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[Joanna Familiaris]

Winter 1, 515 AV

Joanna had been awake for some time, drifting in and out of a sleep-like trance but unable, or unwilling, to hit that point of deep sleep. It had been a vivid nightmare that brought the warrior out of her peaceful slumber with heavy breaths and cold sweat, but when she awoke in the arms of Beodan her initial shock and terror faded away until she could no longer remember what, or who, she had been dreaming about and why it had caused her so much distress. So for several bells Johanna lay there silently, her eyes closed but her mind active as it filtered through the past few weeks she'd spent out here in the wilds with Dan. It felt a bit odd at times, to think of them living together, but she was not having a bad time with it. The sprawling gardens, the cozy tent, the lush forest just beyond the clearing, all of it felt familiar to her now, like she had been living here for years. Like she belonged here.

Winter had come to their tiny little home, but Joanna wasn't to bothered by the change. Her body mass was more than enough to insulate her. Maybe a little too much. Joanna had been thinking of changing her diet ever since she left Alvadas since it had shifted from a strict diet of meats and vegetables to whatever she could get her hands on. Sweets would often become her only breakfast, which the warrior knew would only harm her in the long run. To her credit, she had been keeping up with her training routines in the forest, even having set up a little sparring area with some wooden dummies just beyond a set of trees from their clearing, but her muscles were starting to be layered with more and more fat.

As her mind wandered, her thoughts shifted to the man she was nestled snugly into, his warmth enveloping her to the point where she felt she could purr. He had been so incredibly accommodating during her time here and had made her truly feel at home. She, herself acted as a motherly figure to him; helping tidy up their home, improve her cooking skills to something edible, working to help tend the garden, and travel into town to get groceries and supplies for them. She had been trying, for some time, to learn herbalism with Dan but it had been a very slow process. Joanna had trouble enough just remembering her own name, let alone the names of all the plants and herbs and their application. Still, Dan had been sweet about it. He had been as he always was: sweet, loving, and exciting. She would admit that there were some initial fears that her love for Dan was only spontaneous, and was simply infatuated with the Kelvic. But as the seasons stretched on, her love for him only grew, filling her with happiness and determination.

Sunlight was starting to fill the tent as her thoughts carried on and it wasn't until the birds starting to sing that she realized she had been occupied with her thoughts for several hours. Joanna was tempted to hop out of bed and watch the sunrise, but she didn't want to jeopardize her incredibly comfy spot. She did, however, roll over so that she was face to face with the man who had taken her in. He looked a bit goofy in his sleep sometimes with his permanent bed-head even more bed-headed, but was just as handsome as he was when she first met him. If there was another thing she was grateful for, it was Dan's capacity for her drama. Joanna could be... difficult at times. She knew this. She was overbearing at times and melodramatic, but she always caught her mistakes and tried to make amends. Dan always seemed to wave it off, like it was no biggie. But Joanna always worried she would make him hate her by being oversensitive or overprotective.

But lying here with Dan, she felt like her fears were misplaced. She loved him, and that's all that matter. She leaned forward and kissed him gently as he slept, using her arms to pull them closer together.

[Beodan Clathony]

Beodan had always thought that waking up next to someone was one of the most satisfying ways to start a day. Which was why his face cracked in a sleepy grin when he was pulled from his slumber by a familiar, gentle suction on his lip. Still a ways from full lucidity, he kissed his love right back unconsciously. His legs brushed hers under the covers as he shifted so he was fully facing her. It was some time before his chocolate eyes flicked open, and spread their warm gaze all over her. Not that he could see much past her face, occupied as they were. But, he supposed, that was a pretty view none the less! His top hand brushed a few rebellious strands of platinum hair behind her ear. He pulled away just as he finished the little gesture, murmuring, his voice full of morning hoarseness (*giggle*), “Good morning! How did you sleep?” As she answered he would lean over to nibble her ear playfully, before sitting up tall and stretching his arms to the ceiling. Soft pops and cracks were produced, a satisfied groan following soon after. He sighed happily, looking at the line of sunlight coming in from the crack near the top of the door. It was lighting up the room in its cheery, invigorating glow. Yes, the sunrise promised infinite potential! The world was waiting for them, and he was itching to return its embrace.

