Flashback [The Silver Sliver]You're new at this, aren't you?[Eada]

[Amelia Cross]

[11th day of winter 510.a.v.]
[The Docks]
[The Silver Sliver Tavern]
[late evening]

The night was calm, and just like any day in the city of controlled chaos, Ravok was warm. The sky above it was clear and you could count the stars in the sky if you would bother looking up at them. At nights like this, Ravok reminded every visitor of a painting, and the locals…of how blessed they were to be looked over by their father, Rhysol. But at nights, little places in the city of canals carried life, except for the Sliver Silver. Outsiders of the city might wonder, for what reasons did it attract people so easily? And they would never understand, because they don’t hear the songs this city sings at nights, the ones that echo in the hearts of its people. The Silver, just made them open for everyone to hear.

Amelia, being an outsider to this city, had still managed to feel at home in this city. She could hear the songs it sang in silence, but just like when she was in Syliras, she still chose the songs sung by the people rather than the streets…or in this case, canals. And there was no better place to look for songs, than the favorite tavern of the people. So it was no wonder that the pale skinned woman chose the Silver. Even when you just neared it, you could hear the perfectly clear sound of argues, songs, feet tapping on the floor and a mug or two falling to the floor. And the funny thing was, it never intimidated, not someone who felt this city.

Just as the woman was about to open the door to finally enter, she was surprised by two men coming out, whistling and clearly not steady on their feet. It was an amusing thing to see, but deep down she just hoped those two wouldn’t fall in the canals as they wobbled around. ”don’t you just love the sight of men barely walking, but still managing to hold a tune” she chuckled to herself and finally, finally, entered.

On the inside, the tavern was still not the fanciest place. If you were smart, you would probably chose to bring your date to a different place, but if you were intending to pick one up, this was probably the best place to come. The Cross didn’t come here looking for affairs though, she seems to have gotten enough trouble with men for some time, she’d be up for no more than a light, innocent flirt for the sake of saving herself the costs of a drink or two. The last thing she wanted was to get drunk at this place.

With her head up high, her steps more of a gentle glide mimicking the rhythm of the tune played by the current self-promoted band, she made her way to the bar, only to smile at Jeb, the oh so ‘friendly’ bartender. ”hey, Cross girl, are you ordering anything” impatient as always, but with all the action going around, it didn’t surprise her that he wanted to get her order done as fast as he could. ”just a chime” she whistled back, ever so innocently with a wink, just to let her eyes slide over the tables. You could see some women there, already see some men there wasted and ready to pour their last miza out if a woman came up to them, but those wouldn’t be good to handle on the long run, especially if she’d be the one to initiate the contact…and then she spotted him, a man you see here often, the type that tried his luck with the special and couldn’t handle it.

The woman locked her eyes with his, quite blurred ones, it was easy to see that the mind was in a mess thanks to the alcohol so it toke little effort of Amelia. She just smiled, her blood red lips inviting as ever, a long motion to cross her legs as her eyes finally left his. It was now a matter of waiting, and so she did, wait if he would take the bait…a few chimes latter you could see him finally making his awkward and shaky way right to the seat next to Amelia. ”hello, wha~t i..s…a wom~an like you…d~oing at a~place like..t~is?” at first Amelia assumed the man was just timid, but no, he was much drunker than she thought…this made things easier, but a lot more boring. ”Oh me? I’m waiting for my drink…” she said almost in a shy tone of voice, but as she flipper her hair over her shoulder, letting her neck be exposed for the man to see, her eyes almost staring into him with hunger…it clearly didn’t come off as shy.

A few little gestures latter,a well placed word, and Amelia was happy sitting with her mug of ginger-ale, while the drunk ‘friend’ had failed to keep his stomach content and ran out of the door of the Silver, did she care about his return? Not really…now the woman was back to enjoying the music and the awkward fights the drunks could pull off, better than any show and it didn't cost her even a copper. ”Ol Rhysol’s Ravok…”

[Eada Vine]

Eada stood outside the Silver Silver Tavern, daring herself to enter. She could hear the noises of people inside; the roar of voices, music and general drunkenness. A woman and man spilled from the door, their arms draped over each other as though to stop from falling in the canal. She chewed the corner of her lip.

It's not like she'd never been in a tavern before, but she'd never been in a tavern alone before. But it was too embarrassing for a sixteen year old girl to admit that she had only been in a tavern before with her parents and that was a good few years back.

She glanced at her reflection in the canal water. She supposed she looked presentable. Her hair was tamed and her makeup hadn't smudged, although compared to some of the women rolling out the tavern's doors she was barely wearing any at all. She inhaled the warm, night air and stepped into the tavern.

