Closed Brighter than Hell

About the desire to hide behind another face. (Carmony pls)

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Center of scholarly knowledge and shipwrighting, Zeltiva is a port city unlike any other in Mizahar. [Lore]

Brighter than Hell

Postby Gwin on March 29th, 2014, 9:48 pm

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Spring 3, 514 AV

After lingering around Zeltiva, that curious place between water and rock, the Akvatari always returned to the ocean. Perhaps the city itself invited it, swinging back and forth between land and sea. Nevertheless she spent as much time by the docks, Cerulean pier or the coast as she spent in streets, buildings and around rooftops.

That day the docks were even busier than before. Gwin who disliked such hubbub chose one of the smaller piers to settle down at and watch the commotion from a distance. At first it looked like chaos, but the longer she observed the movement of sailors, passengers and cargo, the more she saw its pattern.

Perhaps it was time for her to form a pattern, a kind of trail in this city too. Her hand touched the worn violin case resting next to her tail. Maybe it was time to check out the other attraction Zeltiva offered: the university. With a sigh, she opened her satchel and took out several things. The first was parchment that she placed in her furry lap and the second a piece of black charcoal. The music had dwindled to a small trickle in the back of her head, so she’d try and capture lines and shapes, light and shadow first.

After a glance at the scenery unfolding in front of clear green eyes, Gwin still hadn’t put the charcoal on the parchment. For some reason nothing appeared picturesque enough to deserve immortality as a work of art. Maybe picturesque wasn’t what she was supposed to be looking for, but at that moment she couldn’t help it.

With another sigh, she continued observing and drinking in everything that happened. Her eyes were darting here and there, searching for something or someone standing out from the crowd. At the same time, Gwin fought a bundle of doubts. Inspiration had always been on the road, the real wonder not revealed through the destination, but in the way itself… As she stared at the blank parchment, it became unbearably bright.
Last edited by Gwin on April 10th, 2014, 11:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Brighter than Hell

Postby Carmony on March 31st, 2014, 7:29 pm

This morning Carmony awoke with the urge to walk to the docks and around town. The fresh sea air and the sun were all the motivation she needed to get up and ready for a bright day in Zeltiva. She stretched and yawned, practically throwing herself out of bed. In a halfhearted hurry, she readied herself and went on her way, locking the door behind her.

The soreness she had experienced the day before due to her extreme dancing at the new year festival had dwindled down to a dull and easily ignored throb. The sun seemed to feed her with its energy as she walked, her mood getting better and better with every step. She felt so alive; like a newly lit flame.

As she approached the docks, she noticed the steadily increasing amount of people, mainly sailors and other ship related crew men. Everyone seemed in such a hurry, hustling about as if wolves were at their heels. This didn't stop friendly nods in her direction or the occasional "Mornin' ma'am" though. She wondered for a moment what could be so important for them to be running about in such a way, but she was sure she would hear about it from someone sooner or later. It wasn't too concerning. She had come here for one thing; to stare at the sea.

Finally, after dodging some more men, and working her way out of the busier parts of the docks, she found a place to rest against the bares and stare out across the vast blue expanse that stretched into the horizon. It looked like it would be a blue, sunny day, not a single cloud in sight. Watching the surface of the water shimmer as the waves rolled in, she wondered what she might do today to keep herself occupied. She wouldn't have to work for a few more days, and she had enough coin to keep herself entertained. Maybe she could go buy some breakfast at a local food establishment, and look for a new book to add to her collection.

The sound of the sea birds echoed overhead, their shadows casting quick moving shade across the beach and over her head. She tilted her head up and bit to watch the fly away. Losing herself within the calm of the world, the hurried noises from behind her became a blur, drown out by the sound of the tide.
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Brighter than Hell

Postby Gwin on April 3rd, 2014, 8:59 pm

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Gwin tore her gaze away from the parchment only to return to observing the hustle and bustle at the docks. However, a new character had appeared on the scene. Perhaps it was what she’d been looking for, a change not unlike her own drifting existence. That person didn’t belong with the sailors or passengers, instead she was walking slowly and soon separated herself from them.

Her stroll led the girl to a quiet spot not far from the one Gwin had picked, the eye of the storm, so to say. The Akvatari looked at her parchment, still devoid of any line or shape that squeezed her view between its four corners. Looking up, she decided to find out more about that human girl with the brown hair and fair complexion.

