PM to join Oh, Hello! [Alexandra]

[Spirit Frostfawn]

"Oh!" Spirit mumbled awkwardly, but glad that Alex had the courage to pose the idea. She couldn't have done it herself... probably. Inside, under her quietish expression, she was bubbling with joy at the new found prospect of travel. To avoid letting the expression on her face show however, she stuck her head closer to her hot chocolate, taking deep breaths over it. As a side note to her excitement, she couldn't wait till it was cool enough to drink.

"I don't know... the idea was about the same time as you, actually..." She mumbled, feeling embarrassed and excited at the same time. Sometimes her own mood swings surprised her, though they were never unpredictable, just slightly extreme. She lifted her head and allowed a small smile to peek from her lips.

"Though travelling with someone would be nice" She added as a kind of an answer to the red head's last statement. This simply voiced her earlier thoughts, deciding to explain them to someone. The Vantha wondered though, if the woman had a horse, otherwise travelling by foot would take a while... she mused on this particular subject for a while, considering the options, before turning her attention back to her drink.

Feeling more careful now, Spirit stuck a single finger lightly into the liquid, to test how hot it was. Her finger came out slightly scaled, and the girl stuck the digit in her mouth to taste the small amount of chocolate that stuck to it. The taste was excellent, but just made her want more. She frowned slightly, but knew it was better to be patient. The annoying burn on the tip of her tongue told her that. Instead, she simply cradled the mug in her hands, taking in the warmth. The cold didn't annoy her much, but the Vantha still enjoyed a hot cup of something, or a warm fire once in a while. She stared into the swirling brown liquid, waiting for the next reply.

[Alexandra]

Alex was deep in thought, considering the basic logistics of a journey with another person. Spirit had a horse, which would be useful in traveling, however Alex lacked such a thing and had no real inclination to learn. It was likely that the trip itself would be costly, as they would have to purchase supplies for both of them as well as any animals they might have. The tall woman sipped her drink thoughtfully, thinking over how best to handle this.

It would certainly be an adventure, however it would also require careful preparation. There were many dangers on the road, bandits and various hostile animals between here and the Spires. The simplest and safest answer would be to join a caravan to the Spires, it was likely that she could easily find a job for both of them as guards. However caravans were often targeted by large raiding groups, like Zith.

She hummed slightly, her expression more sober and thoughtful.

"It would be wise to prepare for such a journey well in advance, Spirit. I do not have a horse, so my speed would be rather limited. If we intend to go without traveling on a caravan it might be wise to purchase a wagon. This could provide both transportation and storage, depending on the size." Alex mused.

"Combat would also be likely as there are many dangers on the road. Do you have any combat experience?" Alex inquired, leaning in over the table.

It was odd to be preparing for an adventure so soon after arriving in the city, but she couldn't deny that there was a certain excitement in the act.

[Spirit Frostfawn]

Spirit, while hearing all this, had stuck her finger into the hot chocolate a second time. Amazingly, it had cooled! It was still hot, but she quickly took in a large gulp. It made her throat burn slightly, but not painfully, and she smiled in pleasure as she immediately felt it's warming effects. The taste was delicious...

"Hm yea, a wagon would make sense. Though then we'd need a harness too... And on top of that, a map, unless you know the way?" She said, musing, also planning out the things they would need in her head. She had a mental side note of getting herself a proper knife, since the Vantha knew it would become useful eventually... then her thoughts turned to money. She had only 34 gold mizas left... which wasn't much, though she knew she could probably buy quite a bit with it. Something in her brain told her that it was for important things like this, but another part kept insisting to always have some left over, no matter what. You never knew when you would need it. She sighed lightly and moved to the next question.

"Not really. I have a stick that's good for hitting stuff on the head with, and I'm pretty sure Wind and Silver would help in a fight, but other than that no." Spirit gave an apologetic grin as she said that, but also reasoned that the red head had some fighting skills, probably much better than the average person. That would equal out, right?

"I do know a bit of medicine though..." she mused on the side, then took another deep gulp of her hot chocolate. There was maybe two-thirds left, and a random thought flicked through her mind that said that meant there was a possible six gulps. Not that much, but she was drinking a lot at a time. Deciding to savor it, she started taking smaller sips.

[Alexandra]

Alex hummed slightly, thinking for a moment as to the costs involved in this undertaking. The woman had some money left over from her travels, about 83 gold mizas, if Spirit and her pooled together their resources they might be able to get everything they needed. It would be a costly venture to be sure, but it could be that they could find others between now and then who would be willing to join them.

Spirit also claimed to lack the ability to fight, which made Alex the de facto guard between the two of them. She had some confidence in her own abilities, her martial arts were not exactly the best out there but her abilities in Flux augmented them. This would be a good opportunity to further her skills, though she was not one to actively seek battle it was likely that battle would find them.

Alex also considered that she might be able to give Spirit some tips on martial arts if nothing else. It wouldn't be anything spectacular but at least she would be able to defend herself properly. The tall woman nodded to herself, pleased with her conclusions.

