Alisa returned Kiera's hug, while also smiling acknowledgement over her shoulder at the bluish complexioned young woman, in the yellow gown, who had curtsied toward her.   She did not recognize her at all -  but the tint of her flesh led her to take notice and wonder Aquatic elf blood-?   She made mental note; something, perhaps, for a later time...

"Well, Dom and I were already a couple," she responded to Kiera, "I think it's now more a question of whether he can handle having a quirky, zealot priestess for a wife! And cease on the jealousy, dear heart. I'm going to live to see you find your bliss, I swear it; whomever, whatever, that turns out to be."

In reply to Kiera Raincutter-Solanus (msg # 75):

Normally Minia was fairly short on words, long on grunts and glares. But a smile, an actual warm smile crossed her lips at the prospect of a partnership with the Nectar.

"My sister and I are of one mind on this. We'd love to talk more about this. I shall . . . make provisions for a gift of my own. It will be . . . "

Minia looked around

"I don't rightly know. Mostly skilled at cutting men, not buying gifts for them, if you see my point?"

At the approach of Andalon she did another curt bow, casting her eyes to the ground

"Bishop, I mean no disrespect to be talking of vice and violence when a man of the cloth is about!"

"And if it takes more than one at once~?" she replies to Ali, with just the barest hint of a smirk on her face as she smiles.

"Or does that mean you're going to end up playing matchmaker for me~?  And I'm pretty sure he can handle it- look at his family, he's had plenty of practice!  Just... stop worrying about that kind of thing- you two are like applejack and sweet mead- good apart, but absolutely amazing together."

Smiling at Ali again, she turns to the bishop.

"Well, the trip was nice enough- found a few things I didn't even know I was looking for when I got there, but I'm kind of happy to have them- things you don't get a lot of out in the wilderness.  I daresay working for the betterment of Midmarch and its people is much better than just living hand-to-mouth hunting deer and skinning- certainly running the Nectar agrees with me more than doing that, as well.

But yes, I am keeping myself busy, too- heading out when I need to and working on a few projects for myself, as well.  I mean, I only get so much time, so why waste it sitting around when I could be doing something I've always wanted to?  I like running the Nectar, I like running around with my friends, well... maybe this is a lust for life that I was missing, I suppose.  The Lady in the Room does work in mysterious ways, I think- not that I'm complaining, mind you...

...how is Brother Florin?  I trust he's well?"

Andalon returned Minia's bow with a smile.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I am on the City Council with Pipre, after all, so I am not exactly unaccustomed to hearing a colorful suggestion or two, and we wouldn't be here in Tusk at all if we shied away from a fight. I think you will fit in very well here in Tusk or Midmarch, just as Kiera has."

He turned back to Kiera.

"Yes, there certainly are a wide range of opportunities here, and plenty of rewards for those willing to embrace them.

"Brother Florin is well, indeed. He is an invaluable member of our staff at the cathedral and certainly seems to love his work, but I think he enjoyed that trip even more than he has ever admitted out loud."

Vik raised an eyebrow at the sisters' talk of hardship and poverty, a little unsettled by the quiet one who kept glaring.

At her stiff bow to Andalon she shielded her laugh behind a hand

"Minia, I'll add my voice to the bishop's here. Andalon is hardly one for formality and withering in the face of harsh language. We faced the Horned Lord together, and I seem to recall he was one for pragmatism rather than pomp."

Alisa raised her glass of water, in playful regard of Kiera, and her comment concerning quantity, "To each their own, in love and libations, dear daughter of Raincutter! It takes as many as it takes, I suppose.  Hm. Though it does make me think of an old Azlanti saying: 'In the truest light of the heart, one and one become a sum greater and more glittering than all stars in the heavens; a depth greater than the most depthless of oceans.'"   She took a sip of the water.  "And no, I will not play matchmaker.  You don't need that.  I'll merely bring you extra luck."

"Oh, I remember Brother Florin as well, Lord Bishop.  And I'd bet Lord Kendrick's aide does more so. He appeared to be making something of an impression, if I recall."

She glanced to the girl.  "Minia.  That's a good name.  Like the river bird?"

Minia looked a little taken aback, and had to think for a moment

"I suppose I am. My mother named me, said it was a pretty name. I'd imagine the bird's pretty too?"

Minia smiled at Alisa

"Congratulations again, your ladyship, on the wedding."

Andalon looked more than a little puzzled by Alisa's cryptic comment about Brother Florin.

"Lord Kendrick's aide? I would have thought Zack Malford would have been too busy running Winters Wares & Spices for him to have had time to spare for a journey to Restov."

"Yes! Congratulations on your marriage Lady Alisa" Maple parroted her sister, nodding in acknowledgement at Andalon as he came closer. "It is a lovely bird. They build these domed nests to protect their eggs and some of them eat algae" Maple informed her sister excited to share any nature based information when she could.

"Eh, I've worked in the field with Lord Kendrick, and Domitius is in business with him, but I'm not familiar with his staff, and their titles.  I do not know sir Malford.  Not by name, anyway. There was a young lady - Mikki, I think? - who appeared to work for him, and was with us in Restov," she let the bishop know.

