Marriage Proposals

SUMMARY: Aya, Darius, Razen, Morgan, and Yelrona discuss Aya's Charneth suitor. (cf MEETUP:_Divine_Right)

The Fernwood has been Aya's home, such as it can be called that, ever since her arrival to the city. Truthfully, she never spent much of her time here save for rest and meals. Now, she has yet to venture out for the evening, for once, and is currently seated at a table with a glass of khazadi wine and a tray of meats, bread, and cheese before her.

Yelrona can totally sympathize... when she first arrived in Alexandria she lived at the Fernwood for quite a while. It's only been in the last six months or so that she obtained her own place, an unassuming flat above a remaindered book repository in the Warehouse District. She still visits the Fernwood from time to time, though, to pick up on whatever rumors are floating around.

Tonight, though, she's mostly here looking for one of its residents... and there she is, sitting alone. Rona waves to the bartender and gives a 'my usual' handsignal, pointing to Aya's booth, before joining the monk without waiting for an invitation.

"Well. That was something, huh?"

Aya looks to the door as someone enters, and a slim smile curls her lips as she recognizes the entrant. It deepens as she joins her. "Oh, that it was. I'm pleased you found it so amusing. At one point, I thought your laughter might drive him away."

Yelrona chuckles. "Wouldn't be the first time. But we weren't that lucky. I'm assuming that was only a temporary reprieve? He didn't seem like the sort of man who accepts refusal easily... or, well, at all, really."

"I honestly do not know," Aya admits with a roll of shoulder and a sip of wine. The latter is gestured to after she sets the glass down, and brow raised in silent query of offer. "That is, I know he doesn't accept refusals easily, but I don't know if he has the means to launch a campaign. You are far from the first to warn me that he could return. Some have already offered to aid with pre-emptive action, if needed."

Yelrona laughs heartily. "Oh, I've no doubt! Razen and Darius seemed ready to slaughter the entire Charneth delegation just for looking at you funny. For a while there it seemed like they were about to." She shakes her head, at once amused and impressed. "You handled that really well, though. For a reserved woman, you have a definite flair for drama!"

She doesn't mention the uglier rumors she's been hearing about the magic Aya manifested at the Port... no doubt it's not new to the monk.

"And, yeah, I don't know. Charn has certainly been infiltrating agents and assassins into the city, and doing its share of kidnapping, but I have no idea if your would-be beau can swing assignments for them. I'm inclined to doubt it."

"I prefer to not draw attention to myself in most situations," Aya notes, "but I can do so when called for. As for his influence in Charn as a whole... As I said, I don't know. That doesn't preclude mercenaries or slavers being directed here. Well, more than currently."

Yelrona nods. "Yeah." She seems about to say something else, but is interrupted by the arrival of her tea, which she sets aside to steep.

"Unrelatedly," she says instead, "are you actually a Reosian now?"

"I am ... in training? Under consideration? I believe that the term was ...novitiate" Aya remains somewhat uncertain. Perhaps not yet enough training. "I've only jst begun. Fazahd received permision from his superiors to bring me into the fold, as it were. He is quite the proselytist and has attempted to convert fiends in the past."

Razen has arrived.

"I completely believe it," Rona replies. "He's impressive when he wants to be." She seems to be considering her next question for a while before asking "What is it that attracts you about Reos? You seem to be just about the least... material... person I know. No judgment intended," she adds hastily, "I'm just really curious."

Aya considers that question. It is a valid one. "I don't know enough of The Forge, at least from a Reosian point of view, to make a judgement. I wouldn't say attracted so much as encouraged, and that would be Fazahd, of course. It isn't a full commitment, not yet. More a formal exploration."

Perhaps a touch belatedly, but as though perhaps speaking his name may have summoned him, Razen enters the Fernwood pub and looks around. As usual of late, he looks a bit the worse for wear. It's the dirt and grime. He glances around the pub and notices Yelrona and Aya immediately. "Hello!" He calls the greeting across the place, ambling toward them cheerfully in spite of the fact that it looks as though he hasn't gotten a good night's sleep recently. "Hello Aya, hello Yelrona! Mind if I join you?" He doesn't seem to realize that he's breaking into the middle of a conversation.

