something interesting to say and aside of Kella who he had close to his heart, his sister and his mother for obvious reasons. But this wasn't just another woman, her blonde hair denounced her as much more. As a Vagaran. Even if Eyvind couldn't see her face he knew she had to be pretty, all Vagaran women were and the hair of this one was particularly beautiful. Eating a red apple the colossal red-maned man walked across the street and halted at the woman's side, looking at the window where a simple red jacket with few adorns could be seen.

Maybe his presence would call the attention of the blonde one, maybe not.

Redbeard wore his grey Parade Uniform with the two bars of Daekin attached, in his back a large black cloak pended and his long red hair was carefully pulled to the sides of his face thanks to the use of a interwoven leather string.

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

Iseult was not entirely oblivious as she stood there. She was loathe to approach people, to ask them directions towards one place or another, so she contented herself with remaining by the window rather than aimlessly walking the streets, hoping that one turn might get her going in the right direction; inevitably that turn would be wrong and Iseult would only be more confused about the city than she'd been moments ago. Because Iseult's sense of direction was terrible and if she managed to get lost in a place such as Jaedaxia, she certainly wasn't going to have a much better chance at luck in a behemoth of a city as Alleria Prime.

She was about to give up when she felt a presence at her side, the corners of dark black and green eyes catching the frame of a presence not as big as Prime itself, but certainly large in itself. It made her at once wary and uncomfortable...and a little agitated when one threw in the sound of teeth crunching into the skin of a shiny apple. She shifted and looked up at him, making note of the uniform, deciding he had to be a part of the guard--she wouldn't have been able to tell one uniform from another, particularly in a foreign city such as this. Vagaran she might have looked with her hair, but the rest of her certainly indicated more than just the blood of his own people. She was elvish, mixed with blood that gave her a more fragile, angular appearance, weakening the sturdy, strong blood of the Vagaran in her. This shone out in the strange eyes that assessed him evenly, in the thin lips that pressed together as if trying to decide if he were a threat or not.

She then turned to see what he was looking at, noted the red jacket within, then back at him. It was plain and simple, but the sudden idea of something gaudy on a hulking man like this was amusing. He'd just look like a frilly giant. "I would guess that's too small for you," she pointed out. Her voice was not warm and welcoming, but rather curt and a little dismissive. Very dry. Because while Iseult might have been somewhat interesting to look at--she'd never call herself attractive--the manner with which she approached other people around her often tried them more than interested them. She was adept at driving people away from her. She'd proven this not only with strangers, but with her family as well.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Instead of being gently asked or looked at by the woman, a woman he thought to be a true Vagaran. Eyvind felt a rispid voice piercing through his ear, what almost caused him physical pain was the look of the woman when his head turned. This was no human he looked at, what was this? An aberration of nature? The soldier felt the need to step back and give some distance between him and this creature but he didn't, if there was a cursed spirit haunting the streets of Aelyria Prime it was his duty to finish it. For a moment he hesitate while studying the face of this strange person. No, she was no haunting spirit but she was strange and that was little to describe this woman with gills on the neck. And the eyes, the eyes were dark as the pits of Aeternia although they had a softer color, green...The ears were strange as well, and the face itself with an elvish look altogether. A half blood, a cursed one in a traditionalist's eyes as Eyvind.

The red-haired warrior knew that had this woman been born in his village she would have lost her breath before opening those dark eyes. And the mother and father would have been sent to exile, if not worse. Seeing a Vagaran marrying with Medonian was already discouraged, but with an Elf? And what kind of Elf was this that gave her this blue look and gills...from the depths of his memory Eyvind remembered some meeting with a blue skinned child. A nasty little rat who followed his patrol in the countryside of this very province of Prime. Still he couldn't remember what particular kind of Elf that was.

"I guess it is...and I guess you're lost so we're even."

He spoke with a no gentler voice than the woman's.

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

Iseult tensed slightly as the man turned and regarded her, the look of shock so transparent on his features it was hard to miss. She grit her teeth and fought to display the brief flash of annoyance that threatened to blossom and instead simply met his eyes squarely with a rather bland expression that portrayed little of the familiar aggravation bubbled forward by an encounter with someone who found her appearance...distasteful. It had become easier to ignore those who found her disturbing. Easier because the people she had gathered around her either did not care or were rather interested in her strange features. It also meant that she was growing slightly more unaccustomed to those disgusted by her.

"You've an interesting idea of 'even'," she commented drily, hostility tinging the edges of her voice. And why not? The expression on his face was far from welcoming. She could hardly be expected to answer with sweetness and honey.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," she pressed, mouth twisting in something of a smirk. And why not goad him a little? She had little else to do. "Or are you in the habit of staring at people like they're trash to be kicked up and down the street?"

[Eyvind Redbeard]

At least the woman had a notion of presence and didn't let him escape unpunished. A pure trait he had to praise. Looking away from the woman and to the jacket once more he spoke.

"It wasn't my intention to offend you. For that I am sorry. You are aware of what you are and the last time I met a half-Vagaran my life was being threatened and so was my families'. I should have never approach you the way I did. Serale."

And the massive man turned away and started walking the sidewalk of the avenue. It was a pleasant Brightening, even if Autumn seemed to be growing colder at each passing Cycle, here and there some children played and the bravest couples walked hand in hand catching what little heat and light breeze they could before the approaching winter. Without thinking Eyvind started following the same path he had followed once while showing the city of Aelyria Prime to a young lady who had recently moved in. That had taken place an Era ago and he could barely remember the lady's face.

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

She simply stared at him as he apologized, her brows arching slightly, her mouth tightening at the corners just slightly. Her arms were folded and she straightened her back a little. There was no possible way for her to look down her nose at him, not with him towering more than a full-foot over her, but it looked as if she would have done her best if she were given several more inches to her already generous height--most women tended to be somewhat shorter than her six feet.

