Open You're Going Down [Silarial,Open]

[Silarial]

“Svasra,” Silarial repeated after the woman who had just introduced herself so. She stared for a few heartbeats, her head not quite grasping the sudden turn of events. If not for all the ruckus all around them, she would have thought this was a day of pleasantries. Unlike her, Svasra seemed to be unfazed from the massive brawl. After a while, she remembered herself and, blushing, answered the woman with a polite "Silarial."

The dancer only nodded her head at Svasra's suggestion. It was probably for the best to let the woman decide their course of action, and that was to stay put until everything settles down. Her line of thoughts were a mess, and she knew that panic is starting to get the best of her. Soon, she felt the urge to jump into the middle of the crowd and join in the brawl. She didn't understand why she felt like doing so, and knowing that she wanted to lash out like everyone else scared her very much. In fact, it frightened her more than the likelihood of getting beaten to death.

She really needed to calm herself and breathe. And so she breathed, deep long breaths in forced out in quick successions. She tried to drown out the defeaning noises inside the tavern. It was only her and the beautiful woman named Svasra. Well, there could be food too. But there were definitely no frightening patrons beating each other up to the Hai.

Quite suddenly, as if it was a surprising revelation, she realized she was scared. I must look like a real mess right now. Svasra must think I'm weird. As soon as she thought that, everything she was trying to shut out hit her again in full force. It really was noisy. She even thought she heard a loud crash somewhere. These inconsiderate patrons...

"You dance very well," Silarial was caught off guard by her companion's compliment. Even though it should have made her happy, the dancer did not expect such a praise to come out during such a time, and so she gaped incredulously at the young woman. Staring into her eyes, she noticed the wild shifting of its colors, most probably mirroring her own. Could it be that the woman was feeling the same way as she did? Silarial had to commend her. This woman is the very image of grace under pressure.

"Thank you. I'm very flattered you like my dance," she thanked Svasra with a tight smile. If she could at least control her panic... "I think... I think I've seen your face before a couple of times. By chance, are you the new barmaid I've been hearing about? The one who started to work here around the same time I did? That would be the second of winter, I think." Without her knowing it, Silarial was soon chewing her fingernails away. She took a quick peek over Svasra's shoulder, and upon seeing that the mass had not yet gone down in numbers, sighed heavily.

OOC :

Color edits, yet again, because I'm currently undergoing some kind of color crisis right now. That, and because I'm so darn indecisive.

[Svasra]

Svasra watched Silarial as she struggled to maintain composure, though the woman had to congratulate on her ability. She tactfully took the chance to take a few deep breaths, as the action always helped direct thoughts and calm down a fretful mind.

Svasra always found Morwen's Lights a fantastic way to calm herself, or gather thoughts, as the twisting manner was almost hypnotizing in a way. Their changing manner exhibited natural peace and Svasra often visualized the colors she had seen the night before in order to calm any anxiety.

"Thank you. I'm very flattered you like my dance," Silarial said graciously, pulling Svasra back to the present, though her anxiety was obvious as she nearly chewed off her fingers, continuing, "I think... I think I've seen your face before a couple of times. By chance, are you the new barmaid I've been hearing about? The one who started to work here around the same time I did? That would be the second of winter, I think." Svasra smiled, oddly pleased the dancer knew of her, and nodded.
"Yes, I started on the second," she said. Refusing to follow Silarial's gaze behind her shoulder, Svasra reached out and took the woman's hand away from her mouth, holding the fingers lightly. She ran a comforting thumb over their joints and tilted her head. "They will hurt if you continue to bite them down like that," she commented as she let go, head tilting slightly.

Svasra took a sharp breath, and let it out slowly, its shaking quality the only credit to the panic she felt as much as Silarial. A glass shattered beside her, and Svasra frowned absently. "This is going be as miserable as the desert to clean up," she muttered dourly. Bending down, she brushed some glass to the side, noticing a few dropped articles on the ground. Cloaks lay abandoned, gloves, and some hats and scarves littered the floor of the tavern. It would take a while to find the owners of these, if at all.

Rising once more, Svasra looked towards her companion. "How do you like working here? It can get a bit hectic, but I have to admit I do enjoy being a barmaid." She blinked and cracked a meek smile, "Never a dull moment."

[Sliver]

"Having a nice chat?"

From above the two chatting workers at the tavern loomed the Icewatch guard. She had had a long day so far, and it wasn't getting any easier. That being said a steady stream of brawling, wailing, flailing, and sometimes oblivious patrons were slowly being channeled to the street and separated based on toxicity levels. Slowly but surely the contents of the bar was emptying, leaving the mess of blood, puke, broken glass, and shattered crockery.

