2.5, mini-adventure: Pretty women

8:28 AM, 16th of August
Walkerfree, Free Feathers

After almost two days of trip, the Barracuda finally arrives at the port of Walkerfree, the largest center of commerce in the Free Feathers, and the gate to the Enclave islands. A now familiar sight unfolds before the party members; the mooring of the ship, where the sailors, the quartermaster and the captain are all working together to make this maneuver as smooth as possible. There isn't one cloud in the sky, and the sun is beating down hard on everyone brave enough to go outside. Zywia, the old white mage, is one of those people. With her new cane, she made her way to the bow of the ship and sat down on a chair to admire Walkerfree as it grew bigger on the horizon.

This city's architecture is almost identical to Highwind; the old buildings are occupying all the space available within these walls, pushing against each other like plants just so the blue and gray shingles of their roofs can get the most sunshine. The only noticeable difference is a hill on which the "upper city" has been erected. The most powerful, and wealthy, citizens of the Free Feathers live there.

Once the plank is set down, and after the Barracuda's screw salute their former captain one last time, Edward approaches the party to wish them safe travels, and to explain that the ship is leaving tomorrow morning.

"It was an honor to serve with you," he tells them.

OOC:

Mihai goes to the bow one last time, to speak to Zywia - "Well, this is our stop. Take care out there."

The old lady smiles and nods at Mihai. "You too, young man."

Mihai nods and makes ready to leave.

"It was an honor to serve with you too. Safe travels until we meet again." He'll shake Edward's hand and tip his hat to Zywia before following Mihai down to the dock. He'll help anyone in the party with their luggage if they need it.

"Likewise, Edward," Konrad answers with a warm smile. "Keep the ship safe, you hear? I'm gonna make her mine someday!"

Zywia waves goodbye at Steve.

Edward smiles to Konrad's declaration. "Until then, I'll make sure to keep the Barracuda afloat."

"Goodbye Edward," says Fedler.

"Yeah, you take care of yourselves!" adds Breeze.

Zelk gives a respectful nod to the quartermaster. As the party members step onto the dock, the crew salutes them one last time. Before the party continues any further into the city, Zelk stops to face the rest of the group.

"My grandfather would certainly offer us lodging during our stay in Walkerfree, if we asked him," she informs everyone. "You don't all have to come, but I suppose you would like to see where the ball is going to be held."

This surprises Fedler. "The ball is going to take place at his house?"

"Yes," confirms the black mage.

"Oooh!" exclaims Breeze. "I wanna see! I wanna sleep there too!"

Mihai's reaction is stuck at first, but then lightly nods at Zelk.

Steve is shocked by this revelation. It never occurred to him that anyone would have enough room to throw balls in their home. "I...uh, what? He throws balls in his home? How much space does he have?"

"...."

"He doesn't want for anything," replies Zelk in a succinct manner. "Well, almost nothing. You can ask him how well he's doing if you're that curious. Come, let us go."

She begins to walk, expecting the rest of the party to follow her lead.

"I'm pretty sure we won't even have to ask him..." remarks Fedler as she goes after Zelk.

"Why not?" asks Breeze.

"You'll see."

"I get that feeling." - Mihai follows along

"Keeper of secrets indeed." He hurries after her so they can walk side by side. He lightly shoulder bumps her. Quietly he asks her, "Hey, want to hold hands for a little bit?"

Zelk hesitantly looks back at the other members of the party following them. With an apologetic tone, she answers, "No. Not here."

She then looks forward again.

Zeiss wrote:Zelk hesitantly looks back at the other members of the party following them.

Mihai looks away deliberately, as if to give them privacy.

Confused and a little hurt, the mage tries to make his case. "Is that what you really want? Why would they care if you hold your boyfriend's hand? It's not like we are on business right now."

She shyly looks away. "I don't want people to see us," she explains. "It would feel... awkward."

Konrad averts not his gaze. "Shall we hang back for a bit?"

The question is posed as if a trivial matter. Sometimes people need their space, and that look may have something to do with her being about to introduce her "stalker" boyfriend to her grandfather.

"Oh." They walk in silence for a bit. And then he tries one last ploy in his most charming (he hopes) and sensuous voice (couched in a hint of discomfort with a large dash of false bravado). "Well, I could take your hand, quite against your will of course, and parade you up and down through town like the rogue I am. Everyone would be staring at you, imagining all the things I'll be doing to you later at my pleasure. Trying to make you laugh. Stroking your hair. Telling you how smart and beautiful you are.

Yes, grown men and women would seethe in jealousy and openly weep at such a fate, all the while secretly wishing it was them instead of you. Why, the only thing more scandalous than my crime will be the commensurate punishment I'm sure."

Zelk looks back at Konrad and shrugs. "If you prefer."

She then continues to walk in silence, following a path that seemingly leads to the upper city, and passing by many citizens who are going on errands. Then, Steve attempts to change her mind with a new method. She listens to him with an aloof attitude, but he can see right through her; she is amused. "Oh really? You should know by now that my counterattacks are merciless. And in the end, you would lose face."

Mihai just listens to the exchange.

Mihai realizes their voices are too low, and he cannot hear what they are saying.

"What do you think they're talking about?" asks Breeze.

"Maybe her grandfather?" suggests Fedler.

Heh, if I prefer, she says. Konrad shrugs and slows pace to lag further away from Zelk and Steve, expecting the power couple to follow suit.

"Well, considering what Steve did to get us here, I imagine they're both a little apprehensive about the upcoming scene: 'meet your granddaughter's stalker who is now her boyfriend'."