It was even warmer inside and the smell of alcohol and sweat seemed to linger at head level. It was busy too, but she had expected that. She tucked herself into a small empty table to the side of the main stream of chaos - somewhere where the bartender wouldn't notice and press her into ordering a drink. She barely had any money. Just a few mizas that she had borrowed from her mother. Besides, she didn't want to get on the wrong side of the man behind the bar; he looked like he could do some damage.

She surveyed the people swaying and dancing round the tavern and her eyes found a woman at the bar with long dark hair that hung down to her seat and incredibly pale skin. Her lips were painted crimson and Eada cringed at her own attempt to make herself beautiful. She looked ridiculous in comparison.

The woman crossed her legs and a few moments later a man staggered over to her, pulling mizas out of his pocket and practically pouring them onto the bar. Eada narrowed her eyes and licked her lips. She could do that, right?

She glanced around the room, looking for a guy drunk enough not to notice the slight flaws in her skin. She spotted a youngish man not far from her, blinking heavily at his drink. She supposed he was as good as any.

She walked over to him, wondering if she was meant to walk in a specific way, perhaps more graceful that her usual stride. But she knew she would look ridiculous if she tried anything abnormal.

"Hi," she said and her pulse suddenly quickened. She hadn't thought this through. She had no idea what to say. "I'm Eada." She swallowed and blinked purposefully at him, tilting her head down like she had seen girls do before. She hoped it looked less idiotic than it felt, but she was here now. She might as well try. "I thought you looked-" but before she even had a chance to say lonely he had flapped his hand and turned away. Eada's mouth opened in shock and outrage.

He downed the remains of his drink and left her stood by an empty chair. She pouted at his back as he slunk towards the door.

[Amelia Cross]

Observing the life in the tavern was always fun, taking a sip from her mug she let her eyes wonder off to the people who looked sober enough to actually stand on their feet and maybe even socialize. Needless to say, Amelia had little luck finding those, her black eyes found a man in the corner of the bar doing only maker knows what with a young woman. Some tables further were actually sober men, but the type that had trouble written all over their faces, everyone seemed to have enough common sense to leave them bee and not keep them bothered, though by the bottle on their table it looked like they were half-way through a relatively good rum.

Her eyes continued sliding over the forms, noting of particular interest came to her notice, until she spotted a scene not that common for this place. How come? Well, the girl alone looked like an anomaly, she just didn’t fit in with the people here. Her face was clean, and while Amelia couldn’t claim a whole lot of make-up on her own face, the bright red lip and black lined eyes, a set of powder and tinted brows...compared to the young woman she had a whole arsenal of stage makeup on. Not to mention, a few women here had so much makeup on, it was hard to tell how they would look without it. The girls hair didn’t seem to stand out, it didn’t have any bizarre accessories in it, no interesting cuts or huge curls, lots of volume like most woman here had. Sure, the Cross herself had her hair quite plain, but the black sheet of black seemed to be interesting enough, at least in her own mind. Just to top it all off, her clothing didn’t seem to be all that appropriate to this location, no, she didn’t claim that only low women came here, but they usually tried to look a bit more tempting and fun, not this plane and…like she had just escaped her parents.

For some strange reasons, Amelia couldn’t help looking at the girl, and as she approached a man, she subconsciously let her pale palm cover her face, though she did sneak a peek through the long fingers. ”hopeless” she thought as the girl attempted to flirt with the man, she couldn’t really tell what was the conversation and the goal, she didn’t look like the kind to go for a drink…but even if she just wanted to meet him, it was a mayor fail. ”Jeb, who is that girl, that one, with the brown hair” Amelia asked the bartender who had managed to gain a little bit of a free time on his hands and actually look around the tavern from his usual spot ”have no idea” he answered coldly before returning to a drunk customer. ”Jeb usually memorizes his customers…especially the ones who don’t buy anything” she wondered while sipping up some more from her mug.

Well, the girl seemed to be the only one here who actually looked talk able to, Amelia had little to lose and she was curios of her behavior and motives to be here, so she got up from her spot, holding her mug in her left hand she hummed along the beat of the song playing as she made her way to the young mouse. Making sure to do as much dancing as she possibly could her body managed to rub against a few men here, but as they would look at her, she would be long pass them.

”hey there” Amelia came up to the girl, her free hand lightly touching the girls left shoulder ”what brings a girl like you to this place” Amelia didn’t really bother introducing herself, this place didn’t ask for courtesy and she had little to spare for strangers. She sat down on the chair the man had left free and waited for the young one to join her by the table as she sipped from her mug once more.

[Eada Vine]

Eada jumped as the woman put a hand on her shoulder. It was the woman she had noticed earlier, with the long hair and pale skin. She slid into a chair and Eada admired her grace, wondering if it was natural or practised. She twisted her lips.

The embarrassment of talking - it deserved no other name - to the man still hadn't left her and she touched a cool hand to her warm cheeks. She could imagine how pink she must be in the heat of the tavern and the thoughts of her rejection. She sighed, exhaling all the bundled up embarrassment and trying to pretend it never happened. "Hi," she said and sat down opposite the woman.

