Aspel Cassul: When in doubt, Aspel! (weaponry) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-04-01 20:39:00 |
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Unfortunately, with how things had gone the few times they’d seen each between New Years and this day there hadn’t been much time to see each other one on one that hadn’t been… Eaten up with other activities. Though, admittedly, the man Aspel had hired had run long with the projected end date as well. A sigh escaped her lips as the item was easily turned between her fingers. In the end the cost was worth the outcome, but she’d be feeling the repercussions of it for some time to come. Thankfully, working as a councilor had made this decision a bit easier in the end. Regardless, the network messages exchanged assured the bard’s arrival in a somewhat timely manner at least, and from there, they’d see where the evening went. Perhaps, Ari would be too tired to really carry on all that much, or perhaps she wouldn’t but either way, that wasn’t entirely the point of this night regardless. As had become the norm, the smith had taken up her place with her back leaned against the shop counter while waiting for the other woman to arrive. Certainly, this would undoubtedly go smoothly enough was the thought most prominent in Aspel’s mind…. It had to. True to form, the ring of the bell came some few minutes after the agreed hour -- not punctual, but not terribly late, by Ari standards. When the door was opened, Ari immediately wrapped her arms around the other woman’s shoulders and gave her a rather enthusiastic kiss right over the threshold. Pulling back just a little, though still standing very close, Ari told her, “You’re to blame for me spending the last few hours of rehearsal dreadfully distracted; sweet, innocent Juliana should never have such thoughts as I had. Hello, by the way.” This was followed by another kiss -- far quicker this time, before Ari moved to enter the shop. Fortunately, despite the previously mentioned distraction, she wasn’t quite at the point of wanting to make use of the counter again (though really, it would depend on Aspel’s mysterious reasons for inviting her over tonight specifically, and she wouldn’t complain either way). “I hope I did not keep you waiting too long. I came straight from rehearsal.” Admittedly, the greeting was a bit of a surprise. By no means an unpleasant one, but certainly not how she’d expected to attempt to usher the younger woman in this eve. A low chuckle rumbled down in her throat, a wicked smile crossing her lips with characteristic ease. “Am I?” The words dipped low, almost a purr of sorts, but not quite there either, enough to tempt, but not enough to fulfill. “And thoughts as such would be?” A thumb easily caressed over Ari’s cheek before Aspel leaned in again, attempting to steal another lingering kiss even if this one would be cut unfortunately short. “Terribly long.” Came the easy tease, her smile and eyes betraying her quite quickly as Aspel shifted, one hand at the bard’s lower back giving her a slight push in, while the smith stepped back, closed, and locked the door. A hand gestured towards the door leading into the storage area, which housed the steps up to her apartment so that the bard could lead the way. “I do pray the director was not horribly upset by a poor, helplessly distracted Juliana.” Even as Aspel attempted sincerity in her words, her face would easily give away all the amusement she held for the entirety of the situation this night. “Oh,” Ari said airily, “thoughts of blindfolds and silk ties and other things far more pleasant than work could ever be -- and I say this as a person who usually loves her work a great deal.” She shot a grin over her shoulder, said, “You’re very good at being distracting, but then, you know that.” At Aspel’s direction, Ari headed toward the stairs, still walking as she began ascending then: “The director attributed my behavior to Monday and the rapidly approaching Founders Festival; she’s been forgiving more often than not, which makes her both naive and a breath of fresh air after the tyrant I deal with in the mornings. Thank Faram the festival is approaching; I’ve had quite enough of him to last me a lifetime.” “Ah, yes. That is quite soon now, no?” A glance was cast back at the bard on their travels between the shop and Aspel’s apartment. How time did fly indeed. Whereas she’d been swept up in council work, the normal marketing, and moves for social presence hadn’t been on her radar nearly as much this year as they had been in past periods. As there was no need to promote the shop as much, several things she used to pay a great attention to had fallen by the wayside. Perhaps, it would be something she’d regret later, but for now, it simply was what it was. There were blips that came upon her radar about it with the exhibition matches that would help the guild make a spectacle of itself, but… That hardly took front seat to their daily tasks in most instances. Regardless, with each door locked behind them, and the comfort of a warm apartment now easily