She nodded to the girls, "It is a pretty bird; and does indeed build a domed nest. And thank you both - but please, I prefer simply Alisa; I grew up on a ranch holding, my own family is distant, very minor nobility." She indicated their surrounds, with a brief gesture, "This is all very lovely, I'm grateful to the mayor - but it's not what I'm used to."

She again regarded the girl in the yellow dress. "I hope this isn't too forward of me to ask - and please don't feel obliged to answer, if so.  But I was wondering, are you descendant of the aquatic elves?"   
This message was last edited by the player at 00:16, Fri 30 Oct 2020.

"A ranch eh? what type of livestock did yer family own?" the girl asked excitedly but then came the question of her lineage "Our, um Pa he spent some time with my ma before he met our  mother. She didn't like that I couldn't breath underwater like her but mother always treated me like her daughter and she gave me Minia"

"Well distant minor nobility then, there may be hope for you yet, Alisa. But Maple and I didn't have no livestock and prospects, or education in fine-looking riverbirds."

Minia's eye settled back to their characteristic glare at the mention of Maple's descent, and she kept her tongue only so long as Maple explained. She seemed to shift between her sister and Alisa slightly. The short-haired urchin, though the younger of the siblings, seemed much older and world-weary than her sister, and it wasn't just that one of them was human and the other half-elven

"My sister and I are family. Siblings truer than most, after our mother and father were killed-"

She looked around, momentarily aware she was in finer settings

"-but that's . . . not appropriate for a wedding. My apologies my lady, I have . . . rough manners. A poor upbringing."

Alisa shook her head.   "I'm so, so sorry to hear of you loss," she supplied, after inadvertently bringing up such a painful memory.    "And I apologize for strirring it up.   But, I'm glad you have each other. Sometimes, all it takes is one other person who sincerely cares, to get through the very worst."  Her expression shifted a little.

"Aye - I had it better than most, I know that.  I grew up in comfort, was educated as you say, and did not have to toil.  Still, my family had its own tragedy. The sort that killed a man's spirit, if not his body. Pain is universal -- it is, I'm afraid, the price of life.  No one lives free of it -- only a question of how much."   

"Anyway, you've no need to apologize -- and drop the 'lady,' please. I don't give two possum shits how polished your manners are, if that helps."   She said to Minia. Then to Maple:

"Mostly, it was sheep, grazed out in the hills and mountains.  Some cattle, not a lot.   It was, in many ways, a nice medium between nature and civilization.  I miss that  --  but, I have little to do with my family and their land, anymore.   So, you don't breathe water, were not raised by such elves.  This may be an odd question -  but, I don't suppose you've had experience with fae, the sort that live in or around lakes?  Or perhaps water elementals?"

"A young lady called Mikki?" Andalon responded softly and thoughtfully to the information Alisa provided. Brother Florin might not know it yet but there might be an embarrassing conversation ahead.

Andalon listened attentively to the discussion between the three young women.

"If I may make a suggestion, Maple and Minia, you might like to visit the Dragon's Den sometime and introduce yourselves to the Roth family there. You might find you have enough in common to build upon," he suggested quietly.

Maple held Minia's hand gentley. Her sister was very protective of her"I might know a bit. The old man who taught me, he knew a lot. Mostly told me to stay away from stray horses, watch for washer women, remeber to give them gifts or they'll cause all forms of trickery. That sort of thing. Is there anything specific I can help you with Alisa ?" She listened to Andalon "The dragons den? That might be a stop for us then. Thank you kindly preacher"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:11, Fri 30 Oct 2020.

"Oh, you're no fun~."

Kiera gives Ali a grin as she says it- it's clear she was only joking, before responding to Andalon.

"Oh, I know- I mean, a few years ago, I was living hand-to-mouth hunting out in the forest and dodging bandits.  Now I have a family and my own roadhouse and more than I ever dreamed.  Standing around might only get you so far, you know?"

But then she'd turned quiet and listened to Maple and Minia's story, and she'd shake her head.

"...I kind of know what a little of that is like.  I grew up on my own, raised by a bunch of fur trappers and traders living out in the woods, dodging bandits.  About all I know of my parents is one was fey-blooded- that's it.

...it's not a great way to grow up, is it?  But you'll find your way around here- if they'll give me a shot, then you both shouldn't have a bit of trouble finding something to do, or a place to stay- and if you run into that, come find me at the Nectar, out in the Lakeside district.  I have a few rooms upstairs I can take off the menu as long as you both need.  Might be a little noisy, but if you need a place to sleep until you both get on your feet, they're yours if you need them.

Just find what you're both good at, and do it.  The people here are pretty accepting- let's face it, if they'll let me make something of myself here, well... you two could become queens or something."

She gave them both a grin.

"But less talk of dark things in the past- so, when can I expect to become Auntie Kiera, hm~?"

She cocks her head and gives Alisa a slightly-less-than-innocent grin.

"No fae, no water weirds. But we killed a dragon comin' here."

Minia straightened her back up slightly, as if to appear more impressive.

