[Kulkukan Tavern] How About This Weather, Huh? - [CLOSED]

[Meera]

"What kind of dress?" She repeated, her tone slightly mocking.
"Is dress! Uh," Hands flailed wildly as they gestured to her top and did their best to outline straps, low bodice and a skirts that would end at mid calf, just above where her boots would end.
"Know, dress. Is purple, favourite colour." It was not fully purple. It was a light dress made of cotton, and was a pleasing shade of aubergine, but the purple formed from the straps poured onto the underbust to meet, leaving her bust to show bright azure. It tied up the back though it really did not need to be tied; Meera was petite enough to slip the entire garment over her head.

"Will wear not likely, but pretty. Wanted some thing pretty, have not had dress or pretty thing since childhood." Meera listed her reason for the purchase, pleasantly ignoring the reason why she even looked at the dress to begin with - because she thought he might expect her to be more feminine. The idea of wearing a dress did not sit particularly comfortable with her as opposed to owning the dress, which she was perfectly tolerant of.

"Could show now, suppose." She took another swig before she dug through her pack. The bar was packed to the rafters and Meera was thankful for the ale she had purchased. The overcrowding was starting to creep up her neck, but the ale kept her caution at bay. It didn't take too long for her hands to secure purchase on the purple garment, and she pulled it out of her pack.
She held it out for him to see off to the side of her body, then laid it against her chest so he could see how the blue caught the light, how the purple made her dark hazel eyes shine bright.
"You want I maybe put on?" She asked after a few seconds of "modeling" the outfit against her dusty clothes. She let go of the left strap, causing it to slump and fall, and she tucked a thick rope of hair behind her ear before helping herself to another swig. For a girl who had her qualms about wearing the dress, the ale was sure doing a great job pushing those away.
"Would be funny me to wear, yes?" She would look so odd in a dress she thought, having preferred trousers and tunics over a dress and slippers. She would feel so dainty. She would look so dainty.

What the petch had Aren done to Meera? What the petch was in this brew that Aren kept topping up and Meera kept draining? Why did it make her so feminine, so unrelentlessly open about herself? She was blabbing far too much about nothing, and she really didn't like to be so talkative.

[Aren]

Aren laughed at Meera's assertion, "Well, I'm no expert, but I do believe that dresses come in many different forms," he mentioned, with a grin. The akalak frowned, for a moment, unconsciously. It seemed he had been born with the wrong skin tone. He was close, at least closer than reds or greens, but close wasn't quite there. The universe, however, seemed to have a sense of balance, as the drykas mentioned that she had wanted something pretty for personal reasons. Aren, as fate would have it, had something in possession that she might like. The blue, and unfortunately not purple, giant stuck a hand in the pack at his feet. He couldn't see exactly what he was doing, but what he searched for could easily be identified by touch. After a few moments, his hand emerged, clutching a shiny red bead. It was very similar to the ones that Meera wore, and Aren did think he had acquired it in Endrykas. He had rinsed it for the first time in years just a few days ago, for no particular reason he could identify, but now he realized that perhaps his unconscious mind had been a few steps ahead of him. Aren consciously hid the object in the recesses of his hand, waiting for the right moment to present it. It wasn't much, but he thought she might like it, as it was the only "pretty" thing in his possession. "How did I come by a single, solitary bead?" he was forced to wonder, unable to remember the particulars of the event. Aren was about to nod wholeheartedly as she asked whether she should try the dress on, when she suggested that that the event would be funny. So, instead, he smiled, opening his hand to reveal the bead within. "Beautiful, would be the word I'd use," he said softly, as he offered Meera the bead, hoping she would wear it along with the dress.

[Meera]

While Aren was concerned with his pack, Meera shoved her dress in no tidy manner back into her canvas bag. Concerned with her own ale as it circled the bottom of her mug, she finished the contents of the increasingly smooth brew and set the mug back on the table, ready to stand and gather her belongings on her back. It was no such luck that she would get there now that the room was spinning steadily having imbibed her own mug and half of Aren's, and he had distracted her by displaying a shiny red bead on the table.

She looked to him with a small smile that asked it if was purchased for her, before she picked up the bead in her bad hand. She knew before she picked it up every facet to the bead, every turn of the light and how the rock would shimmer.

"This is mine," she said matter-of-factly, "lost it many years ago in Endrykas." She began as images started to form in her head.

