Jessica let's Tal turn her head and looks into his eyes, giving a slight shudder as he moves her hair back behind here ear. Her skin flushes even more and her breathing gets faster. As Tal starts leaning into her, Jessica hesitates a moment before moving slightly into him as well, her head tilting slightly to the side.
Delendir takes the hammer from the gamesman and delivers another powerful blow to the target, again ringing the top bell. The man laughs and shakes his head. "You strike true yet again, good sir. You alone might make me quite a sum this day." The man's words seem to ring true, as some of the onlookers, after seeing the 'drunk guy' whack the thing resoundingly twice in a row, have stepped into the actual line for the game. The man holds the hammer out to Kiley again.
Looking around and understanding the man's words he shocks his head and then answers "Thanks sir... I... I guess... it's good to be of some help." then looking again at the stuff and following Vivi's advice he points to some kind of shiny and small bottle "In that case I hope you don't mind if I get that silver hip flask over there."
Jessica seems startled as Tal presses his lips to hers but seems to enjoy it and tries to return it as best she can. It's obvious she has little, if any, experience though she seems to be a fast learner. When the kiss ends her skin has flushed to almost the color of the roses around them and her breath is fast and quick from the excitement. "Is kissing always like that Tal?" She gets a slightly worried look, "I hope I did alright, that was my first one."
Kiley, still red from her embarrassing first attempt, takes the hammer and tries again.
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Tal smiles back as they break apart from their kiss. "There are kisses for every mood Jessica. Tender ones like this for getting to know one another to passionate ones when two people crave eachother. Even anger has its appropriate kiss. "
Tal lets out a little laugh at Jessica's second question to lighten the mood.
" And yes Jessica, you did just fine. I could show and teach you more, but I do not think now is the oppertune time for that. Why one of the clergy men come to water the roses could walk in on us." He says with a wink.
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The gamesman nods to Delendir, wincing a bit at his request. Kiley sets up, and makes a slightly better show of it this time, actually lining it up appropriately and sending the target over halfway up the pole. The crowd claps good-naturedly as the next person in line moves up to have a try.
"Sorry," she mutters as she hands the hammer over, "more used to a halberd..."
She leaves the game and decides to get out of the crowd at the square to clear her head. She soon finds herself wandering the gardens near the cathedral.
It really is pretty here. I wish momma and papa could have seen this.
Delendir looks satisfied at his new and shiny hip flask as the gamesman delivers it. With unusual softness he places it in a fold in his clothes.
He moves then his attention at Kiley and nods with approval at her hit. "That was much better. I'm sure it's this crowd intimidating you. You are stronger than that, I see it." Looking around he continues "Have you seen Tal and Jess? I wanted to show them what we have won here. And the show is probably about to start so we may need to move and get good locations." He looks deeply at Vivi.
If possible Jessica blushes even more, "You're probably right. Why dont we head back to the festival, there is so much going on it'd be a shame to miss it." Jessica begins to get up to go back to the game areas.
"Oh, I am sure the elf lord and his lady are just fine." Vivi says to Delendir offhandedly as he watches Kiley wander off.
She did well, better than last time and better than I could.
Vivi bows to Delendir. "I see you picked something more suitable to your form of worshiping the gods and honoring the spirits. Just don't go to honoring them too much in one day. They will get fat and unable to seek praise from others if you do."
He smiles and heads after Kiley, to console her if she will let him.
"Hahahaha, yes, I guess I can save some 'spirit' here just in case I need it" Looking at Kiley with worried expression as she leaves, he adds "Do you think she got angry with me? She did not even thanked for the help."
"I am not sure. I will help her meditate and clear what troubles her, if she will let me. Holy days mean different things for different people... perhaps she needs to focus and clear away the cloud."
Vivi smiles again.
"Perhaps Jessica and Tal will be coming back soon. Show them your flask and tell them we will be back soon. I hope to see these butterflies!"
Wandering after Kiley, Vivi finds himself in beautiful gardens next to the large building previously identified as the new Cathedral.
