After listening to all that was said Aria decides to head off with Tristan. She couldn't help but smile as her husband pledged to protect her, it always made her proud of him and made her blush at the though. Aria was determined to learn as much as she can about her surroundings and the locals. "Tristan my dear," She pauses only for a moment, "Don't forget to smile without showing your teeth and speak with a gentle voice to the locals...OH!And don't forget to be nice!" She pats his arm and winks at him. "I know my Tristan is a kind gentleman and I am sure you could get some answers... Especially from all the old ladies, they'll eat you up!"
Aria giggles as she is pressed against Katani's bosoms. She hugs back and then notices that Ninn is a bit behind. Without a second thought, she links arms with the two women and squeezes herself in the middle.
My kind sister, I felt much the same when I used to work at the brothel I grew up in. I saw no prospect of a happy and full life with a man at my side. Where I am from, a romance is but a small flame to be extinguished by morning at the price of two silver pieces. Many times I felt alone in my chamber at night longing for love and not silver. Alas, I made my own way and found Tristan at a bar. I told myself that I would never give up on finding my own happiness, even if I spent the rest of my life searching. I gathered courage and he loved me for who I was, not the service I could give. If I, a low brothel worker, looked down upon by society could find her true love, then there is no reason you, a noble, beautiful, strong and respected woman could not find her match in love too. My dear, this quest is young and paths lead to many places…even ones of happiness,”
She looks back at Thrall and then back at Katani with a warm smile. She meant every word she said, and believed it with all her heart. She was worth so much more than all the women she ever worked with. If she only knew how much Aria admired her.
Aria was not very talkative at first that morning; she never was a morning person. Its when the sun comes up that she has little to say and usually has to push herself through the morning doldrums. As the morning progressed while walking next to Tristan she started to perk up to her usual self. Aria couldn’t help but start snickering when she realized that she really did steal all the covers and push him off the pillows. She couldn’t help it, but when she sleeps it would seem that something comes over her and becomes territorial of the bed.
“Sorry Tristan, you know it wasn’t me really, just my sleepy self. Hell, if I didn’t know any better, I would say I am another being entirely when immersed into the world of slumber.”
A large smile cracked across her face. She turns her head and with a conquering-brow lifted she whispers,
“You want to be perturbed, but alas you can’t…I am too endeared to you and you know I am right!”
She leaned over to give a quick peck then an affectionate squeeze before walking up to Ninn and Katani. In a soft voice, Aria inquired the two on how they fared that night.
“How are the two beauties this morning?”
She looks over at what Ninn was looking at and couldn’t help but stare at the view. She could tell by the way Ninn and Katani were acting, that they needed friends they could count on. Then she thought of how they acted towards Zero and she couldn’t help herself but say to Ninn,
“Sweetheart, as soon as I find another tiger, I will gladly give him to you. Seeing those beautiful smiles on both you ladies make it work every piece of gold!”
Aria giggles a bit and gives Ninn a little hug. It was always normal for the ladies of the brothel to give each other hugs and be there for one another. Aria did what she felt natural. She looks back and gives Tristan a wink for a moment to let him know she didn’t forget about him. He always seemed to panic if he though she forgot about him. She looks back at Ninn and with a warm smile admits her feelings about their adventure,
“Truth be told sister, I am very nervous. This will definitely be a trial of courage for me I am sure. If ever you need someone, just know I will be there for you. I am sure Katani will not dissapoint either. I can tell she has a good soul and she would not abandon you either. Thank goodness we have her,"she says while admiring Katani for a moment, "She knows what shes doing, as long as we have her I don't think we'll get lost.”
She could feel the sun tickling her morning sensitive eyes and muttered while blinking,
“Damn! Where is that morning pot of tea and eggs when you want them…”
She licked her lips without even realizing and casts her face up at the sky for a deep breath of morning air.
She turned for a moment and looked back at Tristan and the rest of the group. She reaches over to Zero and gives him a gentle caress of the ear and smiles lovingly up at Tristan. Her eyes soften and she couldn't help but just gaze at his face.
Beginning to blush at such kind words, Aria can't help but glow. She was hoping for this kind of bond with both Ninn and Katani. She raised her glass and in return said with a smile, "to new friendships and sisterhood!" For the first time since her journey, she began to feel more at home. She knew very well that the bond with these fellow warriors would grow deeper. She knew that they would be the ones to stand with her where others did not. She was proud of the other women who stood at her side. She was proud of her husband and the other gentlemen too. She knew she was in good hands.
She realized something as she gulped down the crimson delight from her cup. She couldn't help but comment, "Well ladies,I feel terrible for those who tempt us when together in battle." A shudder went down her spine, as beautiful as Ninn and Katani are, they are not to be taken lightly.