To Gwin’s surprise, she didn’t do anything. In cities, people always seemed busy one way or another. She couldn’t help the feeling, although she had never bothered investigating what inspired it. Perhaps the moment was right? Still deep in doubt, Gwin ran a hand through strands of blond hair. Anyway, that particular city dweller seemed content and at ease with herself and life as it unfolded before her. Her gaze wandered out to the ocean and Gwin mirrored that.

Perhaps the Akvatari knew Laviku’s riches best, at least better than any sailor or pirate. Still, Gwin discovered new aspects of it whenever she focused. Through the eyes of a stranger, it looked foreign and brimming with beautiful power. But instead of traveling far away, Gwin’s gaze returned to the girl.

Before she knew it, the charcoal had left first lines and shapes on her parchment. Watery green eyes went back and forth between the model and its mirror image at a rapid pace while she tried to capture proportions. Her furry tail twitched with the excitement of inspiration.
Last edited by Gwin on April 10th, 2014, 11:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Brighter than Hell

Postby Carmony on April 10th, 2014, 6:02 am

Carmony turned her body to face the city, resting her lower back against the black bars which had become warm beneath the rays of the sun. The breeze was coming in from behind her, and as it blew in soft waves, it caused her hair to rise and fall with every current. She tilted her head and tried to get a clear view between two large buildings for dock residents that led through an alley, which she had learned from many years of traversing Zeltiva's streets would lead to one of the main city roads, but the hustling sailors moving out and about made a clear line of sight more difficult than Carmony had originally anticipated.

She felt a distant twinge in her stomach. Food seemed like the best thing to add to her agenda, yes, a definite necessity, or so it keeps reminding her with it's slightly painful churning in her belly. She had come to do what she had set out to this morning, and would more than likely return in the later hours, possibly to watch the ships set sail, but for now her own course seemed to be steering her in the direction of town.

She thought over what she may want to eat, and where she wanted to go. She wasn't craving anything in particular, but she would be avoiding any bars or haunts for the time being, she got enough of that at work. She scrunched her face a bit, recalling her latest run in with some stale Kelp Beer. She fought to hold down the shiver of disgust it brought her, but failed miserably. She shook her head a bit, trying to block out the memories. No, today she would be dining at a cleaner establishment where her chances of running into stale and expired goods would be greatly reduced.

There were many options, still. She pushed herself up off of the bars, feeling them shake a bit. The sailors would need to adjust the bolts that held them down soon. She ignored this though, and did her best to make her way through the crowd. Moving too quickly sent her face first into muscly chests and forearms, so she stuck with a slow groove, weaving her way through.

Once across the board walk, she entered the alleyway, taking one last look back out toward the shore. She would return later. It had been a while since she had watched the sun fall behind the horizon, and she felt like she had been neglecting it. It called for her attention, and she just couldn't put it off any longer. She tore her eyes away, and started back on her trek toward the marketplace where the best, small diners were set up.
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Brighter than Hell

Postby Gwin on April 10th, 2014, 12:12 pm

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With each and every addition the lines condensed into a motive, the torso of a girl cut off at the hips. Only her side, part of her back, hair dancing in the wind and part of her profile was visible. After capturing the proportions roughly, Gwin moved on to details of her body, adding folds into her dress, shadow to her hair and facial features to her head.

The next time she looked up, the girl wasn’t standing in the same place anymore. Gwin blinked. At the docks, people that incorporated the epitome of whimsical female beauty were hard to come by. Now that she’d found one, she couldn’t let it go. Also, she’d started a drawing and now it called out to her, tugging at her artist’s heart to finish what she’d started so carelessly. All art was spontaneous though and the artist came up with it as if hit by lightning. That was how it was supposed to be.

The girl wasn’t supposed to walk away… Gwin carefully rolled up the parchment, put the charcoal into her satchel, grabbed the violin case and beat her wings. With a sigh, she took to the air. A few beats carried her over the sailors’ heads and into the direction of the girl just as she disappeared into the alleyway.

In order to avoid the crowd filling the docks, the Akvatari covered most of the distance by flying over water. Once she’d left the docks, however, she sank to the cobblestone and continued to follow her model by way of streets and alleys. A strange kind of curiosity drove her, thrill of the watcher worming her way into people’s lives, remaining unseen.