Autumn had passed quickly, and happily after he had found his tent-mate. If there was one thing that had changed about his environment, it was that things were generally neater. No longer was his desk coated in the fine herb powder that accumulated from many mixings and grindings, or at least it did not last long. His tools were arranged much like they were before, only they had a specific place on his work space. The modest garden was as wild as ever, though it was clear more effort had been put in to weeding. The potted plants, Dan’s ever prideful hobby, were well manicured, though the seasonal plants had withdrawn for the winter. They would be back in the spring, if all went well.

Grabbing a small roll of bread from a covered shelf, he asked, “Are you ready to go? You don’t have to worry about a thing you know. Anyone would be lucky to have you working for them!” He pulled her from the bed and into his arms, before and handing her this morning’s cup of tea. It had been easy to fall back into the habit of making two cups a day, something that made him nostalgically happy. His poor shattered heart had healed over, and thought it was still raw to the touch, he was at the point where he could think back fondly on his memories of her and not become melancholic. He looked at her and gave a mock sigh of exasperation, “I suppose we will have to dress for the occasion! I don’t suppose we could just show up in our other forms, that would certainly be warmer and more fashionable… Fine fine! Nothing for it, I guess!” Hefting a bag filled with their clothing, coats include, he asked, “You lead the way. The goddess knows you travel my path to the road more than I do these days!”

[Joanna Familiaris]

The Kelvic felt her smile widen as Dan greeted her with grogginess deep in his voice. Her hands were automatically drawn to his own as he brushed aside the few loose strands of her hair, magnetizing to his touch. "Wonderfully." She responded, not wanting to worry him with her nightmare. Even if she could recall what had happened, and with whom she had been with, she didn't want to burden him with undue stress. It was, after all, just a dream. Regardless, she did sleep rather soundly. As usual. It took only a few breaths before Joanna was fully sedated in her sleep, and even less time for her to feel drowsy by just lying in bed. With Joanna, the saying was always true: A body at rest will remain at rest.

Joanna would never understand Dan's energy in morning, as she was still sluggish with sleep as her beloved was already out of bed and preparing breakfast. If there was one thing she appreciated about her companion it was his near limitless supply of joy and excitement. It was a source that she could draw from if ever there was a time that she felt her own determination start to fade. Of course, this rarely happened, but it was always nice to know there was someone there to give moral support. And for her to give support to. She stretched and groaned with hopeless protest before eventually persuading herself to roll out of bed and face the day, dragging herself to Beodan as he grabbed their breakfast.

"You don’t have to worry about a thing you know. Anyone would be lucky to have you working for them!” Joanna leaned into him , resting her head in the nook of his neck while her hands idly twirled strands of dark, brown hair while her other hand tended to her tea. "You think? My skills aren't very diverse. Mostly just good at hitting things really hard." As a warrior, Joanna could always make money as a mercenary, or a bodyguard, but now that she had a real home, with a real companion, and a real... life, it felt like it'd be remiss of her not to look for something that would be less life-threatening, and more skill-oriented. Even if her skills were narrowed to maces and working out.

"Huhu... I could always be a companion at the Roaring Stallion. I hear that pays handsomely. But I don't want you to get too jealous~" She said playfully, nibbling at his earlobe before detaching herself. It would only take a few moments to fit into her casual clothes one they arrived, since she decided to forgo the armor for this particular trip. It didn't feel right to go applying for jobs in a hunk of steel. She didn't look very prim and proper, but she did hold herself with enough confidence that even in peasant clothes, Joanna held and air of high status. However, for the trip, she was willing to go in the bare to let her Equine spirit roam for a while.

“You lead the way. The goddess knows you travel my path to the road more than I do these days!”