Yelrona smiles. "Not at all... please do. Aya was just telling me about her recent explorations of Reos." She decides her tea has steeped sufficiently and pours it into a mug.

"So... this is of course none of my business, but in my experience faith is a rather personal thing. Not something one chooses at someone else's urging." She looks like she has more to say, but drinks her tea instead.

Aya gestures Razen to an empty seat at the table. "Please. Would you care for a drink?" She calls to the keep for a fresh glass for herself, and will add Razen's request to it. She then considers a response to Yelrona for some time after. "Faith is quite personal, I'd expect, for anyone, whether they be divine enactors or simply faithful. Was I required to become affiliated to learn further? No. Was he required to seek such a formal training arrangement? No."

Razen agrees readily to the drink, and adds some food to the order as well. Meanwhile he listens to the discussion between Yelrona and Aya which... It's pretty clear he doesn't understand. However he's keen enough to pick up where he might be able to ask questions so that he can understand. "So what got you interested in Reos in the first place?" He seems genuinely curious.

Yelrona grins at the very Aya responses. "That's certainly true," she agrees neutrally, and returns to her tea at Razen's question.

"Fazahd," Aya notes, with a growing smile, as a start of a comment and answer to Razen's question. "I believe that he proceeded so formally, when it was neither required nor prohibited, because he knew that it would infuriate Archellius, and remove weight from his claim."

The half orc grins. "I like him." It's a simple statement but Razen continues after a beat. "He does seem like a very... formal kind of guy. But that is alright." He hastily waves a hand as if calling Fazahd formal was somehow an insult and he gives a little laugh. "Speaking of claims... do you mean the one that the wig-wearing guy made that you two were supposed to be getting married?"

"And what was WITH that wig, anyway?" Rona blurts out. "Does he honestly have nobody in his household who will honestly tell him it looks horrible? Sorry, sorry," she adds hastily, "go on. You were saying?"

Aya's smile grows wide at Rona's blurt. "Apparently not." To Razen, she nods, pausing as the requested drinks and meal arrive. "Yes, that claim. I certainly hope there are no others claiming or proposing that I am engaged. I have had enough of matrimonial matters for the next few decades."

A devious grin flashes across Rona's face for a moment as she performs a quick estimate of just how many marriage proposals she could arrange for Aya on short notice. At least seven, she figures. No, make that ten. OK, this had potential... she resumes a straight face and continues listening.

Razen's face brightens at the sight of the food and drink, accepting them graciously with thanks to the waiter and shaking his head at Aya's words. "I did /not/ like that guy. I wanted to challenge him for that ourch." He hesitates over his food with a frown quickly growing and shudders. "I can not blame him for running though, what you did was very... impressive."

"Thank you, but I was only attempting to gain attention before the next Sendor War erupted," Aya actually sounds ...humble? Perhaps until she notices the grin on Yelrona's face... that then disappears. She promptly looks concerned, and a brow raises slightly in silent query. Aya chooses not to ask, though, and instead takes a drink from her glass. "Yelrona, and others, have raised concerns that the threat may not be gone forever; that could be the case. I expect that there may be other repurcussions for those involved, if not me, specifically."

Yelrona nods. "Excuse me for a moment," she says, and heads towards the restroom. On the way she chats with the bartender briefly but intensely, ultimately handing him a pouch before going on her way.

"If he comes back you should kill him." Razen states simply, taking a drink before starting to tear meat off of the leg he'd been given with his fingers. He offers her a smile though, sensing concern from her. "The rest of us will be fine. And if anyone tries to do any-thing to one of us because of it..." The half-oruch grins and takes a vicious bite of the meat in example, his teeth clacking together.

