Mulling Things Over
Log Info
- Title: Mulling Things Over
- Emitter: Aelwyn
- Place: A03: The TarRaCe, Colosseum District
- Time: Friday the 23rd of December
- Summary: Irshya is introduced to mulled wine. Mysterious red ribbons are spotted. The possibility of a fiery performance from Aelwyn is discussed.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.
The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.
Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.
To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
It is noon, but the festive spirit has already caught up with most of the patrons in the TarRaCe. The staff are busy serving seasonal drinks; the patrons are enjoying the appropriate food, and there was even someone on stage practicing their performance for the later of the day.
In the middle of it all, was a steaming, ruddy scaled Dragoon, limbs stretched out as he keeps his head back. The autumn colored scales were glistening fresh off the hot bath he had been decadently partaking in; and a hot mug of mulled wine was near his side.
Seems like someone has decided that the cold outside will not get to him today.
Today, Ygraine has opted to visit her favourite haunt in the middle of the day - wanting to experience a good dose of festive bustle and cheer... while also (she hopes) getting there early enough that she can secure a good lunch without too much difficulty in finding a seat. Pausing a couple of strides into the room, she takes a few moments to knock the worst of the snow off her boots, before offering her customary respectful obeisance to the deities overseeing the establishment.
Then, peering around with lively interest in search of familiar (or particularly eye-catching) faces and figures, she starts wending her way towards the bar...
The steam is suddenly and quickly blown away by an icy blast of wind as the door suddenly opens after Ygraine has stepped away.
A squeak is heard as Irshya clings to the door handle, fluttering in the breeze. After a moment, she gets her booted feet to the ground, and shuts the door with a rather unladylike grunt. She leans her back against the door and huffs.
Aelwyn kept his head tilted back - but eventually, no matter how hard the draconian tried, the cold chill from the outside intrudes his rest. Especially when his choice of clothing had a late attempt for warmth even in summer.
"Muse," The Dragoon greets, and then a moment later and with a tilt of his head. "Sharkie. It seems the encroaching white death still remains, threatening the walls of the this place?" He asks, with a low amused rumble.
Looking around behind her, Ygraine arched a brow... before laughing and shaking her head, waving a hand at the little goblin from only a couple of yards away. Then she looks around and flashes a grin in reaction to Aelwyn's words. "Hello! And yes, there is still rather a lot of chill air and snow out there. Though it looks as if you are finding some comfort in here, to compensate!"
Irshya blinks at Aelwyn a few times. "Yes, it is still snowy and foggy out there. You might not notice if you actually wore more clothes. The building is safe, and will resist Winter with all the patience stone possesses."
Her expression brightens considerably at Ygraine's presence and laugh, the Gobbo moving to hug at the taller woman's waist.
"Aelwyn could go and settle in the baths if he is not working."
"This one already has; yet not everyone can sleep underwater." Aelwyn responds with a flick of his tongue at the Gobbo. "Or is Sharkie already trying to get rid of this one?" He grins toothily.
Turning his orange eyes over towards Ygraine, he bows his head. "The mulled wine is very good today, Muse. Let its heat banish the spirit of Winter from one's chilly bones."
Though she remains upright this time, Ygraine happily enfolds Irshya in a warm hug, beaming down at her - before grinning at Aelwyn. "I still 'cheat' courtesy of my Lady's generous grant of access to her magic. But I can still appreciate the mulled wine as a pleasurable indulgence, I assure you!" Looking down to her attached shark-goblin, she quirks a brow. "Would you care to join us in a treat, my dear?"
The Gobbo hmms at Ygraine. "A treat? Oh, the wine?" Her shoulders roll lightly and she nods. "Sure, Irshya could give it a try. Never had mulled wine before."
She peers at Aelwyn, "You can't sleep underwater? Don't your gills work?" She sticks out her tongue at Sith, and giggles at length.
Aelwyn lets out a hmmh, "This one's just a good breather under the water." The Dragoon responds with a flick of his tail, before he picks up his own mug and cradles his fingers around it. Then lifts it up against his snout, just to soak up the warmth.
"Was the Sharkie not supposed to nest here for the winter? Was the Muse lost and need in need of being found?"
Ygraine laughs once more, grinning at them both... before shifting her grip so that she can hoist Irshya clean off her feet, then carry her over to join Aelwyn. "Yes, the wine. Have you had *any* alcohol before? We should make sure not to risk getting you tipsy. But for my own part... I can lay claim to no talent at all in the water. I really should learn to swim competently, at the very least."
"Irshya was out shopping.", she says, squinting at Aelwyn. Whatever she was about to say becomes a squeak as she is lifted into the air. She squirms and wiggles, laughing. "Irshya has had little drink before.", she says between breaths. The pool-shark nods then, "Yes, knowing how to swim is a good idea!"
Aelwyn squints right back at Irshya, by narrowing the slits of his eyes. "Sharkie should get someone to carry them, so they do not freeze." The Dragoon instead teases right back.