available, Aspel gestured passively towards the couch - with food laid out on the coffee table - for Ari to make herself comfortable while the smith set to locking the last door. “Soon you shall be free of all of this insanity and left to lay idly about with many a free day, no?” A light tease in her voice, but nothing terribly out of place from the norm as Aspel then made her way towards the couch as well. Upon seeing the food, Ari immediately made her way towards it, filling her plate with the quick movements of someone clearly hungry and impatient. “I see you’ve decided to give in to my outlandish demands after all,” she said, after helping herself to her first bite. “You may never complain about my behavior when you encourage it so readily. This is good,” she added, almost an afterthought; at this point, almost anything she ate would be good. It had been too many hours since her last meal. “And yes,” she said, “soon I shall laze about, which is far truer to my nature than all this madness. I shall sleep until noon and dance until dawn and have the time to visit a beach -- somewhere with turquoise water and powerful rum-based drinks. There are days,” she admitted, “when the thought of all of this is what keeps me going. But at least I’ll be down one show -- plus a wedding -- in two weeks’ time, and it will become somewhat less painful after that. I won’t be snatching meals on the go, at least.” “Mm.” Came the easy response to Ari’s chattering on. “Perhaps, I have decided spoiling you is not the worst manner in which I can spend my time after all.” Amusement lingered, but there wasn’t really much she could add on to all of the talk, and plans for escape as her life had always been filled with one sort of work, or another which she tended not to be able to escape all that well. Even though her wanderlust hadn’t completely settled from her days of roaming Kerwon and Valendia, it had eased since taking up her position with the council… Even if some days all she wanted was to be on a boat, or an airship, sailing off to her next destination for another rare material to make weapons and armors of. “It sounds as though it shall be a well deserved departure from your current norm.” With that, Aspel settled in next to the bard, gathering up a few things on a plate to pick at herself, and moving to refresh the glass of honey wine for herself that she’d taken to sipping at while reading earlier in the night. Unlike Ari there had been no rushed grabbing of meals, no stress that couldn’t be put off in favor of lunch or dinner, so she had picked lightly at things, with the expectation of having something a bit heavier later in the evening when the bard arrived. Ari sighed, wearing an expression of dreamy anticipation as she contemplated that beach awhile longer, then said, “Well, I’ve about two months to make it through yet before that blessed time comes. I’ll have to keep my energy up.” Fortunately, the food would help with that. She curled her legs up under her, balancing the plate on her knees and leaning against Aspel’s side, content for the moment to indulge in this simple comfort. “You should have a vacation,” she said thoughtfully. “One without behemoths or near-death experiences, preferably. They can’t expect you to work all the time, can they?” “Certainly, that ought to not be too great a struggle with two people attending your needs, no?” A slight smile remained, even if internally Aspel felt a bit shaky with making such a comment aloud. It was true though. They’d both look after her, and realistically… They’d both done it before, they just hadn’t… Run into each other while doing it previously was all. Though with Ari pressed up against her side, an arm was slung easily over the other woman’s shoulders without much thought, and Aspel continued to pick at her plate as Ari spoke, slowly making headway through the food present. “Ah,” A pause, as Aspel shifted, feeling the point a perfect juncture to which to leap towards the real goal of this evening. Shifting, she attempted not to disturb the other woman too much, even if some disturbance couldn’t be helped as the smith dug out a slightly stout rectangular box from one pocket. “Speaking of such unfortunate events.” The box was then offered out to Ari. “This is a bit late, but here.” With that, Aspel shifted, settling in again. “I thought to give it to you upon the New Year’s holiday, but…” She trailed off, suddenly feeling terribly awkward. “When the events of the eve came to light it did not seem entirely appropriate in that time.” Ari thought of making some offhanded comment about how very fortunate she was to have two concerned caretakers instead of one, but then suddenly she was being handed something that looked quite a lot like a jewelry box, and that thought flew from her mind. For an unguarded moment, she wore an expression that warred between pleased and worried -- had Aspel ever offered her jewelry before? Really, had anyone aside from her parents and those few near and dear friends with whom her relationships were easy and platonic? Theatre patrons didn’t count (for purposes of such worries, theatre patrons never counted). It is like the rug, Ari told herself firmly, to squelch her own concern not so much at the gift as at her own unexpected flash of pleasure upon seeing the box. You’re being an idiot. “I do love presents,” she said, her voice carefully not betraying her thoughts. Her hands remained steady in opening the gift. No gemstones, which served to ease the worst of her worries. In fact, the chain and the ring suspended on it -- a necklace, she immediately justified to herself -- were made of a dull, faintly silvery metal that was from being the sort of thing one would see at a goldsmith’s. The treble clef on the ring, though, was finely worked, the band elegantly curved. A mystifying gift, though as she brushed her fingers gently over the top loop of the treble clef, she felt an unexpected warmth, and then her breathing was easier and her concerns dispelled (or at the very least, successfully pushed aside) as she asked with the hint of a smile, “Is this... an accessory of some sort?” Because then, then it could simply be thoughtful and useful and there would be no need for worry at all. Taking a moment, the smith watched briefly for a reaction from the other woman, and when the one received seemed… Mixed… She instantly went for her drink. Retrieving the glass from the table, Aspel would attempt to play off the entire situation as nothing more than a simple thought, an easy gift, nothing to be concerned about at all, and if Ari asked of anything more than what the smith could explain, she’d dismiss the entire thing with a joke… Or perhaps move them on to some other… Activities of interest before long. Though… Could Aspel explain the situation at all? Even to herself? The thought suddenly caused her chest to tighten. What in the world was she doing? Regardless, with the the glass of mead retrieved, Aspel was halfway through a sip - an attempt to dispel her own thoughts - when the next question came. “Mm.” Was the noise to signify that she’d heard the bard’s point while she swallowed. Letting the glass come to rest against her leg with a light, absent swish of the liquid a slight nod would be given. “It is indeed.” A pause, an attempt to gauge the other woman. “It is a trade of sorts I suspect.” Aspel’s eyes shifted away from the bard, slowly beginning to linger about her living room while her arm remained wrapped around Ari, sincere consideration given to her words, teeth biting into her own lip for a moment as she thought. The worry had faded now to the point where it could be utterly ignored; curiosity had replaced it as Ari withdrew the necklace from the box and let it drape over her palm, the pretty ring (or charm -- whatever was going to be the easier word to swallow at the moment) dangling before her eyes. “A trade, is it?” she asked, her curiosity clearly fully engaged now. She didn’t feel the warmth this way, but when she placed her other hand just under the treble clef, let it rest in her palm, there it was again, faint and somehow familiar. “What are we trading?” she asked, turning to look at Aspel, still wearing a faint smile and a slightly puzzled expression. “And what does it do?” She still felt as though she was missing something, though what it could possibly be, she couldn’t imagine. “Ah,” Aspel began, a slight smile - she tried to keep her nervousness from around the edges of it (why was she suddenly nervous?) - was offered with eyes laying upon the other woman, a hand coming up to allow fingers to play over the bard’s. “Well, that is a bit more complex of a question, no?” A slight squeeze was given to the other woman’s shoulders briefly before the smith began to drawl on. “You see,” Aspel offered. “It is a trade of sorts in that you have given me protection many a time, and I thought, why should I not be able to offer you the same?” A brief pause, barely a beat dropped before the smith inhaled, and began to speak again. “In addition, there are many,” nervousness spiked again, blasted anxiety had no place in a moment like this, “memories which you have shared with me, and things that I,” How should she… Where… “felt worth preserving.” A thumb came up brushing over the treble clef absently. “It took some time to find someone willing to transform leftover metal Mandolin bits into a ring of sorts.” Aspel swallowed. “And longer a search for an appropriate enchanter that would grant upon it the same protections that your instrument, and you, have often afforded me.” Just surprise now; Ari felt her eyes widening as she saw the ring dangling from the chain in an entirely different light. She remembered her drowned mandolin, of course -- the loss of the instrument had stung -- remembered, too, Aspel’s request to bring the leftover metal bits to her. It had been months ago now, and she was quite settled with her new instrument, having entirely forgotten about the exchange. Trust Aspel not to forget such a thing. And that smile, ever so slightly strained with nerves around the edges, as though the other woman was uncertain what she might think of the gift. Ari