"Well then, it would seem that we have a lot of work ahead of us. I have some money we could use, however it might be a good idea to keep our eyes and ears open for anyone who might wish to share our path. Any extra help would greatly lower the cost on pockets." Alex said.

"As for defense, I might be able to give you a few pointers if you like." Alex offered, her smile returning to her face.

[Spirit Frostfawn]

Spirit nodded, understanding. It would be expensive, for sure, but they would be able to afford it. She would probably get paid before they left, too, so that would help things. She couldn't think of any other companions off the top of her head, but she was sure she might be able to find one other person... you never knew.

"I will" She said, in reply to Alex's request. "And the fighting help would be nice!" The Vantha gave a small smile. She always loved to learn new things, especially if they would be useful in the future. You never knew if you'd get attacked by wolves or something.

She rolled her shoulders, and, feeling thirsty, took another massive gulp of her hot chocolate. Sadly, this literally halved the liquid again, so her smile turned into a frown. But it was so tempting to drink it all... she sighed, and giving in, downed the rest in another gulp. It had still been quite warm then, and to console herself, she noted that it would have gotten colder if she continued with the way she was drinking.

"So... when should we get the stuff? Now? Or when we leave?" Spirit asked, curious. Now would mean that if they did get another person, the money would not get split evenly, but when they left would be a little late, and would certainly postpone their trip. Either way, the Vantha didn't care and wondered if Alexandra did either. Both had their pros and cons.

[Alexandra]

OOCSorry for the delay, hopefully I should be faster on the reply now.

Alex thought for a moment, draining the rest of her cup easily enough and setting it on the table softly. Both paths offered advantages and disadvantages, as waiting could cause a delay if anything went wrong and rushing could drain their pockets dry. It would be convenient if they could find someone who already possessed some of the supplies and a wagon, someone like a merchant or trader. Unfortunately, luck was often not on Alex's side as of late, if her botched training sessions were any indication.

The tall red head sighed, it would probably be best to show patience and wait awhile before heading out. It would also give them some to fish around for anyone willing to join them on this adventure south. Rushing in could result in problems further down the line, it was true in both combat and travel.

"Hmm... It might avail us to wait for a little while before seeking out purchases. We have some time before the end of Spring, and there is nothing wrong with having to wait a little ways into Summer." Alexandra said, as much to herself as to Spirit.

"If you know any merchants who might wish to go that way, then perhaps you could inquire after them? That would be a good deal of help. Feel free to invite others if they could contribute to the cause as well, but a trader would likely lighten the load a great deal." Alex said, rolling her sprained hand under the table once again.

Compared to the one she had received almost a month back, this sprain was minor but it was still very painful. Likely she wouldn't be able to train for up to three days, which was unfortunate. At least she had not overgiven, that was a hassle she would have preferred to avoid.

[Spirit Frostfawn]

OOCNo problem ^-^ Spirit nodded her head a few times, to show she understood. She didn’t mind waiting, though it might have been nice to have been prepared early on. Maybe the prices would be better in Summer though, because of the easier travel routes than in Spring, or Winter. In general though, it was decently hard to travel to Avanthal anyways, but the warmer weather the better. At least, this was what she’d overheard from her explorations of various market places. It also wasn’t uncommon for a foreigner to complain about the cold in the Red Diamond, and the lack of them was also obvious during the colder months. “I don’t know any traders, or anyone who might come, but I’ll certainly tell you if I do figure that out…” She answered, and set her mug next to Alexandra’s empty glass. The Vantha gave it a slightly depressed look, as if she was sad that it had to be empty so quickly. The drink had been delicious… but there hadn’t been enough. Actually, on afterthought, there was never enough, no matter how much or what you got, in terms of sweets. At least until you got full. Then you still wanted more, but couldn’t stomach it. She sighed lightly, then turned her mind back to the topic on hand. Spirit, feeling like settling in slightly, kicked off her boots and curled her legs under her in the comfortable chair. She could feel the roaring fire from near her, and though she was sad about the lack of hot chocolate, she also felt content and comfortable. A small smile touched her lips, and she wriggled deeper into the seat. Well, she was finally leaving. They had… basic, at the least, plans laid out, but it was going to happen! She’d been becoming more and more nervy in Avanthal, getting bored with the same old snow and cold. Not that she didn’t like it of course, she loved those things, but she longed for change and adventure. The closest she’d gotten was that wolf attack maybe 20 days ago… it had been exciting, scary, and dangerous. Though being attacked wasn’t generally something one would want in a journey, she still longed for something like that to happen again… something new. “Well… should we set a certain date then? Like… the first or second of Summer? Then we can meet up again on that date, or, the day before to get supplies… then either that day or the one after, leave.” It sounded like a good idea to her, since if they didn’t meet up again, there was a set time that they would. It meant no missing dates, or anything like that, especially since during the first few days after the Watchtower signaled it was the next season , it was easy to keep track of the dates. After maybe the 10th or 20th… well, the Vantha just lost track of time.

