A Day for All Things New

A roleplay transcript by Coraline, Eulena and Gisele Valentein (played by Etain Moonflower).

Coraline strolled into the Wayward King, her eyes darting around the environs. She didn't often come to this part of the city, and had only been inside this inn a couple of times since she came to the city. But, she had heard murmurs of lively happenings there of late, and being of a curious nature, she thought she would pay it a visit. Her duties were completed at the Hollow and she felt like kicking her heels up for a bit. Even though this place catered to a less reputable crowd than the Crescent Moon near the Hollow, as long as dearest Etain didn't find out, all was good.

Gisele Valentein released a measured breath as she cleared away the empties from the table, balancing them on her tray. She went into the kitchen, dodging Selma who almost collided with her, and placed the dirty dishes into the sink. She overheard the other barmaid greeting a customer and dipped her hands into clean, soapy water before toweling them dry. "Hey, what can I get you," she said as she rounded the corner, nodding to the newcomer which made her halt her step. She blinked several times, feeling the fool as she just stood there with her mouth nearly agape and suddenly speechless. The maiden was more than likely the most beautiful creature she had ever seen before. Gisele would have rubbed at the line that formed between her brow, but she would have surely dropped her tray. "Special today is pickled deer and blue cheese with a tankard of perry. Would you like that or is there something else you fancy tonight?" She had hurriedly stepped past the girl and stood behind the bar, setting the tray on one of the counters.

Coraline slid her eyes to the girl that spoke to her as she was surveying the room. Her breathless manner as she balanced a tray and called out to her, obviously accustomed to doing many things at once, made her smile. She folded her hands together in a diminutive manner as she ventured further into the inn. She smiled warmly at the girl that had moved behind the bar. "Good evening. Thank you for you offerings. But, may I have some wine, please?" She spoke softly as she made her way towards the bar. Glancing at the stools there she looked back up at the girl. "May I sit here?" she asked as she nodded at a stool. "I'm sorry to bother but the customs of this place are somewhat unknown to me."

Gisele Valentein picked up a towel and took one of the wet tankards nearby to work at drying it. Selma wasn't good for much and it seemed even worse at properly cleaning and drying the tankards and goblets. Serving at the tavern was not even Gisele's true occupation, not that anyone would be able to pick up on it, and the brunette still did a better job than her colleague. Her gaze went to the other barmaid briefly before she turned back to the pale-skinned beauty who responded to her as she approached. "Yeah, have a seat," she said and inwardly rolled her eyes. She hated the profile she had been given, but there it was. "Be consistent," she reminded herself mentally. "You are fine," she said to the platinum-headed creature and continued to polish the tankard with her towel. "What are you?" She frowned at that. It was an odd question, but she had truly never seen one so mesmerizing before. It was not just her perfect features but something ethereal emanated from her. "Odd," she thought. "I mean where are you from," she amended. "I'll get you some wine. Red? White? House? Something expensive?"

Coraline sat down on the stool lightly, her eyebrows arched in an amused manner, and answered her last question first. "Ah, let's try the pricey stuff first, shall we? Might as well start that way." she giggled as she spoke. Laying her palms on the bar and straitening herself, she smiled warmly at the brown haired girl behind the bar, "As for what I am…" she paused for a moment. "I am many things. As I am sure your are, somethings seen, and somethings unseen." she paused again looking at her, trying to see her eyes. "But, I think the answer to your question is that I am a nymph from Moonflower Hollow. But, that description cannot contain all of me anymore than one sentence could contain all of you."

Gisele Valentein gave a curt nod as she turned those words over in her head and returned the tankard to the counter. She reached behind and to her left to retrieve a goblet. "I see," she replied non-committaly and inclined her head a beat, then decided to retrieve another. "A nymph. I've never met a nymph," she divulged, and it was true.
They had a few patrons, but the tavern was dead, comparatively speaking, and her shift was about over. She filled up one goblet of white for the customer, and filled the other with the red. That one was for her. She would have had the same as the nymph, but Gisele did not want to have to wait for the tap. So red it was. It had been one hell of a day. "What you say is true. We are all such complex creatures." She served up the wine when it was poured. "Enjoy a few sips and then tell me of this Moonflower Hollow. Tell me more about you." She gave a half-shrug, "Only what you wish to share, of course." Gisele Valentein lifted her goblet as she peered into the eyes of the nymph creature and then took a large sup of her wine.

