Velania Stops Staring at Her Feet – 23/02/2022
Apr 24, 2022 11:00:49 GMT
Andy D, Marto Copperkettle, and 1 more like this
Post by Velania Kalugina on Apr 24, 2022 11:00:49 GMT
Continuing directly after Alkaline
Co-written with andycd – thank you so much!
Velania is usually at the Temple of Selûne in Daring Heights. Some might say she hides there. When she visits Fort Ettin, she always orders herbal tea. And sits in the corner of the Great Hall, straight-backed, silvery and serene. Trying not to blush.
But not tonight. Bloodied and rattled, and covered in dirt, she flags down one of the invisible Tabards. She grabs a tray of tankards and takes them outside to Ivan, Cyclone and Glint. Then she stands up, takes a breath, and looks down at the last tankard.
She lifts it and drinks. Drinks hard. She doesn’t stop until it’s empty. Her eyes flash silver. Then she slams it down. She turns and marches right back into the Great Hall, heading straight for Coll.
Behind the polished wooden bar in the hall, Coll is talking to a trio of Tabards, giving instructions and apparently listening to the feedback from these wisps of air wrapped in red cloth. Hearing the sharp pattern of Velania’s footsteps on the tiled floor he turns and, seeing who is approaching, gives a smile which quickly turns to a slightly confused expression as he tries to read her determined expression. Ushering the unseen servants away, he leans over the counter towards her. “Evening, Velania. Can I get you something?”
“Yes! Yes,” she stammers. Then stops at the bar, her arms hanging awkwardly. Then leans against it. Exhales nervously. “Uh. Yeah. It’s nice to see you again, Coll. It’s been, what, six months? And while I was away, I’ve been thinking…”
Her gaze roams to his chest, curious to see if he is still wearing the little blue gemstone she once gave him. Then she smiles shyly at him and presses ahead. “Umm, I was wondering. You always seem to be working, right? Uhh… Because I was wondering… would you… like, do you… I mean…”
She sighs, frowning at her babbling. Then blurts out: “When’s your next day off?”
Her nervousness seems to be infectious, as Coll also begins to shuffle uncomfortably as Velania hesitates, the movement revealing a glimpse of the blue pendant tucked into his shirt. “A… day off?” he replies, almost confused by the word.
He takes Velania in for a long moment. It has been, as she said, some time since they had seen each other and she is clearly out of sorts – dirty and battle-worn certainly, but even so she seems different. Coll has seen many adventurers change over the course of their adventurers – sometimes dramatically – and he wonders for a moment if this is even really the same woman before him.
Unsure, he begins to speak and then catches Jenna’s eye across the hall – the young sorceress was staring intently at the pair of them, and when she meets Coll’s gaze she makes a small gesture and he hears in his head, “I will dispel every Tabard if you say no. Get out from behind that bar, old man.” Coughing, he looks back to Velania watching him dither.
“Uh, I think whenever I want? I sort of run the place,” Coll says embarrassedly. “Doooo you have something in mind?”
“The weather’s improving, the trees are blossoming again. Perhaps there’s a nice place we could go for a day out. We could take a picnic, maybe? Do you prefer strawberries, or blueberries? I can catch you up on my trip back to Faerûn. Six months is a long time – I know plenty’s been going on here over that time. I have a couple of ideas in mind, but I’m sure you know the area better. Between us I’m sure we can come up with something?”
Velania glances up at Coll again. Why does he always seem so comfortable in his space, when she’s a bundle of nerves? Bar life seems to suit him – he’s certainly in his element here, befriending everyone who passes through here, greeting everyone with that same infectious smile.
It dawns on Velania that outside the Temple of Selûne, it’s the Great Hall that always feels warmest to her. There’s a homeliness to this place, and Coll always makes everyone feel welcome – even that arrogant visitor from earlier.
“You can ignore the berries question. I’m just babbling again. I can make something with both, of course.”
As soon as Velania has finished speaking, a calm descends upon her. The anger she felt when she stormed into the hall dissolves. She breaks out into a cautious smile.
“Well if it’s a picnic you’re thinking, best place nearby is Evenbloom Hill,” Coll replied smoothly, automatically able to provide local tourism guidance. “If you don’t mind some occasional interruptions from pixies, that is. And blueberries – always blueberries. We can catch up and I and give you the news. Yes, that sounds lovely, Velania.” She wasn’t wrong – of the two of them, Coll was standing in his element – and talking of news and tourism from behind the bar bolstered him.
“Evenbloom Hill sounds perfect. I’m sure the pixies won’t bother us – let’s hope so, anyway. I have a job in Daring Heights – some new business setting up in Swamp Side. I said I’d help out. But after that, let’s choose a nice day for it.”
Velania leans on the bar and her hand falls close to Coll’s. “Blueberries it is.” Then she straightens up hurriedly, her face flushed. It must be the ale going to her head.
