“One day you will do things for me that you hate. That is what it means to be family.” Who: Aspel & Sylvie What: Talks! Where: Places! (The Armory & Sackheim) When: Backdated to last week: Oct 15th & 16th. Rating: G Status: Complete~!
Arielle had returned to the city no worse for wear, it seemed. On Sunday night, Sylvie had insisted upon dinner at the Sackheim, and her daughter had attended with surprising obedience, dressed quite well for the occasion and seemingly in a good humor (Sylvie had to assume, then, that Councilor Liu had not yet informed her of their quite pleasant afternoon together over the weekend). It was a relief to see that Arielle still had spirit -- as frustrating as the girl was, Sylvie did have to admit (privately) that this was one of her daughter’s better qualities, even if it did occasionally make a well-meaning mother’s job terribly difficult.
Be that as it may, her daughter did have work to do, and regardless of how Sylvie felt about her daughter’s trade of choice, she seemed to do it well, and dedicate her full attention to it, which was rather fortunate, as it left Sylvie time for other things --
-- Such as visits to a nicely-appointed armory in the Bazaar District one chilly evening.
The shop had very limited hours, she had been told, but she had bided her time, preferring not to pay Bahamut Hall a second visit so soon after her conversation with Councilor Liu. And, in truth, she was uncertain exactly what to expect of one Lady Cassul, whose reputation seemed a study in contradictions.
(One could not claim Arielle did not have quite eclectic taste.)
Accordingly, she had waited for a time that the lights were illuminated in the shop, and, noting no stream of customers through the doorway at this time, she thought it was likely as good a time as any to walk in herself, offering a pleasant smile to the proprietress (or so she had to assume) behind the counter as she took off her gloves, attempting to look her over as surreptitiously as possible.
There had been orders to fill and record keeping to do. With a tenuous bond made with the metal dealer again, she’d put in an order as quickly as it seemed even remotely wise for as much as the smith believed he might sell her. That, mixed with a backlog of custom orders requested of her… Well, it was going to make for a busy next month or two of smithing. Though, with all of the fighting and danger that seemed to be going about, Aspel admittedly had more orders than she really thought she was likely to gain. Perhaps it was because her own weaponry and armor had held up so well in battle? Or maybe it was something else… But either way…
The bell over the door went off, and marking off another tick quickly in the ledger Aspel’s head raised. A smile was automatically offered, faltered for a moment as the smith let confusion slip across her face for a moment, and then rose again. The woman looked familiar, but… Not at the same time. It was someone she’d never met but…
“Good evening, Madam. How may I assist you this eve?”
The flash of confusion was noted -- odd, the other councilor had known her right away -- but it was no deterrent as Sylvie approached the counter, saying in her strongly accented voice, “Good evening. I might say that I am here to peruse your fine wares, or perhaps to commission an item for my daughter --” both quite true, in fact; Arielle wouldn’t exactly approve but she did insist on going into trouble, so something from this sort of establishment hardly seemed amiss -- “but also, I must admit that I have some distinct interest in making your acquaintance, particularly.” Pleasant smile still in place, Sylvie held out her hand, wondering if this woman, like Councilor Liu, would react as though she were a malboro in disguise. Arielle did exaggerate. “Sylvie Chiaro. I believe, had I not found my way here, we would never have been introduced at all, and I think that would have been quite a shame.”
A brow curiously raised, Aspel’s face remaining pleasant as the woman before her carried on. “Quite the pity indeed.” The smith easily followed up, her voice having a touch of sincere cheer as she reached across the counter, taking up the woman’s hand before bowing and placing a kiss across the back of the older woman’s knuckles without missing a beat. A soft squeeze of the other woman’s hand would be given before Aspel righted her posture.
“Though, I must admit I fear I am still uncertain as to which of your many motives you wish to pursue on this eve.” There was even a bit of amusement lingering in her tone, obvious through Aspel’s Kerownian accent. “Would care to pick one? Or shall we discuss them all?”