The draconian waits while Ygraine and Irshya gets settled by his table, him moving his glaive a little off to the side. The glaive also carried the red ribbons hanging off his upright horns. "Muse has become quite the regular. No other tavern has caught their eye?" He asks with a grinning rumble.
"Believe it or not," Ygraine says as she carefully sets down her burden, "I have not played a role in *founding* any other establishments here! It is probably a sign of dreadful vanity... but I do love to come here and see people *enjoying* it all. Knowing that I played some small part in making this - and their pleasure, and their comfort, and the sanctuary they might find here - *possible* feels very rewarding. Not that I have much claim to any of its recent or current success, of course! But it is a real joy to see it thriving."
Signalling a waiter, she beams happily at them while requesting a serving of mulled wine to share, as well as a helping of the chef's choice of the day for herself - and an offer to treat her companions to any food they might wish to have. That done, she cocks her head, then nods slightly towards Aelwyn. "Would it be rude to ask about the signifiance of those red ribbons?"
The Dragoon promptly finishes up his steaming cup of mulled wine - and gestures for seconds from the waiter as well. "Here is for this one's share," The draconian says, already offering the coin to the waiter. "Surely Muse's contribution to this place was not as insignificant as she poses it out to be - Sharkie has told this one as much." Teeth visible, he tilts his head. "And what vanity is there in partaking in the pleasures of the rewards of their work?" Another widening of his grin. "And the baths in particular are pleasurable. Does not even feel like working folding towels there."
The question makes him tilt his head, and then he instead grins back at her. "This one usually doesn't tell at the first meal. Yet there is one." He takes a sip from his mug. "A Crimson one."
"The baths, unsurprisingly, were rather more Irshya's domain than mine," Ygraine says with a laugh - flashing a fond smile at the little shark-goblin in question. "But... well. I, err, arranged a lot of the finishing touches for the decor, especially in here. Most of the broader ideas were either ours collectively, or Sabina's individually, but I then tried to... apply polish, as it were. Make things as welcoming as we could manage. But things like the money to set it up, the connections in the city necessary to get the work done promptly and well, and almost all the effort in *running* it... for those, I can claim very little credit indeed!"
"And..." The woman inclines her head. "I apologise if I pry too much. I have spent much of the past two years dealing with Myrrish courts and Eldanar formality. I fear that I might be embracing the freedom of Alexandria a little more than is polite. Please, do tell me if I ever push too far. I have no desire to cause offence, I promise."
Aelwyn leans a little over the table, holding up the mug in his hand. "Ah, but if the Muse causes offense by pushing too far, then perhaps this one has no reason to complain. Especially if she is doing it in an impolite way." Toothy grin, before he takes a sip from his wine.
Tilting his head to the side, "Hmm, this has heard of the courts. It seems something that would be a true campaign to survive." But then he raises his head and looks at her more in the eye, swirling his wine. "So what does Muse desire then, if not the offense or the formality of courts?"
Chuckling softly, Ygraine spreads her hands... then sets about stripping off cloak and gloves, evidently intent on settling in for her meal when it arrives. "To be helpful. To be *useful*. To make a difference. I... I know that there are Muses aplenty out there who disagree with me, but for *me*, the most important and valuable forms of inspiration see things *built*. Lasting differences made. I spent a full year in Tref, revelling in the efforts to create a new community there. A new society. It was so much more than 'just' erecting buildings, and the like, it... it inspired me. I doubt that I brought much inspiration to them, but I tried to be of assistance when I could, and they certainly made a difference to *me*. And... I would like to do what I can here, too. Not the same thing, of course: Alexandria does not need to be built from the ground up! But that is part of the reason that I so love this place. It's a haven, and a home for a community of a sort, and I had a hand in bringing it into being."
Aelwyn tilts his head. "Now Muse will say that she was one of the founders of this city," The Dragoon rumbles, swaying his tail behind him. "And this one would carry little surprise." He teases, taking another sip from his wine.
Watching Ygraine get comfortable, he eventually then raises his eyes. "And why buildings? This one does not claim to understand the ways of the Muse, yet it seems an odd thing to inspire - something so erect and still, when most forms of art lively and passion of the moment." A flick of his tongue.
Ygraine snorts, then sticks her tongue out at Aelwyn - though it's followed by a grin. "I make no claim to have founded Tref, let alone Alexandria! But I was there while it was still finding its feet. And it was... inspiring. Truly. I would like to help more people to find that sort of creative wonder. To help to build communities. Such as this one. We hoped that we could create something that people would like... but Sabina and Irshya worked wonders, with things like tracking down our marvellous chef and recruiting her, and making sure that the baths did far more than just 'serve a purpose', but were a delight to spend time in. This isn't just somewhere to get a drink, or to have a wash... there's so much more to it than the mere physical functions that can be performed here!"
Looking up, she smiles warm gratitude as the waiter returns with her requested jug of mulled wine as well as some mugs, and she duly sets about pouring a helping for Irshya as well as one for herself. "Enjoy the aroma," she quietly advises the goblin.
