Miss Maisie's Lantern's

[Anne]

iss Maisie's Lanterns

Miss Maisie's was one of those places that people would walk past and never notice. Now don't feel sorry for Miss Maisie and think that business was bad. Indeed business was just as she wanted it.

People who were meant to find the discreet wrought iron gate would see it straight off. It was almost as if someone had lit a large lantern proclaiming its presence.

Stepping inside one would have to initially wait for their eyes to adjust to cool darkness away from the glare of the Arakmat suns.

Once the eyes had grown used to the darkness a myriad of twinkling lights would begin to appear lighting the way for Miss Maisies guest to traverse the path into the interior of the building where Miss Maisie herself would be waiting.

"Welcome! Come in and sit yourself down... perhaps a refreshing cup of tea...?" she would ask as she pointed to large overstuffed cushions scattered around the floor for one to sit on.

Miss Maisie is a smallish woman of ample proportions with a passion for brilliant color if her clothes are anything to go by. Her hair was a non descript mousy brown and her eyes were like twin pools of chocolate framed by mousy lashes. By far Miss Maise's best asset was her smile! It lit up her whole face.

Please PM GM before entering.

[Nessani Kemenlo]

Curiosity was a dangerous thing. Not only did it kill the cat - or so she had been told - but it had also gotten Nessani into a fair bit of trouble when it had driven the curious gypsy too close to Vortex. She had been lucky to get out with her skin, and her maidenhood, intact thanks to the timely arrival of her estranged cousin. ('estranged', not 'strange', though to Ness' way of thinking, she was that too.)

Yes, curiosity was a fickle god, but Ness had always been taught to take the good with the bad and so the barefoot gypsy did not let one setback deter her from allowing curiosity to push and pull her through the streets of Arakmat like flotsom and jetsom on the incoming tide. She moved through the bazaar, spying out the diverse wares that were for sale. She sat in an inn, spying on people who, all for the sake of a pint of ale, set aside their differences and became lifelong pals. And finally, she spied 'it'. It was a simple wrought iron gate, but something in her gut told her that this was what she had spent the better part of the brightening unknowingly searching for.

Beads of sweat dotted her brow as she approached the gate and her waves of dark hair hung limply, wilted under the heat of the suns. She stepped into the illuminated entryway and the energy of the place made the hairs on her arms stand on end. Was it her mesaka trying to tell her something? Or was it simply nervous anticipation that made the air around her hum with excitement?

The Air'riela girl had never been one to let anyone tell her what to do (mesaka or otherwise) and so it was without any hesitation at all that she stepped on through the portal, suddenly finding herself in blinding darkness. A shiver went through her as the relative coolness brushed across her damp skin. It took only the briefest of moments before her sky blue eyes made out the twinkle of lights ahead of her as if some fairy wonderland waited just beyond the darkness. She obeyed the lights, moving along the path, the tips of her fingers and the hem of her blue-green skirt trailing along the wall at her side.

The sudden exclamation of welcome nearly made Ness jump out of her skin. At least she had the courtesy to appear contrite - perhaps some of Anora's manners were rubbing off on the gypsy after all.

"My apologies for barging in uninvited. The door was..." not open "...calling to me," she finished lamely.

Nessani lowered herself to an offered cushion, leaning forward to wrap her arms around her knees as she studied the woman before her. Miss Maisie reminded the gypsy girl of the elderly baba in her kumpania. It was an association that made her suddenly homesick for familiar surroundings and people. Her life had definitely changed drastically since she'd been purchased by her own gaje cousin. Even the hint of familiarity that she found in Miss Maisie's demeanor and brilliant choice of clothing gave Nessa comfort.

"No, thank you. No tea." Miss Maisie's smile was infectious and Ness found herself genuinely smiling in return. It was an expression that was rarely seen on the gypsy's face, but it felt good now.

"Do you have goat's milk?" she asked as an afterthought.

"With honey?"

[Anne]

Miss Maisie almost but not quite clapped her hands with glee when the young lady entered her parlor.

One should not get the wrong impression about Miss Maisie; she was a lady of gentle birth and good breeding. Her family had its roots in the upper echelons of Aelyria Prime society after all. Miss Maisie was also very well traveled as Nessani was about to find out.

”Goats milk…why of course my dear; make yourself comfortable and I will have Hakim fetch you a glass and some Arakmatian delight to nibble on.” she said as she too sat herself down on one of the plump cushions arranging her multicolored skirt around her to best show off the colors.

”I am so glad you found your way here my dear. I have been expecting you for sometime... well not so that I knew exactly that it was going to be you…more that it was going to be someone.” her voice trailed off as a small mousai male entered carrying a silver tray with a glass of fresh goats milk, a tiny plate of Arakmatian delight for Nessani to nibble on and a tiny pot of golden honey with a silver spoon to one side. Placing it on a small table with in arms reach Hakim looked at Miss Maisie before fading into the background.

”Now my dear you must tell me a little about your travels and how you have ended up in Arakmat.” she encouraged with a warm smile that made her eyes twinkle.