But she wasn't sure how to answer her question. Honestly, she had come here to see what it was like, prove to herself she was old enough to fit into a place like this. But that seemed a little ridiculous now. She had thought she was pretty enough for a guy to be interested, but she was realising it wasn't just prettiness. It was something more, like confidence and sexiness and wearing the right clothes.

She pushed up her chin. No matter how ridiculous this night seemed to Eada, she was too proud to let a stranger see that.

"I was just... looking for some entertainment." As soon as they left her lips she wondered if those were the right words. She felt like she was doing more entertaining than being entertained. Anyone that watched her failed attempt at getting a drink would agree. She wasn't even sure she wanted a drink - only that she wanted to know she could get one.

[Amelia Cross]

”that girl is a nervous wreck” she couldn’t help but think at just how stiff and unnatural she was. A tavern is a place where people come for fun, for talks and laughs, dances and songs…unless they are not native, they don’t really come here if they are this shy and seemingly awkward in such a setting. Questions just kept pilling and pilling in her mind. ”well, I’m not sure did you get any, but the people who noticed your attempt in trying to get that man’s attention, they sure got some entertainment” her voice was just soft enough not to come off as rude, then again, in a loud place like this, it wasn’t hard to not identify with tones of speech.

”I’ll tell you a secret, there are two types of drunks, the ones who can hold on their feet and the ones who can hold to their pride, if you don’t have the gut to be shameless, rather stick with the ones who can’t hold on their feet for buying drinks, those come and go easy” a giggle topped off with a playful wink at the young girl as she was close to now finishing her mug. But if Amelia had to be honest, she saw nothing but flaws in the girl, no, no, not the ones that people mock you of, the tavern kind.

Her black eyes going over the girl once more, she was cute, but that was the problem, cute and fresh…she had little to no understanding where she had gotten into, or so the fortuneteller thought ”let me guess, you actually came here for the first time?” she was not really the type to hold her thoughts back, so why bother doing that in a tavern when she refrained from being courtly with most nobles.

”if you want, I could teach you a thing or two” that was just about as frank as things could get. Why was she so nice? Well, Amelia just couldn’t stand to see a pretty girl who didn’t know how to use her looks, since the fortune teller herself had a hard time maintaining her image…this one looked like she could do it naturally, with a bit of poking at first.

[Eada Vine]

Eada leant back and her eyes narrowed for a second, trying to gauge whether to woman was being rude or simply honest - or both. But Eada had been thinking the same: she was the one doing the entertaining. She decided the woman was simply honest, no offence intended.

Eada glanced around the tavern, just beginning to relax into the music and the noise. She couldn't say she was comfortable exactly, but she had settled into the rowdy atmosphere enough to almost appreciate the shouted songs and drunken dancers. Almost. She tried to distinguish between the different kinds of drunks the woman spoke of. There was a man a few tables away sprawled over his drink, practically falling onto the woman beside him. Eada watched with a small smile as she pushed him back and slipped away.

Eada nodded - she was here for the first time - and sighed. "It's that obvious, huh?" But she had known since she had come in that it was clear she wasn't used to the environment.

Eada turned to the woman at her proposal. She was surprised she would offer to help, but she had seen her get her drink earlier - the drink that was now nearly finished. Eada narrowed her eyes, a smile building behind her lips. She wondered why such a beautiful woman would waste her time teaching a novice how to earn herself a drink, but Eada supposed it was pity.

"Okay," she said.

[Amelia Cross]

Amelia couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the girl’s question, if it wasn’t that obvious, she wouldn’t be asking. The girl practically was a white crow amongst the rest. She had ‘innocent’ written all over her face and that was not a good thing, not to mention, she seemed sort of timid. Then again, that was just something the fortuneteller assumed on her own behalf. You could say she liked to think that her own behavior and confidence could be intimidating to a young girl like this. ”I’d say it’s worse than obvious”

Even the way she agreed to this whole affair seemed to be a bit unnaturally, distant. Amelia lifted her finger up and moved it from side to side in front of the girl ”a simple ‘okay’ is something you tell to your parents, its what you say to a man who you want to get away…never use such short and cut off responses” was her first teaching, after all, a short answer gives nothing to work with even to the people who want to talk to you, not to mention the ones you want to use for your own causes. ”if you want to keep a conversation going, you should use open ended sentences, there is little to nothing to be said to something short and emotionless…if you can’t think of something really good to say….well, you basically aren’t thinking hard enough”

To her, flirting and seduction, teasing and playing, it was not just simply a way of earning a dink or having fun, it was a complex art that she didn’t really want to pick up initially…but ended up loving. She did not enjoy it when people turned to it lightly ”you see, its all about the opening lines, because looks might get you the attention, but it’s your words that will convince him that you are worth spending a miza over”

”though….on the looking part…you look like you just had a walk around your mothers closet, and, even though you are cute…there would be some serious fixing to be done” and Amelia didn’t mean it like the type of serious fixing, she just meant a new outfit or two, something with brighter colors that stood out…some flowing fabric that would make the curves show and maybe some tips on makeup.