Alas! She thought, the mysterious lady aasimar speaks and what a lovely smile! She was very happy to finally talk with her. "Ninn? That is a lovely name! As for keeping dear old Tristan in check, well that is a funny question, you see my husband gets a wee bit uptight at times and I have to bring him down to earth or that stern lip gets the best of him," She couldn't help but giggle some more as she proceeded, "I am very happy to finally make your acquaintance. You fought bravely at our side, I admire strong women like yourself!" With a big smile she gave a nod of respect to Ninn.
Aria couldn't help but notice Thral's laughter and raised her glass at him, "And you, brave Kitten, I thank ye for this lovely drink!" All the while patting poor Tristan. She sneaks a little peck at Tristan's cheek before he gets up. Fortunately Aria can hold her drink down a little, she had plenty of practice over the years from living with "colorful" people. Her cheeks still managed to get rosy and she still got the giggling fits. She was always a merry drinker.
Aria shifts in her seat allowing her leather boots to slide off her heals slightly in hopes to comfort her sore soles. She reclines and leans slightly over to Tristan and pats his thigh gently in an intimate and loving manner. She reaches over to take a sip of wine savoring the fragrance between her lips and tongue. Oh how the bitter-sweet medley lingered in her throat! She began to feel a bit more relaxed until she listened to Katani as she said,
Katani wrote:
"Now, now...don't tease Sir Tristan. I'm sure your woman Aria has some pet name she calls you in the dark of night when she embraces you in hungry arms...?" .
Before she could stop herself, Aria’s shoots at first a quizzical brow and a smile that appeared wider than the rim of the cup began to surface, followed by a crescendo of giggles. Aria couldn’t help but poke some fun at her uptight husband.
“Oh, you have no idea!”She says in between sips of wine,“He is often known behind private doors and in chambers as my “bat in shining armor”, he always gives me a big grin when I call him that…Oh damn I think I said too much...” All the while her voice trails off and she hides her face behind the wine filled cup trying not to laugh. She couldn’t help her mischief especially after having grown up in a brothel. The workers there always had an affinity for humor, often making men into the comedic relief. Never out of spite, only in jest.
It was pleasant for Aria to be in the company of two other strong females. She couldn’t help but admire them. She welcomed the humor from Katani with another smile and a small nod. Aria sits up a bit and looks over at Thral and smiles as she says, “Well Thrall, now you know the true identity of our dear Tristan. He be bat and thou a cat, friends for life if you ask me!” she kept nudging Tristan with her elbow. Anytime she can bring a bit of light to the table, Aria will seize the opportunity. She couldn’t help but recognize in Katani the pure and raw sensuality that she possessed. She felt like she was conversing with a sister-worker. She loved that she was so open and playful with Thral and thought of all the times in private that she would tease Tristan the same manner. Another smile began to etch her face. She was also mystified by Ninn.
Move action : move to J14
Standard Action:Cast Haste on Thrall
Free action: sustaining inspire courage
(Benefits of spell for players:) +1 attack rolls +1dodge bonus ac and reflex +30 speed increase by feet, to a maximum of twice the subject's normal speed, 1 extra attack during full attack
Aria realizing she is a bit far away from the group, she sprints towards them in hopes that she may be of some help. She stopped and narrowed her eyes at Thrall. Her eyes set and her lips move without sound as she casts an old spell in her mind.
From the depths of her fear, an old song that her mother taught her began to rise to the surface and leave her tongue. Although loud enough to be barely audible, it inspired her own courage. She sang the old ballad her mother once sung that moved the hearts of warriors to ready them for battle.
She pointed her gun, steadied her hand and pulled the trigger. Her eyes closed for a moment and mentally tried to will the bullet to her target.
"If only this were aimed at you daddy"she mumbled under her breath in an almost growl.A glint of pure primitive rage shined in her eyes towards her enemy. She ached to watch them fall.
Aria gathers herself near her husband and zero, pulls out her gun and gets ready to fire at anyone who tries to hurt her. She looked around her with a bit of panic. She quickly pulls herself out of her little panic attack and replaces it with a strong sense of survival. She felt slightly comforted to know she wasn't the only one in the hell storm. Sweat drips from the brow as she tries to concentrate. She holds her ground ready for anything.
Standing back up, Loren glances back and forth between Tristan and Aria. “I apologize if this seems too forward, but what exactly are you? You are no mere humans. That is for sure judging by your scent. I make no claims as to your origins for fear of jumping to conclusions, but your scent is a very strong indicator... My father also gifted me with a strong sense of smell. I have been told it is very unique and a… ‘Life saver.’” He laughs uneasily, obviously unsure. His words are very deliberate and carefully chosen, but his curiosity is apparent.
She looked at him with curiosity, for she too wondered what he was. She tilted her head and her eyes soften as she couldn't help but smile at what she perceived as shyness coming from Loren. Aria was fascinated with what he said about his ability to smell and how it came from his father.
"Well.."She starts, "I can tell you I am not all that exotic, unless you never met a elf!" She then decided to go on and ask what she had been wondering. "You say you have a great sense of smell, how come?" She admired gifted people who could smell, see or hear better than others normally could, so naturally she was drawn to ask. She had always been a curious creature. It was what drew her to Tristan.