Westerners are so strange about building temples to their gods... as if the natural beauty of the gods homes could be added to at all by human structures. Still, I must admitt it is impressive from the outside at least... and these gardens show respect for the local spirits of the forest and streams and skies.
He notices Kiley drifting among the plants, seemingly absorbed in her own thoughts.
"Miss Kiley, I hope I am not intruding. Are you well?"
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Tal stands up and extends his hand to help Jessica up. "Yes, let's get back to the festival. We can get some more cider and something to eat. I doubt the others are worried as all of them seem to be able to handle themselves, including little Kiley. That I have witnessed myself haha. It's a funny story how a suitor approached her, but she should tell you herself."
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Accepting Tal's hand, Jessica stands up, and walks with him back towards the festival. As they go, she sees Kiley walking in the garden, seemingly alone. I wonder why she is here alone, I thought she was with Delendir and Vivi. Is it just me, or does she seem a bit down?
Looking at Tal again, "I see Kiley over there and I want to speak with her about some...personal things...you understand don't you?" Jessica looks into Tal's eyes pleading for his understanding. "I'll catch up to you in the square, I promise."
Letting go of Tal's hand, Jessica goes over to Kiley, "Kiley, are you alright? You seem like you may be a bit down?"
Hearing Vivi and Jessica both ask her if she's okay snaps Kiley out of her thoughts. She shakes her head and gives them a small sad chuckle.
"Sorry I was just wishing my parents were here to see this," She answers.
Jessica gives Kiley a look of sympathy and moves in to try and give her a hug, "Have you lost them Kiley? If you would like to talk I'm wiling to listen."
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Tal looks at Kiley and back at Jessica. "Sure, sure love. Kiley is a tough nut to crack. So be gentle with her. She never opened up to me like she did to Ameiko, but she seems to have taken a liking to you. I'll see you in the square at Ameiko's stand. Ow and erm... take what she says about me with a grain of salt. I fear her opinion of me is quite one sided. " Tal kisses Jessica on the cheek and walks with her to Kiley.
He sees Vivi (and Delendir?) approach as well and raises his hand. "Let the girls have their talk lad(s). Kiley is in good hands. Let's go to the stalls and Lord Talwin will show you the best this town has to offer." Tal says with a smile as he swings his arm on Vivi's shoulder and leads him to ghe festival ground.
Women are always overcomplicating things that much and making men running behind. Sigh... Delendir looks around as Vivi leaves, trying to find between the stalls some friendly face, maybe even Kendra or the sheriff I miss her smile so much...
Kiley looks at Jessica, feeling the sincerity of her words.
"Would you mind coming with me somewhere?" She asks the priestess.
Kiley leads Jessica to the east side of the cathedral. It's quiet here, peaceful. Near the mausoleum that stands above most of the gravestones, there are two simple head stones, both with a carving of Desna's symbol and the name of who it belongs to.
"My father was killed by the Chopper. They found him in an alley not too far from the garrison. My mother was hurt really bad by the fire that took the old church and most of northern Sandpoint. She died a few days later from the burns."
She sighs, the pain old and familiar by now.
"It's kinda funny, I guess. There's a big party to day and all I can think to do is stand here in a graveyard."
Jessica nods her assent and follows Kiley, here sense of dread mounting when they reach the tomb stones. As Kiley speaks, Jessica hears the sorrow in her voice and begins to tear up a bit. She puts an arm around Kiley briefly, "I won't say I understand your pain, I can't, but I can understand why all this," she gestures in the direction of the festivities, "could cause you sorrow."
Jessica kneels down at the grave stones and looks up at Kiley, offering her a hand, "Would you like to pray for them with me? I'm sure they will hear you if you do, prayer is very powerful." Whether Kiley accepts her hand and kneels with her or not, Jessica prays for a minute or two, and then rises, offering Kiley a hand up as well if she joined her.
Vivi nods to Tal and Jessica as they approach.
"My apologies on your loss, Miss Kiley. I will be here if you need to talk to someone, but for now it seems that you have someone to talk to."
He smiles gratefully at Jessica and indicates that she should follow Kiley as she guides her elsewhere.