Aelwyn glances at the Gobbo, "This one thinks that Sharkie spends most of her waking hours in the baths. Guests or not." The draconian rumbles in amusement, before taking a deep drink from his own mug. "Hmm, people do seem to say they prefer this over the Fernwood, but there is something to be said about the... atmosphere in the Ox-Strength tavern." The ruddy sith-makar stretches back against his chair. "Something primal." Flick of his tail, and he tilts his mug, along with his head. "Or it could be just the curry."
Laughing, Ygraine inclines her head. "I shall take your recommendation, and be sure to try it. At the very least, I should have a look at what might be considered a competitor!" Peeking sideways, she notes that Irshya seems to be very much enjoying her mulled wine, smiling approvingly. "Sabina and I were very glad to be able to provide Irshya with somewhere warm to swim. The river used to be her best option, whatever the weather... and at times, that is rather unappealing! The baths, I enjoy myself... but I tend to love watching and listening in here. And I certainly couldn't stay *under* the water for any length of time!"
Aelwyn chuckles, "If she is going for the curry; be prepared with an iron stomach and sharp eyes." The draconian looks towards Irshya. "Then this one understand where Sharkie got the habit from." The draconian rumbles in amusement. "This one has had half the thought to prod the bottoms of the pool with the stick to see if she is lurking there."
Drinking his mulled wine, he returns his eyes towards Ygraine. "Is Muse planning to take more active role in TarRaCe now?"
Giggling, Ygraine shoots another fond look to the pool-lurking shark. "I can understand that sentiment, I think," she teases. "But, ahh, yes. I would like to. At the very least, I would like to take some of the work from Irshya, though I have a lot to learn on what is required, and where I might best be able to put myself to use. But, ahhh... the iron stomach, I understand. But *sharp eyes*? Might there be, ahh, surprises in the Fernwood's curry?"
Aelwyn clicks his teeth. "Perhaps, but the clientele holds more surprises. This one had... gone there as his first step in this city." And things happened to get set on fire, unsurprisingly. "Very warm place." He adds with wide teeth showing.
Inclining his head, he then gestures with his mug, "Why would she not then take care of the entertainment? Plenty of performers in search of a stage." And he glances behind himself at the bard still stringing his lute, before turning his head back towards Ygraine. "... and it could be a little more sturdier for different kinds of performances."
Laughing again, Ygraine cocks her head, arching a brow as she eyes the stage with curiosity. "It's not *sturdy* enough? What sort of performances do you have in mind? And I have to admit that I have thus far been rather impressed with the performances I have seen since my return... though it is of course possible that regulars here might wish for more variety, or a greater presence of some particular styles. I look forward to finding out! And... a very warm place, hrmmm? Perhaps I should cast some protective spells before venturing into the Fernwood!"
Aelwyn reaches out down to his side. "Hmm, for most performances, but this one likes to..." His hand comes up and he quietly slams it down against the table. Quickly, his fingers make a moving motion in the air - followed by a flash of and a trail of fire, that gets quickly snuffed out in the air. "... to dance with fire." Tail swaying behind him, he offers her a wide toothed grin. "This one would rather not burn the TarRaCe down." Tail swaying behind him, "Is there not always room for greater variety of performances?"
- Both* brows lift, before Ygraine cracks a broad grin. "Oh, I think that I shall have to find a way to make some fiery performances possible. Fire *is* one of my divine patron's interests and emblems, after all! I have some minor facility with it myself, through Her grace. And... mmmm. I am not sure if every venue has room for greater variety: it does make sense that people have some notion of what to expect upon entering many establishments. But making greater variety *available* is something of which I can certainly approve. And we could definitely try to provide opportunities for people to put on more experimental or exotic shows."
Aelwyn keeps playing with the last wisps of the fire, before he cleans off the liquid. A small vial appears from his hand. "Is that so?" He asks with a playful tilt of his head, sliding the vial away into his satchel. "Has Muse felt the kiss of fire?" He flicks his tongue out, wriggling the forked ends. "If it were her patron or otherwise, very few thrills match the feeling of its wildness."
The ruddy sith-makar nods appreciatively at the suggestions, "This one has nothing against the current stage; but in the Troupe, this one was accustomed for far different kinds of acts. A song or three; simply makes a desire itch."
"We did want to have the stage be open to a range of performances," Ygraine muses pensively... "Though to be 'kissed' by fire, I would want to erect some defences first! But we shall have to see what we can do to accommodate you. Though... a Troupe? Is it polite to ask about that, since you brought it up?"
"Mmmh," Aelwyn tilts his head, and for once he seems to get more faraway look on his face. There's a moment of swirling in his mug, before he turns his head back over towards Ygraine. "Could be." A toothier grin. "Later, for this one wishes to return to the baths to warm this one's claws." He begins to stand, sliding his glaive out from his chair. "If she wishes to join this one later; perhaps he can tell." The draconian bows his head. "Muse, nest in peace."
And with that, he begins to walk towards the direction he so fondly gazed at moments ago.
Laughing, Ygraine shakes her head again - then steals a look at Irshya, who seems to now be sound asleep, probably as a side-effect of her first experience of mulled wine. "And you. Thank you for the company and conversation!" She raises her own - still mostly-full - mug in a farewell salute.