[Nessani Kemenlo]

Air’riela aloofness was easily forgotten in the presence of the woman who, in Nessani’s opinion, should have been born a gypsy. Ness couldn’t help but warm to the woman with her flamboyant clothes and inviting smile. The girl’s life had become quite lonely. A world that was once filled with laughter, dancing, music and most of all, an abundance of familiya, was now occupied only by a single character with very little personality by Air’riela standards – and Anora seemed to have no interest in befriending her cousin. Any wariness that the gypsy would normally feel was overridden by her craving to have a friend.

“You’ve been expecting me...”

It wasn’t so much a question as a statement of fact. Miss Maisie must have mesaka in one form or another if she knew to expect the girl. The assumption only served to reinforce Ness’ immediate connection with the woman.

Ness watched the entrance of the Mousai servant with all of the interest of a child watching a dancing bear. Her head dipped in gratitude as he set the tray before her. It wasn’t until Miss Maisie spoke again that Ness pulled her eyes reluctantly away from the curious creature to look to her hostess.

“I’ve recently come from the gaj… from Vortex.” Nessani had to remind herself not to use Aire. Miss Maisie might remind her of the gypsy folk, but in truth, she was not.

Three spoonfuls of honey were added to the goat’s milk. The silver spoon tinkled softly against the edges of the glass as Ness considered what to say to this stranger. She took a small sip to test the sweetness before looking up again with a friendly smile.

“I’m traveling now as a companion to my cousin.”

That was true, so far as it went. She just happened to leave out the tiny detail that she was in fact a slave. Technically. Although Anora would be the first to admit that she did more picking up after the gypsy girl than the other way around.

Ness reached out and gingerly lifted a piece of Arakmatian Delight. Holding it before her face, she sniffed at it curiously. The thought of poison flitted briefly through her mind but a glance at the warm, friendly smile on Miss Maisie’s face served to reassure her enough to try a test nibble.

“In my life, I have visited many areas of Telath – mainly the countrysides of Carmelyn, Centripax and Lauryl as you know them. And as a child, I often had the chance to visit Medonia with my mother.” Until her father had caught her taking up her mother’s thieving habits and had put a stop to Ness’ forays in the gaje cities.

“You must forgive my manners. My name is Nessani.”

She considered offering a surname but couldn’t decide if she should give her actual name or the assumed name she had given Anora. Deciding she’d given enough, she looked at Miss Maisie expectantly. Her thumb came to her lips with a sucking sound. She removed her thumb and replaced it with a large piece of Arakmatian delight as she waited.

[Anne]

Miss Maisie could tell she had caught Nessani by surprise when she told her that she had been expecting her. Always a good thing in Miss Maisies eyes. Her interest in Hakim did not go un-noticed either; perhaps she had never before met a Mousai if indeed that was what Hakim really was…


”Nessani! what a pretty name and it suits you perfectly.” she said with a smile when Nessani gave her name.

Indeed I know the places you talk of my dear. Once a long time ago I felt the need to resolve my itchy feet and travel to as many foreign places as was possible at the time. It would seem though that fate has chanced to bring us both to the mysterious city of Arakmat…

Do you believe in fate my dear?” she asked Nessani her eyes twinkling merrily.

Soft strains of music seemed to emanate from all around the room as if someone had just had the orchestra begin to play for the first dance at a ball…

[Nessani Kemenlo]

It was curious that Miss Maisie didn't return the courtesy of offering her name. Even if she assumed that Nessani had bothered to read the sign outside - if there even was a sign, Ness couldn't be sure now - it was only polite to give one's name when given one in introduction. The gypsy couldn't discern if it was that omission or the sudden onset of music from the mysterious beyond that made the little hairs on the back of her neck begin to rise suspiciously.

"I absolutely believe in fate," she replied. All Air'riela did. Nessani was a child of Air and there was a certainty deep within her being that told her the wind had blown her to Arakmat for a reason. Could this meeting be it?

Cocking her head to one side, Nessani regarded Miss Maisie with a mischievous curiosity playing on her dark features. Was this one a charlatan who was going to impress the gypsy girl with 'mysterious' music and servants in hopes to gain a coin for some improvised 'prophesy'? If so, she would be sorely disappointed. One could not garner water from a well that had run dry.

"I do, indeed, believe in fate," she repeated as she studied the woman's face. "Are you intending to read my fortune?"

[Anne]

Miss Maisie looked a little puzzle when Nessani asked if she was going to read her fortune. Did she have the look of a fortune teller…’how interesting’.

”Forgive my manners my dear I should have introduced myself; I’m Miss Maisie Winterweather. Most people call me Miss Maisie and in answer to your question I am not a fortune teller although it could be a new venture to try…” she answered.

Somewhere from further inside the building the sound of a bell tinkling had Miss Maisie excusing herself momentarily.

”Feel free to wander around and look at the many treasures I have collected on my travels.” Miss Maisie said with a twinkle in her eye as she disappeared through a doorway that until now had not been there….

The soft strains of music being played could still be heard…

Ooc Feel free to describe any room you enter or alternately should you choose to enter an inner courtyard you may describe that also.

[Gossamer]

ooc: I've been invited to Guest moderate for this thread. Lets not clutter Miss Maisie's store up though shall we? Here's your new one, Nessani.

http://www.playbypost.com/forums/souk-b...ies-dream.html