The Date
Alara is about to speak again when the garlic noodles come around. Her eyes light up as her bowl is placed in front of her and her tongue runs along her lips in anticipation. She nods and thanks the elderly halfling server before turning back to Piper.
"What's showing at the Sandpoint Theatre?" She asks before digging into her noodles.
Piper strokes his chin. He signs: 'I'm not sure. Before I left for Absalom, they were doing plays reenacting the Heroes of Sandpoint stopping the goblin invasion during the Swallowtail Festival.' He thens begins to eat.
The Date
Alara noisily slurps up some of her noodles before looking at Piper again. "What sort of plays do you like watching?" She asks before dabbing her mouth with a napkin.
The Date
Piper blushes in embarrassment. He signs: "To tell you the truth, I like operas. I'm fascinated by the performers' singing abilities. I think that if I did have a voice, I could probably do that. As for plays, I like legends, tales of grand journeys and epic heroism, and odes. How about you?"
The Date
"Me?" She takes another bite of noodles. "I've always been a fan of Tien theatre."
She sets her bowl down, her hands starting to tremble a bit. "Specifically, I've always been a fan of the short, comedic plays that take place between more dramatic fare. Did you know Tien plays are basically one-or-two man shows? Not counting the music and stagehands, of course." Her eyes are shining with delight.
The Date
Piper looks at Alara. He signs: "One-or-two man shows? How interesting. I don't think I've ever heard of theaters that are run like that." The bard shows interest.
The Date
Alara nods. "The performers use a lot of masks for their roles. They typically put on plays revolving around mythological figures." She finishes off her noodles.
Piper finishes his noodles. After paying Ameiko (for the both of them), he escorts Alara from the Rusty Dragon to the Sandpoint Theatre.
The Date
The Sandpoint Theater, run by the flamboyant, notorious flirt, Cyrdak Drokkus, has brought in a small troupe from Magnimar to perform the comedy "Slanders of the Heart" in which a young maid's honor is besmirched, misunderstandings abound, and conspirators act as match-makers for cynics.
The Date
Alara's practically bouncing as Piper leads her to Sandpoint's Theatre. Oh boy oh boy oh boy!
After paying for her ticket, Alara grabs Piper's hand. "Come on! I want to get good seats!" Her eyes are shining with joy.
The Date
Piper leads Alara to the Sandpoint Theatre. When he has paid for admittance for the both of them, he leads her to their seats and enjoys the show with her.
The Date
Alara watches the performance with rapt interest. She giggles at the appropriate parts and occasionally glares at the few theatregoers who chatter incessantly throughout the performance.
All the while, she doesn't let go of Piper's hand.
The Date
Piper keeps his hand in Alara's grip, smiling at the funny moments of the play. He grips her hand.
When the play ends, he leaves, still holding Alara's hand. He signs: 'So, what'd you think?' He leads her to the Cathedral, figuring Alara might take an interest due to her faith in Desna.
The Date
Alara bounces from one foot to the other as she leaves the theatre with Piper, trying to wake up one of her feet. "Loved it!" She beams. "Especially near the end when the two cynics figured out why they kept meeting each other and teamed up to get back at the guys trying to pair them up with each other. It gave them something genuine to bond over!"
The walk to Sandpoint's Cathedral is a pleasant one for her--the sun shines brightly down on the two, a lovely breeze blows in from the harbour, carrying with it the salty smell of the sea. The sight of the Cathedral makes Alara's eyes widen.
"Wow..." She lets Piper lead her up the steps, fascinated with the size and splendour of the temple.
The Date
Piper looks at Alara's interest with a smile on his face. He signs: 'Impressed, huh? This is actually the second cathedral to be built. The last one was burned down by the daughter of the Father. Apparantly, she was angry with him and converted to Lamashtu. She used some of the goblin tribes to attack five years later during the Swallowtail Festival and the day the new cathedral was completed. Luckily, the Heroes of Sandpoint saved the town. I was personally saved by the fighter of the team. So what do you think?'
The Date
Alara watches Piper signing to her as they enter the Cathedral proper. Stained glass windows depicting a myriad of gods and goddesses allow sunlight to fall upon a large room with many pews, some still occupied.
"What do I think?" Alara takes another look around the cathedral, her eyes settling on the altar of Desna at the front of the chapel. "I think she must have harboured quite a grudge to want to tear down something this beautiful..."
She takes a seat in one of the pews. "And I suppose I owe that fighter a drink if we meet him again." She blushes as she looks back to Piper. "You know... for..."
...bringing us together.
She fidgets in her seat. Still haven't gotten more. I'll need to ask him where I can get some...
The Date
Piper sits next to Alara at the pew. He signs: 'Well, that was five years ago. Valeros is probably long gone by now. But, if he was here, he would appreciate the drink. Though, he might flirt with you.' He looks to her, blushing as well. His face then shows concern. He signs: 'Is something troubling you?'