"Got it for name day. Was..." She thought, her eyes looking to the rafters as though it would answer her. "Six? Maybe. Maybe not mine."

She hadn't really thought she had lost the bead because she certainly did not recall being upset about losing it, but she definitely remembered loving the red in her light hair. Sana had given her the bead because she was heading out to the Sea of Grass for the first time right after. Meera supposed now in her adult wisdom that Sana may have at one point grown fond of her, to give her such a lovely gift, made extra lovely by the prospect she might not see her former ward again. That Akalak that they escorted to Kenash came with them on the trip.

"Akalak escorted to Kenash came with on first trip with Patros. He might took it," in her drunken and broken Common she vocalized her memories. Meera would have been six, it was a long time ago and she couldn't remember the Akalak's name, if he had given one at all.
Meera shrugged, losing the memory.
"Only remember bead, Glassbeak, and sun in his eyes. Like you! But so tall. Much so tall than you. Or maybe not so tall as you." Meera had started to think that because she was so little, that was why he had appeared so much taller in her memory, and as she filtered through her young memories she tried to gauge his height while she was on her horse. What was that horse's name again? It was so long ago and such a silly name... Miss Mare? Regardless, having no proper measuring stick to measure the giant of her past, she shrugged and collected the bead. She was going to put on that dress and be silly, and wear the bead.

[Aren]

Aren couldn't believe that this was the same bead Meera was talking about. Even if it was, however, could she really be able to identify it after so many years? Chances were, he suspected, that it was a childhood memory playing a trick on her inebriated mind. Still, the story seemed to spark a memory of Aren's own. He recalled being in Endrykas, about a decade ago... or was it two? Anyway, he did remember a little girl, who may or not have been blonde, who he believed was the one that had given him the bead. He had visited Kenash at about that same time, and Meera was remembering a golden eyed akalak. By Wysar's blue balls, could they have met, years ago, when the drykas was just a little girl? Aren could scarcely believe it, but if so... was it destiny, fate, or just random coincidence that they met again now? The akalak was desperately trying to remember more details about that time, but not much of anything was coming to him. If only he could remember that little girl's name... Scoffing, Aren berated himself for his foolishness. Even if he could remember, and even if that child's name had really been Meera (and not a trick of his own mind), so what? Could there not be more than one child, born around the same time, with the name Meera? What did it matter anyway, if they were or were not the same person? She was here with him, now, and that was all that really mattered. At Meera's acceptance of the still contested bead, Aren smiled, imagining her with the object in her hair, while wearing a dainty purple dress. The image, he had to admit, was a rather spectacular one, even if it was one of his own creation.

[Meera]

Maybe it wasn't the same bead. Maybe she just wanted it to be. Some sign from some god that told her this was something to cherish, what she had with Aren, that what she was doing with him was the right thing to do.
Meera was nineteen years old. She had run away from her home, the only one she's ever known. She made her way to Riverfall and met a man, and not just any man: Aren. In the past two weeks she had been kissed, she had cried, she had laughed...

She never laughed much in Endrykas. Never as much as she had with Aren. He made her happy. Meera was always smiling now with him. Only Akajia knew all at night, and young Meera knew her wisdom would not be bestowed upon her anytime soon. Meera could only do what she thought to be right, and being with Aren felt right. It felt good. He knew her deepest, darkest secrets and still he wanted her. That was something to be rewarded, and she had bought the dress to wear for him because she thought it would make him happy. Today had been a long and rough day with the turbulent storm of the world's Djed and Riverfall, regardless of his past that he had yet to tell her of, was Aren's home.
Her decision was made and her resolve lifted the fog in her vision.

With the bead in hand, Meera stood. The room spun wildly but she took precautions, having done this before. Her bad hand supported her on the table. She was able to hold her weight for a few seconds until her wrist gave out but was able to recover, laughing in her genuine embarrassment. She gathered her pack and slung the sack over her shoulder.

"Will put on dress. Come." Her voice held no laughter and her lips held no smile. It was a serious tone, one that would tell Aren her intention truthfully if he had the desire to search for it. Once steady, she signalled to Aren to stand and join. "What room?