Coraline took the goblet from the counter of the bar and raised it to her lips. Closing her eyes, she took a sip, opening her eyes again and raising her goblet to the girl who she noticed had poured one for herself. "This is very good. Thank you!" She held her goblet in her hand, swirling it softly to let the newly escaped wine to breathe. "I am called Coraline. Are you new to the city? Have you never been near to the Hollow? It is the most lovely garden and pools of water in the midst of the city." she paused as she took another sip. "But, then I am partial to its charms." she said as she watched the brown haired girl.

Gisele Valentein drew the tip of her tongue over her lips, savoring the fine spirits. She watched the nymph a moment before responding. "Yeah, my pleasure," she said and laughed. It was unexpected but there it was, and Gisele was not one to laugh often. Or often enough, she had been told. But the way the lovely creature introduced herself made her chuckle. She coughed. "Wrong pipe," she explained away her humor. "Gisele, and yeah, I'm new." She took a steadying breath. "Ah, yes, I know that place. I have walked by it on my way to catch the ferry in to work and wondered about it. So many flowers, so many naked women. I wasn't sure what to think," she recalled. "I mean to each their own, but I have never seen anything quite like it." She offered a poor semblance of a smile, but it vanished as quickly as the glint did in her eyes.

"Gisele! What a lovely name!" Coraline gushed as she raised her goblet once more to her lips, emptying it this time. She set the empty goblet on the bar counter and smiled brightly at Gisele. "How about something stronger for the both of us? My treat!" She leaned closer, waiting for her suggestion, and began speaking to her softly to not be overheard, even though there were few patrons in the inn. "Yes, nymphs often frolic around naked. It is our nature. We don't have the same taboo thoughts about sex as humans do. It is more natural and necessary for us. It is part of our being." She giggled and straightened herself again. "Some find that unnatural, but we are perhaps the most natural of all."

Gisele Valentein twirled the goblet by its stem as she listened to Coraline with interest. She lifted the goblet again, emptying its contents and swallowed hard. Her head heated and throat burned. Gisele loved her wine, almost as much as she loved the stronger stuff. "Good aged whiskey here. Alright," she replied at the mention of the nymph treating them. She placed the emptied goblet onto the counter and nodded as she poured, not making eye contact but listening intently to every word. "I agree. People are such stuffed shirts, aren't they?" The barmaid had counted to four, adding the liquor to both glasses, and then slid one over to the nymph playfully while she picked up her own.

Eulena Svagrdrifa had been wandering about for who even knows how long before finally making hir way past what appeared to be some large cityscape's thoroughfare. That little boat was even more cramped than the tradesmith barge shi initially had sailed in on! Feathers scrunched, fur matted in… places, and the fluff beneath hir tail had picked up more than a bit of debris from riding coach with all the foul and pallets! Eulena felt positively gross. Not exactly wartime gross, no, this was far worse. This was 'sat around doing nothing but trying to count past a hundred' gross! So lost in thought, and perhaps a bit lost in awe at the awe-inspiring cityscape, was the aesigalisus that by the time a few kind passerby NPCs had directed hir to the local tavern, Eulena had just stood by the door for an indeterminate amount of time, just… staring at the handle, and scratching hir head. Perhaps those keen enough to hear all the 'uhhh'ing and 'uhm's might do something about the large creature apparently having forgotten how doors
work!

Coraline eyes widened as she saw her pour the amber liquid into the two glasses then slide one towards her. She reached to pick up the glass then paused, looking up at Gisele and placing her palms together as she spoke. "Ah, if I can't get back to the Hollow… Promise you will see me to a room tonight. I tend to overindulge." Saying this, she reached for the glass, bringing it to her lips and tipping it, draining its contents of the burning liquid with several gulps. "Another, please!" she said as she slammed the glass onto the counter. "Yes, I deal with the insecurities of others all the time. I'm sure you have similar problems, a pretty girl like you working here." she spoke as she waited for her to fill her glass again.

Gisele Valentein bit at her lower lip, a harsh line forming between her brows as she watched the similarly petite girl downing the hard liquor all too quickly. "Oh you may…" she started, but Coraline had already finished the entire tumbler of whiskey. "Yeah, I'll make sure you get somewhere safe." She stood there a beat or two before turning her own drink back. The barmaid wished she was not on the job at that moment. It had been a very long time since she had enjoyed drinks with a friend and had just let loose. Now was not the time though, there were things happening behind the scenes and she would pay dearly if she… Gisele slid her glance sharply to the men in the back of the tavern who were glancing out the window curiously. She wondered what the commotion was about. "I bet you do," she said in response to the nymph's mention of insecurities. "Another one? You sure?"