The Date
Alara nods, her blush intensifying. She signs: 'I... forgot to get night tea.'
She starts signing again, this time more rapidly. 'I didn't think I'd need to bring some with me from Kyonin. Is there a place around here where I can buy some?' Her eyes dart between Piper, the ceiling, the altar of Desna and the floor in quick succession.
The Date
Piper blushes intensely. He signs: 'Well, I'm not sure. I suppose Hannah's might have some. But... are you sure? I don't want to pressure you.'
The Date
Alara takes a breath and starts signing again. 'I know. It's just that Dad always told me that it's good to be prepared.' She appears to be calming down. 'If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do so responsibly.'
She gives Piper a relieved look, partly from talking to him about the subject and partly because she's sure nobody else in the Cathedral can understand their conversation.
The Date
Piper smiles at Alara before his gaze returns to the altar. After a while, he turns and signs: 'So, what do you want to do next? We can head over to Hannah's if you need the night tea. Maybe go to the Pixie's Kitten. My 'mother' works there. Then, we can head over to the Old Light.'
A look of realization forms when a thought occurs to him. He signs: 'Do you mind if we visit the graveyard first, though? I... need to visit my mother.'
The Date
"Could we please?" Alara asks at the mention of Hannah's, her blush gone from her face.
The thought of meeting Piper's 'mother' puts an intrigued look on her face. The Pixie's Kitten... is that some kind of pet shop? She nods in affirmation.
She puts a hand on Piper's shoulder when he asks to visit the graveyard. "Not a problem, Piper. Lead the way."
The Date
Piper stands and moves to the graveyard. After a while of moving past numerous headstones, he finally finds the one he's been looking for. The stone is emblazoned with the symbol of Shelyn. The tombstone reads: 'Alerdene Iacobus. Beloved wife. Loving mother. Proud faithful of the Rose.' Piper kneels down in front of the stone. He places his hand on it, a silent conversation going between the bard with the stolen voice and the physical marker of his departed mother.
The Date
Alara kneels next to Piper, putting both knees on the ground. She takes hold of Piper's free hand, her eyes not leaving the tombstone.
Alerdene Iacobus... I wish I could have met you. She bows her head in silent prayer.
The Date
After a long while, Piper removes his hand from the stone. He gently squeezes Alara's hand. He looks to her and signs: 'Thank you."
The Date
Alara nods. "Anytime."
She takes Piper's hand and rises to her feet. "Thank you for bringing me here." She looks briefly at the tombstone.
The Date
Piper stands with Alara. He signs: 'You're welcome. I figured you would want to see her as well. So... should we go to Hannah's?'
The Date
Alara nods, blushing a bit again. "Please." Her ears twitch.
The Date
Piper takes her hand and leads her to Hannah's.
The Date
As Piper guides Alara through Sandpoint, he thinks before signing. 'Alara, do you remember what I said during our sign language lesson? That my mother's grave is... empty?'
The Date
Alara stays close to Piper as he leads her through Sandpoint. It wasn't as big as some of the cities she's been to, but that didn't mean she couldn't get lost here.
She looks over at Piper's signing. "Yes..." She pauses in her walk, finding a spot on the side of the street and sitting down. 'I was curious as to why that was, but I didn't want to pry.' She signs back.
The Date
Piper sighs as he sits next to Alara. He signs: 'Well, like I said, my mother was a priestess of Shelyn. However, she was a Varisian born in the north. Very powerful cleric. So, when she passed, some of her colleagues came to Sandpoint a few days later and took her body. She was to be buried in the place of her birth, near the Church she served. From what Father said, it was some kind of tradition.'
The Date
Alara arches an eyebrow. 'Really? How far north?' She signs.
The Date
Piper shrugs. He signs: 'That... I don't know. All I know is north. I think there was mention of a... Kalsgard.'
The Date
Alara takes Piper's hand and scoots closer to him. 'Maybe we can go there someday... what do you think?'
She leans in a bit, a small smile on her lips. Her eyes shine.
The Date
Piper leans in. A small smile forms on his lips. He signs: 'You're asking out on another date? In the middle of our first date? Sounds interesting. Would be nice to see my mother in person.'
The Date
Alara smirks. 'Isn't that a good sign? That your date wants to spend more time with you?' She signs.
She nips Piper's lip before signing again. 'I'd like that.'
The Date
Piper smirks back. He signs: 'Yes. That's a good sign that I'm doing something right.' He nips back at Alara's lip before moving to a kiss.
Afterwards, he stands back up and offers his hand to Alara. He signs: 'Shall we get going to Hannah's?'
The Date
Alara presses her lips to Piper's before taking his hand and standing back up. 'I'd love to.' She signs with a grin.