At this rather frank line of questioning -- not to mention the unexpected kiss on the hand -- Sylvie laughed lightly, clearly not taken aback in the least. “I have some skill for accomplishing multiple things at once. A few of your wares are on display to be perused even now, giving me some idea of the quality of your work, though certainly if you wish to show others, I will not be opposed.” A conversation could be held over breastplates and swords as well as it could over bolts of fabric, she had no doubt. “As for the order for my daughter, I have some thoughts on what manner of thing I might like, and I am certain her measurements will not be difficult for you to come by, so that, too, is a matter easily resolved once I have made up my mind on exactly what to ask for. As for making your acquaintance, I do believe this will take the most time of the three, but I am certain it can be accomplished as well, provided you are willing to indulge me with a bit of your time this evening.” She was still smiling as she said, “I would offer to treat you to dinner, but I don’t know how much work you’ve yet to accomplish tonight. Still, I will lay the offer on the table and hope that you may have availability another evening, if not tonight.”
“I fear tonight is terribly full. I have a bit of a backlog in regards to orders that I must fill. ” And there was a sincere note of regret in those words. “However,” Aspel let a beat fall as a finger rose in a bit over exaggerated gesture. “If you shall care to grace me with your presence tomorrow eve, assuming it is not too great a burden, then I would adore to treat you to dinner instead. If you would not be terribly amiss with such an offer of course.” The smile the followed the words was warm. Ari may have been terribly afraid of her mother, but Aspel had no qualms with others parents, and in fact, often envied others for their ability to not be shunned by their parents. Even if the actions could be harmful, parents often were only trying to do the best… Though some parents succeeded much more than not.
“Considering how my life has changed with your daughter in it, an offer as simple as this is the least I can do as a beginning show of thanks to the woman who allowed her to be a part of this world I feel.” And with that, the smile remained. A thought occurred though, and it was nearly obvious as gears turned in her head.
“If you would like some of my time this eve, I can offer it as well, but I fear it would be accompanied by the clanging of a hammer. If that is a burden you have no issue with bearing, perhaps you would care for a bit of time now, and then, no?”
Pretty words, indeed, and really quite promising, so Sylvie said, agreeably, “I will not keep you too long this evening, then -- perhaps only long enough to discuss the item I wish to purchase -- and I will graciously accept your invitation for tomorrow.”
And let Arielle rage if she happened to find out about it -- if she had been sensible about all of this, it wouldn’t have been necessary at all.
Knowing full well that she was going to be meeting Ari’s mother for dinner Aspel had worn something a bit nicer than the norm to the office, and made sure to take a glance over herself - primping a bit - before heading out the door. Thankfully, she’d managed to avoid Drake along the way. The last thing she needed was questions about why she’d looked so nice all day… Assuming he cared to ask that sort of thing at all. Which… Who knew anymore.
Regardless, Aspel had set out to Sackheim - the agreed upon meeting location - and assured that she’d arrived early just to be safe. Besides, who knew if Ari’s mother was the sort to follow the lead of her daughter when it came to arriving on time, and well… Reservations were reservations in a place of this sort.
With a glass of mead ordered there was nothing left to do except to sit, and wait until Sylvie arrived.
Unlike her daughter, however, the merchant was always early; five minutes before the appointed time, she entered the dining room having just descended the stairs from her room (that a hotel room was far nicer than the hovel in which her daughter insisted on living was really quite a trial). She was shown to the table at once, and noted with slight surprise her dinner companion’s punctuality. It was rather unexpected to find that Arielle seemed to have developed a preference for responsible lovers these last years.
A greeting was offered with a smile, followed by, “I do hope you did not wait long for my arrival.” She could see the sommelier hovering near the wall, clearly waiting for her to settle before making his appearance.
“Only an appropriate amount.” Aspel’s smile was pleasant as she placed her glass of mead upon the table, and stood to pull out the older woman’s chair. A hand signaled easily for Sylvie to sit so that the smith could push the chair in for her. WIth that taken care of Aspel retreated back to her side of the table without a thought, and settled in once more.
“Now, I do believe there are likely questions you have held since the night before, no?”
That earned another light laugh. “You are quite forthright, which I can appreciate. But I was quite honest about wishing to get to know you -- after all, I’m a mother, and mothers do concern themselves with the doings of their children, especially when said child is quite secretive.”
The sommelier came then -- ordering an adequate Ordalian red, Sylvie turned back to the other woman and added, “I will not lie -- I am curious how Arielle may have impacted your life so deeply that you feel the need to thank me for it. Generally, I’ve found that she does what she likes, so I do not think I can claim credit.”