Aya's eyes follow Yelrona for a distance before they must return to Razen. "I have no issues doing so if he is that foolish. I doubt that he would do his own work, however; he's more likely to send others to do so. They may or may not be interested in others."

Yelrona returns to the booth, having missed Razen's decidedly Oruch relationship advice, in time to catch the tail end of Aya's reply. "I have to admit, I feel kind of left out now. If I wanted him pissed at me would I have to go all the way to Charn?"

Darius has arrived.

Razen shrugs unconcernedly at the idea. Secure in his concept that if someone were to try something with one of those that had tried to stand by Aya's side... they would face more consequences than they'd like. So he tucks into his food with gusto, offering Yelrona a wave as she rejoins them and coughing around a drink with laughter at her words. "Tell him you are en-engageed... what is that word? Going to marry her. That seemed to make him mad!"

"With your talents, I'm certain that you could enrage him from here. With a word," Aya encourages? compliments? Yelrona with a growing smile. Razen's comment also gets a smile, but then it promptly dims. "I'm sure you're correct, and it wouldn't be worth their effort; they'd die trying. That would leave myself as the primary target, then; possibly from three or more directions."

"That's a good idea," Rona observes to Razen. At that moment a tall, spindly human in light blue robes with a lute strapped to his back enters the bar and looks around, clearly looking for someone. When he spots Aya, he approaches the booth confidently, drops to one knee, pulls out his lute and begins singing:

"Oh Aya, my Aya! My heart is on fire! I sing on my lyre My love for dear Aya! Please give me a sign That your heart will be mine! On love we will dine If your heart will be mine!"

He pulls a small ring out of a pocket and offers it to her. "Marry me?"

Yelrona spits out her tea, laughing.

Tirrynelth has arrived.

The huge human warrior, Darius, walks into the pub and stops as he hears the song and then the wedding proposal. He raises an eyebrow and then murmurs to himself, "What IS it about this woman that makes people want to marry her..."

Morgan has arrived.

GAME: Morgan rolls appraise: (11)+11: 22

Razen glares at the smaller man from across the table, eyes narrowing. He is pretty sure that Aya just said she did not want any more marriage proposals. Which makes this guy unwanted. "Tell him you won't unless he can defeat you on the field of battle!" He grins toothily. "I will be your second!" The half-oruch is clearly meanacing the poor man from across the table.

The spindly bard looks suddenly terrified.

Aya may not get the opportunity to answer, as the song, alone, makes a sip of wine go down the wrong direction. While sputtering and coughing, she holds up an open hand to Razen to stay him. Once she has her breath, she eyes her new 'suitor,' "While that is the most eloquent proposal that I've received, I must decline." She leans to the kneeling man. "Don't make an encore, unless you increase your rates tenfold, and are very quick on your feet."

The bard nods and flees as rapidly as is consistent with preserving any of his dignity, which is not very.

"You know, if you keep pushing love away like that, you'll grow old alone," Rona observes straightfaced.

Razen laughs and laughs, watching the bard leave and grinning at Aya. "Can you imagine fighting him? You would break him in a second Aya." He seems completely overcome with humor.

Morgan comes in as she steps aside from the bard that she pays no mind. "Well I see why I seen fear in a Gnomes eyes." she gives a nod to Razen and the others.

"Likely, considering my most recent sparring was with several oruchs and an arvek," Aya agrees. "They are notably more ... well, -more- than he." She eyes Yelrona over her drink after she reclaims it. "Is that so terrible?"

Yelrona takes Aya's question perhaps more seriously than it was meant, and thinks about it for a while. "Yes," she says finally.

Morgan slips a few coins to the servers "same old and keep the change." its not much but a few copper is nice. She takes a seat and says "So what did the fleeing gnome do?"

Aya looks to Morgan and arches a brow. "A gnome? I haven't seen any that I recall." Her attention returns to Yelrona and suggests with a hint of smile, "Perhaps you should be the one to be serenaded, in that case?" She then looks to be considering more words, but she ultimately decides to sip her drink instead.

