Down by the River

Huge puffy clouds shifted lazily through the sky above, occasionally hiding the sun from view but for the most part the sun beat down relentlessly. It was hot and more than a little humid, but cooler here by the river where the rushing spray offered a bit of relief from the oppressive heat. Sitting on the embankment was an elvish woman, her skin darker than any mere tan could have given her, and her hair falling in waves of black turning to pink where it fell against her red and gold dress. A cloak was laid out like a blanket underneath to protect her dress from grass stains. All in all the sight of her was a peaceful one.

Exhausted from the hot heat and flowing humidity, a llyranesi mopely muttered her hunger for water or something cool. She quickly spotted the river close by and swiftly passed through the small crowd of people over to the body of water. She was excited to the fullest once she met the water. Finally she sat near it, however her hand slipped off the rock she placed her palm on, managing to fall into the river causing a large splash. Caught in surprise she was completely shocked, she cheerfully giggled as she climbed out and sat down again to dry off. Smiling to herself she mused to herself. "Whelp at least I'm not practically melting in the blazing heat!"

It wasn't hard to spot the other elf considering the display that she produced in her entrance. Both by pushing her way to the riverside and also by falling /into/ the river. Rolling her eyes expressively, the elf dressed in red did not move from her spot, but she did cover her mouth slightly to hide the edge of a smile on her lips. Thankfully most people were leaving the beach at the moment, finding it too crowded and too warm for their pleasure.

Sitting in the sun she carefully sketched in a booklet she pulled out of her satchel. Finished she turned her head around looking at the scenery, she couldn't help but notice the dark elf lady in a red dress also sitting near the water with her hand over her mouth. The slightly soggy blond cocked her head and smiled with inspiration as she steadily stood up and walked over to the lady and hesitantly she spoke. " Um If you don't mind, I couldn't help but notice you and your lovely dress and I wanted to ask if you'd maybe let me paint you? I understand it might be an odd query but I saw you sitting there and the sunlight hit the water in a way and you seem to perfect the scene just beautifully, If it helps I can pay you." She pulled out her money pouch and smiled peacefully.

The wild elf looked up as the other sildanyar joined her and her expression of confusion became one of surprise and then mild embarrassment. "You want to paint me? Is that not something that usually you pay the privilege for... not the other way around?" Her voice was gentle in spite of her words, and she looked over the other elf with interest. "I suppose if you want to paint me... I will allow it. Though I can not see why you would pick me."

The llyranesi was overjoyed. It was clear as crystal, She pulled back her long blond hair into a ponytail. " Well why wouldn't I? A lovely lady in an elegant red dress stands out just enough that the beach isn't all you see. It shows the beauty of nature and the people here, Wouldn't you agree?" Half the way through the painting she was so focused on it she realized she wasn't even smiling. For a moment she paused and looked at the sildanyar's hair in a gaze and back at the painting. "Oh yeah I forgot to ask what's your name?" The llyranesi finally signed the finished painting with the name 'Percy'.

There was a long veil of silence as the black and pink-haired sildanyar allowed herself to be painted. It wasn't until the painting was done and she was blinking the surprise of the suddenness of the other's words from her eyes that she realized that she'd been spoken to. She pressed a hand to her forehead to create a shadow there for her eyes and looked up at the painter. "I am Auranar. And you?" She tilted her head, trying but failing to get a good look at the painting. "Can I see the painting?"

"Auranar it's nice to meet your acquaintance, my name is Percy." Percy put the name Auranar on the painting calmly as she gazed at it in a loss of words happily. In surprise, she looked down at Auranar. She blinked a few times while processing her words. “W-what? O-oh right! You want to see the painting! Yeah of course!" Percy turned the painting in pride. The painting was well made; a few parts had odd smudges and the signature wasn't the best but other then that it was a fantastic piece of art especially for how long it took. However her hands were covered in paint some of it was cracking and some was still wet. Percy used a rag and cleaned her hands off. "If I am being honest that's the best painting I've done, painting isn't easy, writing in paint is harder. Anyway where are you going to put it?"

Aruanar rose to her feet to get a better look at the painting, pushing some of her darker hair out of her eyes. "Oh. It's lovely." She tilted her head and looked at Percy, smiling softly at the paint that touched the other woman's hands. "I have never tried painting anything before... I have no idea what to do with this one!"

She laughed gently, an easy sound that echoed along the edges of the river. "Can I buy you dinner? As a thank-you for the painting?"

Percy shyly took her ponytail down and looked at Aruanar, her hair covering her face as it came down. "Y-you think it's lovely?" Percy pushed her hair out of her face and slightly blushed in embarrassment. Aruanur's mention of dinner rang in her ears, slowly looked at her stomach as it growled in hunger looking back up. "Yeah, dinner sounds great and I can give you a few lessons after if you'd like."

Percy says, "Although you might need to choose what's for dinner cause I have never been here before."

"You have never been to Alexandria before?" A light dawned in Auranar's black eyes and she flashed the other woman a broad smile. "Just wait until you see the market district... Although if you have not been anywhere... I would say that the Wayfarer's inn is the best place to get something to eat. It sits just outside the city, so you probably saw it on your way in."

With a motion of impulsivity she took Percy's hand and pulled her up the shore after picking up her painting and holding it carefully in her other hand so that it wouldn't smudge anything. "Come on! I will show you around a little."

Percy's expression was slightly disappointed. "No I never left home before." Percy's face turned confused. "Wait what? Market district??" As Percy was being dragged around she couldn't help but laugh at how one minute she was painting and the next being pulled by the hand. Percy allowed herself to be pulled along. "Ok, where are we going!?"

As she was being dragged she slipped on what she thought was a rock but managed to catch herself. Soon the painful realization of hunger hit her in the gut causing it to grumble again.

Auranar laughed. "Food first, then? Who knows!" She pulled the other woman along behind her, her eyes shining in the late day sun.

-End