She giggled and nodded, shifting into her hulking Kelvic form, feeling a sense of release wash over her. It felt good to gallop, instead of run as she had been for most of her trips. No, this was much, much better. She rushed off into the woods, following the mental trail she had drawn for herself. She would occasional look back to make sure her better half wasn't trailing too far behind, forgetting, of course, that these woods in their entirety were probably more familiar to him than anything. Maybe she was counting herself short. Either way, the two galloped along one another through the dense trees, rocks and bushes that populated the humongous expanse of woods and aside from the occasional chill, there was nothing noteworthy of their trip.

Before long, the two were already at the gates of the city. Within a single breath, Joanna had come to a halt and shifted back into her human form, feeling a bit woozy from all the running. She might have pushed them both a little too hard, what with how excited she was to go job hunting. Well, excited and anxious. She wasn't sure how the whole process worked. With merc work it was all paid after the fact, once the job was done. Or with guard detail, it was half to start, and half after. This would be a whole different story.

She slipped into her clothes quickly. "Where should we look first? I wouldn't mind a job that was relatively quiet. Like a librarian? Or working in a warehouse?" She asked, looking lost. She knew a great deal about where to find jobs, but had no idea how to even ask, or which one would even fit her skills. Her social skills were all but nill when she wasn't preaching about Priskil.

[Beodan Clathony]

"You think? My skills aren't very diverse. Mostly just good at hitting things really hard,” Joanna said self deprecatingly. Beodan just smiled and took her assessment as gospel. His eyes flicked shut for a moment, his head tilting back into her hand, her massaging fingers combing through his hair felt absolutely blissful under the blurred senses of the early morning. He took a tentative sip of his own tea (it was still almost scalding), and replied, “Well, a work at a forge then! Then need lots of things hit really hard. It’s funny when you think about it. They hit metal to make it into things that you hit against people, into wood, or into the earth.” He stroked the stubble on his chin and furrowed his brow, “Though, I’m not sure how much smithing experience they require. Maybe you wouldn’t be able to work a blade, but maybe just tend to the forge itself? I’m sure you would learn it quickly.”

“I could always be a companion at the Roaring Stallion” Dan blushed at the suggestion. It was not that he had a problem with the profession, just that his first experience with a woman that sold her body had been one filled with naivete. Utterly terrifying when one was not prepared! “ I hear that pays handsomely. But I don't want you to get too jealous." He chuckled, the points of her teeth scratching just enough to drive him wild over the soft skin of his earlobe, “I might become that indeed! I don't think you will have to do that sort of work. And besides, there are more.. reputable places than the Stallion to do that sort of thing in the city.” Soon, with two flashes of light, a pair of similar looking horses were leaving a trail of spread apart footprints in the leaves and dust.

The journey passed with nothing of significance occurring. The Stallion was sure that he could make the trip with his eyes closed at this point. And if Joanna was not doing that already, she had to be well on her way. Soon, the open gates loomed before them. He wondered at the last time all the gates had been shut to ward off an attack of some kind. Certainly not in his memories. Endurance was his breed’s strong suit, so he only felt a little bit of the constant run from his abode. Quickly, he shifted and donned his clothing. They smelled like flowers and herbs, having recently been washed in preparation for this outing. "Where should we look first? I wouldn't mind a job that was relatively quiet. Like a librarian? Or working in a warehouse?" He frowned in thought, adventually saying, “I’m not sure about a librarian, but working in a warehouse would certainly be a quiet affair. Just heavy lifting. I don’t think that would pay well though. How about a guard? I hear they are paid enough to be well off, and you get to meet a lot of interesting people. As well as just making the city a better place. Doesn’t that sound like something you would want to do?”

On second, Dan did not want to see here get hurt. Some drunk that had a sword was all it took. He would gladly tend to her wounds, but would really like to avoid doing so in the first place, if at all possible. At least when you were a smith, the blade was under your hammer, not in your hand. He pressed a hand into the small of her back gently. This was her day, and her potential job!