Sliver glanced around and smiled down at Silarial. "Hello, Sil, good to see you again!" The Icewatch guard seemed a little too perky considering the brawl that was going on behind her in a slightly more contained manner, but Sliver was just happy to see someone she knew that wasn't behaving like a complete imbecile. She heard a curse behind her and ducked swiftly as a frosted beer glass was thrown against the wall, smashing and dripping liquid downwards. The guard muttered angrily under her breath, then gestured to a side window about twenty feet away from the girls, broken and covered with cloth to keep the glass from injuring any who traveled through. "If you'd like you ladies can both make your way outside." She gestured politely as if escorting them to their destination then turned and leapt across the floor, grabbing the rowdy Iceglaze female that had hurled the glass mug at her and grabbed her by the shirt front. "I'll just be taking care of this one."

"Like 'ell you will, wench!"

The woman landed a good kick to the knee cap on the guard and Sliver groaned, legs buckling as the woman half ran, half wobbled toward the window, leaping out only to fall flat on her face. Sliver rose from the ground with a satisfied smirk and walked calmly to the window.

"You're right, I had no need to take care of you when you were going to do it for me."

"Petch you, bear wannabe." Sliver sighed, and stepped out, lifting the woman from the ground.

[Silarial]

She stared wide eyed at Svasra, then at her worn fingernails. She had been chewing away at them? But... but she never noticed! Not until Svasra pointed it out, and even then she still could not believe she had not never realized she was doing it. Now that she thought about it, she found it odd how her fingernails were always filed down and unsightly.

"This is going to be as miserable as the desert to clean up," the woman muttered as she bent down to the ground. Silarial followed Svasra's line of sight, staring disapprovingly at all the objects strewn all over the floor. Poor Huzak, poor tavern owner, and poor barmaids. Surely, everyone is going to be on a big clean up duty later on.

When the woman got on her feet once more, she asked the dancer how she felt working at the tavern. Silarial found herself smiling despite their current predicament. She knew how hard a barmaid's work can be, dealing with the mess, the drunken patrons and all. And to hear this woman express her satisfaction in her job made the dancer feel more awe for her.

Before she was able to answer though, a figure loomed over the two women. Silarial's eyes immediately darted to the familiar voice. "...Sliver?" She rubbed her eyes and stared at the Guard for a few moments before her face melted into a relieved smile. Seeing the woman almost made all her current fears go away. "Sliver! Oh I am so glad to see you! I--"

The Snowsong flinched when a woman hurled a mug at her friend, who spared no time to move out of its way. She frowned, worry clearly etched onto her face as Sliver gestured towards the broken window, the closest form of escape she and Svasra had at the moment.

"Yes... You be careful, Sliver!" she cried out after the woman who had already faced her assailant. Silarial flicked her attention to Svasra and nodded, taking the lead as they made a half-crouch, half-run towards the broken window.

Slowly, the brawling crowd were getting lesser in numbers. There were still a few who were beating up each other at the main room, and she could not say for sure how the second floor was faring. However, she was certain that things are gradually calming down now. Still, she kept a watchful eye around them as they scurried to their way out.

Thankfully, they reached the window without any further incidents. Silarial gaped at the window, seeing all of the glass shattered from its frame. Glass was hard to come by in the city, too. She shook her head in disappointment, tutting. She shared a look with Svasra and sighed infinitesimally. "I guess I'll go first..." she muttered.

Silarial pushed herself up onto the sill, thankful for the cloth that covered its sides. She jumped outside and landed on a crouch, her vibrant crimson skirt spread on the frosty ground. She immediately stood up and made way for her companion.

Many people lined the street in front of the Red Diamond. There was the Icewatch keeping the rowdier people in check, the Whitevines who had rushed to the scene to attend to the injured, and those who came from inside the tavern. Silarial absentmindedly took a few steps away and stood awkwardly a few paces from where they came out.

When she turned to face her companion once more, unexpected tears started dripping down her cheeks. "Ah... this is..." Her hands hastily flew up to her face to wipe them away, but the drops persistently leaked from snow white eyes. "Well, this is embarrassing. I don't quite understand why I am... crying." The Snowsong's body shook as the nerves finally got to her. She hid her face behind her hands. She hated crying in front of people, but the darned tears just won't stop!

[Svasra]

"Having a nice chat?" came a calm voice, and Svasra jumped in surprise, head whipping around to the speaker. Her eyes filled with a familiar looking female. Familiar in the sense she identified her as part of the Icewatch, though couldn't think of a name."Hello, Sil, good to see you again!" the woman continued happily, turning towards Silarial who seemed relieved as Svasra that the woman showed up.
"Sliver! Oh I am so glad to see you! I--" Whatever the graceful dancer meant to say was lost as Sliver smoothly ducked and a beer bottle shattered against the wall behind her. Svasra's eyes grew wider and she retreated a couple steps, wiping a bit of beer off her face where it had splattered.