His intentions to offend hardly mattered. That he had managed to do so without trying spoke volumes--this was not a man that knew how to control his emotions, could not focus himself to betray little. Iseult might have had a quickly sparked temper, but she could dampen it when she put her mind to it. Unfortunately, there was little that could be done to hide the hard glint in her eye when she herself was annoyed.

She could hardly excuse him either for placing the blame on another half-vagaran who had tried to take his life. She had stood there with little more than a glare and cool words as a weapon. She was visibly armed, but only with a pair of daggers crossed at her back, hidden beneath a coat that was lightly draped around her shoulders against the beginning of a light Autumn chill. She did not hide them because she meant mischief. That was simply where they had been placed.

So she watched him with apparent disinterest as he turned his feet and started to walk down the sidewalk. Figures. The man had known she was lost and had left her there to figure it out for herself or find someone more willing to play polite local. For all his fancy apology, he hadn't left a favorable impression at all.

Clearing her throat, Iseult stepped forward. "You could at least show me the way back to the Crown Inn," she suggested at his back, before he had gotten far.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Aeternia...at least now he knew why he had had no luck with Kella at all. If this woman had spotted no just a glint but all the disgust he had in seeing some spoiled pure Vagaran blood running pair in pair with some Sea Elvish one how would have the woman he loved so dearly not see it clearly in his face, in his body, in the way of speaking and in the quick glances? A fool, yes that was what he was, a fool and a stupid and a brute, no better than an Orc or that mer-man he'd fought in a ship some months early. What made him better than Dag now? Only his heritage and that...that wasn't the escape Eyvind would like to use when the time came, he had to be perfect, or close to it otherwise his people would never accept him back. And when had this started? This lack of control over how emotions were physically expressed? Maybe since he had left the northern shores...yes...he had faced some problems due to them since his departure from Gonehameau.

The woman's voice came from behind him. Strong, decided and outraged. At least she knew how to behave as a Vagaran, that was for sure, even her attempt of a challange, stretching herself and trying to look down upon him. Maybe being a Vagaran wasn't a matter of blood, maybe it was a matter of soul and strength of heart and if that was so maybe this woman was more of a Vagaran than he was and if that was the case he would have to bow to her for being able to do what he could not, be her true self.

His long strides halted and he turned slightly to the half-breed.

"I thought you needed a guided tour, if you only want to go to the Crown this is the way as well. Come, I will show you Aelyria Prime like no one ever showed a city to you. If you need a name, call me Eyvind, if you need a title call me Daekin, if you need a hand ask for it."

The offer was done and a shy smile appeared, at least he was trying to apologize, right?

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

"A guided tour?" Her brows arched slightly, some look of surprise flashing over her features before it was stifled and put away. Her shoulders rose slightly, her cheek canted. She had not considered meandering around the city with someone who disdained someone such as herself simply because of their breeding--something that she had long disdained herself when in Trysvale, where small-minded people made much of her strange appearance (it did not help that her mother was a whore).

That she did not trust him was clear. She stepped forward a little, back straight and stiff, chin level and eyes slightly narrowed not only because of poor thelyri sight, but almost as if looking at him in such a manner might reveal some of his darker qualities and strip away the polite, shy apology that his words conveyed. Her arms did not unfold from where they had settled against her slight chest and she drummed her fingers against her clothed arm, as if in some debate with herself. She had not seen much of the city so far. Just a bit of the merchant's area before she'd gotten herself lost and consequently a bit nervous for her surroundings.

"And end up with a knife in me, floating face up in some canal somewhere?" she countered drily, making it very clear that she did not trust him. Uniformed, she figured he knew his way with weapons and he knew the city...and he'd clearly disliked her simply by look alone. How easy would it have been to toss her somewhere no one would see her again? And some people were good actors. Yes, Iseult was accustomed to approaching such things warily. People were sometimes very good at playing kind and then turning around to reveal the trick.

"Titles are worthless. If I call you anything at all, you won't hear that from me. And you'll keep your hands to yourself." Not that his offer for a hand was probably meant in that fashion. She knew that. But the warning was made anyway. Some men needed to have things set out for them. From what she'd seen of men from an early start, hands were what you needed to watch out for.

Needing to get to her destination and seeing the offer set out, Iseult nonetheless stepped forward to accept it. She kept some distance between them, but not enough that the crowd might separate them. "I'm Iseult," she offered after a moment, a trace gruffly, as if she had no real desire to share it.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Imperial couldn't avoid to chuckle at the mention of a knife in the back, that wasn't the sort of thing Eyvind would do, ever but most people didn't know that and fear could be a good weapon. Not in this case though. It seemed the woman was still somewhat apprehensive, well let her be. And now the joke.

"There are no canals in Prime."

He said sarcastically as he turned and continued walking. He had listened to what he needed. The woman's name was Iseult and she wanted him to keep his hands to himself, very well. A woman wanting to know Aelyria Prime and with no desire for protection, it would be fun when some thug ran from a dark alley in Old Prime dagger in hand and fealthy teeth.

"To begin with I have to point back at the store we were looking at, it is the Silk Leaf Clothing Shoppe where you can find the finest wears in the city. It is located in the Market Place of the Merchantile District, the very heart of commerce in Aelyria Prime. That gigantic building you can see over the rooftops is the Circus where people watch to a variety of shows. There is also a handful of places where you can buy fruit, sweets or travelling goods. You just need to think of something and it exists here in the Market Place or in other parts of the Merchantile District. Let's continue."

The man's voice couldn't be called of gentle but it wasn't hostile either as Eyvind had decided to take a neutral stance towards Iseult from that moment onsward.