The human mind can be so strange sometimes... happy times bringing up sad ones, sad times reminding us of happier ones...
Taking Tal up on his offer, he allows himself to be led back to the festival proper.
Vivi smiles as he talks, trying to get to know Tal as he walks with him.
As Delendir spots Tal and Vivi, he approaches them. Showing proudly the silver hip flask to Tal "Ei, look what I got from the games" Then realizing someone is missing he adds "Where did you left your female friends? Is all ok?"
Vivi waves as Delendir approaches, smiling at the flask.
"All is as well as can be, I think. They needed to take care of a personal issue, but I think they will be here in time for the butterflies. Did you ever find the person you were looking for... the maa-yor... right?"
He looks between Delendir and Tal to verify that he has the person right and is pronouncing her title correctly.
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Seeing Delendir, Tal responds. "They are fine. Kiley is a bit down and Jessica went to comfort her. They should join us shortly I suppose. Kiley wouldn't miss the butterflies. Now let's get some of Ameiko's food in your bellies. And it's pronounced mayor, where are you from anyway?" as he guides them to Ameiko's stand.
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Vivi starts in common, so that both Delendir and Tal can understand him.
"Oh, may-yor, got it, thank you. I am sorry if my words are strange sometimes. I learned what is known as 'common' here in the west, as well as elvish and draconic, back in Xa Hoi, my old home. That was practically a lifetime ago though."
Vivi smiles in a carefree manner while speaking, but mentioning his home causes a crease to come across his brow. He whispers to Tal, in elven, a few more words as they head to the lunch table.
A further crease comes across his face, and he switches to common again.
"I feel I can trust you both enough to help me, if you are willing. I am thinking about staying here for a bit. A friend of mine passed through here, I think, named 'Xi'. People might be coming looking for him. I am not, mind you, but others that might mean him harm are. If you could find me if strangers looking for him arrive I would be in your debt."
He attempts to smile, carefreely as he has been... but there is something in his eyes that is sad and serious.
Jessica nods her assent and follows Kiley, here sense of dread mounting when they reach the tomb stones. As Kiley speaks, Jessica hears the sorrow in her voice and begins to tear up a bit. She puts an arm around Kiley briefly, "I won't say I understand your pain, I can't, but I can understand why all this," she gestures in the direction of the festivities, "could cause you sorrow."
Jessica kneels down at the grave stones and looks up at Kiley, offering her a hand, "Would you like to pray for them with me? I'm sure they will hear you if you do, prayer is very powerful." Whether Kiley accepts her hand and kneels with her or not, Jessica prays for a minute or two, and then rises, offering Kiley a hand up as well if she joined her.
"Pain? No, it hasn't hurt like that for a while now. Ache might be a better word for it." Kiley tells Jessica. When the priestess asks if she wants to join in a prayer, she kneels beside her and clasps a silver butterfly pendant to her heart.
"Thanks," Kiley says, "I didn't mean to bring things down, but sometimes... Sometimes I really wish they were still here. Ameiko's a good friend, but... But I miss Momma."
She sniffs and wipes away the unshed tears before looking back up at Jessica.
"C'mon, we're going to miss the butterflies if we don't hurry."
Giving Kiley a hand up, Jessica pulls her into a quick hug and gives her a piece of cloth to wipe her eyes with, "I think that's a good idea Kiley, why don't we."
Looking over at Kiley as they walk back towards the square for the release, "Before the dedication this evening, why don't we go back to my room at the inn, I can finish the work on your hair as promised," she then offers quietly, "and, if you want, I can help you with some make-up and such, I bet the pair of us could really turn heads if we wanted to."
"Elven is not an easy language, a lot of inflexions on it. I'm startled how well you speak it Master Vivi. Those conversations back in your monastery make good on you."
Trying to make more confortable the foreigner Delendir switchs to common "Besides, your journey up to Varissia must have been full of experiencies and stories to explain. Maybe we can have a cup of beer and you can explain us about some of them. It is always interesting to listen tales about far away countries."