The woman, Sliver, politely gestured to a window as she turned to beat down the other who had thrown the glass. Svasra looked towards Silarial, mind assaulted with the barrage of the Icewatch, forcing her to look around herself. The peaceful aura she was able to falsify shattered quickly, and the woman backpedaled into herself instinctively as her breath hitched. Only the prompt from her companion brought Svasra's dazed eyes slightly focused, and she nodded once the words had registered, hurrying afterwards. "Thank you!" she managed to call out to their savior, though she dared not turn way and see the mess behind her. The door was far. The walls close. The rank stifling. Svasra needed out.

Silarial and Svasra reached the window with little incident, the occasional dodging of flying dishes and food keeping them on their toes. She focused on the open window, and relished the fresh air it blew into her face to chase away the stick of puke, alcohol, and sweat. Svasra stood back with a nod to Silarial, gesturing for the woman to go first. When the woman disappeared from the window, Svasra carefully climbed up herself. Her eyes traced where the cloth covered jagged spikes of glass. How would the Tavern recover from this? With a small breath, Svsra jumped, stumbling as she landed. Though she managed to catch herself, Svasra huffed slightly as she shook out her legs that had protested slightly with the hard landing.

The Vantha woman looked around for the dancer, finding her standing away from the crowd close-by, watching the people pour into the area surrounding the Red Diamond. Svasra quickly walked over, gaze concerned as Silarial turned her gaze. The barmaid seemed startled to see the sparkling of tears swimming in Silarial's flickering eyes, a stuttered excuse exiting her lips as her eyes went snow-white.

Without thinking, Svasra gathered Silarial in her arms, one hand going around her back, the other around her shoulders. "Hey, shh, it's alright," Svasra cooed. Svasra was a couple inches shorter and found herself speaking to Silarial's neck rather than her ear, but tried to offer comfort all the same. Rubbing the dancer's back, Svasra stroked her head gently. "It's okay, we're safe, and no one is really hurt. Cry it out, love, it's alright, shh, don't worry." Svasra blinked back tears herself, hugging the woman for not only Silarial's reassurance, but her own as well. Seeing the Tavern ripped apart tugged on the loyalty Svasra already felt for the wooden structure. She struggled to stay composed for her friend's sake, as two crying woman would do little to help. "It's okay, the Tavern will be okay, Sliver will be, and we will be," Svasra murmured, though it was half directed towards her own mind as well.

[Sliver]

Bears and Icewatch surrounded the Tavern with icy intent. Those innocent bystanders seemed to be filtering through the mass of shouting, screaming, and fighting individuals with aplomb. Sliver brought her new catch to another round of guards that were carting the rambunctious ones to Svanhildur, the wolverine hefting the women up with a grunt and sliding her onto the back of one of the massive bears with the help from her bonded Vantha counter part.

Once done she turned back to the steadily lowering number of people punching and chucking items rather ineffectively at their protectors due to their inebriated states. The wolverine's whole body was sore from the whole debacle, but she walked right up to the edge with her comrades, forming that strange barricade. At least Silarial and her...friend? Would be able to get out safely. She didn't like the thought of two nice Vantha girls getting anything other than a little beer on their dresses over what had started as such a violent and chaotic incident.

Syna rose high into the sky and fell as Sliver slowly separated the truly belligerent drunks from the one's simply swept up into the brawl. Svanhildur was going to be a bustling place for the next week or so as everything got sorted out, and she certainly didn't envy the guards on patrol there. That was neither here nor there, however. She still had shepherding to do.

oocSorry for the delay guys. I'm calling this my final post in the thread, but feel free to continue it for however long you so desire before cashing it in for grading. It's been fun!

[Silarial]

Her initial reaction was surprise when the woman hugged her, quite obviously flinching at the sudden contact. And then the thought of pushing Svasra away passed through the back of her mind. She felt confused and frustrated, and even more confusion at what had just happened around her. The calm she had so opportunely possessed earlier had vanished as quickly as it came to her.

The sobs came next, sending more tremors that rocked her slender frame. Perhaps, at least for now, when everyone was too absorbed into their own problems to notice her, it would be alright to show a weakness. Maybe it would be fine to just let it out and cry.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around the woman and buried her face on her shoulders. She didn't care anymore if she had just known her name a few moments earlier, or if they are not even that well-acquainted yet for such a gesture. Svasra’s shoulders were already drenched with her relentless tears but it did not matter anymore.