“She has kept me alive.” The smile on Aspel’s face remained. “If rumors are true certainly you know a fair amount regarding me thus far, no?” Fingers wrapped around the stem of her glass absently, tapping at the base. “I would assume if you have any familiarity with religion or fighters, you are likely well aware that both Sentinals and Fell Knights are not well known for having particularly lengthy life spans thanks to their particular skills.” The mead was swished around in her glass absently without letting the base of the glass completely leave the table. “If you had not given life to her, then she would not have been able to do as she pleases.” There was a faint amount of amusement there regardless of herself though.
“If I allowed rumors to form my opinions for me, I daresay I would not be very successful in life,” Sylvie replied. Certainly, she had listened to many, but she was still making up her own mind on the matter of Aspel Cassul, especially considering the fact that she found herself in the curious situation of having two potential suitors for her daughter, both of whom Arielle actually liked. It seemed prudent in a case like this to form opinions based solely on fact and her own observations. As for rumors about her, well, Arielle’s exaggerations were nothing new to her after twenty-six years.
“I will say that considering Arielle’s taste for altruism seems to have been awakened by making your acquaintance, perhaps I ought to be thanking you instead. Regardless, as you seem to feel that I am owed thanks, I will say you are quite welcome.” The wine arrived and she lifted her glass for a toast. “To what appears to be our mutual benefit, then.”
Aspel couldn’t help but take her turn to look amused as a soft laugh slipped out. “A mutual benefit indeed.” When prompted, the smith easily followed along with the toast, an entertained look remaining on her face the entire time before her glass lowered, and another sip of her drink was taken.
“I must ask, has your visit been enjoyable thus far? Or has Emillion left you wishing for more?”
“It has been an enlightening trip.” Enjoyment was not really her reason for coming, though she could not deny that some of the experiences she’d had here were more positive than not. “Wishing for more… well, I would have preferred not to have to make such a journey, as pleased as I am to see Arielle, but as I mentioned, mothers worry. Fortunately, it seems some of my worries, at least, were unfounded.”
“As long as it has garnered you some benefit it clearly is not a total loss.” And Aspel simply nodded as Sylvie mentioned a mothers worry. “While I have no children of my own, I perhaps can understand in some regard with two younger siblings galavanting about Emillion as well.” The glass was raised, another sip taken. In this instance, the smith would do her best to assure her drink slowly disappeared, even if she wanted to gulp it back at her normal pace. “I am glad to hear that your mind - on some level - has been eased. Please do let me know if there is anything I may assist with to further ease your concerns?”
“That,” Sylvie said lightly, as though they were still making small-talk, “will depend entirely on your intentions toward my daughter, I expect. Some of my concerns revolve around her future, and I am coming to realize that -- for once -- rumors of her serious involvement are not exaggerated. So if you’d care to enlighten me on the subject, perhaps you can assist with setting my mind at ease.” She had already had Councilor Liu’s answer to this question -- a quite promising answer, at that -- but she was not quite ready to tip the balance in his favor yet, at least not until she got a better sense for this woman. Unlike the man Sylvie had spoken with this past weekend, Lady Cassul seemed much better versed at keeping her thoughts from showing upon her face.
Ah, now they were finally getting to the real point of this visit. Aspel keenly recalled Ari’s stories of her Sylvie attempting to spring a marriage on her before, was this perhaps what was at play as well now? If it was, what a terribly amusing outcome that would result in between Aspel and Ari likely both refusing, as well as the displeasure, and possible wrath that may be incurred from the likes of Vivi and Mag as well. Amusement wrote itself clearly across her face.
“Ah, but whatever do you mean?”
“If you do not know what I am referencing,” Sylvie responded, noting the amusement, “then I daresay you have already answered.” And a disappointment that would be, indeed -- someone a bit more grounded could only benefit Arielle in the end, but it seemed that even if her daughter had developed a taste for respectable members of society, she still managed to choose those who would not sim for any sort of permanence. Really a pity. “Arielle’s fondness for you, I know quite well --” or rather, she guessed quite well, for had her daughter not all but bundled this woman away with her the moment that Sylvie had appeared in town? -- “but your opinion of her, or your relations as they currently stand… these things, of course, I cannot know unless I ask.”