[Joanna Familiaris]

OOCWhew! Sorry for the late reply. Internet troubles and work have been keeping me away from Mizahar, but with the new year, I feel more invigorated than ever! Oh! And if it's not too much trouble, can you play the role of the Blacksmither? I promise I'll take on the next NPC, if you'd like :3

The sun was climbing higher and higher into the sky, its light now casting upon the white stones of Syliras' front gate in hues of brilliant yellow and gold while the stalwart guards did their best to shield their eyes from the glare. Yet for all the sun's luminosity, it could not penetrate the thick chill that clung to the air, marking Winter's reign. In her own city of Sunberth, Winter was little more than a cold breeze or a brief snowdrift, if it could even be called snow. Even the trees refused to shed their leaves until mid-winter. Yet here, in Sylira, Winter swept across the land like a tidal wave; the bitter cold washing over the forest and flooding the stone cities with ease. There was no hesitation when seasons shifted here.

It wasn't the cold that bothered Joanna, though. Her wilderness training and her own body mass were enough to ward away the cold. No, it was the feeling of sluggishness that gripped Mizahar that really bothered her. She missed the days of Summer, when streets were filled with workers, families and traders, all bustling with purpose. But in Winter, the farmers were reserved to their farms to help prepare for the next season, children kept inside within the heat of their homes, and even the marketplace would be devoid of much life aside from those brave enough to combat the chill.

Joanna sighed. Such depressing thoughts would not help her get a job. She was already well equipped for Winter, anyway. She had food, she had shelter, and most of all, she had Beodan. The thought made her smile. At least she knew she wouldn't be cold at night.

Pushing aside the dark thoughts, Joanna turned her attention to her job hunt. Dan had already suggested a few careers that would keep her busy, and most of them were out of harms way - something Joanna noted with amusement. She was by no means a fragile creature. She had spent enough years braving the harsh wilds of Mizahar to know how to keep herself safe, and how to handle dangerous foes, but she didn't like the idea of worrying him. Besides, it would be nice to go into work every day with the knowledge that you weren't going to end up at the end of someone else's blade.

“I’m not sure about a librarian, but working in a warehouse would certainly be a quiet affair. Just heavy lifting. I don’t think that would pay well though. How about a guard? I hear they are paid enough to be well off, and you get to meet a lot of interesting people. As well as just making the city a better place. Doesn’t that sound like something you would want to do?”

Joanna had done guard work before, protecting caravans and the such, but it was not a pleasant affair. She herself had suggested the idea at some point, but now upon greater reflection, it seemed like far too much work for far too little pay. "No... I don't think that's for me. I think you're right about the forge. It would suit me much better. And besides, at least I wouldn't have to worry about getting cold, huhu!" She giggled, wrapping her fingers around Dan's. They would visit it first, then, and then perhaps look around for other jobs as well. She wanted to keep her options open.

The two passed through the gates after bidding good-morning to the guards. By now, a quarter of the gate watch knew Joanna by name, even more by appearance. It made her smile every time she entered the city to be addressed by name, though she had no doubt that a person like herself was quite identifiable, even moreseo in armor. For better or for worse.

AS feared, the streets of Syliras were barren except for those whose duties called them outside to to brace the cold. Only a few carriages moseyed along the road at a brisk walk while other around it sluggishly dragged themselves to wherever they had to be, their faces and bodies wrapped in thick furs to ward off the frost while the wind whipped angrily at their eyes and ears. Even Joanna was starting to wince from the biting chill of the wind as it cut through the main street and past them towards the gate. The longer they stood there, the more of the Winter spite they'd have to endure.

The two walked hand-in-hand down the streets of Syliras, Joanna pressing herself close to Beodan to help warm him, and herself in the process. If she could grant Winter anything, it would be that it was far more romantic than many of the other seasons. It was a time to stay close to those you loved, to bask in the warmth of each other's presence. To eat wark meals, drink strong drinks, and enjoy the company of those you trust. It made her smile. Even with the chill, even with the sluggish weather, Joanna was filled with determination as she clung to Dan.

Before long, the two finally arrived at the smith; a large center forge branching off into separate stations for cooling and shaping steel, iron, and whatever else needed crafting. They were hardly a stone's throw away when the heat of the fire bathed across them. It was warm and inviting, while also dangerous and hungry. It looked recently used as well, but the owner didn't seem to be anywhere in sight.

"Um... hello?" Joanna said aloud, whipping her head around to find the smith. "Is anybody here? I'm uh... looking for a job!"