Everything will be okay, Svasra had said as she was trying to soothe the distraught Silarial. And so she repeated this again and again inside her mind like a prayer to Queen Morwen.

The Queen, where was she? If she was here, she would not have allowed for these things to happen. Nobody would have dared attack their fellow Vanthas, and no one would have been hurt. Why did she have to go now, when her children needed her the most?

Just as soon as she thought these, Silarial immediately felt shame and guilt for even considering to bear ill-feelings for the winter goddess. The fault was not in their queen at all, but in their inability to manage the weaknesses of their characters.

After what seemed to be a long while of just standing there and crying, Silarial finally raised her head and looked at Svasra. Managing a weak smile, she mouthed the words ‘Thank you’.

Casting her eyes around, she saw Sliver at the distance, doing her job dedicatedly as most of the Icewatch did. She wanted to call out to her and ask her if she was alright but refrained from doing so, afraid that she might interfere with her friend’s work. Flicking her gaze back to the kind Svasra, she heaved a deep sigh before she found the strength to speak.

“I’m really sorry for your clothes. I’ll have them washed if you will, but please, can we just… Can we just go back home for now? I don’t feel so well…” she murmured sullenly. It was a stark contrast to her usual carefree and lively demeanor.

She felt tired. Very horribly tired and battered. Everywhere she looked, it reminded her of how terrible the recent times had become. It did not help that these people had used her as a reason to start lashing out at one another. It made her sick, and angry, and to some extent, betrayed. Unwarranted, but the feeling was there, and it left a horrible clenching pain within her chest.

But most of all, in the wounded faces of the badly beaten-up of the crowd, memories locked behind worn doors threatened to topple down the walls she had so painstakingly set up to keep herself from hurting. She hated it. The feelings left such a bad taste in her mouth. She just wanted to go home, sleep, and forget. It was the only way for her to carry on, after all.

OOC :

Woohoo! Last post for me as well, Sivvie! It was wonderful threading with the both of you!

[Svasra]

Svasra held the dancer as she cried it out, feeling the uncomfortable wetness as her clothing grew damp and chilled in the crisp wind that whipped around them. Murmuring gentle reassurance in Silarial's ear, Svasra looked over at the others that milled around. Shock, horror, distaste, surprise ... and drunkenness. Svasra dared not turn around and look at the beautiful Tavern, concentrating on keeping it together for Silarial. Seeing the Tavern just might tip the scales for Svasra's dry eyes.

It seemed like a while until Silarial managed to find the strength to look up, mouthing a thanks though Svasra only smiled kindly in response. "I’m really sorry for your clothes. I’ll have them washed if you will, but please, can we just… Can we just go back home for now? I don’t feel so well…" Silarial asked quietly, drawing to attention she was a Snowsong as well.
"Of course," Svasra murmured, nodding as she drew back. Touching Silarial's sleeve, Svasra led the woman away from the Tavern, only daring to look back once.

The scene of the torn up Tavern, the milling Icewatch, and the patrons that were either stumbling around confused or tending some wound or simply staring in shock was not something so easy to forget. How could something so easily turn to carnage? One misplaced drunken comment and things dissolved into utmost chaos that had to treated by the Icewatch, for Morwen's sake! This is what alcohol and rowdy men led to? Svasra felt any respect or liking she had for alcohol drop just a bit farther, and turned away with a shake of her head. "Let's go home ..." she agreed with Silarial, and the two slowly made their way past the questioning crowds and to their Hold where sleep so lovingly waited.

OOCYay! This was fun, thanks for much for the thread! ^^

[Stardust]

Sliver

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	1
Unarmed Combat	2
Leadership	2
Intimidation	2

•	Lores Earned
•	A Bar Brawl Between Holds
•	Quick Thinking
•	Threatening to Take Control of a Situation
•	Seeing Silarial Again

Silarial

Skill	XP Earned
Dancing	1
Planning	2
Seduction	1
Socialization	2

•	Lores Earned
•	Treated Like An Object
•	Drunken Proposals
•	Svasra's Appearance
•	Saved By The Icewatch? Sliver
•	Small Talk Can Ease the Nerves

Svarsa

Skill	XP Earned
Organization	2
Rhetoric	2
Socialization	2

•	Lores Earned
•	The Dancer, Silarial
•	Dealing With Drunk Men
•	Making Quick Decisions During a Bar Brawl
•	Saved By The IceWatch? Sliver
•	Small Talk Can Ease the Nerves

Dream On

Oh my goodness! How funny! Seriously, I haven't been this entertained with grading or even reading a thread in a such long time. I absolutely loved everyone's specific parts in this and how Silarial and Svarsa tried their best to calm each other down! And Yay for Sliver! Great read!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.