Street Music [Penri * Ireth]

[Penri]

"Sorry," Pen muttered, seeing the effect she'd had on the other girl. Sort of. She was tired, and tired off people. She lowered her head a bit, confused.

It took surprising willpower to overcome the automatic urge she felt to push off the hand she felt on her shoulder. She's trying to be nice, she chided herself silently. Probably? She was less confident in people than she had been back in Avanthal, where one was likely to know most everyone she interacted with.

"You're living on the streets then, huh? I'm not awful, I can see you're miserable. I have room, I guess, on my floor if you'd like to sleep off of the dirty walks. I'm sorry I've upset you."

The young Kelvic's head jerked up in surprise, startled eyes going to Ireth's face. "Really?" Skepticism fluttered on the edges of her voice. "Not about the not-being-awful part," she added hurriedly, seeing a potential misstep yet again. "but...that'd be rather nice." A searching gaze examined the musician's face. If the girl would take this collar off for her--Pen couldn't see it, forget remove it--Penri could be on her way out of Ravok, or even in it able to live herself. She spared a moment for a mental curse to Axe for just leaving her in this way...the odd Zith had been kind enough, if odd, while they were together, but this was a bit much.

"Look..." She hesitated. "I'm useful to have around, if you want something in return. I can, uh, carry stuff. In my goat shape. I'm not usually crabby, just, lately."

[Ireth Telemnar]

Drawing her hand from Pen's shoulder, Ireth quickly covered her mouth before a giggle flew from her mouth. Penri's rapid change of attitude was funny, funny enough for Ireth's giggle to become a laugh. "I'm... I'm sorry!" She chuckled for a moment, the corners of her eyes crinkling with her smile.

A tussle poured out of the Sliver, seven large men hollering and cussing and fighting. Patrons began throwing bottles and tankards. A particularly full tankard of the tavern's special brew, a Silver Sliver, flew from the muddle, smashing upon the Plaza near the girls. Ireth's trousers were showered with splinters of wood and the pungent drink. Her laugh bubbled into a sigh. "I just washed these last week... Oh well."

She hoisted her pack onto her shoulder and gestured into an alley. "Come on then. The building I live in is this way." Ireth walked on ahead, stepping lightly over the sewage that ran down the middle of the way. The air was moist and still, and when the girls walked out onto another street, Ireth took a deep breath. A few people walked the street under the dim shine from shops and other NHC rooms.

[Penri]

Pen blinked, taken aback for a moment, but quickly began to grin, eyes dancing. “Told you I’m not that crabby,” she said again, happy. It had been too many days since she’d had much companionship. Humans, she knew, were generally companionable creatures. Goats, more so. A Kelvic…well, needless to say she had been lonely.

Pen jumped, skittering sideways to avoid the soggy, stale-smelling assault. Her nose wrinkled in distaste as she picked her way among broken glass and unpleasant puddles, hopping a bit until she cleared the area. “It comes out alright,” she replied absently. “Happened to me the other day.”

She followed Ireth, head swiveling from side to side to keep track of where they went. She found herself avoiding the eyes of others. Despite her blunt nature, the young kelvic had learned quickly how to be unobtrusive. She hesitated, but spoke up as they walked through the poorly lit street. “So, d’you live alone?”


((ooc: sorry, it's not great. Writing brain freeze for the past day.))

[Ireth Telemnar]

Ireth hummed as she opened the door to the NHC building that her room was in, swinging the wooden obstacle open only to reveal a black hole. "Yes, I live alone. I moved out of my mother's room at the beginning of the season to be on my own, now that I'm old enough."

"Oh shyke. They forgot to light the torches again. We'll have to go on in the dark." She stepped in, moving her hand along the wall with a practiced ease. "My room is on the next floor, the second door on the left." The darkness swallowed Ireth and Penri.

The only indication that she had of her new companion following was a mutter or two whenever the girl stumbled or tripped on the uneven stairs leading to the second floor. There were no windows, and the only light, if any, came out from under the doors of other residents. But even most of those were dark.

Finally, Ireth and Penri came upon the second door on the left. Using a rusty key, Ireth unlocked the mechanism and shoved her way through the stubborn door. Once in, she wandered about, throwing open the shutters of the two windows and lighting a single candle. The moon light and the candle did wonders, almost lighting up the entire little room.

With her hands on her hips, Ireth surveyed the living space. "I know it's not much compared to some, but I grew up in NHC rooms. This is home. Please, make yourself comfortable. I'll get us something to drink."