She smiles and answers the question to the best of her ability. "You see, it is a bit complicated..." She trails off trying to figure out the best way to put it to Thral without confusing him. She clicked her tongue against her teeth and looked down at the floor a bit and responded wryly. She looks back up at him with a glint of humor in her eyes. "Well I am a bit of a gun-mage, years of working with the carnally distorted sorts will do that to ya." All the while giving the "ya know what I mean" look by raising a brow and giving a quick grin. She chuckled a bit and continued with, "I was the brothel's guard hound, always chasing off the unwanted guests. Sometimes they came for more than what they paid the ladies and overspent our hospitality. I was usually the one to give them a parting gift by giving them a brand new third eye right between the two old ones. Not many lived to thank me for their new eye, what a pity!" She let out another small chuckle and studied everyone's face to see if she got a little shock out of them. She especially made sure to smile at her husband. Tristan always seemed tense around other people, especially when she was involved. She figured he was always protective, and thought it made him even more adorable. She couldn't help it, at the end of the day she was still a woman and found things about men amusing, especially that which pertains to her husband.
Feeling more at ease with her husband,zero and new friendly allies: Aria couldn't help but agree to urge her husband to join Thral. She knew that it would be of interest to not only her but others to strengthen numbers. She knew that the more there were, the stronger the team would be.
It would be an honor to join you, I thank you for the offer and we will definitely take you up on it!
She gave a nod over to Tristan to see if he approved. She let another smile escape her lips as she had a sudden though. She realized that the men around her talked about as much as the ladies at the brothel on a good gossip day. She couldn't help but laugh inside. She felt excited about working with everyone she just met.
Still spellbound by the tiger, Thral circles around Zero, Tristan, and Aria so he can approach them from an angle where they can see him coming. He doubts surprising anyone in this room could possibly be a good idea. As he approaches, his steel-grey eyes flick from Tristan to Aria, unsure who he should be addressing. He ends up speaking sort of generally to all three of them, Zero included.
"Hello, I...forgive me for intruding...I'm called Thral. Your...companion. The Tiger. He is amazing, I've not seen his like. Yet neither of you appears to be a druid, how is this possible?"
he pauses awkwardly
"I'm sorry if my manners are poor. I've been living in the wild, working the roads in the old woods of the world for some years now, and what little I knew of courts and kings and..."he gestures around him at all the finery "...and Grand Halls has been forgotten."
Tis quite alright, no worries!
Giving him a reassuring smile, she proceeded to speak. Tristan found him when he was a wee cub and raised him.I thank you for your kind words towards my husbands furry friend. She then felt at ease and realized she was in polite company, a good ally. She had a good feeling about this one.
Tristan walks through the large doors into the Grand Hall. His eyes flashing red as he walks through shadows then back to normal when he steps back into light.
His gait that of one who has stared death in the face since he first drew breath. A large white and black tiger padding along silently on his left. His wife Aria (spanish pronunciation) walking on his right. The silvery blade strapped to his back looking to be apart of him almost as much of him as his own limbs, worn in spite of the usual no weapons ordinances.
He glances at the other people in the room and gives a mirthless laugh his pointed canines flashing.
These humans all think their here for riches and glory, but they don't realize all they will find is fear and death.
He says looking over to Aria as he looks over the people gathered here.
He notices the man standing in the shadows though he might as well been in broad daylight for all the good it did him Tristan can't help but give a small grin at the pointlessness of trying to hide in darkness when he is around. Though he definitely understands the want to stay out of to much light he thinks to himself. Almost in the same instant he notices the holy man of Caelum and can't help but think of his mother...then crushes any emotion before it has time to truly form as it would only bring pain.
Aria nods her head in agreement with what Tristan said. She kept looking around observing the lavish tapestries and taking in the sheer splendor of her surroundings. Seeing them only reminded her of home. She looks over at the tiger and winks at him. Her black hair swaying behind her as she walked trying not to let her feet fall heavy on the marble floor. The only sound that emanated from her were the soft tinkling of metal from the jewelry she wore. A faint scent of perfume lingered behind her as she walked. With her right hand she clutched her gun tucked in her pocket and with the other she clutched her fist nervously.
"What do you think they have in store for us?" she asks Tristan quietly in a barely audible whisper. Arias kohl-lined eyes shifted around trying to see who all was there. She kept herself guarded and did her best to hide all curiosity.Every now and then she would slip her hand over to her husband's side for reassurance, patting gently as if to remind herself he was there. She notices Tristan has his eye on one of the fellow allies and sees him walk towards Tristan and Aria.
Greetings ALL! I am very sorry to have inconvenienced anyone with my extremely sluggish post. Due to the holidays, I finally was able to get around to posting. Merry Christmas all from the good ole state of the flamingo, Florida (the only state that can use a flamingo lawn decoration for any occasion, and I do mean ANY!)
Aria's History will be complete by the end of tomorrow.