Giving Kiley a hand up, Jessica pulls her into a quick hug and gives her a piece of cloth to wipe her eyes with, "I think that's a good idea Kiley, why don't we."
Looking over at Kiley as they walk back towards the square for the release, "Before the dedication this evening, why don't we go back to my room at the inn, I can finish the work on your hair as promised," she then offers quietly, "and, if you want, I can help you with some make-up and such, I bet the pair of us could really turn heads if we wanted to."
"M-m-makeup?" she asks, the look on her face speaking of pure terror.
"Oh, that would be fine I think, though I think I will stick to a few good cups of spiced tea if I can find someone to make it. Most of my stories are not that amazing, I think. Though I have found that some places have some odd customs of dress, I think."
Vivi smiles again, the momentary darkness swept as cleanly from his eyes as a cob web is swept from an archway.
Seeing Kiley's terror Jessica tries to reassure her, "Sure haven't you used any before? I can teach you the basics easily enough and I bet you could really knock them dead if you did."
"O-o-once." she manages to get out. Kiley isn't walking anymore, her legs locked and her heels digging in.
"Hahahaha, you are modest Vivi." then looking at the crowd "I think it is the moment for us to get a good location, the Swallowtails are about to start."
Seeing just how uncomfortable she has made Kiley, Jessica smiles ar her, "I'm sorry Kiley, if it makes you that upset I won't talk about makeup anymore. If you ever change your mind I am happy to help you. Now we better hurry or we'll miss the release!" Jessica rakes Kiley's hand and gives it a quick tug becore releasing it and heading towards the square.
"Oh right! C'mon!" Kiley says as she rushes past Jessica and grabs the priestess by the arm and drags her along to the Cathedral Square.
Jessica lets herself be pulled along by the shorter woman, running to the square. When they find Delendir, Tal, and Vivi, Jessica at least is flushed and panting from the run, "You found a great spot guys, thanks!"
Vivi smiles at the two approaching women.
"Thank you both. Glad to see you made it."
Everyone gathers in the square around noon, the hustle and bustle quieting down as Father Zantus walks up to the tarp-covered wagon. He looks around at the crowd, smiling. "Ages ago, Desna fell to Golarion after a fierce battle with the beast goddess Lamashtu. A blind girl found her avatar, and slowly nursed her back to health. To reward her for this service and kindliness, Desna transformed the child into the first Swallowtail, allowing the child to explore the wonders of Golarions, including the sights, for all eternity. Thus we commemorate, year after year, with our own release of the Swallowtails."
In one smooth motion he yanks off the tarp and releases the door of the wagon, releasing thousands, likely tens of thousands, of Swallowtails. Contrary to some belief, the Swallowtails are greatly varied, yellow and black on some, red and blue on others, some pure white. Sizes vary from just a couple inches to over half a foot across the wings. The butterflies flutter out and quickly land on nearby objects. Children become excited whenever the creatures land on them, laughing as the butterflies dance around them. Adults are slightly less overt, but instead talk about the good omens of having a butterfly land on you.
As the butterflies dance around, long tables are brought out and the cuisines of the local taverns is set upon them. They are available, free of charge, to any who desire to eat. The longest line forms for Ameiko Kaijitsu of the Rusty Dragon's offering.
As the butterflies are released Jessica gasps at their beauty as they begin flying around. She enjoys watching the children playing and, when a swallowtail comes near her, she holds a finger out and stays still to see if it will land on the proffered perch.
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Tal switches to common as well.
"Ah the both of you know Elven, how nice. It's useful to know a language with friends others do not. You can talk about them without their knowing. " Tal says with a wink.
When the girls return Tal greets them both.
He gives Jessica a small hug and whispers in her ear.
"Everything alright with Kiley?"
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Kiley grins and laughs when the butterflies are released. Every year was a little different, but the effect was always the same. There was a sense of wonder that never got old.
When she sees Jessica holding still as one of the butterflies floats around her, she slowly moves over and speaks softly.
"You know, they say that those who have a swallowtail land on them are given a little of Desna's luck as a blessing."