"Didn't have much of a hoard, mind you. Not much of a dragon . . . no wings. Special, I'd wager. Black it was, with these little horns . . . "

Minia nodded to Andalon's suggestion

"And who're the Roths? We're always open to finding more contacts for our farming and such, my sister has . . . great plans, so to say."

She nodded as well to Kiera

"I'm sure we will take advantage of such generosity at some point, but my sister and I have a perfectly usable hovel on the edge of town. Cozy, warm and dark, with some fields. But the Nectar shall be a place to call in on when in town, and we'll be glad to work with you. I've little I'm good at . . . save swordcraft."

"I'm no fun?" Alisa laughed, gestured over her yet flat stomach.  "Then how is it you are going to be auntie Kiera, eh? We are all in for something of a wait yet, any case; still got the better part of eight months to go," she winked.

"I got acquainted with one of the Roths, just recently," commented Alisa to the sisters, supporting Andalon's suggestion.  "If the others are like her, then they are wonderful people. And, the Nereid is lovely - I can barely keep my own aide out of the place. Not that I try."   

She was unclear what the dragon-like creature they encountered may have been, and could offer no input.   She said to Maple:

"I'm planning some construction along a lake; Silverstep, to be exact.  And, I've come to understand it is inhabited by water dwelling fae. The better sort. In doing so, I do not wish to annoy or anger any.  If possible, I'd like to befriend them; or at the least, have a harmonious neutrality. This is someways down the road, yet; not the immediate future.  But, I am thinking ahead, and looking for a sort of emissary, or at least an advisor.  I would pay that person, and work with them, of course."

This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Sat 31 Oct 2020.

In reply to Minia (msg # 100):

"The Roth family own the Dragons Den inn and Roths Brewery here in Tusk and I think they have built a hopyard somewhere up north in Midmarch, too. There are two brothers and one sister, and the wife of one of the brothers. I believe they were adventurers before they arrived here a few years ago and decided to settle down here," he explained.

At Ali's idea, Kiera grew quiet- well, quiet for her.  It seemed to spark an idea in her, and she tapped her lips with a finger as she thought.

"...you know... maybe I ought to go do something personal, too- for myself.   Something I've been meaning to do, but just was kinda too scared to do it, you know?  I mean, you and Dom got married... Sting, you're expecting- maybe I ought to take the next step, too.

...how fast do you need someone to go down there and deal with them?  If it's still a ways off yet..."

She takes a deep breath.

"...I was thinking of going to visit that fey colony up near Hunters' Rest, if it's okay.  I doubt I'd ever really have any luck actually finding my parent, but... it's a half of myself I don't know anything about.  Maybe at the very least, I can get some things to think about and consider.  But I figure I'll check in and make sure it's actually okay for me to go before I just up and vanish and leave the Nectar to Rila for a week and some.

I just need answers on some things, and how to embrace that part of me.  It just feels like a whole different side of me that I have no idea how to understand... and maybe once I start tugging, it'll help me to understand a lot of things."

She nodded, "It's definitely quite a ways off. As for Hunter's Rest -- I mean, I don't think you need anyone's permission to do anything.   I can wholly understand your interest -- and maybe, you would learn something about your heritage.  But, are you saying you plan to go by yourself?  I think that's an incredibly bad idea!  Even the better fey can be capricious at times.  And the worst are nightmarish.    You will not go alone.  We of Medvyed* are known to have some affinity with them; it's our heritage.  Maybe it's why you and I get on well," she smiled.  "Let me go with you.  Domitius too, I think, if he's got no conflicting plans." She looked back toward her husband, with a question mark glance.

"Even if you want to make the approach by yourself - which could be understandable - let someone else be nearby, at least, in case you get into trouble."

*And Alisa has the trait to back it up. 

"I wouldn't mind going too Kiera, if you'll let me. I can help you with the meeting Alisa I'm real good at sitting still and waiting and watching, thats what you need to let them come out, that and a gift like strawberries, or bluebells, or a song.They love those sorts of things"
Willow thought for a moment about what Andolan said. It could be interesting to meet some more hard working folk. Perhaps a skill trade would benefit their goals. "We most defintly have to talk to them then!"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:46, Tue 03 Nov 2020.

Alisa inclined her head in respect to Maple's offer, for her own goal.  "Thank you.  Some ways in the future, much planning to do yet, but we shall speak of it again.   Meanwhile..."  She glanced again to Kiera.

"Don't go alone, I say again, if it bears repeating.  More than one wishes to support you, now," meaning Maple.  "Take at least one, if not more.   Now, excuse me a moment - there's something I need to do."

So said, Alisa went across the room and retrieved a wrapped and ribboned box.   With it in hand, she made her way from the main hall, to the reception area.

The conversations draw to a close as the party finally breaks up.

PPC:  You may make one or two posts here, to close conversations if you wish, but the XP awards have already been made  :)

"...we're not done talking about this, Ali.  But tonight's your night, so go do what you have to."

Kiera would smile mildly, and then toss back the last of the drink in her hands, sighing out loud, closing her eyes as she shook her head.

"...and I'll do what I have to, I guess."

She'd set down her glass, and when things were clear, bid her goodnights.