[Aren]

Aren instinctively stood as Meera lost her balance, his body poised to catch her's before she got anywhere near the floor. His services were ultimately not required, but he had to admit he wouldn't have minded the drykas falling into his arms. The akalak readily obeyed Meera's command to follow her. He knew she was likely going to need a steady hand anyway, with as much ale as she had packed into her tiny frame. Her sudden lack of drink induced joviality surprised him, however. What was this sudden seriousness, and why did it make his heart beat faster? "T-third from the right," Aren mentioned, with an nervous gulp. There was something different about the drykas, all of a sudden. Somehow, he got the distinct impression that the alcohol in her body had suddenly worked it's way past the part where it made her giggly and funny, and had tipped over into something else entirely. Aren followed absentmindedly, his mind trying to discern what was going on with Meera, or more accurately, what that ale and half had done to her. This was not the girl he knew, shy and hesitant, but an entirely different breed of animal altogether. The akalak had caught a glimpse of it earlier, in that rather forceful kiss, but now he was sensing it again. Her words seemed so unfettered by any distractions, and her movements so full of purpose.

[Meera]

She stumbled once or twice, then gathered the stereotypical aggressive masculine energy that was so prevalent in Riverfall to shout at a couple of Akalaks to get out of her way, throwing in come colourful Pavi to get her point across. It was rude to lean back in their chairs far from their table and not move when a tiny young thing was trying to drunkenly stumble back to their rooms and she let them know it. Not only was she drunk, she was also on a mission. A very important mission and she was going to easily abort it if she didn't get to the room before her resolve gave out and common sense kicked in.

Finally making it to the stairs she took hold of Aren's hand and would have pulled him up each and every step she had become so determined.
Aren was right; the alcohol had done something to her. She had many uncertainties around relationships, but there was one thing Meera was educated in. The act made her completely nervous and the alcohol made her summon the courage, though she wouldn't have said she was afraid of the act. She actually looked forward to it, as the young Drykas woman looked at the act as though it were a duty, a duty she would be proud to do.

Having made her way up the stairs with cross looking eyes and a mouth set in a serious line she barged into the third room on the right with any doubts that this room belonged to someone else. Her soft soles sounded furious against the wood panelled floors and would probably cause Aren to worry that he was following Meera like sheep to the slaughter, that she was going to lay into him a loud delivery of yelling, because that's what the patrons of the tavern that remained downstairs thought. That young Drykas girl looked pissed off.

It was nice to be wanted. She immediately dropped her pack and waited for Aren to shut the door behind him.

[Aren]

Aren followed Meera closely, aware that she was liable to hit the floor at any moment. As the obviously drunken girl stumbled through the tavern, bumping against other patrons, she yelled at some of them over their inability to get out of her way fast enough. Aren chuckled to himself, "S-sorry... she's had some, well, a lot of ale," but hastily apologized to the guests she had offended, doing his best to convey the fact that the drykas was not herself at present. The akalak suddenly felt a pressure on his hand, as Meera pulled him up the stairs with him, her grip one of focused determination. Truthfully, he was kind worried as to what exactly she intended to do with him, but he didn't quite have the strength to pull away, either. As the pair made their way up the stairs, most of the patrons of the bar looked on the journey with amused pity for the akalak. Aren had a bit of a hopeless look on his face, but he was consigned to his fate, whatever that fate might be. As the two entered the third room from the right, it was vacant, looking like no one had ever occupied it. Aren swallowed hard as Meera let her pack hit the floor, and just waited. He closed the door to the room without even turning around, and simply stood there, the pounding of his chest sounding like a drumbeat in his own ears.

[Meera]

Meera turned around, having thoroughly embarrassed Aren and not quite realizing it. Had she any indication of her behaviour she would have left town already, to hide from her embarrassment. This was Riverfall, this was probably going to one day become her base of operations, her home. It certainly wouldn't do well to get a reputation as a loud mouth drunk.

Aren hadn't even turned around to face her yet. Meera interpreted it as a sign that Aren knew what was about to happen, and did not want it to. It cut deep. He obviously did not care as much as she cared about him. Or rather, she thought, maybe he cared more than she did. She hadn't realized until they reached this moment in time that the pattern was people were rowdy and did things they normally did not do when under the influence of alcohol, and perhaps Meera was now one of those people who did such things.
As she was younger, she frequented her water. She had been born witness the actions of the adults around her and even as a child it was easy to deduce how stupid they were while in their cups. Maybe, Meera thought, I'm being stupid, too and Aren doesn't want me to be stupid anymore.
Meera had her fun with alcohol. It was time she grew up.