Though judging by the way Amelia looked at the girl, it might come off as pure rude.

[Eada Vine]

Eada leant forward as the woman began talking, narrowing her eyes as she tried to work out what her intentions were. Eada supposed she was honest and with that came bluntness, but she couldn't help but wonder if she was being purposefully rude. Eada dismissed that idea and listened to the woman speak.

She nodded, seeing her point about the short sentences. Besides, that seemed more how a man would speak she supposed: with grunts and monosyllabic sentences. She wanted to appear feminine. The woman's confidence and bluntness was off putting, but she was still helping her, so Eada swallowed her pride and listened.

Eada nodded, wondering if she should already be heeding her advice and adding to the conversation, but the woman knew what she was doing and she was a little intimidating, Eada admitted to herself.

Eada blushed when she commented on her clothing and shuffled in her top. Serious fixing? She knew she wasn't the most beautiful or unique girl in this place, but she hadn't thought she was that bad. She glanced down at herself. She supposed they were a bit dull, more going to visit grandma than a night out. She placed a hand on her forehead. "Well, have you got any suggestions? For what I'm wearing, I mean."

She glanced around at the other woman here, trying to see what they were wearing. For some: very little. But the rest had bright colours that pulled the eye and emphasised their feminine curves. She wasn't the most shapely of women, but she had slight curves around her chest and waist. The woman Eada was speaking to wore a dress that displayed her bare shoulders and elegant neck.

[Amelia Cross]

Eada was a healthy girl, by her skin color alone you could tell that. That distinguished her quite a lot from Amelia herself, who was pale as a polished porcelain doll. She liked her own complexion quite a lot, but it had its fall downs. For example, the light blush that the young girl had, embarrassment Amelia guessed, would have come off a lot brighter and uglier on her, than the innocent one. ”well, you are the cute type, that’s for sure…shouldn’t put you into the type of clothing that makes your best features and natural charm clash, now do we?” a question Amelia would not wait to be answered, as it was not even meant for that.

Tapping her long finger against her chin, she let her eyes wonder up and down the girl once more. ”a better cut…you’d need a dress that would tuck you in nicely around the waist, but had a lot of volume around the hips and fell nice and free towards the bottom…a fluffy underskirt could do wonders for your hips, just avoid cuts, those might look awkward on you, for now” looking up at the girls shoulders and neck, Amelia didn’t think going too open on top would work, but she had a nice neck line and shoulders, probably the girl was not the type to sit at home all day and play the flute, this one did some work ”going off with completely bare shoulders would take some time as well, I think a set of lace-ish straps and a round cut could work for you…but in this type of clothing, its hard to tell if you have much to show with a cut at all” back comes the little more blunt Cross ”color-vise… you really need something brighter, or you seem just as interesting as watching paint-dry”

Finally, Amelia let out a light giggle as she caught the way the girl was looking at her. Suspicion, that was the way the Cross usually looked at people, that or curiosity what pretty much ranked as the same in the fortunetellers lists. ”let me guess, you find me suspicions? A stranger coming up at a tavern offering help?” her voice had now gone up to a bit more playful manner, not really intending to sound like that.

”now tell me, is it just drinks you are after, or is it something more?”

[Eada Vine]

Eada listened to the woman speak, glancing down at herself and trying to imagine her body in the clothes she was describing. She didn't know how she would ever remember all her suggestions. Fluffy underskirt, tucked at the waist, lace-straps... Eada's gaze snapped up at her comment about her breasts. She pulled back the impulse to pout, deciding that now is not the time to show her moody side. She felt familiar determination rising in her though. She wanted to prove the man that cast her aside wrong: she was worth spending a miza on. But the only way to do that was to listen to the woman's advice.

She wouldn't mind getting some brighter, more noticeable clothes. Just spending five minutes with this woman had made Eada want to aspire to be beautiful. Eada noticed the way men glanced over their shoulders at her and their gazes hesitated for a second as they walked past. Eada wanted to be like that.

But it would take a hell of a lot of work.

Even the woman's giggle had a ring of seductiveness that turned a few men's gazes. "You're right," Eada leaned forward. "I thought you were helping because you pitied me. I did make a bit of a show of myself earlier." Eada wasn't afraid to admit it. She had gotten used to making a fool of herself - diving headfirst into things without really thinking them through.

"Just drinks for now. I think anything more is a bit ambitious." She smiled, chuckling to herself.