Hannah's small shop is almost easy to miss being nearly sandwiched between two considerably larger buildings - the shipyard and The Pixie's Kitten (brothel). The noise of laughter, music, and general revelry can be easily heard from the Kitten but Hannah's is positively serene. Glass and earthenware jars surround the shelves and sheafs and bundles of other plant parts (leaves, stems, flowers) are placed about and give the location a surprisingly natural feel. The air is filled with the smells of flowers and savoy herbs.
Hannah herself is a willowy half-elven woman who has obviously seen quite a few summers but is still hale and healthy. Bits of leaves and other plant debris litter her frizzy hair and her nose and cheeks have seen a bit too much sun recently, but she beams when you enter the shop.
"Be with you in a moment, dears. I found a great source of ephedra today and I want to make sure I get it preserved properly."
Some jars rattle and you hear the sound of some quick snips from her scissors. In a moment or two, she's back and ready.
"Now, what can ol' Hannah do for you? If you've got an ailment, I've probably got the cure."
The Date
Alara blushes as she and Piper pass by the Pixie's Kitten.
Oh. It's not a pet shop.
As she walks into Hannah's, she takes in the myriad of herbal mixtures and tinctures on the shelves.
"Well..." Alara glances between Piper and Hannah. "...do you sell night tea here?" Her throat feels dry.
The Date
Piper leads Alara past the Pixie's Kitten before entering Hannah's. As Alara brings up the night tea, Piper finds the ceiling very interesting, his face turning red.
"Ah, of course I sell that here. I carry many sorts of medicinal herbs and preparations. And you can also count on my discretion as well. The instructions are on the packet--be sure to follow them carefully."
The price for a sufficient dose is 1 sp. (in other words, pretty inconsequential for an adventurer)
She seems to have it in considerable bulk and you can buy as many doses as you want.
The Date
Alara nods, calming down and smiling. "Thank you very much, Ma'am." She pays 1 gp and takes ten packets.
Hey, they're small.
Glancing over at Piper, she notices him blushing furiously. "Is something wrong, Piper?" She asks as she puts the packets of night tea in her satchel.
The Date
Hearing Alara speak to him, he looks at her and signs to her as they leave (after writing his thanks to Hannah on his chalkboard): 'Nothing, Alara. It's just... I never thought I'd come to Hannah's for night tea.'
As they pass the Pixie's Kitten, Piper signs: 'I have one more place in mind to show you. But, do you want to meet my adopted mother first?'
The Date
'Nothing, Alara. It's just... I never thought I'd come to Hannah's for night tea.'
Alara gives Hannah a friendly nod and leaves with Piper in tow, pausing once they get outside her shop. "Well, Dad was always fond of telling me that if I'm too embarrassed to buy night tea, then I'm not truly ready for physical intimacy. Turns out, he had a good point." She says with a shrug.
And I fully intend to take this slow, so you can be comfortable with this.
'I have one more place in mind to show you. But, do you want to meet my adopted mother first?'
Alara nods, glancing over at the Pixie's Kitten. "Sure, why not?"
The Date
Piper nods at Alara before leading her into the Pixie's Kitten.
The sign above the Pixie's Kitty, a winking faerie sitting cross-legged with a kitten centered in her lap, is just suggestive enough to indicate the nature of the establishment. A tall Shoanti bouncer stands beside the open doorway, giving you a nod as you pass inside.
The appointments inside the brothel are quite classy and tasteful with well-upholstered divans and settees scattered about the first sitting room. A stairway toward the rear of the room, which heads up to the rooms, has another Shoanti bouncer stationed at it. A pair of couples of settled in this room for quieter discussion and a young woman acts as receptionist. Of course, she recognizes Piper and waves him in.
The more active common room past reception is well-attended with louder conversation, music, and a couple of dancers in risque (but not all-revealing) outfits performing a burlesque number. A number of working girls and boys move about the place bringing drinks from a small bar and attending to the clients who have picked them out for rented companionship before retiring to more private quarters. A third Shoanti bouncer eyes the crowd from the bar. That is where proprietress Kaye Tesarani can be seen in a serious discussion with a young man (who looks quite abashed) about an account that seems to be in arrears.
The Date
Piper nods to the bouncer outside and waves at the receptionist. As he and Alara moves through the crowd, he sees Kaye and his face forms a smile. However, he then sees the young man in an intense discussion with her. He moves towards her, hopefully with Alara still behind him, making sure the elven ninja is all right within the environment.
The Date
The interior of the Pixie's Kitten definitely was not what Alara was expecting. The sight of so many attractive young men and women causes her gaze to wander about for a while before she notices Piper waiting for her.
Yep, definitely not a pet shop. So... Piper-kun's mom works here?
She blushes a bit before following Piper over to the proprietor.