Only that she didn’t care whether the girl noticed her or not. The Akvatari probably looked strange with their butterfly wings and furry tails in vivid colors, yet they hardly ever inspired suspicion or fear in others. Gwin didn’t know whether she’d reveal herself, whether she’d approach the girl with words or not… It simply didn’t concern her present self.

But she observed the girl with the eye of an artist, trying to memorize how she walked, moved her hands, looked at things.
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Brighter than Hell

Postby Carmony on May 1st, 2014, 6:44 am

Coming out at the opening at the end of the alleyway Carmony was greeted by the sight of rushing citizens in the streets of the Zeltiva market, and the strong scent of freshly cooked food. One intake of the air and Carmony found herself lost in the bliss of the thought of eating some delicious freshly cooked meals.

The market was just as busy as the docks, if not more, and by the looks of it this onslaught of people, the rush wouldn't be ending anytime soon today. No doubt by nightfall they will have finished their tasks and set out out their ships, but until then havoc would reside in the city.

Carmony shut her eyes for a moment enjoying the feel of the sun on her face, she smiled and stretched out her arms comfortably. This was a grand day despite the rush. Carmony could definitely get used to this.

Their was a brief moment where Carmony felt as though she was being watched. Bringing her body back into it's regular stance she glanced around, finding no one who could have been watching her. Everyone she saw was far too busy with their own dealings to even notice her presence. She furrowed her eyebrows for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek softly and she took one final look around before turning back to the city life ahead of her.

She began her walk, more slow and graceful than the rest of the people around her. She moved through the crowd with ease, though the constant need to duck and dodged deterred her peaceful gait she held strong to her movement until she found a clearing near a beautiful marble fountain in a small courtyard covered in trees and green grass.

She stepped forward, staring at the ground, she grinned for a moment before taking off her shoes. The feel of the grass beneath her feet was relaxing. She loved the way it softly brushed and tickled her skin. A smile tugged at her lips as she lost herself, as she often did, in the zen of the world.
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Brighter than Hell

Postby Gwin on May 1st, 2014, 3:47 pm

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The longer she observed the girl, the more extraordinary her walk and her expression became. At first Gwin had thought her an ordinary girl, just another resident in the city of the ocean and learning, but in time she realized the girl had personality, things she liked and things that belonged only to her.

Gwin saw it when the girl stopped and stretched towards the sun in the middle of the busy street. At that moment the Akvatari instinctively shrunk back into a side alley and watched from the shadows. For some reason it seemed to be the right thing to hide herself and not disturb the girl’s perfect afternoon. Not yet, anyway. After a while her object of observation continued and Gwin followed.

Since her wings took up space, Gwin had more difficulty navigating the crowds on busy streets, so she fell behind a bit. Still, she had the advantage to gaze over shoulders and heads if needed, so she didn’t lose the girl entirely. When she reached the little square, a place of refuge from the bustling chaos of broad streets, Gwin caught up to her just as the girl got rid of her shoes.

A sad smile played at the corners of the Akvatari’s lips as she watched the girl losing herself in the grass and small spot of peaceful nature she’d discovered. Beautiful. Trying to move around her, Gwin approached the fountain and sank to the ground. At its edge, tail curled around her torso in a sitting position, she was protected from stray droplets of water hitting the stone. There she unpacked her parchment and charcoal to continue the portrait.

Looking up, she hoped the girl wouldn’t wander off again, at least not in the next few chimes. Eyes narrowed, sad smile still on her features, Gwin tried to reconnect the half-finished sketch with its model walking in front of her eyes. To any spectator, it would be quite obvious what she was trying to do.
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Brighter than Hell

Postby Aoren on June 30th, 2014, 2:49 pm

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Riddled With Rewards
Gwin

Experience
Skill XP Earned
Drawing + 3 EXP
Observation + 3 EXP



Lores
Lore Earned
Drawing: Sketching Using A Visual Reference
Observational Insight: Memorizing A Person’s Natural Motion


Carmony

Comment :
Please update your ledger to reflect proper Seasonal Expenses. When this is done, PM me and I shall post your grade.


Notes :
If you have comments, questions or concerns please approach me at your earliest convenience. Don't forget to edit/delete your request in the request thread!
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