Her gaze lingers a moment more. “Good night, Coll.”
Continues in Turning of the Stew
Co-written with andycd – thank you so much!
Velania is usually at the Temple of Selûne in Daring Heights. Some might say she hides there. When she visits Fort Ettin, she always orders herbal tea. And sits in the corner of the Great Hall, straight-backed, silvery and serene. Trying not to blush.
But not tonight. Bloodied and rattled, and covered in dirt, she flags down one of the invisible Tabards. She grabs a tray of tankards and takes them outside to Ivan, Cyclone and Glint. Then she stands up, takes a breath, and looks down at the last tankard.
She lifts it and drinks. Drinks hard. She doesn’t stop until it’s empty. Her eyes flash silver. Then she slams it down. She turns and marches right back into the Great Hall, heading straight for Coll.
Behind the polished wooden bar in the hall, Coll is talking to a trio of Tabards, giving instructions and apparently listening to the feedback from these wisps of air wrapped in red cloth. Hearing the sharp pattern of Velania’s footsteps on the tiled floor he turns and, seeing who is approaching, gives a smile which quickly turns to a slightly confused expression as he tries to read her determined expression. Ushering the unseen servants away, he leans over the counter towards her. “Evening, Velania. Can I get you something?”
“Yes! Yes,” she stammers. Then stops at the bar, her arms hanging awkwardly. Then leans against it. Exhales nervously. “Uh. Yeah. It’s nice to see you again, Coll. It’s been, what, six months? And while I was away, I’ve been thinking…”
Her gaze roams to his chest, curious to see if he is still wearing the little blue gemstone she once gave him. Then she smiles shyly at him and presses ahead. “Umm, I was wondering. You always seem to be working, right? Uhh… Because I was wondering… would you… like, do you… I mean…”
She sighs, frowning at her babbling. Then blurts out: “When’s your next day off?”
Her nervousness seems to be infectious, as Coll also begins to shuffle uncomfortably as Velania hesitates, the movement revealing a glimpse of the blue pendant tucked into his shirt. “A… day off?” he replies, almost confused by the word.
He takes Velania in for a long moment. It has been, as she said, some time since they had seen each other and she is clearly out of sorts – dirty and battle-worn certainly, but even so she seems different. Coll has seen many adventurers change over the course of their adventurers – sometimes dramatically – and he wonders for a moment if this is even really the same woman before him.
Unsure, he begins to speak and then catches Jenna’s eye across the hall – the young sorceress was staring intently at the pair of them, and when she meets Coll’s gaze she makes a small gesture and he hears in his head, “I will dispel every Tabard if you say no. Get out from behind that bar, old man.” Coughing, he looks back to Velania watching him dither.
“Uh, I think whenever I want? I sort of run the place,” Coll says embarrassedly. “Doooo you have something in mind?”
“The weather’s improving, the trees are blossoming again. Perhaps there’s a nice place we could go for a day out. We could take a picnic, maybe? Do you prefer strawberries, or blueberries? I can catch you up on my trip back to Faerûn. Six months is a long time – I know plenty’s been going on here over that time. I have a couple of ideas in mind, but I’m sure you know the area better. Between us I’m sure we can come up with something?”
Velania glances up at Coll again. Why does he always seem so comfortable in his space, when she’s a bundle of nerves? Bar life seems to suit him – he’s certainly in his element here, befriending everyone who passes through here, greeting everyone with that same infectious smile.
It dawns on Velania that outside the Temple of Selûne, it’s the Great Hall that always feels warmest to her. There’s a homeliness to this place, and Coll always makes everyone feel welcome – even that arrogant visitor from earlier.
“You can ignore the berries question. I’m just babbling again. I can make something with both, of course.”
As soon as Velania has finished speaking, a calm descends upon her. The anger she felt when she stormed into the hall dissolves. She breaks out into a cautious smile.
“Well if it’s a picnic you’re thinking, best place nearby is Evenbloom Hill,” Coll replied smoothly, automatically able to provide local tourism guidance. “If you don’t mind some occasional interruptions from pixies, that is. And blueberries – always blueberries. We can catch up and I and give you the news. Yes, that sounds lovely, Velania.” She wasn’t wrong – of the two of them, Coll was standing in his element – and talking of news and tourism from behind the bar bolstered him.
“Evenbloom Hill sounds perfect. I’m sure the pixies won’t bother us – let’s hope so, anyway. I have a job in Daring Heights – some new business setting up in Swamp Side. I said I’d help out. But after that, let’s choose a nice day for it.”
Velania leans on the bar and her hand falls close to Coll’s. “Blueberries it is.” Then she straightens up hurriedly, her face flushed. It must be the ale going to her head.
Her gaze lingers a moment more. “Good night, Coll.”
Continues in Turning of the Stew