Eulena Svagrdrifa stood there looking like the very definition of Big & Dumb before a random NPC tavern-goer opened the door. For themselves. Eulena was not about to pass up the opportunity, though, and quickly followed them in. Despite hir size, those paw-falls were fairly soft, certainly not like that of a horse or something else of similar stature. As the taurian creature made hir way in, the two smal figures at the bar proper caught hir eye. Offering a little wave with the opposing arm akimbo on hir hip, shi greeted them, "HI THERE!" Clearly, this creature had no concept of an 'inside voice'. Of course, shi failed to notice there was some libations afoot, and just cantered over right next to the one who was trying to enjoy a relaxing flagon or few. "City so LARGE! How does anyone FIND things?!" shi blustered out, a wide and silly grin on hir face revealing very sharp, shiny teeth.

Coraline glanced behind her as she noticed Gisele looking towards the doors. She noticed some of the patrons gathering at the windows, shrugged her shoulders and turned back to Gisele. "Yes! Another, please! Dearest Etain isn't here and I want to let loose!" She paused and leaned in closer to Gisele, her voice lowering. "Etain doesn't approve when I drink too much." she whispered as she reached for her filled glass. She turned suddenly as she heard the commotion of someone entering behind her. Her eyes gazed over a winged centaur like creature that had approached the bar near her. "Greetings!" she said cheerfully, raising her glass. "Care for a drink? They're on me!"

Gisele Valentein leaned forward and whispered, "Who is Etain?" But when Coraline excitedly turned back to greet the new patron, she pursed her lips, scratching the hair at her temple casually as her eyes drifted over the large taurian creature. "Today's a day for all things new," she said to no one in particular. She looked over at Selma, the other barmaid, but the girl was still flirting with the men at the northern table. She was truly worthless. "Special today is pickled deer and blue cheese with a tankard of perry for 12 copper," Gisele greeted the creature. "Will that do or would you like something else?" She then took another swig of her drink.

Eulena Svagrdrifa beamed at the one who greeted hir first, only to then start looking all over her at the offer. Getting well within personal distance, shi quickly started acting like shi was searching for something for a moment before giving up. "WHERE though?! How did you HIDE them?!" shi asked with an entertained grin, soon staring her in the face with that same stupid smile before hir head snapped to the one behind the bar. "Drinks are ON her?! But she HIDES them! Not FAIR!" shi proclaimed with a hearty laugh, only to quickly begin returning to that Big & Dumb posture with plenty of scratching hir head. "Uhhh… tw--uh… elve… uhm…" reaching down into a rather empty-looking pouch, shi took out a pair of very foreign-looking coins. "Mmmn… deer…" shi mumbled under hir breath, but then frowned. "H…how much~?" shi asked Gisele, hir head canting leftwards in utter confusion.

Coraline turned her attention back to to the bar and leaned back towards Gisele, holding her glass of whiskey. "Etain…" she said, her voice lowering softly. "Is my dearest sister nymph. She is the Queen of Nymphs, you might say. But it isn't like a human queen." she paused for a moment. "We are all sisters there. But, she is a peer among peers." She sat upright, smiling, please with herself for her analogy to explain the nymphai system to an outsider. She turned her attention back to the strange creature sanding near her, not fully understanding what was being said. "I'm not sure I understand you." she said flatly but with a warm smile. "Would you like a drink, or not?" She smiled and brought her glass up to her lips, taking a sip this time before repeating, "Drink?

"Oh, I see. Ok, your family then," she murmured. Gisele Valentein's own eyes widened as her mind was filled with images of Eulena getting all pawsy? with the nymph in an effort to locate hidden drinks. One corner of her lips twitched at that, coming so close to a smile that never surfaced. The barmaid nodded at Eulena, her lips forming a firm line as she listened to the creature. Her gaze narrowed in on her then, roaming over her with an intensity that could be unsettling. "Yes, 12 copper. If you cannot pay then I cannot serve you." She slid her gaze to the nymph patron momentarily before settling it back on the taurian. "Unless you want a drink as this one has graciously offered." She took another sup of her whiskey and returned it to the counter while she considered her next words, "I don't think we have a seat that would accommodate you, but you could sit there if you would like. As long as it isn't a tripping hazard."

Eulena Svagrdrifa's gaze vacillated between hir rather light coin pouch and the offered drink for a moment before the previous offer finally dawned on hir dense mind. "Ohhh~!" shi hoarsely whispered out, nodding slowly as shi extended a hand out for whatever the drink was. Without even knowing what the flagon contained, shi immediately started chugging the substance without a thought. In seconds, that first one was gone, and hir mind soon went back to the issue of affording such a delicious meat as venison. Alas, such a thing was out of hir reach this eve. "Awww…" shi sounded out in utter defeat, frowning almost like a small human child being denied sweets. It would seem the trip over here had cost all shi had! At least some small part of hir thirst was quenched, though, so that was good. "I's looking for… uhm… work?" shi blurted out, hir left hand coming up to hir horns of the same side to dangle with some of the metal accoutrements. "Where I go?" shi asked, simply as ever, that same hand soon going to scratching hir head.