supposed she couldn’t fully blame her; it was… an unexpectedly personal sort of present. “You’ve protected me, too,” she said, the words soft. How many times had Aspel thrown herself between Ari and an enemy blow? Not that, without Aspel to worry over, Ari might have joined the fray at all, but… It was best to focus on the happiness -- the gift had had her oddly happy, the sort of happiness that came with a tightening in her chest, like a strain of music almost too beautiful to comprehend -- and leave the rest. She leaned forward, placing a kiss upon Aspel’s lips as soft as her words had been. “Thank you. It is… a rather extraordinary gift.” She held out the hand over which the chain was still draped, lifted up her hair with the other. “Would you like to help me put it on?” A sheepish sort of sorrow seeped its way into a weak smile. “I suspect I fear it never enough.” It was the only response she had, the only honesty she could offer the other woman without hiding motives or thoughts. It was strange how much had changed in nearly the last year. Would she ever have suspected she’d find herself giving such a… Personal… Expensive gift to Ari just the year prior? No, of course not, but… Life was strange in that way. Always moving, always going forward, and changing the plans that one made for themselves regardless of what their own thoughts may be. The kiss assisted in dispelling her concern, and was easy to return. The thanks earned a slight bowing of her head. “You are more than welcome.” Other thoughts flickered by, thoughts of thanking Ari for…. The thoughts died away just as quickly as they had come. “I would be glad to.” With that, Aspel shifted, delicately plucking the chain from Ari, undoing the clasp, and bringing it to rest gently about the bard’s neck. “I was uncertain of your ring size.” The words soft, yet with a purpose of their own. “Thus the chain.” Carefully, she’d move to redo the clasp, assuring no hair was caught up in it. “Surely, the maker can resize it if you so wish.” Just in case the bard wasn’t one for necklaces… But, somehow, deep down, Aspel had a feeling that for this necklace at least, that was likely to not ever quite be the case. A pang of worry, quickly dismissed, arose at that statement. Thoughtfully, Ari lifted the ring on its chain and examined it before sliding it onto the ring finger of her right hand. It felt odd there. Because I never wear rings, she thought to herself, annoyed with her own jumpiness. “I always worry that rings will get in the way of playing,” she mused. She knew others did it, and it wasn’t as though this particular ring was bulky, but… She slid it off, let it rest once more against her chest, this chain draped over the other, far longer, which held, at its end, the pouch containing her summonstone. “I think I shall wear it thus for now,” she said. “It will be safer this way -- and so will I, as it will better fulfill its purpose. Not that this will keep me from trailing after you when you rush off; if anything, it’s bound to increase such incidents as you’ve essentially presented me with armor of a sort.” A bit of her usual teasing came into her smile, she said, “This one doesn’t even fit poorly.” It was a reasonable enough thing to be concerned over from what the smith could gather. Admittedly, she played no instrument of her own, and had no idea the technicalities of such things, but Aspel had become well aware of her years of how much ring wearing didn’t particularly work for her. Between fighting in the field, and her hammering, and heating metals, more than one ring had been mangled over the course of a busy day. Thankfully though - even though she liked rings - she’d caught on early enough to know they’d likely be ruined before long, and thus had never invested much in that particularly type of accessory herself. Though, the next bit of information was something that hadn’t crossed Aspel’s mind at all. Faram, that hadn’t been how she’d intended this one bit, and… Well… That was Ari’s choice and… “I can fix that.” The words were out of her mouth regarding the bard’s ill fitting armor before she could even think about it twice. Regardless of herself, it would seem the idea of assuring the other woman’s protection in every way she could would always be paramount. “The armor, of course.” Ari laughed. “I didn’t mean to imply that you should, but I wouldn’t say no, if you’ve the time for it.” The things Aspel made were always so beautiful while remaining durable -- she still had the dagger she had received almost a year ago. “I would be a fool to turn it down, wouldn’t I?” And if she could accept armor, why not an accessory? The issue thus resolved in her mind, she said, “Now, let me just finish this until I no longer feel like there’s a chasm where my stomach ought to be, and then, I do believe you said something about a blindfold earlier.” Her smile now was neither soft nor uncertain; the expression would be much more likely to be categorized as a sort of avarice. “I believe I’d like to hear more about that. Or, if words fail, you could always show me...” |