“Ah.” The amused smile remained - a certain touch of fondness finding its way in - as a finger rose to trail along the rim of her glass, her eyes following along with the finger. “You see, when you speak of futures, you speak of uncertainties, and insecurities. It is hard to calculate those things within the here and now. Especially,” Aspel’s gaze rose. “When you are speaking of the plans, and lives, of others and how they wish to spend them instead of your own. Interfering with others futures can be a…” There was a pause as Apsel considered her wording. “Difficult game at times.” The smile that had fallen from her face was flashed briefly, this one a little more sorrow filled than intended.
“I am uncertain how to answer your question to some degree because you see, I have far more respect for my relationship with Ari than I do for my relationship with you in this moment. Not that I do not appreciate your concern, or understand its place. However, Ari seems… Quite concerned about how you will attempt to involve yourself in her life, and how she choses to live. I can not help but wonder if whatever answer I may or may not have to give may cause problematic outcome for her in the end.” A beat. “Certainly, you see my conundrum.”
It would have been very simple to get annoyed at this response, but in fact, it was promising in its way. That the other woman would come to Arielle’s defense when posed with such a seemingly innocuous question spoke of a certain type of devotion. And so she said only, “I assure you, I do not play a game at all. Arielle tends to exaggerate -- it is not an uncommon thing for daughters to find well-meaning mothers onerous, as I am certain you know -- but my ultimate wish is, of course, for her happiness. Still…” a pause as she sipped her wine, “you are free not to answer, and allow me to draw my own conclusions, of course. I would not presume to force you.”
“But life - to some degree - is a game we are all playing. Now what we see as the rewards of the game differ with every point of view. Clearly, that is a personal opinion, and you surely need not agree, but I feel it would not be too far a reach for me to believe, and say, that you would like to see your daughter win in a way you that you deem will bring an appropriately acceptable award, no?” There was a pause after this however as Aspel considered what - could potentially be a jab - in Sylvie’s words had been regarding mothers and daughters.
“I suspect I believe that perhaps - from what I have been told, and may be incorrectly perceiving - Ari and yourself have very different views for what her happiness in the end shall contain.”
“Perhaps,” she agreed. It was not terribly far off from what Arielle had attempted to tell her time and again, but she believed, as she always had, that sometimes, wisdom and experience allowed one to see what youth and impulsiveness could not. She said exactly that: “Or perhaps I simply suspect that perceptions of what happiness truly is may change as life goes on. I am certain you are not attempting to chastise me on how I handle my family matters,” or rather, that the chastisement would be summarily ignored, viewed only as an extension of Arielle’s own obstinacy, “but that aside, as I only asked whether you might care to enlighten me on the subject of your intentions and you seem to have reasons -- quite valid -- not to do so, I see no reason to push the subject at this time.” Another sip of wine; her slight smile stayed in place. “There are many more pleasant topics available for discussion, so I see no reason to linger on this one if you are set against it.”
“Or perhaps - a third option - I am attempting to suss out what is a daughter’s exaggerated fear of her mother, and what is not, and why perhaps it is there in the first place before I make any final decisions of my own. I make no secrets of my own disagreement with my family regarding my chosen path as a Knight, and while it caused me much pain, and many problems within my blood, it has proven a fulfilling life choice even if my morals, and goals did not align so well with what a proper lady was considered to be in Cassul Keep.” A beat. “However, if you find this train of conversation displeasing, I can simply refrain from attempting to get to know you, as in that instance I would clearly have had a misconception of your original statement regarding that our time was to be spent becoming familiar with one another at this point.”
“Personally, I think the definition of what a proper lady is and isn’t ought to be at least somewhat flexible.” And on that single point (perhaps only on that point, in fact), Sylvie thought they could agree. “And while I may on occasion be blunt, I am not the least bit displeased, so by all means, if you have a desire to continue along this vein, we can do so. I am open to whichever topic interests you. I will, of course, similarly reserve the right not to answer questions when it seems prudent, but if what you seek is a better understanding of me -- or of my relationship with Arielle -- you have only to ask.”
Aspel couldn’t help the sincere, and only ever so slightly mischievous smile that arose at Sylvies response. With that same smile, the smith raised her glass, offering a toast to Ari’s mother as she freely allowed the amusement of the game they’d started to play linger across her face.
“Then ask I shall, and I certainly hope you will feel comfortable to follow suit.”