[Alexandra]

Alex nodded at Spirit's suggestion, crossing her legs to find a more comfortable sitting position. Setting a date would be wise, but something worried the red head about the young Vantha, something that perhaps seemed foolish to some but it was wise to consider it. She seemed extremely eager to get underway, which was fine and good but Alex couldn't help but wonder if she realized what dangers lay beyond the city. The world was a very harsh and cruel place, that had been a lesson Alex had learned quickly in her travels. She had been no older than Spirit was now when she had killed her first man, Alex wondered if the girl could kill if that was what it came down to.

Alex was something of a martial pacifist, she would not fight if she could avoid it. In serious combat, however, she could be very swift and brutal in how she dealt with opponents, showing mercy only when it was asked for. Considering the dangers that likely laid between here and the Spires it was unlikely she would remain unbloodied for long.

Unconsciously the tall woman clenched her left fist, her eyes gain a distant look about them before becoming lucid and clear moments later, the unpleasant memories of the past fading. Another important thing to wonder was the woman's grasp over language, specifically the common tongue. Perhaps a small test of that was in order.

"Yes, it would be wise to set a date beforehand. The 5th would probably be better, so as to give us some extra time to wrap up any unfinished business. Also it might be a good idea for you to practice common if you are going to be travelling." Alexandra said, her words now fluidly sliding off of her tongue.

There was nothing wrong with speaking Vani, however her birth tongue was the common tongue as such it would always feel the most comfortable. Hopefully Spirit's grasp of the language was at least passable, Vani was a rare thing to hear away from Avanthal. If she needed practice then Alexandra would not be averse to teaching her if need be, the woman enjoyed helping others learn to a certain degree.

Considering that they would be travelling together it might be prudent to eventually clue Spirit onto her powers, at least when she knew that she could trust the other woman. Wizards that were vocal about their talents didn't tend to live very long.

Alex could safely say that she did indeed like this young woman, perhaps trust would come easily.

[Spirit Frostfawn]

Spirit raised her eyebrows when Alex began to speak in common. She wondered about the change, trying to decide if it was a test, or the red head had just slipped into her native language. She could, of course, speak Common, as even though Vani was the native language of Avanthal, it was rare in most other places, so the more generic Common was taught too. The Vantha wasn’t perfect at speaking it, but was able to talk with it in most situations. “Ok… the fifth sounds nice. Should we meet up at the market the day before? At say… noon?” It was probably still best to get the shopping done early, and being as specific as a time was good too. You didn’t know if one person would appear 7 bells after midnight, and the other 4 bells after noon. It would create a lot of confusion. “And yes, I think practicing my common would be good… I’m ok, but not the best” This last was coupled with a grin. It was funny how they’d switched places, Alex at first being slightly awkward with the language, and Spirit fluent, now the red head was perfect, with her younger companion having a slightly harder time. She didn’t know if they spoke any languages other than Common in the Spires, though she was curious to find out. Almost everywhere spoke the generic language, but some more isolated places had their own language, like Avanthal. The Vantha couldn’t name any off the top of her head, but she was sure there were others… Then another question popped into her mind. ”You mentioned fighting training… would that start, or only be on the journey, or would we do something beforehand as well?” This question, again, held no bias in it, as Spirit was simply curious. It would be cool to start something new sooner, but of course if Alex was busy with her work, or wanted to do other things too… it was really up to the older woman.

[Alexandra]

Alex was pleased by the Vantha's grasp over common, it was by no means fluent but it was sufficient. She'd have plenty of time to work on it between now and the 5th, which was good. As for the date of getting the shopping done Alex nodded to this, it was as good a time as any to get underway. Though she would have preferred a few days before leaving it wouldn't hurt to push it back to the day before.

"Don't worry over much, you'll have ample opportunity to get a grasp around common before and after we leave. I have found that the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it." Alex said with a kind smile.

That was how she had learned what she knew of Vani anyway, Nader Canoch had been something her father had forced on her. The ancient tongue was a difficult language to master, all she had was a few phrases down and most of them involved magic to some degree. She supposed that it might be useful down the line, however, Vani was useful in much more practical applications.

Alex thought very carefully about combat training, it would probably be best to help her get the basics down at the very least. The tall woman was not teacher nor was she a master of martial arts by any stretch of the imagination. Still she could probably give Spirit some pointers, maybe not to the degree of teaching her one of her techniques but certainly something.

"It would probably be best to start before we depart so that I have something to work with as we go. If you would like we could start three days from now, when my hand has healed." Alex said, rubbing her sprained hand again.

Again, it wouldn't hurt to teach the young Vantha some form of self defense, it wasn't like she was going to teach her about magic or anything like that, just how to throw a punch properly. Alex had also never really taught someone so this would be an interesting learning experience if nothing else.