[Inclement Weather] Tough Hands (Tavaltia)

by **Risa Moontide** on July 24th, 2011, 7:48 pm

Risa laughed at his joke, her head already feeling heavy. "Ha! I've spent some time in the north, seen the walruses you speak of. The beaches there are rarely sand." Risa had was forgetting to simplify what she said as quick as she had remembered to try. "I've sailed every sea of Mizahar, seen dozens of islands with my pod, but I never felt adventure. I needed goals on my own to face, challenges to overcome."

She took another sip of the drink, this one much slower. The flavor reeled against her tongue and burned like fire. She felt like coughing again, but quickly swallowed the drink to wash out the coming cough. It hurt her throat more than she thought it would.

The room was friendly and warm. It may have been the drink talking but she was actually feeling comfortable here. This is so nice. Risa smiled, letting the atmosphere soak into her. She leaned forward, in a more flirty manner than she knew she was capable of. "So a leather worker, you said? That sounds like hard work."

by **Tavaltia** on July 25th, 2011, 7:11 am

There it was, she had had enough to drink, and now she was taking it all in this is when he could learn a lot about her. He could tell that she was a Svefra, and that alone was enough reason to get to know her, they were so different than the Inarta, almost impossible to figure out what they were thinking, as they were always roaming, and always wandering the world, while we keep to our mountain. Tavaltia reaches up over and tosses her hair behind her ear. “So, tell me about life at sea, I’ve never gone far, and it seems like such a wild life, filled with freedom and open air.”

He strokes his hand down her face, “Yes leather is hard work, but it was my calling, when I was just a child I always ditched my other Bendi to go play with leather. I made toys, and rope and other things for myself out of leather. I love playing with leather, I spent so much time working on leather, that I started doing it for the city at 15 and haven’t stopped yet.” Holding up his wrist that is not on Risa’s face, “I made these myself. I haven’t worn anything leather that I didn’t make in years.” At this point his hand has reached her chin, and he tips her chin up. “So what do you do other than fish? Do the Svefra need for nothing. So that you may travel so freely.”

by **Risa Moontide** on July 25th, 2011, 6:44 pm

Tavaltia's hand is rough... but nice. Risa smiled softly, her mind already feeling cloudy from less than half the shot. Her eyes were wide as he brought her face up, bright blue and scanning his face. Risa took another drink, again quick enough to get past the taste but slow enough to ward off the cough that her body threatened to follow. Clearing her throat she spoke again, voice still holding the musical inclinations behind it, "Sea life is what I know, who I am. But it's a listless life. The freedom and open air leave little in the way, few challenges. It is an exciting life, but I need my own excitement. It really is just fishing and surviving; we want for so little we can't just take for ourselves. It must be nice to have a purpose..." She looked down, more somber and down than before. Quickly her smile returned, albeit slightly less gleeful than before. "Is your life here so busy that you've no time to escape?"

Risa leaned even further still, nearly on the edge of the bar stool. A voice in her head was begging for caution, trying to remind herself that this was effectively a stranger. But Risa felt at home again, she could almost feel the floor rocking from the sea again. In fact, it was! The stool rocked on its legs and she fell forward, sprawling out on the floor in front of Tavaltia. Risa grimaced on her ankle, the pain flaring up again. Her ears were red, and then she noticed the several pairs of eyes of the crowd watching her, staring. I'm just a foolish girl. The words stung in her head with an added anger, and Risa didn't dare raise her eyes to Tavaltia.

by **Tavaltia** on July 25th, 2011, 10:33 pm

She was not a good drinker, and now she was embarrassed of that, you didn’t need to speak wonderful common to understand that. Tavaltia leans down and helps Risa up off the ground, then lifts her chin so that her eyes are even with his, “Never be ashamed that you are enjoying life.” Putting his arm underneath hers and supporting her, he starts to bring her out of Inclement Weather, “I think you have had enough for today, can you remember where you are staying? If not you can stay in my room for tonight, while you try and recover.”

After he gets her out of Inclement Weather and lets her sit down, putting his hand on the back of her head and saying, “If you don’t remember anything else about your time away from the sea, remember this. Never be ashamed to enjoy life, it’s short here, sometimes very much so, we live dangerous lives, but we truly try to live every second of it. Never be ashamed to do the same. And if people look funny at you for it, then let them, because well you are enjoying life they are wondering why you are doing so.”

by **Risa Moontide** on July 26th, 2011, 2:12 am

Risa didn't really need help walking out of the loud bar. Her feet were much more stable than that bar stool; it was merely her thoughts that were muddled. She took the help regardless, letting herself lean some of her weight off of her painful ankle and against his sturdy frame. As she left, the eyes around were dismissive and she felt their sting like biting drops from a heavy storm.

Risa's face was still red when she was sat against the ground; she was tired and didn't want anyone to see her like this, disgraceful and holding up more like a kid than a woman. His words were true; she'd been told them aboard her own pod's ship and now repeated in her mind. "This is my mother's curse." Her voice was haggard and slow, but she forced them through her lips. "She was always too serious, too cautious. I'm stuck that way too." Fala sat on the ground nearby, just staring at Risa. He gave a soft whistle of his own but sat silent from then.

Risa leaned her head against Tavaltia for a moment, sighing. Something stirred within her, like a shining shard below the surface of the water. I'm not just a girl. I've already made it this far alone, haven't I? She rose to her feet now, triumphantly planting her legs just to prove that she could. Her ankle murmured in protest but she ignored the pain. "But that's why I'm here!" Her voice was now full of valor and rising louder, trying to force her inner strength to the surface. "I am enjoying life. I'm here to climb this mountain, get over this goal, meet great people... like you."