Yelrona smirks. "Are you offering?"

THIS has Razen pausing mid-drink at the end of his meal, eyes flickering between the two women in confusion. "What?"

"I'm sure that I can arrange something suitable," Aya responds to Yelrona, one side of her mouth lifting. "Not now, of course. It would simply be repetitive."

Morgan hmms as she is given a fist size chunk of meat and a mead "Blesid be for food." at this point she cares little of the ones around her sa this food is very much wanted

"That's entirely a function of your chosen tactics," Rona observes didactically to Aya. "It's a basic principle of comedy that there's _always_ a novel way to tell an old joke. The trick is to figure out what your audience is expecting, and subvert that. For example," and she slides across the table and plants an emphatic kiss on Aya's lips. "Not repetitive at all, right?"

With that, Rona grins and hops off the table, onto her feet. "And on that note, I have to go... I'm meeting someone after evening prayer tonight. Have a good evening all!"

Razen blushes as he watches Yelrona kiss Aya. The look on his face is one of a person who is utterly dumbfounded. "I did not think you would take my advice and..." He blushes harder and looks at Aya. Looks at Yelrona. Looks back.

Morgan is not surprised by the kiss "would of been more of a joke if that kiss was given to Razen, I bet his head would explode."

Aya has become to expect the unexpected from Yelrona, especially where humor is involved. She IS a Tarienite, afterall. In this instances, however, Aya is caught quite unaware. She blinks, and by the time she processes the event, it's over, and Yelrona is excusing herself to make a (wise?) exit, stage right. "Well..." Aya begins, uncertain of what to say. "At least she didn't propose?"

Razen looks at Aya. "Were you not the one offering to propose?" He makes a motion with his hand toward where the bard was a few minutes ago. "Like that man who ran away."

Aya shakes her head. "Myself? Not at all. I was considering one or more of my oruch sparring partners, in fact. I imagined that Yelrona might appreciate a number of muscular, hirsute males arriving at her door with naught but loincloths and reciting hearty ballads..."

Morgan looks to Aya "why do you say that like its a bad thing."

Indeed Razen seems to be thinking quite intently on the concept of muscular ourch showing up on Yelrona's doorstep. He tilts his head to the side and grins. "So it was a joke then? I do not get Yelrona's sense of humor. Or how people choose their mates here." Even so he grins. "If it included likely mates showing up on my doorstep though I could get to like that!" He chuckles and then scrubs a hand over his hair. "Once I have a doorstep that is."

"I never implied that it was bad, only unexpected," Aya answers, followed by admitting, "though I have trouble following her humor at times, myself. If you would prefer a direct and simple explanation of the mating rituals," she adds to Razen, "I suggest speaking to Dax."

Morgan leans back a bit on her chair "Her humor is to amuse herself, she does not fully care about amusing others."

Razen nods to Aya. "I will have to talk to her about it sometime. I am still getting used to Alexandria." He sighs a bit, but doesn't seem particularly upset about it. He glances at Morgan. "I should probably go down to the docks. It takes some time to find a good quiet place to sleep."

Aya dips her chin to Morgan. "That could well be." A brow is arched at Razen and his choice, or lack thereof, of sleeping arrangements. "There are inns, some of which are quite inexpensive."

Morgan nods to what Aya just said "or go to the adventures guild they do have housing."

The half-ourch waves a hand. "I do not have the money at the moment, and I refuse to take charity. It will just be until I get somewhere better." He smiles cheerfully and winks a huge wink at them.

Morgan looks to Razen "will it be a argument for you to take a few coins and go to the boarding house?"

"None can force you to," Aya agrees. "I was merely noting options, in case you were unaware." Her eyes lift to the upper level and back. "I may need to consider a change in accomodations, myself."

"Yes." He declares evenly to Morgan and nods politely to Aya. "Either way I should be going! Goodnight!" He waves and heads off, but not without leaving some money for his food and drink.

Aya lifts her glass in farewell to Razen.

-End-