"A-..." She started, her voice much softer than it had been now that the confidence left her like wind rushing out of the Suvan's many sails. Her bubble had been thoroughly deflated. Her mouth closed as she huffed out air, unsure how to begin her little bit of speech.

"Aren?" She tried again, her shy, hesitant stuttering managing to make out his name. Even her brown eyes were soft as they squinted at the man two feet taller than her. In her little room it was so easy for her to feel so small. As she did her best to think of the words she wanted to say she swayed over to the bed to sit down. Her hands rested and kept her upright by her thighs, pressing onto the edge of the bed. Meera's soft soled leather boots were extended outwards and she pointed her toes towards the opposite wall. She chewed her lip and stared at her feet.

"I am sorry." Yes, that was a proper thing to say. "Yes. Sorry." She repeated, her eyes blinking now at him.
"I was ...very child-like. Know.. no. I know I ...have uhm..." Shyke. She forgot the word. "made silly? for you? Uhm... Gah." She chewed her lip again, her teeth grinding into a sensitive piece of flesh that had a slight almost-itch to it, and gnawed until she could taste metal in her mouth.
"Eem-- embarrass you. I know I have embarrassed you and I am sorry."
Aren was right. The alcohol had pushed her past a point of no-return, past giggly and free-spirited. It had taken her to a dark, serious place where abandonment issues were rampant and Aren's care for her was the only beacon in the storm of her life.
"I have treat you rudely." Another carefully said sentence, to make sure her words were spoken clearly, or as clear as possible, and as correctly as possible.

Meera's eyes kissed the floor between her feet and she began to whisper.
"I got dress for you. Hah, sorry for laugh. I got dress for me to wear for you. It... I wear trouser like man. Not a woman's dress." It seemed so petty and childish to hear her own voice list the reason why she got the dress. It was frivilous of her and she, now seeing with a drunkard's wisdom, was regretting it. If she hadn't bought the dress it could have fed her for a week. Maybe two, or three! And Meera knew when she bought it she was only going to wear it two or three times, tops.

"Want to, ugh, sorry, I wanted to make you happy - as happy as you have made me. To give good night. Is why I buy ale for you," She said faster now, giving up on speaking proper Common while her head was off in the Suvan swimming away.

"Is why I buy dress." Meera was so drunk. She had spent the better part of a quarter bell gabbing away over nothing, talking about her inner most feelings, and to the man she felt those feelings about. Meera finally stopped her talking, heaving a great and laboured sigh, waiting for him to say something. Anything.

[Aren]

Aren turned around as she said his name. In her voice he could hear the normal Meera, the Meera that was shy and insecure. The Meera who, despite that, was not afraid to open up, to say what she really felt. The Meera... who seemed to much stronger than him. The akalak took a few steps towards the drykas, realizing that she currently found herself in a moment of clarity, and of vulnerability. The event shared a remarkable similarity to the heartbeats just before she started crying today, in the stables, and he wasn't keen on provoking any more of her tears. For any reason. Kneeling in front of her, to better reduce the size discrepancy, Aren placed his hands on either side her knees. He smiled softly, staring intently into her dark eyes. "Shouldn't I be the one who decides if you embarrass me?" he said, his hands now having moved over to her's. "Besides, maybe I like it when you embarrass me," Aren whispered, without so much as flinching. As Meera continued, finally explaining the reason why she had bought a dainty dress, the akalak did his best to make her see that silliness was a trait to be well regarded. "I could wear it, if you want me to," he said, with a rather mischievousness grin, almost like he was serious. "Although, I don't think it will fit very well," the akalak added, doing his best to keep a straight face. After a few moments, however, his features became much more serious. Aren's right hand came up to Meera's face with a slow, deliberate motion. After brushing away a stray lock of hair, a few fingers couldn't help but slide over her soft, still wet lips. "Hey," he wanted to make sure that there was no confusion, no mistake, no doubts in her mind, "The only thing you ever have to do to make me happy..." Aren suddenly found his lips on her's, the action a surprise even to him. After a few moments of head spinning sensation, however, he was just barely able to take hold of his senses. "...is just be Meera," he finally managed to conclude, after a few seconds of silence, for recuperation.