Risa smiled at Tavaltia now, shifting her weight off her ankle finally. "If you would allow me I definitely wouldn't mind staying with you. It's simpler than trying to rent a room at this point." Her brain started ticking again when she added, "Not to mention the morning that follows this cloud is not one I'd like to attempt alone."

by **Tavaltia** on July 26th, 2011, 3:38 am

Now it was Tavaltia’s turn to blush, she had genuinely thought him nice. “We should hurry to my room, get you off of that ankle.” Tavaltia leads her to his room, and stops before he opens up the leather curtain. “You might want to have Fala stay out, as I have a falcon in here. She is prone to eating other birds” blushing even brighter than he had before “I also should mention that I only have one bed.” Opening up the leather curtain, he showed a room where almost everything was either covered in or made of leather, and in the case of his mattress, was just a large amount of furs stacked one on top of the other. “Well, this is home, come in and sit down before you hurt yourself.”

Tavaltia will walk over to the bed, sit down, and stroke Kyiri, who is perched in her normal spot at the foot of his bed, “This is Kyiri, my falcon she’s very gentle, so long as she doesn’t think you’re edible.” Patting the bed he says, “come on sit down.”

by **Risa Moontide** on July 26th, 2011, 7:08 am

The stone streets were nearly bare of life. Risa didn't expect that; she must have been chatting longer than she thought. After winding though the stone streets Tavaltia announced his home before her, and with the eagle warning Risa turned to Fala. "You should fly to port, Fala. It's safer there..." Her voice was soft, holding him around the wings in her hands. With that she opened her hands. Fala rubbed his head against her cheek and he cooed a sweet shrill, before flapping his wings and flying off.

When Risa tentatively stepped inside the strange home, the color of leather soothing. The large bird perched near the bed was gorgeous; Risa found herself sitting on the bed beside Tavaltia. Gently she followed suit of Tavaltia, hand slowly petting the bird as she watched the sharp curved beak. "Her feathers are thinner than Fala's. I've never seen a bird like this up close. She's so pretty." Risa's free hand began to slowly feel the furs below her, again without her own focus or will controlling them. Risa looked into Tavaltia's face, the rugged looks surprisingly closer than she expected. She could almost feel his breath, warm on her face. "You..." She had to look away for a moment. "You never answered my question. Are you so busy that you never had time to escape from it all?"

by **Tavaltia** on July 26th, 2011, 10:16 pm

“That’s because she is a bird hunter, built for speed. While Fala, is a fisher, her feather’s need to keep her warm.” Tavaltia leans over Risa, while petting Kyiri, “I have a very long work time, 7 days of work, then 2 days off. I work 8 hours a day. But only the Endal work less than me, I have an easy life in comparison to Chiet, and Dek.” Wrapping his arm around her, he says “But it is a good life, and I have been happy while here. Soon though I want to take my chance, and see the world outside of the mountain.” Turning Risa to the side, he will slowly lay her down on the bed, and kiss her on the forehead, stroking her hair, he lays down next to her. “Goodnight Risa” and wraps his arms around her.

by **Risa Moontide** on July 27th, 2011, 7:32 am

"I hope you have that chance, Tavaltia." Risa closed her eyes as Tavaltia's arm laid heavy on her shoulder. A smile toyed on her lips, but it was more than that. Risa felt like she belonged here in Wind Reach, like the city was no longer a cold stranger whose abrasive eyes were watching her. She had met so many real people, nice people, and strange people. The gentle man beside her was one of the final pieces, telling her that the world wasn't as far away or unknown to her as she felt. "Goodnight."

A new feeling ripped through her now, one that was unfamiliar and strange. No... it was the same feeling as before, except twisted and backwards. This place was comfortable. But she was going to have to leave it. She was somber; the realization hit her hard. She'd never planted roots anywhere solid before. This place was so solid, as solid as the heartbeat she could feel behind her and the warm skin of the man whose arms held her now. Thinking about leaving hurt, so she pushed it from her fuzzy mind.

Risa just laid next to Tavaltia for a while, letting his heartbeat lull her mind. A nagging feeling was back though, something bugging her from the back of her thoughts. But unlike the cloudy mystery from before this was clear. Never be ashamed that you are enjoying life. It was his voice that echoed in he head now instead of her own or her mother's.

Risa lifted her head up quickly, scanning Tavaltia's face. She didn't know if he was awake, his eyes were closed. If a candle were lit it would reveal Risa's red cheeks and trembling lips, her mind made up. She moved quickly but quietly, trying as hard to force herself through with her idea as she was trying not to disturb Tavaltia too much. Her lips connected with his, a slow kiss, while her hand hovered gently above his cheek, not daring to rest it against him.

Content she smiled to herself, the warm feeling no longer from the alcohol but from her own heart. She laid back down next to him and let herself relax at last.

by **Tavaltia** on July 27th, 2011, 9:21 am

Tavaltia leans over to Risa’s ear, and whisper’s in it, “I wasn’t asleep yet.” Kissing her on the cheek he whisper’s “Shall we.” And slowly presses her mouth against hers. While wrapping one arm around her waist, and the other behind her head pulling her closer to him, He pulls her body to his. “We could make this fun.” Pausing for a moment, then whispering in her ear. “You wear far more clothing than you should be right now, How do you plan on sleeping in it all anyway?” Kissing her on the lips, then going down to her neck, kissing her lower down on the neck, then moving all the way down to her waist, he kisses her there. Slowly caressing her stomach with his lips, after a few moments, he slides back up to her face kissing her on the lips, and pulling her close again.