Completed A perfect circle

[Valo]

Early evening
East Street
40th Fall 512AV

There was a wide grin on Valo's face, as he weaved his way though towards the Docks. He had spent the afternoon with a particularly lovely friend of his. Though unlike most times, this meeting was strictly business. He had painted a particularly lovely portrait of her. The soft curves of her ageing face, lit by soft afternoon light. It was quite an achievement after weeks of no inspiration. And now, carrying the canvas under his arm, he began making his way back home.

His long red locks covered his eyes a little, creating somewhat a curtain over his grin. His eyes were fixed on the pavement. For east Street was a dangerous place and one may find him self seeing things he does not wish to witness. He was an artist after all, not a thug. In all honesty, it was only his fine taste in ladies of the night and strong alcohol that led him back to this place every time.

The canvas slipped from under his arm and let out a muffled bang on the wet cobble stones. Valo cursed under his breath. "Please let it not be ruined." he said to himself, pulling to the side and propping himself up against the wall of one of the buildings. "Damn..."

The side of the canvas was scraped and muddy now. So much work and all for nothing. To a man of his particular mentality, there was nothing more discouraging than a ruined painting. And to make matters worse he now had to remain in the East Street for a while longer than he wished. His fiery red hair now damn and hanging in strands over his clothing.

[Arianthe Swansong]

It was rather incredible, thought Arianthe, how frequently she could get lost in a city that had been her own since birth - a city she had only left once. She sighed and reminded herself bitterly that if her parents then her husband had not kept her so protected, another word for locked up, she would know Zeltiva like the back of her hand. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and it had definitely been an oversight of her parents not to think that getting lost at night was more severe than being out alone in the day.

However, even with all this considered, Arianthe could not help feeling a bitter shock when she found herself on East Street again, an accident since the moment she smelt the cheap perfume favoured by the women who set themselves up there, she had walked in the opposite direction.

Arianthe felt her pulse quicken and pulled her cloak in closer around her, looking in every direction for an obvious way out of this tight maze of streets.

[Valo]

Suddenly a flash of familiar blond hair appeared in his peripheral vision. For a moment he thought it was just another woman and that he was imagining things again. But upon raising his head and looking past the curtain of his hair Valo realised that this indeed was a familiar face.

"Well well, if it isn't miss Arianthe Swansong." he said, casually stopping her in her tracks. His painting now lay forgotten in the rain as he greeted her with a pleasant smile on his face. "And may I enquire as to what is a lady such as y our self doing in a place like this, at this ungodly hour?"

[Arianthe Swansong]

"Well well, if it isn't miss Arianthe Swansong. And may I enquire as to what is a lady such as yourself doing in a place like this, at this ungodly hour?"

Arianthe stopped in her tracks and stepped back with a light frown, her eyes flashing slightly. She could not help the feeling that he was making fun of her in some way and she resented this. She also resented the fact that, in this place, it felt like she was in his territory and any argument she had to refuse speaking with him would be invalid.

"Good evening to you Sir, and good evening is not quite ungodly." she said with a small smile, "Unless the night is your domain and Akajia your goddess... something I would not be quick to discount. But, as it is, the sun has barely set." she paused, "As for what I am doing in a place like this, I do not feel it so great a rudeness to state that it is none of your business."

Arianthe was about to turn away when she checked herself. What was she thinking? If he was a little brusque and ungentlemanly, it did not make him unpleasant towards her and she noted that in the situation she found herself - like a fool, for the second time - she was not much in a way to refuse his presence and possibly his aid.

"I am lost." she said finally, drawing closer to him, "Though I daresay you might have guessed that."

[Valo]

A cocky crescent of a grin appeared across Valo's face as the lady before him admitted her position. Just as he thought. She was to proper to go into a place like this off her own accord. No sense of adventure or mischief about her. He found his self wondering what she actually did for fun.

Valo couldn't help but understand everything she said like she was trying to accuse him of something. Of his own improperness perhaps. Was she judging him? And ah how he hated her judgement. What right did she have to decide if he was righteous or virtuous or any of such nonsense?

Non the less, with the most polite of smiles he offered. "Well I was just on my way back to the docs which is the easiest way of leaving this place. Perhaps you shall accompany me there?"