Coraline drained her glass tilting it quickly up to her lips. She set her glass on the counter and the folded her arms beside it and laid her head down on them. Mumbling somewhat she says as she closes her eyes and listens to them speak. "You guys keep talking. I am going to take a little nap." She hums to herself softly for a moment then adds, "Nice to meet you both."

Gisele Valentein had poured another whiskey for Coraline and herself, but the nymph clearly would have no more. She studied her own tumbler for a moment and decided against partaking further. She had a strange feeling move through her. The brunette closed her eyes, rubbing at the line that formed between her brows. "Unfortunately, I can't help you there," Gisele said as she glanced back to Eulena. "I'm new to the city myself and had a hard enough time landing this job. What type of work are you looking for?" She slid the two glasses toward the creature and nodded for the taurian to take them.

Eulena Svagrdrifa just gave the nymph a wide smile and "Uh-huh!" as shi watched her saunter off to someplace theoretically quiet. Perhaps the creature's silver eyes might've lingered on the nymph for a bit longer than was polite, but that was by the by. The question of what sort of vocation shi was looking for got Gisele an awkward and (some might say) bashful look. "Uh…" was all shi uttered out before hir pale eyes went wide at the prospect of more drinks. Eulena was thirsty indeed! Unfortunately, nobody told hir this stuff was alcoholic, so it'd be a fun time if shi somehow managed to drink the tavern's entire stock! After all, given hir size, shi could easily handle it. One glass after another was swiftly gulped down, followed by a wiping of hir mouth by hir leather-strap-clad forearm. "Thank!" shi proclaimed rather simply, wings going up in what to hir mind was a salute. Only now did hir attention drift towards Selma after hearing was easily deciphered as quite the playful teaser. Dull as ever, shi took Selma's flirting a bit too personally, and immediately 'claimed' her by giving her a solid smack on the bum! "PRETTY!" Eulena shouted, "Want take ho--oh…" shi cut hirself off when shi realised shi doesn't actually have a home in this city. So many years of being given a place to kip by the mercenary group shi was raised by meant that shi was utterly clueless on how such property was established. By this moment, all talk of vocational attainment was out of hir mind, and in its stead, wanting to take the 'useless' barmaid out for a solid, insides-wrecking romp in an alley somewhere!

Gisele Valentein had taken up the empties and placed them on the tray beside her before reaching for a towel beneath the counter. She dipped it into a soapy pitcher of water and started wiping down the countertops so she did not notice the taurian's lingering gaze on the nymph patron. "Yeah," she said in response to the thank you. "The library is a good place to start. You will have to register there first before you get employment anyway. They may be able to guide you." She tossed the towel to the tray to accompany the dirty dishes and yelled over to the redhead, "Selma, you're up. I'm off." The barmaid wiped her hands along her apron as she watched Selma come within arms reach of Eulena. Her lips parted, a rare look of surprise flickered over her features as she watched the creature smack the barmaid's rear.
Gisele Valentein hummed. "Ok, well." She stood there. But she never finished her sentence. She quickly worked at the bag of coins collected over the evening, cinching it tight and then retrieved her stash beside it. She called the nymph's name until she stirred. "Time to go. I'll walk you home, Coraline. No rooms available here." Gisele rose and looked to the creature once more. "Good luck to you - ask the ferry captain how to get to the library if you cannot find the lighthouse on your own." Her lashes fluttered as she regarded Eulena. "I'm coming round. Need to gather some food to take home, but don't you dare smack my bum too or you'll lose a wing. Or two."

Eulena Svagrdrifa was so busy with Selma that shi'd hardly noticed any of Gisele's words… well, until those last few. Shi flashed Gisele a surprised and confused face before turning a softer one at Selma, only to be disappointed as Selma quickly moved on to flirt with some other patron. Just like that! Once again, Eulena was flabbergasted and confused by the nuances of sapient communication and customs. Yet again was shi driven to a lonely bit of sadness, giving the tavern one more once-over before shrugging and making hir way back outside. Without even realising where the idea came from, shi somehow conceived the notion to ask the ferryman just as Gisele said. Whether he'd still be in a mood to tolerate hir volume was another story, though! Either way, shi began to slowly walk off, tail bumping into a few quickly-annoyed patrons as shi made hir way out the entrance…